Mustang Moments

Monday, February 17

NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

Thursday, February 20
Parent/Teacher Conferences (PreK-5th Grade)
SCHOOL IN SESSION (Evening Conferences)

Wednesday, February 26
Parent/Teacher Conferences (6th-12th Grades)
SCHOOL IN SESSION (Evening Conferences)

Thursday, February 27 - 7:00pm (6:15pm - Executive Session)
Strongsville Board of Education Meeting*
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
* SCS Board of Education Meetings are live streamed HERE

Wednesday, March 26 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
SAVE THE DATE
The Model Mustang Experience/State of the Schools Event
Strongsville High School

Strongsville High School offers a wide variety of Advanced Placement (AP) classes. SHS AP offerings are some of the most offered by any high school in our area. AP classes allow students to explore subjects that they may be passionate about or want to dig deeper into content. Click HERE to learn more about how these AP courses are impacting our SHS students.

Vinny Koz, 1st Grade student at Kinsner, recently competed in the 2025 World of Wrestling Tulsa National Tournament. Vinny was one of only 6 wrestlers from the Strongsville Mustangs Youth Wrestling Team to compete in the tournament this year. He competed in the 6U Boys 70 pound weight class and placed 1st! This Tulsa National Wrestling Tournament is the largest Junior Wrestling Event in the world - and the toughest tournament for youth wrestlers. Congratulations Vinny!

Cole Flores and Leia Schnell performed in the All-State Band last weekend at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference which was held at the Cleveland Convention Center. This is the highest honor for a high school band musician in the state of Ohio. They were chosen by a statewide audition and were under the direction of Dr. Eric Wilson from Baylor University.

Kyle Snow, Holly Rasanow, Van Hocevar, Alexandria Green, Robert Mosack, and Joe Salsbury performed with the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra last weekend at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference which was held in Cleveland at the Convention Center. The students were selected by audition and part of the group featuring some of the best high school band and orchestra students from around our area.

Andrew Kunselman performed with the 2025 All-State Orchestra last weekend at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference which was held at the Cleveland Convention Center. The All-State Orchestra consists of the best high school orchestra musicians from throughout Ohio.

Mrs. Jen Gleske is in her 2nd year working at Kinsner Elementary as a Monitor. Mrs. Gleske is also a resident of Strongsville - “We moved here (to Strongsville) ten years ago specifically because of the school district, and it was the best decision we could have made. Watching my own children thrive here only confirms that.”

“I absolutely love working at Kinsner and being part of Strongsville Schools. Knowing that I’m surrounded by colleagues who genuinely care about each other’s success and the well-being of our students creates such a positive and motivating atmosphere. It’s truly a team effort, and I feel lucky to be part of it.”

“What I enjoy most about working at Kinsner is the opportunity to interact with every grade level. No day is ever the same, and that makes it exciting and rewarding. I love seeing the unique personalities of each student shine through, and it’s so much fun getting to know them. Their eagerness to share what’s happening in their lives, both in and outside of school, always brings joy to my day. It’s a privilege to watch them grow and mature throughout the year. I truly hope I'm making a positive impact on their lives, as they are on mine.”

Thank you Mrs. Gleske for making a positive impact with Kinsner students! #ModelMustang

Last week’s SCS Business Advisory Council meeting included opportunities for 11th grade students in our SHS Career Exploration Program to gain feedback in small group sessions with local business professionals. Review of resumes, participating in mock interviews, Q&A sessions about career pathways, and learning how to prep for interviews were some of the topics covered.

THANK YOU to our business leaders who are part of the SCS Business Advisory Council. You continue to help our students build skills and confidence, and are preparing them for future success!

Kindergarten and 3rd grade students at Muraski were some of the many who celebrated the recent 100th day of school! Activities included showcasing collections of 100 items, building and creating with 100 blocks, experimenting and developing hypotheses on the age-old question “how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”, and graphing results of a pizza with 100 toppings.

