Former Shady Side Middle School To Be Repurposed for National Aviary
Pittsburgh’s National Aviary, the country’s largest and most prestigious facility of its kind, announced earlier this year a plan to create a brand new facility thanks to local benefactor S. Kent Rockwell. This will be an addition to the aviary’s other area facilities.
The estimated $17 million National Aviary SK Rockwell Conservancy will have a veterinary teaching hospital, an avian breeding and conservation center, an education center and more. It will not be open to the public every day, but educational programming will be offered and the work that is done at the aviary will benefit the public for decades to come.
“While hundreds of thousands of annual visitors and online followers recognize the National Aviary as a cultural gem, few realize our global leadership in avian conservation through ecological research, husbandry, education and groundbreaking health care advancements,” says Cheryl Tracy, executive director of the National Aviary. “Avian medicine is underrepresented in the veterinary field, and our new facility will further equip students, wildlife rehabilitators and researchers with cutting-edge tools to address the most pressing challenges facing birds worldwide.”
Though the building will not be open for public tours, your child can definitely pitch the idea to their teachers or administration as a field trip! According to a Pittsburgh Magazine article shared on aviary.org, the project is slated for a 2027 opening.
The property as it stands now is the former Shady Side Academy Middle School at 100 Benedum Lane in Fox Chapel. S. Kent Rockwell is funding the purchase and renovation of the property. He is the CEO of Pittsburgh-based Rockwell Venture Capital.
Better Parking, Efficiencies Coming to Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh is a great place to fly out of— just ask anyone who has tried to depart airports in Chicago, New York, Denver or even Philadelphia on a moderately busy day. However, officials in the Steel City are interested in making it even better. Per Pittsburgh Quarterly, the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) is looking to create a new $1.57 billion behemoth of a renovation to the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) that would include a new terminal, expanded parking, more efficient baggage checking and TSA lines and areas for family and friends to gather while they wait for arrivals.
The renovations should be completed during 2025, according to the ACAA. For Pittsburgh parents, that means that PIT may become an even better place to fly from with kids, sooner rather than later. Particularly notable is the promise of more efficient baggage dropoff and pickup.Instead of settling in to watch a conveyor belt for an hour after a long trip, you can grab bags quickly and trot off to the car. Not so bad, huh?
As for the time you actually do have to spend in the terminal, that’s only as tolerable as your kids make it! Luckily, there are some good food options coming to PIT with the expansion that might buy you a half hour before your kids ask when you board again. Check out the brand new Jimmy John’s, Shake Shack, Cafe Conmigo, Convive Coffee, Mineo’s Pizza and more later this year.
Nominate a School Employee for the National RISE Award
If you know an unsung hero at a local school who is not a teacher, listen up! The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is now accepting nominations for the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award, a national distinction that honors non-teaching staff who make a difference in their school from pre-K through high school.
To be eligible, an employee must be part- or full-time non-teaching staff, which can include paraprofessionals, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services and skilled trades.
Submit a nomination by filling out a form online via PDE by June 30.
Local education agencies, school administrators, professional associations, labor
organizations, educational service agencies, nonprofit entities and parents and students can submit nominations.
“School employees—whether teachers, librarians, custodians, counselors or paraprofessionals—play a critical role in the health, well-being and development of young learners,” Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe says in a news release. “Pennsylvania is proud to recognize the individuals who dedicate their time and care to their communities, and we encourage schools across the Commonwealth to nominate an exemplary professional who is making a difference.”
