Hosack Elementary School

9275 Peebles Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-366-9664
412-366-9010 Fax

Main Office Hours

Office hours: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
School hours: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM

Kindergarten Hours

• 9:00–11:45 AM
• 12:45–3:30 PM

Please Note: Office Staff is not available to answer the doorbell after 4:00 PM

On behalf of the entire staff, I extend a warm welcome to our students, families, and the wider community! At Hosack Elementary, we are proud to be "A small school with mighty ROARS!"

Our ROARS expectations are at the heart of everything we do, guiding our students to grow into well-rounded individuals:

• Respect
• Own Our Actions
• Act Safely
• Responsible Choices
• Show Kindness

We believe in fostering a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported. Building strong, positive relationships among our students, families, and community is paramount, as we know these connections are key to a successful educational journey.

Our mission at Hosack Elementary aligns seamlessly with our district's commitment: to prepare all students for success in a changing world. We are dedicated to providing an exceptional learning experience that challenges and inspires our young learners to reach their full potential.

We look forward to a fantastic school year filled with learning, laughter, and growth. Welcome to the Hosack family!

The Student/Parent Handbook details many of the procedures you will need to know during the year.  If you have additional questions, please call the main office at 412-366-9664 or email Mrs. Bruener at lbruener@northallegheny.org.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! 

Principal: Mrs. Lauren Bruener—lbruener@northallegheny.org 

Secretary: Mrs. Susan Miller—sumiller@northallegheny.org

Mission Statement

The mission of the North Allegheny School District is to prepare all students for success in a changing world. Each school fosters a safe, respectful, and engaging environment where students grow academically, socially, and emotionally, with a focus on responsible citizenship, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Vision Statement

The vision of the North Allegheny School District is to be a premier school district that inspires excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and activities for every student every day.

We will exceed the expectations of those we serve. We believe:

• All individuals can learn.
• Learning is a life-long process that occurs inside and outside the classroom.
• Effective teaching is both an art and science that results in increased levels of critical thinking, achievement, and growth.
• Embracing, valuing, and promoting diversity enriches our community and learning experiences.
• Integrity, trust, compassion, and open communication are hallmarks of an excellent educational community.
• Educational excellence requires effective leadership, high expectations, teamwork, and the responsible utilization of resources.
• Collaboration among students, parents, staff and community enriches our ownership of the education process.

The North Allegheny School District and Hosack Elementary offer several after-school programs for students. For these programs, students will be called to their assigned area at dismissal. Transportation home is always the responsibility of the family.  Information regarding these programs will be shared from the school.

Due to health concerns for students throughout the building, animals are not permitted to be brought into the building without approval from the office. On the day of the visit, you are to register at the office and at that time will be given further specific instructions regarding access to certain areas of the building.

Students should arrive on time and follow building-specific drop-off procedures. Arrival times typically begin at 8:50–9:00 AM. There is no supervision of students prior to 8:50 AM.  Dismissal occurs at 3:30 PM unless otherwise specified. For early dismissals or changes in pickup, parents should notify the school office in writing or through approved digital forms before 2:30 PM. Students must be signed out by authorized individuals listed on their emergency contacts.

Parents who are dropping their students off should follow the green arrows on this map to line up for drop off:

Drive to the upper loop, proceed down the driveway, and drop your child off at the sidewalk. Instruct your child to walk along the walkway and into the building at the main entrance. Proceed along the driveway  to Peebles Road. Please remember that the school doors do not open until 8:50 AM. Our drop-off will occur until 9:05 AM. If you arrive after 9:05 AM, you must sign your child in with the front office.

Assemblies will be scheduled periodically throughout the school year to enhance or reinforce the North Allegheny School District’s curriculum. Announcements for the assemblies will be made and posted on the website. Special attention to etiquette and good citizenship is expected of all students during assemblies.

Regular attendance is crucial for learning. Absences are classified as legal (illness, bereavement, religious holidays, pre-approved educational trips) or illegal (unapproved vacations, truancy).

When students return to school after any absence, they must bring a written excuse signed by their parent/guardian, stating the reason and dates of the absence(s). An email is acceptable, but it must be addressed to both the homeroom teacher and the building secretary. The written excuse should be given to the homeroom teacher for record keeping purposes. It will then be sent to the main office. If no excuse is sent into school within three days, the absence(s) will be considered illegal.

