From Legacy to Literacy

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a powerful close to Black History Month at our Night at the Museum this week. It was incredible to see so many families in the building celebrating learning together—enjoying performances from our 4th and 5th grade chorus and exploring the thoughtful exhibits created by our students.

One of my most memorable moments this month was walking through the museum and being surprised by an exhibit honoring me as the first Black principal of Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5. To learn that many of our staff and your children worked together behind the scenes on this project meant more than I can fully express. I am deeply grateful to be part of such a caring and thoughtful community.

As we move into a new week, we have another exciting lineup of activities for our students. We will be celebrating Literacy Week, welcoming the Chill Mobile for lessons on kindness and gratitude, and hosting Pitt student-athletes through the Panthers Encouraging Early Reading (P.E.E.R.) program, where every student will receive a free book.

Please take a few moments to read through this week’s newsletter for important updates, including Literacy Week activities, Spring Picture Day, our Fresh Fruit & Vegetable program, and additional school updates.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership in supporting our Mustangs.

Principal Mason

Ramadan is began at sunset on February 17, 2026 and conclude at sunset on March 18, 2026, followed by the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. Ramadan is a sacred month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community observed by many Muslim families.

At Minadeo, we are proud of the diverse cultures, traditions, and faiths that make up our school community. During Ramadan, some students may be fasting from sunrise to sunset. Families may notice that fasting students sometimes prefer quieter activities during the school day, particularly during lunch or recess.

To support our students who are observing Ramadan, we are identifying quiet spaces during recess where students who are fasting may choose to spend time in a calm setting if they prefer an alternative to active play.

If your child will be observing Ramadan and there are specific ways we can support them during the school day, please feel free to reach out to us. We are committed to ensuring every student feels respected, supported, and included.

We wish peace and blessings to all who are observing this special month.

This week, Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5 will celebrate Literacy Week, a special time dedicated to fostering a love of reading across our school community. Throughout the week, students will participate in fun, engaging activities that highlight the joy and power of books.

Students can look forward to themed spirit days, special read-aloud experiences, and interactive literacy activities designed to spark curiosity and excitement around reading. One highlight will be our Masked Reader, where students will try to guess the mystery readers during Morning Meeting, along with opportunities to guess book characters during afternoon announcements.

We encourage families to join in the excitement by helping students participate in the daily themes and by spending time reading together at home. Whether it’s sharing a favorite story, visiting the library, or talking about books, every moment helps strengthen our young readers.

We’re excited to welcome the Chill Mobile back to Minadeo! Students will participate in lessons and RV visits focused on kindness, gratitude, and well-being. The Chill Mobile team will also provide professional learning for staff during Thursday’s ESEP time.

Families will have an opportunity to visit the Chill Mobile on Wednesday from 4:30–5:30 PM after school.

As part of Literacy Week, we will also welcome the Panthers Encouraging Early Reading (P.E.E.R.) Program, a partnership between GNEP, Pitt Athletics, and Pittsburgh Public Schools. Pitt student-athletes and partners will read with students, and every Minadeo student will receive a free book to add to their home library. Please find attached the cohesive schedule for the week.

Spring Picture Day will be held on Tuesday, March 3. Order forms were sent home with students last week.

Please note that Spring Picture Day is only for students whose families plan to purchase photos and for all 5th grade students for their yearbook picture.

Since Tuesday is also Pajama Day for Literacy Week, please make sure your child brings their pajamas to change into or wears a picture-ready top for their photo.

Between March 9–27, 2026, teachers in grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade will complete the Waypoints Educator-Observed Screener. This brief screening tool helps teachers better understand students’ social-emotional skills, including areas such as self-management, relationships, and school engagement.

The screener is completed by teachers through classroom observations and includes a short set of questions for each student. It helps our school team identify strengths and determine how we can best support students’ growth and well-being.

A family information letter will be sent home with students by March 3, 2026. If you choose to opt your child out, please return the opt-out form included in the letter.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

Between March 9–27, 2026, students in grades 3–5 at Minadeo will participate in the Panorama Student Well-Being and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey, which is administered to students across Pittsburgh Public Schools in grades 3–12.

This brief online survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and helps our school better understand students’ experiences, sense of belonging, and overall well-being. The information gathered helps us strengthen our work around student support, school culture, and social-emotional learning.

A family information letter will be sent home with students by March 3, 2026. If you choose to opt your child out of the survey, please return the opt-out form included in the letter to the main office.

This week, students will enjoy three exciting items through our Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program: carrotinis (baby carrots), donut nectarines, and pink pineapple!

The FFVP gives students opportunities to try new fruits and vegetables they may not have experienced before while learning about healthy foods. We encourage families to ask their children about what they tasted and what they learned during these weekly snack experiences.

