Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2024-25 Vol. 9, Iss. 34)
RUNNING WITH THE MUSTANGS
‘Running with the Mustangs’ is a video series to celebrate the “heartbeat of Strongsville City Schools.” This new series highlights students, staff, and programs that make SCS a special and unique place. Click HERE for this week’s episode - which includes interviews with Mr. Wingler, SHS Principal and Mr. Keppler, Assistant Athletic Director.
SCS FINANCIAL FAST FACTS VIDEO
As part of the District's Strategic Plan our Treasurer, George Anagnostou, has been releasing monthly Financial Fast Facts.
Click HERE to view this month’s Financial Fast Facts video, explaining the annual Cupp Report from Ohio’s Department of Education and Workforce, and how Strongsville compares to surrounding school districts.
SCS TREASURER ADVOCATES FOR STRONGSVILLE IN COLUMBUS
House Bill 96 is currently under consideration by state legislators. This week, Mr. George Anagnostou (SCS Treasurer) provided testimony to the Senate Education Committee and advocated for Strongsville as deliberations continue in Columbus.
Please click HERE to learn more about a few of the key elements of the proposed budget/House Bill 96 being considered and the potential impact on Strongsville City Schools.
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - SARAH JANE HESS, SPECIAL EDUCATION AIDE AT KINSNER ELEMENTARY
Mrs. Sarah Jane Hess is in her second year with Strongsville City Schools. Last year, Mrs. Hess worked at Chapman Elementary as a substitute teacher and a substitute in the Special Education department. Building on her personal experiences of being a “class mom” and involved in her own children’s education, Mrs. Hess accepted a position this school year as a Special Education Aide at Kinsner Elementary.
“I was inspired by the amazing students and dedicated staff while working in substitute roles last year at Chapman Elementary. I knew I wanted to be in our schools every day working with students. I’m lucky to be part of a wonderful school community, and work with great teachers and staff at Kinsner Elementary. Being a Special Education Aide means that I am able to clear a path for inclusion. And when there is a path for inclusion, all students benefit!”
Thank you Mrs. Hess for your dedication and passion in helping students grow at Kinsner Elementary! #ModelMustang
MEREDITH RHODES - KINSNER 5TH GRADER - ADVANCES TO NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST
Each year, local Elk Lodge #1815 encourages students in 5th-8th grade to participate in an annual essay contest. This year’s essay prompt was "What Does Patriotism Mean To Me?" There were a total of 692 essays submitted from students in this area and Meredith Rhodes, 5th grade student at Kinsner, was one of 12 local lodge winners. Meredith’s essay has continued through the District and State competitions. She recently found out that her essay won First Place in the State and she is advancing to the National Competition! National winners will be announced later this summer. Good Luck Meredith!
SHS MUSIC STUDENTS EARN GREAT RESULTS AT OMEA COMPETITION
The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Contests were recently held for both choral and instrumental groups and Strongsville students performed at a very high level!
* Strongsville High School Cantorum received a Superior (I) Rating. This group competes at the AA level, which is the highest level of choral literature and sight-reading skills.
* Strongsville High School Women's Chorale received a Superior (I) Rating in Class A
* Strongsville High School Wind Ensemble was one of the few groups to receive a perfect score - Superior (I) Rating
* Strongsville High School Symphonic Band came within one point of Superior, and ultimately finished with an Excellent (II) Rating.
Fantastic job by all of the groups representing Strongsville at the OMEA State Contest!
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING 7TH & 12TH GRADES
Please note the following immunization requirements from the Ohio Department of Health:
All students entering 7th grade need to receive the following immunizations prior to entering 7th grade:
* One (1) dose of Meningococcal [MCV4] vaccine
(A second dose of meningococcal vaccine will be required prior to entry into the 12th grade)
* One (1) dose of Tdap [tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis] vaccine
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All students entering 12th grade need to receive the following immunizations prior to entering 12th grade:
* Two (2) doses of Meningococcal [MCV4] vaccine
Incoming 7th and 12th graders will need to show proof of having received these vaccines before they can return to school for the 2025-26 school year (exemptions are provided for under law, call for more information).
Click HERE for the form to confirm immunizations for 7th graders
Click HERE for the form to confirm immunizations for 12th graders
Section 3313.671 of the Ohio Revised Code states that students who do not provide documentation of this immunization will be excluded from school on the 15th day after entrance, until proof is provided.
