Mustang Moments
News From Strongsville City Schools (2016-17 Vol I, Iss 9)
Strong Schools. Strong Community. Strongsville
In This Issue - October 21, 2016
- Important Dates to Remember
- 60 Seconds with the Superintendent
- Inaugural 'Greet & Treat' Event - Wednesday, October 26
- “Fill the Bus” for the Strongsville Food Bank - Friday, October 28
- Mustang Spotlight - Strongsville High School English Teacher Ms. Carol McKnight
- Mrs. Friedman’s “Genre Spiders”
- Community Conversation at Tom+Chee - Thursday, October 27
- Strongsville City Schools Quality Profile
- Did You Know? (Technology)
- Issue 120 - Strongsville City Schools Renewal Levy
- “State of the Schools” Presentation - Thursday, November 3
- Strongsville Jump Rope Club
- Community Events
Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, October 26 - 6-8pm
Community “Greet & Treat” Event at Strongsville Middle School
Thursday, October 27 - 5:30pm-7:30pm
Community Conversation with Superintendent Ryba (“SCS & Technology”) at Tom+Chee
Friday, October 28 - 7pm
Strongsville vs. Brunswick Varsity Football Game
“Fill The Bus” for the Strongsville Food Bank
Pre-Game Ceremony Recognizing Senior Football Players, Cheerleaders, & Band Members
Pre-Game POW/MIA Seat, Flagpole, & Flag Dedication
Car Raffle Winner Announced at Halftime
Thursday, November 3 - 6:30pm
“State of the Schools” Presentation by Superintendent Cameron Ryba (Strongsville Middle School Auditorium)
* Board of Education Meeting will immediately follow the presentation in the SMS Auditorium
Tuesday, November 8
NO SCHOOL (Election Day & District Professional Development Day)
60 Seconds With The Superintendent
This week’s episode visits with Mrs. Megan Wilson, 2nd grade teacher at Surrarrer Elementary. Mrs. Wilson is helping her students learn math in a collaborative, engaging, and enriching learning environment. Click HERE to learn more about the impact Mrs. Wilson is having on our students.
INAUGURAL 'GREET & TREAT' EVENT - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26
Strongsville City School’s SPOT (Strongsville Positive Outreach Team) Committee is proud to present the inaugural community “Greet & Treat” event at Strongsville Middle School from 6-8pm on Wednesday, October 26th. This event is open to all students, staff, and the Strongsville community. Please bring a non-perishable food or monetary donation to the Strongsville Food Bank. See you on October 26th for a special Halloween celebration! Click HERE for the event details.
“FILL THE BUS” FOR THE STRONGSVILLE FOOD BANK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
Bring a canned food donation to the Strongsville/Brunswick varsity football game on Friday, October 28 and help us “fill the bus” for the Strongsville Food Bank.
The Food Bank is especially in need of the following items: canned soup, canned tuna fish, canned fruits, canned vegetables, and boxes of Kleenex.
Look for the Strongsville School Bus in front of Pat Catan Stadium on Friday, October 28th - let’s fill it for the food bank!
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - STRONGSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER MS. CAROL McKNIGHT
Ms. Carol McKnight, English teacher at Strongsville High School, has been a resident of Strongsville for 25 years and has worked in our District for 14 years. She teaches English 12, AP Literature & Composition, and College Credit Plus courses.
Ms. McKnight earned a Bachelor of Science from Miami University. After several years in the corporate world, she made a career switch and earned her Master’s of Education degree from Baldwin Wallace University.
“The best part of teaching is helping students achieve their goals. We have so many talented young people that graduate from Strongsville, and when they come back to talk about achieving their dreams it makes it all worthwhile,” says Ms. McKnight.
Thank you Ms. McKnight for making an impact and continuing to help our students achieve their dreams!
