Recaps & Good News Feb. 25, 2021
Dear Shady Side Families,
Last Saturday, while attending to my weekend residential life duties, I found myself alone for a few moments in the Rauh Theater in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts. I was struck by the emptiness and quiet that has defined that space – and so many others like it at Shady Side – over the past year.
One of the greatest challenges posed by the pandemic is our inability to come together as a full Shady Side community. It has been almost an entire year since we have convened physically for assemblies and performances in the Hillman, the Middle School cafetorium, or the gyms at the Country Day and Junior Schools. We miss the energy that stems from being together in these spaces. We miss the spontaneous and inspiring interactions typical of our gatherings. We miss the community trust that comes from simply being seen.
Virtual events are certainly better than nothing – and we have done such a nice job in leading them – but they are simply not the same. And it isn't even close.
So as we begin to feel increased hope for the future and perhaps a gleam of light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, we are beginning to think about how we might go about the process of coming back together as a community. How will we carve out the time and space to reconnect and recover? How might we learn to be together once again after being separated in small cohorts for so long?
I await with growing excitement that day in the not-too-distant future when we will jam-pack the Hillman and all of our gathering spaces and celebrate the strength and resilience of the Shady Side community.
Thanks for your continued support of one another and of our community.
Glory to Shady Side!
Best,
Follow Bart Griffith on Instagram at @ssa_prez
Senior School Faculty Member Named to PIEA Inaugural Board of Directors Jesse Robinson joins legislators and educational and community leaders on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association Board with the goal of providing regulatory oversight and competition guidelines for interscholastic esports in PA. DECA Club Members Win State Events, Advance to International Conference Senior Andrew Liu and sophomore Nichole Poltinnikov won first place in their events and will advance to the DECA International Career Development Conference held virtually April 19-23. Senior School Presents Digital Theater Festival, March 5-7 Virtual student drama production features three original student-written plays, one each night, sandwiched between other student performances. Links will be available soon at www.shadysideacademy.org/theater. SSA Summer Day Camp Registration Is Open! SSA Summer programs will have extensive COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place, including limited enrollments. Camps are expected to sell out quickly, so register early to reserve your child's spot! Senior Melissa Riggins Named Girls Soccer All-American The High School All-American Game is an annual matchup between teams of top prospects from the East and West regions of the United States. Shady Side Academy Announces The Gene Deal Fields This transformative $1.75 million athletic facilities initiative will honor the extraordinary legacy of longtime SSA coach and Director of Athletics Gene Deal. Middle School Science Olympiad Places Sixth at Eagle Invitational Anna Apetrei-Pandrea and Neyla Hinedi earned first place in the Mission Possible event.
University Professors Virtually Visit Senior School Band Classes Daniel Perttu of Westminster College and Zach Collins of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, virtually visited Stan Nevola's classes. Junior School First Grade Celebrates 100 Days Left of School Students celebrated 100 days left of the 2020-2021 school year by creating the number 100 out of 100 snowballs and other counting activities in the classroom. Middle School Sixth and Seventh Graders Spread Cheer for Valentine's Day The students made Valentine's Day cards for the residents at Juniper Village at Forest Hills senior care facility. College Counseling Webinar Wednesday Recordings Recordings of the webinars are available on YouTube for those who missed the Feb. 10, 17 or 24 events. Senior School Service Learning Club Creates Decorations for Ronald McDonald House The club created butterfly magnets and sponsored a pizza party for resident families of patients at UPMC Children's Hospital. Country Day School Kindergarteners Create Black History Month Artwork The students learned about the ways Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks stood up against inequality and fought for human rights, paving the the way for us all today. Junior School Kindergarten Students Celebrate Alma Thomas' Artwork The students learned about African American artist Alma Thomas and created artwork inspired by her piece, "Resurrection". Senior School Mock Trial Team Competes in PA Bar Association Competition The team advanced to the quarterfinals and placed among the top eight teams in Allegheny County. Senior School Public Health Club Donates Handmade Masks to UPMC The masks will help ensure that all UPMC patients, visitors, and non-clinical personnel have access to masks. Country Day School Third Grade Raises $340 For Pandas At The National Zoo The class organized a dress-down day for students to wear black and white and bring in a $2 donation to help protect pandas from extinction. Junior School Kindergarten Class Creates African Art Amy Kim and Marilyn Martens' class aread and listened to African folktales and created a piece of art inspired by African artwork. Heartfelt Valentine's Day Decorations from the Junior School Parents Association A team of parent volunteers decorated the Junior School with Valentine's Day decorations for faculty, staff and students to enjoy.
VIDEO: Senior School Black Student Union: Original Spoken Word - Feb. 22, 2021
VIDEO: Running from Perfect - A Senior Sage by Melissa
VIDEO: Senior School String Orchestra: Symphony No. 29 (Mozart arr. Frost)
VIDEO: Senior School Black History Month Assembly - Feb. 8, 2021
VIDEO: Senior School Chamber Choir: Can't Help Falling In Love (Peretti, Creatore & Weiss)
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