North Hills School District
Pride • Tradition • Excellence
School Board approves 2020-21 Academic Calendar
The North Hills Board of Education held its first meeting since the start of the school year last night and, among other things, approved the 2020-21 academic calendar. Highlights of the calendar include:

  • First day for students: Tuesday, August 25, 2020
  • Last day for students: Thursday, June 3, 2021
  • Graduation for seniors: Friday, June 4, 2021

The calendar was one of two options presented to board members. The other option, option 1 on the meeting agenda, included an earlier last day of school for kindergartners to allow district kindergarten teachers to complete assessments for the next year’s class.

The proposed last day was Friday, May 21, 2021 for kindergarten, eight days earlier than the June 3, 2021 last day of school for all other students. 

Several parents brought their concerns to Thursday’s meeting and spoke before board members about the potential academic impact and the difficulty they’d face finding adequate childcare.
Kindergarten Assessments
The calendar with the earlier kindergarten last day would’ve allowed the district to properly conduct kindergarten readiness assessments without hiring substitutes or paying teachers for additional hours, saving nearly $20,000

Director of Elementary Education Amy Mathieu gave a presentation about those assessments including their importance, what they measure, how they’re conducted and how results are used for both school leaders and families. 

The assessment is the Brigance Early Childhood Screen III for Kindergarten and looks at a child’s developmental areas of physical (fine-motor and gross-motor), language and academic/cognitive. It includes an additional self-help and social emotional scale for parents/guardians to complete.

Mathieu discussed why the assessments are best completed in May to, among other reasons, give families time over the summer to utilize tools and resources to better prepare children for school.

She also emphasized the importance of conferences between teachers and families to discuss the assessment results, what they mean and next steps. Mathieu’s presentation can be downloaded here or watch the board meeting here.
📺 WATCH THE BOARD MEETING: PART I | PART II 📺
Enrollment
Superintendent Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino presented his annual enrollment overview to the board at Thursday’s meeting. The total enrollment for the 2019-20 school year is 4,551, 35 students more than 2018-19.

While up overall, 2019-20 is the first year elementary enrollment has declined (down 19 students from 2018-19) in the last seven years. His presentation can be downloaded here or watch the board meeting here.

During the presentation, Dr. Mannarino also addressed the issue of overcrowding. Highcliff and Ross elementary schools are at max capacity meaning there are no vacant classrooms at either school. 

At Highcliff, the situation is compounded by the fact that fourth grade classrooms are also at a max capacity of 27 students.

Concerned parents spoke at Thursday’s meeting about the impact the larger class (many of these students had just 19 kids in their class in third grade) is having on their children.

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done this year. To help students receive the proper attention, the district has hired a fourth grade teaching assistant at Highcliff and she starts next week.

Overcrowding will no longer be an issue at either elementary school when sixth grade moves to the North Hills Middle School next school year.
6th Grade Transition to the Middle School
Plans are in full swing for our current fifth-graders to enter middle school as sixth-graders next year. 

Monthly meetings between a transition committee, made up of elementary and middle school teachers and members of the elementary school parent-teacher organizations, and administrators will ensure all fifth- and sixth-graders have a similarly impactful last year in elementary school.

Administrators are also finalizing plans to make sure the middle school is physically ready – all sixth grade classrooms in the middle school will be getting touchscreen Promethean boards, and plans for the curriculum and staffing are in place.

Also, to help incoming sixth- and seventh-graders feel comfortable and welcome at the middle school, a back-to-school social is planned for next summer.
SAVE THE DATE
Back-to-School Social
August 5, 2020
12-7 p.m.

  • For incoming sixth- and seventh-graders
  • Explore the school while on a scavenger hunt with classmates
  • Visit food trucks
  • Buy spirit wear
Start with Hello Week
September 23-27
Start with Hello is one of two Sandy Hook Promise school violence prevention programs implemented in our district last year. Start with Hello proactively promotes kindness to others while teaching us to be more socially-inclusive.

At Thursday's school board meeting, students from each of our schools spoke about what is planned in their buildings during Start with Hello Week next week. Thank you to sixth-graders Addison Winner (Highclif) Naimh Greer (McIntyre), Sophia Regan (Ross) and Emily Steiner (West View), eighth-graders Giana Cutnese and Utkarsh Tiwari (North Hills Middle School) and senior Emma Polen (North Hills High School).

Sandy Hook Promise is a national non-profit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Thank you to the North Hills Singers!
The North Hills Singers performed the National Anthem, Fount by Malcolm Dalglish and our alma mater at Thursday's school board meeting.
Middle school gym to be named in honor of Woody Woodburn
The board voted Thursday night to approve the naming of the middle school gymnasium in memory of beloved teacher, coach and mentor Morrow "Woody" Woodburn.

Woodburn taught in the district for 40 years. He was ninth-grade boys’ basketball coach for 32 years and inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He passed away in December 2018.
Meet our new student representatives
High school juniors Hannah Sciulli and Ellie Fletcher are this year’s student representatives on the North Hills School District Board of Education.

They introduced themselves at the start of Thursday’s meeting and gave a quick update on some of the recent happenings at the high school and in the district. Welcome, ladies!
New Crowdfunding Policy
A new crowdfunding policy ( Policy No. 712) was approved Thursday night by the school board and all crowdfunding campaigns now require superintendent and school board approval.

District employees and organizations recognized as official district booster organizations must get approval at least 30 days before launching a crowdfunding campaign. Approval forms can be obtained from each building. In addition, individuals who are not employees of the district or authorized as part of an eligible organization may not engage in crowdfunding on behalf of the district. 
Lynne Sciulli, president of North Hills Cares, gave an overview of the organization to board members. Formed in 2018, North Hills Cares serves area residents with a focus on removing barriers to education starting with hunger. View her complete presentation.


SAVE THE DATE: A Community of Music at The Block Northway
December 7, 2019 | 2-8:30 p.m
Bond Restructuring
On Thursday night, the school board authorized incurring of debt by the issuance of General Obligation Bonds for the purpose of the advance refund of the 2010B Build America Bonds. This General Obligation Bonds issuance and advance refunding will only be executed if the transaction yields savings to the district of at least $1,000,000, net of costs. 
District News
JuJu makes surprise visit to Ross
Steelers' wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster surprised students at Ross Elementary School this week after teacher Jess Porter shared pictures of her students wearing JuJu jerseys on Instagram. He played catch and ran sprints with the kids, signed autographs, took selfies and visited with students in the cafeteria. more >>
Congratulations, Mr. Deible!
High School German teacher Joe Deible will be recognized on the field during Saturday's Pittsburgh Panthers’ home football game for his work in the classroom and dedication to helping provide opportunities for students. Discounted lower level tickets are available to all NHSD families.  more >>
Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert
The North Hills High School choral program will host its second Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert on Saturday, October 12. Be sure to register today! more >>
Our Annual Report is online!
Be sure to check out all of our district's achievements and accomplishments and share them with your friends and family outside the district. more >>
Dates to Remember
September 23-27
Start with Hello Week

September 27-28
Homecoming

October 2
Financial Aid Night
High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

October 3
Board of Education Meeting
Middle School LGI Room, 7 p.m.

October 4
Pink Out/RahRah Night
Martorelli Stadium, 7 p.m.

October 5
SAT Exam
High School, 7:45 a.m.

October 6
North Pittsburgh College Fair
La Roche College, 6-8 p.m.

October 12
North Hills Alumni Choir Concert
Middle School Auditorium, 4 p.m.

October 14
No School for Students - Columbus Day
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