North Hills Teachers Create Online Social Studies Textbook

Here are some of the things happening in the North Hills School District you may not know about:

• NHSD Teachers First in Area to Create Online Textbook for NHSD Social Studies Course – Over the summer, a handful of teachers created a social studies textbook for use on tablets and smartphones. The online version serves as the main textbook for an NHSD history class. To my knowledge, we are the first in the area to implement something of this nature created by our own teachers. It was customized to meet and exceed state standards for social studies and includes interactive quizzes for each section. In addition, the book can be read aloud to students with special needs and students can digitally highlight and take notes in it. As well students and parents can download it to their personal devices.

• Weekend Backpack Program Needs Donations – Our weekend backpack program has returned for its second year and we are in need of donations to keep it going. This year, students are packing approximately 100 bags of food each weekend for their fellow students to ensure that everyone receives the nutrition they require over the weekend. This program was conceived by our teachers and students to fill a legitimate need in our community.

• Academic Academies a First in the Area – NHSD is the first district in the area to create six career-specific academies for our senior high students, so that they can get a jumpstart on future careers. The academies include Arts and Communication, Business and Finance, Engineering, Law and Government, Medicine and World Affairs. We hope to garner community partnerships with area businesses to allow students hands-on experience in their chosen field as well as a potential to earn college credit and scholarships. Many districts have STEM or STEAM academies, but we are the only ones to offer options beyond the sciences.

• New Online Student Newspaper at Ross Elementary – For the first time, students at Ross Elementary will be putting out a school paper. Students will be performing all tasks related to their publication. They are being advised by a parent, who also is a member of the local media with firsthand experience to share with students. In the interest of the environment and fiscal responsibility, students also have decided to make the newspaper online only. 

• NHSD Utilizes Instagram – North Hills School District now is on Instagram with the username of north_hills. We are one of the first districts inAllegheny County to utilize this popular, social media application available on most smartphones and tablets. Utilizing Instagram allows the district another cost-effective forum to share photos and information directly with our students, parents, staff and community members. 

- Submitted by Amanda S.F. Hartle on behalf of the North Hills School District. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Richard Cook at Richard.Cook@Patch.com.