Ingomar Inklings
Week of March 9-13, 2020
Building Readers

The following are suggestions for building reading skills at the elementary level.
Pick-Up Dismissal

During dismissal, please wait in the pick-up line. There are only 3-5 walkers who are not assigned busses. The walkers are immediately dismissed and picked up in the side lot. This is monitored to ensure safety. Allowing walkers to quickly identify a parent, reunite, and leave the grounds safely has been standard procedure at IES. Parents using the pick-up line should not park in spots due to safety concerns. The spots by the garbage dumpsters should not be used. If there is an immediate need to pick-up your child early due to appointments or activities, please arrive early allowing you to be first in the pick-up line. If needed, you can also arrange for an early dismissal and come through the front office. 

Also, notes or emails to homeroom teachers and Mrs. Yatcko are needed when students are being picked-up in a vehicle. If a parent determines his or her child can walk home instead of taking the bus, a note must be sent alerting the teacher and front office. Our first concern is always the safety of students.
Grade 4 Growth and Development

The 4th grade Growth and Development lesson will be presented on March 31 at 9:50-10:20 a.m. An e-blast will be sent to parents/guardians 2 weeks before the class as a reminder. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse, Mrs. Meder.
Welcome Mr. David Houseman

During the month of March, Mrs. Sweeney will begin her maternity leave. Please welcome Mr. David Houseman as the interim School Counselor. We are fortunate to have Mr. Houseman back at IES. He was previously Mrs. Sweeney’s intern and is familiar with the students and school. We will communicate his start date and contact information when Mrs. Sweeney’s maternity leave begins. 
PSSA Testing Dates

The PSSA testing window is published in the district calendar. The exact IES PSSA testing dates per content area for students in Grades 3-5 are listed below. During the testing window, educational tours are not approved. To minimize disruptions during testing, please make every effort to have your children arrive on time. Students are not permitted to begin tests once the daily testing session has started at 9:15 a.m. I am hopeful having the dates in advance will assist in making minimal appointments that require late arrivals or early dismissals.
ELA and Make-Ups
  • Monday, April 20 ELA
  • Tuesday, April 21 ELA
  • Wednesday, April 22 ELA
  • Thursday, April 23 TYCTWD
  • Friday, April 24 Make-Ups
Math and Make-Ups
  • Monday, April 27 Make Ups
  • Tuesday, April 28 ACT 80
  • Wednesday, April 29 MATH
  • Thursday, April 30 MATH
Science
  • Friday, May 1 *Sections 1-2
Read Across America Week

The Spirit Club would like you to show your love of books by dressing up on Friday as your favorite book character! Or you could wear your craziest socks and consider donating a new pair of socks to our Fox in Socks Sock Drive. The collected socks will benefit HEARTH, a local organization that provides transitional housing to families experiencing homelessness. And don't forget to visit your Library Google Classroom for our daily Bedtime Story! Which story was YOUR favorite?
Grade 5 Girls

North Allegheny School District is pleased to announce Girls STEAM Ahead. This experience will provide exposure for fifth grade female students to connect with professional females in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) related fields. Our goal is to focus on highlighting women as leaders in hopes of inspiring our students to become forward thinkers, leading the way in bridging the existing gender gaps within the STEAM fields. Our hope is to connect with females in various fields, such as scientists, software developers, coders, and engineers, via face-to-face and virtual opportunities, allowing for questioning and further inquiry. These opportunities will take place during predesignated recess times which will be coordinated with classroom teachers. 

If your child attends at least two of the optional recess sessions, they will be eligible to attend our culminating event at the Baierl Center in May. This event will provide an opportunity for all participants across the district to come together to take part in a unique hands on learning experience!  

