Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2017-18 Vol 2, Iss 27)
Strong Schools. Strong Community. Strongsville.
IN THIS ISSUE - March 9, 2018
Important Dates to Remember
60 Seconds with the Superintendent - 100th EPISODE!
SMS 8th Grader Zachary Kakos Qualifies for National Geographic State Bee
Family First Night - Monday, March 12
SHS Students Win Local Math Competition
Strongsville Middle School Art Show + Band Concert - Tue. 3/13
Mustang Spotlight - Mrs. Lori Yates, 3rd Grade Teacher at Kinsner Elementary
‘March Madness’ - Girls & Boys Basketball Teams in Post Season Tournament
Stay Safe. Speak Up!
SCS Recognized as ‘Distinguished District’ for ‘Project Lead The Way’ Program
Kindergarten Registration Week (3/19 - 3/23)
SHS Musicians & Vocalists Earn Highest Ratings in State Competition
Mustangs Team Shop - Order Now through Thu. 3/22!
Strongsville High School Teen Idol - Fri. 3/16 at 7pm
State of the Schools Presentation - Available On Demand!
SHS Choral Boosters Wing Ding Fundraiser - Sat. 3/10 6:30pm at Cleat’s
Free Saturday Morning Youth Football Skills Clinics (Through 3/24)
Community Events
Important Dates to Remember
Monday, March 12
Family First Night
Tuesday, March 13 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Strongsville Middle School Art Show + Band Concert
Thursday, March 15 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Whitney Elementary Art Show
Friday, March 16 - 7:00pm
Strongsville High School Teen Idol
SHS Auditorium
Monday, March 19 - Friday, March 23
Kindergarten Registration
Click HERE for additional details
Tuesday, March 20 - 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Community Conversation
School Safety, in Partnership with the Strongsville Police Department
Strongsville City Council Chambers (18688 Royalton Rd.)
Monday, March 26 - Friday, March 30 (Spring Break)
NO SCHOOL
*Click HERE for a complete listing of March events throughout our District
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT - 100th EPISODE!
It’s the 100th Episode of ‘60 Seconds with the Superintendent!’ We’ve highlighted many great people and programs in our District throughout the past two years. What has been your favorite episode? We asked several teachers, staff, and students to reflect on the episodes they remember most. Click HERE for the 100th Episode and the complete library of all of our ‘60 Seconds with the Superintendent’ episodes. We are looking forward to featuring more of the fantastic happenings in our District over the next 100 episodes!
SMS 8TH GRADER ZACHARY KAKOS QUALIFIES FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STATE BEE
Congratulations to Zachary Kakos, 8th grade student on the Vanguard Team at Strongsville Middle School! Zach qualified for the National Geographic State Bee, which will be held on April 6th at Fawcett Center in Columbus, Ohio. This will be Zach's second appearance at the State Bee - he also qualified as a sixth grader! Zach is hoping to advance to the National Bee in May - GOOD LUCK!
FAMILY FIRST NIGHT (MONDAY, MARCH 12)
Mark your calendars for Family First Night - Monday, March 12. Family First Night is a night for your family to spend time together. Whether it is eating dinner at the same table, creating a family activity or outing, or having a game night, Family First Night is about putting other activities and events on hold and getting back to the basics of family relationships. No homework or after school activities are scheduled for this night, giving families an uninterrupted night to spend quality time together. Should your family want a “night out,” the Strongsville High School Media Center will be hosting activities from 6-7:30pm. Click HERE for the event flyer and to RSVP.
SHS STUDENTS WIN LOCAL MATH COMPETITION
Approximately 85 students from Strongsville, Rocky River, North Olmsted, Berea-Midpark, Westlake, and North Olmsted recently competed in the annual OCTM (Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Math Contest held at Strongsville High School.
CONGRATULATIONS to Strongsville High School for winning their site with a score of 130 (Rocky River finished 2nd with 98 points). Strongsville had 5 participants advance to the next round at Capital University (Jimmy Foley, Suraj Srinivisan, Ben Koch, Alex Sachelarie, and Shyam Polaconda). These students had 5 of the top 6 scores from the participating schools. Jimmy Foley earned the 2nd highest score in the state.
In addition, Strongsville finished 9th in the state in this competition and 3rd in the state for large schools.
STRONGSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ART SHOW + BAND CONCERT - TUE. 3/13
The 2nd annual Strongsville Middle School Art Show + Band Concert is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm. Come out for a night of fantastic artwork and fabulous music performances by our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands and our middle school jazz bands.
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MRS. LORI YATES, 3RD GRADE TEACHER AT KINSNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mrs. Lori Yates is a third grade teacher at Kinsner Elementary School. With her undergraduate degree from Kent State University, Mrs. Yates has nineteen years experience in education, spending the last five years in our District. A fourteen year resident of Strongsville, Mrs. Yates has two children who have, according to her, “become successful young adults as a result of their Strongsville education.”
