Mustang Messenger Volume 9

We are excited to head into another great stretch of learning and community! As you read this week’s Mustang Messenger, you’ll see how our school is continuing to grow through strong partnerships, joyful learning, and meaningful student experiences — from enrichment programs like ScoutReach and RIF Books for Keeps to our Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program and PRIDE celebrations.

As we celebrate together, we are also taking time to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students will be learning about his leadership, courage, and commitment to justice and kindness throughout the week.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in their black and gold tomorrow as we come together to celebrate Mustang pride and community. 💙

We kicked off the new year in community with a joyful Morning Meeting led by our second grade students. With a fun countdown and thoughtful messages about setting goals, manifesting dreams, and making plans for the year ahead, it was a meaningful and energizing start to 2026.

The leadership continues! Second grade will lead our annual Black and Gold Pep Rally on Monday. All staff and students are invited to wear their black and gold as we come together to celebrate school pride and start the year strong at Pittsburgh Minadeo PreK-5. 💛🖤

UPMC Paths is returning for students in grades 3-5. As part of our commitment to supporting the whole child, students continue to engage in age-appropriate social-emotional learning each week.

• Grade 3 students will participate in the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) curriculum. PATHS focuses on building self-control, understanding emotions, developing positive self-esteem, strengthening relationships, and practicing interpersonal problem-solving skills.

• Grades 4–5 students will engage in the Too Good for Violence curriculum. This program supports students in setting goals, making responsible decisions, identifying and managing emotions, and resolving conflicts in peaceful and productive ways.

These lessons help students develop the skills they need to navigate emotions, build healthy relationships, and contribute positively to our school community.

Minadeo is excited to expand our partnership with the Boy Scouts of America’s ScoutReach Trailblazer Program! This program has long supported our regional classrooms, and after the powerful Camp Guyasuta experience this fall for Grades 3–5, we are bringing ScoutReach to all students.

Beginning in the second semester, Scouts will visit every other Wednesday, providing hands-on enrichment focused on:

• Leadership and character

• Citizenship and teamwork

• Outdoor safety and wellness

• Project-based learning and inquiry

This allows students who are not traveling to Greenway on Wednesdays to receive high-quality enrichment right here at Minadeo. We are proud to continue creating equitable, engaging learning experiences for every Mustang. 💙

We are excited to welcome Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) back to Minadeo through their Books for Keeps program! Our Early Childhood and Kindergarten students have already benefitted from this wonderful partnership, and now—thanks to a grant—students in Grades 1–5 will also take part during a schoolwide visit on January 20 and 21.

Books for Keeps allows every child to:

• Choose a brand-new book

• Take it home to build their own personal library

• Strengthen reading joy, confidence, and lifelong learning

Giving children their own books is one of the most powerful ways to support literacy, and we’re thrilled to expand this opportunity across Minadeo.

This week, Minadeo students enjoyed a delicious and adventurous Produce of the Week through our Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program!

Our school community was excited to try:

• Watermelon radishes – colorful, crunchy, and packed with nutrients

• Asian pears – sweet, juicy, and crisp

• Honeydew melon – a fan favorite making a welcome return

These tastings give students the opportunity to explore new foods, build healthy habits, and discover new favorites. We love seeing our Mustangs try something new and grow their taste buds along the way! 💙

At Minadeo, students work each month to earn PRIDE Citizenship Rewards by showing they are:

• Polite

• Responsible

• In Control

• Doing their Best

• Engaged

These behaviors are taught, practiced, and recognized schoolwide. Students who demonstrate these expectations throughout the month earn special celebrations the following month.

For January’s Citizenship Reward, students who met PRIDE expectations will celebrate on Friday, February 13 by decorating heart-shaped sugar cookies with icing!

All students will be included. Students with food allergies or gluten sensitivities will decorate a cookie and receive a safe alternative treat to enjoy afterward.

This month at Minadeo, students are learning about setting goals and having a growth mindset — believing that effort, practice, and mistakes help us grow. Through classroom lessons and activities, students are learning how to stay motivated, keep trying, and work toward their goals.

You can support this learning at home by:

• Asking your child, “What is one goal you’re working on this week?”

• Praising effort (not just results): “I’m proud of how hard you tried.”

• Talking about mistakes as learning opportunities

• Helping your child break big goals into small steps

Thank you for partnering with us to help every Mustang grow in confidence and resilience! 💙

We are excited to invite our Minadeo families to Multicultural Night—an evening dedicated to celebrating the many cultures, traditions, and identities that make our school community so special.

📅 Tuesday, January 13th
⏰ 6:30–8:00 PM

Families will have the opportunity to:

• Explore cultural displays and tables

• Learn about traditions, foods, music, and stories from around the world

• Connect with one another in a joyful, welcoming space

Multicultural Night is a powerful reminder that our diversity is a strength. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of learning, connection, and celebration.

General enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. Pittsburgh Public Schools will also host its annual Magnet Fair on January 17, and magnet enrollment opens that same day.

At this time, no changes are planned to magnet schools or programs for 2026–2027. However, as part of the district’s Future-Ready planning, magnet programs may change in future years. This means current magnet offerings are not guaranteed long-term, and some students enrolled in magnet programs may need to transition in the future.

Families are encouraged to attend the Magnet Fair and review their options so they can make informed decisions for their child’s educational pathway.

Who Was Dr. King?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement who used peaceful action to fight for fairness and justice for all.

Explore With Your Child

• National Geographic Kids – Simple biography and photos

• The King Center – Stories and activities about Dr. King’s life

• PBS Classroom – Short videos and teaching resources for families

• 
  

Books for Kids

• Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — a picture book that highlights his message with quotes and illustrations

At-Home Activity Ideas

• Read or watch King’s “I Have a Dream” and talk about your child’s own dreams for the world

• Try an “Equality Egg” activity — show that people may look different outside but are the same inside

January 13, 2026: Day 6, 3-5 UPMC Paths, Multicultural Night 6:30 - 8:00 pm

January 14, 2026: Day 1, Greenway

January 15, 2026: Day 2, Guardian Storage Assemblies for PreK-5

January 16, 2026: Day 3

January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School

January 20, 2026: Day 4, RIF Classroom Visits

January 21, 2026: Day 5, RIF Classroom Visits, PSCC Meeting at 5:00 pm

January 22, 2026: No School, Clerical Day for Staff

January 23, 2026: No School, Professional Learning Day for Staff

January 26, 2026: Day 6

January 28, 2026: Scouts Programming

January 30, 2026: Citizenship Names are Due to Ms. Reid by EOD

February 2026: Black History Month

February 3, 2026: Valengrams Fundraiser Money Due

February 6, 2026: Clubs, Half Day for Students, 12:25 pm Dismissal.

February 11, 2026: Scouts Programming

February 12, 2026: Saltworks School Assembly - Alex Rewrites the Wrongs

February 13, 2026: January Citizenship Reward (Cookie Decorating), Minadeo School-Based Valentines Day Celebration

February 18, 2026: Scouts Programming

February 20, 2026: Clubs, Half Day for Students, 12:25 pm Dismissal.

March 2-6, 2026: Chill Mobile Returns