Newsroom

Northgate High School will be holding girls basketball tryouts on Thursday, November 14, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Northgate High School gymnasium. Tryouts are open to girls in grades 9 through 12 who are interested in joining the team this season.

For more information, please contact Coach Betty at (412) 292-1376 or betty.howard@northgatesd.net, or Coach Stef at (412) 587-1916 or stefonadams44@icloud.com.

We hope to see you there!

Sign up now for Northgate Little Lopes Basketball. Little Lopes Basketball helps kids develop fundamental skills, teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect for others.

Interested parents can register at: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/avonworthlittlelopes. Once you’ve created an account and the Northgate registration form is live, you’ll be able to complete your sign-up.

We encourage families to set up accounts in advance of the registration window to ensure a smooth process.

The Northgate football program is proud to recognize several athletes who have earned All-Section honors for their outstanding performances this season. Their effort and commitment to excellence have made a strong impact on the field and within our program.

2nd Team Offense
QB Devontae Smith
WR Johrdon Harriston

Honorable Mention Offense
Eric Ramos

1st Team Defense
DB Johrdon Harriston

2nd Team Defense
LB Nick Rawlings

Honorable Mention Defense
Zion Ward

Congratulations to all of our All-Section selections. We are so proud of the hard work and leadership these players displayed throughout the season!

DICK’S Sporting Goods is offering a 20% off discount throughout the store. Be sure to use the coupon linked below, as this is specific to the PIAA. The coupon is valid in-store from November 7th - 10th and should be shown at the register during checkout. Please use the link here for a special 20% off coupon for all PIAA member schools to use.

Good luck to all of our students participating in the WPIAL Cross Country Championships! The girls will race at 3pm and boys at 3:45pm. You can watch results come through live using the link below: https://live.gingerbreadtiming.com/meets/58555

As the runners cross each 1/2-mile, you'll see their time and place pop up. Once the race is complete and results have been finalized, if they have an "IQ" next to their name, that means they have qualified for the state championships.

Let's go, Flames!!

Northgate High School is teaming up with McDonald’s for a one-day digital fundraiser to support local high school sports programs. On Thursday, October 23, 10% of all digital sales placed through the McDonald’s app at the 4557 Ohio River Blvd location will be donated directly to Northgate’s athletic department.

To participate, community members are encouraged to download the McDonald’s app, select the participating location, and place their order digitally for pickup at the restaurant. This initiative provides an easy way for students, families and supporters to give back while enjoying a meal.

Scan the QR code on the flyer above to download the app now!

Congratulations to Northgate’s very own, Zoe “Zee” Russell, for being selected as the 2025-2026 Junior Rotarian. This prestigious honor recognizes Zoe’s commitment to community service, leadership and academic excellence.

As Junior Rotarian, Zoe will represent Rotary International by attending weekly banquets and presentations at the Shannopin Country Club, where she will engage with other service-minded individuals. She will also gain valuable professional training and mentorship throughout the year.

The selection process for Junior Rotarian is both rigorous and competitive, involving a detailed application, a formal interview with members of the North Boroughs Rotary Club, and a recommendation from a school official. Mr. Stuart Benson served as the Rotary interviewer, and Mrs. Kelly Winovich, who coordinates Rotary activities at Northgate, provided her recommendation.

The North Boroughs Rotary Club has a long-standing relationship with the Northgate High School Concert Choir and continues to support student enrichment opportunities. As part of their commitment, the Club graciously covers all costs associated with Zoe’s participation at Shannopin Country Club events, offering students access to a wealth of experiences and leadership development.

Zoe Russell’s selection as Junior Rotarian highlights the powerful impact of community partnerships and the bright future of student leaders committed to service.

In 2021, Northgate School District joined the League of Innovative Schools (The League), a national network of school districts that connects and supports the nation’s most forward-thinking leaders in education. The League is dedicated to innovative learning and leadership practices to achieve equitable outcomes for every student. One key way superintendents and district leaders realize such innovation and change is through the League Learning Collaboratives (LLCs). 

The 2025-26 LLCs focus on pressing topics in education, including AI literacy, career readiness and workforce development, and educator recruitment and retention. League leaders choose the learning collaborative in which they want to participate based on their district’s needs and interests and meet regularly to engage in peer-to-peer learning, co-create solutions, and share best practices. Northgate is specifically participating in the Educator Recruitment and Retention LLC to listen, learn, and contribute alongside educational leaders to identify solutions to the challenges of recruitment and retention of teachers and school staff. Through collaboration, the district hopes to identify specific strategies to ensure Northgate has a supportive district-wide culture to attract the very best teacher candidates and continually inspire staff to serve every student with compassion, care, and a passion for learning.  

