Visit & Engage
See it for Yourself
Finding the perfect community for your child is a journey, and we invite you to get to know ours. Small group events and on-campus visits are tailored to help families experience what the Shady Side community feels like, and all that moves us.
Visit Our Lower Schools
When wonder and delight are at the heart of learning, student engagement soars. At Shady Side, intellectual stimulation, physical movement, and fun are braided together to create an environment where our youngest learners thrive. Find out What Moves Us and experience what makes SSA an amazing school community for bright, curious, energetic students like yours.
Junior School Events
What Moves Us: Expanding Our Worldview Through Books
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Junior School
What Moves Us: Friendship, Leadership, and Fifth Grade Fun
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Junior School
What Moves Us: Coffee, Cocoa, and Conversation
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Junior School
Register for a Junior School Event
Required
Country Day School Events
What Moves Us: Self-Discovery Through Creativity
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Country Day School
What Moves Us: Friendship, Leadership, and Fifth Grade Fun
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Country Day School
What Moves Us: Coffee, Cocoa, and Conversation
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Country Day School
Register for a Country Day School Event
Required
Events for Grades 6–12
Shady Side Academy Senior School students dedicate three weeks every spring to an Immersive—a dynamic, real-world learning experience that takes them into Pittsburgh and beyond to explore a single topic through an interdisciplinary, community-based lens. It’s Learning that Moves—a signature experience for Shady Side students—and we want to share it with you.
Each What Moves Us event is a bite-sized Immersive, or a Mini-Mersive. We’ve taken a few of the courses and condensed them from three weeks into a single session, so you can experience what it’s really like to learn at Shady Side.
What do English literature and fly fishing have in common? What would Sir Isaac Newton think of Kennywood? Can you use your own data to tell a visual story? Join us for a Mini-Mersive to find out!
Upper School Events
What Moves Us: Engineering Thrills Mini-Mersive
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Upper School Campus
What makes a roller coaster soar through a loop without flying off the track? How do engineers design rides that are both exhilarating and safe? In Engineering Thrills, you'll step into the world of amusement park ride design, where physics powers the fun.
On Thursday, December 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., join us at the Shady Side Academy Upper School campus for a hands-on experience in our Glimcher Tech & Design Hub, where you will be able to see how natural forces shape every twist and turn.
Note: No background in physics, engineering, or computer science is required. Just bring your excitement for hands-on learning.
What Moves Us: Patterns & Ink Mini-Mersive
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Upper School Campus
Can numbers capture emotions? Can patterns tell a story about who we are? In Patterns & Ink, you'll explore the creative side of data, where information transforms into art and stories take shape in unexpected ways.
On Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., join us at the Shady Side Academy Upper School campus for a hands-on workshop that turns personal experiences into visual designs. You'll collect a small data set from your life, translate it into symbols and images, and discover how data can tell a compelling story.
Note: Are you a math person? Are you definitely not a math person? Either way, we promise this course is for you!
Register for an Upper School Event
Required
Step Inside by Coming to Campus
As you prepare to apply, we want you to feel confident and connected. We make space for you to see yourself here. Take advantage of individualized tours, student shadow days, and one-on-one conversations with admissions counselors. You will leave your visit with a comprehensive understanding of all the opportunities that await your child.
Inquire To Schedule A Visit
