Reminders & Upcoming Events Feb. 18, 2021
All-Academy Reminders Updated CDC Mask Guidance The CDC recently announced updated mask-wearing guidance to help slow the spread of COVID-19, emphasizing a snug fit and multiple layers of material as the keys to mask effectiveness. While not required by SSA, we encourage you to consider the CDC's suggestions to either double mask by wearing a cloth mask over a disposable mask, or to knot the ear loops and tuck in the extra material of a 3-ply mask to improve its fit. Read the SSA Nursing Team's Feb. 11 email.
Deadline Extended: SSA Cookbook Recipes Due Feb. 19 You still have time to submit a recipe for the SSA Parents' Association's 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 Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Download the flyer.
Registration for SSA Summer Day Camps Is Open Registration for summer day camps for kids entering grades PK-9 is open on the SSA Summer website! These in-person camps, including a new camp at Country Day School, are offered weekly from June 21 to July 30. All of our in-person camps will have extensive COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including limited enrollments. Camps are expected to sell out, so register early to reserve your child's spot. Information and registration for Focus, Sports and STEAM camps, as well as high school Summer School courses, will be available in March.
Admissions Virtual and On-Campus Visit Opportunities
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.
Country Day School Reminders Register for ASA Spring Term by Feb. 19
Join the Spring Decorating Committee Volunteer to help form and lead a spring decorating committee for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Spring/Earth Day or Teacher Appreciation Week. Sign up online. Contact Rebecca Witt with any questions.
Nursing Change Upcoming CDS Events
Junior School Reminders Register for ASE Spring Term by Feb. 19
Volunteers Needed for the International Fair, March 18 The Parents' Association will once again bring the world to the Junior School for the Third Annual International Fair on Thursday, March 18. Students will be taken on a virtual international flight around the world, visiting many countries and immersing themselves in a new culture with each stop. Download the flyer. Parents who would like to volunteer to host and bring their country/culture to life should sign up online by Monday, Feb. 22. Read the submission guidelines.
Carpool Reminders Families are reminded to drive slowly during afternoon pick-up and to put hazard lights on when you pull over to the bus tent space to buckle up or wait patiently (this lets other families know they may pass you). Please do not talk on your cell phone while driving or cut the carpool line. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated!
Parents' Association Officer Recruitment Information The Junior School Neurodiversity Squad (NDS) provides 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 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.
Yearbook Ads If you are interested in securing a recognition ad for your child, please order by April 12 for the best prices. Creating your unique ad is simple and the entire process is done through the Jostens website. Download the flyer. Please direct any questions to Karen Sandora.
Junior School Parent Book Club The Junior School Parent Book Club meets monthly via Zoom to discuss fun fiction and engaging stories. Books are 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 Feb. 19 - Spring ASE Registration Deadline
March 18 - International Fair
Middle School Reminders PIAA Spring Sports Forms Due in Magnus Health March 1 If your child is playing a spring sport, the PIAA Section 7 Recertification Form must be completed in Magnus Health by Monday, March 1. In addition, you must complete the new PIAA Section 10 COVID-19 Release Form if you have not already done so for a winter sport. Both forms are required to participate in spring athletics and are supplements to the PIAA forms submitted earlier this year. To access the forms, log into the Veracross Parent Portal, click the Magnus Health button, and log in with your Veracross username and password. In Magnus, you should see the required forms flagged as "to-dos" at the bottom of the form list in your child's Student Health Tracker. If you have any questions, contact Head Athletic Trainer Chris Rose.
Talk Parent Program Samantha Bushman, founder & CEO of Talk, The New Sex Ed, will be offering a six-session online course designed to help you better prepare your children to make healthy decisions. This program is the parent complement to the student programming in the classroom. The cost is $300 for six 90-minute sessions. Scholarships are available. The program will run via Zoom, one time per week beginning the week of April 12, and concluding the week of May 17. Early registration deadline is Friday, March 5. If you are interested in participating, email scheduling@thenewsexed.org with your name, your child's name and grade, general availability for the program, days and times you are unavailable and your phone number. Please also note your child attends Shady Side Academy Middle School. Download the Middle School Student and Parent Program Overview.
Sign Up to Sponsor An Upcoming Soft Pretzel Day
Yearbook Photos and Recognition Ads The 2021 yearbook design is already underway! Share your photos from the school year by uploading your photos directly to the Jostens website. Create a customized yearbook recognition ad for your child by creating an account on the Jostens website. Questions? Contact Roxana Trabulsi. Upcoming MS Events Feb. 26 - NO CLASSES, Evaluation Day
March 1 - PIAA Spring Sports Forms Due in Magnus Health
Senior School Reminders Midterm Grades Available Term 2 Gold Midterm grades are now available on the Veracross Parent Portal on your child's classes and reports page. Mid-year advisor comments are posted here as well.
