Announcements
Contribute to the Spring Communicator
We need your help with the spring issue of the Communicator.
We are looking for contributions for the March | April Communicator magazine.
Students, we would love to publish your:
- Artwork
- Poetry
- Stories
- First-person reflections on Colfax, Pittsburgh, favorite spring activities, and so on
- Photography
- Anything else!
Please include your name as you would like it printed and your grade level.
Families, please share your positive reflections and experiences engaging with Colfax. To those who have balanced plates of hot dogs and coats while their children ran around the gym at movie night, or bounced in a jumpy castle at the Carnival, or sat quietly as their child sorted sticks at the school garden, we would love to feature your thoughts. And if there are photos, even better.
All submissions can be emailed to beeschindler@gmail.com by the close of February 2025.
Parent Gala Tickets go on sale March 10
Join us for Movie Night - Friday, Feb 7
Join us for Urban Air Spirit Night - February 19, 4 – 8pm
Join us for a fun fundraiser night at Urban Air. Tickets must be purchased at Urban Air in person during the day of the event (online tickets are not included in fundraiser). When you purchase your tickets, you must say you are there for Colfax’s Spirit Night. Socks are not included in price, so bring any Urban Air socks you may already have or purchase some there.
Winter Issue of the Colfax Communicator
Student submissions, PTO events. Cobra C.A.R.E.S, Community spotlights, and more!
Colfax Directory Updates
Submit your updates by January 19.
We will be publishing a new version of the Colfax Family Directory to include our newest families and any updates from current families. If your student joined midyear, or you weren’t able to submit your information in the fall, this is your opportunity to be included.
To submit your family’s information, please fill out this form by January 19.
The updated directory will be distributed via email by the end of month.
Questions? Please contact communications@colfaxpto.org.
Next PSCC/PTO Meeting: January 15
PSCC: 5-6pm / PTO: 6-7pm
The Annual Ask Drive has arrived!
Please help us reach our goal of $25,000!
Colfax Family Fun Run
Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 10am / Blue Slide Playground
Sarris Candies Fundraiser
Through November 18
The annual Sarris Candy fundraiser will open November 4 and close November 18. Students will receive order forms in their homerooms by November 1. (You can also download the order form here.)
All orders are due back to your child’s homeroom teacher no later than Wednesday, November 20. All proceeds from this fundraiser are used to support students attending the 2025 End of the Year Middle Level Trip. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Spirit Wear now on sale – October 14 – 28
School Picture Days - October 9 and 10
Parent-Teacher Conferences – October 14
No school
Join us for Movie Night on Friday, October 25
At Colfax / Doors open at 4:30pm / Movies start at 5pm
Register for Movie Night Preorder Pizza
Upcoming PTO Activities
Updated Nov 14, 2024
All activities are free to attend.
- Saturday, Oct 19: Playground Meetup @ Wightman Park
- Friday, Oct 25: Movie Night @ Colfax*
- Saturday, Nov 9: Playground Meetup @ Mellon
- Wednesday, Nov 13: Next PTO Meeting
- Sunday, Nov 24: 2nd Annual Fun Run*
*Volunteer Assistance Needed!
Join us September 25 for Fall Fest 2024
The event will now take place in the gym due to the weather.
September 25, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
Homeroom Reps Needed
The PTO is seeking homeroom representatives for all classes. Homeroom Rep duties can include:
- creating a class list of family email addresses
- emailing/forwarding important info to families
- staying in contact with the homeroom teacher
- coordinating homeroom teacher's needs (i.e. supplies, volunteer needs, field trips, class parties, snacks)
- coordinating teacher gifts before the winter break and for Teacher Appreciation Week
- and more!
Interested in volunteering to help foster community in your child's classroom and the greater Colfax family? Click on the signup button below.
Questions or concerns?
Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Ingram, at volunteers@colfaxpto.org.
A Message from the PTO President
Hello, new and returning Colfax families!
Summer is over, and another school year is here. It's going to be a great one! I'm glad to serve as PTO President again, and I have been working hard with the new and returning PTO Board volunteers to plan a terrific year for us.
If you are new to the Colfax PTO mailing list — welcome! I'm so glad you signed up for these weekly emails, and I hope to see you at some of our upcoming events.
Stay tuned for information on:
- Spiritwear (Colfax merchandise) — this year all students will receive a free t-shirt, but we will continue to sell additional items as a fundraiser.
- Student/Family Directory
- Cobra CARES — new PTO program to provide assistance to Colfax families in need
- Colfax Communicator — Quarterly magazine (thanks to Bee Schindler for taking this on!)
- Fall Fest — mark your calendar for Wed 9/25 and contact events@colfaxpto.org if you'd like to volunteer!
- Movie Nights
- Ice Skating
- Playground Meetups
- and PTO meetings every other month (first one 9/11!)
This year brings a lot of change to Colfax. We saw many teachers retire at the end of last school year and some others leave for different schools.
Please help welcome our new teachers:
- Dionna Spencer (K-4 Assistant Principal)
- Marshall Medrano (5-8 School Counselor)
- Emily Byrne (Speech)
- Daniel Gigler (Gym)
- Claire Kushner (Music)
- Sandrina Pullie (3rd Grade)
- Matthew Binger (4th/5th Grade Math)
- Madison Madine (6th Grade Math)
- Emily Duque (7th Grade Math)
There is a lot of uncertainty about the future of Colfax K-8 under the proposed new Facilities Plan for Pittsburgh Public Schools. Please be sure to carefully read the information the district has been and will be sending — Colfax WILL be affected by the changes they are proposing. (more info)
As always, your feedback is important to me! Please reach out to me at president@colfaxpto.org to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions!
Sincerely,
Kelly Anderson
Your Colfax PTO President
Join us at a Playground Meetup
Meet other families and build community
- Free, fun, snacks!
- Rain or shine
- No need to RSVP, just show up.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
3:00pm – 4:30pm
Blue Slide Park
Saturday, October 19, 2024
1:00pm – 3:30pm
Wightman Park
Saturday, November 9, 2024
10:00am – 11:30am
Mellon Park
Questions?
Contact Kelly Anderson at 412-613-3816 or president@colfaxpto.org
Facilities Utilization Recommendation & August School Board Hearing
Last week, PPS consultants presented recommended building utilization scenarios to the Board and the community at large. One of their recommendations for East/Central schools was to make Colfax K-8 into a 6-8 school and Greenfield K-8 into a K-5 school. Current Colfax K-5 students would attend Greenfield, Minadeo, or possibly Liberty, which will become a new neighborhood school in Shadyside. Proposed Attendance Zones are supposed to be revealed in September.
https://www.pghschools.org/about/superintendent-of-schools/facilities-utilization-plan-new
If you have comments or concerns about this recommendation, we encourage you to provide feedback to the district. There are several ways to do this:
- Attend and speak at the Public Hearing of the PPS School Board on Monday, August 26, 6:00pm in the Oakland administrative office. In person speaking slots of 3 minutes or less. You must register by noon Monday 8/26:
https://pghboe.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3l0voKQUjcvUZka - Attend one of the four Community Engagement Events, all from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. (See Flyer below for location information):
- Tuesday, August 27
- Tuesday, September 3
- Wednesday, September 4
- Thursday, September 5
- Fill out the Let's Talk form to provide any feedback on the preliminary recommendations. (Select "Facilities Utilization Plan" under "Trending Topics") https://www.pghschools.org/about/contacting-the-district/contact-us
- Email our school board representative Yael Silk directly at ysilk1@pghschools.org
