Pittsburgh Public Schools News

This evening, April 27, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. Board Member Mark Brentley, Sr. will bring forth a resolution to honor sisters Sophia Phillips Nelson, Ph.D. and Fanetta Jannie Mae Nelson Gordon.  In 1934 Sophia Phillips Nelson became the first African-American valedictorian in the history of Westinghouse High School.  After 75 years, her sister, Fannetta Nelson Gordon will officially be recognized by the District as the school’s second African-American valedictorian.  The Board’s vote tonight will recognize the academic achievements of both sisters and the academic honor of Mrs. Nelson Gordon. 

The Pittsburgh Oliver High School JROTC Unit is being honored with a DA Award on Wednesday, April 27, for receiving Honor Unit with Distinction, the U.S. Army’s highest recognition for a JROTC unit. To open the meeting, members of the Bear Battalion will conduct the Presentation of the Colors before the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pittsburgh City Council will proclaim Tuesday, April 26, as Pittsburgh CAPA Commencement Challenge Day in the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 was one of six finalists in The Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. The winner of the competition will host President Barack Obama as their commencement speaker. The winner will be chosen by rating the selected videos online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement. Rating of the top six finalists in the country will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 29. (more…)

»Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article

»Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette blog

»Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article

April 25 2011 – Cody Voye, a senior at Pittsburgh Oliver High School, was awarded an honorable mention in the 2011 International Heritage Photographic Experience (IHPE) contest. The IHPE photography competition invites young adults from around the world to create & submit images that evoke the heritage of the city and surroundings they each come from.

Cody’s photograph, Descent into Pittsburgh, relays the heritage of Pittsburgh in a bright red carriage sliding down the Duquesne incline to a snow-bound Carson Street below. In addition to the award, City officials took note of the iconic image of the landscape and have offered to purchase and display the photo on-site at the Duquesne incline.

A gallery of the Pittsburgh entrants’ work, including Cody Voye’s Descent into Pittsburgh, can be viewed here.

Friday, May 20, 2011 – Fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other adult males who have made an impact in the life of a child are welcome and encouraged to spend time with him/her at school on this day!

Please call your respective school to find out the different activities and events scheduled. (more…)

»Read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article

2006 Pittsburgh Allderdice High School graduate Sam Allen won a Pulitzer Prize for his work on the winning story “Bell”. The piece, published in the LA Times, exposed corruption in Bell, California. Mr. Allen began his career as a student reporter and editor for the Allderdice Foreword. He later served as a reporter for the UCLA Daily Bruin. He graduated from UCLA in 2010. Click here to read Mr. Allen’s piece.