PIAA Spring Sports Forms Due in Magnus Health March 1 If your child is playing a spring sport, the PIAA Section 7 Recertification Form must be completed in Magnus Health by Monday, March 1. In addition, you must complete the new PIAA Section 10 COVID-19 Release Form if you have not already done so for a winter sport. Both forms are required to participate in spring athletics and are supplements to the PIAA forms submitted earlier this year. To access the forms, log into the Veracross Parent Portal, click the Magnus Health button, and log in with your Veracross username and password. In Magnus, you should see the required forms flagged as "to-dos" at the bottom of the form list in your child's Student Health Tracker. If you have any questions, contact Head Athletic Trainer Chris Rose.
PCIS College Counseling Offices Present Webinar Wednesdays The SSA College Counseling Office, together with the Pittsburgh Consortium of Independent Schools (PCIS), are hosting webinars on Wednesdays in February at 7 p.m. for freshmen, sophomores and juniors and their families. Register now for Standardized Testing & Test-Optional Admission in the Time of COVID-19, Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m., featuring a panel of five college admissions officers.
Parent Book Club, Feb. 23 Join us Tuesday, Feb. 23, at noon via Zoom for a discussion of The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives by Shankar Vedantam. Claire Logsdon, dean of studies, will lead the discussion. Contact Catherine Coulter or Kathy Williams with any questions.
College Counseling Coffee & Conversation, March 3 The College Counseling and Academic Offices invite families of freshmen, sophomores and juniors to join us for the spring edition of Coffee & Conversation on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. This session will preview next year's course offerings for each grade and together, we will offer our advice on how to best work with your child to choose the most appropriate courses for next year. We will also talk about planning for summer. A recording will be available for families who are unable to attend.
A Winter Theater Festival, March 5-7 The Winter Theater Festival will be performed virtually Friday, Mar. 5, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday Mar. 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Mar. 7, at 2 p.m. The festival includes student-performed monologues, spoken-word poetry, scenes, duets, soloists and even a tap dance! These pieces are sandwiched around three original student-written plays, one presented each night. The video links will be available soon at www.shadysideacademy.org/theater. Some content may not be suitable for children under 13.
Parking Permits for Sophomore Day Students Beginning immediately, eligible sophomores who hold a valid driver's license may apply for an SSA parking permit. Complete the Parking Permit Application and return it to Erica Strafalace in the Dean's Office. Read Chad Green's Feb. 8 email.
Join the SSA Military and Veterans Club in Supporting Local Veterans The SSA Military and Veterans Club has recently partnered with the Veterans Place to give back to homeless veterans in the Pittsburgh community. The club has worked to create an Amazon Wishlist of basic human necessities that many veterans in our area need. Shop the wish list to help homeless veterans and support this initiative. Contact David Szlachetka with questions.
Yearbook Senior Portraits and Baby Photos
Talk Parent Program Samantha Bushman, founder & CEO of Talk, The New Sex Ed, will be offering a six-session online course designed to help you better prepare your children to make healthy decisions. This program is the parent complement to the student programming in the classroom. The cost is $300 for six 90-minute sessions. Scholarships are available. The program will run via Zoom, one time per week beginning the week of April 12, and concluding the week of May 17. Early registration deadline is Friday, March 5. If you are interested in participating, email scheduling@thenewsexed.org with your name, your child's name and grade, general availability for the program, days and times you are unavailable and your phone number. Please also note your child attends Shady Side Academy Senior School. Download the High School Student and Parent Program Overview.
High School Summer School Registration Opens March 8 Class information will be posted to the SSA Summer webpage on Monday, March 1, and registration for high school Summer School courses will open Monday, March 8. Contact Dr. Barndollar with any questions.
Winter Sports Spectator Protocols & Livestream Given the current PA indoor gathering limits, spectators at home winter sports events are limited and vary by sport and facility. Fans are encouraged to watch games via our video livestream services. Download spectator protocols and livestream information.
Athletic Training Appointment Scheduling Students can now schedule appointments with the SSA athletic training staff online using this Calendly link. Upcoming SS Events Feb. 23 - Virtual Parent Book Club: The Hidden Brain, noon via Zoom
Feb. 24 - PCIS College Counseling Office Webinar Wednesday, 7 p.m.
March 1 - PIAA Spring Sports Forms Due in Magnus Health
March 3 - College Counseling Coffee & Conversation: Planning for Next Year, 7 p.m.
March 4 - NO CLASSES, Evaluation Day
March 4 - PSAT 10 Administration
March 5 - First Day of Term 3 Blue
March 5 - Winter Theater Festival virtual performance, 7:30 p.m.
March 6 - Winter Theater Festival virtual performance, 7:30 p.m.
March 7 - Winter Theater Festival virtual performance, 2 p.m.
SS Athletics Calendar
|