Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2024-25 Vol. 9, Iss. 29)
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
This week, our community enjoyed the “Model Mustang Experience” - an event that provided interactive stations for attendees to learn about the great classroom learning happening throughout our District. Students were the ambassadors, providing their perspective on the skills they are developing in these Model Mustang experiences. If you weren’t able to attend, click HERE for a few of the highlights and to hear from some of the participants and what it meant for them to be involved in this event!
REVISED 2025-2026 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
PLEASE NOTE:
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, a revision to the 2025-26 academic calendar was approved. One reason for the revision was to correct an error that was recently discovered with the previously approved calendar. The error occurred in our day count for April 2026. We had accounted for 18 student days when there were only 16.
We had to determine where to add back those 2 days. We didn’t want to shorten winter or spring break, and adding a 2-day week to the end of the school year in June was not desirable. Therefore, the finalized option was to add them to the start of the school year. To add back in those 2 missed instructional days, the only change made was to start 2 days earlier in August. Students will now start the same week, but on a Monday instead of a Wednesday.
In addition to this correction, we also updated the date of Commencement to reflect the change that we have implemented this year to move to the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend. Click HERE to access the updated and approved 2025-26 calendar.
We apologize for the error and changes to the calendar. It is our hope that this change does not disturb your plans for the final days of summer break.
Thank you for your understanding.
THE “MODEL MUSTANG EXPERIENCE” - FEEDBACK REQUEST
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - JOANNE KALOUDIS, RBT AT EARLY LEARNING PRESCHOOL
Mrs. Joanne Kaloudis is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at our Early Learning Preschool. Mrs. Kaloudis has been working in our District for five years. She also worked previously at Chapman Elementary as an M/I Aide. Mrs. Kaloudis is a resident of Strongsville and has children that have graduated from (and also currently at) SHS.
“I enjoy working with our Preschool students because they are curious, eager to learn, and full of energy. At this age, children are just starting to explore the world around them, and it’s exciting to see their growth. I love helping them develop confidence. The smiles, laughter, and small moments of progress make every day special. It’s truly rewarding to be part of their early learning journey and to create a positive impact in their lives.”
“What I like best about my job is the opportunity to collaborate with a team of passionate teachers and staff. Working together, we share ideas, strategies, and support each other to create the best learning environment for our students. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that is so dedicated. I also enjoy the interaction with our students. Their curiosity makes every day interesting and fulfilling.”
Thank you Mrs. Kaloudis for helping our ‘Mini-Mustangs’ prepare for Kindergarten and beyond! #ModelMustang
ELECTRIFY YOUR SYMPHONY - SATURDAY, APRIL 12
The Strongsville City Schools Orchestra Directors are excited to announce another amazing performance experience for our string orchestra program on Saturday, April 12. Electrify Your Symphony (EYS) is a music education phenomenon that FIRES UP students, teachers, and local communities by injecting a high voltage dose of energy and much-needed funding into a school’s music education program. This intensive experience boosts student self-esteem and motivation, increases school-wide, family and community engagement, and helps raise money for participating schools. Created by international recording artist, electric violinist, and music education advocate Mark Wood, EYS accomplishes this by having a team of teaching artists work with music students to put on real life, real world rock concert, with ticket sales directly benefiting the participating music departments. Tell your neighbors, family and friends about this awesome event being held in our Strongsville High School Auditorium on Saturday, April 12, with performances at 3:00pm & 7:00pm!
Click HERE to purchase tickets for the 3:00pm show (doors open at 2:30pm) featuring SMS 6th Grade Orchestra (2nd Period), SMS 7th Grade Orchestra, and SMS 8th Grade Orchestra
Click HERE to purchase tickets for the 7:00pm show (doors open at 6:30pm) featuring SMS 6th Grade Orchestra (10th Period), SHS String Orchestra, and SHS Freshman Orchestras (combined)
“POLARIS PALOOZA” FEATURES SMS STUDENTS SHOWCASING ENGINEERING & ROBOTICS SKILLS
SMS students were able to showcase their engineering and robotics skills in the annual Polaris Palooza competition. They competed in two robotic challenges - “Mad Grab” and “Dragster” - against all of Polaris Career Center’s partner middle schools (North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Brooklyn, Berea-Midpark, and Fairview Park). Mad Grab requires students to design a robot to scoop up as many balls as possible and deliver them into buckets in a set amount of time. Dragster has students designing a “race car”-type vehicle to see how far it can travel on a runway. Congratulations to the following SMS students who earned awards in the competition!
