Whitney's Rockin' Review

Mr. Stacho's Newsletter - September 10, 2021

Reading Rocks at Whitney!

A message from Mr. Stacho:

Dear Parents,


Please do NOT send your children to school with "pop its," "fidgets," etc. unless your child has a diagnosis of ADHD, we have documentation from a physician regarding this diagnosis, and these items are a necessary accommodation for their attention deficit.


We are having a HUGE problem with students having them out and causing distractions to others during instruction and students "trading" them. Not only does this create an issue with regards to sanitation and trying to lessen the spread of germs, but there have been many conflicts between students who regret the "trade" they made and then want their original item back.


To be clear, there is to be no trading of fidgets, pop its, Pokemon cards, etc. We are a school, NOT a flea market.


Effective Monday, September 13th, if these items are seen at school for children who do not have the required diagnosis and documentation, they will be confiscated and parents will need to come to school to collect these items.


We thank you for your attention and cooperation with this issue.

APTT Conferences - Frequently Asked Questions

Q - What does APTT stand for?

A - APTT is an acronym for Academic Parent Teacher Team


Q - What is APTT?

A - A family engagement model: APTT is a classroom based systematic approach to parent-teacher collaboration focused on student academic development.


Q - Why is Whitney Elementary School implementing APTT?

A - Research shows that high expectations and communication in the home are powerful and important ingredients in student's academic success.

Students who benefit from having highly engaged parents:


  • Do better in school
  • Have a positive attitude toward learning and achievement
  • Enjoy greater academic socialization at home and in the community
  • Possess more developed social skills
  • Have higher rates of high school completion
  • Are more likely to enroll in college and obtain a degree


Q - What is my responsibility as a parent within the APTT process?

A - The parents' responsibility is to support the practice of grade level learning goals to ensure mastery.


Q - Do I still need to attend APTT meetings if my child is doing well in school?

A - By attending APTT meetings, you will receive valuable information about how your child is doing in a specific academic skill compared to the rest of the students in your child's class. You will also receive materials and instructions for activities to practice a specific skill with your child at home. When families attend APTT meetings, they go home feeling informed, clear about their role, and committed to their child's learning outcomes.


Q - I have more than two children attending school. What do I do?

A - Please attend meetings for the children in your family that have the greatest need academically. If it is possible, have another family member (mom, dad, aunt, uncle, etc.) attend a meeting for one child while you attend a meeting for another child. This will allow for all of your children to benefit from the APTT process. We have 4 sessions of APTT available so you can attend multiple sessions as needed.


Q - What if I cannot make it to the APTT meeting?

A - If you can not make the APTT meeting please contact your child's teacher regarding an alternate way to get this important information.


Q - My children have too much homework for me to attend APTT meetings.

A - No homework will be assigned by Whitney teachers on APTT conference nights.


We invite you to partner with us in helping your student achieve academic success. The APTT team meetings may cover the following:


  • An overview of foundational grade-level academic skills.
  • A glance at your child's current academic progress on the foundational skills.
  • An opportunity to write academic goals for your child.
  • A demonstration of activities of what to do with your child at home.
  • An opportunity to practice using the take-home activities and materials.
  • An opportunity to network with other parents from your child's class to build school community.

Levy Renewal Information! Please read!

Did you know that Strongsville City Schools has a renewal levy (Issue 68) on the upcoming November ballot? This is a renewal levy, which means there are no new taxes. This is the renewal of a 5-year limited operating levy that was originally passed in August of 2002 and most recently approved by voters in November of 2016. This renewal levy ensures we are able to continue provide up-to-date educational resources, technology, supports, and opportunities to continue to achieve our goal of being a premier school district for our students and the families/community we serve.

Whitney Student Council is about to Kick Off! First, we need to elect a President, Vice President, and a Secretary.

Election Rules and Dates:

  • Students interested in running for one of the three executive offices listed above must state his/her intent by completing the *Bid for Candidacy form no later than 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 10. You are welcome to turn them in before then. NONE will be accepted after this time. *These were passed out in class.

  • You must be able to attend ALL Student Council meetings and events as an executive board member. Meetings will be held in room 20 every other Friday beginning promptly at 8:30 am.

  • The Bid for Candidacy must include signed referrals from two Whitney teachers (NOT including Mrs. Ambroziak or Mrs. Trimper) who know you and can vouch that you are an outstanding citizen and show Whitney PRIDE regularly. You also need a parent/guardian signature (by signing they agree that you can make it to meetings).

  • The Student Council Advisors (Mrs. Ambroziak and Mrs. Trimper) will review all Bids for Candidacy and pick three candidates to run for each office. These students will be announced during Morning Announcements on Monday, September 13th.

  • Once picked, you will need to prepare a 30 to 60-second speech that will be video recorded and published through our school website. Speeches should include your name, which position you are running for, the qualities that make you the best for the job, and any possible ideas you would like to pursue through student council that would serve our school or community. You may also create posters to hang in the school to persuade voters to elect you. Follow all campaigning rules (given once selected).

  • The entire student body will watch your videos and be able to vote.

Speeches will be recorded by Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 via Flipgrid. Voting will take place Sept. 20-24 online. The polls will close at the end of the school day, Friday, Sept. 24. Elected Officials will be announced Monday, Sept. 27th. on Morning Announcements.


After electing Officers, a classroom representative will also be selected from each 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom.

  • These students will also attend meetings and participate in Student Council activities. In addition, they will report information to and from their classrooms (and an assigned primary classroom for Student Council.