To request approval for a Family Educational Trip, parent(s)/guardian(s) must submit the Educational Tour Form for excusal at least five (5) school days prior to the absence and the absence must be for 10 or less school days. Students who will be participating in an extended absence due to a request for an educational tour or trip for more than 10 days will be withdrawn after the tenth consecutive day (on day 11) and the withdrawal date will be dated the first day of the consecutive absence. These days are considered legal absences when approved. No absences will be approved during standardized testing windows.

Parents of students who are absent (regardless if the absences are excused or unexcused) will receive a letter from the principal after a total of ten (10) days absent with parental excuses. This communication from the building administration is sent to emphasize the importance of daily attendance at school and as a reminder of Pennsylvania’s Compulsory Attendance Law.

Tardy/Late Arrivals

A student who arrives at school after 9:05 AM is considered tardy. The parent/guardian must escort their child into the office and sign him/her in upon arrival. All students entering school after 9:05 AM, must check in the office prior to going to their classroom. Failure to sign the student into the office may result in an absence being recorded for the entire school day.

Tardiness is also tracked and addressed accordingly.

Due to allergy concerns and wellness policies, edible birthday treats are generally not permitted. Families are encouraged to send in non-food items such as pencils, stickers, or erasers. Arrangements should be coordinated with the classroom teacher in advance. Invitations to outside parties should not be distributed at school unless all students in the class are invited.

Being proactive to create an anti-bullying school environment is the best way to prevent bullying and conflict. Staff educates students on inclusiveness and tolerance. Various lessons and modeling are completed throughout the school year to support students to make school the best environment for everyone in the school community. The Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Program provides realistic expectations necessary to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach when responding to behavioral and social issues including bullying. Any bullying observed or reported is addressed to resolve conflict quickly. Please see the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports section. Please review Policy 249 Anti-Bullying/Cyberbullying School Board Policy.

Students are expected to behave appropriately on school buses. Bus drivers have authority and will assign seats. Rules include remaining seated, speaking quietly, and keeping hands and belongings to oneself. Misconduct may result in temporary or permanent loss of bus privileges.

Video cameras are mounted in all school buses. The purpose of the cameras on a school bus is to increase safety and discourage disruptive behaviors.

Students may purchase a lunch daily using either cash or funds that they have on the Point of Sale (P.O.S.) system. The daily menu options with prices are always on the North Allegheny Website. All students buying lunch or snacks will enter his or her Personal Identification Number (P.I.N.) as they purchase their lunch or snack. Assistance will be given to all students at the beginning of the year as they enter their P.I.N.

Parents may send in cash or a check payable to NA Cafeteria Fund at any time to deposit money into their child’s P.O.S. account. Cafeteria Payment envelopes should be used to include student name, Personal Identification Number (P.I.N.), and payment option. For those families with more than one child attending IES, please remember to use separate envelopes for each child. Reminders will be sent home with the student when their Point of Service (P.O.S.) account accrues a negative balance.

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the Food Service Office at 724-934-7201 or 7202. Parent/guardians are responsible for assuring that a student’s [POS] account remains up to date with a positive balance. The district also has an online payment system called PaySchools Central. Log in to PaySchools Central at payschoolscentral.com. More information on PaySchools Central can be found at PaySchools.com.

Cafeteria time is meant to be a pleasant break in the day. Every student is expected to use proper table manners and speak in a normal tone of voice so that everyone may enjoy their lunch break. Restaurant-like behavior is expected, and students are to clean up after themselves.

Each year the North Allegheny School District publishes and distributes an Activities Calendar to each family. We hope that you will utilize this calendar, the district and school websites, and district publications to stay on top of upcoming opportunities and events. A weekly newsletter is sent with current events listed.

In the event that a need to disseminate emergency or crisis communications to parents and/or students should arise, the North Allegheny School District has a number of communication methods in place to facilitate this process. These include:

• SchoolMessenger
• The district website (northallegheny.org )
• Local television and radio stations (for example: KDKA TV, 1020 AM radio)
• By email

SchoolMessenger is a web-based automated system and is one of the North Allegheny School District’s communication vehicles for the delivery of information to parents/guardians and staff via phone, email, and/or text. Messages may include attendance notifications, school delays or cancellations, information about a serious health-related issue or a crisis response update. 

School Messenger and PowerSchool SIS sync on a daily basis. This means that if you change a contact phone number or email address in PowerSchool, SchoolMessenger will be updated automatically with that new information the following day.