Hannah Schneiderman, Abby Seitz, and Brooke Senft - 1st Place (Mad Grab)
Lucas Waite - 2nd Place (Mad Grab)
Kaustubh Devarakonda, Vihaan Yanamandra, and Wyatt Zoch - 3rd Place (Dragster)
Some of our SMS students were also featured on a FOX 8 Cleveland story!
SHS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS VISIT SMS
Thank you to the Student Mental Health Ambassadors from SHS who have been visiting SMS 8th grade students throughout this year and sharing with them their experiences and advice to help make the transition to high school easier. This month, our 8th graders were able to participate in activities and discussions with these high school mentors about the qualities of healthy relationships and how to continue to develop positive friendships with classmates.
ORDER YOUR MUSTANGS GEAR FROM “THE DERBY”
Order awesome Mustangs Gear from ‘The Derby’ at Strongsville High School! ‘The Derby’ is a student operated spirit shop located in the SHS cafeteria, providing job training opportunities for students to develop skills necessary for future success - including independence, workplace readiness, job training, communication, problem solving, and leadership!
Check out ‘The Derby’ for items to add to your Strongsville wardrobe - made by SHS students. Items can be personalized and orders can be placed if the item is not available. Items can also be delivered to individual schools or picked up at the high school. SHS students can shop and order at ‘The Derby’ during lunch periods (10:00am - 1:30pm). All proceeds are given back to the Life Skills Employment Readiness Program for continued vocational training. Online orders can be placed using the QR code below or by clicking HERE. Contact thederbyshop@scsmustangs.org with any questions on custom apparel.
HUDL TV BROADCASTS - UTILIZE PROMO CODES FOR DISCOUNTED PRICES TO WATCH SCS ATHLETIC EVENTS
Stream and watch SHS athletic events from the SHS Main Gym on the new HUDL TV. Simply search for Strongsville High School at fan.hudl.com or download the HUDL Fan app in your app store. Right now, you can utilize the following promo codes and receive special discounts for Mustang Athletics action on HUDL TV:
$5 Off All-Access Day Pass: Enjoy all Mustang games with a day pass for just $7.50 using the promo code Mustangs$5.
$100 Off Annual Pass: Get unlimited access to Mustang Athletics for the entire school year for just $95 with promo code Mustangs$100.
Both promo codes are reusable and valid through the Winter Sports season, so don't miss out! Catch every play, cheer on your favorite teams, and save while you stream. Stay tuned in and show your Mustang pride through HUDL TV!
VIEW YOUR STUDENT’S ONLINE ACTIVITY WITH BLOCKSI PARENT PORTAL
Our District has expanded its partnership with Blocksi to include student content filtering and alerts. We no longer utilize SecURLy for these services.
Click HERE to view an informational flier about joining the Blocksi Parent Portal to gain insights on your student’s online behavior with their scsmustangs account, as well as set parental controls beyond the school. If you have any questions, contact Dave Binkley - Director of Instructional Technology - at dbinkley@scsmustangs.org.
RIGHT AT SCHOOL
Right At School provides care for SCS K-5 students before and after school at each of our elementary buildings, with a variety of plan options ranging from once a week to all five days. RAS provides homework support, a fun-based curriculum including American Sign Language, crafts, games and fun activities, afternoon snack, and so much more! For more information on registering with Right at School, visit rightatschool.com. Should you have any specific questions, please contact Matt Urbin, RAS Area Manager (matt.urbin@rightatschool.com / 440.902.1302).
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. Click HERE for additional Stay Safe. Speak Up! Information on the District’s website. Reporting incidents can be made anonymously online or through a toll free number (1-866-listen2me / 1-866-547-8362).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Activities at Strongsville Rec Center - Mad Science & Creative Crafters
Don’t miss two great activities at the Strongsville Rec Center beginning Tuesday, April 8:
Creative Crafters - Click HERE for additional information (Grades 3-6)
Mad Science - Click HERE for additional information (Ages 5-12)
Registration NOW by calling 440.580.3260 or at strongsville.activityreg.com
Head Start Basketball 2025 Summer Camps
Join your friends at Head Start Basketball Camp for our 33rd summer! Now's the time to register so you don't miss out on a great week of basketball skill development, games, contests, and fun. Click the link to get registered! https://headstartbasketball.leagueapps.com/camps
Head Start Basketball Camps are held at the Strongsville Recreation Center
June 16-20, 2025 – Boys and Girls currently in grades 1-6 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)
June 23-27, 2025 – Boys currently in grades 1-6 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)
July 7-11, 2025 – Girls currently in grades 1-6 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)
July 14-18, 2025 – Boys and Girls currently in grades 1-6 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)
Contact Camp Director Mike Klinzing at 216-392-4059 or headstartbasketball@usa.net for more information
Safe Sitter Class - Thursday, April 3
The Safe Sitter Program is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. The Instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to practice rescue skills like choking rescue and CPR! The Safe Sitter Class is scheduled for Thursday, April 3 from 9:00am - 1:30pm at the Safety Town Building next to the Rec & Senior Center. Click HERE for additional registration information.