WOO HOO CART Week of 8/30/21

Mr. Schibley's September Guidance Newsletter

Please click here to view Mr. Schibley's guidance newsletter.
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PTA ITEMS!

Mum orders are due on Monday September 13th and will be delivered on September 28th.


Please join our PTA. They do so much for our students. Click here for the membership form. "Make a copy", print it out, complete it and send it to school with the membership dues and you'll be helping PTA out greatly . . . and your kids, too! To join PTA, please click this link.

* The class with the most participation as PTA members will receive a cupcake party. This will be decided based on paid members as of October 1st.


Whitney PTA 2021-2022 PTA Chairman

We are currently looking for volunteers to fill positions for 2021-2022 PTA Board. Please look through the list of chair positions and their descriptions. If you see any that may interest you, indicate this on the Sign Up Genius. If you are new to a position, we have plenty of documentation to get you started and help with your event and are working towards streamlining the process even more. ***Please note, many of these positions allow for the majority of the work to be done from home AND have the option (even if not listed) of co-chairs. Thank you so much for considering a position.

www.signupgenius.com


To stay update on all the latest news and events from Whitney PTA please follow our Facebook at Whitney Elementary PTA | Facebook

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Would you like to follow Whitney Elementary on Twitter.... (Repeat Item)

For up to date highlights on Whitney Elementary, follow @WhitneyElement1 on Twitter!

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS (Repeat Item)

COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff that may not be vaccinated. As we want to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone, we will continue to implement the following preventive measures for the 2021-22 school year in consideration of the recommendations provided by the Ohio Department of Health.


  1. Vaccination. We will continue to share vaccination opportunities/locations for eligible students and staff.

  2. Wearing Masks. Per the CDC, masks must be worn by all students and staff when riding on the school bus. When at school and indoors, masks are optional for students and staff, yet strongly recommended for those who are unvaccinated. When outdoors, masks are not necessary, but still are optional based on individual/family preference.

  3. Ventilation. We will continue to implement our ventilation protocols to bring in as much outside air as possible and provide air filtration at the highest level possible for our existing HVAC units.

  4. Social Distancing. We will strive to maintain 3 feet social distancing within classrooms, cafeterias, and learning spaces. Cooperative grouping opportunities for students may be phased throughout the fall based on COVID trends in the school district.

  5. Additional Mitigation Strategies. We will continue to provide opportunities for regular hand washing / hand sanitizer use and educate students on proper respiratory etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes.)

  6. Cleaning / Disinfection. We will continue to implement the same cleaning / disinfection procedures as were implemented last school year.

  7. Health Screenings. Families/Staff continue to be required to perform daily health screenings and must stay at home when feeling ill and/or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (CLICK HERE).

  8. Contact Tracing, Isolations, and Quarantines. We will continue to perform regular contract tracing in combination with isolation or quarantine mandates as set by the Ohio Department of Health or other state/local mandates.


Note. The Superintendent may enact further restrictions, such as mandatory masking and increased social distancing by classroom, grade-level, or building based on COVID-related data and trends.


For additional information on the prevention strategies listed above and COVID-related restrictions in our buildings for the 2021-22 school year, click on the link below.


PREVENTION STRATEGY DETAILS


SCHOOL BUILDING OPERATING PROCEDURES / RESTRICTIONS

Strongsville Public Library

***Please note the following September 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.

***Please note all branches of Cuyahoga County Public Library and the Administration Building will be closed on Sunday, September 5th and Monday, September 6th for the Labor Day Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, September 7th.

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 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 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 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/Virtual-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, September 1st / 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 bimonthly, 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 My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Register online to receive your materials and Zoom link to participate.

Fall Into Health. Tuesday, September 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th / 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
CSU nursing students along with licensed RN will provide health screenings, one-on-one chronic disease education and general health education with the focus being overall health and wellness.

Young at Heart Virtual Book Discussion. Tuesday, September 7th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The next discussion title is Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, 2021. Register online to receive the Zoom link for the discussion.

Zoom Virtual Preschool Storytime. Tuesdays, September 7th, 21st, and 28th 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, September 22nd and 29th 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, September 1st, 8th, 22nd, and 29th 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, September 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and 30th from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Virtual Studio Orientation. Saturday, September 11th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or Monday, September 27th 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.

Galaxy in a Jar. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. IN PERSON - Monday, September 13th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Learn about the universe while creating your own galaxy to take home in a mason jar. Registration for this in-person event begins August 9th at 9:00 a.m.

Colorful Shrubs Through the Seasons. Tuesday, September 14th / 7:00 p.m.
With a bit of planning, you can create a welcoming and colorful landscape year round. The key is to plant perennials and shrubs that bloom at all different times of the year. The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County will introduce you to combinations of perennials, shrubs, and even small trees to achieve this effect. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, September 15th / 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 Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman. 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.

First Page Book Club. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. Monday, September 20th / 7:00 – 7:45 p.m.
The Strongsville Teen librarian will read the first page of a few teen books of various genres. We will then discuss other books we have read and enjoyed. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Southwest General Health Talk: You May Be Losing More Sleep. Tuesday, September 21st / 10:00 a.m.
Everyone has an occasional restless night, but if sleepless nights are persistent, it can affect your health! A Southwest General Pharmacist will discuss ways to improve your sleep hygiene! Learn about medications that may cause insomnia and medications that may help. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Six Wives of Henry VIII. Thursday, September 23rd / 7:00 p.m.
Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. These were the fates of the six wives of Henry the VIII. Susan Cannavino will talk about each woman's personality, personal life and circumstances, as well as Henry the VIII's. You will be transported back to 16th century British court life. Register online to receive the Zoom link.