If your child is interested in participating in Girls STEAM Ahead, please have them contact their homeroom teacher. Homeroom teachers will be providing a signup form to join in this amazing opportunity! 
Food Rescue in the Cafeteria

Has your child mentioned a new program in the cafeteria? It's not a food collection but rather a rescue program to keep perfectly good foods from the trash. Students learned about food rescue in their Library classes last week and the program officially started on Monday. Students are always encouraged to take unused food home but if they find they are about to throw it away they are asked to think about rescuing it instead. Any unopened beverages or pre-packaged foods qualify as well as unpeeled, non-pierced fruit. Every Friday we will deliver the rescue to a food insecure organization, as determined by 412 Food Rescue. We are proud to be helping our environment and our local community! Parents/guardians, please reinforce with your child the difference between a donation and rescue and that our focus is to rescue good food from being thrown away. Should you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Smokovich. Thank you for your support!
Visiting Author

Through the Pittsburgh Authors to Schools program, 4th & 5th graders are fortunate to have the opportunity to Skye with accomplished author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka on Thursday, March 12. Ingomar was one of just four schools selected to also participate in a live Q & A session after his presentation! Jarrett has written/illustrated several picture books, the Platypus Police Squad series, the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, several Jedi Academy books and the 2018 National Book Award Finalist "Hey, Kiddo". We are working on bringing another author to Ingomar via Skype for our K-3 students. Those details will be shared once finalized.  
 
Jarrett Krosoczka will also be presenting the evening of March 12th at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. Tickets are FREE for library card holders and can be reserved here.
Birthday Book Club

This month the Birthday Book Club is celebrating March birthdays! If you would like to participate you can shop directly through the Library’s Amazon Wish List for more book choices, more price options and you will earn cash back for IES by using your Amazon Smile account. Click HERE to get started!  Thank you so much for supporting our school library and encouraging a love of reading in all of our students. Please contact Mrs. Smokovich with any questions/comments.
Counselor's Corner
Important Dates
March 12 - Grades 4 & 5 Skype with author Jarrett J. Krosoczka 
March 19 - IMOA Art Show
District Updates
NA Special Education Parent Networking Group

The next meeting for the NA Special Education Parent Networking Group is on Friday, March 13, at 9:30 a.m. at the Baierl Center.
A Taste of North Allegheny

Join us for a night of small bites, drinks, and fun as we support the excellent work of North Allegheny teachers and students! If you would like more information on contributing raffle baskets or becoming a vendor please email Abigayle Tobia, Executive Director.
PaySchools is Changing Its Look

PaySchools is an online payment processing system that provides North Allegheny and other districts with an easy and efficient method to collect fees and receive electronic payments. PaySchools is going to have a new look and new features rolling out this March. This upgrade will install automatically and seamlessly. All usernames and passwords will stay the same for parents/guardians.
Parent/Guardian Requests for Specific Classroom Teachers

The District has developed procedures to best match students with classroom settings and teachers. While parent/guardian input is welcomed, individual teacher requests will not be granted. You may wish to share input by way of letter to your building administrator. In order for us to begin the scheduling process, this information needs to be obtained no later than Friday, April 10, 2020 and provided to your child’s principal. To further outline the classroom assignments process please read the attached letter.
Middle School Orientation
April 20, 2020

5th grade parents/guardians are invited to attend middle school orientation on Monday, April 20. A morning session will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Marshall Middle School and an evening session will be held at Ingomar Middle School at 7 p.m. For more information, view the Middle School Orientation Flyer. 
Resources
Missed a Newsletter?

All building newsletters are archived weekly on the North Allegheny website. This designated webpage will be updated with links to the previous week’s newsletters at the beginning of each school week by 11:30 a.m. A link to the archive is accessible on the District’s homepage and on each building’s homepage.
Community Flyers
The North Allegheny School District often receives requests for the distribution of athletics and approved non-profit community organization digital flyers. All requests for community flyers to be included in this newsletter must be submitted via email only at flyers@northallegheny.org. Flyers will only be posted and removed from the District website on Friday. Visit our website for details on how to submit flyers.
Building Contacts
Main Office - 412-366-9665
Nurse's Office - 412-366-9665
Counseling Office - 412-366-9665