Following a school year that was impacted by health and safety guidelines, Keystone Oaks teachers and students soared to new heights during the 2021-2022 school year, earning awards, receiving recognitions, and reaching new academic milestones. In addition to these honors, Keystone Oaks students and staff continued to give back to the community by hosting and participating a variety of fundraising events. You can read about those initiatives below.
To read about the academic, artistic and athletic accomplishments from the 2021-2022 school year, please use the following links:
Dormont Elementary School fifth grade class donates $2,300 to Brothers Brother Foundation
As part of their end-of-year celebration, Dormont Elementary School's 5th grade class presented the Brothers Brother Foundation with a $2,300 donation, which the students raised through their KO Koffee Stand and other fundraisers throughout the year that supported the students' Legacy Project.
In April, the students planned the KO Koffee Stand in conjunction with the Dormont Elementary School PFO's "Walk Your Child to School Day" Scholastic Book Fair sidewalk sale. The students coordinated all aspects of the coffee stand, from securing donations, to setting pricing, to operating the stand the morning of the event, to deciding to donate the proceeds to Brothers Brother Foundation to support their humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. In a one-hour before-school event, students raised $800!
The students then decided to combine the proceeds from their coffee stand fundraiser with the proceeds from other fundraisers that had been held throughout the year to further support Brothers Brother Foundation.
Golden Elves Holiday Giving Program raises $5,000 to benefit Keystone Oaks families
The 2021 Golden Elves Holiday Giving Program received more than $5,000 in monetary contributions, gift card donations, and through specific wishlist items that were fulfilled - in addition to donations of non-perishable food items and other gifts that were donated. This support allowed the district to assist 39 families, including 81 children, during the holiday season.
The donations for this year's program included:
- $900 in Giant Eagle gift cards and dozens of toys, donated by Green Tree business owner Daniel Minnicks and his clients at Apex Performance Integration.
- More than $2,700 in contributions for gift baskets for each family, which were coordinated by Rebecca Lukens and local non-profit organization @Bridges 365, Inc.
- Monetary and gift card donations, which allowed the District to provide families with a $25 Target gift card for each child, totaling $1,825.
- Donations to the food drive, and additional support from a Castle Shannon resident, provided each family with two reusable grocery bags filled with non-perishable meal items.
- Keystone Oaks graduate Sam Groesch fulfilled the wishlists of three District families, providing nearly $2,000 worth of gift cards, household items, clothing and other gift requests.
- Mrs. Manko and the Middle School Environmental Club for sorted food donations and packed bags of non-perishable food items. Mr. Kirchner and the High School Math Club purchased several wishlist items.
- Significant monetary contributions from Extended Day Services, the Dormont Elementary PFO, and the Keystone Oaks Middle School PFO.
St. Baldrick's Head-Shaving Event
On March 17, Fred L. Aiken Elementary School held its 12th Annual Head Shaving Event to benefit St. Baldrick's Foundation and to support child cancer research. This year, 18 students, staff members, and parents raised more than $15,000. Participants included two female third grade students, who donated their hair to Locks of Love, and a 5th grade student who raised nearly $3,000 this year, bringing his six year total to more than $10,000.
Supply Drive to Support DTCare's Humanitarian Relief Efforts in Ukraine
Through the generosity of Keystone Oaks students, staff and families, the District was able to fill two shipping containers of hygiene supplies to support Pittsburgh-based nonprofit DTCare and their humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.