Newsroom

In Pennsylvania high school track and field, there are only two classifications: 2A and 3A. Our Avonworth/Northgate co-op program now competes at the highest class; 3A. It's a tall order to qualify for WPIAL Championships, as they only take the top 24 in each event. From there, medaling (top 8) is even harder. And qualifying for states? That’s reserved for the very best of the best. However, Our kids still brought the thunder to the biggest schools in western PA!

The boys 4x100m relay, with members Zion Ward and Savian Baptiste, came into the meet seeded 11th and proceeded to grab 6th place medals and broke a 10 year-old program record! Their time came extremely close to the state qualifying standard, missing by just 0.05 seconds. Still, the performance marked a major accomplishment on the biggest stage.

In the girls 4x400m relay, Hope Stiteler and her teammates arrived seeded 21st—well outside medal range. But that didn’t stop them. They finished 8th overall, claiming a spot on the podium and logging the 7th fastest time in program history. Unfortunately, they did not hit the state qualifying standard.

The last event of the day was the boys 4x400m relay. Seeded 12th, the boys relay squad; Tyler Harold, Will Smith and Savian Baptiste needed not only a top 8 finish, but also to hit the state qualifying standard of 3:24.03 in order to punch their tickets to states. To do it, they’d have to shave nearly two seconds off the program record and because of their seed, they would not be able to battle in the same heat against the top 8 seeds.

Nonetheless, the boys dominated their heat and finished in 6th place with a time of 3:23.47 and a ticket to the PIAA State Championships. Only powerhouse programs like Butler, Moon, Penn Trafford, Norwin and North Allegheny placed higher schools with far larger athlete pools.

The Northgate School District is proud to announce Qualisha Zyhier as the new principal of Bellevue Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025.

Ms. Zyhier comes to us from Pittsburgh Public Schools, where she currently serves as principal of Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5. With nearly 20 years of experience in education and school leadership, she brings a deep commitment to student success, which aligns perfectly with our vision: “Students First and Foremost.”

Since 2021, Ms. Zyhier has served as an elementary principal in Pittsburgh. Prior to her leadership at Dilworth, she was the assistant principal at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8. Before moving to Pittsburgh, she spent 14 years in Virginia, including four years as an assistant principal in both Chesterfield County Public Schools and Richmond Public Schools.

Ms. Zyhier began her educational career as a long-term substitute in Henrico County Public Schools. Over the course of 10 years, she held several roles there, including special education teacher, Middle School International Baccalaureate science teacher, girls basketball coach and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) coach.

"My commitment to the philosophy of 'Maslow’s before Bloom’s' has consistently driven both academic achievement and social-emotional growth throughout my career,” Zyhier said. “I firmly believe that joy is the catalyst for success and am excited to join the Bellevue community, eager to collaborate with staff and build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessor, Dr. Amick. Passionate about sparking joy in learning, I am dedicated to fostering collaborative, culturally rich environments that honor, elevate, and celebrate the unique brilliance of every child."

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Connecticut State University, Master of Arts in School Principalship from Central Michigan University and is currently working to get her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh.

Please join us in extending a warm Northgate welcome to Ms. Zyhier as she brings her experience and leadership in education to Bellevue Elementary and our entire Northgate community.

Northgate High School students will be taking the PA Keystone Exams beginning on Monday, May 12. The schedule for the exams is:

Algebra - Monday and Tuesday May 12 and 13

Literature - Wednesday and Thursday May 14 and 15

Biology - Wednesday and Thursday May 21 and 22

All students and parents have been notified of the specific exams the student is scheduled to take. 

Northgate High School will operate on a Two-Hour delay schedule on test days.  Students scheduled to test are expected to report to school on their test days by 8:00 a.m. and students not scheduled to test are to report at 10:00 a.m.

Middle School students will follow a regular schedule and should report to school at 8:00 a.m.

We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to create a supportive environment for our students as they complete the required State exams.

The Avalon Kindness Club presents Entrepreneur Night! Join us Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Avalon Elementary. Our students will be selling a variety of creative, handmade items priced between $1.00 and $5.00. We hope to see you there!

Students from Mrs. Tusick’s Entrepreneurship class showcased their strong business skills at the recent Startable Pitch Competition, organized by Innovation Works, with two student teams earning top honors and a combined total of $3,000 in cash prizes.

Team Surge, comprised of Bayleigh Hooper, Kaden Kemp, and Abby Trimble, stood out with their innovative concept and polished presentation. The team captured 1st place in Innovation, 2nd place in Design, and 2nd place in Presentation, earning a total of $2,000 in prizes. Their performance demonstrated a strong blend of creativity, technical skill, and effective communication.

Also representing the class was Team L&N Health, made up of Nia Townsel and Lenniyah Davis, who earned the prestigious Trailblazer Award, along with $1,000 in cash prizes. This award recognized their forward-thinking approach and commitment to solving real-world problems in the health and wellness space.

The competition, part of Innovation Works’ Startable program, empowers young entrepreneurs to bring their business ideas to life through mentorship, workshops, and pitch opportunities. The success of both teams is a testament to the dedication of the students and the support of Mrs. Tusick’s entrepreneurship curriculum.

