Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2018-19 Vol 3, Iss 29)
Our Kids. Our City. Our Future.
IN THIS ISSUE - March 22, 2019
Important Dates to Remember
60 Seconds with the Superintendent
Annual “State of the Schools” Presentation - Watch it ON DEMAND
SHS Principal Dr. Smithberger Named OASSA 2019 Principal of the Year
Issue 4 - SCS Operating Levy on May 7 Ballot
Superior Ratings for SHS Choirs & Bands
Mustang Spotlight - Mrs. Debbie Gonczy, Music Teacher at Whitney Elementary
SMS Art Teacher Mrs. Schindler Named Ohio Art Teacher of the Year
SHS Student-Athlete State & National Recognitions
“We Are Strongsville” - Alexa, Senior at Strongsville High School
PayForIt Transition to PaySchools Central Begins Monday, March 25
Mustangs Team Shop - Available Online Through Sunday, March 24!
Surrarrer Elementary Raises Over $7,000 for American Heart Association
College Credit Plus Deadline For Intent To Participate Form - Mon. 4/1
Harlem Wizards Game - Sun. 3/31 at 4pm
Webpages to Report Fraud and Non-Resident Students
Stay Safe. Speak Up!
Community Events
Important Dates to Remember
Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29
NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
Sunday, March 31 - 4:00pm (Doors open at 3:00pm)
Harlem Wizards Basketball Game vs. SCS “All-Star” Team of Teachers & Staff
SHS Main Gymnasium
Click HERE to purchase advance tickets
Thursday, April 4 - 7:00pm
Board of Education Meeting
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
Friday, April 12 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Rockin’ At The Rec Dance (5th - 8th Grade)
Strongsville Middle School
Theme: Hawaiian
Tuesday, April 16 - 7:00pm
All City Band Concert I
Strongsville High School Auditorium
Wednesday, April 17 - 7:00pm
All City Band Concert II
Strongsville High School Auditorium
Thursday, April 18 - 7:00pm
Board of Education Meeting
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
Friday, April 19
NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)
Monday, April 22
NO SCHOOL (Professional Development Day for Teachers & Staff)
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
Did you know that there is a hidden treasure at Strongsville High School that not many schools in our area have? The planetarium at SHS hosts several classes, and is also an annual field trip destination for our 5th grade students. Click HERE as we visit with SHS Science Teacher Mrs. Maher for this week’s episode, to hear more about how the planetarium fits into the curriculum.
ANNUAL “STATE OF THE SCHOOLS” PRESENTATION - WATCH IT ON DEMAND
The annual SCS “State of the Schools” presentation is now available to watch ON DEMAND. This presentation includes updates on the present and future state of our District from
Dr. Cameron Ryba, Strongsville City Schools Superintendent.
Click HERE for the presentation slides
Click HERE for the entire recorded presentation
SHS PRINCIPAL DR. SMITHBERGER NAMED OASSA 2019 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Dr. Smithberger, SHS Principal, for being named the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) 2019 Principal of the Year!
ISSUE 4 - SCS OPERATING LEVY ON MAY 7 BALLOT
Issue 4 is the 5.9 mill, five year limited operating levy for Strongsville City Schools on the upcoming ballot in May. Funds generated from this operating levy will provide financial stability for our District through the 2026-2027 school year. Looking for more information about Issue 4? Click HERE for additional facts about Issue 4.
SUPERIOR RATINGS FOR SHS CHOIRS & BANDS
The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) large group contest was held last week. Cantorum, Strongsville High School’s select chamber choir, received straight Superior (I) ratings in Class AA, and Treble Choir, Strongsville High School’s select female choir, received a Superior (I) rating in Class A. This qualifies both choirs to advance to the State OMEA competition on May 3rd and 4th. Congratulations to both wonderful choral groups.
Congratulations also to Strongsville High School’s Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands for their participation at District Contest held last week. Both bands received Superior (I) ratings and have qualified for State Contest in May. Wind Ensemble received a perfect score and Symphonic Band missed the perfect score by one point.
Good luck to all of our talented students who will be competing next month at State Contest!