All parent/guardian phone numbers and email addresses are imported into SchoolMessenger from the PowerSchool SIS. SchoolMessenger imports the cell, home and work phone numbers, as well as the email, provided in PowerSchool for contacts.  

Please note that within SchoolMessenger you are not able to edit the information that is imported from the PowerSchool SIS. Parents and guardians can access PowerSchool via the Tiger ID Dashboard. For more information on Tiger ID, click here. If you would like to update your contact information or add additional phone numbers, please submit an "Update Your Parent/Guardian Contact Information Form," available under the Forms Menu in the PowerSchool Portal.

On a two-hour delay day, students are not to arrive before 10:50 AM; school begins at 11:00 AM. Lunch is served; however, no recess is held. School hours for Kindergarten on delay days will be 11:00 AM–12:45 PM for morning session and 1:45–3:30 PM for afternoon session.

Students in grades K–5 will be using the Learning Management System, Canvas. Canvas is an app available on the student’s iPad, where teachers will post their daily agendas, assignments, and resources. Canvas also has a parent app that can be accessed through the parent’s Tiger ID account.

It is very important that we maintain an up-to-date address, telephone number, and email with the district. If you have a change of any demographic information during the school year, please follow these instructions to complete a “Change of Demographics” form in PowerSchool.

Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026. Parents are encouraged to attend if they need to discuss academic progress and student well-being. Additional conferences can be requested by families or teachers throughout the year. Information will be sent out prior to conferences for parents to sign up for a conference with their child’s teacher.

If a student is involved in custody arrangements or legal restrictions, parents must submit appropriate court documentation to the school. This ensures student safety and helps staff adhere to legal directives regarding pickups, communications, and access. Custody agreements or court orders must be signed. They will be kept on file in the main office and will be considered the most up to date copy unless a parent/guardian presents revised or new paperwork to the office.

Schools follow the District’s Code of Conduct and implement positive behavior support frameworks. Students are expected to show respect, responsibility, and safety in all settings. Behavior infractions are addressed progressively and may result in parent contact, loss of privileges, or administrative action.  Please review the district’s Code of Conduct.

Positive Behavior Supports

The Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Program provides realistic expectations necessary to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach when responding to behavioral and social issues. We maintain an inclusive environment for all students. Our Hosack R.O.A.R.S expectations are taught, modeled, and communicated to all students throughout the school day. 

Students receive Tiger Tickets for exhibiting positive behavior at school.  Students who receive a Tiger Ticket are recognized on Fridays during their grade level lunch period.  The school is rewarded each nine weeks through events for earning tickets as a collective whole. Parents are integral in the process. Positive communication from the staff will occur to parents, and notification when expectations are not being followed will also occur.

The instructional day ends at 3:20 PM, followed by pack-up procedures for the end of the day.  All students with a scheduled “pick-up” will leave the classroom at 3:25 PM, when called over the public address system.  Parents requesting “pick-up” must adhere to the following procedures to assure the safety and welfare of our students:

A note/email must be sent to the child’s teacher (please copy the front office secretary) on the day the parent/guardian is planning on picking the student up from school. A note can be submitted to the homeroom teacher and school secretary detailing a regular pick-up schedule (e.g. “every Tuesday”). Emails must be copied to the homeroom teacher and school secretary. All pick-up messages must be received prior to 2:30 PM.  

Parents and guardians will be assigned a pick-up number and provided with a corresponding school sign for their vehicle. Please be patient as a monitor may check ID in cases where the monitor is unfamiliar with the person picking a student up from school.

Parent/Guardian Pick-Off

Please reference this map for lining up for parent pick-up:

We are proud of the way our students dress. A student’s individual dress indicates both self-respect and respect for others. While the school accommodates a wide variety of individual tastes, inappropriate dress is not acceptable.

