YOUNG SCHOLARS OF
GREATER ALLEGHENY
CHARTER SCHOOL
News and Events
that you don't want to miss!
The Team of YSGA 2021-2022

Meet the team of YSGA 2021-2022! This summer has seen our staff grow, as we support our scholars in the best way! Our numbers may have grown, but our staff is just as enthusiastic and dedicated as ever to academic recovery and moving forward into a brand new school year!
Discipline Office & Student Services Corner
Greetings from YSGA

YSGA is thrilled to welcome young scholars to 5-day in-person education. We had a great first week of school and started the year strong. I want to provide young scholars' families with updates on school policies and procedures. Let’s enjoy the rest of the year together. 

Please make sure we have your most updated contact information. Remember to check your class tag and email for important updates.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the school

Parent-Student Handbook for 2021-2022 School Year
Please see the Parent-Student Handbook for the 2021-2022 school year. It is already on the school website. This handbook is an overview of our school’s goals, services, policies, and rules. It is an essential guide on what we expect from you and how we do things

Please CLICK HERE to access Parent-Student Handbook.

Students Drop Off and Pick Up
  • Parents can drop their child(ren) at school between 8.00 am and 8.25 am. Please do not drop them earlier as supervision starts at 8.00 am
  • If you drop your child after 8.25 am, please use the first entrance (school bus entrance). Parents are expected to report to the front office. Your child will be issued a tardy slip by the front desk.
  • We expect all students to be picked up between 3.30 pm - 3.45 pm
  • You should follow the instruction by YSGA staff when you are at the school
  • Parents must notify the office before 2.30 pm if there is a change in dismissal for the student. (YSGA cannot change the regular dismissal arrangement by a verbal update from the student alone).

Dress Code and New School Uniform Policy
YSGA school shirts are available at the school; please call the front office to make arrangements to purchase them. Long sleeve shirts are $15 each and short sleeves are $11 each. uniforms can not be purchased during arrival and dismissal times. Cash and credit card payments are accepted only. 
The uniform look is the same for all students.
  • Grey shirt with school logo, worn tucked in
  • Navy, black, or khaki belted pants 
  • Navy school logo sweater (worn over uniform shirt)’- available for purchase from the school
  • Solid navy sweater (worn over uniform shirt)
  • Black or brown belt
  • Solid black, navy blue, or brown soled shoes 
  • Solid black or white tennis shoes
(Leggings, shorts, rompers, skirts, crocs, and sandals are not permitted)


Kelli Humphries
humphries@ysga.org
School Nurse Corner
Welcome back Young Scholars! We are so excited to have you back in person. I wanted to review the steps we are taking to keep our students healthy and safe. We are a team and need to work together.

  • We ask that you assess your child at home for any signs of illness. Those symptoms could be cold symptoms, cough, fever, sore throat, stomach ache, etc. Please keep them home and reach out to your pediatrician.

  • It is STATE MANDATED that all students wear a mask on the bus and at the school. We are wearing masks in school to help decrease the spread of viruses. Please review with your child the proper way to wear a mask. It needs to cover the nose and mouth to be effective. We will reinforce this at school.

  • HANDWASHING is important!!! It decreases the spread of germs! Our Young Scholars should use water, soap, rub hands together (front and back) for 20 seconds, rinse, and dry. Signs are in bathrooms to remind them.

  • When hand washing is not available use hand sanitizer. It is located in every classroom as well as the hallways. Signs are placed throughout the building for hand sanitizing stations.

  • Spacing is utilized in the classrooms.

  • Please contact the nurse if anyone in your family has been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. The nurse can review quarantine protocols that are being recommended by the Allegheny County Health Dept.

I am here to help with any questions you may have!

    Yours in health,

    Nikki Scrabis CSN
    412-673-7300 x 216
School Counselor Corner
Hello and Welcome Back!!

My name is Lauren Kielbasa and I am the School Counselor at YSGA. I will also be your scholars’ Character Education teacher. I am excited to welcome all scholars back to YSGA and look forward to working with them this year. As the School Counselor at YSGA, I help ALL students with social/emotional development, self-management, social skills, maintaining friendships, and also provide support during various transitions in a student's life (e.g. family change, moving, grief, etc.). This is done through the implementation of direct and indirect student services. 

Services Provided: 

  • Character Education Classroom Lessons
  • Small-Group Counseling
  • Short-term individual counseling
  • Consultation with parents and school staff
  • Community resource referrals
  • Homelessness Liaison
  • Title IX Coordinator

Nine Tips to Overcome School Anxiety 
1. Goodbye Routine 
Develop a quick goodbye routine and do it the same way every time. Don't drag out the goodbye process... it makes leaving even more difficult. 

2. Be Consistent 
When your kids are used to running around outside until dark each night, shifting to the early morning school bus rush can be a real shock to the system. To ease the transition, move up their bedtime to a few minutes each night to get them back on track. Keeping a consistent routine helps kids know what to expect. It's tempting to give up or give in when things are difficult. It's important to remember that what feels easier in the short run usually makes things more difficult in the long run. 

