Newsletter
VOL. XXXVI, NO. 2
/1st SEMESTER 2011-12
THE PRINCIPAL'S PAGEDATELINE: Strongsville, Ohio
As we begin 2012, I extend to you and your families best wishes for many blessings in the New Year. I hope that 2012 started off well and that your holidays were restful and fulfilling. We have now entered the third marking period for the 2011-2012 school year. I hope that all students experienced success in the first semester. I am eagerly anticipating all of the many activities planned for our kids during second semester. I hope that all of us in the Strongsville School Community may experience a year of happiness and fulfillment in the work we do together.
Scheduling
Though we’re early in the second semester, it’s already time for the scheduling process to begin for the 2012-13 school year. Parents and students should begin considering and discussing what classes and levels of difficulty are appropriate for each student’s interests and capabilities. Any student interested in Honors or Advanced Placement courses are encouraged to talk to teachers and their guidance counselor to discuss which and how many Honors or A.P. courses are in the student’s best interest. Please check the school website for information pertaining to scheduling for classes. The High School Course Selection Guide is online as a reference for your use.
Senior Activities
Seniors received a newsletter with all the pertinent information concerning senior activities such as Prom, Senior Salute and Graduation. The Senior Newsletter is also on-line. As mentioned in the newsletter, all students must secure their own transportation to and from the WolsteinCenter. The dates, times and details for all senior activities are included in the Senior Newsletter.
Have a Great Second Semester
I believe that together we will have a fruitful and enjoyable second semester. With parental support, the effort of our students and staff, and leadership that is caring and visionary, we will be a school community and team that values high levels of citizenship and student achievement. As always, if you need assistance or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers, counselors, and administrators. We are here to help. Have a wonderful second semester.
William R. Steffen
Principal
SECURITY AND VISITING GO HAND IN HAND
When visiting the high school, you will be asked to sign your name and provide your license plate number, and then will be given a Visitor’s Tag by the greeter in the Main Entrance Hallway. You will also be asked to sign out and return the Visitor’s Tag. Please, don’t take offense at this request. For the security of this large building and the safety of the students, we have instituted this policy.
Employees of the district, but not members of the high school staff, are also asked to follow the above procedures upon arrival at the high school and to sign out at departure.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding of this procedure.
ATTENTION PARENTS…ATTENTION PARENTS
Parent Conference Day is Thursday, March 1, 2012. The time is 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
The high school Post Secondary Options meetings will be held at 12:30 and 5:00 in the auditorium.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
When calling your student in absent, please make note that ALL grade level attendance calls should be made to 440-572-7101.
If your student needs to leave early and did not bring a note, please call 440-846-4072.
The Clinic has a direct number – 268-5918
Athletic Department – 572-7102
Guidance Department – 572-7103
PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES
Students who anticipate being out of school because of a family trip or vacation or college visitations must secure a “Pre-arranged Absence” form from the Attendance Office. Student absences of this nature are not considered as approved absence by the State of Ohio and Board of Education Policy.
The Pre-Arranged Absence form must be completed and returned to the designated administrator for approval at least five days prior to the absence. All work should be obtained before the student leaves. The work is due upon the student’s return. Tests and quizzes are to be made up on the one-day per day of absence schedule. Ex: A student on a five-day pre-arranged absence missing a test on the third day of the pre-arranged absence makes the test up no later than the third day after returning.
Students and parents are asked to follow the guidelines of the Pre-Arranged Absence request form in order to receive credit for their work.
Pre-arranged absence days count against a student’s 10 days.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS? NEW PHONE NUMBER?
When you have a change of address or a new phone number, whether it is home or work, please notify all your children’s school buildings. Please submit changes in writing to the Data Input Specialist, Mrs. Donna Turski.
STUDENT ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
To report an absence please call 440-572-7101
Parents are responsible for informing the school of their child’s absence and the reason for the absence before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. Parents/Guardians may leave a message the night before or prior to 8:30 a.m. The message should include the following information:
- Name of student and grade
- Date of absence and possible return
- Reason for absence
- Person calling
- Number where parent/guardian can be reached
Upon the student’s return to school following the absence, he/she must bring a note from the legal guardian within 24 hours of the student’s return, giving the date(s) and reason for the absence if phone contact has not already been made. Absences not confirmed through a phone call or accompanied by notes will become unexcused.
A NOTE FROM THE NURSE – Crystal Tackaberry, RN, CSN
It is recommended that your student stay home if they are experiencing:
Fever over 100° F
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Frequent cough
Persistent pain (ear, stomach etc.)
Widespread rash
If there is any doubt, contact your doctor or health care provider.
CONDITION:
Conjunctivitis
Cough
Diarrhea
Fever
Head Lice
Impetigo
Ring Worm
Strep Throat
Vomiting
WHEN TO RETURN TO SCHOOL:
24 hours after treatment starts
cough is no longer persistent
24 hours after last episode of diarrhea
24 hours after fever-free
hair is treated and nit-free
24 hours after treatment starts – sores covered
24 hours after treatment starts – sores covered
24 hours after treatment starts and fever-free
24 hours after last episode of vomiting
A LETTER FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The StrongsvilleSchool District understands that the decision to close schools due to inclement weather or loss of utilities has an enormous effect on all of our families. The following information may help you to better understand the process used when making the decision.
HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION?
When inclement weather or loss of utilities impacts the District, we make the decision whether to close schools based upon a careful analysis of all relevant factors including:
- Information on road conditions from our transportation staff, maintenance staff, and local safety forces.
- Amount of accumulated snow and ice.
- Whether precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day.
- Temperature and wind chill. (minus 15 to 20 degrees)
- Impact on our bus fleet.
- Weather predictions from satellite systems, local radar, National Weather and NOAA Weather Radio.
- Storm timing.
- Building conditions (such as whether there is electricity and/or heat).
- Discussions with Administrators from area school districts beginning the prior evening.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
As Superintendent of Schools, I am responsible for the final decision, based upon the factors above and consultation with Mark Donnelly, Director of Business Services.
WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE?
I try to make the decision by 5:30 a.m., so that we can notify local television and radio stations, post it to our web site, and notify staff.
WILL WE CLOSE SCHOOLS IF CONDITIONS WORSEN?
Even if weather conditions worsen we cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering student safety. When we make the decision to keep the schools open, many parents rely on it and leave for work. If we then send students back home, many will return to empty houses. Once students arrive at school, we feel the safest plan is to keep them at school until the end of the school day.
Although we do our absolute best in this process by carefully considering all information, we know that weather forecasting is an imperfect science and often no perfect decision exists. As always, our top priority is the safety of our students. If you do not feel that it is safe for your child to get to school, use your best judgment as to whether or not he or she should attend.
I hope that this explanation helps in understanding the process used to make the best possible decision for everyone in the district.
Sincerely,
Jefferey R. Lampert
STUDENT COUNCIL UPDATE
Please welcome the 2011-2012 elected officers of Student Council:
President:Brian Herrmann
Vice- President:Kelly Lynch
Secretary:Hannah Seawall
Treasurer:Brooke Gessler
Student Council’s first Blood Drive of the 2011-2012 school year was a great success! On December 13, 2011, StrongsvilleHigh School students donated more than 120 usable pints of blood to the American Red Cross.
Our next endeavor will be the Winter Dance, which will be held onSaturday, February 11th from 7-10 p.m. Tickets for the dance will be sold during all lunch periods the week of February 6th.
MUSTANG PRIVILEGE
“Mustang Privilege” grants the qualified senior or junior the privilege of beginning their day at 8:08 am or concluding their day at 1:32 pm providing that the following conditions have been met:
Each applicant must have PASSED all five portions of the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) to be eligible for Mustang Privilege. Eligibility begins with the semester following the passage of all five tests.
In addition to the above, juniors and seniors must meet the following criteria during the preceding semester:
- Earned a minimum of 2.0 GPA
- No suspensions or Corrective Learning
- No “incomplete” grades
Please remember the scheduling of classes will always take precedence over Mustang Privilege. The approval and scheduling of “Mustang Privilege” is not correlated with student parking and DOES NOT mean a parking permit will be issued to the student. Students granted “Mustang Privilege” must be in the building on time for homeroom/second period (AM Privilege) or leave the high school at 1:37 pm (PM Privilege). If a student wishes to use the Media Center during AM or PM Mustang Privilege, the student needs to follow the Media Center sign up procedure and arrive at the Media Center on time and stay the entire period.
STUDENT PARKING PERMITS....FOR SENIORS ONLY IN 2012-2013
Due to the space limitation of parking facilities, only seniors may apply for a parking permit. Information about student parking permit sales will be distributed to next year’s seniors during the week of April 2, 2012.
Student parking at StrongsvilleHigh School is a privilege! In an effort to recognize and reward trustworthy behavior, all applications submitted by current juniors wishing to be considered, will be screened by Mr. Smithberger, unit administrator for the 2013 graduating class. Students may qualify for a parking permit if they meet the following criteria:
- Must be a Senior
- Meet the Attendance Standards outlined in the Student Planner
- Have a 2.00 GPA during the preceding semester (Junior Year)
- Have no out of school suspension and/or corrective learning assignment during the preceding semester (Junior Year)
- No Incomplete grades
- Students involved in Post Secondary Option (enrollment verification required)
- Students Involved in Work Study Programs (enrollment verification required)
- All Fees and Fines must be paid in full
The following procedures will be followed for the issuance of SHS parking permits.
- APPLICATION PICK UP:
Current juniors wishing to be considered for a 2012-2013 parking permit must pick up an application form from Mrs. Kovacs in the Assistant Principal’s Office during the week of April 16, 2012. All financial obligations must be cleared before a parking permit will be issued for the next school year. The Clerk’s signature on the application will be required as part of the application process.