Guidelines

The following should be used in determining appropriate school attire:

1. Articles must be clean (not soiled with grease, oil, paint, or dirt).
2. Clothing with slogans/emblems, etc., is acceptable as long as they do not depict illegal substances, indecent writing, or indecent pictures.
3. Warm weather clothing is appropriate with the following guidelines: halter tops or tank tops with spaghetti straps, tops exposing the midriff or display of undergarments, and torn or ragged clothing are not permitted.
4. Oversized trousers present problems regarding safety both for the individual student and fellow classmates. School staff will insist that fitting pants are worn so that students can maneuver with ease, particularly in an emergency situation.
5. Items of dress that disrupt the educational process and climate are inappropriate. Students are not to wear hats during the school day inside the building, unless it is for an approved fundraiser or activity. This also includes bandanas and head scarves (unless the head covering is based on religious reasons).
6. Footwear must be worn by all students. Flip-flops and other backless shoes are not encouraged. “Wheelie shoes” are not permitted at school.
7. Shorts or skirts must reach at the fingertips while arms are hanging naturally at the sides.
8. Tights or leggings may not be used underneath shorts or skirts to substitute length. Leggings may only be worn under appropriate length (fingertip) shorts, skirts, or dresses.

To leave school early, a written request must be sent to the office. Authorized adults must sign out the student at the main office. Early dismissals should be minimized to avoid instructional disruptions. Parents are encouraged to schedule medical and dental appointments after school hours if possible.

Emergency drills will be held on a regularly scheduled basis during the course of the school year. The following is a list of drills and their scheduled frequency:

• Fire Drills—Monthly
• Emergency Weather Drill—Annually
• Emergency Drills (Hold, Lockdown or Secure)—Three drills annually
• Bus Evacuation Drills—August and March

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on the response to any given situation using common clear language—not codes or code words.

There is common vocabulary and symbols used with staff, students, parents, and emergency responders:

• Hold is a response that would clear the hallways, close and lock doors until the situation has been cleared.
• Lockdown is a safety response procedure that contains students and staff in safe locations within the building in the event of a threat to safety.
• Secure is a safety response that brings everyone inside the building and the perimeter is secured. No one is permitted in or out of the building during this time.
• If there is a need to Evacuate the building several locations are identified pending the emergency situation. Procedures are in place.
• Shelter is used in situations like weather related incidents such as tornadoes or earthquakes.

North Allegheny School District has a comprehensive safety plan that is continually discussed, rehearsed and evaluated. The district has adopted the use of the ALICE preparedness training model. The staff and students will be trained throughout the year to enhance our safety plans and to prepare everyone in the event of a critical incident. The district works closely with local emergency responders to ensure that safety plans are updated and promote a safe school environment. While safe evacuation from the building is sometimes the most prudent response to a threat to safety, such as a fire within the building, other responses can be appropriate pending the situation.

Drills for fire, lockdowns, and severe weather are held regularly. Staff are trained in protocols to keep students safe. In real emergencies, communication will be sent via the district’s notification system.

Every Monday is Encore Day. Encore is offered to students in grades 1–5. These special subject areas are Art, Music, Library and Physical Education. Homeroom teachers will notify students of the specific dates for each of the special subject area Encore days.

Trips enhance learning beyond the classroom. Parents will receive details and must submit signed permission forms. Chaperones must be approved and follow school guidelines. Student behavior expectations apply during all trips.

Students are to bring their band and orchestra instruments to school on days when they are scheduled to have small group practice or full ensemble practice. On occasion, students forget their instruments. Parents/guardians may need to bring them to school.

Please visit the Health Services page of our website. You will find useful information about our medication policy, immunization requirements and health care information.

It is important that we have your current personal, work, and emergency phone numbers. In case of an emergency, accurate information can save valuable time in helping your child. Please remember to notify your child’s school at any time during the year of any changes in these numbers.

If you are planning to be out of town, please provide in writing the name of your child’s guardian and their contact information in your absence if it is someone who is not listed as an emergency contact. Without this consent, we cannot release your child to this caretaker.

If there is a change in the custodianship of your child, please notify the office and provide copies of any pertinent court agreements for this change to be honored.

Medications

Medications will be administered by the nurses according to school policy which includes written parental permission, and a doctor’s order for both prescription and nonprescription (OTC—over the counter) medications.  Please make sure to log into the SNAP Parent Health Portal to provide the necessary parental/guardian permission for the administration of acetaminophen or ibuprofen (age appropriate) as needed throughout the school year, for your child.

The following are a few important points to remember:

• Students are not permitted to carry medication with them at school. All medication is to be dispensed from the health office.  
• Medication is to be brought to school by the parent/guardian in the original container. Never allow your child to transport medication. The health office cannot and will not administer any medication in a baggy, paper towel, etc. This is for your child’s safety and is against school policy for medications. 
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be administered with parental/guardian permission and at the discretion of the school nurse. Please remember to provide permission for the administration of these medicines via the SNAP Parent Health Portal.

