Mustang Moments

Last Week's Poll Question: "What is Your Favorite Comfort Food"

42% Responded "Ice Cream"

28% Responded "Pizza"
19% Responded "Macaroni & Cheese"
10% Responded "Chicken Noodle Soup"

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.

The SMS Drama Club performs James and the Giant Peach Jr TONIGHT (Friday, March 6) at 7:00pm and TOMORROW (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.

Mrs. Mary Whitecar has been a part of Strongsville City Schools for 31 years. Mrs. Whitecar has spent time in nearly all of our elementary buildings - having worked with students at Zellers, Allen, Drake, and Whitney. She is currently a Gifted Intervention Specialist at Surrarrer. Mrs. Whitecar earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and her graduate degree from Kent State University.

“I’ve met some amazing people throughout my career in Strongsville and have loved the opportunity to create and collaborate with colleagues, but the most rewarding part of my job has been watching the growth take place throughout the years with my students. They make me smile and laugh every day, and some days I think I learn as much from them as they learn from me. They have kept me young, but I’m now ready for the next chapter in my life. I will be retiring at the end of this school year and look forward to spending more time with my family. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work with the students of Strongsville!”

Thank you Mrs. Whitecar for your dedication to our District and for the countless students you have positively influenced throughout your teaching career! #ModelMustang

Our elementary school students who bought their lunch earlier this week received a surprise - a bag of "Dr. Seuss Wacky Snacks!" They were treated to a cereal-popcorn-crunchy snack mix that had everyone smiling! THANK YOU to SCS Food Services and our elementary cafeteria teams for continuing to find creative ways to make our lunchrooms fun!

The 2025 edition of “The Strohigan” - Strongsville High School’s Yearbook - earned All-Ohio recognition from the Ohio Scholastic Media Association with a NEAR PERFECT score on the evaluation rubric (993 points out of a possible 1,000). The All-Ohio award puts the Strohigan above the gold medal winners in Ohio, recognizing it as the “best of the best.” Editors of last year's Strohigan were Matthew Turski (SHS Class of 2025), Vrunda Desai (senior), and Kadeja Awawda (senior). Additional current Strohigan staff who worked on the 2025 book include Malak Abukhalil (senior), Shayler Smith (senior), McKenzie Chavayda (senior), Brody Selong (senior), and Lulu Nawabit (sophomore). According to Mrs. Heather Keirn-Swanson, advisor for the Strohigan, “for context, this is like winning the State Championship in athletics!”

Strongsville City Schools is forming a new Community Advisory Team (CAT) - a group of parents, residents, and community partners who want to help shape the future of our District. Our first focus: school safety. We’re looking for voices from across the community to join us. Apply HERE by April 1. Let’s build the future of Strongsville Schools together. Click HERE for more information.

Make plans to see the SHS Spring Musical - Anything Goes - performances are Thursday March 19, Friday March 20, and Saturday March 21 at 7pm in the Strongsville High School Main Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased with cash at the door or in advance HERE. ($10 for Adult General Admission / $7 for Students / Seniors / SCS Employees)

Anything Goes involves a love triangle on the luxury liner S.S. American between Billy Crocker, Reno Sweeney, and Hope Harcourt. Billy Crocker, a young broker, stows away to win the heart of the heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to the stuffy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and a gangster known as "Moonface" Martin help Billy, leading to comical and farcical antics as they try to break up the engagement and achieve true love. The Cole Porter score includes popular hits such as “It's Delovely,” “Friendship,” “You're the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and the title song, “Anything Goes."

This year's spring musical production includes 35 student actors, over 20 student crew members, and 20 student musicians.

Great job by SMS students in 7th & 8th grade band who performed at the Cavs/Pistons game this week. The band performed pre-game and then stayed to cheer the Cavs on to victory. Our SMS students helped to build that winning mindset with their great performance even before the tip-off for the game! (see video below recorded by an SMS Parent Chaperone)

The 2026 Ohio DECA State Competition was recently held and 43 SHS students attended and competed. All students had to take a test and complete a role play presentation in content areas such as marketing, entrepreneurship, business law & ethics, hospitality, travel & tourism, and sports & entertainment. Students with high scores from the first round of role play presentations completed another role play in the second round. Of the 28 SHS students who competed in the second round, 25 placed within the top 10 of their event. The top 6 teams/individuals in each event qualified for the DECA National Competition in Atlanta, GA in April. SHS had 13 students qualify for the national competition:

Ishvar Ganesh & Nicolas Mimis (Marketing Management Team Decision Making) - 1st Place
Kya Nye & Jacob Taylor (Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making) - 1st Place
Emerson Dolsak (Hotel and Lodging Management Series) - 2nd Place
Ava Lucas & Mila Stepanovich (Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making) - 4th Place
Maxwell Krabec (Entrepreneurship Series) - 5th Place
Stacey Mraz & Adeline Owen-Kren (Hospitality Services Team Decision Making) - 6th Place
Lillian Drenski & Kadison Rood (Travel & Tourism Team Decision Making) - 6th Place
James Smith (Restaurant and Food Service Management Series) - 6th Place

IT'S THE FINAL WEEK TO DONATE!!

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 $150,000 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!

Don’t miss the FREE SHS Dance Team Recruitment Clinic for advanced level dancers in grades 6-11! Come train with the State Champion SHS Dance Team on Sunday, March 8th from 4:00pm - 6:00pm at Strongsville High School! Meet the coach and team, work on skills expected for athletes on the SHS Dance Team, and receive feedback. Registration is required - click HERE.

* This recruitment clinic is for advanced-level dancers who train 5+ hours per week (competitive dance experience highly recommended)

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

The Strongsville High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for its 2026 Hall of Fame class until March 15, 2026. The Committee will select the 2026 class in March, and this year’s Induction Ceremony will be held October 3, 2026 with the Inductees announced at the SHS football game on October 2, 2026.

Qualifications:

2. A coach or athletic administrator must have served Strongsville City Schools and is currently and/or resigned from the position prior to selection.

To submit a nomination, please fill out this form: Strongsville High School Athletic HOF Application. Questions? Contact Amie LaBahn (amielabahn@gmail.com).

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 Transportation Department Job Fair TOMORROW (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 their current flyer about programming and 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
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

Business After Hours & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Buffalo Wild Wings/Strongsville (8465 Pearl Rd.)
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Admission: Members - FREE / Future Members - $10
Must be 21+ to register for this event

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