Mustang Moments

Last Week's Poll Question: "Favorite Valentine's Day Gift"

57% Responded "Date Night - Spending Time with My Valentine"

21% Responded "Candy"
16% Responded "Flowers"
6% Responded "Jewelry"

Kinsner 1st grade students enhanced their learning of astronomy by creating their own planets. Their creations featured their favorite animals, hobbies, and things that mean the most to them. The 1st graders worked at home with their families to bring their planets “to life.” Click HERE to see and hear about this amazing learning opportunity!

Strongsville City Schools has launched a new webpage to provide families and community members with clear, factual information about our District’s long-range elementary facilities plan - the Foundation for the Future Facilities Plan - which is under consideration for the May 5, 2026 ballot.

This new webpage (scsmustangs.org/f4f) offers an overview of the planning process, background information, and key considerations that informed the development of the plan. It explains how facility condition assessments and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) renovate/replace methodology were used to evaluate options. The site also includes information on current conditions, proposed project components, community impacts, financial context, and frequently asked questions, along with supporting documents and historical master facilities planning materials.

Four years ago, we engaged stakeholders to help in developing our Strategic Plan. One of the strongest messages we heard from parents was the need for continued improvement in the areas of student behavior and bullying. Over the past two and a half years we've made significant efforts to enhance the learning environment and school experience for every student. Please join us for a Parent Feedback Night on Monday, March 9 at 6:00pm. This event will share updates on this important work and gather parent feedback on progress and growth opportunities. Please CLICK HERE to RSVP before Friday, February 27th for the Parent Feedback Night. We will determine a location for this event based on the RSVP’s received.

Congratulations to the SMS “Mathemagicians” who placed 3rd in the Northeast Chapter Math Counts Competition last weekend. This is the first time an SMS math team has placed in this competition! Additionally, Harshith Nelabhotla qualified to compete at the upcoming State Competition in Columbus on March 7th.

The SMS Mathemagicians team: Nanthini Mathivanan, Bhakti Patel, Aditya Raj, and Christopher Walker. Individual competitors included Rachit Battini, Anna Hockett, Ishaan Jayant, Harvey Lamovsky, Harsh Narayan, Harshith Nelabhotla, and Ani Varigonda. The Mathemagicians are coached by Mrs. Scott (SCS Secondary Math Coach) and Luke Huber (SHS student).

The SMS Mathemagicians are now gearing up for their GCCTM team tournament on March 7th where 60 Mathemagicians will compete in groups of 3 against other area students. Good luck to our mathletes!

Strongsville PTA held their annual ‘Founder’s Day’ celebration this week and recognized ten individuals who have made significant contributions of their time and talents to Strongsville City Schools. Each PTA chapter recognized a deserving honoree. This year’s Ohio PTA Achievement Award winners are:

Nicole Engle (Early Learning Preschool)

Danielle Hacker (Surrarrer Elementary)

Elise Holt (Strongsville Early Childhood PTA)

Margaret Klinzing (Strongsville High School)

Michelle Manno (Strongsville Middle School)

Lou Marconi (Kinsner Elementary)

Kris Nadjem (Whitney Elementary)

Aaron Plut (PTA Council)

Joy Slonaker (Muraski Elementary)

Jill Wagner (Chapman Elementary)

A very special string quartet also performed at the Founders Day event. Thank you to these four freshmen - Kaustubh Devarakonda, Alex Gupko, Jonah Johnson, and Vihaan Yanamandra - who have competed in the OMEA competition as a string quartet since 6th grade, were members of the SMS Chamber Strings, and now perform together as part of the SHS Symphony Orchestra.

The SMS Drama Club is in rehearsals for James and the Giant Peach Jr - with performances scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 7:00pm and Saturday, March 7 at 2:00pm in the SMS Auditorium.

