New Academy Charter School students are rolling up their sleeves and transforming the community lot next to the Arlington Civic Council into a creative, welcoming outdoor space for everyone to enjoy!
Students in Mr. McClenahan’s Outdoor Activities classes are building wooden flower beds and picnic tables, while Ms. Stuckeman’s Art students are adding color and creativity by painting the tables with designs inspired by Pittsburgh’s murals and the rich artistic spirit of Arlington. The space will also feature seasonal flowers, solar lights, hanging baskets, a refurbished mini library, and other artistic touches that reflect our students’ pride in their community.
This ongoing project is a true labor of love and a celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. We’re so proud of our students for using their talents to make Arlington even more beautiful! 
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exceptional education opportunities and so much more!
Stop by to enjoy our 1st Annual School Art Show.
“I’m not here to be a role model,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “I’m here to tell you about my life.” This opening line of the Mayor’s speech hushed the audience of students, resonating throughout the school’s cafeteria, similar to how his story resonated with our students.
During yesterday’s visit, Mayor Gainey began New Academy Charter School’s lecture series with a powerful and frank story of his life, which was riddled with adversity and struggle. His parents were teen parents, unprepared to raise him at the time, almost leading to his adoption, had it not been for his grandmother who stepped in to raise him until his mom was ready to take over.
Growing up, his family had limited means and pushed him to go to school; however, the Mayor candidly admitted, “I was not a good student in high school. Growing up, no one taught me the importance of education.”
Mayor Gainey continued on to college, as the first in his family. Again, the honesty was heard in his voice when he said, “I had no idea what college was about.” He brought home a 1.8 grade point average returning home from a semester at college.
It was in the hurt and disappointment in his mom’s voice that he finally realized a very powerful lesson, “You’ve got a choice in life: you can grow old or you can grow up. There’s only two options,” said Mayor Gainey.
That turning point got him to shift his mindset on learning and on life. He pursued his education with vigor and began down the path that led him to becoming the first African American to be elected Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.
Mayor Gainey’s story of his life circled back to his humble beginnings when he said, “You’ve got to fall in love with adversity. If you can get through adversity now, you can get through everything.”
His determination and dedication as Mayor, sits proudly upon the shoulders of the adversity of his past: “If I didn’t start out the way I started out, I couldn’t handle the pressure of being mayor.”
To Mayor Ed Gainey and his staff that joined us yesterday to start our lecture series, we are deeply grateful. Your message as well as the time and patience you had after the event to speak personally with and shake many of our students hands, really spoke to many of our students who are currently struggling with some of the same adversities you overcame.
What a great way to begin New Academy Charter’s 2025-2026 Lecture Series! Be on the look out for our next guest speaker in October 
#mayoredgainey#cityofpittsburgh#TriumphOverAdversity#learningtogether
With the Labor Day holiday behind us, we are ready to kick off the 2025-2026 school year at New Academy Charter School and with it, a brand-new initiative. Starting this month, we will be hosting a lecture series
, inviting local leaders, change-makers, and role models to the school to share their journeys, what motivates them, their challenges, and their successes with our students.
From community leaders to cultural icons, each guest will help our students see that persistence, hard work, and showing up every day truly matter. We can’t wait to share more about the series and the amazing lineup soon
Here’s to a year of growth, motivation, and success. Let’s make it a great one, New Academy Charter School family! 
#NewAcademyCharterSchool#BackToSchool#InspirationInAction#LectureSeries
Even though there is still a lot of summer left to enjoy, it isn’t too early to learn about all the great academic and supplemental services available this Fall at New Academy Charter School.
STOP BY JULY 17th!!!
New Academy Charter School’s 2025 Commencement was an amazing day of celebration…
Congratulations, graduates, and best wishes as you pursue your dreams!!
Please call or email for additional information to Gina Samosky, Corporate Communications Coordinator