Superintendent's Parent and Family Update
Keeping PPS Families Engaged and Informed
Saturday, May 1, 2021
A Message from Superintendent Hamlet
Dear PPS Families,

It is wonderful to have students and staff back in our buildings again. In some ways, it feels like the school year just started. So far we have welcomed approximately 9,998 students back to in-person learning and by the end of next week, an additional 10,221 are expected to return. All school reports indicate that students are re-acclimating nicely and enjoying being back in their classrooms and with their teachers and peers. 

We continue to work on strategies to address our bus driver shortage. This week, the Board approved a contract with Pittsburgh Transportation Group to secure an additional three 30 passenger busses each weekday from May 10 through June 11. Families that have questions about transportation can contact the District’s Support Center at 412-529-HELP or submit a ticket through www.pghschools.org/letstalk. I want to personally thank our families that offered to give up their child’s seat on a yellow bus to help decrease our seat gap. Families whose students will not have transportation for their return on Monday, May 3 received a robocall Monday evening notifying them. Other families whose transportation was able to be secured for next Monday should have received their transportation mailer this week. 

Next week on Wednesday, May 5, we are excited to be offering our students aged 16 years and older the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine through our partnership with Giant Eagle. Families can learn more about the student vaccination clinic and download the parent permission slip online at www.pghschools.org/studentvaccine.

To ensure we can keep our school communities healthy and safe from COVID-19, it is critical that families continue to screen their children daily and always keep students home if they are experiencing symptoms or if anyone in the household is COVID-19 positive. Sending a child who is experiencing symptoms or who may have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case increases the likelihood of community spread. We have worked so hard to reopen this year so let’s continue to be All-In to keep all of our schools open and our students and staff healthy and safe.

Yours in education,

Anthony D. Hamlet, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Saturday, May 1, 2021 is National School Principals' Day! We want to thank our school leaders for supporting teachers, staff, and families. Superintendent Hamlet has a special message for our principals.
Thank Team PPS
Celebrating All Month Long
For the month of May, we invite parents to celebrate the dedication and commitment of Pittsburgh Public Schools employees. Show your appreciation on social media with hashtags #ThankTeamPPS and #WeArePPS!

Please send pictures and videos of your principals, teachers, school lunch heroes, and nurses in action this week to Merecedes Williams (@mwilliams4@pghschools.org) and Dave Skalniak (dskalniak1@pghschools.org) so they can be featured in News Break and on social media.
Important #ThankTeamPPS Dates
Teacher Appreciation Week 2021
May 3-7, 2021

National Teacher Day
Tuesday, May 4, 2021

School Lunch Hero Day
Friday, May 7, 2021

School Nurse Day
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
PPS Pupil Transportation
Families opting to release their seat, families choosing to stay remote, and a new agreement with the Pittsburgh Transportation Group have cut the District’s seat gap down by half. Families should receive transportation information for their student today. If you need transportation and have not received a communication, please contact the transportation office at 412-529-5947. 
Port Authority has launched a new tool on their website call Room2Ride. Passengers can use this tool for trip planning purposes to see on average if their trip experiences high passenger counts. It is recommended that families map out several different Port Authority routes for students to utilize. Tools to assist with this can be found on Port Authority’s Webpage: Room2Ride, Schedule Finder, TrueTime, and Plan your Time
PPS Summer BOOST
Register Your Student(s) Today!
The PPS Summer B.O.O.S.T. program is a no-cost, summer learning program designed to support students by building positive relationships and creating opportunities for exploration that put youth on track for their future academic success in a thriving and fun environment.

The 2021 Summer BOOST program is anticipated to run from June 22 - August 4
Program will be in session Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm (Grades K-7) and 9:00am - 12:30pm (Grades 8-11). The deadline to apply is Friday, May 7, 2021 at 5 PM.
2020-2021 School Calendar Modifications
Additional Half Asynchronous Wednesdays
As we prepare to welcome more students back to school in late April and early May, the district calendar has been updated to reflect an additional seven Modified Full Learning days (1/2 Asynchronous Wednesdays) through the end of the school year. This change was made to reflect the postponing of state assessments previously scheduled for April and May. Two of the five days will be Districtwide professional learning days, and three of the days will be school-based.
Additional Modified Learning Days:
April 21, May 5, May 26, June 9

Additional School-based Professional Learning Days
April 28, May 19, June 2
Student Vaccination Clinic
On Wednesday, May 5 from 9 AM - 5 PM, the District in partnership with Giant Eagle, will host a student vaccination clinic at Heinz Field. Students need to be 16 years or older as of May 5 and bring a signed permission form, ID (student or state), and an insurance card if available. Students must have a signed permission form or their parent/guardian present to complete the form at the vaccination clinic to receive the vaccination.

Parents, guardians, and non-PPS siblings (16 or older) may also receive the vaccine if interested in an appointment. The permission form, vaccine information, an FAQ, and a link to make an appointment through Giant Eagle are available on the District’s website at www.pghschools.org/studentvaccine.
PPS Good News
Robyn Arrington-Epperson Wins National Award
Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12 senior and Class Valedictorian Robyn Arrington-Epperson was awarded with Jersey Mike's Subs Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award! Last month, she led the girls basketball team to a city league championship. Also last month, she co-moderated the city's first mayoral forum this election season. Please check out the video to hear more about Robyn.
Pittsburgh CAPA Ranked No. in the State

U.S. News & World Report on Monday released its 2021 list of the best high schools in Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 ranked No. 8.

Schools were ranked based on how well they prepare students for college, student performance on state reading and math assessments and graduation rates.

CAPA 6-12, ranked as the No. 415 high school in the country, had a 98% graduation rate, with 94% of students proficient in reading and 74% proficient in math. At CAPA, 81% of students took at least one AP exam, and 52% passed at least one AP exam. 
Pittsburgh King Beautification Project
The hallways at Pittsburgh King look a little different, dazzled with life, love, positivity and a culture that’s representative and reflective of the school community. Pittsburgh King students are future history makers and change agents. It's only fitting that they see examples of this in the hallway. Thank you to the district staff members who made this project a success!
CTE Spotlight

Mark Black, a Pittsburgh Westinghouse student, was featured on WTAE to talk about his experience as a CTE student in the Emergency Response Technology program. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire is working with the school through its CTE program to recruit more women and minority firefighters.
Better Recycling – Better Burgh
The City of Pittsburgh is making a shift away from a bag-based collection program to a 32-gallon bin collection system. Plastic bags can degrade recyclables and harm the equipment at recycling centers. On the website, you will be able to see when your neighborhood will be receiving its blue bins, how to register for a free City of Pgh. Recycling & Waste Reduction Webinar, and view and print the City’s Recycling Guide. This guide clearly explains what can go in the new curbside bin and where one can recycle materials that cannot be recycled curbside -such as household chemicals, electronics, scrap metal, and yard debris.
For more information about reopening schools, please visit:
www.pghschools.org/reopeningourschools