Three SHS students earned awards in the recent Strongsville Optimist Club’s 2025 Optimist Essay Contest. Congratulations to the following:

1st Place - Daniel Lucas
2nd Place - Ava Kreze
3rd Place - Jessey Hanna

The Essay Contest gives young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. This year’s essay contest prompt was "How Optimism has Paved My Road to Success." The three award winners received local scholarship awards - and the first place winner, Daniel Lucas, will move on to the next level of judging, competing for a $2,500 scholarship.

* Jessey Hanna not pictured in photo

The winter athletics season has been full of great team and individual accomplishments! The post season tournaments are beginning, featuring many of our talented student-athletes competing at the highest level. Click HERE for the recent SHS Athletics Newsletter with detailed information on all of the winter sports at SHS.

Attention local seventh and eighth grade girls! You're invited to take a deep dive into the construction field at the First Annual BuildHER event at Polaris. This hands-on construction workshop, sponsored by Henkel Corporation and Regency Construction Services, features fun, real-world lab activities taught by Polaris instructors and student leaders. BuildHER will take place on Saturday, March 1 from 9:00am-3:00pm at Polaris Career Center. The $25 event fee includes lab experiences, all class materials, a project to take home, a FREE t-shirt, a Polaris beanie hat, and lunch. Click HERE to register for this upcoming BuildHER event.

Join Teresa Karsnak (Strongsville City Schools Parent Mentor), in partnership with Solutions Behavioral Consulting, for a series of parent mentorship trainings designed to provide tools and knowledge to understand and positively shape your child’s behavior. The final session is scheduled for February 27 from 6:00pm -7:30pm in the Strongsville High School Media Center. If you plan to attend, please email tkarsnak@scsmustangs.org with your RSVP.

Strongsville High School Cheer will be holding tryouts for the 2025-2026 football & basketball season with Clinics on March 17th-19th from 4-6pm at SHS. Tryouts will take place on Thursday, March 20th starting at 4pm. A mandatory participant/parent meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25th at 6pm in the SHS auditorium. If you have any questions feel free to contact Coach Orlosky at jorlosky@scsmustangs.org.

Ready..Set..Play! Whitney Elementary PTA is excited to launch a Dave & Buster’s Fundraising Campaign! Get a $20 Power Card and 50% of your purchase will be donated back to Whitney Elementary PTA! Whether it’s a family day or a fun date night, you can play games, win prizes, and have endless fun while supporting Whitney Elementary School! Here’s how it works in three easy steps:

1 - Purchase online via the campaign page: grouprai.se/davebusters54193s

2 - Redeem your Power Card at your nearest Dave & Buster’s (any location in the US!)

3 - Play and enjoy! (The Power Card never expires!)

Calling all Doughnut lovers! The SHS Theatre Department has launched a GroupRaise Krispy Kreme Digital Dozen fundraising campaign to support their upcoming spring musical, Back to the 80's. From now until March 9, 2025, 50% of orders will be donated back to our cause when you purchase your doughnuts using our fundraising sales page. $15.00 per dozen!! Click HERE for charitable (so guilt-free), fresh to order (and perfectly glazed), dozens!!

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.

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

There are a number of different job openings for Strongsville City Schools. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Human Resources page at www.scsmustangs.org. Our District is also in need of school nurses. Please click the links below for additional information and to apply.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: (BOTH SHIFTS LISTED)

LPN - Strongsville Middle School Health Clinic - Immediate Need

https://psi-solutions.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1336280-294367.html

SAME POSITIONS - ADDITIONAL LISTING:

LPN - Strongsville Middle School Health Clinic

https://psi-solutions.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1335769-294367.html

Whitney:

LPN - Whitney Elementary School Clinic - Hiring Immediately

https://psi-solutions.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1371490-294367.html

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.

Join Strongsville High School Golf Team coaches and varsity golf players at the Girls Youth Strongsville Golf Camp! The camp is open to girls in 4th - 8th grades and focuses on developing the proper techniques in the golf swing, as well as improving skills for the short game and putting. The camp fee is $125 and will be held once a week in April and May from 6pm - 7pm at Valleaire Golf Club (6969 Boston Rd. / Hinckley). The Girls Youth Strongsville Golf Camp is open to golfers at any skill level. Click HERE for additional information and click HERE to register.

