Muraski Tribune 22-23: Issue 10

Good Morning Muraski Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you rested after a wonderful Fall weekend. It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend, so I hope you were able to enjoy some time outside with your children and families.

This week our students will be participating in ANTI-BULLYING Week. We will share lessons about the importance of standing up against bullying. All in all this fits with the 'I' in PRIDE, being INCLUSIVE.

At Muraski, we want ALL students to feel welcomed, accepted, and supported in our school. We can do this by using kind words, safe bodies, and working together to collaborate and connect with our classmates, understanding that everyone comes to us with a unique background.

See below for information about anti-bullying week.

Let's have a great week!

Mike Griffen

The Strongsville City Schools “Greet & Treat” annual event will be held at Strongsville High School’s Pat Catan Stadium on Monday, October 24 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Dress up in your best Halloween costume and collect candy and treats in an outdoor, family-friendly atmosphere. We will also be accepting donations of non-perishable items for the Strongsville Food Bank and other local food pantries that evening. We hope to see lots of families at this year’s “Greet & Treat” on October 24!

As you are probably aware, Muraski will be holding their annual Halloween Parade and Parties on Monday, October 31st. Information and expectations for the day can be seen below:

COSTUME REQUIREMENTS:

• Students are encouraged to wear costumes to school on the day of our Halloween parties. There will be minimal time to dress, so we encourage children to wear their costumes to school and be comfortable to wear throughout the day.
• Costumes need to be independent, where students can get them on and off on their own, as well as use the bathroom if necessary.
• Costumes should be non-violent, with no depiction of blood or gore.
• Face Paint is not permitted during the school day.
• Students should not bring additional props, any look-a-like weapons (including but not limited to knives, swords, or guns), or other items along with their costumes.
• Masks are not permitted during the school day, but can be worn during the parade.
• This is designed to be a fun experience for our students, so please support us in adhering to the expectations.

PARADE:

• Students will begin their walk in the Halloween Parade at 2:10pm.
• Parents are welcome to view the parade, as we will walk outside on the sidewalk that surrounds our school for all to see.
• In the event that weather does not allow us to be outside, we will hold the parade in doors. More information will follow later in the week if weather does not look like it will cooperate.

PARTIES:

• Parities will immediately follow the parade, from 2:20-3:15pm.
• IMPORTANT: The Head Room Parent is responsible for all food. Please DO NOT send in any food, candy, or edible items on the day of the parties. The head room parent is responsible for coordinating and checking all food ahead of time.
• If your child/family does not recognize or celebrate Halloween, they can be picked up early or we can plan alternative activities in a separate location.

The following students were recognized as PRIDE Ticket Winners in the following weeks. We appreciate their commitment to demonstrating PRIDE in our classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, and playground, as well as throughout the school.

Kindergarten: Aiden Haynik, Sam Allenson, Ada Kall, Shema Dasari, Lucy Begley, Jenna Koch, Jordan Metcalf, Nadav Kessler, Braylon Ramirez, and James Peel

First Grade: Miles Kalbrunner, Mykysta Lozovyy, Max Bilsky, Emma Kraynik, Gracie Dean, Alana Stang, Chesney Binette, Eva Gleske, Henry Seuffert, Brynleigh Benson, Timmy Riolo, Aaya Goyal, Ben Porter, Nola Krenek, Carrie Ann Yates, and Amelia Eid

Second Grade: Emma Maslowski, Hailey Lieb, Dominic Graham, Marola Henin, Wynston Drozdowski, Lianna Flowers, Zach Boll, Amelia Kempton, Zach White, Olivia Aguilo, Johnny Janakovich, and Samanna Krishnan, Killian Focareto, Kiri Phillips, Isaac Kinas, and Delaney DiFranco

Third Grade: Macy Flenoury, Ewan Kerns, Jude Freese, Anna Rade, David Kitely, Isabella Moon, Robbie Arnold, Logan Lanham, Addie Aguilo, Dahlia Ivancic, Kyndal Hula, Jonathan Walker, Sharanya Nandyala, Natalie Benisek, Michael Simonetta, and Brody Perrot

Fourth Grade: Annie Riolo, Collin Longfield, Phoebe Vasil, Madeline Halverstadt, Brody Ray, Alexis Christopher, Gwen Goldsmith, Lauren Jovik, Tanvi Yerrouju, Emma Gross, Synoria Thomas, Ethan Kruzewski, Vivian Borros, Marilyn Brown, Olivia Edwards, and Ellie Stpanik-Hawes

Fifth Grade: Adrianna Woodes, MIka Jokic, Owen Haumesser, Percy Lin, Prisha Kaur, Sai Rohith Nandyala, Jennah Suleiman, Jocelynn Stiffler, Roz Al Janabi, Brad Lieb, Blake Scheiman, and Marceline Rodgers

As you all know, PBIS is our system for teaching and managing behavior at Muraski. One of the ways we track behavior is using something we call PRIDE Reminders through our PRIDE Tracker. Below is a data for the month of September, detailing the number of infractions issued at each level and for what category.

Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Project Reflections! This year’s theme - “Show Your Voice” - calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts. Please come out to a parent/student informational meeting this Monday October 3rd at 7pm at the Strongsville Library in the Conference room. This meeting is for elementary students and their parents. Questions? Feel free to contact Katie Drake at drake4jc@gmail.com

For the 2022-23 school year, we will be returning to our normal school breakfast / lunch program. The free program has been discontinued by the Federal government. To determine eligibility for free / reduced lunch, as well as various additional state and federal program benefits inclusive of possible district student fees being waived, an application must be completed online. The 2022-23 Free / Reduced Meal Application is currently available to complete.

PaySchools Central is an online payment platform to help make managing breakfast and lunch and fee payments easier for families. Click below to set up your portal to be used both online and via the mobile app.

As a reminder, all school fees that have not been paid are now considered past due. To check the balance and pay outstanding school fees, go to Pay Schools Central by clicking HERE. In addition to Pay Schools Central, school fees can be paid by cash/check to your student’s building secretary or with the Treasurer's Office. If you have questions related to this, please contact the building secretary or Dawn Evangelista (devangelista@scsmustangs.org) within the Treasurer's Department. As we are approaching a new school year, as well as the start of fall sports, per Board of Education policy, the consequences for outstanding prior year school fees will prohibit students from participating in any school extracurricular activities (i.e., athletics, student council, school clubs, etc.), field trips, and school sanctioned dances / events that require a purchased ticket. For additional information on District Fee Collection Procedures and Consequences CLICK HERE.

The “Back to School” online SCS Team Shop is now open through Sunday, August 28. Shop for lots of great Mustangs gear, including personalized items! Visit https://mustangs-fall2022.itemorder.com/shop/home/ for the complete selection of items. A portion of sales will be donated back to Strongsville City Schools.

Main Line: (440) 572-7160

Attendance Line: (440) 572-7160 *choose #2*

Bus Transportation: (440) 572-7060

If your student has any medical needs or if they will be taking medication during the school day, please complete the appropriate linked forms and return to our school nurse, Jean Mahoney (jmahoney@scsmustangs.org) in person or via email.

Nurse Jean will be in the in the clinic August 17 beginning at 8:45 am. We also have Nurse Jana servicing our building on Thursdays and Fridays.

***Please note the following October 2022 events being held on ZOOM virtually and presented by the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration and an email address are required for all events for us to send you the Zoom invitation. 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.

English as a Second Language. IN PERSON Thursdays & Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland is once again teaching IN-PERSON classes to help non-native speakers learn English and validate their skills. Students must attend an ESOL/Citizenship orientation session before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. If you are interested in attending these ESOL classes, please call Aspire at 833.277.4732 to register.

Storytimes:
IN-PERSON Storytimes.
Strongsville Branch Library has resumed storytimes in-person. Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays and stories. Group is small and registration is required. Please register each child separately. Only the participating child and one caregiver will be admitted to the program (no siblings, please), due to social distancing space requirements. In-person programs may be held over Zoom if required by CDC and CCPL guidelines. Participants may be recorded and/or surveyed to capture this program’s effectiveness. Learn more about parent options at www.cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. To check for in-person storytime availability, please check our schedule online or call (440) 238-5530.

Young at Heart Book Club. Tuesday, October 4th / 7:00 p.m. Register online. IN PERSON.
A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for this month’s discussion is You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly.

From Uptown Girls to Downton Abbey - How American Gilded Age Heiresses Invaded the UK Aristocracy. Tuesday, October 4th / 7:00 p.m. VIRTUAL.
Long before the British Invasion, the cash-strapped lords, viscounts, and dukes of Great Britain shifted their focus from hunting foxes and pheasants to more lucrative targets: cash-flush Gilded Age American socialites who were willing to trade their family’s money for an ancient title and often a chilly reception in the British aristocracy. Fans of “Downton Abbey” and “The Gilded Age” on television and film will delight as Anglophile and former U.K. resident Claire Evans recounts the tales of some of the famously loaded young Americans who infused bank accounts of many stately homes, including close relatives of Winston Churchill and Princess Diana. She will also give travel tips if you would like to create a Gilded Age tour for yourself. This event is virtual and will be held on Zoom. Please register online to receive a login.

