Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2017-18 Vol 2, Iss 33)
Strong Schools. Strong Community. Strongsville.
IN THIS ISSUE - April 27, 2018
Important Dates to Remember
60 Seconds with the Superintendent
Joint Work Session Meeting - Strongsville Board of Education & Strongsville City Council (4/30 - 7pm at SMS)
Purple Up! Monday, April 30
Security Added at Early Learning Preschool & Elementary Schools
Mustang Spotlight - Mrs. Angela Pritts, 7th Grade Intervention Specialist at SMS
Registration Deadline Extended for Next Year’s 6th Grade Camp
John Lipowski Named SHS Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
Kindergarten Early Entrance Testing
Strongsville High School Spring Musical - “The Wiz”
Got Mulch? Strongsville Mustangs Football Mulch Fundraiser
7th Annual SHS Art Show - Fri. 5/4, 6:30pm-8:30pm - SHS Gym
Superior Ratings for Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band
Strongsville Athletic Boosters Golf Outing
Community Conversations - Video On Demand
Stay Safe. Speak Up!
SMS Cheerleading Registration Ends Monday, April 30
Community Events
Important Dates to Remember
Monday, April 30 - 7:00pm
Joint Work Session - Strongsville Board of Education & Strongsville City Council
Strongsville Middle School Auditorium
Tuesday, May 1 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)
Kinsner Elementary Art Show & Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, May 2 - 7:00pm
‘Senior Night’ Choir Concert
Strongsville High School Auditorium
Thursday, May 3 - 7:00pm
Strongsville Board of Education Meeting
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
Friday, May 4 (6:30pm - 8:30pm)
SHS Art Show
Strongsville High School Gymnasium
Wednesday, May 9 (6:00pm - 8:00pm)
Surrarrer Elementary Art Show & Ice Cream Social
Spring Musical (‘The Wiz’)
Strongsville High School Auditorium
Click HERE to purchase tickets
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
This is the time of year for recognition ceremonies and the Top 5% of the Class of 2018 was honored this week. This is a special ceremony, as not only are the top students recognized, but each student has the opportunity to name a teacher who has made a significant impact on their SCS education. Click HERE for this week’s episode, as we visit with two seniors (George Kinney & Andreea Ciobanu) and the teachers (Mr. Klein & Mrs. Barba) who they honored during this recent ceremony.
JOINT WORK SESSION MEETING - STRONGSVILLE BOARD OF EDUCATION & STRONGSVILLE CITY COUNCIL (MON. 4/30 - 7PM AT SMS)
A special joint work session between the Strongsville Board of Education and Strongsville City Council will be held at Strongsville Middle School on Monday, April 30 at 7:00pm. This meeting is open to the public. Topics to be covered include:
Student Safety
Facilities and Property
Financial Outlook for Strongsville City Schools and City of Strongsville
Continued Operational Coordination between Strongsville City Schools and Strongsville City Council
PURPLE UP! MONDAY, APRIL 30
April is the ‘Month of the Military Child.’ This awareness month was established to underscore the important role youth play in the Armed Forces community. On Monday, April 30, the Strongsville City School District is having a “Purple Up! For Military Kids” day. All members of the school district are encouraged to wear PURPLE on Monday to show our support of military youth and their families for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.
SECURITY ADDED AT EARLY LEARNING PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Strongsville’s Board of Education recently approved the necessary funding and authorized Superintendent Ryba to work with the Strongsville Police Department to provide security coverage at the preschool and elementary schools. This additional security measure is a component of the District’s overall safety plan and will begin on Monday, April 30th.
“The safety of our students, teachers, staff, and administration throughout the District is our top priority. We appreciate our Board’s commitment and support in creating safe environments throughout our schools. We also are grateful for the Strongsville Police Department and their efforts to connect their officers with the students, teachers, and staff in our District.” -- Cameron Ryba, Superintendent of Strongsville City Schools.
