Chief Gilchrist shared her incredible journey—overcoming challenges, breaking barriers, and leading with courage in a field where women and African Americans have long been underrepresented. As the first woman and first African American to serve as EMS Chief, her message about finding your voice, pushing past limitations, and embracing your strengths truly resonated with our students.
She also spoke about moral courage, professionalism, resilience, and the importance of technique, endurance, and mental toughness. Her challenge to our students to be the “first,” change the narrative, and pursue careers that make an impact was truly inspiring.
Thank you, Chief Gilchrist, for your leadership, honesty, and commitment to empowering young people. You’ve shown our students what’s possible!
Yesterday’s annual Turkey Bowl was a great kick-off to the holiday weekend! So much for our students and faculty to be thankful for!!
New Academy Charter School students recently shared what kindness means to them. Among all of the thoughtful responses, Kady G. captured it perfectly.
Congratulations to the incredibly talented students of New Academy Charter who participated in this year’s PA Harvest Art Contest and wowed us with their creative takes on food and pop culture.
We were especially proud to display every piece at our school-wide art show, making it a truly memorable celebration of creativity and school spirit.
1st Place: Mariah (8th Grade) – “Retro Breakfast”
2nd Place: Justice (10th Grade) – “Cookie Monster”
3rd Place: Diamond (10th Grade) – “Spider-Man Eating Pizza”
We’re so proud of all our young artists for bringing color, personality, and heart to this event! 
A huge thank you to State Rep. Jessica Benham for sharing her afternoon with our students as part of our ongoing “Speaker Series”!
She shared her inspiring journey — from struggling in school and learning to persevere, to serving as a state representative and making a difference in her community. Her message about finding people who support you, learning the importance of compromise, and appreciating every moment truly resonated with our students.
Representative Benham also took time to answer thoughtful questions about her role in government, the realities of public service, and the challenges our state faces today. We appreciate how she listened to our students’ voices, invited them to share what matters most in their communities, and encouraged them to think about ways they can create positive change.
Thank you, Representative Benham, for your honesty, encouragement, and dedication to empowering young people — you’ve inspired us all!
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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