The Muraski Tribune: Issue 13
Your weekly communication about all things Muraski.
Update from the Principal
I hope you were able to enjoy the weekend, in what brought us our first snow of the year. Although it's a bit early, I love when our kids get the opportunity to get out and play in the snow. Especially as we move towards the holiday season, there's something about it that just makes this time of year feel special.
Below, you will see video that our music teacher, Ms. Marie Dykstra, put together to honor our veterans. As you know, we had to make an adjustment based on the uptick in cases of Covid-19 in our school, specifically the 5th grade, and I'm extremely impressed with how she, and our kids adjusted, so they could still honor those that served our country. Again, a special thank you to anyone who was or is a member of our armed forces and is a part of the Muraski family. We appreciate your sacrifice and your service.
Please take a look at the information below. Remember that we start Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 24th.
Sincerely,
Mike Griffen
VETERANS' DAY TRIBUTE: SEE BELOW
Please Help Muraski PTA with the Sharing Tree: Click Sign-up Genius Below
5 BELOW WILL RAISE MONEY FOR MURASKI
MUSTANGS TEAM SHOP - ORDER ONLINE THROUGH NOV. 17
The Counselor Connection
Model Mustang Recognition
We would like to recognize the following students for demonstrating PRIDE here at school. They have worked hard to demonstrate Model Mustang behavior, showing that they are Prepared, Respectful, Inclusive, Determined, and Engaged:
Skylar Edmondson
Jack Burrows
Zoey Starcovic
Arianna Thomas
Carrick Powell
Grace Riggs
Mariah Flenoury
Leo Jakstas
Marcella Guadiz
Eli Ference
Anthony Yovanno
Alana Rose
Muraski Music Rock Stars: Naomi Rose
Muraski Artists of the Week: Gabriel Lamvermeyer & Connor Gusching
MURASKI MVPs OF THE WEEK: Lucy Lewon
Electrify Your Symphony- Friday, November 19th
PTA Events & Opportunities
Click the links below each image if interested
BRIXOLOGY IS BACK at the Strongsville Rec
BRIXOLOGY™ is back at the Strongsville Recreation Center for students ages 5 – 12 years & class starts next month!
This class offers a unique application of the engineering design process with custom builds designed with master LEGO® building and our very own Research and Development team! From carnival rides to drawing machines, mechanical animals to soaring towers, you’ll explore exciting engineering careers and develop creative problem-solving skills galore.
Register by calling the Strongsville Rec. front desk at 440-580-3260. Please register at least one week in advance.
RED, WHITE, & BLUE CALENDAR (ENCORE SCHEDULE)
Repeat Item: COVID NOTIFICATIONS
When there is a POSITIVE Case within the school the following steps are taken:
- Contact tracing is completed, identifying areas including the bus, classroom, cafeteria, playground, and hallways where direct contact (as identified by district communication) could have occurred.
- If your child is identified as a direct contact, you will receive a phone call from our office to notify you of when this occurred.
- A letter will be sent to ALL families, informing them that there was a positive case in the school. Again, if your child is a direct contact, you will receive a phone call.
- If the positive case is a student who rides a bus, ALL families who ride that specific bus will receive a letter informing them that there was a positive case on their bus. Again, if your child is a direct contact based on contact tracing on the bus, you will receive a phone call.
When Should You Keep Your Child Home?
PLEASE DO YOUR PART. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT FEELING WELL, KEEP THEM HOME and CONTACT THE SCHOOL. WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT!
- A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. This is one of the strongest Covid Symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Persistent cough or runny nose
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
We need you to assist in helping us, by monitoring for these symptoms on a daily basis, and keeping your child home if they aren't feeling well.
Repeat Item: Counseling Services through Nancy Lowrie & Associates
Dear Parents/Guardians of Strongsville City School Students:
We are writing to tell you about an exciting opportunity for you and your child. Strongsville City Schools have a well -established partnership with a Behavioral Health Private Practice, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC, (NLA), that specializes in child therapy, adolescent therapy, and family counseling. All NLA therapists are Masters-level and licensed by the State of Ohio. They are able to diagnose and treat all emotional and behavioral health concerns.
We are pleased to be able to offer you the chance to work with an Ohio Licensed Clinical Therapist in an effort to improve your child’s well being. The following are just some examples of the topics we address in individual, group, or family sessions:
• Strategies for managing relationships with peers, parents and teachers
• Development of social skills and communication
• Ability to deal with teasing and bullying
• Understanding and treating addictions
• Coping skills for anger management, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders • Fostering good choices by decreasing impulsivity and distractibility
• Managing family problems
• Gender Identity Concerns
• Controlling Eating Disorders and Self-harm
Best of all, NLA is able to offer you this service at your school. NLA will send our trained therapists to your school to meet with your child individually during the school day or via teletherapy. Also, to make this easier for you, NLA counseling services are covered under most health insurance plans, including State Medicaid, Medicaid HMO’s (CareSource, Paramount, and Buckeye) and most private health insurance plans (Medical Mutual, Anthem, Aetna, Cleveland Clinic, etc). NLA does all the clinical work plus does the actual insurance billing for you.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to receive confidential sessions with a caring clinician. If you are interested in participating in this program, please return the bottom of this letter to your child’s school counselor. An NLA therapist will call to schedule an initial meeting with you to get your child started in the program and verify your insurance information.
Sincerely, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC
Repeat Item: Stay Safe. Speak Up! Student Hotline
CLICK HERE to access information via our district website.
Repeat Item: Health Protocols from the District
Wearing Masks on the Bus
Per the CDC, all students and staff must wear a mask on a school bus, whether coming to/from school or for an athletic/music trip. CLICK HERE for the mask exemption form, if needed. A new form will need to be completed along with medical or religious documentation if a student is requesting an exemption for the 2021-2022 school year.
Wearing Masks in School
It is recommended that all staff and students wear masks in school, especially those that are unvaccinated, yet it is not required. Please read below and become familiar with the quarantine protocols. The best way to significantly reduce the risk of being quarantined and to stay in school is to wear a mask.
Student Isolation Protocols
If your child tests positive for COVID, s/he is required to isolate at home for then (10) days from the date of the positive test or the onset of symptoms.
Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students Wearing a Mask
If your child is unvaccinated, wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will not have to quarantine as long as your child has no symptoms and was at least 3 feet apart. If your child was less than 3 feet, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.
Student Quarantine Protocols for Unvaccinated Students NOT Wearing a Mask
If your child is unvaccinated, not wearing a mask and identified as a direct contact to someone at school that is COVID positive, s/he will have to quarantine. You can CLICK HERE for a flow chart detailing the quarantine procedures we will follow.
Supporting Students in Isolation/Quarantine
When a student is in isolation/quarantine, teachers will provide the student with their assignments and support through Google Classroom. Additionally, teachers will live stream classroom instruction and/or provide instructional videos. Teachers are only required to live stream instruction for students in isolation/quarantine.
Parent Requests/Masking
If parents at the elementary level request teacher support/feedback in terms of having their child wear a mask at school, we will do the best we can to help out. This means that we will remind the child and share feedback to the parent on how they are doing during the initial weeks of the school year, if requested.
Student Insensitivity/Bullying for Masking
If we have students acting inappropriately towards someone that is wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, we will address it in accordance with our code of conduct in the same manner we handle any other situation of inappropriate behavior for name calling, bullying, etc.
Muraski Elementary
Email: mgriffen@scsmustangs.org
Website: www.strongnet.org
Location: Muraski Elementary School, Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH, USA
Phone: 440-572-7160
Twitter: @muraskiprin