Shady Side Academy

Past SSA Parent Education Lecturer and Parenting Expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa was featured on Pittsburgh Today Live this morning to share advice for parents about how to talk to kids about tough current events, news and politics. http://ow.ly/ShlD50D2yYa

A group of #SSAJuniorSchool and #SSAMiddleSchool families organized a "No Hungry Kids!" fundraiser to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in December 2020, with the goal of raising $1,000 through a GoFundMe page by Christmas Eve. The team of students surpassed its goal, raising a total of $5,301 from 67 generous donors! Thank you to all of the families who donated, and congratulations to the Delfyett, Iannetti, Khalil, Walsh and Zureikat families on a successful fundraiser! http://ow.ly/huo150D1wBu

SSA freshman Deven Nahata has organized a school supply drive to support Hello Neighbor, a nonprofit organization founded by SSA alumna Sloane (Berrent) Davidson '97 that supports resettled refugees in Pittsburgh. During the week of Jan. 11-15, SSA families are asked to donate calculators, binders, folders, notebooks, crayons and markers, coloring books. Colored paper, pens and pencils, backpacks and other craft materials. Please note the items must be new. Collection bins will be placed outside of Mr. Green's office in Rowe Hall at the Senior School. #SSASeniorSchool #SSAalumni

Local Teachers, Districts Find Ways to Cope During COVID |North Hills Monthly Magazine http://ow.ly/LDwG50D0m66

Latest #SSAnews: U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden formally announced Shady Side Academy alumnus Tom Vilsack '68 as his nominee to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in the Cabinet of the Biden-Harris Administration. http://ow.ly/EyRr50CIh21 #SSAalumni

Help support the #SSASeniorSchool Service Learning Club by purchasing the SSA "Together Apart" hoodie before Monday, Jan. 11! All proceeds will benefit 412 Food Rescue Order online: http://ow.ly/5yJj50CZJV0

#SSAJuniorSchool Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Graders were given a pile of equipment and charged with creating a snowperson in Karen DiFiore's PE classes today! Some students build it upright, some made a snowperson that had melted and others built their snowperson lying down. Students used jump rope for arms or hair, fluff balls became buttons or snowballs, cones were used as hats, the nose or as the snowperson itself. The students were very creative!

#SSAMiddleSchool sixth grader Eva was the leading force behind the holiday food drive at the Middle School. She created a video to introduce the food drive as well as posters to hang around the building to educate her peers about food insecurity. Although the food drive was cut short due to snow days before Winter Break, Middle School students and their families donated nearly 1,000 pounds of food during the two-week drive. Eva and Middle School math and science teacher Laur...en Messner delivered the donations to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where Maria Montaro, the food bank's community fundraising coordinator, gave them a tour of the warehouse. Thank you to all of the families who donated and congratulations on leading a successful food drive, Eva! http://ow.ly/iPSY50CZJhG

Before winter break, #SSASeniorSchool students in art teacher Cari Batchelar's advisory created handmade holiday cards for frontline medical workers at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital in Aspinwall. Substitute art teacher Roy Parlour, who is filling in for Batchelar while she is on leave, facilitated the activity and delivered the cards to Batchelar's niece, who is a physician's assistant in infectious diseases.

Christina Blazin’s #SSAJuniorSchool fifth graders enjoyed a game of Zoom Battleship to reinforce their learning of latitude and longitude yesterday!

The #SSACountryDaySchool treehouse has been transformed into a celebration of holidays! Students in Mrs. Fire’s music classes are making music for Chanukah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Eid -al - Fitr, Diwali, Christmas, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year and El día de los Reyes!

