The Muraski Tribune: Issue 22

Good Morning Families,

I hope you were able to enjoy a little bit of sunshine on Sunday. The May showers have been in full effect, so the sun and warm is so much appreciated. We are now in the final month of the school year, where we are wrapping up our Ohio State Tests for our third, fourth, and fifth graders, completing spring benchmarks for all students, and wrapping up with lots of fun in May.

As we get into the final month of the school year, I want to remind everyone of the importance of reminding your children of the expectations with behavior at school. The decisions they make now are just as important as the decisions they make in August and September, and we'd like everyone to finish the year strong.

Please take a look at the information below. I'd like to personally invite everyone to come out and enjoy Muraski's Art Show on Thursday, May 7th. This is a fantastic event where we get to celebrate the incredible art work that our students produce.

Sincerely,

Mike Griffen

Below, you will see the testing dates that are planned for the 25-26 school year. Each test is taken in two parts over two school days. All assessments for the Ohio State tests will be completed on chromebooks this year. Please mark you calendars to begin preparing for these dates, ahead.

3rd Grade - ELA & Math

4th Grade - ELA & Math

5th Grade - ELA, Math, & Science

Strongsville City Schools is launching ParentSquare, a new districtwide communication platform that will replace Remind. ParentSquare will bring school, classroom, athletics, clubs, and other activity group communication together in one convenient place. Families will be able to receive updates by email, text, app notification, or web browser based on their personal preferences.

What families need to know:

• Remind will continue to be used through the end of the school year and will sunset at the end of May.

• Beginning Monday, June 1, ParentSquare will become the district’s communication platform.

• Families will receive activation information soon, including directions for downloading the app, signing in, and customizing notification preferences.

• Some athletic teams, clubs, and extracurricular groups may begin using ParentSquare earlier.

We are excited about this move as ParentSquare will provide families with a more consistent, streamlined, and accessible way to stay connected.

In the month of May, we will be having all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students complete a school climate survey. Mrs. Cooney sent the questions out to all families earlier last week. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in the climate survey, please fill out this form.

In order to be inclusive of all students and their families, we want to invite those that need it to join us at 4:30pm for the sensory friendly time prior to the art show. Our goal is create a time with less people, less noise, and much less crow. If you plan on attending at this time, please use the sign up button below. This is for families and students who are in need of a calmer and quieter setting, but still want to enjoy the art.

Hello 5th Grade Parents,

Below is the QR code and link to the Sixth Grade Camp website where you can find out information about Camp Fitch and attending camp in the fall. Camp is open to all SCSD registered 6th graders as of Fall 2026.

Registration links for campers and chaperones are on the website. Registration ends on June 20, 2026!

If you have any questions, please email sixthgradecamp@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Sixth Grade Camp Planning Committee

The Muraski PTA Birthday Book Club would like to thank all those who have already donated and helped to provide new books for our school’s library! We are hoping to get about 30 more students to sign up to reach our goal of 100 new books for Muraski's library this year! Students with birthdays March will get a flyer sent home next month. Students with birthdays in April and May will have flyers sent home in early April. All others should have gotten a flyer around their birthday (or half-birthday) month. If you missed a flyer, it is not too late to join. The DEADLINE to join is Friday, May 1st for the 2025-26 school year.

There is a really exciting opportunity for any incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade student to take part in the 2026 edition of the Strongsville Summer Band. It is Monday through Thursday the week of July 13th and July 20th. The concert is on July 23rd at 2:30. Each day is 10am - 11:30am, where students will practice the music, work in small groups, and play some fun camp games. It is a lot of fun to meet other students who play instruments, work through brand new music and perform a concert right before getting back into the school year. There will be popsicles, pizza, and other food provided for them before the concert. All the information will be on the google classroom ( pbdw2dmy ). It is a super fun time and the kids always enjoy it. The theme for this summer band concert will be announced shortly!! If you have any questions please contact Mr. Tyson (btyson@scsmustangs.org). We hope to see you all part of this amazing experience!

Below, you will find information related to everything you need to know about Food Services, Breakfast & Lunch at Muraski and links that you will need to access.

Breakfast Prices: $2.00

Lunch Prices: $3.00

IMPORTANT: If you are a family that could utilize assistance for free or reduced lunch, please see that link below and fill out the necessary forms.