Mrs. Yates has high praise for the students at Kinsner, “I have found Kinsner students to be hard-working and eager to learn! I love watching them grow as learners throughout the year, and I love witnessing the ‘aha moments’ as they master new concepts.”
She adds, “Kinsner is lucky to be staffed with dedicated professionals who inspire learning through innovative teaching methods. I am honored to be part of such a positive, supportive team where parents, teachers and staff are always willing to give extra effort to provide each student with the best possible education.”
Thank you Mrs. Yates for positively impacting our third graders at Kinsner Elementary!
MUSTANGS BASKETBALL ‘MARCH MADNESS’ - GIRLS & BOYS TEAMS STILL ALIVE IN POST SEASON TOURNAMENT
Best of luck to the boys and girls varsity basketball teams as they continue to compete in the state tournament. The girls, who have reached the ‘Elite 8’, face Wadsworth tonight (Fri. 3/9) in the Regional Final at 7:30pm at Norwalk High School, with a trip to the State Final Four on the line. This is the first time in 20 years the girls have reached this point in the state tournament - and only the 2nd time in school history!
The boys will face Lorain High School in the District Championship at Elyria Catholic High School on Saturday, March 10 at 7:00pm. The Mustangs, the #11 seed in their bracket, will continue a ‘Cinderella’ run, having defeated #3 seed Elyria and #10 seed Berea-Midpark in their last two games.
Follow all of the Mustangs Athletics news at www.strongsvilleathletics.org
GO MUSTANGS!
STAY SAFE. SPEAK UP!
Strongsville City Schools encourages students, teachers, staff, parents, and other members of our community to report any instances of potential violence, bullying, self-harm or any other issue where students may be at risk. The Stay Safe. Speak Up! link is located in the shortcuts along the right hand side on the homepage of the District website (www.strongnet.org). It can also be found on the homepage of each of our individual building websites. Reporting incidents can be made anonymously online or through a toll free number (1-866-listen2me / 1-866-547-8362).
SCS RECOGNIZED AS ‘DISTINGUISHED DISTRICT’ FOR ‘PROJECT LEAD THE WAY’ PROGRAM
Strongsville City Schools has earned status as a ‘Distinguished District’ for exemplary results in our Project Lead the Way (PLTW) programs. Strongsville is one of only 30 PLTW Distinguished Districts across the country, being recognized for their commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs. Through PLTW programs, students develop STEM knowledge as well as in-demand, transportable skills that they will use both in school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take. As PLTW students progress, they are empowered to engage in problem solving and process thinking, develop technical knowledge and skills, build communication skills, and explore career opportunities.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION WEEK (3/19 - 3/23)
Strongsville City Schools Kindergarten Registration Packets for the 2018-19 academic year are now available and can be picked up at the elementary building closest to your home. This enrollment package contains information regarding kindergarten registration, information about Safety Town, school transportation, and helpful hints you can use to prepare your child for kindergarten.
Please note the following kindergarten registration dates and times - all registration will take place at the SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.) from 8:00am - 12:00pm (no appointment necessary) on the following dates:
Chapman Elementary Kindergarten Students - Monday, March 19, 2018
Kinsner Elementary Kindergarten Students - Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Muraski Elementary Kindergarten Students - Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Surrarrer Elementary Kindergarten Students - Thursday, March 22, 2018
Whitney Elementary Kindergarten Students - Friday, March 23, 2018
**Before your registration date, please go to www.strongnet.org and complete the online registration for the 2018-2019 school year.
Please bring the following documentation for registration:
Student's Birth Certificate
Student's Immunization Records
Proof of Residency - One of the following: tax bill, mortgage coupon, gas, electric or sewer/water bill, insurance policy on dwelling, or a signed rental or purchase agreement
Verification of legal custody/guardianship (only if child is not living with both his/her natural parents): Certified Copy of Court Order or Court Appointed Guardianship
* All of the appropriate items listed above must be provided in order to enroll your child
If you have any questions, please call Sue Kochheiser, SCS Registrar, at (440) 572-7048. Kindergarten is mandatory in Ohio. According to State Law and District policy, any child who becomes five years old on or before August 1, 2018 is eligible for admission into the Strongsville School District's Kindergarten program this August.
SHS MUSICIANS & VOCALISTS EARN HIGHEST RATINGS IN STATE COMPETITION
Wind Ensemble - Superior Rating
Symphonic Band - Superior Rating
Cantorum - Superior Rating
Women's Chorale - Excellent Rating
We are proud of Mr. King and our bands and Mrs. Eicher and our choirs!