SECONDARY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES - SUMMER 2025
Based on our experiences with summer learning over the last few years, we are making some changes this summer. Overall, we are not seeing the impact of summer learning on our students in Grs. K-7 and attendance has been diminishing each year. Therefore, we will not be continuing with a summer learning option for students in those grades. However, we will continue to offer summer learning opportunities for students currently enrolled in Grs. 8-11. Summer learning for these students will be held from June 2 - June 26, 2025. Click HERE for our Summer Learning FAQs.
High School Credit Advancement [Physical Education - Health - Financial Literacy - Economics]. Online Physical Education, Health, Financial Literacy, and Economics classes will be offered to qualifying students. Classes are asynchronous with required in-person orientation on June 2nd and in-person final exams on June 25th and/or 26th. Registration will be open from Monday, April 21st - Friday, May 16th. The cost is $175/class and students may take a maximum of 2 courses. Registration and program information can be found HERE.
High School Credit Recovery Classes. Online credit recovery classes will be offered for current high school students who need to retake a course. Classes are online with required in-person tutoring and final exams on June 25th and 26th. Online registration will be open from Monday, April 21st through Monday, June 2nd. Registration and program information can be found HERE.
SCS FEATURED JOB POSTING - SUBSTITUTE TEACHER & SUBSTITUTE CUSTODIAN POSITIONS
Strongsville City Schools is looking for our next great team members! We are currently hiring for several positions in our District, including the following substitute positions: Substitute Teacher and Substitute Custodian.
You can see a full listing of available jobs HERE.
SCS FOOD SERVICES - FEEDBACK SURVEY
The SCS Food Services department is interested in gathering both student and parent feedback about your experiences with breakfast and lunch in our District, in order to continue to meet the needs and wants of our students and families. Click on the specific links below to help Food Services plan for future school years.
Elementary School Parents - Food Services Survey
SMS / SHS Parents - Food Services Survey
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
Strongsville Rotary KidsFest & Duck Race (Saturday, June 7)
Don’t miss the 12th annual Strongsville Rotary KidsFest and Duck Race on Saturday, June 7 from 11:00am - 3:00pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Chalet in Strongsville. Enjoy pony rides, face painting, inflatables, and MORE! Duck Race begins at 2pm. FREE shuttle from the Strongsville RTA Park-n-Ride. Click HERE for the event flyer or visit StrongsvilleDuckRace.com
Strongsville Historical Society Presents Pottery Sale
What: Pottery Sale
When: Saturday, May 17 / 10:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Strongsville Historic Village (13305 Pearl Road)
The Strongsville Historical Society is offering vintage and antique Ohio pottery for sale at greatly reduced prices. View Fenton, Universal, Weller, Roseville, Labino, Amber, Hobbs, St. Clair, Crooksville, McCoy, Hall, Hull, and others. Some Early American Pressed Glass is also available. Cash, check and credit card are accepted.
The Strongsville Historic Village is available for walk-in tours every Wednesday starting April 17 plus the third Saturday each month starting in May. Two check-in times: 10:00 a.m. and noon. No reservations are needed.
Don’t forget about the Strongsville memorabilia sold in the Olds General Store in the Historic Village where you can buy pottery, aprons, sweatshirts, afghans, vintage Deganhart glass, postcards and note cards, Strongsville Family history books, etc. These items make wonderful gifts! Visit during Village hours or call the Village number at 440-572-0057 to make an appointment with the Store Proprietors.
The Strongsville Historical Society and Village invites you to become a member. Various membership levels are available. Please learn more about the Strongsville Historical Society by going to www.strongsvillehistoricalsociety.org. Also, visit and follow our Facebook page for more information.
Strongsville Historical Society Presents Memorial Day Open House
What: Memorial Day Open House
When: Monday, May 26 / 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Strongsville Historical Village (13305 Pearl Road)
Following the annual Strongsville Memorial Day parade and ceremony, the Strongsville Historical Village will once again be open to honor this special day. All buildings will be open for visiting. Visit our military display, place a blue or gold star on the Gold Star tree honoring veterans, or view the Missing Man Table honoring our fallen heroes. We will also have crafts for the kids to complete during their visit, and a scavenger hunt to learn more about some historic items in our Village.