Illnesses

Please keep your child at home if he/she has any one of the following symptoms: 

• Temperature of 100 degrees or more
•  Vomiting or diarrhea
•  Persistent hacking cough or thick nasal drainage
•  Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Immunizations

State Law requires every student who intends to enroll in a public school to provide evidence of a successful vaccination history. At various ages, different vaccinations are necessary for enrollment. Should you have a question regarding the immunizations necessary for your child, please contact your School Nurse. These can also be found at Health Services / Immunizations.

The following illnesses require 24 hours of an antibiotic before returning to school: 

• Strep throat
• Scarlet fever
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Pediculosis (Lice)

If a child is suspected of having pediculosis (lice), the School Nurse will examine the suspected child and siblings. When head lice are found, the School Nurse will contact the parent of the child and provide educational materials concerning treatment and environmental control. Following treatment (this includes use of pediculicidal agent and nit removal), the School Nurse will examine your child’s head. Proof of treatment (pediculicidal agent or prescription packaging) must be provided to the School Nurse. Parents of the building will be notified via an Email Blast of the lice identification. Class or grade level will not be identified in the message. 

 Lice Facts 

• Incubation: Eggs of lice hatch in one week and maturity is reached in 8-10 days. 
• Symptoms: Irritation and itching of the scalp; presence of small light gray insects and/or their eggs (nits) which are attached to the base of the hairs and do not come off easily. 
• Methods of Spread: Direct contact with an infected person and indirect contact with their personal belongings, especially headgear. Lice do not jump. 
• Period of Communicability: While lice or nits remain alive on the infested person or belongings. 
• Other information: Lice have nothing to do with the cleanliness of one’s home, nor live on pets.

While lice are a nuisance, they are not life threatening. The District’s goals are for head lice to have minimal disruption to students’ educational experiences and minimize the stigmatizing impact on students and families

Under McKinney-Vento all school districts are responsible for identifying students experiencing homelessness and connecting them with the resources needed to ensure academic success. 

Who is considered homeless?

Children or youth living in a shelter, transitional housing, hotel/motel,
vehicle, campground, on the street or doubled up with friends or family due to a lack of alternate resources are considered homeless. An unaccompanied homeless youth is a child or youth that is not in the care of their parent or legal guardian and meets the definition of homeless under McKinney-Vento.

Where can students experiencing homelessness attend school?

The law indicates that homeless students have the right to remain in their school origin (the school they attended at the time of the homeless episode or last school attended) through the end of the school year in which they find permanent housing, provided it is in the child/youth’s best interest. If through consultation between the school and the family and/or unaccompanied youth it is determined that remaining in the school of origin is not in the student’s best interest, then the student has the right to immediately enroll in the school that non-homeless students living in the attendance area in which the child/youth is actually living are eligible to attend, even if they do not have all of the required documentation. Additionally, unaccompanied homeless youth have the right to immediately enroll in school, even if they do not have a legal guardian present.

What supports can school districts provide to homeless students?

Homeless students are eligible for supports and services to remove barriers to educational success. This may include transportation to the school of origin, free meals, referrals to physical/mental health providers, clothing to meet school requirements, access to school supplies and resources, assistance with credit recovery, tutoring supports, expedited evaluations and assistance to participate in school activities including parent engagement opportunities, sports, club, etc.

Homeless Dispute Process

If at any time there is a disagreement about homeless status or best interest for school placement, the district will notify the family in writing of their determination that the
family/unaccompanied youth is ineligible for McKinney-Vento services. At this time, the district will provide the family/unaccompanied youth with the ability to dispute their determination.

Throughout the dispute process, the child/youth, including unaccompanied youth, will continue to be educated in the school of origin or immediately enrolled in the school they are seeking enrollment in until the dispute process is finalized. Transportation will continue throughout the dispute process. All disputes will be sent to the ECYEH Regional Coordinator who will issue a determination. If any party is unhappy with the determination, they can elevate the dispute to the state coordinator.

What if I think that I am eligible for services under McKinney-Vento?

Contact Dr. Carrie Frohnapfel, Homeless Liaison for the North Allegheny School District at 412-630-5804 or cfrohnapfel@northalleghney.org

Homework reinforces classroom learning and fosters independence. Assignments should be age-appropriate and clearly communicated. Parents are encouraged to support routines but not complete the work for students. If homework becomes difficult, families should contact the teacher. Homework for all students should be listed on their teacher’s Canvas page.

