Ingomar Inklings
Week of January 4-8, 2021
Mindfulness Practice
Ninja Walking

Why ninja walking? Ninjas walk mindfully, as quietly as they can, not making a sound, even messing up the ground beneath them or mixing up the air around them. Ninjas notice everything (inside and out) as they walk, tuning into their sense.

The activity:
Can you walk like a ninja for 10 steps around the room, making NO SOUNDS AT ALL with your feet, as quietly as you can?

As you walk as quietly as a ninja, try to notice…
  • 5 things you can see
  • 4 things you can hear
  • 3 things you can feel
  • 2 things you can smell
  • 1 thing you can taste

After a minute or so of walking like a ninja, have students stop where they are and take a deep breath in through their nose and out through their mouth. Ask them to embrace the mindfulness of a ninja for the rest of their day.
Counselor's Corner

During remote learning Mrs. Sweeney will hold office hours from 8:30-9:00 a.m. for students and parents. During this time she will be immediately available to schedule remote check-ins and consultations. Please reach out to her at jsweeney@northallegheny.org.
Birthday Book Club

Would you like to celebrate your child’s birthday in a fun and rewarding way while supporting our school library? Please consider donating a book through the Birthday Book Club! Participation is easy: shop directly through the Library’s Amazon Wish List for great book choices, varied price options, AND earn cashback for IES by using your Amazon Smile account. Click HERE to get started! Thank you for your support and for encouraging a love of reading in all of our students. Questions may be emailed to Mrs. Smokovich.
District Updates
Kindergarten Registration Opens January 4

Registration for students who will attend kindergarten in the 2021-2022 school year will open on January 4, 2021. Continue checking our website over the next week for updated details!
NASD Offers Free Meals for All Students Every Week Day
Updated December 16

NASD continues to be approved to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students. The procedures to sign up for and pick up meals have been updated and can be found on our website.
Social and Emotional Wellness

North Allegheny is committed to the social and emotional wellness of our students and staff. Below are ways in which we are addressing these needs this school year. For more information about any of these services, please contact your student’s school counselor.
  • Trauma-Informed Care - During the fall of 2020, staff members began training in Trauma Informed-Care. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s life, including service staff.
  • Student Assistance Program - The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues that pose a barrier to a student's success.
  • School-Based Mental Health - Through a partnership with Glade Run, students in grades K-12 can be provided with outpatient mental health services both in the school setting and through teletherapy. This partnership will work effectively to diminish barriers that historically have prohibited some families from accessing supportive mental health services.
  • School-Based Social and Emotional Wellness Committees - Led by a School Counselor and supported by the District’s Positive Behavior Support Specialists, each building will have a multidisciplinary committee that will work on addressing student and staff social and emotional wellness as we work to reopen and renew our school community.
  • Individual Student Supports - Students at all levels are afforded opportunities to address specific social and emotional concerns through individual school counseling sessions.
  • Consultative Support for School Staff - Classroom teachers have access to consultative support from Social Workers and Positive Behavior Support Specialists’ to handle student concerns.
Communication of New Positive COVID-19 Cases During Winter Break

During Winter Break, NASD will communicate new positive COVID-19 cases on the following dates:
  • Saturday, January 2
  • Sunday, January 3
Continue to Report Positive COVID-19 Cases During Winter Break

While the District may not be reporting cases every day during Winter Break, please report a positive test result (details below) to help the District monitor the spread of COVID-19. Cases that become known during the break may have an impact on a student’s return to instruction, activities, and athletics.
If a staff member or student receives positive COVID-19 test results between Wednesday, December 23 at 3:00 p.m. through Sunday, January 3, please contact:
  • Dr. Joseph Sciullo, Director of Student Services at 412-215-4151 or
  • Mrs. Bridgett Bilenski, Health Services Department Chair at 412-312-0948 
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