3. Keep Things Light 
Kids are good at picking up on emotions. Appear relaxed and upbeat even if you don't feel that way. It tugs at the heartstrings when your child is anxious. Keep conversations positive but to the point and detached of emotion. 

4. Talk to Someone 
Teachers and School Counselors are great resources! Open communication helps increase success. Your child's teacher or school counselor may have tips or ideas to share in dealing with school anxiety. 

5. Have Child Bring One Small Item from Home 
Send a small reminder of home with your child. Items such as a handwritten note, a family picture, or a small keepsake that when looked at brings a happy thought. 

6. Teach Problem Solving 
Learning to handle problems effectively is a valuable life skill. When problems arise, don't rush to solve your child's problem for them. Encourage them to come to us with their own ideas of solutions to their problems. 

7. Be Prepared for Setbacks 
Don't get discouraged with regression. Going back to school after a long weekend, holiday break, or illness can cause anxiety to flare up again. Be prepared for this and remember consistency is the key. 

8. Don't Give Up 
The best gift you can give your child is to not give up even when you feel like it. There's no "quick fix" in overcoming school anxiety. The best lesson your child can learn is they CAN do hard things and be successful. 

9. Teach Calming Strategies 
Teaching your child calming strategies is a great way for them to take an active role in overcoming school anxiety. Some coping strategy examples are:

  • Deep Breathing Exercise - inhale through the nose. Hold for 5 seconds. Exhale through the mouth.
  • Do 25 of Something Active - jumping jacks, shooting hoops, jump rope.
  • Focus on positive thoughts
  • Bring a note from home to read at recess 
  • Countdown from 10 backward

 
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. 


Lauren Kielbasa 
Phone: (412) 673-7300, ext. 121

We want to ensure our families are being helped and supported in their time of need! 
Hello everyone! 

We are so excited to get back to in-person learning this year! We have lots of new and exciting things for students to look forward to. 

Some changes for the upcoming school year include a brand new science curriculum. This curriculum was selected because it is project-based and hands-on. Students are going to love all of the experiments they get to conduct! My favorite part about this curriculum, though, is the fact that it aligns with our ELA curriculum, which gives students the opportunity to build and apply their reading skills across subject areas! 

We know that the transition back to in-person learning may be challenging, so we have brought additional staff members to our team that will help support our lead teachers in the core subject areas. This way, we can help support each of our scholars on their educational journey. Don’t be surprised if your student comes home and tells you that they have two ELA or two Math teachers! 

Additionally, we have a brand new music room, complete with a few different instruments that students will have the chance to try. We are bringing back art classes for all grade levels, including the middle school. 

Curriculum & Instruction
Ms. Long 
Back-to-School Night

It was fantastic to see our families back in the building for Back to School Night on Thursday, August 26th! Our teachers, staff, and administration had been looking forward to seeing our scholars again, and you did not disappoint! If you were not able to attend Back to School Night and would like to see the Administration Video Message, we have a recorded version available.
First Day of School
 
Welcome back to school for our Young Scholars!! We have had a great start to the school year and look forward to a successful year ahead. It has been exciting to feel the school buzzing again with our scholars! This year, our first day of school was Monday, August 30th. We had a great turnout for the first day of school, and even had a few classes with perfect attendance! Way to go!

We cannot wait to see what this year brings!
Health and Safety Plan
YSGA has reopened to in-person instruction with the traditional 5 days a week bell schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. Faculty and staff are committed to following COVID guidelines with maintaining social distancing of student desks and mandatory masks for all scholars and staff. Staff that is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will be COVID tested every two weeks.

YSGA is monitoring updated orders and protocols from the Allegheny Health Department. The full Health and Safety Plan can be found on the school website.
STEAM
Young Scholars of Greater Allegheny is excited to announce the introduction of our new STEAM Program. Our scholars will step into the shoes of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, researchers, and other similar roles as they explore everyday phenomenon. Our scholars will learn and apply the necessary skills needed to be successful for life after school. In addition, every science class from grades 1 to 8 will complete various STEAM projects that will present them with challenges and allow our young scholars to explore, develop, evaluate, and share solutions. Our vision is that every scholar can collaborate with their peers, communicate new ideas, and think creatively and critically.
Extended Day
The teachers at Young Scholars of Greater Allegheny are excited to offer extended day activities from 3:45 – 4:45 PM starting on September 27, 2021. These opportunities allow for the students to get additional help on their studies or participate in an enrichment opportunity that will explore the world and acquire skills beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom. We look forward to learning with your scholar!
Pick-up and Drop-off Route
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An exciting event is about to take place...YSGA will be starring in a new school commercial, with filming to take place on September 15th. Be on the lookout for our commercial!


School Commercial Video Filming: September 15

Extended Day Starts: September 27, 2021