All students have access to the Internet. The internet is accessible through their iPads. All students are expected to follow the North Allegheny Acceptable Use Policy when using technology at school. Policy 224.1

As part of our NASD Strategic/Comprehensive Plan and continued commitment to providing innovative and effective learning experiences, students in grades K-12 may be given access to district-approved generative AI tools (such as writing assistants, content generators, and tutoring aids) to support instruction, creativity, and productivity. These tools are carefully vetted by the district to ensure compliance with data privacy, security, and instructional standards. As students engage in our classroom learning experiences and instructional programs, families understand that their child may use district-approved learning tools under the guidance of a teacher and in accordance with district policies, including alignment with Board Policy 224.1 Responsible Computer, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Use.

Students are expected to use school-issued devices responsibly and only for educational purposes. Students will be restricted from accessing apps and websites that encourage passive consumption of digital content (e.g., video streaming, gamified content). Violations such as visiting inappropriate sites, attempting to bypass district content restrictions, or damaging devices may result in restricted access or disciplinary action.

Use of District-Approved Generative AI Tools

As part of our NASD Strategic/Comprehensive Plan and continued commitment to providing innovative and effective learning experiences, students in grades K-12 may be given access to district-approved generative AI tools (such as writing assistants, content generators, and tutoring aids) to support instruction, creativity, and productivity. These tools are carefully vetted by the district to ensure compliance with data privacy, security, and instructional standards. As students engage in our classroom learning experiences and instructional programs, families understand that their child may use district-approved learning tools under the guidance of a teacher and in accordance with district policies, including alignment with Board Policy 224.1 Responsible Computer, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Use.

Items like toys, sports equipment, trading cards, or game-like items from home should not be brought to school. Students are NOT permitted to bring electronic equipment to school without permission from the principal. Some students may have a need to use sensory items. Teachers can ask students to place spinners or other sensory items distracting from instruction in their backpacks. Children should not bring valuables or large sums of money to school. Water bottles should be brought to school, and filling stations are available to all students.

Unclaimed items are placed in a school’s Lost and Found area. Parents and students should check it periodically. Labeling items with names is encouraged to ensure a prompt return.

The North Allegheny School District is committed to helping all children succeed. There are many ways to help children learn and ensure those who need additional support are successful. The Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) is one of the recommended best practices from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to ensure ALL students meet continual academic and behavioral success.  This support will be given to ALL students through ongoing collaboration involving teachers, administrators, families, and specialists. Through systematic district and school-­wide efforts, students will be provided services based on the evaluation of individual needs through universal screeners and benchmark assessments, consistent progress monitoring, and collaborative problem-solving efforts. It is important that this process is data driven, fluent and flexible throughout the year.

For detailed information about the Hosack Parent Faculty Association (PFA) please visit the PFA website.

The PFA is an integral part of everything we do at Hosack Elementary. You are strongly encouraged to attend a PFA meeting and find out how you can get involved. The PFA meets  every other month. If your schedule does not permit attendance please contact a PFA officer directly to find out how you can help.

PFA Officers

• President—Tina Green
• Vice-President—Melissa Lloyd
• Treasurer—Stephanie Carlson
• Secretary—Brandon Pruss

Recess time is integral to early childhood growth and development. It affords students a time to be active while also providing a mental break from their rigorous academic work. Hosack  is fortunate to have a large playground area, which is utilized during all recess periods. Recess is held indoors only during periods of extreme weather. Recess is always outside unless it is raining, thundering, or the wind chill factor is below 20 degrees.

It is important that students dress appropriately on cold-weather days.

Report cards are issued quarterly. Families can access grades through their Powerschool portal. Report cards will be available at the end of each nine week period for grades 1–5. Kindergarten students receive report cards at the end of each semester.

The art, library, music, and physical education courses make up the special area class rotations. These courses are an important part of each student’s educational experience. On Mondays Grades 1–5 have an Encore class. One of the special areas will be attended for 1 hour. This is done on a rotating basis allowing more time for in-depth projects.

Students in grades 4 and 5 may participate in the school’s chorus program. Two concerts are held during the school year for students, parents, and interested community members. In addition, students in grades 3 through 5 are encouraged to participate in the school’s orchestra program, and in grades 4 and 5 for the school’s band program.