MUSTANGS TEAM SHOP - ORDER NOW THROUGH THU. 3/22!
STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TEEN IDOL - FRI. 3/16 AT 7PM
Who will be crowned this year's Teen Idol? Join us for a night of fantastic vocal performances from our talented SHS students on Friday, March 16 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 and available on the event night.
STATE OF THE SCHOOLS PRESENTATION - AVAILABLE ON DEMAND!
Did you miss the recent ‘State of the Schools’ Presentation delivered by Superintendent Cameron Ryba? The entire presentation can be viewed online and on demand HERE. The Strongsville City Schools YouTube Channel features this presentation, as well as concerts, Board of Education meetings, and other school events, to be viewed whenever it is convenient for your schedule.
SHS CHORAL BOOSTERS WING DING FUNDRAISER - SAT. 3/10 6:30PM AT CLEAT’S
Enjoy a night out at Cleat’s and help support SHS Choral Boosters. The ‘Wing Ding’ is set for Saturday, March 10 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm at Strongsville Cleat’s (15147 Pearl Rd.). Tickets are $25 and include all you can eat and drink for the duration of the event. 50/50 raffles, side boards, and basket raffles will also be a part of the festivities. Make plans for a fun night out, benefitting the students in our vocal programs. Click HERE for the event flyer and additional information.
FREE SATURDAY MORNING YOUTH FOOTBALL SKILLS CLINICS (through 3/24)
Join Mustangs Football Coach Lou Cirino and his staff for FREE Saturday morning youth football skills clinics! These clinics are happening now and continue through March 24 - where boys and girls ages 7-14 have the opportunity to develop their skills in a fun, competitive environment. Clinics are held every Saturday from 9:00am - 10:30am in the Auxiliary Gym at Strongsville High School. No registration necessary - we will see you on Saturdays!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Team Strongsville Pancake Breakfast
Who doesn’t love pancakes? Please join us at Applebee's Grill & Bar on Sunday, March 18, between 8-10am for a delicious pancake breakfast! Strongsville Kicks-It, hosted by Team Strongsville, is helping in the fight to end childhood cancer by raising funds for Pediatric Cancer Research. This event will be fun for the entire family! Get your tickets soon...they will sell quickly! You can purchase tickets by emailing teamstrongsville@gmail.com! For more information, please visit www.kick-it.org to see how donations are helping children every day in their fight against cancer.
Panel Discussion on Autism
Join a FREE panel discussion answering questions about autism. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at Lorain County Community College. Click HERE for additional event details.
Head Start Basketball Camp
The 26th annual Head Start Basketball Camps emphasize the FUN-damentals of basketball with individual attention given to each camper. The camps are directed by former Strongsville High School and Kent State University player Mike Klinzing who has more than 25 years of basketball camp experience. The camps are for boys and girls in grades K-8.
Head Start Basketball was recognized as the first Jr. NBA Program of the Month presented by Under Armour, as a result of their emphasis on teamwork, respect, sportsmanship, and teaching the fundamentals of the game in a fun, positive environment.
Head Start Basketball will hold four weeks of camp: June 11-15, June 18-22, June 25-29 & July 9-13 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m all at the Strongsville Rec Center. The cost for each one week camp is $85. Please contact Mike Klinzing at 216-392-4059 or at headstartbasketball@usa.net for more information. Or click HERE to register.
Northeast Ohio Flag Football League
Attention youth football players - there’s a new opportunity waiting for you! The Northeast Ohio Flag Football League is coming to Strongsville for boys and girls ages 5-12. Endorsed by SHS Head Football Coach Lou Cirino, the spring league is now forming. Click HERE for additional information on the Northeast Ohio Flag Football League.
Family Resource Fair
Berea PTA Council is hosting a free event that is inclusive for all families (and all abilities). This Family Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, March 10 from 9am - 12pm at the Middleburg Hts. Community Center (16000 Baglet Rd.). The Fair will have over 55 exhibitors sharing resources for children. Families can expect to find resources including summer programs and camps, various activities including music, art, sports, and social groups, therapy and counseling services, and much more. By putting all these resources under one roof, we hope to help families explore options for their children. This fair has something for everyone regardless of their developmental needs. Click HERE for the event flyer or visit http://www.berea.k12.oh.us/resourcefair for additional information.
Southwest General Safe Sitter Classes
Safe Sitter is a nationally recognized program, developed by a pediatrician, designed to teach both boys and girls, ages 11 -14, how to be safe and responsible sitters. Registration for upcoming classes, including March 30, is happening NOW. Click HERE for additional details and registration information.
Strongsville Chamber of Commerce
Please note the following events hosted by the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. Registration is required for all events. Please call 440.238.3366 to register or for more information. Those interested may also visit www.strongsvillechamber.com to register and to see more event information.