The SHS Theatre Department is collaborating with Playhouse Square to sell a block of tickets for the upcoming tour of & Juliet on Sunday March 9, 2025 at 6:30pm. The jukebox musical stars SHS alum, Corey Mach, as Shakespeare. This fundraiser will go toward some of the expenses for SHS's spring musical. Purchasing tickets for the show at Playhouse Square is currently live and will remain open until 3/1/25, while tickets are available. SHS FUNdraiser prices range from $32.50 - $107.50 and the SHS Theatre Department will receive $10 for every ticket sold. Please visit https://tickets.playhousesquare.org/g08 and follow the instructions on 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. Thank you for your support of the SHS Theatre Department!

Purchase a Sgt. Clean car wash and help raise funds for the SHS Boys Lacrosse team! Platinum Car Wash (a regular $27 retail value) can be purchased for $15. Car washes can be ordered online, with a QR sent to your phone to redeem at Sgt. Clean. Click HERE to purchase your car wash and help the SHS Boys Lacrosse team! Funds raised will go to the Strongsville Athletic Boosters Boys Lacrosse account.

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!

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 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). RAS has a current enrollment promotion through February 28th - the promotion is 25% off all fees through March 31st - click HERE for the special enrollment promotion flyer!

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).

Safe Sitter Class - Thursday, April 3

The Safe Sitter Program is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. The Instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to practice rescue skills like choking rescue and CPR! The Safe Sitter Class is scheduled for Thursday, April 3 from 9:00am - 1:30pm at the Safety Town Building next to the Rec & Senior Center. Click HERE for additional registration information.

‘Let’s Build Blocks’ Contest

The ‘Let’s Build Blocks’ student contest introduces children to building, using their hands and being creative - all which expands awareness of careers in construction. The contest is open to students in grades K-6 and will be held at the IX Center on Saturday, March 22 & Sunday, March 23. Click HERE for additional information.

Strongsville Optimist Club Reverse Raffle - Saturday, March 8
Celebrate 50 years of the Optimist Club of Strongsville at their annual “Reverse Raffle” event on Saturday, March 8 at 6pm at the Columbia Ballroom (24883 Royalton Rd.). Enjoy prizes, side boards, and more while supporting local children’s programs - the event’s Grand Prize is $3,000! Click HERE for additional information and to purchase tickets.

Strongsville Rec Department Youth Baseball, Softball, and T-Ball - NOW through March 11

Strongsville Community Theatre - “Love Letters” (February 15-16 & 22-23)
This year, Strongsville Community Theatre is celebrating 30 years of quality community theatre entertainment! In addition to our upcoming productions, we are pleased to announce that we have been instrumental in supporting the establishment of a drama club program at Strongsville Middle School. The club will be announcing its first production in the next couple of weeks.

Further exciting news is that SCT will sponsor a summer youth theater program under the direction of Liz Jones and Brenton Cochran. Details will be shared soon on the SCT website and Facebook page.

Performances of "Love Letters" will be featured at the SHS Little Theater on February 15-16 & 22-23. Saturday evening performance is at 8 pm; Sunday at 2 pm. Click HERE for the event flyer. "Love Letters" was the very first play that SCT performed back in 1995. We felt it fitting that we bring it back to begin our 30th year celebration. Our spring production is "Barbecuing Hamlet," a delightful farce of a community theater dealing with putting on the famous Shakespearean tragedy; however, they run into several "tragedies " of their own. Of course, the show must go on! We think you will be highly entertained by both of these special offerings as we kick off our 30th year.

Strongsville Rotary ‘Chili Open’ - Saturday, February 22

For over 30 years the last Saturday in February has become a great Northeast Ohio tradition. A day of food, drink, golf, games and our renowned live auction! The Rotary Club of Strongsville proudly hosts its 32nd Annual Chili Open Charity Golf Classic on Saturday, February 22 beginning at 10:00am from the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea. SInce its inception in 1992, The Classic has raised over $2 million for various charities locally, nationally and internationally. This year, the primary charitable beneficiary is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the LLS Greater Cleveland Student Visionaries of the Year. Visit chiliopen.com for additional event information and to purchase tickets!