“We are very appreciative of the League of Innovative Schools offering this professional learning opportunity.  Teacher recruitment and retention is a challenge for everyone, and it impacts the quality of the education programming we are able to offer our students.  Having our district participate in this opportunity allows us to hear innovative ideas and engage in dialogue with some of the most forward-thinking districts in the country,” said Northgate Superintendent, Dr. Caroline Johns. 

Organized by Digital Promise and facilitated by current or former superintendents with extensive experience in these focus areas, LLCs provide an interactive space for school district leaders across roles to discuss and explore tangible strategies for addressing shared problems of practice around these key issues. Each collaborative centers on a topic directly aligned to the Digital Promise Challenge Map—areas nationally identified as critical for student success. 

“Education leaders regularly face new evolving challenges that directly impact teaching and learning,” said Tasia King, network learning experience designer at Digital Promise. “Continuous learning opportunities that directly address those big issues, like the learning opportunities offered through the LLCs, give district leaders the insights and tools to tackle those challenges and foster innovation throughout their districts.”

Over the next six months, Northgate will join other leading districts across the nation to explore challenges, share promising practices, and collaborate toward meaningful, common goals. These professional learning communities provide a supportive space to gain new ideas, receive accountability for implementation, and strengthen the impact of the network by fostering innovation and accelerating growth. 

Through the LLCs, Northgate can contribute to a national community of practice while bringing back tested strategies, leadership insights, and tangible outputs that can be applied to strengthen our schools and directly benefit our students and educators.

In all, school and district leaders from 61 school districts across 19 states will participate in one or more learning collaboratives for the 2025-26 school year. 
 
For more information on the League of Innovative Schools’s League Learning Collaboratives and a full list of district participants, visit: digitalpromise.org/initiative/league-of-innovative-schools/league-learning-collaboratives/. 

Northgate families are invited to attend a series of small-group conversations with Dr. Johns focused on school safety. These informal sessions are designed to share information, answer questions and hear directly from parents and guardians about their thoughts and concerns related to student safety.

Discussion topics will include best practices in school safety, safety measures specific to Northgate, crisis communications, what we can and cannot say, and time for open Q&A. Each session will be kept small to encourage open dialogue and meaningful participation.

Our first meetings will be held on Monday, October 6, at 7:30 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. in the Central Office. Additional sessions are scheduled for October 17 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., October 22 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., October 24 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., October 27 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and November 3 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. All meetings will take place in the Central Office.

Additional dates may be added to ensure all interested families have the opportunity to participate. To RSVP, please contact Laureen Dowd at laureen.dowd@northgatesd.net.

We look forward to working together to support the safety and well-being of all students at Northgate.

This year, Northgate School District launched an exciting new partnership with The Music Note, a community-based music school known for its high-quality instruction and student-centered approach. At the heart of this collaboration is Christopher Brewer, founder and director of The Music Note, who is now bringing his passion and expertise directly into the classroom as the new high school choir director at Northgate.

Founded to provide accessible, high-caliber music education to students of all ages and experience levels, The Music Note offers instruction in all styles of voice and a wide range of instruments, from harp and strings to percussion and piano. Its students consistently excel at the regional, national and even international levels. But for Brewer, music education goes far beyond competition.

"As a music educator, my mission is to nurture each student’s unique potential through a balance of technical training, creative expression, and performance opportunities. I aim to make music accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful—helping students build lifelong skills in musicianship, discipline, and artistry. At the heart of my work is the belief that music has the power to connect people, foster community, and inspire personal growth," Brewer said.

The partnership with Northgate began when Superintendent Dr. Caroline Johns identified a need to refresh and strengthen the district’s music program. Recognizing The Music Note’s reputation for excellence, she reached out with a vision to bring high-quality, standards-aligned instruction to more students.

“What sparked the collaboration was a shared commitment: Dr. Johns’ vision for revitalizing music at Northgate and The Music Note’s mission to make music accessible, meaningful, and relevant to every student,” Brewer said.

Together, The Music Note and Northgate are working to create a program that not only meets requirements but also inspires students, gives them access to high-quality music instruction and strengthens the role of the arts within the school community.

