Good News & Important Updates
Fall 2026 News From Dr. Tina Chekan
Propel Schools Strategic Plan Update
Engaging With Families As Partners In Education!
Propel Schools Families,
At Propel Schools, we are committed to building strong, inclusive relationships with every scholar's family. When families and schools work together, our scholars thrive -- that's why our Strategic Plan includes a focus on family engagement.
Propel Schools has partnered with Upbeat ( a K-12 education research and consulting organization) to assist us in gathering your thoughts about the Propel Schools experience. Your feedback will:
- Allow us to better understand what you think we are already doing well
- Help us to identify what you think we can be doing better
- Initiate new conversations about how Propel can continue to create the best possible experiences for all scholars and families.
Our Family Engagement Survey will launch on November 16 and will be open for your responses through December 4!
Please note:
- Survey responses are completely anonymous to school and network leadership.
- More information about completing the survey will be shared soon!
As always, thank you for choosing Propel Schools as your partner in education!
Dr. Chekan
Fall Family Conferences Are November 23 & 24!
We value your partnership in education!
Our school teams are gearing up for Fall Family Conferences! As you know, 100% family participation in Family Conference Days is an expectation of the Propel Schools community. Family conferences are just one of the many ways we strengthen our partnership with families.
26-27 Fall Family Conference Days will be held on:
Monday, November 23, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During family conferences, the Propel team will share details about what and how your scholar is learning. We look forward to answring your questions and learning more about your scholar from an expert -- YOU!
Schools will be reaching out soon about scheduling your Family Conference day meeting and we look forward to seeing you there!
AquaLab Armada Project
Scholar Opportunities prepare scholars for life by building perseverance and pride through meaningful career exploration. organization, and strong community partnerships.
The Aqua Lab Armada is an environmental advocacy and student leadership project launched by the Watersmith Guild after receiving a Remake Learning Moonshot Grant. The initiative is designed to empower youth across the Pittsburgh region to lead changemaking efforts focused on social and environmental justice. The Propel Schools partnership with the Watersmith Guild began in 2024 and has evolved into an amazing experiential learning opportuntiy for our scholars.
For the 2026-2027 school year, the Aqua Lab Armada team kicked off August by training Propel Braddock Hills High School 10th grade scholars to step into leadership roles, In September, these scholars became Aqua Lab Armada Ambassadors, trained to guide younger scholars through experiential environmental learning through:
- Hands-on Research - Scholars engage in outdoor community-based research and water quality testing.
- Digital Storytelling: Scholars learn the art of STEM science by combining environmental stewardship with filmmaking and media production to broadcast their findings and advocate for their local watersheds.
- Running immersive field initiatives at locations like Moraine State Park alongside groups like Surf's Up Adventures.
Ms. Trisha O'Neill, Biology teacher at Propel Braddock Hills High School and Camden Johnson, lead WaterSmith Guild collaborator on the Armada project, have been pivotal in making this collboration a success. Their extraordinary work has fueled the excitement, teamwork and collaboration happening with our scholars.
Our scholars collected microplastics from local rivers (by paddleboarding at The Point) to compare with the samples they collected at Morraine State Park. They then worked with scientists at the Carnegie Science Center to analyze the similarities and differences in their findings.
In the coming months, our scholars will also hear from five different career speakers representing organizations such as the Moonshot Project, Braddock Youth Project and the August Wilson Center. These speakers will continue our environmental focus by exposing scholars to careers in gardening, sewage and water systems, filmmaking and other areas that will help scholars develop their final community focused projects.
This partnership is a wonderful example of innovation, hands on learning, career exploration and community collaboration coming together to create meaningful opportunities for our scholars.
The Propel High Schools Social Media Fellowship Program!
Applications are open for Propel scholars in grades 9-12!
The Propel Schools Communications Team is looking for creative high schoolers to join our brand-new Media Fellowship program. If you love editing videos, capturing photos or creating content, we want you on our team.
As a Propel Media Fellow, you’ll get to:
- Work directly alongside our Communications Team
- Build a portfolio for college, trade school or your dream career
- Show the entire world what it really means to be a Propel scholar
This is your shot to get hands-on experience, level up your skills and take over our feeds!
Click HERE to submit your application! (Applications close on October 26!)
The application includes a short (200-word) essay and 2 letters of recommendation.
If you have questions, contact us at communications@propelschools.org.
2026-2027 Scholar & Family Handbook Affirmations Are Now Overdue!
We are pleased to share our 2026-2027 K-12 Scholar and Family Handbook. Parents/guardians of record/EDMs are expected to review the handbook with their scholars and complete an affirmation Google Form for each of their scholars.
Please note:
If you do not have access to the internet or do not have an internet-compatible device, please contact your school’s leadership team. You can then set an appointment to complete the Google Form affirmation at a school building.
