Activities

Beginning in January, Ms. Folino will be updating the AR Wall on the ground floor monthly. Along with updating the AR board she will be passing out individual prizes and enter anyone who earned points that month into a random drawing for a gift card. Each quarter the leader in each grade level will earn a ribbon. 

Our Elementary Drama program is a 10 week extracurricular activity for Avalon and Bellevue Elementary students in grades 4-6. Most rehearsals are held one night a week during the fall, culminating in mid-November with daytime and evening performances of a one-act musical. The club is led by faculty and alumni volunteers, and is supported by parent volunteers. The elementary participants are also coached by Northgate Middle and High School student volunteers. Additional information can be found on the Northgate Musical Program website. 

Faculty Advisor
Karen Klicker

The word “forensics” stems from ancient theories about debate, performance, and argumentation. Like crime scene investigators, competitors use evidence as a tool to understand and theorize about the world. Intercollegiate forensics has come to include any speech that can be used as a persuasive tool.

Public speaking, in any of the competitive forms - platform, oral interpretation, or limited prep - allows students to speak to issues that concern them, putting their ideas and evidence out for others to see. As part of the forensics team you can sharpen your skills in public speaking, increase your confidence and poise, and be part of a team of talented and driven students. The Forensics Team is open to students in grades 4-6.

Meetings are Monday's in Mrs. Monahan's classroom.

Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a national program in which girls are educated and prepared for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. In addition to participating in fun physical activities, the girls develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to themselves and others with care and compassion, create positive connections with peers and adults, and make meaningful contributions to community and society. GOTR is known for helping girls to improve self-esteem, increase motivation to be physically active, and have heightened awareness of the value of physical activity.

The Kids of Steel running program is designed to motivate students and families to get moving and make healthier food choices. Each student is encouraged through a variety of lessons to run the 5k race as part of the Pittsburgh Marathon. This program is offered on a semester basis to students in grades K-6 and meets after-school. For a $20 fee parents are able to get t-shirts for their children or even participate in the race themselves.

Coming next semester!

Through a partnership with JAM Enterprises and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh we’ve created the Kindness Club as a way to bring foster a positive, inclusive environment in our schools and our community. 

JAM Enterprises was founded by Maureen Frew and her students at Avonworth Primary Center as a way to spread kindness in the world through a simple message, #bethekindkid. #bethekindkid projects and messages of encouragement can be seen through both buildings as a reminder to be the kid who does the right thing, to be the nice kid, and to be the kind kid.

Faculty Advisor
Ms. Abigail Anderson

Students at Bellevue and Avalon elementary schools will have the opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills and improve their creativity through the program Odyssey of the Mind. 

Meetings are held in the makerspace Tuesday's and Friday's after school.

For more information, email Bill Bergmann, coordinator for Odyssey of the Mind for Northgate, at northgateodyssey@gmail.com. Explore Odyssey of the Mind at https://www.odysseyofthemind.com.

Strong Women Strong Girls (SWSG) is a national organization that is dedicated to raising the aspirations and self-esteem of girls in grades 3-5. This after-school program connects girls with college women and puts them on a path to future life success by increasing social-emotional skills, self-esteem, desire to serve the community, leadership capabilities, and aspirations to attend college or career readiness programs. 

Meetings are on Mondays in the Music Room.

The Tech Club is an after-school club for students in grades 4-6. Tech Club offers students the chance to work with various aspects of technology including coding, SMART tools and green screen techniques. Snap Circuits, Little Bits and Funny Bricks are used in on-going student-led design challenges.

Faculty Advisor
Gretchen Monahan