PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Public Schools families didn’t even have to leave their cars Monday morning. Hundreds of students and parents rolled through the Gold Lot outside Acrisure Stadium to pick up free school supplies as part of the #PittsburghForPPS annual event, leading up to the first day of school.
The benefits could be found inside Acrisure Stadium as well. Barbers and manicurists were on hand to provide haircuts, styling and nail services to students.
“When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you’re excited,” said Dr. Wayne Walters, superintendent for Pittsburgh Public Schools. “That’s what we want for our students, to really be prepared for the 2026-2027 school year.”
The event is a true team effort between PPS, the City of Pittsburgh, and their community partners: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Pittsburgh Pirates, UPMC, The PT Services Group, Dreamz Hair Salon, Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Dollar Bank and Giant Eagle.
“School’s coming a lot faster than a lot of people think, but I think it’s a great way to kick off the year,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said. “There’s haircuts, there’s manicures, there’s a lot going on here.”
Channel 11 asked students what they’re looking forward to the most.
“Probably my classes, I think that’s probably it, my classes and my friends,” said Dylan Stuvaints, PPS junior.
Desiree Jula had a car full of kids, heading into 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade at Woolslair Elementary. She told Channel 11 a big part of the reason they come out to this event is to show their appreciation for their PPS family.
“[We’re here to] celebrate the teachers and the staff because – let me tell you – they are absolutely spot-on amazing people,” Jula said.
It’s that energy, community leaders said, is so important when looking ahead to the future.
“If we want to grow Pittsburgh, we’re going to need young families to stay here, and it comes down to supporting the kids,” O’Connor said
The first day back for Pittsburgh Public Schools is Monday, August 24.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
