Dear Markham Families,


Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope you all are enjoying a fantastic summer filled with fun and lasting memories.

As August approaches, there is a growing sense of excitement throughout Markham Elementary as our Custodial staff works to prepare and beautify our school. I am thrilled to start my second year as the principal of Markham, and our faculty and staff have been busy preparing for an exciting and educational new school year filled with both familiar faces and new members of our school team. We are all eager to reconnect with returning families and welcome those who are new to our school.

Markham is a special place where we work hard to cultivate a strong family and school partnership to ensure a positive educational experience for all of our students.

Throughout the year, updates will continue to be shared through our weekly e-newsletter, Schoology, and the Markham Elementary website. Please be sure to check these resources regularly and verify that your contact information is current in the District Dashboard so that you do not miss important communications.

Thank you for your continued support of Markham Elementary. I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to work with such great families, staff members, and students. I am very excited to welcome everyone back in person and begin another wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and excitement at Markham.


All the best,


Dan Ridge

Principal,

Markham Elementary School

Key Dates

• August 13 @ 5:30 p.m. - New Family Orientation
• August 13 @ 6:30 p.m. - Meet & Greet
• August 18 - First Day of School (grades 1-12) 
• August 18-19 - Kindergarten Interviews (times assigned and emailed in early August)
• August 20 - First Day of School for Kindergarten 

A New Process To Access Your Student’s Schedule For the 2026-2027 School Year

• This year, student homeroom and schedules will not be emailed.
• Schedules will be available only through the PowerSchool Portal beginning Monday, July 27.
• You must complete the annual Handbook & Technology Signoff Form before your student's schedule can be viewed on July 27. Student schedules will not be released until sign-off is complete. 
• Students in Grades K-3: The parent/guardian must complete the Handbook & Technology Signoff Form in PowerSchool Portal.
• Students in Grades 4-12:
• First: Your student must complete the Handbook & Technology Signoff Form
• Next: The parent/guardian must also complete the Handbook & Technology Signoff Form.

A New Face at Markham

• Mr. A.J. Kavinsky, Third Grade Teacher! 

The Markham Elementary School Day

As we get ready for a great year, we know families have plenty of questions about what the school day looks like, from arrival and dismissal times to lunch, recess, and everything in between. To help you and your child feel prepared, we've gathered it all in one place. 

Attendance: Starting this school year, the Mt. Lebanon School District will use a single attendance process for all students, kindergarten through grade 12. All attendance will be managed in the PowerSchool Portal accessed through LeboID. 

Visit our School Day page for start and end times, drop-off and pick-up details, and other helpful information for a smooth start to the year.

Getting Ready For The First Day 

There are a few key resources we'd love for every family to review before the first day. Please take a few minutes to look through the items below. 

• Supply List — What to pick up and pack for the first day.
• Elementary Student Handbook — Your go-to guide for daily routines, policies, and school procedures.
• Health Services — Important information on medications, forms, and how to reach your school nurse. If your child has any health needs or requires medication at school, please review this early so we can be ready to support them.
• Lunch Menu & Account Info — View menus and set up or add to your child's PaySchools Central account.
• Devices & Technology Policies — A reminder about your child's district-issued device and the acceptable use guidelines that go with it.

Stay Connected

Schoology & PowerSchool Portal (Dashboard)

• Schoology (our Learning Management System) and PowerSchool Portal (your parent/guardian portal to the PowerSchool Dashboard) are two of the main tools you'll use to stay connected to your child's learning throughout the year. 
• Please take a moment to confirm your contact information and your child(ren)'s medical information, and be sure to list yourself as the first Emergency Contact. If any of your information changes during the year, just let the office know so we can keep our records current.

You can find everything you need to get started with both tools, including how-to guides and Schoology support, on our Families page.

Weekly Newsletters

• During the school year, the District newsletter will arrive in your inbox every Sunday at 2:00 p.m., complete with links to each school's newsletter. The first edition will be delivered on Sunday, August 16.

Get Involved 

In Mt. Lebanon, the dedication of our PTA helps to create experiences that make our schools exceptional places to learn and grow. Our PTAs coordinate volunteers, support teacher appreciation efforts, and strengthen communication between home and school. Learn more about PTA events, programs, and ways to get involved. Visit the Markham Elementary PTA website to learn more.

Questions?

We can't wait to see our students and welcome you all to a wonderful new school year! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.