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MRS. ANGELA PRITTS, 7TH GRADE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST AT STRONGSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mrs. Angela Pritts is an Intervention Specialist for our 7th graders on the Globetrotters and Pioneers teams at Strongsville Middle School. Mrs. Pritts also co-teaches in math classes. She has been in our District for the entire 15 years she has been in education. Before SMS, Mrs. Pritts worked at a number of our schools, including Albion and Center Middle Schools, and Allen, Chapman, Muraski, and Surrarrer elementary schools. Her undergraduate degree is from Bowling Green State University and she also has a graduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University.
A member of SMS’s Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) team, Mrs. Pritts is always looking for ways to encourage our students. “It means a lot to be a part of a group that is building a positive culture by teaching, encouraging, and rewarding positive behaviors.”
She adds, “I enjoy facilitating learning and being a part of our students growth and development. I am always looking to learn new strategies and skills to help our students learn. In teaching, the students are not the only ones learning. I am very fortunate to work with an amazing, supportive staff at the Middle School.”
Thank you Mrs. Pritts for being part of a great team at SMS and providing our students positive feedback and encouragement in their growth and development.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR NEXT YEAR’S 6TH GRADE CAMP
Attention Parents of Current 5th Grade Students: Please remember to sign your child up for 6th Grade Camp if you are interested. Camp will take place at Skyview Ranch from Friday, September 7 - Sunday, September 9. The deadline for registration has been extended by 1 week. Friday, May 4th will be the FINAL date for registering your child. Please use the following link for registration information:
https://sites.google.com/site/sixthgradecamp/
If you have additional questions, please email sixthgradecamp@gmail.com
JOHN LIPOWSKI NAMED SHS HEAD VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL COACH
John Lipowski has been named head varsity boys basketball coach for Strongsville High School. Lipowski has been a part of Strongsville’s basketball program since 1999, including coaching the 7th & 8th grade basketball teams at Albion Middle School, leading the Strongsville High School Freshman team, and guiding the Mustangs varsity basketball program for the final eight games of the 2017-18 regular season.
Lipowski is a 1991 graduate of Strongsville High School and has been a science teacher in Strongsville Schools for 21 years, teaching at Allen, Zellers, and Kinsner elementary schools, and currently at Strongsville Middle School. For the full press release, click HERE.
KINDERGARTEN EARLY ENTRANCE TESTING
Children turning 5 years of age after August 1, 2018, but on or before December 31, 2018, must meet the requirements of the early entrance assessment to be permitted to attend kindergarten this fall. Testing will be held in April and May. Please register for the screening by calling 440-572-7015.
STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SPRING MUSICAL - “THE WIZ”
Strongsville High School is proud to present ‘The Wiz’ for its spring musical. ‘The Wiz’ is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of modern culture. The 1975 Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Performances are Thursday, May 10 at 7pm, Friday, May 11 at 7:30pm, and Saturday, May 12 at 7:30pm in the SHS Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for students and $18 for adults - click HERE to purchase your tickets.
GOT MULCH? STRONGSVILLE MUSTANGS FOOTBALL MULCH FUNDRAISER
The Strongsville High School football team wants to landscape your yard this spring! They are selling mulch at $50 per yard (5 yard minimum) and will also install it. Fill out this ORDER FORM and return it to the address listed. Paid order deadline is Monday, April 30. Delivery and install date is Saturday, May 5.
7TH ANNUAL SHS ART SHOW - FRI. 5/4, 6:30PM-8:30PM - SHS GYM
Don’t miss the 7th Annual SHS Art Show on Friday, May 4th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at Strongsville High School, featuring:
Over 400 works of art from the 2-D & 3-D High School Art Courses
Collaborative Art making opportunities from the SHS Art Club & NAHS
An Alumni Showcase featuring Strongsville Graduates
Additional featured student artists from grades K- 8th
SUPERIOR RATINGS FOR WIND ENSEMBLE AND SYMPHONIC BAND
Congratulations to the Strongsville High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. Both groups qualified for and participated in the Ohio Music Education Association Large Group State Contest on April 20th at North Royalton High School. Each band took home the top score of Superior Rating. Great job to our student musicians for all of their hard work!