If you have not already done so, please click HERE to access the required Affirmation Google Form.
Propel Andrew Street High School
Propel Braddock Hills High School
Propel Montour High School
Families Of 8th Grade Scholars - Important Information About Propel High Schools
Now is the time to explore your scholar’s Propel High School options!
As your 8th grader prepares for high school, remember that all Propel 8th grade scholars must submit a new application to attend a Propel High School. Scholars do not automatically transition from their Propel school to a Propel high school.
Applications for the 2027-2028 school year are now open via SchoolMint. Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2026, to be eligible for the Lottery.
Click Here to Explore Propel High Schools Through Our Strategic Plan
If you have questions about the application process or need assistance, please contact the Propel Schools Enrollment Team at enrollment@propelschools.org.
Propel Schools Shifts From Finalsite Connect 5 To MXRE Messaging!
Propel Schools has transitioned from Connect 5 to Finalsite Messages XRE, an upgraded school-to-family communication platform. This new system will allow us to continue sharing important school announcements, updates and emergency notifications with our families
No action is required on your part. However, we encourage all families to ensure their contact information in Skyward is accurate and up to date. Just as with Connect 5, Messages XRE will use the phone numbers and email addresses listed in Skyward to communicate with you.
What Families Can Expect
As we transition to our new system, here's how you will receive communications from your scholar's school:
Emails: Messages will come from your scholar's Propel School or Propel Schools when sent by our central administrative office. These are automated emails and cannot receive replies. If you attempt to reply, you will receive an automatic response directing you to contact your scholar's school with any questions.
Phone Calls: Your caller ID will display your scholar's Propel School phone number or Propel Schools when communications are sent by our central administrative office.
Text Messages: On occasions when text notifications are necessary, informational messages will come from 9178, and emergency notifications will come from 53291.
Keeping Your Contact Information Updated
To ensure you continue receiving important school updates, please verify that your phone number and email address are correct in Skyward. If you need to make any changes, contact your scholar's school directly for assistance.
You will also have the option to opt out of communications you receive. However, we strongly encourage families to remain subscribed so they do not miss important school announcements, updates or emergency notifications.
Missed a Call? Retrieve Your Messages
If you miss an automated call from your school and would like to hear the message again, you can call our message retrieval line at 855-644-0501. This number allows you to listen to messages sent through Messages XRE within the past 30 days.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your scholar's education and for being part of the Propel Schools community!
Important Changes To Propel Schools Inclement Weather Protocol
To provide a consistent and predictable experience for families and staff, Propel Schools will no longer implement two-hour delays.
During inclement weather, Propel Schools may either be:
Open
Accepting scholars who walk or are driven by private vehicle at the regular building opening hours, as well as accepting scholars when they arrive by district-provided transportation, which may be delayed. A cold breakfast will be available to any scholar who arrives before 9:00 a.m.
OR
Closed for:
A Traditional Snow Day - Scholars do not report to buildings and will not have remote instruction or work to complete. Staff will not report to the buildings and will not complete work.
A Remote Learning Day - Scholar attendance will be based on the completion of assignments from the school's Remote Learning Menu and parent/guardian verification of the assignment completions. on Remote Learning Days, families will receive an email containing a link to the Remote Learning Attendance Google Form. This form will contain a link to scholar learning menus and can be submitted to confirm scholar assignments completed and attendance for the Remote Learning Day.
Because weather conditions can vary across Allegheny County, there may be days when one Propel School is closed or using a Remote Learning Day, while other Propel Schools are operating on their regular schedule.
Families will be alerted to changes in school operating schedule by MXRE messaging, so please ensure that Propel Schools has your correct email address, Schools will also use local television news channels to post information about changes to a school's operating schedule.
"Is My Scholar Too Sick For School?"
Our priority is to ensure a healthy and engaging learning environment for all scholars. Your partnership is essential as we work together to manage the spread of illness in the school setting.
We thank you in advance for reviewing this short guide to answering the question, “Is my scholar too sick for school?”
In this guide, you will find basic information about common illnesses, plus QR codes linking you to:
The Allegheny County Health Department’s Illness & Disease Fact Sheet
The Propel Schools Health Services webpage
JOSTENS PHOTO DAYS FLYERS!
Please click to see the information for your Propel School.
Reminder - Wellness Policy & Scholar Celebration Foods
- Treats sent/brought to school MUST be pre-packaged so that the ingredients are readily available and so that foods can be easily stored/distributed to scholars. No homemade foods are permitted.
- The following is a list of prepackaged/fresh food items that may be brought/sent to school to celebrate a special occasion. ONLY food items from this list may be sent to school for celebrations. If foods other than those outlined on the list are sent to school, they will not be distributed and the family will be called to pick them up. You can view the list as a PDF document HERE.
School Contact Information Page
The 2026-2027 Propel Schools Calendar can be found on our website HERE.