Reminders & Upcoming Events Happy Thanksgiving! Nov. 24, 2020
All-Academy Reminders Distance Learning Dec. 1-4
Travel Policy Update Previously, SSA's travel policy required a 14-day quarantine for any student or employee traveling to a state listed on the PA Department of Health COVID Travel web page. On Nov. 17, the PADOH replaced that list of states with a new travel order requiring a 14-day quarantine for ALL out of state travel; therefore, SSA has extended its policy to cover all out of state travel as well. However, while the PADOH travel order allows travelers to obtain a negative COVID test in place of quarantine, SSA still does NOT allow for testing out of quarantine. We believe the 14-day quarantine period has played an important role in preventing on-campus virus transmission to date. Therefore SSA's updated travel policy is that a student or employee traveling anywhere out of state may not return to campus for 14 days following their return to PA, and a negative COVID test does NOT release them from a full 14-day quarantine. Students in quarantine may utilize the live remote video attendance option during in-person instruction.
"Jan Plan": The Return From Winter Break Our COVID-19 Health and Safety Team has developed a plan for our return to school in January, which we are calling the "Jan Plan". Classes on Monday, Jan. 4, and Tuesday, Jan. 5 are canceled in order to provide all students and employees with mandatory COVID-19 testing, which will be fully subsidized by the Academy. Details about the testing process will be shared in the coming weeks. As community members await the results of their tests, all PK-12 classes will resume virtually under our distance learning plan on January 6, 7, and 8. Students, faculty, and staff who receive a negative test result may return to campus for in-person instruction beginning Monday, Jan. 11. Read the Oct. 30 email.
Family Participation Challenge & Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1 Make your Blue & Gold Fund gift on #GivingTuesday (Tuesday, Dec. 1) and it will count toward the Family Participation Challenge! Grades at each campus will vie for the highest family participation percentage and the winning grade's students at each division will receive a prize at the end of the school year. Your gift to the Blue & Gold Fund supports critical resources at the Academy that tuition alone does not cover. Your gift, no matter the amount, will make an impact.
The Social Institute Parent Webinar, Dec. 14 PK-12 parents are asked to save the date for The Social Institute (TSI) Parent Webinar on Monday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. SSA has partnered with TSI to help our students navigate challenges related to social-emotional health, social media and technology. Learn more about TSI and parenting in the digital age from TSI founder Laura Tierney in this informative session. Details to come via email.
Admissions Virtual and On-Campus Visit Opportunities
Call for Recipes: SSA UPA Cookbook The Shady Side Academy Parents' Association invites you to submit your favorite recipe for a commemorative SSA cookbook. Recipes should fall into one of the following categories: Appetizers, Breakfast, Soup/Salads/Sides, Main Entrees, Desserts or Kid-Friendly (e.g. play dough, slime, etc.) Please type and submit your family's favorite recipe via email, and feel free to share a story or anecdote along with it! Email recipes or questions to ssacookbook2020@gmail.com by Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Download the flyer.
2021 Hillman Performing Arts Series
Reminder: Order Lunches by 9 p.m. on Wednesdays Orders must be placed via the Choosi website or mobile app by Wednesday at 9 p.m. for the following week's lunches. Download the instructional PDF. Browse the PDF menus on the Lunch Menus page before ordering. Upcoming Academy Events Nov. 25-30 - ACADEMY CLOSED, Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 1-4 - All Campuses - Distance Learning Classes
Dec. 14 - The Social Institute Parent Webinar, 7 p.m., Zoom
Dec. 19 - Winter Recess Begins
Country Day School Reminders Distance Learning Information Night Zoom Recording Thank you to the families who attended the Distance Learning Information Night Zoom webinar on Monday, Nov. 23. SSA Innovative Teaching and Learning Facilitator Jody Kokladas shared step-by-step instructions for setting up Canvas in preparation for Distance Learning on Tuesday, Dec. 1. If you missed the session, view a recording here or download the presentation slides. Families are encouraged to bookmark these important links: Canvas & Seesaw Slide Deck, Parent Instructional Technology Guides, Canvas login and Seesaw login. Contact the Technology Helpdesk with any questions. Upcoming CDS Events
Junior School Reminders Distance Learning Information Night Zoom Recording Thank you to the families who attended the Distance Learning Information Night Zoom webinar on Monday, Nov. 23. SSA Innovative Teaching and Learning Facilitator Jody Kokladas shared step-by-step instructions for setting up Canvas in preparation for Distance Learning on Tuesday, Dec. 1. If you missed the session, view a recording here or download the presentation slides. Families are encouraged to bookmark these important links: Canvas & Seesaw Slide Deck, Parent Instructional Technology Guides, Canvas login and Seesaw login. Contact the Technology Helpdesk with any questions.
Virtual Turkey Trot Register online to participate in the virtual Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving break! Registration is $15. The race will benefit the YMCA food pantry programs and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Registrants will run a one-mile race and receive a long-sleeve T-shirt. Questions? Contact Karen DiFiore.
Parents' Association Officer Recruitment Information The Junior School Neurodiversity Squad (NDS) is open to all adult members of the school community. We provide information, support, resources, encouragement and visibility to all interested parents, faculty, staff and caregivers. We meet monthly (sometimes a bit more often, and via Zoom for now). For more information, please contact Lisa Avery or Carol Caplan.
Yearbook Photos Needed Share your photos of the first days of school, Spirit Week or Halloween with the yearbook! Please upload photos to the ReplayIt Photo Album or the shared Google Photos folder. You can also share a photo folder or email photos to Karen Sandora.
Junior School Parent Book Club The Junior School Parent Book Club is a new project focused on connecting parents and talking about books. We will plan to meet monthly via Zoom to discuss fun fiction and engaging stories. Books will be selected by the group based on shared interests. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Rachel Kutz-Flamenbaum at rkutzflamenbaum@gmail.com.
Uniform Store Upcoming JS Events
Middle School Reminders Distance Learning Resources Each week, families will receive a weekly grade-level distance learning schedule via email. Each morning, students will receive a daily schedule email before 8 a.m. with links to the morning announcement video and teachers' Zoom rooms. See the Nov. 23 email from Brian Johnston for details.
Parent/Student/Advisor Conferences Dec. 3
Form II Parent Information Night, Dec. 8 The Form II Parent Night on Tuesday, Dec. 8, will be fully virtual and attendees will hear from Senior School administrators, representatives from academic departments and Senior School students. Parents will receive a Zoom link in early December. Watch the Senior School Admissions Tour video. Upcoming MS Events Dec. 1 - Term 2 Begins
Dec. 3 - NO CLASSES, Parent/Student/Advisor Conferences via Zoom
Dec. 8 - Form II Virtual Parent Night at the Senior School, 5 p.m.
Senior School Reminders Term 1 Gold Grades Available Dec. 3 End-of-term grades and comments for Term 1 Gold will be available for families to view in the Veracross Parent Portal on Thursday, Dec. 3. Term 2 Blue begins on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Yearbook Senior Portraits and Baby Photos
Yearbook Senior Quotes Due Feb. 1
2019-2020 Yearbooks The 2019-2020 yearbook is behind schedule due to complications this spring and changes with the yearbook formatting system. We anticipate that students will receive their yearbooks before winter break.
Athletic Training Appointment Scheduling Students can now schedule appointments with the SSA athletic training staff online using this Calendly link. Upcoming SS Events
Varsity Athletics Schedule
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