Pittsburgh Public Schools

Parents, please don't forget to register for tomorrow's Parent Empowering Parents Program session. In this second PEP session, Dr. Love J. Jackson Foster will lead a conversation on Building Mental Wellness for COVID and Everyday Crisis. RSVP at pghschools.org/PEP

Good Morning! Nominations are open for student leaders to join the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council for the 2021-2022 school year. Do you know a stude...nt who is currently enrolled in grades 9-11 at a Pittsburgh Public Schools high school? Do you think they are a great candidate to represent their school on district-wide leadership? Make sure you nominate them at www.pghschools.org/studentnomination. Anyone can nominate a student leader! Student nominees must accept their nomination and be elected during school-based elections the week of June 1. Nominations will close on May 28. Please see the below flyer for additional information!

A proud Pittsburgh Peabody graduate and three-time PPS parent won the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Pittsburgh. Congratulations, Mr. Gainey!

Pittsburgh Public Schools has opened a WAITLIST APPLICATION for the Summer BOOST program. We are offering families the opportunity to apply for the waiting list now until the start of the program on Monday, June 22. To apply for the waiting list, families must complete the waitlist application online at www.pghschools.org/summerboost.

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12's football team will be presented with their City League championship jackets and rings on Saturday, May 22 from 3-5 PM in the parking lot of the Homewood YMCA (7140 Bennett St, Pittsburgh, PA 15208). The team will also host their Annual Fish Fry Fundraiser from 12-6pm at the same location. Please bring a mask and a lawn chair to come out and support the Westinghouse Bulldogs are accomplishments!

Joseph Jones Sr. has worked for UPS for two decades in different roles. Now, as a preloader, he loads the trucks for delivery the next day. He is the parent of a Pittsburgh CAPA graduate and a Pittsburgh Liberty fourth grader, Joe Jr. JR, as he’s affectionately called, is a high honor roll student who loves school, playing chess, and riding his skateboard. Mr. Jones, who is a proud PPS graduate himself, says only one word can describe being an essential worker and an active p...arent during remote learning perseverance. It’s important to continue our efforts to achieve, despite difficulties and opposition. We salute Mr. Jones for his tireless efforts to serve during the pandemic and remain steadfast in his child’s education. #PPSBlackHistoryMonth

This week, we publicly confirmed our commitment to begin returning students to in-person learning based on new support categories beginning Tuesday, April 6. Th...is timeline and approach were approved in a Board resolution on Wednesday, January 27. As a first step, families can expect to receive communications notifying them of the support category in which their child has been placed beginning this week and into next. Those families in the highest need categories will be asked to complete a brief survey online or over the phone to capture parent comfort levels and desire for in-person hybrid learning. All remaining families will be surveyed by mid-March. I invite PPS families to read the full Parent Update: https://www.pghschools.org/parentupdate

Yetunde Sussan Olaore is a STRIVE Program Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering. She works with minority college graduates to improve their transition into doctoral engineering programs at Pitt. She also ensures their successful completion by employing evidence-based strategies for student and faculty engagement and fostering an inclusive academic climate. Ms. Olaore is also the proud PPS parent of a visual arts major and instrumental maj...or at Pittsburgh CAPA. She admits E-Learning has been both rewarding and overwhelming at times. At home and at Pitt, Ms. Olaore supports her own PPS students and the students enrolled in her program. It has been rewarding knowing that I can support my Pitt students as a professional and my children as a parent. My thanks goes to our PPS teachers and support staff for all they do to support our students during this new normal. I am grateful. Many parents like Ms. Olaore are educating in more ways than one. This Black History Month, we say thank you! #PPSBlackHistoryMonth

Congratulations to School Counseling alumni Mr. Charles Morris, Ms. Shandia Booker, and Mr. Sylvester Hanner who are 2021 College Board Counselor Recognition Pr...ogram Award recipients. They work to make a difference in Pittsburgh Public Schools as school counselors. We take a moment to honor them & their work during Black History Month. https://bit.ly/3ufyn9y Pittsburgh Public Schools Duquesne University Alumni Association See more

The pressure to reopen schools is at an all-time high across the United States and here in Pittsburgh as many students struggle to learn remotely, and parents juggle eLearning while working to meet the needs of their families. PPS announced new support categories, based on students’ needs and a new survey to capture parent comfort levels and desire for in-person hybrid learning. The survey will launch this week through schools first with families of students with the highest need and identified for return on Tuesday, April 6. Read more the District website: https://www.pghschools.org/site/default.aspx

High school physicals for spring sports are available this week. Please contact the PPS Athletics Office for more information or to schedule appointment (412) 529-2222.

Due to inclement weather, Grab and Go sites and In-Person Technology Support Centers are closed today, Thursday, December 17, 2020. #PPSStayInformed

Please be advised that transportation provided by Pittsburgh Public Schools will be canceled for tomorrow, Thursday, December 17, 2020. Since all PPS students are engaged in full time E-Learning, this cancellation only impacts non-PPS families who receive PPS pupil transportation services. #PPSStayInformed

Please be advised that today, Wednesday, December 16, 2020, all transportation provided by Pittsburgh Public Schools will have an early dismissal at 12 PM. Since all PPS students are engaged in full time E-Learning, this early dismissal only impacts non-PPS families who receive PPS pupil transportation services. #PPSStayInformed

The Arsenal facility will be closed tomorrow, Friday, November 13, after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. The building will close in line with guidance by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Instruction for students at both schools will continue remotely. The building will reopen on Friday, November 20. Grab and Go meal distribution at the facility will also discontinue until Friday, November 20. Families may access the Grab and Go sites located at Pittsburgh Sunnyside and Pittsburgh Obama.

Someone left brand new winter scarves at Pittsburgh Lincoln!

For this week's PPS News Break, Ms. Sylvia Wilson is re-elected as Board President, the 2020 CTE Virtual Expo is happening this Tuesday, and the magnet application deadline is this Friday at 5 PM. #PPSStayInformed https://vimeo.com/490282858

Congratulations, Ms. Taliaferro!

Thank a veteran today!

As students and staff return to their schools and offices, we want to remind everyone to screen for COVID-19 symptoms before leaving the house. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please stay home and consult your physician. PPS parents are asked to notify your child's principal. PPS employees please contact your direct supervisor.

For this week's PPS News Break, some students return for in-person learning for the first time since March 13th, Pittsburgh King has a new look, and this Wednesday we are celebrating our veterans. #PPSStayInformed https://vimeo.com/477016759