March Luncheon - Mayor Perciak's State of the City Address
March 20, 2018
11:15am - 1:00pm
Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
Business After Hours Event
March 22, 2018
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Buffalo Wild Wings - Strongsville
April Luncheon - Recognizing This Year’s Class of SHS Distinguished Alumni
April 17, 2018
11:30am - 1:00pm
Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
** Please Note Revised Dates for Strongsville’s Annual Homecoming (July 25 - 28)
Strongsville Library
Please note the following March 2018 events at the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration is required for most events. Please call (440) 238-5530 to register or for more information. All events sponsored by our Friends of Strongsville Branch Library. 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 Winter story time sessions are in full swing! Please call the library or stop by the Children’s Desk for more information.
New State of the Art Recording Studio Open to the Public!
The Strongsville Branch Library Audio and Video Recording Studios are now 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.
Meaningful Messages. Saturday, March 10th from 11:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Have something you want to say to someone special? Say it in a unique way by using our brand new studio software! You can record your message in the audio studio or create a video of yourself in our green screen room. Save it on a flash drive or email the finished product to be saved for years to come! Makes for a one-of-a-kind heartfelt gift for just about anyone - parents, significant others, coaches, friends, family members etc.! As only one person can record at a time, please call the branch to schedule your 20 minute timeslot.
Just4You Student Friends. Ages 10-18. Saturday, March 10th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join this group of teen volunteers to get involved in the library and your community. Stop by the Teen Desk for an application.
How to Keep the Uninvited at Bay: The Problem of Wildlife in our Gardens. Monday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m.
Do you have deer, chipmunks, skunks, or rabbits frolicking in your garden? Have they ever dined uninvited on your carefully-tended plants? This talk will focus on the problem of wildlife in our gardens and what we can do about it. Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners will introduce you to deer and rabbit resistant plants and suggest humane options for repelling and eliminating these pesky critters from our gardens.
Parkfit Mall Walkers Wellness Talk: Do Men & Women Think Differently? Tuesday, March 20th at 10:00 a.m.
Join us the third Tuesday of each month for this special wellness talk sponsored by Southwest Hospital. Our speaker this month will Marlene Kurz LPCC-S of Southwest General Health Center Oakview Behavioral Health Services. Ms. Kurz will discuss what research tells us about males and females: their similarities and differences. Registration is requested. 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.
Meet Author Atz Kilcher. Tuesday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Meet Atz Kilcher, star of the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier and author of the new memoir Son of a Midnight Land. Known to many as the patriarch of Discovery Channel’s Emmy-shortlisted program Alaska: The Last Frontier, Atz Kilcher is an artist, a writer, a musician, and the man who taught his daughter, music superstar Jewel, how to sing. His powerful new memoir, Son of a Midnight Land, details his life on the Alaskan frontier and the lessons he learned growing up with a hard father in a hard land. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Mac's Backs - Books on Coventry.
Options for Hip & Knee Arthritis: Good Morning, Strongsville Speaker Series. Wednesday, March 21st at 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. Our March speaker will be Larry Lika, DO orthopedics of Southwest General Health Center. Mr. Lika 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. Refreshments served.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. New Members Welcome!
Our next discussion will be on Wednesday, March 21st. This month we will be discussing Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff. Copies of the book will be available at the check-out desk. Registration for this program is not needed. Join us for an evening of great discussion!
Technology Training Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library is offering a new series of technology training classes for beginners to advanced users. We are also offering more evening classes. 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
http://cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Technology-Training.aspx Here are the upcoming classes:
Thursday, March 22nd / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. PowerPoint 201: Objects
Friday, March 23rd / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Word 101: Basics
Friday, March 23rd / 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Word 201: Tables & Images
Saturday, March 24th / 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop & Illustrator 101
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Friday, March 23rd from 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.
Bouncy Ball Olympics. Grades 3 – 5. Saturday, March 24th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Become a Bouncy Ball Engineer! Perform experiments on the science of elasticity, engineer your own bouncy ball, and compete in the Bouncy Ball Olympics for fun prizes!
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Meets the 4th Monday of each month at 2:30 p.m.
New Members Welcome! Our next discussion will be held on Monday, March 26th. Our March discussion title will be The Green Road: a Novel by Anne Enright. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great conversation!
Stay Connected with Strongsville City Schools
Strongsville High School * Muraski Elementary *
Strongsville Middle School * Surrarrer Elementary *
Chapman Elementary * Whitney Elementary *
Kinsner Elementary * Early Learning Preschool
Website: www.strongnet.org
Location: Strongsville City Schools, 18199 Cook Avenue, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: (440) 572-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/strongsvillecs
Twitter: @strongsvillecs