Mustang Messenger Volume 7

Welcome back, Mustang families! We hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful Thanksgiving break. As we return and settle into December, attendance is especially important. This month is filled with meaningful learning opportunities and exciting schoolwide events, including CDT testing for students in grades 3–5 and our much-anticipated Winter Concert on December 19th.

Every school day truly matters, and your child’s consistent attendance helps ensure they are fully prepared, connected, and able to participate in all that Minadeo has planned. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students show up, shine, and finish 2025 strong! 💙✨

Principal Mason

Thanks to a generous donation earlier this school year, we continue to have an abundance of pretzels and Lucky Charms available for our Mustang community. We have already been able to support several families and classrooms who reached out with specific needs, and we are grateful to be able to share these resources more broadly.

This week, we plan to send home either a bag of pretzels or a case of Lucky Charms with each Minadeo student, beginning with our lower grades and continuing throughout the week.

If you prefer that your child not bring home these items, please send a message to the general Minadeo account on TalkingPoints, and we will be sure to honor your request.

Beginning tomorrow, students in grades 3–5 will take the Classroom Diagnostic Tests (CDTs). These assessments help us understand student progress and prepare them for success on the upcoming PSSAs. This is an important time in our school community, and we appreciate your partnership in helping students bring their best focus and effort.

To support a smooth testing experience, families can help by ensuring that students:

• Get a good night’s sleep

• Eat a healthy breakfast (school breakfast is always available)

• Arrive on time each day

• Bring their charged device and any needed materials

• Approach the assessment with confidence and a positive mindset

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Students can also earn additional PBIS points for strong attendance and active engagement during CDT testing.

Testing Schedule

• December 2, 3, 4 – ELA (Grades 3–5)

• December 5 & 8 – Math (Grades 3–5)

• December 10 & 11 – Science (Grades 4–5)

• December 12, 15, 16 – Make-Up Testing

Picture Retake Day will be held on Wednesday, December 4th. Students may participate if they are returning their original purchased photo proofs for a retake or if they were absent during our original picture day.

Please send any returned proofs with your child on the day of retakes.

Citizenship is an important part of our school community, and students have monthly opportunities to earn strong Citizenship marks based on their daily behavior. Report card Citizenship reflects overall patterns across all areas of the school, including the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, recess, special areas, and the bus. It also includes any documented referrals and day-to-day PRIDE expectations.

Per our K-5 Citizenship Criteria:

Outstanding (O): Consistently demonstrates PRIDE and is a positive role model.

Satisfactory (S): Follows rules and responds appropriately to redirection.

Needs Improvement (N): Frequent difficulty meeting expectations, repeated redirection, and/or one or more documented office referrals.

Students with frequent or patterned behavior concerns may not qualify for quarterly field-trip incentives; however, every student continues to have opportunities to reset and show their best. We are excited to share that two Citizenship celebrations are coming up soon. Students earning the trip to the Heinz History Center will bring home an invitation letter this week.

At home, we encourage families to reinforce PRIDE—Polite, Responsible, In-Control, Do My Best, Engaged—through simple reflection prompts such as:

• “How did you show PRIDE today?”

• “What do you want to try your best at tomorrow?”

• “How were you responsible or in control today?”

Thank you for supporting your child in meeting PRIDE expectations and continuing to grow as a Minadeo Mustang! 💙

We are thrilled to invite our Minadeo families to this year’s Holiday Harmonies Winter Concert on Friday, December 19th, 2025! This year’s performance will feature an expanded lineup, including our PreK students joining the stage for the first time, our full 4th and 5th grade choirs, and an exciting selection of instrumental ensembles showcasing the incredible talent of our Mustang musicians.

Doors will open at 10:00 AM, and we will begin promptly at 10:30 AM. More information regarding early dismissals will be shared as we get closer to the event.

We can’t wait to celebrate the sounds of the season with you! 💙❄️

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our November 19th PSCC meeting. We opened with an SEL “Encouragement Wall,” giving parents a chance to share thoughtful notes of gratitude and support for our school community. We reviewed the Minadeo Parent Engagement Policy and Home–School Compact, gathering feedback to help guide revisions for this school year. Families also received an overview of PPS volunteer requirements, including the necessary clearances and TB tests for those supporting PreK classrooms.

