Mustang Moments

• Important Dates to Remember

• 60 Seconds with the Superintendent

• Bond & Capital Improvement Project Decisions Finalized

• SCS Enrollment Study Completed

• Public Comment - Special Education Funding

• #ForeverAMustang - Nominations for SHS Distinguished Alumni

• 2026-27 Kindergarten Enrollment - Begins Next Week (Tuesday, January 13)

• Feeling Sick? Guidelines for When to Keep Your Child Home from School

• 2026 Community Calendar Delivered to Strongsville Residents

• Mustang Spotlight - Mrs. Samantha Gaul, Kindergarten Teacher - Muraski Elementary

• New Feedback Link at www.scsmustangs.org

• SHS Spring Musical - Playhouse Square Fundraiser

• SCS Featured Job Postings - Join Our Team!

• Livestream Mustang Athletics for FREE

• Right at School

• Stay Safe. Speak Up!

• Community Events

Monday, January 19 (NO SCHOOL)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Thursday, January 22 - 6:30pm
Strongsville Board of Education Meeting*
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
* SCS Board of Education Meetings are live streamed HERE

Many parents find themselves struggling with sick children and when to send them back to school. You do not want your children to miss school, but at the same time, you do not want them returning if they are too sick or could infect others.The following guidelines are based upon the Ohio Department of Health’s guidelines and recommendations. You should keep your children home if they are experiencing:

• Fever over 100° F

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Frequent cough

• Eggs(nits) or head lice-until cleared by nursing staff(see lice policy)

• Persistent pain (ear, stomach etc.)

• Widespread rash

• Signs of conjunctivitis such as red, crusty or swollen eyes

CONDITION: WHEN TO RETURN TO SCHOOL:

Conjunctivitis: 24 hours after treatment starts

Cough: cough is no longer persistent

Diarrhea: 24 hours after last episode of diarrhea

Fever: 24 hours after fever-free (without medication)

Head Lice: hair is treated and nit-free

Impetigo: 24 hours after treatment starts (sores covered)

Ring Worm: 24 hours after treatment starts (sores covered)

Strep Throat 24 hours after treatment starts and fever-free

Vomiting 24 hours after last episode of vomiting

If your child’s absence requires a doctor’s visit, please turn in the medical excuse to your child’s school upon returning.

Mrs. Samantha Gaul has been in our District since 2014, teaching at Chapman and Whitney for her first two years, before landing as a Kindergarten teacher at Muraski Elementary. Mrs. Gaul is also a Strongsville resident and has two children currently attending Muraski (“it allows me to have so many connections with our students and families outside of the classroom!”). She earned her undergraduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University and her graduate degree from Kaplan University Online.

“I love watching our little learners make connections between learning and play. Whether it is playing with farm toys and using new vocabulary from our CKLA curriculum, playing ‘teacher’ and practicing reading and writing together, or playing card or board games that incorporate so many math skills, it is amazing to see that the lessons we put so much time and effort into planning and teaching are meaningful and impactful to our students outside of the ‘lesson.’"

“I love the people I work with! All of the staff members at Muraski are so supportive and collaborative and put in so much time and effort to do what is best for our students, while taking care of one another as well.”

Thank you Mrs. Gaul for going above and beyond in support of our Kindergarten students and creating amazing learning experiences for them every day. #ModelMustang

Thanks to the support of generous partners (see list below), FREE livestreaming has returned to SCS Athletics! Not only is it free, but coverage has doubled thanks to the addition of SMS livestreams. To tune in, fans can watch HERE or download the HUDL Fan app and search for Strongsville High School. The venues that will have events livestreamed include: Pat Catan Stadium (SHS), SHS Main Gymnasium, Serpentini Field at SMS, and SMS Main Gymnasium (not the back gymnasium).

• Strongsville Athletic Boosters

• Strongsville Football League

• Buckeye Speech Path

• Smooth Financial

• Kona Ice

• Infinium Wall Systems

• Jim Carbone

Treehouse Berea Programming

Strongsville Library

Please note the following January 2026 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

IN-PERSON 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.

Teen Knit & Crochet Club. Grades 6 - 12. Monday, January 5th / 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Do you like to craft? Do you know how to knit, crochet, or hand sew? Join us in the TEEN SPACE and bring your own project to hang out with other teens who also love to make things! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!

Young at Heart. Tuesday, January 6th / 7:00 p.m. A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Please call the branch to register.

Mindful Breathing, Gentle Movement. Wednesday, January 7th / 11:00 a.m. Take time for yourself with breath and movement to reduce stress and restore calm. The practice will include movement between chair and floor, with modifications offered. Bring a yoga mat or towel. Registration is requested.

Kindergarten Countdown: Scissor and Fine Motor Skills. For Children entering Kindergarten next Fall & a Caregiver. Friday, January 9th / 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 using scissors and fine motor skills.

Teen Chess Workshop. Grades 6 - 12. Saturday, January 10th / 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Join National Chess Expert, Damon Rucker, teaching teens the rules and tactics of chess through tournaments and challenges to foster healthy competition and critical thinking.

Blood Drive. Friday, January 16th / 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).

Toddler Sensory & Art Play. Ages 1 - 3 with a Caregiver. Friday, January 16th / 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Engage your little one's senses, develop skills, and build brain connections through open-ended art using a variety of tactile materials.

National Popcorn Day. Families of All Ages. Monday, January 19th / All Day. Feel free to POP in and celebrate National Popcorn Day with some games and of course, popcorn! No registration required.

Teen Craft Night: Junk Journals. Tuesday, January 20th / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. For Teens (grades 6-12): Come join us in the Teen Space to learn about what a junk journal is and make your own! 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.

What's "Cooking" After School. Grades 1 - 4. Wednesday, January 21st / 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. This month’s culinary creation will be - Making Butter. Registration required. Spaces are limited. 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.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, January 21st / 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 Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.

Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, January 26th / 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 Broken Country: a Novel by Clare Leslie Hall. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.

Technology Training Class:

Excel Basics. Friday, January 30th / 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Learn the essentials of Excel. Topics include entering data, using autofill and performing calculations using basic formulas and functions. Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent experience.

Toys and Tots. Ages 2 and under with Caregiver. Friday, January 30th / 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Tots and their caregivers are welcome to stop in to play with toys from the Library's Toy Collection. Have fun and make friends!

Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Saturday, January 31st / 10 a.m. VIRTUAL 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.