Healthy habits start early, and we’re excited for our Mustangs to explore these fresh foods together! 🥕🍑🍍

Pittsburgh Public Theater’s 2026 Summer Sessions are now open for enrollment! This dynamic Summer Sessions offer creative opportunities for all. From first-time storytellers to experienced actors, this season’s lineup offers something for every creative mind. Full listing of opportunities can be found here: https://ppt.org/ppt_home/engage-learn/summer-sessions-2026

Student Camps & Classes for Ages 6-17

· Auditioning for the Student Actor: A 3-Day Workshop | Ages 15-17

· Shakespeare Remix: Classics with a Twist | Ages 12-14

· Unleash Your Creativity: Write it, Act it, Own it! | Ages 12-14

· Shakespeare Shenanigans: Comedy, Chaos & Characters | Ages 9-11

· Acting Techniques for Kids | Ages 9-11

· Once Upon a Stage: Fairy Tales Come to Life! | Ages 6-8

Enrollment for all Pittsburgh Public Theater Summer Sessions is now open at PPT.org/Summer. For more information, please email edu@ppt.org.

Students recently came home with flyers for our Nothing Bundt Cakes school-wide fundraiser. This is our only external fundraiser of the year, and we truly appreciate your support!

Key dates to note:

• Turn-In Date: Monday, March 17 (final orders and payment due)

• Pick-Up/Delivery Date: March 25

Copies of the electronic order forms are attached for your convenience. Thank you for helping support school programs and opportunities for our students!

We are excited to welcome Ms. Jasmine Strothers as our newest Learning Support Teacher. Read her welcome note below.

I am excited to join the team as a Learning Support Teacher beginning March 9, 2026. I bring over eight years of experience as a paraprofessional, where I developed a strong passion for supporting diverse learners and helping students build both academic skills and confidence. As a proud mother of identical twin girls, nurturing and patience are at the heart of who I am. I strive to create a warm, welcoming classroom environment that feels like home, where students feel safe, valued, and understood. My approach to teaching is student-centered. I thoughtfully adjust lessons to meet individual needs, strengthen skills, and empower each child to believe in their ability to succeed.

🍕The Minadeo PTO is now selling Little Caesars Pizza Kits to raise money for field trips, in-class activities, teacher & staff appreciation, and much more!

🍪 Each kit contains all the ingredients to make delicious pizza, breads, or cookies at home in less than 10 minutes! Kits are shipped in refrigerated FedEx trucks, so they can be delivered anywhere in the country. 🇺🇸

🧑🏾‍🍳 To reach our fundraising goal, we need your help: you can purchase your own pizza kits directly from the PTO, or create a seller account to sell even more pizza kits!

Option 1: Buy a kit: https://bit.ly/MinadeoPizzaKits2026

Option 2: Become a seller: https://bit.ly/MinadeoPizzaSeller2026

Fundraiser ends March 14, 2026.

Questions? Email MinadeoPTOFundraising@gmail.com or text (412) 532-6429.

Mustang Messenger Volume 11: https://app.smore.com/n/v6cf2d

March 2-6, 2026: Chill Mobile Returns

March 2, 2026: Day 6, Literacy Week: College Day, Grades 3-5 Classroom Visits with the Chill Mobile

March 3, 2026: Day 1, Spring Picture Day, Literacy Week: Pajama Day, Grades K-2 Classroom Visits with the Chill Mobile

March 4, 2026: Day 2, Greenway, Morning Meeting: Masked Readers, Literacy Week: Western Wednesday, Grades 3-5 RV Visits to the Chill Mobile, Chill Mobile Open to the Community 4:30 - 5:30 pm

March 5, 2026: Day 3, Literacy Week:Decades Day, Grades K-2 RV Visits to the Chill Mobile, PEER Athlete Readers

March 6, 2026: Day 4, Literacy Week: School Spirit Day

March 9, 2026: Day 5

March 10, 2026: Day 6

March 11, 2026: Day 1, Greenway, Scouts Programming

March 12, 2026: Day 2

March 13, 2026: Day 3, Clubs, Half Day, Student Dismissal at 12:25 pm

March 16, 2026: New Deadline for Talent Show Submissions

March 17, 2026: Nothing Bundt Cake Order Forms Due

March 20, 2026: Eid Al Fir, No School for Students, School Only Vacation Day

March 30 - April 3, 2026: Spring Break, No School for Students, School Only Vacation Days March 30-April 2. All PPS Holiday April 3.

April 6-10, 2026: Riverstone Book Fair

April 17, 2026, Talent Show at 7:00 pm

The PTO has shirts for sale on-site for $10. There is a $5 additional charge for customization.

We also are continuing the online store! Purchase your gear at https://stores.inksoft.com/PittsburghMinadeoPreK5/shop/home.