Strong Habits, Strong Finish

As we enter the final stretch before spring break, there is a lot happening across our building. From preparing for upcoming state assessments to celebrating Women’s History Month, continuing our PRIDE expectations, and engaging students in meaningful learning experiences, this is an exciting and busy time of year for our Mustang community.

With so many opportunities and activities taking place, your partnership remains incredibly important. We ask families to continue reinforcing positive behaviors, encouraging strong attendance, and helping students stay focused and ready to learn each day. Together, we can ensure that our students finish this season strong while continuing to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

In this week’s newsletter, you will find updates on PRIDE expectations, upcoming assessments, Women’s History Month programming, student opportunities, and other important school updates.

Thank you for your continued support of Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5 and for being such an important part of our school community.

Pittsburgh Public Schools is partnering with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Sheetz to provide Summer Food Boxes filled with non-perishable food items to help support families during the summer months.

Minadeo has requested enough boxes to support up to 50 families, with distribution expected to take place in June.

If your family could benefit from receiving a Summer Food Box, please reach out to Ms. DeLuca at the school so we can include your family in our planning. Our goal is to make sure Minadeo families have access to helpful resources as we transition into the summer.

More details will be shared as we get closer to distribution.

Thank you to the families who stopped by to visit the Chill Mobile while it was on site at Minadeo. We appreciate you taking the time to learn alongside your children about strategies that support healthy relationships, emotional awareness, and positive coping skills.

During their visit, students explored topics such as understanding healthy relationships, setting boundaries, and practicing gratitude. One strategy highlighted was gratitude writing, where students reflect on and write about the people, places, and experiences they appreciate. Practicing gratitude and learning how to express emotions can help strengthen relationships, improve communication, and support students’ overall well-being.

We are grateful for our partnership with the Chill Mobile team and for the opportunity to bring these important social-emotional learning experiences to our Mustang community.

As we move through the final stretch before spring break, we are asking for your partnership in reinforcing our PRIDE expectations with students. At Minadeo, PRIDE means being Polite, Responsible, In-Control, Doing Our Best, and Engaged in all areas of the school.

Recently, we have seen an increase in concerns in some unstructured spaces, particularly in bathrooms and during related arts transitions, including uncleanliness, horseplay, and students not following adult directions. Maintaining a safe and respectful environment requires all of us working together.

Please take a moment to speak with your child about the importance of respecting shared spaces, following school expectations, and making positive choices throughout the day. These conversations at home help reinforce the values we are building at school.

To continue encouraging positive behavior, we will also be providing incentives and opportunities for students who consistently demonstrate PRIDE, especially in unstructured areas of the building. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure Minadeo remains a positive learning environment for all students.

To continue recognizing students who consistently attend school and demonstrate Minadeo PRIDE, we are excited to offer a special opportunity for students in grades 3–5.

Students who are maintaining a positive attendance record and are showing strong PRIDE behaviors in unstructured spaces—such as the hallways, cafeteria, recess, related arts transitions, and bathrooms—may receive an invitation to attend the NCAA Division II Basketball Championship at Duquesne University.

• Girls’ Trip: March 24

• Boys’ Trip: March 25

Students are being closely observed for demonstrating what it means to be Polite, Responsible, In Control, Doing Their Best, and Staying Engaged, especially when adults are not directly leading instruction. Invitations will be extended to students who consistently meet these expectations.

This is a great opportunity to celebrate students who help keep our school safe, respectful, and positive by showing PRIDE throughout the day. We look forward to recognizing the students who earn this experience!

We want to share an update with our school community. Nurse B will be stepping away for a period of time to care for her family. She has been such an important part of the Minadeo community, and we appreciate the care and compassion she shows our students each day. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts during this time.

While we work to coordinate substitute nurse coverage, we ask families for patience and partnership as our school team supports student health needs.

We also want to remind families to please follow school health guidelines when deciding whether to send your child to school. Students should remain home if they have a fever or are vomiting. Children must be fever-free and symptom-free for at least 24 hours without medication before returning to school.

Sending a child to school while they are sick can make it difficult for them to learn and may also spread illness to others.

Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our Mustang community healthy and safe. If you have any questions, please contact the main office.

As we approach the spring testing season, students in grades 3–5 will begin preparing for Pennsylvania’s state assessments. To ensure our technology systems are ready and to maximize district bandwidth, students will participate in a brief technology stress test using the Firefly platform. This is not a graded assessment but helps confirm that devices and internet connectivity are functioning properly before official testing begins.

Students may hear about three assessments:

PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) – Students in grades 3–5 will take the PSSA in English Language Arts and Math, with 4th grade also taking the Science PSSA. These assessments measure how well students are meeting Pennsylvania’s academic standards.

PASA (Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment) – This assessment is designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities whose IEP identifies PASA as the appropriate assessment.

Firefly Test – While taken as a technology readiness check to ensure testing systems work smoothly for all students, it allows students to become familiar with the testing platform and digital tools they will use during assessments like the PSSA and Keystone Exams.

Student attendance during testing season is very important. When students are present and on time, they can test with their classmates and avoid make-up sessions. We encourage families to help students get good rest, arrive on time, and attend school consistently during this important time.

This month, our school is focusing on Conflict Resolution and Problem-Solving as part of our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) work with students. These are important life skills that help children learn how to manage disagreements, understand different perspectives, and work through challenges in healthy ways.

One activity students may participate in this month is called “Three Truths and a Lie.” In this game, students share three true things about themselves and one thing that is not true while others try to guess the lie. This fun activity helps students practice communication, listening, and learning more about one another.

Families can support this learning at home by having simple conversations with their children. Here are a few questions you might ask:

• What does it mean to solve a problem respectfully at school?

• What can you do if you and a friend disagree about something?

• How can you tell when someone might feel upset or frustrated?

• What is one way you showed kindness or helped solve a problem this week?

These conversations help students build the confidence and skills they need to navigate challenges, strengthen friendships, and make positive choices both in and out of school. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s social and emotional growth.

As part of our Women’s History Month celebration, Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5 is excited to present Crowns Connect. This empowering in-school experience is designed to uplift and inspire our young women.

Mrs. Ashlee has invited several special women guests from the community to come speak with our young queens in grades 3–5, sharing messages about confidence, strength, leadership, and self-belief.

Female students selected to participate received invitations to attend this special assembly.

Please note that this is a school-based event only, and parents and outside visitors will not be attending. Our goal is to create a meaningful and engaging space for students to connect with inspiring women who can encourage and uplift them.

We are excited to offer opportunities like this that celebrate and empower our Minadeo students.

March 16, 2026: New Deadline for Talent Show Submissions

March 17, 2026: Nothing Bundt Cake Order Forms Due, National Social Work Day, RIF Visit

March 18, 2026: PSCC Meeting at 5:00 pm (Virtual Only)

March 19, 2026: Second online stress test prior to PSSA testing, RIF Visit

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

March 24, 2026: 3-5 Grade Girls Basketball PRIDE Incentive, March PRIDE Citizenship Names Due

March 25, 2026: 3-5 Grade Boys Basketball PRIDE Incentive

March 26, 2026: Crowns Connected during 7-8 period

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

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.