District News

More than 100 Elizabeth Forward Middle and High School students gathered Wednesday night in acts of service that will impact hundreds of people in their community and beyond.

The 4th Annual Elizabeth Forward High School Night of Service drew a record total of students (107) and student organizations (nine). The event has grown from 45 students and four student organizations in the past three years.

The effort was led by Dr. Jennifer Spiegel, Student Government Association Club Sponsor, and a pair of juniors, Brookelynn McPherson and Abigail Michaels. The students said planning for the event began just after Thanksgiving last year.

“We focused on people who need help,” Brookelynn said. “We had to figure out what projects we wanted to do and what we needed to buy. It’s great to see everyone come together.”

“We started with ideas for projects that could help the community,” Abigail stated. “We didn’t have a lot of funding, but the Elizabeth Guardian Angels gave us a generous donation ($500). I was especially excited about putting together the treat bags for patients at Western Psychiatric Institute.”

In addition to the treat bags for Western Psychiatric patients, the other service projects the students worked on were:

• No-sew blankets for Ronald McDonald House
• Bags for chemotherapy patients at Hillman Cancer Center
• Thank you cards for first responders in the EF community
• Treat bags for seniors at Oasis at Elizabeth
• Hygiene packages for the pantry at Liquid Vibes
• Nursing home care packages for Riverside in McKeesport
• Candy for Cancer project.
• Food drive for Round Hill Church

The students began the evening by compiling 750 bags for Operation Troop Appreciation, out of West Mifflin. The bags will be distributed to deployed U.S. military personnel.  Elizabeth Forward SD partner GBU Life provided the snacks, hygiene and morale-boosting items, with the students compiling 250 bags in each category and loading the boxes.

In addition to the EFHS Student Government Association, the other student groups that participated in the Night of Service were:

• BRAVE Bunch
• EFMS 8^th Grade Student Council
• Future Ready Leaders
• Interact Club
• Leo Club
• National Honor Society
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
• Tri-M Music Honor Society

Elizabeth Forward School District would like to thank all the event sponsors and donors, including Elizabeth Guardian Angels and GBU, along with district staff who sponsor student clubs and the groups who partnered with event organizers. These events make the Elizabeth Forward community and its neighbors stronger, together.

The nominees for the 2026 Gene Kelly Awards were released on Wednesday, and Elizabeth Forward scored eight nominations for its production of The Prince of Egypt. The high school's production was recognized in six overall categories, including Outstanding Musical, and two individual categories.

The Prince of Egypt is an adaptation of the Oscar-winning animated film that tells the story of Ramses and Moses from Ancient Egypt, two men raised together as brothers who find themselves divided by a secret past. The Elizabeth Forward production earned nominations in the following areas (in Budget Level III):

• Outstanding Musical
• Outstanding Costume Design
• Outstanding Dance Ensemble
• Outstanding Lighting Design
• Outstanding Scenic Design
• Outstanding Vocal Ensemble
• Outstanding Student Artist: Spencer Callaghan, Student Director
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: Emerson Henry, Miriam

The Elizabeth Forward Musical Facebook page announced the nominations Wednesday afternoon, saying: "We are proud of our incredible students! Their talent, dedication, and hard work made this possible!" 

For decades, EF Theater Arts has produced exceptional work, earning its first Gene Kelly nominations in 1994 and earning numerous awards over the years. The district congratulates the entire program on their well-earned nominations, and wishes them good luck at the Gene Kelly Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 23, 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.

 

Elizabeth Forward School District will take part in a regional and worldwide celebration of learning this month. Remake Learning Days got underway on May 1, with events taking place in schools across Western Pennsylvania and beyond. Thousands of interactive events are scheduled at schools, libraries, museums, community centers, and other locations.

Here in Elizabeth Forward, each of the district's six schools will host a Remake Learning Days event:

Thursday, May 14, 9 - 10:30 a.m.