Congratulations to all the students who competed, and especially to Teams Surge and L&N Health, for their outstanding achievements and entrepreneurial spirit!

Congratulations to our outstanding A.W. Beattie students on their achievements at the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA and FCCLA competitions.

Cassidy Auth earned a gold medal in the Promotional Bulletin Board category and will advance to the national SkillsUSA competition this June in Atlanta, Georgia.

Anisten Jackson received a silver medal in Extemporaneous Speaking.

A.W. Beattie students were also awarded three of the four statewide Rex Wright Memorial Scholarships, presented by the PA Youth Foundation. These scholarships range from $750 to $1,500. We’re proud to share that Cassidy Auth is one of the recipients.

FCCLA students had a strong showing as well, earning six state championships. Congratulations to all participants, including Northgate's Juliana Shane, who earned first place in Baking and Pastry.

We are proud of all our students for their hard work, dedication and success at the state level. Well done!

On April 8th, students from Bellevue and Avalon Elementaries had the opportunity to attend the Children’s Choice Awards at Commonwealth Charter Academy. This was an unforgettable experience for all students involved. They had the exciting opportunity to compete in a fun book competition against students from other schools, showing off their reading knowledge and teamwork skills.

A highlight of the day was an inspiring talk by the renowned author Matthew Holm, who shared insights from his writing journey and offered valuable advice to the young readers. The event concluded with a dance party and sing-along with Josh and Gab, where students celebrated their achievements and had a blast.

Between the competition, meeting fellow book lovers and enjoying the lively atmosphere, the students had a fantastic time celebrating their love of books!

This year, the 5th grade team from Bellevue Elementary School was the only team from Northgate Odyssey to advance from the regional tournament to the Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind (OM) State Finals, which took place at Pocono Mountain East High School on April 5th.

We are proud to announce that the team earned 4th place in their problem and division. They are especially excited to have set a new team record for the weight their balsa wood structure could hold. This year, their structure supported an impressive 745 lbs—surpassing their previous record of 510 lbs! To put this in perspective, their balsa wood structure weighed just 18 grams (0.63 ounces), about the same as three sheets of 8"x11" paper, yet it held the equivalent weight of a V8 engine.

In addition to their structural achievement, the team also excelled in the creativity of their skit. They portrayed an imaginary coral world where color is a vital food source, threatened by a frosty monster who covers the coral in a blanket of snow. This skit was entirely team-created, including the concept, script, costumes, and set design.

Although their Odyssey of the Mind journey for this year has come to a close, they can be incredibly proud of their outstanding performance. This marks the third consecutive year that this team has competed at the Pennsylvania State Finals.

To Northgate Middle School Parents and Families:

As we approach the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing during the weeks of April 21 and April 28, we want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of students doing their very best on these assessments. The PSSA is a valuable opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science (for 8th grade only). 

The PSSA exams will be administered on the following dates:

English Language Arts: Tuesday, April 22, Wednesday, April 23, and Friday, April 25

Mathematics: Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29

Science (Grade 8 only): Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1

We sent additional details home to families and you should be receiving this in the mail soon. The information is linked here as well.

Thank you!

Dr. Nancy Bowman, Principal

Mr. Mike Wagstaff, Assistant Principal

Join us on Saturday, May 24, 2025, for Northgate School District's Kennywood Picnic! It’s going to be a fun-filled day and we’ve got the ticket details for you.

For those attending the School Picnic on May 24th, the Early Bird Offer is available for tickets purchased by May 10th at $31.99 + Fees. After May 10th, the price will be $35.99 + Fees. If you choose to visit on another date before July 13th, you can still purchase a ticket for $37.99 + Fees but be sure to buy by June 30th.

To take advantage of these offers, use the promo codes: northgate for the May 24th picnic date or northgateflex for any other date of your choice. You can purchase tickets here. We hope to see you there!

Summer is right around the corner and it's the perfect time to sign your kids up for an unforgettable experience! Whether they're into arts, science or adventure, there's a camp for everyone.

Don't wait—spaces are filling up fast! Secure your spot today and give your child the opportunity to make lasting memories, learn new skills and have tons of fun this summer.

Northgate Odyssey had a fun and successful time at the Western PA Regional Odyssey of the Mind Tournament.

All of the Primary teams (grades 1 and 2) solved a problem in which they needed to create a skit about visiting two of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World and designing an original Wonder of their own. Many thanks to Coaches Melody Detar (AES), Jamie Ciotti (BES), and Rebecca Rukmanis (BES) for guiding our youngest participants this season.

Avalon Elementary School (AES) had a team of mostly 3rd graders, led by Coach Derek Detar, who solved the vehicle problem. The team had to design, build, and operate an all-terrain vehicle capable of transporting riders in a "race" while overcoming obstacles. This was the team’s first year participating, and they learned a lot about how to navigate this challenging problem.