Mrs. Friedman’s “Genre Spiders”
Mrs. Friedman’s 5th grade class at Surrarrer Elementary recently learned about the different genres in literature, culminating in the class creating their very own “genre spiders”. Students were teamed up in pairs and designed their spiders to reflect the characteristics of their specific genre. Featured spiders included an Elvis spider (autobiography genre), an Abraham Lincoln spider (biography genre), an alien spider (science fiction genre), and a detective spider (mystery genre), to name a few. Fantastic, creative work by these 5th graders!
Mrs. Friedman's 5th Grade Class at Surrarrer Elementary
Showcasing Their "Genre Spiders"
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENT RYBA AT TOM+CHEE
Join Superintendent Ryba at the next Community Conversation on Thursday, October 27 from 5:30-7:30pm at the new Tom+Chee. The focus will be on how technology is being integrated into Strongsville City Schools and the impact it has on a daily basis with our students. The District’s Director of Instructional Technology, Vicki Turner, will also be there to answer questions and provide additional insight.
STRONGSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS QUALITY PROFILE
The Strongsville City School District has completed its first Quality Profile. This twelve page document provides an overview of the District and the many ways students, teachers, staff, and administration are contributing to the growth and development of Strongsville City Schools’ students. The Quality Profile has been mailed to over 20,000 homes and businesses in Strongsville. Click HERE to view an online version of the this Quality Profile highlighting the accomplishments of the students, teachers, staff, and administration in our District.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know about the various ways our District is integrating the very latest in technology into our classrooms and further preparing our students for college and career?
+ There are currently over 4,300 chromebooks for students in our District, almost 500 of which are used by our freshman class as part of the 1:1 Device Initiative
+ Google Apps for Education is used throughout the district - a free resource which helps us to be more productive as we collaborate and create
+ Students are continually being taught how to be good digital citizens using a comprehensive tech literacy program that also includes coding at the elementary and middle school levels
+ Technology training is ongoing for our staff and students, as well as available to community groups and families
+ The utilization of INFOSnap, an innovative online solution to registration, continues to realize cost efficiencies for our District and further assists in moving toward a paperless environment
ISSUE 120 - STRONGSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS RENEWAL LEVY
Strongsville City Schools will be placing a renewal levy (Issue 120) on the November 8, 2016 ballot. This is a renewal of an existing operating levy and is not a tax increase. Issue 120 means continuation of the high quality education for our students and community by ensuring:
- Up-to-date textbooks and learning materials to prepare students for college and career
- Access to honors and advanced placement courses
- Bus transportation throughout the community
- Integration of technology into student learning
- Class sizes at an optimum level for student learning
- Co- and extra-curricular opportunities for student involvement
“State of the Schools” Presentation Thursday, November 3
Our students, teachers, and staff are accomplishing fantastic things on a daily basis. To learn more about these achievements in our District, we invite the entire community to join us for a special “State of the Schools” presentation on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:30pm-7:30pm in the Strongsville Middle School auditorium. This presentation is open to the public, with a chance to hear an update from Superintendent Cameron Ryba on our Strong Schools 2020 Plan and also ask any questions you may have about our District. The regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will immediately follow the presentation in the SMS Auditorium.
STRONGSVILLE JUMP ROPE CLUB
Would your child be interested in joining a city-wide jump rope club for the 2016-2017 school year? If interested, please click HERE to complete a survey which will help with planning for this club. Come and see what Strongsville Jump Rope Club is all about with the Heartbeats Jump Rope Team at next Wednesday’s Greet and Treat Event from 6-8pm at Strongsville Middle School. Be sure to wear your tennis shoes so that you can give jump rope a try! Please call Dot Hepp at 216.924.1475 or email dot.hepp@roadrunner.com with additional questions related to the jump rope club. Deadline for completing the survey has been extended until October 26th.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Strongsville Athletic Boosters Social Event
The Strongsville Athletic Boosters Club has an upcoming social event. This evening is NOT a fundraiser and is meant to be a fun evening to get to know other parents in the District.
