Welcome, SSA Parents!
This section is designed to provide a centralized hub for information concerning your child's academic and student life at SSA. Explore the tabs below and the pages in the section menu for helpful links and information for all four SSA campuses.
- Log in to the Veracross Parent Portal below to access password-protected information including the S-Book Directory, student schedules and report cards, VC Pay student billing, Magnus Health medical forms, household and school forms, and more.
- Log in to Canvas below using your Veracross portal credentials to access teacher pages for your child(ren)’s classes.
- Trouble logging in to Veracross or Canvas? Email the HelpDesk.
Home
S-Book Directory
Log in to Veracross to access the S-Book via your web browser. To access the S-Book through the Shady Side app, tap Account, enter your Veracross credentials and click Remember Me (Note: returning parents must update their app login credentials to their new Veracross credentials.)
Trouble logging in? Email the HelpDesk.
Shady Side App (iOS)

Choosi Lunch Orders
Lunch orders must be placed online via the Choosi website or mobile app by Wednesday at 9 p.m. for the following week. Download the instructional PDF. Browse the PDF menus on the Lunch Menus page before ordering.
Communications and Website Resources for Parents
Parent Volunteer Forms
- Limited contact volunteer (parents helping at events with faculty present)
- Substantial contact volunteer (parents alone with students with NO faculty present)
Please complete the appropriate form prior to volunteering and submit to:
- Country Day School: Denise Durkt, front desk
- Junior School: Megan Vrcic, front desk
- Middle School: Kristan Fisher, front desk
- Senior School: Donna Ponzi (scan and email forms)
Call for Recipes: SSA UPA Cookbook
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.
Instructional Technology Resources
Visit the SSA Parent Instructional Technology Guides website for helpful information, resources and video tutorials on the following:
- Canvas LMS
- Zoom & Meeting Owl Pro
- Seesaw
- SSA’s 1:1 iPad program for K-5
Shop & Support
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices and shopping features. When you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the Blue & Gold Fund!
Order an SSA License Plate
To order an SSA license plate, complete and mail the Special Organization Plate application with a $50 check payable to SSA to: Shady Side Academy, Attn: Annamarie Turner, 423 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.
#SSA Now
Visit the #SSANow section to check out SSA's social media feeds, read our blogs, watch our Day in the Life and YouTube videos, listen to the Beyond Hello Podcast, browse photos and download our apps!
Country Day School
Policies and Calendars
- Country Day School PDF Calendar - Coming Soon
- Country Day School Daily Dress Code
- Country Day School Formal Dress Code (For Students in Grades 1-5 Only)
- Technology Acceptable Use Policy - Student Edition
- Learning Support at SSA
Helpful Links
Country Day School Calendar
Junior School
Policies and Calendars
Helpful Links
Lunch & Learn Resources
2019-2020 Academic Year
Jan. 21, 2020: Math In Focus: A Refresher Course by fourth grade teachers Lisa Budd and Marci Anderson.
Watch the video
Dec. 5, 2019: Reading and Writing Workshop by Kindergarten teacher Nick Hammon, fifth grade teacher Katherine "Liz" Hwang and second grade teacher Christina Rowan.
Watch the video
Nov. 22, 2019: Learning Support Services by support specialists Colleen DeChancie, Katie Wilson, Lisa Harvey, and Lisa Rendall.
Watch the video | Download the handouts
Oct. 18, 2019: Responsive Classroom Practices at Shady Side Academy by Third Grade Teachers Christina Blazin and Daniel Stern
Watch the video | Download the handouts
2018-2019 Academic Year
Jan 23, 2019: Bar Models: A Powerful Problem-Solving Tool by Fourth Grade Teacher Lisa Budd
Watch the video | Download the handouts
Nov. 7, 2018: Helping Children Cope With Anxiety in a Fast-Paced World by School Counselor Yasmine Schmid:
Watch the video | Download the handout
Middle School
Policies and Calendars
Helpful Links and Forms
- Athletic Team Schedules
- Athletic & Activities Selection Letter and Online Form
- Athletic & Activity Descriptions 2020-2021
- Athletic Requirement Exemption Form
- Athletic Equipment Checklist
- Bagel Days Sign-up
- Class Supply List
- Extracurricular Opportunities for Students
- Faculty Wednesday/Fridays Info and Sign-up
- General Volunteer Sign-Up
- Glossary of Terms
- Language Selection Letter and Online Form
- Metz Dining Guide
- Metz Breakfast Menu
- Metz Appetizer Menu
- Music Selection Letter and Online Form
- Placement Procedure for Middle School Math
Parent Coffee Resources
March 14, 2018
Looking Ahead to High School & the College Admissions Process
by SS Director of College Counseling Lauren Lieberman
Jan. 18, 2017
Social Media Terms of Service & Monitoring Tools
by MS Computer Teacher Tim McGuigan
Middle School Calendar
Senior School
Policies and Calendars
Helpful Links and Forms
Residential Life/Boarding Policies and Forms
International Family Health Insurance
Questions? Contact Verne Bergstrom.
Senior School Calendar
Course Registration
2020-2021
Course Request Guidelines for Returning Students
If you have trouble accessing these forms, please contact the Registrar at 412-968-3133.