• Coding Showcase at Elizabeth Forward Middle School

Thursday, May 21, 9 - 10 a.m.

• AI Media Ethics Student Showcase at Elizabeth Forward High School

Friday, May 22, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• Central's Remake Learning Day at Central Elementary School

Friday, May 22, 10 a.m. - Noon

• Greenock STEAM Day at Greenock Elementary School

Friday, May 22, 10 a.m. - Noon

• Mt. Vernon STEAM Day at Mt. Vernon Elementary School

Friday, May 22, 9:30 - 1:30 p.m.

• William Penn Science Rodeo at William Penn Elementary School

From STEAM projects to coding - and artificial intelligence - Elizabeth Forward's activities reflect a diverse set of academically-enriching activities for students and adults alike. These free events help schools connect with their communities and show off their students skills in areas ranging from drones and robotics to the study of ethics in AI and media. 

Visit the Remake Learning website to learn more about Remake Learning Days and to access a searchable database of events taking place across the region. Elizabeth Forward School District is proud to partner with Remake Learning Days as it celebrates its 10th anniversary!

The Elizabeth Forward School District will hold its May School Board Meetings as follows:

Committee of the Whole School Board Meeting - Wednesday, May 13, 2026 -- 6:30 pm

Regular School Board Meeting -  Wednesday, May 20, 2026 -- 6:30 pm

Committee Meetings

• Athletics & Student Activities -- Monday, May 4, 2026 -- 5:30 pm
• Facilities & Transportation -- Monday, May 11, 2026 -- 5:30 pm                             

All meetings will be held in the District Offices Board Room located at 401 Rock Run Road, Elizabeth, PA 15037.

YouTube Live Stream Link

The video link will be made 'LIVE' when the Committee of the Whole and Regular meetings are ready to begin.

Rain was falling on Wednesday, but it didn’t dampen the spirits or the attitudes of Elizabeth Forward High School students gathered at R-Place Restaurant. That was especially true as they worked on a team-building exercise - some wearing blindfolds, with teammates guiding them by voice – to make tiny Play-Doh hamburgers and fries. 

The student-athletes – two from each team – are part of the Leadership Academy, led by Director Brad Killmeyer of Leadership-Development, LLC. The selective program helps students learn leadership skills; they completed a series of eight communication, school-and-team building activities throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

“It’s about showing the importance of, as leaders of their teams, they’re responsible for the culture in their organization,” said Killmeyer. “We want to give them the tools to succeed.” 

On Wednesday, students reached the end of their work, but the lessons they learned this year will stick with them in Elizabeth Forward and beyond. 

“As a leader, you want to put others before yourself, you can’t be seflish,” said Mya Morgan, a senior on the Golf Team who will attend Central Michigan University in the fall. “Working as a team is really important,” she added, even in a more individualized sport such as golf. 

Leadership lessons were bolstered by appearances throughout the year from guest speakers who spoke about everything from their accomplishments to the importance of routines and holding oneself accountable. 

For student-athletes like Swim Team Captain Bryce McLaughlin, the Leadership Academy provided newfound camaraderie. 

“I interacted with people I’m not as familiar with,” said McLaughlin. “It’s important to be able to adapt your conversation to other experiences. That’s when you realize how compatible you are with other people, even though you wouldn’t think so at first.” 

The academy allowed students to deepen their relationships and learn from each other, exchanging ideas on how to handle situations within their teams. The effort they put in throughout the year paid off many times over, on the field and off.  

On Wednesday, student-athletes had one final chance to bond, as seniors will prepare for the future, and underclassmen will return to apply their leadership lessons. 

“It’s a really good time, because we get to spend time together after getting to know each other all year,” said McLaughlin. 

Students were treated to a lunch from R-Place and were recognized in front of Elizabeth Forward administrators and coaches as the activities wrapped up. 

“It’s about showing there’s a fun side to leadership,” said Killmeyer. “This is a celebration of all they’ve done over the year – and it’s a lot.”