What: Strongsville Athletic Boosters Night Out
When: Saturday, November 12 (6:00pm - 8:30pm)
Where: Strongsville Cleats
Cost: $20.00 per guest, includes food (mozzarella sticks, pretzel sticks, fried pickles, quesadillas, chips & salsa, cheeseburger sliders, boneless and traditional wings, mac & cheese, and salad) and drink (domestic drafts and house wine).
Strongsville Women's League Pancake Breakfast
Please join the Strongsville Women's League for their Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, October 30th, 8:00-10:00am at Applebee's. Breakfast includes pancakes, bacon and hash browns along with coffee, orange juice, milk, or soft drinks. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children (8 and under). For tickets, contact Mindy at 440-572-4672 or Tamara at tajones66@sbcglobal.net. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door.
Southwest General ‘Safe Sitter’ Classes
Southwest General, partnering with University Hospitals, presents “Safe Sitter” classes. Keep your child safe while home alone or when babysitting. 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. Call Southwest General at 440.816.8036 to register.
Strongsville Historical Society
“Down by the Old Mill Stream Run” with Cleveland Metroparks Historian Judy MacKeigan - Tuesday, October 25 (7:00pm)
On Tuesday October 25th, the Strongsville Historical Society will hold their monthly general event at 7:00pm in the Strongsville Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library (18700 Westwood Dr.). Cleveland Metroparks Historian, Judy MacKeigan, will present “Down by the Old Mill Stream Run”. This promises to be informal, informative and indeed entertaining. Join the community to learn more about the Metroparks Mill Stream Reservation. Please RSVP by calling the library (440.238.5530). For additional questions, please call 440.572.0057 or visit www.strongsvillehistoricalsociety.org.
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 – Hosted by Olympia Sweet Treats & Grill
Thursday, November 3rd from 5:30-7:30pm
Strongsville Chamber members are free! Future members cost just $10 per person.
Holiday Scholarship Dance. Friday, December 2nd. 7:00pm at Michaud’s
Contact the Chamber now to reserve your table! $350 for a table of 10 or $70 per couple.
100% of ticket sale revenue goes toward scholarships
FitKids at Empowering Punch
Empowering Punch in Strongsville offers youth fitness classes for boys and girls ages 3-12. It’s a great way to burn off some energy, and builds self confidence by learning new skills and becoming more physically fit. No experience is ever necessary and the classes are suitable for any fitness level. Visit www.epoweringpunch.com/fitness_classes/youth-fitness/ for additional details.
Strongsville Library
Please note the following October 2016 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 current story time sessions are in full swing! Please call the library for more information about our Fall story time sessions.
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, October 24th. This month we will be discussing Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great conversation!
Down by the Old Mill Stream Run. Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m.
The Strongsville Historical Society presents this special Metroparks presentation. Cleveland Metroparks Historian, Judy MacKeigan, presents, Down by the Old Mill Stream Run, an informal, entertaining, history of Mill Stream Run Reservation. A short Strongsville Historical Society meeting will precede the presentation.
Tales from the Eerie Shore - Ghosts of Ohio. Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of storytelling with award-winning authors, ghost hunters, and para-historians Theresa Argie and Cathi Weber - aka The Haunted Housewives. Gather 'round our virtual campfire for true tales of ghoulish ghosts and creepy cryptids. Ohio’s Heartland is filled with strange creatures, fascinating places, and restless spirits. It’s a spine-tingling tour of the most interesting paranormal hotspots of the north coast and beyond!
Hearing Screenings. Thursday, October 27th from 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Southwest General Community Nurses are hosting a free hearing screening which will be offered by ENT Health Services, Inc. from Southwest General Health Center. Please call 440-816-4037 for an appointment.
Play, Learn, & Grow. Birth - 3 Years Old with Parent/Caregiver. Friday, October 28th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Children will play with developmentally appropriate toys in a play group atmosphere while parents meet and learn from community health experts. Registration begins on Friday, October 14.
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