Treehouse Berea Programming
Treehouse Berea is offering many activities and opportunities for students! From Coding to Robotics to Game Design - there's lots of great STEAM based enrichment experiences for kids ages 6-12. Visit treehouseberea.com to learn more or click HERE for the current flyer about available activities.
Strongsville Chamber of Commerce
Please note the following upcoming events hosted by the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. Registration is required for all events. Please call 440.238.3366 for more information or to register. Those interested in the following events may also visit the Chamber website at www.strongsvillechamber.com to register and see additional event info.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April Business Luncheon
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center (18100 Royalton Road)
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
11:30am – 1:00pm
Members: $25/pp, Non-Members: $30/pp
Registration is Open
May Scholarship Luncheon
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center (18100 Royalton Road)
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
11:30am – 1:00pm
Members: $25/pp, Non-Members: $30/pp
Registration Opens April 16, 2025
Business After Hours
The Hooley Pub & Kitchen at SouthPark Mall (500 SouthPark Center)
Thursday, May 22, 2025
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Members: Free, Future Members: $10/pp
Registration is Open
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
83rd Annual Strongsville Homecoming Festival
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Saturday, July 26, 2025
Strongsville Commons
Firework Display on Saturday, July 26th at Dusk
57th Annual Chamber Golf Outing
Friday, August 22, 2025
Shale Creek Golf Club
5420 Wolff Road, Medina
9:30am – 6:00pm
Registration is Open
Strongsville Library
Please note the following April 2024 events presented by the Strongsville Branch Library. 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.
CCPL Program Guide The Cuyahoga County Public Library program guide is now digital! Want to find out about all the amazing library programs and resources happening around the system? You can view our Program information by going to cuyahogalibrary.org and click on Research & Discover to use the Press Reader resource here:
https://cuyahogalibrary.org/research-discover/resources-a-z/pressreader
English as a Second Language Classes by Aspire Greater Cleveland. If you need to learn English or improve your language skills, we can help. Aspire Greater Cleveland offers FREE beginner, intermediate and advanced-level English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. Strongsville Branch will be hosting morning classes on Thursdays and Fridays. Please call 833.ASPIRE2 (1.833.277.4732) to register or visit https://cuyahogalibrary.org/services/adult-education/aspire-greater-cleveland for more information.
Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services Schedule an individual career coaching session at the Strongsville Branch with one of our Career Services Coaches. Career Services Coaches are available by appointment on Tuesdays to help you discover your occupational interests, create an effective job search strategy, and prepare for job interviews. They can also provide tips that will help you develop top-notch resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. Career Coaching is available by appointment ONLY! To schedule a FREE appointment at our branch, please call Cuyahoga Works Job & Career Services at (216) 475-2225 or email the team at Careers@cuyahogalibrary.org
Storytimes Storytimes are for Birth to Age 5 not yet in Kindergarten. No registration needed!
Baby & Me (Birth to 18 months with a Caregiver) - Mondays / 10:00 - 10:20 a.m. OR Thursdays / 10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Preschool (Ages 3 - 5 not yet in Kindergarten with a Caregiver) - Mondays / 11:30 a.m. - Noon OR Tuesdays / 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. OR 11:30 a.m. - Noon
Toddler (Ages 19 - 35 months with a Caregiver) - Wednesdays / 10:00 - 10:25 a.m. OR 11:30 - 11:55 a.m.
Family - Thursdays / 7:00 p.m.
Young at Heart. Tuesday, April 1st / 7:00 p.m. A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead. No registration. Everyone Welcome!
Kindergarten Countdown: Community. For those entering Kindergarten in the Fall with a Caregiver. Friday, April 4th / 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Join us as we help your child build kindergarten readiness skills in a program aligned to Ohio’s Early Childhood Standards. This session, we will focus on Community.