STRONGSVILLE ATHLETIC BOOSTERS GOLF OUTING
Register now for the 5th Annual Strongsville Athletic Boosters Golf Outing. The outing will be held on Friday, June 15th at Bunker Hill Golf Course. 4-man scramble format with a shotgun start at 9:00am. $95 per golfer includes 18 holes with cart, breakfast, lunch, steak dinner, drink tickets, t-shirt, goody bag and more! The outing supports Strongsville students competing in all of our athletic programs. Register at:
https://strongsvilleboosters.membershiptoolkit.com
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS - VIDEO ON DEMAND
If you missed the recent Community Conversation on ‘Preparing Our Students for Life After SHS’, the complete presentation and video of the event is now on demand. This presentation featured SHS Principal Mark Smithberger, SHS Counselor Tara Brzuski, and Polaris Counselor Ned Barnett. Click HERE or visit the Superintendent’s page on the District website at https://www.strongnet.org/Page/12039, where you can find videos and slides from all of our recent Community Conversations.
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).
SMS CHEERLEADING REGISTRATION ENDS MONDAY, APRIL 30
For Strongsville Middle School students entering 7th and 8th grade next year and interested in SMS Football Cheerleading:
Registration is happening now and runs through April 30th for students entering 7th and 8th grade in the next academic year (2018-2019). For more information and to sign up visit: http://strongsvillefootballleague.com/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Heartbeats Jump Rope Team Community Show
See the Strongsville Jump Rope Club perform with the Heartbeats Jump Rope team at their FREE community show on Saturday, April 28 at 7:00pm at Strongsville High School. The Heartbeats Jump Rope Team promotes the sport of jump rope as fun, healthy, challenging, competitive and entertaining for people of all ages. A lifelong sport, jump rope helps build athletic skills and a positive self-image. Team members have won Gold and other medals individually and as a team in USA Jump Rope National Championships and International and World Cup competitions around the world. Click HERE for additional event details.
Arts in Strongsville Chalk Walk
The 7th annual Arts In Strongsville Chalk Walk is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 from 9am - 1pm at the Strongsville Commons (corner of Rt. 42 & 82). Cash prizes will be awarded for judged categories in several age categories. Deadline to pre-register is May 14. Please click HERE for additional information and for a registration form.
Strongsville Women’s League Fundraiser
Strongsville Women’s League invites you to an evening of fun and games at Mulligan’s Bar and Grille on Saturday April 28th from 5 to 8 pm. Admission includes 4 drink tickets (domestic draft beer/wine/well drinks/pop) and wings, pizza, pasta and salad and a chance at a door prize. There will be games to play and a sideboard raffle to benefit our projects and charitable donations. Tickets are $25 in advance by emailing mindyshirilla@sbcglobal.net or at the door for $30. Mulligan’s is located at 20880 Royalton Rd. Strongsville 44136. Check out SWL at strongsvillewomensleague.org
Strongsville Community Theatre - “Godspell”
Strongsville Community Theatre presents “Godspell” - performances will be at the Strongsville High School Little Theatre on April 27th - 29th, and May 3rd - 5th. Showtimes are at 8:00pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and 3:00pm on Sundays. Visit www.strongsvillecommunitytheatre.com for ticket information.
Community Seminar for a Safer Strongsville
The Strongsville Police Department will offer a safety class for residents aimed at protecting themselves from crime on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00pm at the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center. The training will focus on raising awareness of your surroundings, protecting your property and identity, safety when traveling, home security, and identifying and reporting suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood. Register at tinyurl.com/safestrongsville or click HERE for additional information.
Summer Theatre Camp
Strongsville Community Theatre once again is offering a summer camp for kids in 2nd - 8th grade. This year's camp will run from June 11 to June 28, and will culminate in two performances of Disney's 101 Dalmations on June 29 & 30. Registration is now open. Registration materials are on the ‘Youth Theatre’ page of our website: www.strongsvillecommunitytheatre.com
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.
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.
Business After Hours Event
May 10, 2018
5:30pm - 7:30pm
SouthPark Mall
All Chamber Day Golf Scramble
May 14, 2018
11:00am
Weymouth Country Club
May Luncheon - Scholarship Awards and Military Student Recognition
May 22, 2018
11:30am - 1:00pm
Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
** Strongsville’s Annual Homecoming (July 25 - 28) **
Strongsville Library
Please note the following May 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.