Policy for Free & Reduced Lunch

Free & Reduced Lunch Application Instructions

Free & Reduced Lunch Application

Pay Schools Parent Guide

Pay Schools Link

Shared Food Guidelines

*The Library Administration and all branch locations of Cuyahoga County Public Library will be closed on Sunday, April 5th in observance of the Easter holiday. We will resume normal hours on Monday, April 6th at 9:00 a.m.

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:
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.

Kindergarten Readiness: I Can Do it All By Myself. Children entering Kindergarten in the Fall and their Caregiver. Friday, April 3rd / 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 skills so they can do tasks by themselves.

Teen Knit & Crochet Club. Grades 6 - 12. Monday, April 6th / 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!

Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Monday, April 6th / 7:00 p.m.

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.

Young at Heart. Tuesday, April 7th / 7:00 p.m.

A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is Charlotte's Web by EB. White. Please call the branch to register.

Technology Training Class:
Inkscape Basics. Friday, April 10th / 10:00 a.m. - Noon.
Learn how to create a vector design using this free open-source editor comparable to Adobe Illustrator.

Southwest General Health Talk: Aging Gracefully - Mental Wellness in Later Life. Tuesday, April 14th / 11:00 a.m.

Join Jeffrey Riskin, LISW, from Southwest General Medical Group, Inc.- Behavioral Health, for an inspiring and down-to-earth discussion on maintaining emotional well-being as we grow older.

Beyond the Screen: Protecting Your Eyes in a Digital World. Tuesday, April 14th / 7:00 p.m.

Kevin Walker, licensed Optician and Workstation Ergonomist, will address common issues like blue light exposure, eye fatigue, and eye strain, especially for those who spend time driving at night. He will demonstrate and explain the real-world advantages of using specialty tints and filters, along with simple ergonomic adjustments that can immediately relieve eye strain and make your daily screen time or driving more comfortable.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, April 15th / 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 Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.

Toddler Sensory & Art Play. Ages 1 - 3 with a Caregiver. Friday, April 17th / 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.

Blood Drive. Friday, April 17th / 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).

How to Multiply and Divide Perennials to Gain Free Plants. Monday, April 20th / 7:00 p.m.

Shocked at the price of new perennial garden centers this year? Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County will help you fight inflation by teaching you how to create new plants from those you already own. This presentation will focus on when and how to divide perennials, how to grow new plants from cuttings, propagating by "layering" and how to store and harvest your own seeds. Your garden and pocketbook will thank you for increasing your plant numbers without spending a dime.

Teen Tech: Scratch Coding. Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, April 21st / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Learn about Scratch and code and design your own game! 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, April 22nd / 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

This month’s culinary creation will be - Spring Rolls. Registration is 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.

A Brief History of the Western Reserve. Wednesday, April 22nd / 7:00 p.m.

In partnership with the Strongsville Branch Library and the Strongsville Historical Society, the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center (Speaker TBD) will discuss the fascinating history of the region and present some of the rarest treasures in the Western Reserve Historical Society's collection. This presentation is part of the Strongsville Historical Society’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, April 27th / 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 The Lion Women of Tehran: A Novel by Marjan Kamali. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.

Meet Author Amity Gaige. Wednesday, April 29th / 7:00 p.m.

Join us when author Amity Gaige visits to discuss her latest novel, Heartwood: a Novel. Registration for this event is FREE. VIP tickets are also available for purchase. Each VIP ticket ($20+fees) includes: A paperback copy of Heartwood, VIP seating at the event, signing line priority, and a donation to the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation. To register for VIP, please visit Amity Gaige VIP Ticket Tickets, Wed, Apr 29, 2026 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

For the free seating, registration is on our website or call (440) 238-5530.

Play, Learn, & Grow. Ages 1 - 3 with an adult caregiver. Thursday, April 30th / 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Boost your toddler’s brain through play! Join us for a 5-week series and connect with your kids, community experts, and other families, plus get information about your growing child.

67 Book Club. Grades 3 - 5. Thursday, April 30th / 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Lock in, chat. Forget brain rot! Instead, pick up a book at the library beginning the 1st of each month and join us in discussion and a light snack. Registration is required. Our next discussion title will be A Boy Called Bat by Elana K Arnold.

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Attendance Line

Bus Transportation

Counseling Office

Clinic