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Excellence Newsletter 🦅 Keystone Oaks School District, February 2026

Posted Date: 02/06/26 (12:14 PM)
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Excellence Newsletter

A monthly publication that highlights excellence throughout the Keystone Oaks School District

February 6, 2026
  • Elementary Schools Renovation Project: Contract approved for new windows and exterior doors 🏫
  • Six students perform as part of the PMEA District 1 Senior High Orchestra Festival 🎻
  • Kick Off to Kindergarten: Join us on March 5 to lear about Keystone Oaks' kindergarten program 🖍️
  • Celebrating Success: Recognizing the accomplishments of Keystone Oaks' winter sports athletes 🦅
  • Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors: Upcoming meetings and January's noteworthy actions ✅
 

Elementary Schools Renovation Project: Contract approved for new windows and exterior doors

At the January meeting, the Board of School Directors approved the bid and contract from Walter Mucci Construction Company Inc. for general construction for exterior improvements to Fred L. Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue elementary schools. The amount of the contract is $3,670,500 and includes new windows and exterior doors for all three buildings. Work is expected to begin this spring. 

The new windows and exterior doors are the first project for the first phase of the elementary schools building renovation project. This phase is estimated to cost $15 million and additional projects will include: 
  • HVAC system upgrades that will improve comfort and air quality
  • Roof repairs to ensure safe and efficient learning environments
  • New playground equipment and surfaces at Dormont and Fred L. Aiken Elementary Schools. Myrtle Avenue Elementary’s playground will be renovated at a later date, as that building is expected to undergo other significant changes. 

More information about the project is available on the district’s new dedicated Elementary Building Renovation Project webpage. 
Exterior view of Fred L. Aiken Elementary School, part of the Elementary Schools Renovation Project.
 
Six young people in formal attire stand in front of a blue banner for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.

Six students perform as part of the PMEA District 1 Senior High Orchestra Festival

Congratulations to senior bassoon player Lucy Brooke, junior horn player Andreh De La Torre, senior violin player Kada Lamonde, senior trombone player Cailyn Lockhart, senior bass player Kate Moore, and junior cello player Aura Petraitis, who performed as part of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association's District 1 Senior High Orchestra Festival in late January. 

This year's festival was under the direction of Dr. Rotem Weinberg, Director of Orchestral Activities at West Virginia University. These six students earned their chairs in the District 1 Senior High Orchestra Festival through competitive auditions that were held in the fall.

Additionally, based on their successful auditions, Lucy and Andreh were selected to represent District 1 in the upcoming Western Region Orchestra Festival, which will consist of musicians from western half of the state. 

We are #KOProud of our students and music teachers Mr. Smith and Mr. Eibeck for their hard work, dedication, and success!
 
Keystone Oaks School District invites you to a Kindergarten Kickoff event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 6 PM at Dormont Elementary School.

Kick Off to Kindergarten: Join us on March 5 to learn about Keystone Oaks' kindergarten program

The Keystone Oaks School District is excited to welcome the newest Golden Eagles - the Class of 2039 - to Keystone Oaks!

Parents and guardians of children who will be entering kindergarten at the start of the 2026-2027 school year are invited to attend Keystone Oaks’ Kick Off to Kindergarten event on Thursday, March 5, 2026, beginning at 6 p.m. at Dormont Elementary School.

Any child who lives in Castle Shannon, Dormont, or Green Tree who will be five years old by September 1, 2026 is eligible to begin kindergarten this year.


By attending, parents/guardians will learn about:
  • The kindergarten registration process
  • The kindergarten transition plan for the 2026-2027 school year
  • The District’s full day kindergarten program and information on students’ daily routines

We look forward to seeing you there! 
 

Celebrating Success: Recognizing the accomplishments of Keystone Oaks' winter sports athletes

As the regular season for winter sports comes to an end, we would like to recognize the following athletes and teams for their success: 
  • Congratulations to Keystone Oaks gymnast Sydney Maegle who qualified for the WPIAL Gymnastics Bronze Invitational. Sydney competed at the Monaca Turners on Thursday, February 5. 
  • Varsity boys basketball player Erond Jakupi scored his 1,000th career point this season. 
  • Varsity girls basketball player Nina DeWeese was named a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Week in early December. 
  • The varsity wrestling team qualified for the WPIAL AA team playoffs and faced Bentworth in late January. 
  • The Keystone Oaks varsity basketball, swimming and diving, wrestling and bocce teams, as well as the Bishop Canevin varsity hockey team, celebrated 27 senior students athletes with special ceremonies. Congratulations to these soon-to-be Keystone Oaks graduates! 
An image collage showing six photos of athletic teams recognizing seniors.
 
A boardroom with a long table, chairs, and cups, featuring text 'Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors Update'.

Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors: Upcoming meetings and January's noteworthy actions

The Board of School Directors will hold its February Work Session Meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The Business/Legislative Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Board Room. Agendas are posted online 24 hours prior to the meeting. 

The Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors took the following noteworthy actions at its January meeting: 
  • The 2026-2027 Programs of Study were approved for both Keystone Oaks Middle School and Keystone Oaks High School. 
  • The Board approved the bid and contract from Walter Mucci Construction Company Inc. for general construction for exterior improvements to Fred L. Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue elementary schools. The amount of the contract is $3,670,500 and includes new windows and exterior doors for all three buildings.

The following Board Committee meetings are scheduled in February:
  • Education Committee - Monday, February 23 | 6 p.m. | Professional Development Center
  • Budget & Finance and Buildings, Grounds & Transportation Committees - Tuesday, February 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Board Room

Keystone Oaks School District

Excellence in engaging, empowering, and enriching today for tomorrow’s expectations


[Friday, Feb 6 at 2:38 PM]
Good afternoon!

The link in the original newsletter for the information about the Elementary Schools Renovation Project on the district website was incorrect. Please use this link - https://dormontelementaryschool.kosd.org/93593_1

There is also a tab at the top of the homepage for each elementary school.

We apologize for any confusion.