James and the Giant Peach Jr. is a magical musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved story: after losing his parents, young James Henry Trotter escapes life with his cruel aunts when a mysterious gift causes a gigantic peach to grow. Inside the peach he befriends oversized, eccentric insects including a brave Centipede, wise Grasshopper, gentle Earthworm, motherly Ladybug, and loyal Miss Spider. Together they embark on a daring ocean adventure, facing sharks, seagulls, and storms while learning about courage, friendship, and finding a family in the chaos! The score mixes lively, whimsical songs with tender moments, balancing humor and heartfelt emotion for audiences of all ages.

Make plans to see talented SMS students bring this musical to life! To purchase your tickets in advance, please click HERE.

Help support this year's Blood Cancer United (formally Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) Student Visionaries. This year’s Student Visionaries team from Strongsville High School is being led by Anna Placeway, Emily Polo, and Eric Dubsky. The Student Visionaries of the Year program is a philanthropic youth leadership initiative in which high school students compete to raise funds for blood cancer research, advocacy, and support. Student leaders form a team and fundraise in honor of blood cancer survivors. They have created an amazing team, "Mustangs For A Cure" to help them reach a goal of raising $150,00 for Blood Cancer United. They have from January 23rd March 13th to accomplish this task! This year’s team has already been working hard to network with local business leaders, but in order to reach this goal it’s going to take the support of our entire community! How can you help?

1. Donate! Mustangs For A Cure Team Page *Online Donations NOW through March 13

2. Follow them on facebook, Mustangs For A Cure Facebook to cheer them on and follow their progress! Share their page and ask others to follow!

3. Share, attend and participate in their community events.

4. Connect them to local business leaders who may want to join us in their efforts to raise money for Blood Cancer United by emailing mustangsforacure@gmail.com

Don't miss the "Model Mustang Experience" on Tuesday, March 31 from 6pm-8pm at Strongsville Middle School. This FREE community event will highlight our ‘State of the Schools’ and show how education is evolving to prepare today’s learners to be tomorrow’s leaders and thrive in their future. Participate in hands-on activities with our SCS students, teachers, and staff, as they share their learning and work, showcasing interactive experiences that demonstrate the extraordinary ways our District is building "Model Mustangs!" Let's celebrate together the great work happening in our schools on Tuesday, March 31!

Strongsville Athletics is proud to celebrate one of our own! SHS Junior Sidney Butera has been nominated for the Ohio 'Ms. Basketball' Award, recognizing the top players across the state — and we need Mustang Nation’s support.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and Sidney has truly earned her place among Ohio’s best through her hard work, leadership, and outstanding performance on the court. We encourage our students, families, alumni, and community members to take a moment to vote and help spread the word by sharing this link - cast your vote HERE (you can vote an unlimited number of times until Friday, March 6)

Get ready to jump, stunt, and cheer - 2026-27 SHS Cheer tryouts are coming! Step into the spotlight and let your spirit shine! Cheer tryouts are approaching, offering you the opportunity to support SHS, grow as an athlete, and build friendships that go far beyond the season.

Learn all the material you’ll need to succeed at tryouts!

Come ready to learn new skills, work as a team, and show your school spirit. We can’t wait to see your enthusiasm, dedication, and SHS pride—let’s make this season unforgettable!

If you have any questions contact Coach Orlosky at jorlosky@scsmustangs.org

Mrs. Gail DiGioia is in her 24th year teaching science at Strongsville High School. Mrs. DiGioia earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio University and her graduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University.

“I love the moments when I see my students get excited about what they are learning in biology. Sometimes I feel like I can actually see the precise moment when a concept clicks in a student’s mind and becomes something tangible. I enjoy seeing their faces light up with genuine curiosity, and their questions shift from being simple and clarification-seeking to deep, probing inquiries that challenge their understanding. Whether it's the sheer awe of observing life under the microscope or the satisfaction of solving a challenging problem, that visible enthusiasm is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. It validates the effort put into designing engaging lessons and reinforces my passion for teaching.”