Congratulations to SSA alum John Rhoades '01, the new owner and publisher of NEXTpittsburgh! #SSAalumni http://ow.ly/Wh1f50CZEFi

Independent School Educator and Shady Side alum Rashaad Phillips ’12 presented I Woke Up Like This: Teaching and Practicing Authenticity in Predominately White Spaces at the NAIS -- National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference, held online last week. http://ow.ly/mZ6Y50CHj1p At the time of filming, he was a teacher at The Dalton School in New York. Rashaad is currently the dean of students at The Lab School in Washington, D.C. #SSAalumni

The #WPIAL Class 1A Champion SSA Field Hockey team will face Forbes Road on Saturday, Nov. 14, Shady Side at noon. Good luck to the team and Head Coach Betsy Gorse! #SSASports #SSASeniorSchool

Senior Annabel Kuhn, juniors Marnie McCormick and Cecelia Messner and sophomore Thea Conomikes were named to the 2020 #WPIAL All-Star First Team, while senior Cealy Fryncko and junior Jenny Woodings received Honorable Mention. Congratulations to all six girls on this well-deserved athletic achievement! http://ow.ly/N4Tu50Ck0wg #SSASports #SSASeniorSchool

On Saturday, Dec. 19, the #SSAMiddleSchool Science Olympiad team placed fifth out of 153 teams in Division B (grades 6-9) at the virtual Scilympiad Practice 2 Invitational. Congratulations to the team and its coaches, Middle School science teachers Bonnie Maxwell, Matt Brunner and Paul Waked, as well as Chris Erler! http://ow.ly/C1SI50CZAox

#SSACountryDaySchool Pre-Kindergarteners bundled up and enjoyed PE class outside this morning! What a view!

Amy Kim and Marilyn Martens' kindergarten class at the #SSAJuniorSchool celebrated #VeteransDay by reading a book and watching a skit on the smart board about Veterans Day. The class learned about the five branches of the military and colored flags to represent the freedom we have in America.

Happy New Year to our Shady Side families, friends, alumni, faculty and staff! May 2021 bring you lots of joy, happiness and good health.

Members of the #SSASeniorSchool Girls Who Code Club, led by juniors Emmie Jordan and Ariella Avigad, have created a website to help seventh graders at #SSAMiddleSchool study various units of biology for their science class. Read more: http://ow.ly/zPfE50CiWnq Way to go, girls!

Shout out to the SSA boys and girls basketball programs, which to date have contributed more than $2,800 to the WPIAL/City Basketball Virtual Food Drive for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank! #SSAsports

We hope you are enjoying a happy and healthy holiday season and restful winter break!

Through the generous donations of the SSA community, the #SSASeniorSchool Service Learning Club twice surpassed its fundraising goal for the virtual food drive, first of $500, then to $1,000, to raise a total of $2,686.52 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The funds will provide up to 13,432 meals for those in western Pennsylvania experiencing food insecurity. Congratulations to the Service Learning Club and Faculty Advisor Lindsey Myers and thank you to all who donated! http://ow.ly/FSwm50CWkPE

Shady Side Academy alumni Max and Zac Prizant ’14 are running from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge in an effort to raise money for those hardest hit by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The brothers have already raised more than $10,000 for COVID-19 relief with the organization Heart to Heart International. #SSAalumni Read more about their journey: http://ow.ly/aOPE50CWbz9

Help Shady Side meet the challenges of this defining moment in our history. Your investment in Shady Side's future will help to ensure the Academy can continue offering an exceptional education and retain its national reputation for future generations. Your gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Time is running out. To receive a 2020 charitable tax deduction, your gift must be postmarked or made online by Thursday, Dec. 31. To make your online gift, visit http://ow.ly/b0Li50CVDKM

Sending happy Kwanzaa wishes to all families celebrating! We hope your Kwanzaa is filled with joy and prosperity.

Merry Christmas to all families celebrating today! Wishing you joy and health this holiday season.