We’re also excited to announce that we will be displaying some Ohio History Day exhibits created by Strongsville High School students and recently entered in the Ohio Annual History Day competition. Come check them out as you tour the Village!
C’s the Day Kindness Camp (June 9-13)
C’s the Day Kindness Camp - from June 9-13 - is open to kids in grades 1-7. This camp inspires caring, service, creativity, and confidence and strives to motivate kids toward personal wellness, healthy habits, and the spread of kindness. All campers receive a t-shirt with their registration. Camp Director is Margaret Bosela Klinzing. Questions? Contact us at mbosela14@gmail.com Click HERE to register for this upcoming camp.
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
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. Don’t miss the upcoming special Mother's Day weekend event - Weaving Together! 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
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 is Open
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 May 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
Color Our World: Summer Reading Challenge June 2 - July 31 Visit http://ccplsummerreading.org beginning May 1st to register to participate and for more information. Take the Summer Reading Challenge for a chance to win great prizes!
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 on hiatus for the month of May. They will return in June for Summer sessions. See the website for more details.
Play, Learn, and Grow. Ages 1-3 with Caregiver. Siblings welcome. Thursdays, May 1st through May 29th / 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Boost your toddler’s brain through play! A 5-week series for caregivers and children ages 1 to 3. Connect with your kids, community experts & other families. Get information about your growing child.
Teen Writer's Workshop. Teens Grades 6 - 12. Saturday, May 10th / 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” William Shakespeare uses this line in his play Romeo and Juliet to convey that the naming of things is irrelevant. Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour disagrees. Names are somewhat central to our identities, maybe even helping to shape our destinies to some extent. Some of us have nicknames, and some famous people (including Beyoncé) are known by mononyms. Many of us just answer to whatever trendy, retro, or unique names our parents happened to choose for us BUT in this workshop, we are going to consider alternative names for ourselves—serious, silly, make believe or possibly outrageous, building on prompts, she will provide to kick start our creative brain cells. All are welcome, no prior writing experience is required.
Technology Training Class:
Canva Basics. Monday, May 12th / 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Library offers FREE computer classes that cover digital literacy basics, Windows, Microsoft Office programs, digital imaging and cloud computing. Create designs and graphics for print or digital media with this free website. Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent experience. Preferred: Account with Canva.com (bring your password!).
Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Monday, May 12th / 7:00 p.m. IN PERSON
OR Saturday, May 24th / 10:00 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.
Strongsville Historical Society Presents: The History of the Strongsville Police Department. Tuesday, May 13th / 7:00 p.m. In partnership with the Strongsville Historical Society, the Library is presenting this program on the history of the Strongsville Police Department. Strongsville Chief of Police, Thomas O’Deens, will present how, from its beginnings with a pair of elected frontier lawmen, the Strongsville Police department grew, adapted, matured and professionalized to successfully serve and protect the people of Strongsville. He will cover from its start as a frontier township to the modern city it is today.
iMovie Basics. Wednesday, May 14th / 7:00 p.m. Learn the basics of iMovie, an Apple video editing software available in our Audio and Video Recording Studios. We'll review the software and answer questions you may have. We will also review Studio Orientation materials so all participants will be free to use the Recording Studio after the program.
Blood Drive. Friday, May 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).
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, May 19th / 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. Our May discussion is one week earlier due to the Memorial Day Holiday. 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 Shelterwood: a Novel by Lisa Wingate. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.
Intermediate Teen Sewing. Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, May 20th / 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Come in and make a fun project! This is listed as an intermediate class, and prior sewing experience is expected to participate. 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.
Family Puzzle Connection. All Ages. Tuesday, May 20th / 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join us for a spirited night of puzzle piecing competition! Each family will work on assembling 300-piece puzzles in a given amount of time. Please register as a family.
Meet Author Mary Alice Monroe. Wednesday, May 21st / 7:00 p.m. Join us when author Mary Alice Monroe visits to discuss her latest novel, Where the Rivers Merge. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Mac's Backs - Books on Coventry. Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her books have received numerous awards, including the RT Lifetime Achievement Award, Florida Distinguished Author Award, SC Book Festival Award, and the International Fiction Award for Green Fiction. An active conservationist, she lives in the low country of South Carolina where she is working on her next novel.
Stuffed Animal Scavenger Hunt. All Ages. Saturday, May 21st / All Day. Find all the hidden stuffed animals in the library. Small prizes available while supplies last.
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