NOVEMBER 2021 PROPEL SCHOOLS UPDATE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GOOD NEWS FROM DR. TINA CHEKAN
Propel Schools Families,
Excitement for Fall family conferences is building! Remember that our in-person family conferences are scheduled for:
- Monday, November 22, 2021 - No school for scholars
- Tuesday, November 23, 2021- No school for scholars
Your Propel School will reach out to you regarding how to schedule a time to speak with your scholar's educator. Family conferences are a perfect time to share information about your scholar with our school teams as well as gather information about scholar growth and achievement.
Please remember that Wednesday, November 24, 2021, is a Propel Wellness Day and all buildings will be closed. Our schools will be closed for Fall Break on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26. We will see scholars back in our buildings on Monday, November 29.
This season encourages us to reflect upon giving thanks and showing gratitude. Please know that I am very thankful that you have selected us as your partner in education. Each day at Propel Schools, we take every opportunity to collaborate and innovate. As school communities, we strive to create a community of respect and belonging, where every voice is valued. I thank each of you for allowing us to be a part of your scholar's educational journey.
Dr. Tina Chekan
CEO/Superintendent
UPDATE -PENNSYLVANIA MASKING ORDER FOR SCHOOLS
PDE states that schools should continue to observe the school masking order throughout the duration of the court’s proceedings on appeal. This means Propel Schools will continue to follow the masking order and that masks are required in all of our buildings for staff, scholars and visitors.
Please also remember that a federal order requires individuals to properly wear face coverings while on school buses. We thank you for your continued cooperation in sending scholars to school with masks and reviewing the proper use of masks with your scholar.
Should there be any changes regarding current guidelines, we will share that information with you.
COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS
Our COVID-19 vaccination clinics, in partnership with Duquesne University Center for Pharmacy Care, are on Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19. A consent form will be required for any scholar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The form is available to you in Skyward. Please see this document for instructions to access and complete the consent form.
Parents/guardians will not be required to be present with scholars when they receive the vaccine, but the consent form must be completed in advance. Of course, you are welcome to be present - simply indicate this on the form and we will contact you to schedule a time.
Montour Elementary - Thursday, Nov. 18 - 1-4 p.m.
East - Friday, Nov. 19 - 8 a.m.-noon
Hazelwood - Friday, Nov. 19 - 1-4 p.m.
Dates for vaccine clinics to be held at Pitcairn, Braddock Hills, McKeesport and Homestead will be shared once the dates have been finalized. Look for updates coming to you soon.
Please remember that masks are required to be worn by anyone who enters our buildings.
APPLICATIONS FOR PROPEL SCHOOLS 2022-2023 ENROLLMENT LOTTERY NOW OPEN
Applications for our scholar enrollment lottery for the 2022-2023 school year are now open! Current scholars do not need to reapply, with these exceptions:
- Current 8th-grade scholars should meet with their school counselors and apply to their desired Propel high school via SchoolMint.
- Current 5th-grade scholars who will be moving from Propel Montour Elementary School to Propel Montour Middle School should also complete the online application.
Please visit SchoolMint here: https://propel.schoolmint.net/welcome
K-8 Report Cards & High School Progress Reports
Instructions for viewing this information (in both Skyward and Jumprope) are below! As always, our goal is to have 100% participation in family conferences. Our school teams will be as flexible as possible in scheduling conferences during mutually convenient times. If you foresee a challenge in scheduling a conference, please reach out to your school's principal as soon as possible to explore all options.
USING SKYWARD AND JUMPROPE TO VIEW SCHOLAR PROGRESS
ACCESSING SKYWARD
ACCESSING JUMPROPE
All other schools now utilize Standards-Based Grading (SBG) and the Jumprope platform for scholar progress reports. To access your scholar's progress report after November 19, 2021:
- Please use your username and password to access the Jumprope
- There, you will see real-time grades for your scholar
- This is your scholar's progress report
- These grades are current and represent detailed information on scholar learning.
- These grades are a snapshot of where each scholar is in their learning process
- Scholars will continue to have additional opportunities to learn and grow on each learning target
- For directions about how to access scholar information on Jumprope, please click HERE.
THREE PROPEL SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED BY U.S. NEWS EDUCATION
US News Education has published its ranking of public charter schools in Pennsylvania. We are excited to let you know that 3 of our schools have made the list of the top 40!
Propel McKeesport - #11
Propel East - #24
Propel Pitcairn - #37
Congratulations to these school communities for receiving this recognition!
COVID-19 FAQ FOR FAMILIES
REMINDER - UNIFORM DRESS CODE
You can reference the K-8 Dress Code and the High School Dress Code HERE.
PROPEL NORTHSIDE FREE STORE WELCOMES ALL PROPEL FAMILIES!
The Freestore Food Distribution continues to serve the community twice a month on Saturday mornings. All Propel families and community members are invited to take part in these offerings from the Wellness Center. Pre-bagged, fresh produce, Breadworks bread, and personal care items are available for pick up from 10 a.m. until supplies last. The schedule is set through the end of 2021 (see flyers).
The Free Clothing Store is open by appointment for clothing, shoes and personal care items. Please reach out to Carrie Barmen to schedule an appointment.
carolinebarmen@propelschools.org
412-715-3248 ext. 1510
PROPEL SCHOOLS 'ESPORTS' TEAM BRINGS VIDEO GAMING TO A NEW LEVEL!
Our high school eSports teams at BHHS and ASHS will be working with schools to host video game tournament nights throughout the Propel network!
Scholars on our eSports team have been competing in national tournament matches since our season began on October 1. Propel Ping Andrew Street is ranked #39 in the country in Smash Bros. Propel Ping Braddock Hills is ranked #156 in the country in Smash Bros. Please take a moment to follow us on Twitch where our matches are streamed every Wednesday at 4:00. Practices are streamed every Monday at 3:00.
SPOTLIGHT ON STEM!
REMINDER! PROPEL SCHOOLS WELLNESS POLICY AND CLASSROOM PARTY FOODS
This is an excerpt from our Wellness Policy that addresses classroom celebrations. Please note that all snacks/foods shared by families to celebrate special scholar days must align with this list. Please note that all shared foods must be prepackaged. No homemade foods are to be shared, as food allergies can be common and, in some cases, lead to severe reactions.
SCHOLAR EDUCATIONAL TRIP REQUEST FORM FOR 2021-2022
PLAN TO START 2022 WITH HEALTHY COOKING!
SCHOOL UNIFORM PIECES AT GREAT PRICES!
As a result, Propel has teamed with "Family School Uniforms" to provide families with another option for purchasing school uniforms. As previously stated, families can purchase uniform pieces from the store that best suits their needs and budget -- this is simply an option for those who may wish to use it.
Please click HERE to visit the Propel Schools Family School Uniforms webpage.
** Please note that Propel Schools cannot answer questions about uniforms, orders, billing, or returns. Questions about uniform purchases and all associated concerns must be brought directly to the vendor.