* All branches of Cuyahoga County Public Library will be closed on Sunday, May 27th and Monday, May 28th in honor of the Memorial Day Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, May 29th at 9:00 a.m.
Year-Round Story Times!
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers story time sessions year-round for children Birth to Age 5. However, our story time sessions are on hiatus for the month of May. Sessions will resume in June. 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.
Young at Heart Book Discussion. Tuesday, May 1st from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meets the first Tuesday of the month (except where noted.) This is a book club for adults who love Children’s’ and teen books. Please register in person. The topic for our next discussion is The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis. Living a life in the shadows after violently retaliating against the killer who walked free after murdering her sister, Alex unexpectedly befriends guilt-ridden athlete Jake and defiant preacher's kid Peekay, who must navigate Alex's darker nature throughout their senior year of high school.
Less is More: Secrets to Decluttering. Tuesday, May 1st at 7:00 p.m.
Learn some secrets from professional organizer, Sue Lyons, on how to tame the clutter and regain those lost areas in your home, garage or basement. Topics will include how to get started, creating a plan, what to do with the paperwork, and more!
Memos for Mom. Saturday, May 5th from 11:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Mother's Day is almost here! Record a special message for the mother-figure in your life in a unique way by using our 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 the mother-figure in your life! Please note, only one recording can occur at a time. Spots are available on a first come first serve basis during the allotted time period.
Superhero Storytime. Ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver. Saturday, May 5th from 2:00 – 2:45.
In celebration of National Comic Book Day, join us for a SUPER storytime. Costumes are welcome! Registration is required. Hear stories about superheroes, make a cool craft, and color pictures of your favorite superheroes. Each child will receive a free comic book to keep!
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, May 10th / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Excel 101: Data Basics.
Friday, May 11th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Windows 10 Interactive.
Friday, May 11th / 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Outlook 101.
Saturday, May 12th / 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Access 101: Accelerated Class.
Just4You Student Friends. Ages 10-18. Saturday, May 12th 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.
Parkfit Mall Walkers Wellness Talk: Workout & Nutrition Myths Debunked. Tuesday, May 15th 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 be Wendy Zullo from LifeWorks of Southwest General. There is definitely an abundance of information available to us when it comes to exercise and nutrition. Ms. Zullo will help us sort through the most popular myths and separates fact from fiction on workout and nutrition. 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.
Good Morning, Strongsville Speaker Series: Healthy Summer Eating. Wednesday, May 16th 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 May speaker will be Amy Dunbar, registered dietitian from Southwest General Health Center. It's summer...Time to relax but don’t take a vacation from healthy eating. Join us as Ms. Dunbar discusses ways to improve summer eating. She will share tips about nutrition and how to buy fresh ingredients and cook them on the grill to ensure healthy eating this summer. 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, May 16th. This month we will be discussing The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson. 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!
Gross Motor Playdate. Ages 2 – 5 with a parent or caregiver. Friday, May 18th from 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
Join us at the library for some indoor gross motor play featuring bean bag toss, tunnels, a "grocery store" and other Toy Collection favorites.
Things Remembered Reading & Reception. Sunday, May 20th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Join us to hear moving stories written by participants in the six-week writing class, Things Remembered: Memoir Inspired by Objects.
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, May 21st. PLEASE NOTE - DUE TO MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WE WILL MEET THIS MONTH A WEEK EARLY ON MAY 21st. Our May discussion title will be A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great conversation!
Meet Author Michael Goldberg: Beyond Silicon Valley. Monday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m.
Beyond Silicon Valley: How One Online Course Helped Support Global Entrepreneurs by Michael Goldberg grew out of the Case Western Reserve University massive open online course (MOOC) launched on Coursera in 2014 and used Cleveland as a case study for supporting entrepreneurs. Beyond Silicon Valley profiles 20 people who have supported entrepreneurship in communities from around the world that face challenges unheard of in Silicon Valley—challenges like economic hardship, political strife, corruption or a cultural aversion to risk-taking. Through lessons learned from the MOOC, they’ve added vitality, creativity and high-paying jobs in towns and cities all over the world.
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Tuesday, May 22nd from 1:00 – 7:00 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.
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