PITTSBURGH -- Beginning on Monday, March 1, all students will have the option to attend school in person four days a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will remain an all-virtual day for all students.
Students can choose to:
- Attend in-person 4 days each week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
- Attend school virtually and synchronously 5 days a week (Monday - Friday)
In order to plan and prepare our classrooms and schools following the guidance in our health and safety plan, all families are required to fill out this survey no later than Monday, Feb. 22. One form must be completed for each NHSD student.
Regardless if the in-person option is chosen, a student can choose to remain virtual on any day. This includes if the student gets sick or is required to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure.
If at any time you wish to change your selection above, you must call the school directly.
The following changes go into effect on March 1:
- All students attending school remotely are expected to join their teacher’s scheduled lessons via Zoom and watch their lessons live (synchronous).
- The virtual attendance form is no longer required for NHSD students. Teachers will take attendance of those physically present in the classroom or virtually present on Zoom. If remote, you must attend the live Zoom lesson to be counted as present for that class at the middle school and high school or school day at the elementary level.
- If a student is absent on any day or for any class, the student is responsible for making up missed work, just as they are in a traditional classroom environment. Families should also report the absence by calling the school’s attendance line. A written excuse for absence must be submitted to the school within three school days for the absence to be excused.
Health and Safety
This move to allow more students in our buildings is possible as the number of COVID-19 cases decline in Allegheny County. Allegheny County is expected to shift from SUBSTANTIAL community transmission to MODERATE in the coming weeks. Please know full in-person five days a week is not possible until Allegheny County’s community transmission rate is LOW.
Social Distancing
Our health and safety plan will continue to be followed to keep students and staff safe. When in classrooms, students will be no less than four feet apart while wearing face masks. Table trays and additional tables have been purchased for lunch periods to allow no less than six feet between students when their masks are off while eating.
Transportation
All students who ride district transportation will be assigned a seat on the school bus to allow for contact necessary if a COVID-19 case becomes known.
As a reminder, if you opted out of district transportation last summer, your student was not assigned a bus and it is the family’s responsibility to get the student(s) to and from school.
Please also note, due to the increase in students riding buses, delays are possible during the first few weeks of March.
Air Purification
In addition to its ongoing thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures, NHSD’s facilities services department is continuing to install iWave ionization devices throughout district HVAC systems. These devices, which release ions into the air stream to break down pollutants such as viruses and bacteria, are currently installed in all health offices and will soon be installed in our cafeterias and classrooms. District HVAC systems are also regularly cleaned to maximize air quality.
Food Service
Curbside Meals
Daily curbside meals will continue for students not attending school in person. Beginning March 1, the pick up window will be 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at all four elementary schools and the high school five days a week.
Pick up for the five-day meal bundle for virtual students will remain on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Hills High School only.
The ordering window does not change. All curbside meals should be pre-ordered by midnight Sunday for the upcoming week.
In person meals
As we prepare to bring more students back into our buildings, our food service department has been adding more variety back into our cafeterias. Pre-bagged grab-and-go meals are being replaced with fruit and vegetable choices for sides with more additions on the way!
As a reminder, in-person meals are also free for all students through the end of the school year. View menus online.