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MRS. DEBBIE GONCZY, MUSIC TEACHER AT WHITNEY ELEMENTARY
Mrs. Debbie Gonczy, music teacher at Whitney Elementary School, has worked in our District for 28 years. She has experience teaching students at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels. A resident of Strongsville, Mrs. Gonczy received her undergraduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University and earned her master’s degree Kent State University.
One of Mrs. Gonczy’s annual productions with students is Veteran’s Day recognitions. Mrs. Gonczy was also a driving force behind applying for and helping Whitney Elementary earn “Purple Star” designation from the Ohio Department of Education. The Purple Star recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.
“Our students always give me the best ideas when it comes to programming, lessons or special effects in a show we are creating. They always keep me engaged in creating new plans. I love my job because it's music and making music is fun, but I also love how my teaching can be used to support the classrooms in many other different subjects. I love working with others to create a great event. We just had a fabulous Art Show, Book Fair and Asian Cultural Night. I really felt that it created a sense of community for our school, to see so many working hard to coordinate such a large event. It was a success because of the coordination with our awesome PTA, our staff who supported it, our art teacher Mrs. Kerr, and the families who presented tables with their various countries,” said Mrs. Gonczy.
Thank you Mrs. Gonczy for sharing your love of music with our students at Whitney and encouraging and inspiring them to see how music contributes to all of their subjects in school! #WeAreStrongsville
SMS ART TEACHER MRS. SCHINDLER NAMED OHIO ART TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Mrs. Schindler, Strongsville Middle School Art Teacher, has been named the Ohio Art Teacher of the Year for Northeast Ohio by The Ohio Art Education Association. Mrs. Schindler has worked in our District for 32 years. In addition to fostering the creativity in our middle school students as part of art classes, she has also worked collaboratively with our music teachers to design a course in art and music production and oversees several student extracurricular groups including film animation club, art club, stamping club, and a comic club. “Mrs. Schindler stands out due to her love and passion for art education and doing all that is necessary for the betterment of children,” Superintendent Dr. Cameron Ryba said. “Mrs. Schindler is a leader. She is a leader in advancing her department, she is a leader in advancing her curriculum, and she is a leader in advocating for students.” Congratulations Mrs. Schindler!
SHS STUDENT-ATHLETE STATE & NATIONAL RECOGNITIONS
Congratulations to these Mustang winter sport student-athletes for earning the following end of season recognitions:
Jordyn Homoki (Swimming) - Named All-Ohio &
received All-American Consideration
Lauren Vargo, Ian Cox, Chris Pichette (Swimming) - Academic All-American
Luke Bell (Hockey) - Honorable Mention, All-Ohio
For the latest Mustangs athletics news, information, schedules, scores, and more, visit www.strongsvilleathletics.org GO MUSTANGS!
“WE ARE STRONGSVILLE” - ALEXA, SENIOR AT STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
What makes Strongsville City Schools a special place? Click HERE for thoughts from Alexa, a senior at Strongsville High School. Alexa has taken many music courses throughout her time at SHS, which have provided a foundation and is charting her course for a career in music when she graduates in May.
#WeAreStrongsville
PAYFORIT TRANSITION TO PAYSCHOOLS CENTRAL BEGINS MONDAY, MARCH 25
PayForIt has upgraded their online payment platform to PaySchools Central. Strongsville City Schools will be transitioning from PayForIt to PaySchools Central during the week of Spring Break, beginning Monday, March 25th. Although this upgrade is intended to be seamless, you will have to register with PaySchools Central, using a desktop or laptop computer with your PayForIt credentials. The auto-replenishment feature in PayForIt will not be activated in PaySchools Central until you login to PaySchools Central for the first time. Once registered, you will be able to use the PaySchools Mobile App, which will need to be downloaded from your app store.
Please login to PaySchools Central beginning Monday March 25, 2019 after 10:00 a.m. to transition your PayForIt account to PaySchools Central. All current PayForIt account balances will transfer over to your PaySchool Central account once this process is complete.
The complete step by step instructions are available by clicking the link here.
Please contact the Treasurer’s Office at 440-572-7021 or devangelista@scsmustangs.org if you have any questions or need assistance.
MUSTANGS TEAM SHOP - AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 24!
Looking to add to your Strongsville Mustangs wardrobe and get some updated Mustangs gear? Click HERE to visit our special, limited time Mustangs Team Shop for short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and MORE! Personalized merchandise is also available. Hurry - Team Shop closes at 11:59pm on Sunday, 3/24!
