Imagine that your child is no longer a toddler. He’s outgrown the impulse to hit other kids for no apparent reason. He understands that hitting hurts. He’s not a bad kid but every once in a while someone hits him. Do you tell him to hit back?

This is not an easy question. No one wants his/her child to be picked on. We all want our children to stand up for themselves and get some respect. Certainly we don’t want to raise a bully but we don’t want our kid to be a victim either. Is it ever okay for a child to return violence with more of the same?

Let’s think this through.

If your child hits back occasionally, he will occasionally get into trouble. It will not help your child if he says you told him to hit back. It will not help your child if you tell the authorities you want him to hit back. Hitting back escalates a situation so that instead of one hitter in an encounter, there now are two. Your child is likely to earn the same punishment as the one who started it all.

If your child hits back often, so that hitting becomes his way of dealing with problem people, he will get a reputation for violence. Other kids may goad him, trying to make him hit and getting him into trouble. No matter what the provocation, your child will be looked on as a bully and as someone who goes looking for trouble.

If you still think hitting back is a good idea, see if you can say “yes” to each of these statements:

• Hitting back has never got me into any trouble.
• People like me more because I hit back.
• Hitting back always calms the situation.
• I can use my impulse to hit back at work, at home, and in the neighborhood with no problem.
• Hitting back has enhanced my reputation as a respectable person.

There’s a difference between hitting back and defending oneself in a mugging. Fighting off an attacker in a life-and-death situation is quite different from the sort of playground justice we’re talking about. If you feel your family is in constant danger from violent persons, then there are bigger changes needed in your life than just matching the level of violence around you.

What should your child do instead?

1. Speak up loudly. He could first tell the hitter, “Hey! Don’t hit me!” or “Stop it!” Never underestimate the power of speaking up.
2. Leave the scene. No child should stand for violence against himself. Leaving the area or even going home can stop an altercation.
3. Go to a safe area. On the playground or at the rec center, a child can move to a more populated area, especially one where adults are. Hitters don’t want witnesses.
4. Tell an adult. This is not tattling, it’s getting help in a situation that has gotten out of hand.

Unfortunately, when children tell an adult (you) they are sometimes told to hit back. Don’t do that. Safeguard your child but don’t advise him to do things that will increase his troubles.

Gandhi said, “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

Hitting back doesn’t resolve a situation; it only pulls your child down to the same level as the person who hit first.

Help your child find solutions to social problems instead of creating more.

Here is a GREAT article that summarizes why we are doing APTT conferences at Whitney this year. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships with parents and also help build the community of parents within our school.

Ohio has taken Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which previously was only offered in certain counties, and now offers it to all families with children birth-five. Using this gives families access to free books so they can develop their own in-home libraries. Click on the link below to register to receive FREE BOOKS!

Ohio Imagination Library

The following is information from district offices regarding updating your online account. It is vital that you update ALL information in this site, including up to date phone numbers for emergency contact and the form regarding photos. Please be advised that if you say "no photos," this means your child will not be included in class photos or the yearbook. We'd love for all of our students to be included in school photos, so please compete this form carefully.

Online "Information Update" for the 21-22 school year is now available! This task must be completed by September 20, 2021. The Information Update form must be completed prior to your child receiving report cards, transcripts, parking permits, participation in any extra-curricular activities, school dances and field trips, as well as participation in commencement activities. This process replaces the paper forms sent home at the beginning of each school year. You will use the NEW PowerSchool UNIFIED CLASSROOM (formerly referred to as (PASS) Parent Portal) to access the 2021-2022 information update form. Even though the forms are "pre-filled" please check all information and you have to submit for each form and you must do it for each child that you have in the system even if all the information remains the same.

How do I get started?
Visit the Strongsville City Schools and click on the PowerSchool icon in the middle of the page and log into your POWERSCHOOL Parent Portal account.

1. Select the student you wish to register along the top
2. Click on the "Quick Links" icon in the left hand menu
3. Choose the Link "2021-22 Information Update" within the Custom Links section
4. Enter the birthdate for the selected student
5. Complete the form and submit.

I can’t remember my login for the PowerSchool Unified Classroom Parent Portal.
If you aren’t able to retrieve your login credentials using the Forgot Password or Username link on the PowerSchool Sign In page, please contact your school directly for assistance logging in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

I don't have a PowerSchool Parent Portal (PASS) account.
Contact your school directly for instructions on setting up your account, and your credentials.

Do I have to answer all the questions?
Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.

What if I make a mistake?
If you would like to make a change prior to submitting the form, you can either navigate back to the page using the “< Prev” and “Next >” buttons or if you are on the Review page click on the underlined field. If you have already submitted the form you will need to contact your student’s school so they can make the changes for you.

I’ve completed the form, now what?
Once you have finished entering your information click “Submit.” This will send all of the information you’ve entered to the school. If you cannot click on this button you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions.

What if I have more than one student in the district? Do I need to do this for each child?
Yes you will need to provide information that is specific to each child. We recommend that you complete and submit one form and then start another. This will allow you to “snap” (or share) selected family information, which saves you time.

Help! I’m on the Information Update form and I’m having technical difficulties.
For technical support, visit our PowerSchool Community help center or click “Help” from any form page.