Family Newsletter

2015-16, Week 24 2-15-16 to 2-19-16

Notes from the Principal Strongsville City Schools is fully committed to providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity, and equality among students. As part of our commitment, the district is initiating a new, integrated program, developed by former school officials, that provides online and telephone reporting tools for students, parents, and staff, as well as administrative systems to manage incidents and document district and school response to reported concerns of bullying or violence. Please click here to read a letter from Superintendent Ryba regarding this initiative. Strongsville City Schools will make every effort to handle and respond to every charge and complaint filed by students, parents, and employees in a fair, thorough, and just manner. Please click here to read more about this hotline and how to file a report, or click on the Stay Safe Speak Up! icon under the shortcuts section of our district website. Please email questions or suggestions for future topics to dabboud@scsmustangs.org and I will consult with our expert staff to provide you with sound advice. Thank you! Miss Denise

Denise R. Abboud, Ph.D., Principal Cameron Ryba, Superintendent 19543 Lunn Rd. George Anagnostou, Treasurer Strongsville, OH 44149 440­572­7046  

School Happenings Curriculum

Curricular Theme of the Week:

In the City, In the Country

This Week‛s Theme-Related Home Activities

Things to Remember

★ We will be rescheduling our community dentist visit to provide examinations for children whose parents signed permission, due to inclement weather and in hopes that we can have more families sign up their children. We are happy to partner with Smile Programs mobile dentists to get dental examinations on site at our preschool!

★ This month will be offering a Family Engagement Night on Literacy, in

partnership with the Cuyahoga County Strongsville Branch Library. Special thanks to Miss Karen for arranging this event! Please join us and the library staff for a fun evening of reading and learning about the many wonderful opportunities offered through our great library!

★ Also, as we continue our partnership with Heinen‛s grocery store to

provide nutrition information and motivation for our children, please note this month‛s 5 Star Tastings. We hope you and your child can attend one or more to try out some unusual nutritious foods!

★ Our partners at the Strongsville Early Childhood PTA (PTA for families

with children in other Strongsville preschools, day cares or at home) are having a Kids‛ Closet Resale Event. Click on the blue link for details about this mid-March bargain event.

★ Please note for safety‛s sake that a line of our cars cannot sit on Lunn Rd. The High School student lot just west of our drive is the appropriate waiting area for drop off and pick up. Please remain in the aisle of the lot until our preschool driveway has space for your car. Thank you!

★ We also respectfully request that you keep your child buckled in until you

are fully in our driveway and that you refrain from using your cell phone once you have entered the drive until you exit. As always, safety of our children is our first priority. Thank you for your cooperation.

★ Please remember that tuition of $140 is due on the 20th of each month, for the following month. Please send your check made out to Strongsville Early Learning Preschool, or you may pay by cash. If you have questions, please contact Marie or Denise.

Mini-Mustang PRIDE Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Prepared = Be ready and safe Respectful = Be kind Inclusive = Be friends Determined = Try your best Engaged = Participate and have fun

Click on the blue link to see the preschool version of the PRIDE matrix of expectations. This week, beginning Wednesday, we are emphasizing “D,” DETERMINED, or in preschool terms, TRY YOUR BEST! Early Learning and Development Standards that are related are as follows:

● Show confidence in own abilities and accomplish routine and familiar tasks independently.

● Focus on the task at hand even when frustrated or challenged. Our classrooms will be using a common lesson on DETERMINED. Click on the blue link to see the Google Slide presentation.

Tips for Home Talk with your child about ways to BE DETERMINED at home and in community activities. Using the vocabulary we are developing in school will help your child generalize language and skills across environments. Help your child define what being DETERMINED looks like in various settings. In addition to areas of your home, discuss what it means to be DETERMINED when trying new activities in the community. Be sure to recognize your child‛s efforts at being DETERMINED with a compliment and a smile! Here is a sample chart you can use to make your own PRIDE matrix for home and other settings. You will need to go to “File” and “Make a copy” in Google Docs and then you can type in it to make it personal to your child and family. Please let me know if you would like one in a different format, such as Microsoft Word. This Week‛s PRIDE Students Miss Cathy‛s Class:

★ Lila N. is a great friend to all her classmates. She demonstrates being inclusive by sharing with her friends. She includes her peers in activities and is a great problem solver. She also encourages her friends to do their best.

Miss Karen‛s Class:

★ Madelyn E. is inclusive because always encourages her friends. Sayeda H. was inclusive and a good friend when she tried to comfort a friend who was upset.

Miss Melanie‛s Class:

★ Kayleigh W. displays inclusive behavior in the classroom by helping her friends and being a problem solver!

★ Waleed A. displays inclusive behavior throughout the school environment by including others and asking, "Do you want to play with me"?

Miss Lynne‛s Class:

★ Christopher H. is inclusive when he volunteers to help his peers. ★ Ryan Y. is inclusive when he includes everyone at playtime.

Miss Terrie‛s Class:

★ Emme A. is great at sharing toys and including all friends when they play, which are excellent inclusive skills.

★ Hrmena A. - demonstrates inclusiveness by greeting all of his friends and sharing all of his his toys/materials.

PTA News ~ from President Rachael Callihan (rachmcalli@aol.com ): The Malley‛s Fundraiser is underway! Please help us raise money for the SELP

PTA. Candy will be delivered before spring break to your child. Preschool PTA is sponsoring a Kalahari play date at the end of the school year. It‛s not too soon to begin planning! The flyer with more information is attached here. Reminder: Please don't forget to save your labels for education. These can be sent to school in your child's backpack and PTA will collect them.

Community News Read Around the World by Strongsville Kiwanis Strongsville Branch Public Library offers free events for children and families. Click on the blue link to see a list of upcoming events. Scroll to the bottom of the flyer for events for children.