Students and their families walked, biked, and rolled to school on Wednesday morning as part of National Walk and Roll to School Day. Hundreds of district families walked and rolled the streets of Avalon and Bellevue on the way to their respective elementary schools along with district staff and community members. Starting at the old Post Office parking lot on Sprague Avenue, families took over the streets on the way to Avalon and Bellevue elementary schools.

Among the highlights were performances by Northgate band and choir members, and the participation of Bellevue Bicycles, a local bicycle shop who taught students safe riding. The district would like to thank everyone who took part, especially our organizing partners at the Avalon Elementary P.T.O. and Bellevue Elementary PTO. Everyone had a blast! You can review photos from the event on our Facebook page.

Link: Northgate Walk and Roll to School Photos

Students at Avalon Elementary were treated to a visit on Tuesday from the Avalon Volunteer Fire Company as part of National Fire Prevention Week. Firefighters brought their vehicles and their gear to show off to students in two different ways: Outside the school, students climbed into fire trucks and learned how all of the equipment worked. Inside the school, students sat in assemblies with Avalon firefighters to learn how to prevent fires and stay safe inside and outside their homes and classrooms.

Northgate School District thanks Avalon Volunteer Fire Company for continuing this annual tradition, and the Avalon Elementary P.T.O. for helping to organize the event!

Link: National Fire Prevention Week Website

Avalon Elementary and Bellevue Elementary students and their families are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to school on Wednesday, October 7. As part of National Walk and Roll to School Day, the district and its partners in the Avalon Elementary P.T.O. and Bellevue Elementary PTO have organized a fun walk-and-roll-to-school event.

Students and families from both elementary schools will meet at the old Post Office parking lot on Sprague Avenue in Bellevue. Breakfast bags will be available for students starting at 7:30 a.m. The event will start at 8:00 a.m. with students, families, and district staff traveling to their respective schools.

NOTE: E-bikes are not allowed for this event.

We can't wait to see how students and their families arrive at Avalon and Bellevue elementary schools. How will you make the trip to school?

Download: District Walk and Roll to School Day Flyer

UPDATE, 9/22/26: This article was updated from its original posting on 8/4/26 to reflect a new call for students to participate; meeting times will be adjusted.

Do you enjoy sharing ideas, telling stories, or simply want to become more confident speaking in front of others? Forensics Club is a great opportunity for students in Grades 5-8 to develop public speaking skills in a fun, encouraging environment. Throughout the year, students will learn speaking techniques, practice speeches and presentations, and have the option to participate in speech competitions. Whether you're brand new to public speaking or already enjoy being in front of an audience, Forensics Club is a place to grow your confidence and communication skills.

Joining is easy! Students should talk with Mrs. Monahan or Miss Tarabay, have a parent or guardian complete the permission slip linked below, and attend the first meeting. If you're unable to make the kickoff meeting, simply email us to let us know you're interested.

For more information, contact Mrs. Monahan at gretchen.monahan@northgatesd.net or Miss Tarabay at austen.tarabay@northgatesd.net. We look forward to welcoming new members and helping students find their voice this school year.

Download: Forensics Club Permission Slip

There was a lot of dirt - and a lot of love for it - at Northgate recently. The district applied for and was accepted into the two-year Learning Garden Program made possible by Grow Pittsburgh.

On Friday, September 18, students and staff at the Middle and High Schools participated in Kickoff Day for their new garden. They rolled up their sleeves and worked with Grow Pittsburgh to fill garden boxes with soil and plant vegetables and flowers. It was a big job: Northgate's garden program was launched with a record 10 yards of soil, according to Grow Pittsburgh Garden Educator Heather Manning.

"It went splendidly," said Manning "I was grateful for the willingness of Northgate students to move buckets of soil up a hill with truly positive attitudes! They were amazing."

Grow Pittsburgh works with schools and communities across the Pittsburgh area by teaching people how to grow food, growing and distributing food, and - as in Northgate - building and supporting gardens.

Northgate School District is proud to partner with a group that helps our students experience about the value of getting dirty and learning about plant life. We'll keep you posted as the garden program progresses!

All it took to set the tone for the day was the crack of a plastic bat.

Students from Avalon and Bellevue elementary schools spent Tuesday morning playing wiffle ball with and meeting members of the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of the team's day of service honoring Pirates great Roberto Clemente. Players and front office staff visited both schools as part of the AHN’s Chill Mobile Program.

At Avalon Elementary, student after student took turns swinging at balls pitched by Pirates players and volunteers. Dozens of students cheered on their classmates from behind the baselines painted on the lawn behind the school. Over at Bellevue Elementary, students faced off against Pirates players - not to mention the Pirates Parrot and a Pierogie or two - in the school's gym. Raucous cheers echoed off the bleachers as students competed against their classmates.

Upstairs, students received visits from players such as center field Chase Mangum, who delivered baseballs and then promptly signed them with his teammates. Back at Avalon, a group of Pirates players met with students in the Kindergarten and Life Skills classrooms. Once special interaction included student Brian Colaizzi Jr., a special guest of the Pirates earlier this season, who got to check back in with second baseman - and Clemente Award nominee - Brandon Lowe.

All of the games and classroom visits took place in the shadow of the Great One, Roberto Clemente. The legendary Pirates right fielder is honored every September 15th with a day of service led by the team. The events in Avalon and Bellevue were just some of the great things done by the Pirates on Tuesday, and we thank them for visiting our schools!

 

A free dental and hearing clinic is coming to Pittsburgh soon. Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is holding a two-day free clinic at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on October 16 and 17.

Doors open at 6:00 a.m. with the clinic starting at 7:00 a.m. and featuring the following:

Dental Services

• X-rays
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Select root canals
• Limited extractions
• No bridges, crowns, or full dentures

Hearing Services

• Evaluations
• Free hearing aids
• Hearing aid fittings
• Hearing aid troubleshooting and repair
• Hearing protection

Please note that the clinic is first come, first served. There are no appointments, only walk-ins, and the doors will be closed when the convention center reaches full capacity. No insurance is needed, and there are no eligibility requirements. People ages 2 and above will be serviced. Learn more at mompgh.org.

Note: There will also be on-site referrals to UPMC Vision Institute's Community Vision Day sister event, for those who may need vision care.