Thank you Mrs. DiGioia for being part of an amazing science team at Strongsville High School! #ModelMustang

Strongsville City Schools is proud to be a member of the Southwest Regional Business Advisory Council, consisting of representatives from Polaris, its six partner school districts, and local business representatives. This council has received the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce 2026 Business-Education Leader Award for Excellent Business Advisory Councils and for the second consecutive year, the council earned the highest 4-Star rating - one of only four councils statewide to receive a special Excellence Designation for outstanding work in coordinating career development experiences, strengthening partnerships and helping students build future-ready professional skills. Click HERE for the 2025 Southwest Regional Business Advisory Council Joint Statement.

Get ready to turn your passion for fashion into a profession. Polaris Career Center is launching an exciting NEW Fashion Design & Merchandising program next fall - and it’s unlike anything they’ve offered before. This innovative two-year program will be housed at Berea-Midpark High School and is open to incoming juniors from all six Polaris partner high schools. Developed in partnership with the Kent State University School of Fashion - one of the nation’s premier fashion programs - students will gain real-world experience and industry insight in Fashion Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and much MORE!

Family First Solutions, a partner with Strongsville City Schools providing mental health support services, presents several workshops in the upcoming months (see flyers below). Please email Carrie Jancar (cjancar@scsmustangs.org) to hold your spot in these study skills and parenting workshops.

There’s a new feedback link at the bottom of our District’s webpage.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback about our website or about SCS in general - send an email to
feedback@scsmustangs.org

The SHS Theatre Department is collaborating with Playhouse Square to sell a block of tickets for the upcoming national tour of The Outsiders on Sunday May 3, 2025 at 6:30pm. Funds will go toward the mounting of SHS's spring musical, Anything Goes.

SHS FUNdraiser prices range from $37.50 - $117.50 (Regular prices range from $42.00 - $150.00)

SHS Theatre Department will receive $10 for every ticket sold. For those interested, all you need to do is visit the following website: Strongsville High School Fundraiser Night at The Outsiders There are instructions explaining how to purchase tickets. You must enter the promo code SHSMUSICAL in the purple box on the top left. That will open up the ticket purchase below when the web page refreshes. Then, you may purchase any seat offered on the seating chart. Thanks for supporting the SHS Spring Musical!

Doughnut lovers - we have a treat for you! Charitable (so guilt-free), fresh to order (and perfectly glazed), dozens of doughnuts!! The SHS Theatre Department just launched a GroupRaise Krispy Kreme Digital Dozen fundraising campaign to support their upcoming spring musical, Anything Goes. From now until March 27, 2026, 50% of orders will be donated back to our cause when you purchase your doughnuts using our fundraising sales page. $15.00 per dozen!!

** Also, you can order as many dozens as you wish and use them throughout the year. For instance, you could order 5 dozen and use one per month without worry of expiration **

Orders MUST be made through the website below and are NOT LIMITED to the local Middleburg Heights location. So please inform family & friends in other cities and states.

SHS Theatre Krispy Kreme Fundraiser Link

Strongsville City Schools is looking for our next great team members! We are currently hiring for several positions in our District, including: Substitute - Bus Aide. Additional specifics for this role - Hours Available: 6:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. & 1:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Requirements: Must obtain an Aide Permit ($25 fee) from OHID. You will receive required training and a ride-along for orientation.

Substitutes will be notified in advance when coverage is needed. If you are interested in supporting students and being part of a great transportation team, please contact us (440.572.7060) for more information or apply on our website HERE.

Don’t forget about the upcoming Transportation Department Job Fair on Saturday, March 7 from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Transportation Offices (Rademaker-Miller Lane).

You can see a full listing of available jobs in our District HERE.

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).

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).

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 March programming and activities - including a new Knitting Club!

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
Business After Hours & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

CMIT Solutions (17999 Foltz Parkway, Suite 101)
Tuesday, February 24
5:30pm - 7:30pm

21+ Only, Please
FREE for Members, $10 for Future Members

March Business Luncheon
Annual “State of the City” Address, Presented by Mayor Perciak
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
11:00am – 1:00pm
Members: $25/pp, Non-Members: $30/pp

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