As you know, today is an asynchronous learning day for our students. Your child's teacher(s) provided activities to complete at home that will practice skills they have been taught at school, reinforce learning, and engage our students while at home. For our staff, this is a learning day, where we work through professional development activities that assist us in better meeting the needs of our students. We hope to continue to build opportunities for students that promotes SMALL WINS FOR EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY!

It seems that weeks in the fall fly by, but I think that we are settling into the school year nicely. The end of October will bring some fun for our kids with Halloween parties. We will do this, while working very hard to promote a safe and healthy environment for all students.

Let's have a great week!

Mike Griffen

Remember, Model Mustangs are Prepared, Respectful, Inclusive, Determined, and Engaged.

Jack Hayes

Zoey Starcovic

Vida DeHaven

Dylan Zerbini

Hailey Cartwright

Maddie Emery

Wesley Ashton

Lana Redzic

Brayden Harrison

Charles Gavin

Kenzi Mahring

Connor Gusching

Charlotte Burke

**Please note the following November 2021 events being held on ZOOM virtually and presented by the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration and an email address are required for all events in order for us to send you the Zoom invitation. Please call (440) 238-5530 to register or for more information. Customers may also visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org to register and to see more library event information.

**The Cuyahoga County Public Library and Administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, November 11th for Staff Development Day. We will resume normal hours on Friday, November 12th.

**The Cuyahoga County Public Library and Administrative offices will be closed at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24th and all day Thursday, November 25th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Friday, November 26th.

Cuyahoga Works – Need help with your resume or interview skills? A Cuyahoga Works Career Counselor will be at the Strongsville Branch on Thursdays from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. to meet with individuals in need of job search assistance. For more information, visit https://cuyahogalibrary.org/Services/Cuyahoga-Works.aspx To schedule an appointment, please call (216) 475-2225.

English as a Second Language. IN PERSON Thursdays & Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland is once again teaching IN-PERSON classes to help non-native speakers learn English and validate their skills. Students must attend an ESOL/Citizenship orientation session before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. If you are interested in attending these ESOL classes, please call Aspire at 833.277.4732 to register.

Computer Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced. Classes are currently being held in-person as well as some VIRTUALLY using the program Screenleap which requires a web browser and an internet connection. There is no additional software to download. Google Chrome is the recommended browser. A valid email address is required for registration. Registrants will receive an email with a link to join the class at least an hour before the start time. Registration opens 30 days before the start of the class and closes prior to the start of the class. To see a full class list, descriptions, and to register, please visit
https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes/2021-Virtual-and-In-Person-classes.aspx

Take & Make At Home Crafts!
Stop into the Strongsville Branch to see what the current take it and make it craft of the month is for All Ages. Each month the Youth, Teen, and Adult Departments are offering free craft kits to take home while supplies last.

Discuss & Design: Millennial Book Discussion. Wednesday, November 3rd / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Attention millennials we're going virtual! Are you looking for something fun and different to do with your friends? How about a book club with a twist. We meet monthly, alternating between children's, teen, and adult books. We discuss the assigned book and design something that complements the title, subject, or book cover. Maker kits will be available as a part of this program and can be mailed to a branch near you for pick up! Our next discussion will be on the book The Girls I've Been Before by Tess Sharpe. Register online to receive your materials and Zoom link to participate.

Young at Heart Virtual Book Discussion. Tuesday, November 9th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. BOTH VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON.
A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The next discussion title is Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, 2020. When calling or registering online, please select whether you will be coming in-person or will need the Zoom link for the virtual discussion.

Zoom Virtual Preschool Storytime. Tuesdays, November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Toddler Storytime. Wednesday, November 3rd , 10th, 17th and 24th from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Storytime Baby & Me. Wednesday, November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Family Storytime. Thursdays, November 4th, 11th, and 18th from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Happy, Happy, Happy Virtual Birthday Party. ALL Ages. Saturday, November 6th / 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
Join us virtually for a fun filled party to celebrate all birthdays! Mr. P. will supply the entertainment with stories, rhymes, and maybe a song or two. All are more than welcome to create a party atmosphere at home if you like! JUST HAVE FUN!

Young at Heart Virtual Book Discussion. Tuesday, November 9th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. BOTH VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON.
A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. At the next discussion, we will talk about our favorite children or teen books from 2020 and 2021. When calling or registering online, please select whether you will be coming in-person or will need the Zoom link for the virtual discussion.

Virtual Studio Orientation. Saturday, November 13th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or Monday, November 22nd from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Have you ever thought about recording your own music, making a video, digitizing memories and more? The Strongsville Branch Library is home to both Audio and Video Recording studios that can help you do just that! You must go through an orientation in order to use the spaces. These orientations will be held VIRTUALLY ONLY. Patrons 11 & up can participate in the orientation and must turn in the User Agreement form at the branch in order for the orientation to count. Register online to receive the Zoom link to participate.

Teen Virtual Trivia Night. Monday, November 8th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
This trivia game will cover a variety of topics and is a great way to show what you know. Registration and an e-mail address are required to receive the link to participate. A meeting link will be emailed to registered participants approximately one hour prior to the start of the program.