Studio Orientation. Saturday, October 8th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. / VIRTUAL or Monday, October 17th from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. / IN-PERSON.
Have you ever thought about recording your own music, making a video, digitizing memories and more? The Strongsville Branch Library is home to both Audio and Video Recording studios that can help you do just that! You must go through an orientation to use the spaces. Patrons 11 & up can participate in the orientation and must turn in the User Agreement form at the branch for the orientation to count. Register online to attend the virtual or in-person sessions.

Blood Drive. Wednesday, October 12th / 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Donate blood today. For more information or to make an appointment visit www.redcrossblood.org or call the American Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767). 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 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

Audiobook Narration 101. Ages 11 and up. Thursday, October 13th / 7:00 p.m.
Join us in learning the basics of recording yourself reading a book or written work! We will review the software available in our Recording Studio and offer basic instructions to record audiobooks using our Recording Studio. We will also review Studio Orientation materials so all participants will be free to use the Recording Studio after the program.

Fabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabric. Grades 2 – 6. Saturday, October 15th / 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Come join us for fun, hands on activities that let you get close to the action! Be prepared to get in and get messy. Led by volunteers from the American Chemical Society. This program may include activities that could be considered harmful. In order for your child to participate you must sign the Release and Hold Harmless form and return to program location at least one week prior to the program start date. The form can be found at http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Kids-Teens/Parents-and-Teachers/Parent-Options.aspx

Computer Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced. Classes are currently being held in-person as well as some VIRTUALLY which requires a web browser and an internet connection. There is no additional software to download. Google Chrome is the recommended browser. A valid email address is required for registration. Registrants will receive an email with a link to join the class at least an hour before the start time. Registration opens 30 days before the start of the class and closes prior to the start of the class. To see a full class list, descriptions, and to register, please visit
https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes/2021-Virtual-and-In-Person-classes.aspx
Tuesday, October 18th / 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Word 3.
Wednesday, October 26th / 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Excel 1.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, October 19th / 7:00 p.m. IN PERSON.
Our Wednesday Evening Book Discussion meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Strongsville Branch Library. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be Klara and the Sun by Kazou Ishiguro. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.

Friends of Strongsville Branch Library – Fall Bag of Books Sale! Saturday, October 22nd / 10:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Friends Preview 9am-10am Bag sale - Fill a bag for only $2! Buy a membership at the door to enter one hour early! All current members, renewals and new members purchased that morning at the friends’ preview receive a coupon for a CCPL reusable bag (available at the front desk.) The sale opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. Only $2 to fill a bag (bring your own bag that is no bigger than 15 x 15 inches) We will have bags for as long as they last. Lots of books for sale - for all ages! Fiction, non-fiction, audio visual materials, magazines & more!

Friends of Strongsville Branch Library – Fall Bag of Books Sale! Sunday, October 23rd / 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Fill a bag on Sunday for only $1.00! Please bring your own bag that is no bigger than 15 x 15 inches. Lots of books for sale - for all ages! Fiction, non-fiction, audio visual materials, magazines & more!

Friends of Strongsville Branch Library – Fall Bag of Books Sale! Monday, October 24th / 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The Friends bag of books sale will conclude on Monday. All remaining items - fill a bag with books for only 50 cents! While Supplies Last!

Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, October 24th / 2:30 p.m. IN PERSON.
The Monday Afternoon Book Discussion meets at 2:30 p.m. in the Library on the 4th Monday of each month. No registration required. New members always welcome. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.

Presidents’ Wives from Ohio. Tuesday, October 25th / 7:00 p.m.
The Strongsville Historical Society in partnership with the Strongsville Branch Library will present this living history presentation with the Presidents' Wives from Ohio. Join us to see actors in full costume, as they present the eight First Ladies of the Ohio Presidents of the United States. Those in attendance will enjoy as they tell some interesting and little told facts of the lives of each of the First Ladies. Registration is required.

Meet Author Shelley Shepard Gray. Thursday, October 27th / 7:00 p.m.
Join us when author Shelley Shepard Gray visits to discuss her new inspirational romance novel, Happily Ever Amish. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Mac’s Backs – Books on Coventry.

Halloween Storytime and Costume Parade. Ages 3 – 5. Monday, October 31st / 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Enjoy a friendly Halloween gathering with stories, music, and a craft. Costumes are encouraged. Then we'll parade through the library to collect goodies to take home!

Principal: Mike Griffen- mgriffen@scsmustangs.org

Assistant Principal: Sam Lawrence- slawrence@scsmustangs.org

Email: mgriffen@scsmustangs.org
Website: https://muraski.strongnet.org/
Location: Muraski Elementary School, Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH, USA
Phone: 440-572-7160
Twitter: @MuraskiPrin