Kiwanis “Read Around the World” Event - Saturday, 2/22

The Kiwanis Club of Strongsville is hosting their annual, free of charge, READ AROUND THE WORLD event on Saturday, February 22nd at the Strongsville Library from 10:00am - 12:30pm. This event is intended for preschool through 2nd grade students. Activities will include short skits, puppet shows, face painting, and refreshments. Each child attendee will be able to select and take home a children’s book.

Strongsville Rec Center - Fashion Class
Do you have a passion for fashion? Do you like being creative? How about having FUN with friends while you make something awesome?!?! Register for the upcoming Fashion Class at the Strongsville Recreation Center. The class will meet Tuesdays in February and March (2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25). Register at strongsville.activityreg.com or call 440.580.3260. Click HERE for the event flyer.

Youth Lacrosse Spring Registration - NOW OPEN
Registration is now open for Youth Spring Lacrosse! Beat the winter blues and register for Spring Lacrosse. Ready to play the fastest game on two feet? Whether you’re new or a returning player, our program offers a supportive environment to challenge and grow your skills. Compete against teams from across Northeast Ohio and experience the excitement of three local tournaments! This youth lacrosse opportunity is open to Grades 3-8 (2nd graders can play up to 3rd grade) for residents of Strongsville, Columbia Station, Grafton, North Royalton, and all Strongsville students. Indoor Skills & Conditioning starts Feb 22-23 at Manta Fieldhouse and Outdoor Season Kicks off early April with practices and games weekly. Jump in, make friends, and represent the Mustangs! Secure your spot today and be part of a community-driven program where everyone plays with pride. Register NOW by clicking here! (Limited spots available).

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 available activities.

Strongsville Chamber of Commerce

Please note the following February 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

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.

Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Monday, February 17th / 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.

Teen Craft Night: Foam Printmaking. Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, February 18th / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Using foam and a Cricut, make fun stamps to use to screen print on bags! 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.

Blow off some S.T.E.A.M. After School. Grades 1 - 4. Wednesday, February 19th / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Ignite your curiosity and creativity through this exploration of all things STEAM. Discover the elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through hands on activities and exploration. Boost your problem solving and teamwork skills in this program.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, February 19th / 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 Art Thief by Michael Finkel. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.

School Age Craft: Screen Printing Ages 9 - 11. Thursday, February 20th / 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Try something new! Relax after school by learning how to screen print your own design.

Easy Cheesy Treat. Ages 3 - 5 with a Caregiver. Friday, February 21st / 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Bring your child with you while you learn how to make a spreadable curd cheese. A big mouse will read to the children and help them make a craft. Everyone will sample the cheese on bread and take home the recipe!

Technology Training Class:

PowerPoint: Advanced Features. Friday, February 21st / 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. For those already familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, build on what you know to take your presentation to the next level. Topics include using slide master and adding animations, hyperlinks, videos and sound. Prerequisite: PowerPoint Basics

Read Around the World. Saturday, February 22nd / 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Strongsville Kiwanis Club sponsors this annual event for all ages. Each child attending can choose a new book to take home. No registration is needed for this free event. Members of Kiwanis will be available to read books to the children. The St. Joseph and John’s Builder's Club members will perform puppet shows throughout the event. There will also be face painting, storytelling, and light refreshments.

Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, February 24th / 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 Golden Gate by Amy Chua. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.

Meet Author Lisa Unger. Wednesday, February 26th / 7:00 p.m. Join us when author Lisa Unger visits to discuss her latest novel, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10. Lisa Unger is a NYT and internationally bestselling author. Her books are published in 32 languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Mac's Backs - Books on Coventry.

Tiny Tots Playtime. Ages 2 and under with Adult Caregiver. Friday, February 28th / 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Come and experience free play with your tiny tot for fifteen minutes or an entire hour. We will have all types of toys for an enjoyable experience!

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