Teen Knit & Crochet Club. Teens Grades 6 - 12. Monday, April 7th / 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Do you like to craft? Do you know how to knit, crochet, or hand sew? Bring your own project and come hang out with other teens who also love to make things! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
Southwest General Health Talk: Prevent Falls & Improve Balance. Tuesday, April 8th / 1:00 p.m. Feeling off balance or having vertigo? Don’t let your fear of falling keep you at home. Eran Shiloh, PT, Balance Therapist from Southwest General Physical Therapy will discuss fall risks, balance disorders and ways to make your home environment safer. Interested participants can register for a screening to see if they are at risk for falls and if a therapy program could help.
Shucked: A New Musical - Small Town Music in a Big City Medium. Thursday, April 10th / 7:00 p.m. Join us for a presentation by music historian, Stephanie Ruozzo, where we learn about the score behind this "corny" new musical and its departure from a traditional Broadway show.
Technology Training Class:
Excel: Tables & Charts. Friday, April 11th / 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The Library offers FREE computer classes that cover digital literacy basics, Windows, Microsoft Office programs, digital imaging and cloud computing. Learn the benefits of formatting a range of data as a table; how to summarize a large data set with a pivot table; and how to use charts to visually represent data.
Toddler Sensory Art Play. Ages 1 - 3 with a Caregiver. Friday, April 11th / 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Engage your little one’s senses, develop skills, and build brain connections though open-ended art using a variety of tactile materials.
Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Monday, April 14th / 7:00 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 session.
Teen Craft Night. Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, April 15th / 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Come in and learn about watercolors! We will practice some techniques and then look for inspiration to create our own watercolor masterpieces! In order to participate in youth programs that could be considered harmful, Cuyahoga County Public Library requires parents to complete a Release & Hold Harmless Form. The Release & Hold Harmless Form must be completed and returned one week prior to the start of the program.
Digital Navigator Appointments. Wednesday, April 16th / 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. OR Wednesday, April 23rd / 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call us at 216.749.9420 to make an appointment with one of our Digital Navigators at a CCPL branch. Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Digital Navigators service offers one-on-one assistance to help you – or someone you know – connect to the internet, get a device, set up a telehealth appointment and more.
Blow off some S.T.E.A.M. After School. Grades 1 - 4. Wednesday, April 16th / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Ignite your curiosity and creativity through this exploration of all things STEAM. Discover the elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through hands on activities and exploration. Boost your problem solving and teamwork skills in this program.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, April 16th / 7:00 p.m. Our Wednesday Evening Book Discussion meets at 7p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.
What's Behind That Big Grey Wall? - A Walk Through Gardenview Horticultural Park. Thursday, April 17th / 7:00 p.m. The Strongsville Historical Society and the Strongsville Branch Library have partnered to offer this special presentation. Speakers Dain D. Finke and Marla Tooman will be at the Library to share What’s Behind that Big Grey Wall? A Walk Through Gardenview Horticultural Park’s Past, Present, and Future. If you have never been to this hidden gem, join us to learn all about the Gardenview Horticultural Park as they prepare for their Spring Grand Re-Opening. A brief historical society business meeting will begin this presentation. Registration is requested.
Blood Drive. Friday, April 18th / 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 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 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).
Egg-stravaganza. Ages 4 - 6. Friday, April 18th / 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. We will have an egg-cellent time dying and decorating hard boiled eggs provided by the library. The egg-citing news is that you get to take them home with you! 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 the program location at least one week prior to the program start date.
School Age Craft: Yarn Art. Ages 9 - 11. Thursday, April 24th / 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Try something new! Relax after school with watercolor art. Try different watercolor techniques to create unique masterpieces!
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, April 28th / 2:30 p.m. The Monday Afternoon Book Discussion meets at 2:30 p.m. in the Library on the 4th Monday of each month. No registration is required. New members are always welcome. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be All the Colors of the Dark: a Novel by Chris Whitaker. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.
Learning from Our Gardening Mistakes. Tuesday, April 29th / 7:00 p.m. Join us for this gardening presentation by the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County. Every gardener faces challenges in their landscapes. Our speaker will share lessons learned from their own gardening experiences.
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.scsmustangs.org
Location: Strongsville City Schools, 18199 Cook Avenue, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: (440) 572-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/strongsvillecs
Instagram: @strongsvillecs
Twitter / X: @strongsvillecs