Newsletter to Parents! Our goal is to publish this newsletter twice monthly. The next issue will come out on Thursday, January 11.  If you have information you would like to be included in the newsletter, please email it no later than Monday, January 8 to mmiller@shadysideacademy.org.  If you have information you would like Communications to help publicize please contact us or use the 'Submit a News/Calendar Item' form.  We welcome your feedback and input.

Upcoming Events

Please check the web site for regular updates and schedule changes. For up-to-date calendar information visit: http://www.shadysideacademy.org/calendar/

News From the Junior School Campus

The Blue Banner Review!

News From the Senior School Campus

NEWS FOR THE ENTIRE SHADY SIDE ACADEMY COMMUNITY

River City Brass Band - Second in Shady Side Academy Performing Arts Series
January 12, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Richard E. Rauh Theater in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts
Since its founding in 1981, the River City Brass Band has been entertaining and educating audiences across the country. Currently, the RCBB has one of the most active schedules among American touring ensembles, performing 60 or more concerts on tour each year for a wide variety of audiences ranging from college and community performing arts series to multinational corporate events, major music festivals and symphony pops series.

The RCBB's signature style - its vast repertoire, virtuoso musicians, its warm and accessible performances - make the ensemble an ideal choice for a musical evening out.  Each performance is highlighted by Maestro Denis Colwell's witty and insightful commentary, which creates a friendly and thoroughly enjoyable concert experience.

For further information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.proartstickets.org or call (412) 394-3353 Monday through Saturday, 12:00pm to 5:30pm.

Admissions Testing - If you have friends with children who are considering applying to Shady Side Academy, Admissions testing will be held for students in Grades 6 - 12 on January 6 and for Grades 1 - 12 on February 3, 2007.   Pre-K and Kindergarten Readiness Activities are scheduled throughout January.  Reservations are required.  Click here for more information.

Great Gift Ideas!  Visit the SSA Online Store featuring apparel and accessories to show your Shady Side Academy spirit. Major credit cards are accepted, and items ship within 24 hours. Gift certificates available. For those living in Pennsylvania is a PennDOT produced "Specialty License Plate" featuring the Academy seal and school colors. Whether you're just browsing, buying yourself that Shady Side Academy t-shirt, or making holiday gift purchases, please take a few minutes to visit the Shady Side Academy store.

Save the Date!
The authors of They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky:  The True Story of Three Lost Boys of Sudan will visit both the Middle and Senior Schools on April 4 & 5, 2007 respectively.  A selection from the 2006 Summer Reading list, you and your child(ren) may have read the book recently.  On the evening of April 4, 2007 will be a discussion with the authors, open to the public, in the Richard E. Rauh Theater at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts.  Lost Boys of Sudan documents the journey of three Sudanese refugees who emigrated to the US to escape the Sudanese civil war.  More than five million Sudanese were driven from their homes during the war, many of them children traveling without families.  Senior School Librarian Reed Williams is coordinating this event in conjunction with Michele Green, Senior School History Teacher and Julia D. and James C. Rea Chair in Humanities.  Also involved in the project is Audrey Ashworth, Middle School Librarian, the Amnesty International Club.

Fundraiser for our Mayan Friend
Many Senior School students are hard working this year under the auspices of the SSA-Chiapas Connection mounting fundraisers to help Orlando, a 19-year old Mayan, to attend college. Orlando's completion of secondary and college prep school is remarkable, a feat rarely accomplished by members of his community, which faces grinding poverty day after day.  SSA and Fox Chapel High School provided the funding to make it possible for Orlando to stay in school and graduate from "la prepa" rather than work in the fields. 

Now we face a much greater challenge. Orlando is doing well in a 24 month program in computer science, but he cannot stay in school unless we raise $6,000 a year, which covers his room, board, clothing expenses, books, tuition.

If your family would be willing to donate to this worthy cause, please make checks payable to C.J. McGreevy-Morales and mail to:  423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. 

Thank you for your help!

Shady Side Academy Selected by College Board to Host Guest Chinese Teacher
Shady Side Academy is proud to announce that we have been selected by the College Board to host a Chinese Guest teacher from January 2007 to June 2008.  The College Board now has a Chinese AP exam and has developed the Guest Teacher program to help schools interested in developing a Chinese Program.  Read full story....

S-Book Updates - If you note an item that needs to be corrected in the S Book, please contact:
Kathy Faybik - Senior School - 412-968-3181
Rebecca Carter - Middle School - 412-968-3164
Holly Knotts - Junior School - 412-473-4437