Holiday support resources were shared, including our Harvesting Hope Thanksgiving meal initiative led by our Student Envoys. We closed with key reminders about upcoming events such as our Thanksgiving Drive, Nacho Sale on November 21st, PBIS Incentives Week, Thanksgiving Break (November 27–December 1), and the 67th day of school on December 8th. Families are invited to join us virtually on December 17 for our next PSCC meeting, where we will continue collaborating to strengthen our home–school partnership.

Our Mustangs continue exploring new tastes through the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program! The week before the holiday break, students sampled grapefruit, yams, and granny smith apples. This week, they will try candy cane beets, daikon radishes, and navel oranges.

We love watching students discover new favorites and build healthy eating habits! 🍎🥕🍊

Throughout the month of December, our 3rd grade students will take the lead during Morning Meeting—fourth grade will pass the baton this Wednesday

We’re so proud to see our Mustangs stepping into leadership roles, sharing announcements, leading songs, and setting a positive tone for our school community. 💙🐴❤️

Way to go, 4th grade—your voices and energy helped make our mornings shine!

If your child needs to leave school early, please use our Early Dismissal Form at https://bit.ly/MinadeoED25SY to sign them out in advance. A QR code is also available at the front door for your convenience when picking up your child.

If you complete the form more than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled early dismissal, please also call the main office as a reminder so we can ensure a smooth process.

Our Minadeo PTO is excited to host one of our favorite annual traditions—Cookie House Night! Join us on Thursday, December 11th from 6:00–7:30 PM in the Minadeo cafeteria for a fun-filled evening of creating “gingerbread” houses made from graham crackers and candy.

Families can register using the QR code on the flyer or online by Monday, December 8th. A limited number of Cookie House kits are available, and families may purchase pizza in advance to enjoy during the event. Financial assistance is available for families who need support with kit costs—please reach out to Ms. DeLuca for more information.

We hope to see many Mustang families join us for this sweet community celebration! 🍪🏠✨

Mustang Messenger Volume 6: https://secure.smore.com/n/cur3z

As we come back from the holiday break, we pray that all Minadeo families had a joyful, peaceful, and well-deserved Thanksgiving.

Thanks to the incredible leadership of our Student Envoys, the coordination of Mrs. Ashlee, and the generosity of our school community, we were honored to provide full holiday meals — including meats — to 15 families this season. Your kindness and contributions truly made a meaningful difference. 💙

December 1, 2025: No School, Thanksgiving Break Continued

December 2-22, 2025: Carpet Slides Raffle

December 2-16, 2025: CDT Testing for Students in Grades 3-5

December 2, 2025: Day 3, ELA CDT Testing

December 3, 2025: Day 4, ELA CDT Testing

December 4, 2025: Day 5, ELA CDT Testing, November Citizenship Incentive, Donuts with the Principal, K-2 Paths Program w. Ms. Megan, Fall Picture Retake Day

December 5, 2025: Day 6, Math CDT Testing

December 8, 2025: Day 1, Math CDT Testing

December 8-12, 2025: Minadeo Holiday Shop, Chill Mobile Returns to Minadeo

December 9, 2025: Day 2, Mrs. Handler's Homeroom and 3-5 Grade Q1 Citizenship Field Trip, K-2 Paths w. Ms. Megan

December 10, 2025: Day 3, Science CDT Testing for Grades 4-5 Only

December 11, 2025: Day 4, Science CDT Testing for Grades 4-5 Only

December 12, 2025: Day 5, Clubs, Half Day for Students, 12:25 pm Dismissal, CDT Make Up

December 15, 2025: Day 6, CDT Make Up Testing

December 16, 2025: Day 1, CDT Make Up Testing, K-1 and Mrs. Stana's Homeroom Citizenship Field Trip

December 17, 2025: December PSCC Meeting @ 5:00 pm (virtual)

December 19, 2025: Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5 Holiday Concert at 10:30 am (doors open at 10:00 am)

December 22, 2025: PBIS Store Open

December 23, 2025: PBIS Store Open

December 24, 2025 - January 4, 2025: Winter Break, No School For Students

January 13, 2025: Multi-Cultural Night

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.