Porter Gutstein is ready to roll for SSA! #SSABulldogs #GoBulldogs

Blue and Gold looks great on Margaret Thatcher Smith! (SSA faculty Kyle and Melanie Smith’s bulldog.) #SSABulldogs #GoBulldogs

Romeo and Juliet welcome their friend SSA alum Sean Gray ‘97 to the Bulldog family! #SSAbulldogs #GoBulldogs #SSAalumni

We love the Scott family’s SSA spirit in their blue and gold and new bulldog! #SSAbulldogs #GoBulldogs #SSAalumni

SSA Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Cam Thompson’s bulldog, Eddie, is showing his school spirit! #SSABulldogs #GoBulldogs

After narrowing down more than 600 mascot suggestions from the community to 22 semifinalists to 5 finalists, Shady Side Academy officially has a new mascot and team name. The new Shady Side Academy mascot isTHE BULLDOGS!! Kind yet courageous, friendly yet dignified, strong and smart, the Bulldog embodies loyalty, courage and tenacity inherent traits that also describe our SSA community! Read today's email: http://ow.ly/OwkV50CRhfz #SSABulldogs #GoBulldogs

Nick Mancini Hartner '96, owner of Mancini's Bakery, built a 6-foot Christmas tree, made entirely with Italian bread, which will be displayed in front of its production and retail facility in Stowe on Christmas Eve! #SSAalumni via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://ow.ly/XuBE50CR68O

TOMORROW! Check back here at noon on Monday, Dec. 21 for the announcement of the NEW Shady Side Academy Mascot!

Just 2 days left until the NEW Shady Side Academy Mascot is announced! Stay tuned!

In this defining moment at Shady Side Academy, your support of the Blue & Gold Fund has a big impact on the Academy. From inspiring faculty to innovative academic programs to arts and athletic opportunities, the generous support of the Blue & Gold Fund by our parents, alumni, faculty and friends helps to make it all possible. In order for gifts to be eligible for a 2020 charitable tax deduction, they must be made online or postmarked by Thursday, December 31, 2020. Make your gift online by visiting: http://ow.ly/TjnE30rpjQZ #SupportSSA

Thank you again to our wonderful Parents' Association for providing delicious holiday cookies for our faculty and staff! The #SSAJuniorSchool received their boxes today due to the winter weather earlier this week. Happy Holidays!

In the spirit of the holidays, WSSA presents some holiday "gifts" to deserving members of the Senior School community. Happy Holidays, everyone! #SSASeniorSchool

Drumroll, please! The countdown is on for the long-awaited new Shady Side Academy Mascot to be announced! Mark your calendar for Monday, Dec. 21 at noon.

Shady Side Academy Junior School fifth graders in Karen Sandora's technology literacy class recently completed an Admissions Video Production Project, in which each students created a video showcasing what makes the Junior School and Shady Side special while learning digital video production skills. Well done, fifth graders! View the videos: http://ow.ly/fb1v50CP9lj

#SSACountryDaySchool students had the exciting opportunity to ask Lauren Tarshis Author questions about her work during a virtual classroom visit via Zoom on Tuesday! Thank you for virtually visiting! Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures

If you were not able to attend Lessons from the Playing Field: A Conversation With Gene Deal, a recording is available here: http://ow.ly/VO5E50CP8yW Please continue to send in your questions for and fond memories of Gene! Contact [email protected].

Before winter break, the SSA Parents' Association provided delicious holiday cheer for Shady Side faculty and staff members at all four campuses with the annual Holiday Cookie Shoppe. This year, the PA got creative to keep the tradition alive with a socially distanced version of the Holiday Cookie Shoppe, delivering hundreds of pre-packaged boxes of assorted cookies from Oakmont Bakery, each with a Coffee Tree gift card attached, to all four campuses for faculty and staff to pick up. Thank you to the PA for the delicious cookies!

Last Friday, the senior membership of the #SSASeniorSchool Diversity Leadership Council (DLC hosted the first of two mini Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) workshops for the council's 16 new members. Remote learners were able to participate in special virtual sessions. Students used the training they gained at previous years' SDLC national conferences, hosted by the NAIS -- National Association of Independent Schools, in addition to work they've been doing this past year on campus. http://ow.ly/t38t50COgnB Congratulations to the students and faculty advisors Pam Boehm and Creighton Runnette!