AES also had a team of 4th and 5th graders, led by Coaches Sarah Outly and Val Cupps, who solved the theater/performance problem. They created a humorous skit about a team-created "historical" civilization and its legends about the stars. They were creative and on point, and should be proud of their 6th place finish, which was also their best result to date. They were in the mix among a tightly grouped top tier of teams.

Bellevue Elementary School (BES)’s only non-Primary team was the 5th grade team, which once again pursued the structure problem. Despite calamity striking when their structure, worth half of their score for the skit, was accidentally destroyed, the team rallied and quickly created something that met the problem's rigid specifications. It wasn’t pretty, but they did it. They dusted themselves off, nailed their skit, and excelled in the other parts of the competition, earning 3rd place and an invitation to compete at the State Finals. Additionally, they received a very special recognition—a OMer Award—at the award ceremony for their determination, teamwork, and perseverance.

The only thing that shined brighter than Sam Cavanaugh's two Silver Medals was his dazzling overall performance this week. Sam captured four medals, the maximum possible, at the PIAA 2A Swimming Championships, Bucknell University. Plus, with a time of 47.47 seconds in the first leg of a relay, he even broke the Northgate-Avonworth team record in the 100 Freestyle, previously held by the legendary Zach Schuster. Sam's silvers included the 200 Individual Medley (IM) and the 500 Freestyle, where he nabbed second in a wild, three-swimmer dead heat in the 20th and final length of the pool.

While Sam shone brightly, there was plenty of Northgate luster to go around, lighting the way for another impressive PIAAs showing by our swim team. Our fabulous freshmen contingent of Greyson McKelvey, JoAnn Cook, Addison Hase and Bridget Campbell sparkled throughout, with Greyson grabbing three medals and JoAnn two.

The boys' squad nailed 6th place overall out of 59 boys' teams, just ahead of Section 3 rivals Hampton and Shadyside Academy. Amazingly, five of the top eight boys' teams were from the WPIAL, which simply dominated the competition at States. Our girls came in 17th place out of 57 teams, ahead of section rival Knock and neighbor Quaker Valley. In all, our swimmers mounted the podium seven times to accept medals. Every single one of our swimmers either medaled in the Finals or placed in the Consolation Finals. And Greyson McKelvey won the 500 Free in the Consolation Finals by nearly 4 seconds!

“What a meet!!!" wrote Head Coach Ashley Vranick afterwards to the team and parents. "I am so proud of this group. They should be proud of themselves, and it was a perfect way to end a great season.”

Complete List of Medal Winners

Silver Medal: 200 IM, Sam Cavanaugh, 1:50.61

Silver Medal: 500 Free, Sam Cavanaugh, 4:34.52

5th Place Medal: 200 Free, Greyson McKelvey, 1:43.34

5th Place Medal: 200 Medley Relay, 1:38.29. Greyson McKelvey, Sam Cavanaugh, Jakob Vranick, Nate Campbell

5th Place Medal: 400 Free Relay, 3:15.94. Sam Cavanaugh, Caleb Gratner, Jakob Vranick, Greyson McKelvey

7th Place Medal: 100 Back, JoAnn Cook, 56.95

8th Place Medal: 200 Free, JoAnn Cook, 1:57.17

Consolation Finals (places 9-16)

9th Place: 500 Free, Greyson McKelvey, 4:42.60

12th Place: Girls' 200 Medley Relay, 1:53.04. JoAnn Cook, Rachel Buzzard, Clair Boughton, Bridget Campbell

15th Place: Girls' 400 Free Relay, 3:44.96. Addison Hase, Bridget Campbell, Katie Petrina, JoAnn Cook

15th Place: 500 Free, Addison Hase, 5:21.23

16th Place: Boys' 200 Free Relay, 1:33.39. Caleb Gratner, Liam Joyce, Nate Parker, Nate Campbell

Other Impressive Individual Finishes by Northgate Swimmers

22nd Place: 100 Breaststroke, Nate Parker, 1:02.08
26th Place: 500 Free, Jacob Vranick, 5:03.17

27th Place: 100 Breaststroke, Rachel Buzzard, 1:10.34

31st Place: 200 IM, Rachel Buzzard, 2:23.02

Bidding Farewell to Our Captains

We sadly bid adieu to our outstanding team captains--all seniors--Claire Boughton, Katie Petrina, Nate Campbell and Caleb Gratner. Thank you for your leadership, your kindness, your camaraderie and all your hard work! It's been a pleasure following your swimming careers and your achievements in school and the community. Best of luck always, in everything you do! 

Congratulations to all our "Flame-a-lopes," and to Coach Ashley and Assistant Coach Terry Benson, on another successful season.  As Coach Ashley wrote on the trip home, "Great job to all the swimmers.... watch out next year!"

The excitement is building as our boys' varsity basketball team is gearing up for a thrilling matchup in the PIAA State Quarterfinals! They will face off against Northwest Area High School on March 15, at 1 p.m. at West Branch High School.

Get Your Tickets

Don’t miss out on the action – secure your tickets for the game now!

Purchase Tickets Here

Game Location:

West Branch High School
444 Allport Cutoff
Morrisdale, PA 16858

Best of luck, Flames! We believe in you!