In PE, your son/daughter will learn the significance of developing and maintaining a healthy body, both physically and mentally. We will also create an atmosphere for the development of their leadership, sportsmanship, and congeniality through our program. Your child should wear or bring athletic shoes on their regularly scheduled P.E. day. Since the students have PE every third Encore (Monday), it is a good practice to wear or bring athletic shoes on these days as well.

The following special education and gifted services are available for those students who meet the requirements:  GOAL, Speech, Autistic, Life Skills, Emotional Support and Learning Support. Contact the Special Education Department (412-635-4109) if there are any questions about these programs.

The district has implemented a Student Information System called PowerSchool.  An electronic Parent Portal is available, providing parents a web-based gradebook and reporting system with access to student records, schedule and academic performance, as well as the opportunity to update demographic and contact information.  

If a parent/guardian or student detects a discrepancy in grade of attendance information, this issue should be addressed with the Teacher of Record for the class in question as soon as possible.  Inaccuracies in demographic/contact information can be corrected through the student’s building administrative or office staff.  

Typically, assignment scores/grades are posted within five (5) school days of the return of the assignment, with some exceptions based on the complexity of the assignment and/or project.  The information provided through PowerSchool SIS’s Parent Portal is not in final form and is subject to change and correction. 

Permanent Records are maintained for each student and records are secured in the school office.  Parents/Guardians may review their child’s permanent record upon request; however, records must be reviewed in the school office.

Various kinds of testing are administered throughout the school year. Results are used to help determine individual student progress and to adjust curriculum and instruction if necessary.

aimswebPlus

The aimswebPlus program is a web-based system that provides teachers data to identify students who will benefit from early intervention strategies and targeted instruction (remediation and enrichment). The screener is used in grades K–2, but it can be used in grades 3–5 when needed. AimswebPlus uses brief, valid, and reliable measures of foundational skills in reading and math. The system is designed to universally screen and progress monitor students. The screener is given three times a year.

STAR 360

Students in grades 3–5 will be utilizing STAR 360. Three times a year, students take an online assessment allowing teachers and students to gain information about learning strengths and areas to improve in the areas of reading and math.

Study Island Benchmark Assessments

The Study Island Benchmark Assessments are administered 2 or 3 times during the school year. This assessment is closely aligned with PSSA content, and is used to provide teachers in grades 3, 4, and 5 with additional information on the skill levels of individual students as well as to enhance instruction and intervention strategies within the classroom specific to students’ needs. Students do not receive grades.

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is a criterion referenced test used to measure students’ progress toward mastering the Pennsylvania Academic Standards in grades 3 through 5. The academic standards identify proficiency levels in ELA and Math for grades 3 through 5, and Science in grade 5 (starting 24–25 school year). The dates for the PSSA tests are listed in the school calendar. Students are to be in school during the district
assessments and State (PSSA) testing, except in cases of illnesses. The dates for the tests are listed in the school calendar as well as the notifications from the school. As these tests are important, vacations will rarely be approved for the weeks of these tests. Due to the necessity to complete the tests within a given window for all students as mandated by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education, make-ups will occur for students during instructional time if missed.

District procedure states that the parent/guardian is responsible for the replacement cost of lost books or those damaged beyond use. School materials such as books, calculators, etc. that are assigned to students must be replaced if lost or damaged. The cost of textbooks/materials varies due to the original purchase price and age. If an item is later recovered, the amount paid will be returned assuming good condition.

All visitors must report to the office, register with Raptor, show ID, and wear a visitor badge. Visits should be pre-arranged and may be limited during testing or other sensitive times. Volunteer clearances are required for classroom or field trip involvement.

The North Allegheny School District strictly prohibits the possession or storage of weapons by students on school property. This is detailed in School Board Policy 218.1. For the purpose of this policy, the definition of a weapon also includes weapon “look-alikes.” The district’s Code of Conduct will be strictly adhered to if a weapon is brought to school.

The North Allegheny School District strives to improve the efficiency of communication with and access to information for parents/guardians. The district will send a building-specific email newsletter every Friday evening (except scheduled holiday breaks) to parents/guardians. This email will highlight the top happenings at each building, upcoming important dates, district information, and links to community flyers. Parents/guardians
will only receive emails from their student’s building. An archive of emails will be available on the district website and updated with the latest newsletters each Monday morning.

Parent/guardian email addresses are collected at the time of registration and are used to share district and building-level communications, and to provide updates from the district’s online gradebook and student information system. It is important for parents/guardians to update any changes in their email address by contacting the building secretary.