SURRARRER ELEMENTARY RAISES OVER $7,000 FOR AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Great job by the students at Surrarrer Elementary as they raised over $7,000 for the American Heart Association through their recent ‘Jump Rope For Heart’ charity fundraiser. THANK YOU for your efforts in giving back to this very worthwhile charity!
COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS DEADLINE FOR INTENT TO PARTICIPATE FORM - MON. 4/1
For students intending to participating in College Credit Plus for Summer, 2019 - Spring, 2020, the Intent to Participate Form is due by April 1st.
Visit https://sites.google.com/a/scsmustangs.org/shsguidance/college-credit-plus to see other important deadlines as well as checklists, presentations, and videos to help with the process.
HARLEM WIZARDS BASKETBALL GAME - SUN. 3/31 AT 4PM
The world famous Harlem Wizards return to Strongsville on Sunday, March 31. The Wizards will appear in the Strongsville High School Main Gym to take on an "All-Star" team of teachers, staff, and administrators in our District. Gametime is 4:00pm (Doors open at 3:00pm). Advance tickets are available online at https://harlemwizards.thundertix.com/events/139497 ($10 for students & senior citizens / $12 for adults + applicable service fees) or on the day of the game ($12 for students & senior citizens / $15 for adults). If you already purchased tickets in advance for the originally scheduled 1/31 event, please hold on to your tickets, as they will be valid for admission on March 31. Unfortunately, no refunds are available on advance ticket purchases. We hope to see a great crowd for the Harlem Wizards game on Sunday, March 31!
WEBPAGES TO REPORT FRAUD AND NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS
There are two pages on our District website for reporting fraud and non-resident students within our District. Our Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for individuals to anonymously report fraud, waste, and abuse within the Strongsville City School District. In addition, fraud can be reported to the Ohio Auditor of State at https://ohioauditor.gov/fraud/default.html.
Students of the Strongsville City School District must maintain residency in Strongsville. If you know of someone who is not a Strongsville resident, but continues to send their children to the Strongsville City Schools, please help us by calling and reporting to this number: 440-572-7048 You need not leave your name unless you so choose. A district official will investigate the situation based on your information. You may also email information to: notify@scsmustangs.org.
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).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Jump Rope Club
Welcome back jumpers! Our fourth session of Strongsville Jump Rope Club will be held on Fridays, 5:00 – 6:30pm, April 26 & May 3, 10, 17, & 42 at Muraski Elementary School, with instructors from the Heartbeats Jump Rope Team. We hope you are able to join us! Please click HERE to register or contact Dot Hepp at dot.hepp@roadrunner.com or Pam Evans at messageforpam@gmail.com for more information.
Heartbeats Community Performance
Don’t miss a FREE community show featuring the Heartbeats & Strongsville Jump Rope Club on Saturday, April 6th at 7pm. Their high energy, family fun performance will take place in the Strongsville High School gym.
Great Lakes Science Center - Camp Curiosity
Register NOW for Camp Curiosity at the Great Lakes Science Center. Camp Curiosity takes place this summer, beginning June 3 featuring Legos, rockets, experiments, robots, and MORE! Visit GreatScience.com/camps to register or click HERE for the event flyer.
Healthy Kids Running Series
Don’t miss the “Healthy Kids Running Series” - April 28, May 5, 12, 19, & June 2 at the Westlake Recreation Department (28955 Hilliard Blvd.). All races begin at 2pm. Register for the full series or individual races at healthykidsrunningseries.org or click HERE for the event flyer.
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.
April Luncheon - Strongsville High School Distinguished Alumni
Tuesday, April 16
11:30am - 1:00pm
Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
$20 / person
Women in Business Meeting
Wednesday, March 27
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Painting With A Twist (15225 Pearl Rd.)
$20 / person
Strongsville Library
Please note the following April 2019 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 Spring story time sessions are in full swing! 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.
Teen Trivia Night! Teens ages 12 – 18. Monday, April 1st / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Calling all trivia buffs! Compete in six, ten-question rounds to win great prizes. Play solo or with a team of up to 4 players. Light refreshments will be served. 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.