Since stepping into the role of high school choir director, Brewer has focused on creating a supportive, skill-building environment for students, some of whom were unfamiliar with the new expectations at first.

“Over time, though, they’ve come to see that these changes are designed to support them, give them stronger skills, and open more opportunities in music,” he said. “My goal is to build a program where every student feels proud of their growth, whether that’s learning healthy vocal technique, gaining confidence on stage, or preparing for college and career opportunities in the arts.”

The partnership is also impacting younger students. The Music Note educators are now teaching a 5th and 6th grade piano course, designed to introduce foundational music literacy skills like note reading, rhythm, and harmony.

"By learning to read notes, recognize intervals, and understand patterns on the keyboard, students build music literacy skills that transfer directly into ensemble settings,” Brewer said. “When students come into band or choir already confident with the basics of music reading, it raises the overall level of both groups—allowing more time for musical expression, ensemble skills, and higher-level repertoire."

This proactive approach helps equip students with the tools they need to thrive as well-rounded musicians in every ensemble they join.

From realigning curriculum with national music standards to introducing new instructional strategies and strengthening technical skill development, The Music Note is helping Northgate reimagine what music education can be. The goal isn’t just higher performance levels, it’s about building a comprehensive, engaging program that supports every student, from their first note to their final performance.

"By collaborating closely with Northgate’s staff, we are creating a program that is both rigorous and engaging, raising expectations while fostering a love of music across the school."

As the program evolves, Brewer is energized by the direction it's heading.

"What excites me most about the future of music education in this district is the momentum we’re building toward a stronger, more unified program that supports students at every level,” Brewer said. “I’m excited about the growth we’re already seeing and the opportunity to keep shaping a program where every student, regardless of background or experience, can find their place and succeed in music.”

With vision, collaboration, and a renewed focus on student growth, music is becoming a vibrant and unifying force in the Northgate community, and it’s only the beginning.

Northgate School District will be holding its Open House on Thursday, September 11. Families are invited to visit the schools, meet their child’s teachers and see first-hand the learning environment where students spend their day. Elementary Open House will take place from 5-7 p.m., and MS/HS Open House will run from 6-8 p.m. We look forward to welcoming all families to kick off a great school year!

Arts Greenhouse Presents: Stories of Us! We're excited to invite all Northgate students in grades 5-8 to join us for our fall Arts Greenhouse program starting next Tuesday, Sept. 9. Activities include graphic novels, sculpting, drawing and painting and even a mural day! Use the QR code below to sign up. We hope to see you there!

The final deadline to enroll in the Spanish/French Club Spring Break Trip to Europe is rapidly approaching this fall. Don't miss out on the travel opportunity of a lifetime. Sign up by September 15 to receive a $100 discount. If you have any questions, stop by room 213 during the Northgate MSHS Open House on September 11, 2025 to speak with Mr. Bichko.

Odyssey of the Mind is now forming teams for students in grades 1-12. Registration is open and will close on Sunday, September 7. Click here to register. 

Odyssey of the Mind is an international, team-based creativity competition and Northgate Odyssey is the local, parent-run organization that operates this school-sponsored activity in the Northgate School District. More information can be found on our website and on the Odyssey of the Mind website.

As always, we are looking for parent-volunteers to serve as coaches at all grade levels. Remember, teams are capped at 7 students, so we can only run as many teams as we have coaches. Please spread the word to help us find coaches. (Note: Coaches are volunteers. There was an email from the district about a paid coaching position at the MS/HS, but it is one coaching position only at the MS/HS and is offered first to teachers & staff.)

If you have questions, we are hosting 2 informational, questions & answer sessions via Zoom: https://sru.zoom.us/j/96127691981 

· Tuesday, September 2 from 7-8pm

· Wednesday, September 3 from 8-9pm

Have questions? Email northgateodyssey@gmail.com.

We want to inform you of a recent change to the school calendar regarding our scheduled 2-hour delay days. The Northgate School Board approved adjustments to better align these delay days with the end of academic quarters.

Please update your calendars with the following new 2-hour delay dates: 

• New Date: October 27, 2025 (previously September 24)
• New Date: January 20, 2026 (previously October 31)
• New Date: March 20, 2026 (previously March 4)

The updated calendar has been posted to our district website here, and we will also send reminder messages prior to each revised date to help you plan ahead.

Thank you for your continued support and flexibility.