From The Principal
March 6, 2020
Right to Read Week: March 9-13
Next Week is Right to Read Week at Surrarrer Elementary! Our theme is, “Books are a Treasure.” Your child can earn a "coin" (filled out at home) for every book they read. Grades K-2 earns a coin for each book read and grades 3-5 earns a coin for every 15 minutes read. Each morning, teachers will check for "completed coins" and they will be placed around the treasure chest outside their classroom door. Whichever classroom earns the most coins will get to throw water balloons at Dr. Raso! There will be a class winner for grades KG-2 and grades 3-5.
Theme days for the week:
Monday: Kick-Off Assembly!
Tuesday: Mystery Readers
Wednesday: Fox in Socks Day! Students wear crazy socks to school
Thursday: Pajama Day! Students wear pajamas to school and bring their favorite book (make sure your child's name is in their book).
Friday: Water balloons thrown at Dr. Raso!Books to Support Children's Emotional Development
The Value and Importance of Reading to your Child
The life of a parent is often hectic. However, remember make time to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. If you skip a day, don't panic. Just read to your child as often as you possibly can.
Most children enjoy listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex, children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy these "old friends" and may even help in the reading of these books.
Taking the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an important message: Reading is worthwhile!
Seriously! Why this book...again?
You may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it read every night. (At my house, it is Big Blue Truck or Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.) Remember that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.
Talking about stories!
Talk about the story you are reading, but don't feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've read together.
Remember when you were very young
It is often difficult to understand how the love of and skills for reading develops over time. If we open our eyes to some things adult readers tend to take for granted it's easier to be patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget we ever learned them and what you can do to help support your child.
- There's a difference between words and pictures. (Point to the print as you read aloud.)
- Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read.
- Words go across the page from left to right. (Follow with your finger as you read.)
- Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space.
- Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and and one for small letters.
Advertise the joy of reading!
We want to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers? ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems to children.
We can help our children find the tools they need to succeed in life. Having access to information through the print is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some precious leisure moments.
With your help, your children can begin a lifelong relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge, or pleasure.
St. Patrick's Day in Makerspace
Even if you’re not Irish you can enjoy the green and shamrocks. Students will be challenged to create shamrocks out of pipe cleaners, beads, paper hearts, legos, and fabric. They will use shoe boxes and a variety of materials to make leprechaun traps - be sure to include something to lure them in as well as a trap to hold them safely. Ozobots and Spheros will race to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and our GREENscreen and stop motion animation stations are sure to capture many leprechauns in action.
A Reminder for Fifth Graders
Current 5th Graders: The 6th grade scheduling "window" is open until March 9th. Please make sure to complete the course registration. It is linked here for your convenience. In order to be sure the form was submitted properly , the following message should pop up: "thank you for submitting".
March 17 Voting Security
Mustang Spirit Run & Wellness Fair
Other Important Dates
3/9 @ 9:30 - PTA Mtg.
3/20 - Early Release @ 2:30
3/23 - 3/27 - Spring Break
Spring OST Dates
OST Testing Starts at 9:15
ELA:
Gr 3: 4/8 & 4/9
Gr 4: 4/16 & 4/17
Gr 5: 4/15 & 4/16
Math:
Gr 3: 4/21 & 4/22
Gr 4: 4/28 & 4/29
Gr. 5: 4/30 & 5/1
Science:
Gr 5: 4/23 & 4/24
From the Public Library:
***Please note the following February 2020 events at the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration is required for most events. 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.
Year-Round Story Times!
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers story time sessions year-round for children Birth to Age 5. Our story times are in full swing for Winter. Please call the library or stop by the Children’s Desk for more information.
State of the Art Recording Studio Open to the Public!
The Strongsville Branch Library has Audio and Video Recording Studios open to the public. Customers interested in using Garage Band, iMovie, and the Adobe Suite to create sound recordings, video recordings, and more are welcome to sign-up for studio time up to one week in advance. In order to use the studio, customers must first attend an orientation session. Drop-in orientations will be held on Tuesdays - Audio studio orientation from 2:30-3:00 p.m. Video studio orientation from 3:00-3:30 p.m. and Saturdays, Audio studio orientation from 9:30-10:00 a.m. and Video studio orientation from 10:00-10:30 a.m. No registration is needed. Please show up on time for these orientations. For more information on the studio and how to book studio time, please call (440) 238-5530.
Ohio Means Jobs. Tuesdays / 9 – 5:00 p.m.
An Ohio Means Jobs Employment Specialist is available for job placement and individualized job planning services. Please call ahead to confirm the Job Specialist's availability.