Amy Kim and Marilyn Martens' #SSAJuniorSchool Kindergarten class created beautiful, handmade Holiday Cards!

The beautiful #SSASeniorSchool campus after our #SnowDay yesterday!

On Saturday, Dec. 5, the #SSASeniorSchool Science Olympiad team placed eighth out of 67 teams in Division C (grades 9-12) at the virtual invitational hosted by Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Fla. Congratulations and good luck at the Science Olympiad Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 19! http://ow.ly/oIcK50CO4Vq

Due to the winter storm, and to minimize disruption as we head into Winter Break, all four Shady Side Academy campuses will shift to DISTANCE LEARNING for PK-12 classes on Thursday AND Friday, December 17-18. Families should check their email for full details.

#SSAJuniorSchool second grade students in Kristin Litster, Emily Cain, Maggie Folger and Claire Pilarski's classes became "Kindness Agents" and were welcomed to the world of the "Kid Kindness Coalition." The students received a new mission each day for a week. One challenge was to make a positive poster to hang up in the school because reading a positive message makes people feel good, and positivity is contagious!

On Friday, Dec. 13, the #SSAMiddleSchool Science Olympiad team placed third out of 59 teams in Division B (grades 6-9) at the virtual Northview Invitational. Way to go! http://ow.ly/HgXn50CNiT4

On this snowy Wednesday, take a peek into Mr. Randy Broker's Seventh Grade Strings class at #SSAMiddleSchool as they learn to play Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud"! http://ow.ly/YjTe50CNiFt

Due to the impending winter storm, all Shady Side Academy campuses will be CLOSED on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and NO CLASSES will be held. Families should check their email for further details. In a school year when almost nothing has been normal, we encourage our students, faculty and staff to take a break and enjoy a good old-fashioned snow day!

Lauren Lieberman and Julie Hertz' advisories had fun decorating cookies in person and via Zoom today! #SSASeniorSchool

Through a food drive held the week of Dec. 7-11, students at #SSACountryDaySchool collected more than 400 non-perishable food items for The Pressley Ridge Backpack Giveback program, which supplies food to families who may be struggling to find their next meal, and basic necessities to children in foster care. Also on Friday, Dec. 11, students were encouraged to donate $1 to enjoy a dress-down day and wear their grade's assigned rainbow colors. School Head Dr. Jennifer Asmonga and school counselor Claudine Runette used the $250 raised to deliver Panera Bread lunch to the doctors and nurses at St. Margaret's Hospital today, along with the students' handmade cards with messages of gratitude and hope. Congratulations to the students and teachers on a successful food and donation drive, and thank you to all who contributed!

It’s Merry Monday at the #SSAJuniorSchool! Students wore pajamas to school todayit’s the first day of a full week the students will be out of uniform!

On Thursday, Dec. 10, the first night of Hanukkah, #SSAMiddleSchool students learned about the story of Hanukkah, perseverance and resilience. The students were asked questions like: What is hard about your life now, with COVID-19? How do you manage? What are the activities that help you? The students wrote about their challenges on paper light bulbs, which have been strung and hung around the school building for everyone to see.

Last year, more than 1,300 of you gave back to Shady Side Academy through gifts in support of our students, faculty, programs and facilities, totaling more than $4.3 million, including a record $1.85 million for the Blue & Gold Fund. Because of your generosity, we have been able to meet the challenges of this defining moment in our school's history. It is with our deepest gratitude that we celebrate your generosity in our 2019-2020 Report of Philanthropy: http://ow.ly/QMCn50CKVFt #SupportSSA

Join Academy President Bart Griffith '93 and Director of Athletics Gene Deal as they share a conversation about his life, career and love of sports during a live Zoom webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. Submit your questions for and memories of Coach Deal prior to the event and RSVP by contacting [email protected]. #SSAalumni

All PK-12 parents are invited to join us for a refreshing, practical, and eye-opening presentation about parenting in the digital age, featuring The Social Institute founder and CEO, Laura Tierney tomorrow night, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Check your email for the link to register and don’t forget to complete the parent survey prior to the event!