- APPLICATION DATES:
Exceptions to the Senior Privilege: In some cases students may be enrolled in an educational program offered in 2012-13 that necessitates issuance of a parking permit. Therefore, the following groups (current sophomore or juniors) must turn in the completed application to Mrs. Kovacs by the end of the school day on Monday, May 7, 2012.
Students enrolled in Marketing Education, Cooperative Business Education (verification required).
Students involved in Post-Secondary Options (verification required)
Students involved in work-study programs through PolarisCareerCenter (verification required)
Seniors
Students approved for parking privileges will be notified during the week of May 14, 2012 and may purchase their permits beginning Monday, May 21, 2012 through Wednesday, June 6, 2012from 2:30 – 3:30 in the Assistant Principal’s Office.
When students report to purchase their permits, they must present photocopies of permanent Ohio driver’s license, proof of liability insurance, student identification card, and a check or money order in the amount of $78.00 made out to StrongsvilleHigh School. They should also have the make, model and license plate number of the car(s) they will be driving.
SENIOR NEWSDuring a special Senior Homeroom, held on January 5th, all graduating seniors were given our “Senior Information Booklet.” It is also available on the website. The Information Booklet contains important information and dates for the end of the year activities. Seniors also had the opportunity to review the spelling of their first, middle and last name for their diplomas.
Josten’s was in the building January 11th and 12th to take orders for caps, gowns, and stationery products. Orders may also be mailed to Jostens in Medina at the address in the packet.
No student will be permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremony unless all graduation requirements have been met and the student has ordered and paid for his/her cap and gown. Additionally all students must have passed all parts of the Ohio Graduation Test. In
addition to obvious grade and credit requirements, this also
includes all financial and/or disciplinary obligations as well.
* Graduating Seniors are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the WolsteinCenter on the day of Commencement. /
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CLASS OF 2012 AND PARENTS
The last official day for seniors is May31st. Seniors may elect to take second semester exams, however they may be exempt from finals if the following conditions are met for second semester:
- They have NO corrective learning assignments, suspensions or expulsions during second semester.
- They have earned a minimum of a “C” grade (69.5%) for both the third and fourth quarter for that course.
- All fees and fines must be paid in full by May 4, 2012.
- A student’s attendance must reflect only 6 days of absence (excused/unexcused) through May 24, 2012
IMPORTANT DATES
FOR SENIORS AND PARENTS
Monday April 2nd- Friday, April 27thOrder Flowers – Approved Vendors
Wednesday, May 21stSenior Awards Assembly
Friday, May 4thAll Fees/Fines to be paid
Friday, May 4th Prom – CSU Wolstein Ctr.
Saturday, May 5th After Prom – Rec Ctr.
Thursday, May 24thSenior Salute
May 25th – May 30thSenior Exams and Make-up
Thursday, May 30th Athletic Awards – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June1st Mandatory Commencement Practice
Saturday, June 2nd Flower Pick-up from Vendors
Sunday, June 3rd Mandatory Arrival at CSU BY 12:00
Sunday June 3rd Commencement at CSU – 1:00 p.m.
Please refer to the Senior Information Booklet for more details
GUIDANCE NEWS
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2012
COMMENDED STUDENTS
Eric Bruckner Bristee DasCaroline David
Victoria Drazdik Sara Gregg Brian Herrmann
Jaime Larsen Avery Maddox Eileen McCafferty
Alejandro NicoletteDuncan O’LearyHannah Patten
Christian SilvaShriya Srinivasan
NATIONAL HISPANIC RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Alejandro Nicolette
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS
College Bound Juniors should register for college entrance tests this spring. Registration materials are available in the Guidance Office. Test dates are listed below. The SHS Guidance Staff recommends that all students take the optional Writing Portion of ACT. It is recommended or required by many colleges.
AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST (ACT)
DEADLINE FOR
TEST DATEREGISTRATION
February 11, 2012January 13, 2012
April 14, 2012March 9, 2012
June 9, 2012May 4, 2012
Online Registration
SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT) REASONING
(AND SUBJECT TESTS)*
DEADLINE FOR
TEST DATEREGISTRATION
March 10, 2012February 10, 2012
May 5, 2012April 6, 2012
June 2, 2012May 8, 2012
Online Registration
(SAT & ACT has “stand-by” testing available for a considerable penalty fee.)
Highly selective schools require one to three subject tests. They may be taken at the completion of a course regardless of student grade level. Check the guidance website for more information and the links.
2012-2013 COURSE SELECTIONS
Yes, believe it or not, it’s almost time to begin making careful selections for next year’s courses. OnFebruary 16th, in Alpha Homeroom, freshmen, sophomores and juniors will be receiving information about next year’s course offerings. Students need to consult with teachers and parents before making course requests. Parents seeking additional advice relative to these important decisions are urged to contact their student’s guidance counselor. BeginningFebruary 28th, students will be registering their course selections on-line through their English classes. Counselors will be talking with students at that time. It is IMPERATIVE that students and parents discuss course selections and make informed course choices, because these selections determine the construction of next year’s Master Schedule. Thank you for your help in getting course selection sheets completed on time.