Opening Day 2025: North Hills welcomes back staff members

On Tuesday, August 12, the North Hills School District officially welcomed more than 700 teachers and staff for the start of the 2025-26 school year. The annual Opening Day celebration filled the North Hills Middle School auditorium with energy and excitement, beginning with a lively entrance by the North Hills Marching Band.

Elementary students then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by middle and high school choir members performing the national anthem and the alma mater.

This year’s Opening Day carried a forward-thinking theme: the role of artificial intelligence in education. District leaders emphasized that when used thoughtfully, AI can streamline tasks, enhance creativity, and provide personalized learning opportunities for students. While the technology offers exciting possibilities, the message was clear — AI is a powerful partner, but the heart of education will always be the people who teach, inspire, and guide students every day.

Rachel McVeagh, instructional innovation coordinator with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s transformED initiative, delivered the keynote address, sharing insights on integrating AI into teaching and learning.

As in years past, Opening Day included a look back at the previous school year. This year’s highlight video showcased the accomplishments of 2024-25, but with a twist — AI was used in part to create it. While the technology assisted in the process, every image, edit, and final touch came from a human, reinforcing that while AI can assist and inspire, it can never replace the heart, dedication, and impact educators bring to students, schools, and the community.

The revitalized North Hills Foundation was also featured during the program. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Mannarino thanked employees for their participation in the Foundation’s Employee Giving Program, which last year funded six $500 scholarships for seniors and three $500 learning enrichment grants for teachers. He also introduced the district’s new community partners — Frank’s Chicken and Pizza, Good L’Oven, and West View Brew — whose specialty items will help raise additional funds for the Foundation.

Frank’s Chicken and Pizza has created “The Scholar,” a white pizza with chicken and roasted red peppers, with $2 from each sale donated to the Foundation. Good L’Oven will feature a rotating North Hills-themed cookie, beginning with the North Hills Birthday Cake cookie topped with white icing and red and white sprinkles; fifty cents from each cookie will be donated. West View Brew is launching Foundation Fridays, with 20 percent of sales from select specialty items donated to the Foundation. On Friday, August 15, they will feature a white chocolate raspberry latte and a red and white confetti cupcake.

“I am hopeful that we can continue the Employee Giving Program and that together we can support our local partners as we strengthen opportunities to provide scholarships and grants for our students and staff this year,” Dr. Mannarino said.

School Board President Allison Mathis also announced she will personally donate $250 to the Foundation to help fund future opportunities for students and teachers.

The day concluded with a Wellness Fair for staff and a lunch provided by several local food trucks before employees headed to their respective buildings to prepare for the new school year.