Computer Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced users. Many of our classes offer Northstar Digital Literacy Certification. All classes are free. Registration begins 30 days before each class date. Classes are for adults age 18 and over. To see a full class list, descriptions, and to register, please visit https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes.aspx
ESOL/Citizenship Orientations. Thursday, March 27th / 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland provides free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and citizenship classes at Strongsville Branch Library. Students must attend an ESOL/Citizenship orientation session before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. For more information and to register, please call 833.ASPIRE2 or visit aspiregreatercleveland.org.
ESOL Classes. Thursdays & Fridays / 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland provides free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes at Strongsville Branch Library. Classes will be every Thursday and Friday through June 12th, 2020. Interested Students must attend the ESOL/Citizenship orientation session on March 27th before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. For more info, call 833.ASPIRE2 or visit aspiregreatercleveland.org.
Just4You Student Friends. Ages 10-18. Saturday, March 7th / 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Get involved at the branch and connect with your community.
Teen Sewing 101: Scrunchies. Ages 10-18. Tuesday, March 10th / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Learn basic sewing skills and create a hair scrunchie. Participants may be recorded and/or surveyed to capture program's effectiveness. More information can be found at cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. All participants must complete a Release & Hold Harmless form.
Sounds of the Bagpipes. Wednesday, March 11th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with local bagpiper Colin Donahue! Local bagpiper, Colin Donahue, will narrate the rich history of the highland bagpipes, one of the world’s oldest folk instruments. Mr. Donahue will also perform some fun and popular pipe tunes!
Zentangle Found Poetry. Thursday, March 12th / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join Certified Zentangle Teachers Cathy Zavodny and Michelle Rodgers in creating this unique Zentangle inspired technique of Found Poetry. You will be using a page from a book, finding words that stand out to create a poem, statement or thought and then create tangled works of art around those words. The result will be your own unique page of poetry art!
Parkfit Mall Walkers Wellness Talk: Fit Healthy Nutrition Into Your Lifestyle. Tuesday, March 17th / 10:00 a.m.
Join us the third Tuesday of each month for this special wellness talk sponsored by Southwest Hospital. Amy Dunbar, Registered Dietitian at Southwest General Health Center, will be here to discuss how healthy food choices and physical activity can become your lifestyle. The ParkFit Mall Walkers Club is a combined effort of Southwest General and SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. The Club provides an opportunity for community residents to improve their health by walking for exercise in a safe interesting and climate-controlled facility. Walk at the mall first then come over to the Library for this informative wellness talk! For more information call (440) 816-4037.
Good Morning, Strongsville Speaker Series: Don’t Slip Up: Tips for Preventing Falls. Wednesday, March 18th / 10:00 a.m.
Please join us for our bi-monthly Good Morning Strongsville Speaker Series. Each month we bring a special speaker of interest to seniors and residents of Strongsville. Falls are a major cause of accidental injury especially for older adults. There is no need to fear as long as you are prepared. A speaker from Southwest General will be here to discuss fall risks such as medical conditions, certain medications, and hazards around the home. They will also share tips on how to prevent falling so that you can continue living a healthy, happy, and safe life. Refreshments served.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, March 18th / 7:00 p.m.
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. New Members Welcome! For this month, we are reading An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Books can be picked up at the check-out desk. Registration for this program is not needed. Join us for an evening of great discussion!
Toy Time! Ages 0 – 5 with a Caregiver. Friday, March 20th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
Drop in with your child for some quality play time with other children and our educational toys! Make friends, read books, have fun! No registration required.
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Friday, March 20th / 10:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
In just an hour of your time you can help save up to three lives. Make sure hospital patients get the treatment they need. Donate blood today. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call the American Red Cross at (216) 431-3010.
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, March 23rd / 2:30 p.m. Meets the 4th Monday of each month.
New Members Welcome! Our next discussion title will be There, There: a Novel by Tommy Orange. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great discussion!
Great Lakes, Great Beer, Great Stories. Tuesday, March 24th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Michael Williams, Certified Cicerone® from Great Lakes Brewing Company will tell the story of GLBC’s history, and share the people, places, and phenomena behind the brewery’s beloved beers.
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Monday, March 30th / 10:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
In just an hour of your time you can help save up to three lives. Make sure hospital patients get the treatment they need. Donate blood today. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call the American Red Cross at (216) 431-3010.
Surrarrer Contact Information
Email: sraso@scsmustangs.org
Website: https://www.strongnet.org/Page/4337
Location: 9306 Priem Road, Strongsville, OH, USA
Phone: 440-572-7170
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SurrarrerElementaryPta/
Twitter: @DoctorRaso