Southwest General Health Talk: Options for Hip & Knee Arthritis. Tuesday, November 16th / 10:00 a.m.
Larry Lika, DO, orthopedics from Southwest General will discuss current approaches to hip and knee arthritis, from non-surgical to surgical options. Learn how advances in technologies mean a quicker recovery and improved outcomes. Register online to receive the Zoom link to participate.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, November 17th / 7:00 p.m.
Our Wednesday Evening Book Discussion has gone VIRTUAL and will be live on Zoom at 7 p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Intro to Indian Classical Music. Tuesday, November 23rd / 7:00 p.m.
Sugata Chatterjee will perform the ancient form of “raaga” which is the melodic framework for improvisation akin to a melodic mode in Indian classical music. Registration and an email address are required to receive the Zoom link to participate.

When there is a POSITIVE Case within the school the following steps are taken:

1. Contact tracing is completed, identifying areas including the bus, classroom, cafeteria, playground, and hallways where direct contact (as identified by district communication) could have occurred.
2. If your child is identified as a direct contact, you will receive a phone call from our office to notify you of when this occurred.
3. A letter will be sent to ALL families, informing them that there was a positive case in the school. Again, if your child is a direct contact, you will receive a phone call.
4. If the positive case is a student who rides a bus, ALL families who ride that specific bus will receive a letter informing them that there was a positive case on their bus. Again, if your child is a direct contact based on contact tracing on the bus, you will receive a phone call.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT FEELING WELL, KEEP THEM HOME and CONTACT THE SCHOOL. WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT!

• A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. This is one of the strongest Covid Symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Persistent cough or runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat

We need you to assist in helping us, by monitoring for these symptoms on a daily basis, and keeping your child home if they aren't feeling well.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Strongsville City School Students:

We are writing to tell you about an exciting opportunity for you and your child. Strongsville City Schools have a well -established partnership with a Behavioral Health Private Practice, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC, (NLA), that specializes in child therapy, adolescent therapy, and family counseling. All NLA therapists are Masters-level and licensed by the State of Ohio. They are able to diagnose and treat all emotional and behavioral health concerns.

We are pleased to be able to offer you the chance to work with an Ohio Licensed Clinical Therapist in an effort to improve your child’s well being. The following are just some examples of the topics we address in individual, group, or family sessions:

• Strategies for managing relationships with peers, parents and teachers

• Development of social skills and communication

• Ability to deal with teasing and bullying

• Understanding and treating addictions

• Coping skills for anger management, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders • Fostering good choices by decreasing impulsivity and distractibility

• Managing family problems

• Gender Identity Concerns

• Controlling Eating Disorders and Self-harm

Best of all, NLA is able to offer you this service at your school. NLA will send our trained therapists to your school to meet with your child individually during the school day or via teletherapy. Also, to make this easier for you, NLA counseling services are covered under most health insurance plans, including State Medicaid, Medicaid HMO’s (CareSource, Paramount, and Buckeye) and most private health insurance plans (Medical Mutual, Anthem, Aetna, Cleveland Clinic, etc). NLA does all the clinical work plus does the actual insurance billing for you.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to receive confidential sessions with a caring clinician. If you are interested in participating in this program, please return the bottom of this letter to your child’s school counselor. An NLA therapist will call to schedule an initial meeting with you to get your child started in the program and verify your insurance information.

Sincerely, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE FORM

CLICK HERE to access information via our district website.

Wearing Masks on the Bus

Per the CDC, all students and staff must wear a mask on a school bus, whether coming to/from school or for an athletic/music trip. CLICK HERE for the mask exemption form, if needed. A new form will need to be completed along with medical or religious documentation if a student is requesting an exemption for the 2021-2022 school year.

Wearing Masks in School

It is recommended that all staff and students wear masks in school, especially those that are unvaccinated, yet it is not required. Please read below and become familiar with the quarantine protocols. The best way to significantly reduce the risk of being quarantined and to stay in school is to wear a mask.

Student Isolation Protocols

If your child tests positive for COVID, s/he is required to isolate at home for then (10) days from the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms.

Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students Wearing a Mask

If your child is unvaccinated, wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will not have to quarantine as long as your child has no symptoms and was at least 3 feet apart. If your child was less than 3 feet, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.

Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students NOT Wearing a Mask

If your child is unvaccinated, not wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.

Supporting Students in Isolation/Quarantine

When a student is in isolation/quarantine, teachers will provide the student with their assignments and support through Google Classroom. Additionally, teachers will live stream classroom instruction and/or provide instructional videos. Teachers are only required to live stream instruction for students in isolation/quarantine.

Parent Requests/Masking

If parents at the elementary level request teacher support/feedback in terms of having their child wear a mask at school, we will do the best we can to help out. This means that we will remind the child and share feedback to the parent on how they are doing during the initial weeks of the school year, if requested.

Student Insensitivity/Bullying for Masking

If we have students acting inappropriately towards someone that is wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, we will address it in accordance with our code of conduct in the same manner we handle any other situation of inappropriate behavior for name calling, bullying, etc.