A+ Schools

❤️💛💚 Celebrating this Juneteenth reading the works of W.E.B. Dubois and reflecting on the power of education on the path toward equality and freedom.

"The proper education of any people includes sympathetic touch between teacher and pupil; knowledge on the part of the teacher, not simply of the individual taught, but of his surroundings and background, and the history of his class and group; such contact between pupils, and between teacher and pupil, on the basis of perfect social equality, as will increase this sympathy and knowledge; facilities for education in equipment and housing, and the promotion of such extra-curricular activities as will tend to induct the child into life."

Sending big thanks to educators, today and always!

Florida teacher: ‘When we recognize the push to make Juneteenth a national holiday was led by an educator — it highlights the strength & influence we possess’ https://buff.ly/NuO3kjV

We're still feeling the light and love from the PLC Community Celebration Mix & Mingle Recognition Awards ✨💕 Three weeks ago (*blink of an eye*) we had the absolute privilege of recognizing three amazing community members for their contributions that enrich the lives of students and families.

As part of the PLC Community Celebration Mix & Mingle, the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative honored members whose work exemplifies the values of collaboration, equity, and impact across community, schools, and student-centered practice. We are so lucky to work alongside these groups!

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Presented to ARYSE, for their work to center student voice, leadership, and lived experience. ARYSE regularly and consistently elevates young people as partners, creators, and leaders, and designs programs that affirm student identity, agency, and belonging. 👏👏👏

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Presented to Meghan Larsen-Reidy and Mary, Queen of Peace Parish Pittsburgh for fostering meaningful, effective partnerships with Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 to improve student outcomes. Meghan's work exemplifies how collaboration between schools and community organizations can reduce barriers, strengthen coordination, and improve the day-to-day experiences of students and educators. 👏👏👏

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: Presented to Ms. Toni and Fund My Future PGH for demonstrating a deep commitment to community voice, trust-building, and cross-sector collaboration. Ms. Toni passionately exemplifies how strong relationships with families, neighborhoods, and community partners strengthen systems of support for young people. 👏👏👏

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Help us give them all another round of applause!!

"The quality of a city's public schools reflect a city's commitment to the well-being of its children and to its own future."

School let out on Friday, and by Monday we were doing a deep dive into planning for next school year at our annual staff retreat 🙌 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. What would it look like for students if the whole city rallied around their well-being to ensure they can arrive to school safely, on time, and ready to learn?? How can A+ Schools leverage our staff expertise and citywide connections so that kids can Show Up??

Next week we will begin meeting with our partner schools to frame out the coming year, and our retreat enabled us to level set on the supports we can offer related to school planning, school culture, family engagement, and resources that will help get every kid to school every day.

Whether you know who we are or not, take a minute to learn more about A+ Schools (and maybe make a donation to fund the work?!?) at aplusschools.org.

𝙇𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙐𝙥, 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙨𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙝—𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?
𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝘼+ 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮!
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𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗟𝗖 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘅 & 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲! Your attendance made the evening magical ✨ With the help of ARYSE, Perry Traditional Academy/Perry High School Marching Band, and MCG Youth, A+ Schools & The Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative were able to showcase and celebrate how our ecosystem shows up for our communities, students, and schools during a magical mix and mingle event!

As part of the PLC Community Celebration, we had a chance to celebrate together as we honored members whose work exemplifies the values of collaboration, equity, and impact across our region. 🩷

We are so very proud to amplify and honor the work of:
• ARYSE 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩-𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙
• Mary, Queen of Peace Parish Pittsburgh 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙
• Fund My Future PGH 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the night possible!
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OneValley at the Roundhouse | The PLC Summit Action Team | Perry Traditional Marching Band | The ARYSE Youth Media Showcase | MCG Guild on the Go | Bar Marco, Goodlander Cocktail Brewery, Barsotti Wines, and our bartender Emma!
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Without their support, our night would not have been possible.

𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙇𝘾?? To learn more about the work of A+ Schools and the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative, visit: aplusschools.org/pittsburgh-learning-collaborative or connect with us at [email protected]

Not us over here crying today 🥹 We were so surprised and honored to receive this heartfelt thanks from the team at Pittsburgh Morrow PreK-8!

We care deeply about getting every kid to school every day, and are so grateful for the partnership with Morrow staff to help make this happen! It takes systems work, monthly planning meetings, attendance incentives, celebrating wins, and so much listening and learning--and we are leaving this school year inspired by the dedication of the staff on this journey!

THANK YOU right back, Morrow! We can't wait to spend the summer planning with you for another amazing school year!

Here are a few photos of our time at the school this year 🫶

Congratulations University Preparatory School, Milliones 6-12 Graduates!! 🎓 We loved seeing the huge crowd that Showed Up to cheer you on today! Go do big things--we're rooting for you!

We love to see these celebrations! Way to Show Up, Perry Traditional Academy/Perry High School!!

More good attendance news from Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8! This month we celebrated two groups of kids for having great attendance!! 🙌🙌

Students who missed fewer than 5 school days since January 1 earned a trip to the Kamin Science Center for the Mystery Field Trip Attendance Challenge! Students even got to attend a planetarium show which many students had never experienced before. 🌌💫🌟

And the winning house with the best attendance in May was Altruismo!! ❤️🍨 These students got to enjoy an ice cream sundae bar this afternoon as an extra sweet treat to celebrate all the days they Showed Up in May!

Help us give a ʜᴜɢᴇ ʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴘᴘʟᴀᴜꜱᴇ to the two Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 students who had PERFECT attendance this school year!! 👏👏👏👏

Jackson and Carter didn't miss a single day of school this year. We're so very proud of their commitment to Showing Up every day!! We hope they know how awesome of an accomplishment this is, and that they'll keep up the good work in the years to come!

Way to Soar, Eagles!! 🦅

Every Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8 student who Showed Up today was rewarded with something extra special--a chance to dunk their principal!! 💦😄

Mrs. Caldwell, Mr. Drager, Ms. Gill, Mr. Henry, and other brave staff were at the mercy of their students' aim today for a bit of fun to celebrate a great school year!

We love seeing all those smiling faces, all year long. Thanks for a great year, Arlington Eagles!!!