Young at Heart. Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Meets the First Tuesdays of the month. A book club for adults who love Children and teen books. Please register in person. The topic for the next discussion is The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor. As he grieves his best friend Benny's death, Mason and his friend Calvin, who are targeted by the neighborhood bullies, create an underground haven for themselves, but when Calvin goes missing Mason finds himself in trouble.
Spectacular American Desert. Wednesday, April 3rd / 7:00 p.m.
Travel with Gale Franko and professional artist and photographer, Alan Studt as they take you on an incredible, and sometimes unpredictable, tour of the wild and vibrant Mojave Desert.
Preschool Indoor Playdate. For Ages 3 – 5 with a caregiver. Friday, April 5th / 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Join others for an hour of relaxed play and socialization. We will also have musical motor activities. Come and have fun!
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
Here are the upcoming classes:
Monday, April 8th / 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Excel 1
Monday, April 8th / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Excel 2
Tuesday, April 9th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Excel 3
Southwest General Hearing Screenings. Wednesday, April 10th / 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
The Community Nurses of Southwest General Hospital will be here to offer free hearing screenings. Reservations are required. Please call Southwest for an appointment at (440) 816-4037.
Just4You Student Friends. Ages 10-18. Saturday, April 13th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Get involved at the branch and connect with your community.
Emergency Preparedness. Monday, April 15th / 7:00 p.m.
The Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management will provide information on the types of incidents that could occur and what it means to be prepared. Plus learn what to include in an emergency kit.
Parkfit Mall Walkers Wellness Talk: Food Labels & Portion Sizes. Tuesday, April 16th at 10:00 a.m. Join us the third Tuesday of each month for this special wellness talk sponsored by Southwest Hospital.
Join us as we discuss the new and improved USDA nutrition facts label. Amy Dunbar, Registered Dietitian from Southwest General Health Center will help us make informed food choices that contribute to healthy eating habits. 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.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, April 17th at 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 Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. 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!
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Friday, April 19th / 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, April 22nd at 2:30 p.m. Meets the 4th Monday of each month. New Members Welcome!
Our next discussion title will be The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great conversation!
Word War II: Life on the Home Front. Tuesday, April 23rd / 7:00 p.m.
In honor and remembrance of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Strongsville Historical Society, in partnership with the Strongsville Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, presents a program about World War II and what life was like on the home front during the war. The presentation will include a slide show and collection of artifacts. Guests are invited to bring artifacts that they would like to display and share with those in attendance. Light refreshments will be provided at this free event. All are welcome! Event held in the Large Meeting Room at Strongsville Branch Library.
Green Screen Workshop. For Teens ages 10-18. Tuesday, April 23rd / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Learn about chroma-key technology by experimenting with a green screen and create a miniature green screen of your very own. This program fulfills some requirements of the Girl Scout Junior Entertainment Technology badge. Participants may be recorded and/or surveyed to capture program's effectiveness. More information can be found at cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options.
Screen Printing. Wednesday, April 24th / 7:00 – 8:45 p.m.
Get creative and screen print a tote bag at the Strongsville library! We will provide the supplies! Sponsored by the Friends of the Strongsville Library Branch. Space is limited, and registration is required.
Who Dun’it? For grades 2 – 3. Saturday, April 27th / 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Test your reading and detective skills to help us solve a mystery! We’ll tell you a little bit about what has happened. Then, with a few clues and witnesses, you can reveal the true culprit of our crime. Will YOU figure out who dun’it?
round the Block: Blockchain Technology Information Session. Monday, April 29th / 7:00 p.m.
Big things are happening in Northeast Ohio with the momentum around blockchain technology and influx of community support and innovation. Blockchain technology is set to disrupt nearly every industry, allowing for secure, real-time, fully-transparent transactions of data and value. Join us for an info session with a representative from Flashstarts to learn more about blockchain and how the organization is supporting local efforts. Students, startup founders, investors, corporate partners, and any community members interested in learning more about these efforts are encouraged to attend. For more info and to register visit http://www.flashstarts.com/infosessions/
Success with Succulents. Tuesday, April 30th / 7:00 p.m.
Succulents can be more than “Hens and Chicks”. The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County will introduce you to many unusual varieties, teach you how to grow and care for them, and help you to design interesting planters.
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