Amy Kim and Marilyn Marten's Kindergarten class celebrated Hanukkah by reading a story called, "Celebrate Hanukkah with Me" and then the children made their own Menorahs. Happy Hanukkah! #SSAJuniorSchool

Warmest Wishes for a Happy Hanukkah to all of the SSA families who are celebrating!

Ten members of the SSA varsity football team earned postseason honors from the Class 2A Allegheny Conference for the 2020 season, including three players named to the first team. Congratulations to all 10 players and head coach, Chuck DiNardo '00! http://ow.ly/juHO50CHd3A

Organized by the #SSASeniorSchool Service Learning Club, the SSA "Together Apart" Hoodies are now available for purchase! All proceeds will benefit 412 Food Rescue. Place your order by Monday, January 11! http://ow.ly/CLwi50CH47N

"My favorite high school English teacher, Mary Beth Fry, gave me a book that offered me the first words of solace I could comprehend." #SSAalumni Geoffrey Melada '96 shares his story of overcoming personal trauma on the Treatment Advocacy Center blog:

A team of parent volunteers from Country Day School decorated the exterior of the school building and campus with holiday decorations for faculty, staff and students to enjoy. Great job and thank you to the CDS Parents' Association!

#SSAalumni and Pittsburgh native Tom Vilsack '68 emerges as Biden’s top candidate to lead Agriculture Department, via TribLive - http://ow.ly/liLm50CFFT2

Let our fifth graders be your guides in this student-led video tour of #SSAJuniorSchool! http://ow.ly/lSgD50CF0dY Join us for a Zoom Information Session on Dec. 8 (Grades PK-K) or Dec. 10 (Grades 1-5) at 10 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. to learn more! Register at http://ow.ly/wgrE50CF00U.

SSA freshman Jack Engel appears in the Pittsburgh CLO production of A Musical Christmas Carol that will be broadcast by WQED Pittsburgh in December 2020! Since the show cannot be performed live on stage this year due to COVID-19, the CLO has partnered with WQED to keep this Pittsburgh holiday tradition alive for the 29th consecutive year by broadcasting the 2018 production, which was recorded live at the Byham Theater. The performance will air on WQED-TV on the following date...s: December 10 at 7:30 p.m. December 18 at 9 p.m. December 24 at 9 p.m. December 27 at 1 p.m. The show will also be available to stream online for free on the WQED website from Dec. 11-31. Jack, who was in seventh grade at SSA Middle School at the time, plays the role of Cratchit Child in the 2018 show. Tune in to see Jack perform, and to enjoy the holiday magic of the Pittsburgh CLO! http://ow.ly/26lJ30rnycu

#SSASummer is actively planning in-person programming for Summer 2021 with limited enrollments and health and safety protocols grounded in national and local public health guidance. Check back in mid-January for program details and information. We anticipate opening registration for day camps in early February.

Experience a day in the life at #SSACountryDaySchool in this video and join us for a Zoom Information Session on Tuesday, Dec. 8 (Grades PK-K) or Thursday, Dec. 10 (Grades 1-5) at 10 a.m. or 4:30 p.m. to learn more. Register at shadysideacademy.org/visit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9BE8kS7Cu8&feature=youtu.be (Note: Video footage was taken pre-COVID-19)

Congratulations to Shady Side Academy alum Dylan Groff ’15 on being named Community Relations Council Associate at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh! http://ow.ly/QiBi50CEPqn #SSAalumni

Behind mixture of youth, experience, Shady Side Academy boys ready to compete via TribLive High School Sports Network http://ow.ly/bs5q50CDYcw #SSASeniorSchool #SSASports

Parents, join us for a refreshing, practical, and eye-opening presentation about parenting in the digital age featuring The Social Institute’s Founder and CEO, Laura Tierney, on Monday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Check your email for details and information to register!