Our Heritage
Vision on a Paper Place Mat
The concept of Shady Lane School began in 1966 with one of its founders, Phil Hallen, scribbling notes on a paper place mat at a local restaurant. Phil’s place mat is proudly framed and displayed by the School. His vision: "provide a model inter-racial education program to help children accomplish their growth tasks by efficiently combining the approaches of education, mental health and human development."
Four Decades and Beyond
In the four decades since, Shady Lane has grown and evolved in countless ways. As our many children grew, so too did the school. Some key milestones in Shady Lane's history include:
(1960s/1970s) A Learning Sanctuary in Tumultuous Times
- First day of classes at Shady Lane School, at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside: September 1966
- Looking for Me, a film documenting dance and movement therapy programs at Shady Lane, receives the Council on International Events (CINE) award: 1972
- Symposium titled The Arts for Children: A Creative Process is held as part of Shady Lane's 10th Anniversary: 1976
- A New Way for Schools: Intergenerational Teaming of Adults in Classrooms for Children, a book documenting the success of Shady Lane's Senior Citizens in Schools program, is published: 1979
(1980's/1990's) Change and Stability: Shady Lane Grows Up
- Begins offering extended day, full year programming: 1981
- Move from Calvary Episcopal Church to Wilkins School Community Center, Regent Square: 1983
- Fred Rogers addresses Shady Lane's 20th Anniversary Conference: 1986
- Becomes one of the first programs accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): 1987
- Purchase and renovation of former Mine Safety Appliance building at 100 North Braddock Avenue: 1991-1992
- Hosts Arts Alive!, a conference on arts in early education, as part of its 25th Anniversary celebration: March 1992
- First day of classes at new building: September 1992
- Named as one of the Ten Best Preschools in the country by Child Magazine: September 1993
- Celebrates 30th Anniversary with fundraising event featuring Lily Tomlin: February 1997
- "Building for the Future" capital campaign launched to fund new addition to Shady Lane's building and establish formal endowment funds: September 1998
- "Partners for Children", a collaborative organization of Shady Lane parents and staff, established: November 1999
A New Century: Shaping Futures and Reshaping Shady Lane
- Establishes Shady Lane Resources to formalize the outreach, professional development and advocacy component of Shady Lane's work: April 2000
- Hosts Arts in Early Education: A Policy Conference: November 2000
- Addition, including art studio, reception area and additional administrative offices, is completed and dedicated: August 2001
- First Shady Lane website is established (www.shadylane.org): October 2001
- Multi-Age Class (MAC), designed to provide an inclusive two-year program for three- and four-year-olds in collaboration with the Watson Institute, is established: September 2000
- Co-sponsors Leadership for Life, the first of three Leadership Conferences organized by the Alcoa Collaborative for Early Childhood Professional Development: October 2003
- First annual Shady Lane Children's Village, an interactive arts and activity area at the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show: March 2004
- Begins offering coursework for the Child Development Associate credential, in collaboration with Point Park University and PAEYC: January 2006
- Expanded playground, including a new Children's Garden, is completed: April 2006
- Establishes Riverview/Shady Lane Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization, in collaboration with Riverview Children’s Center in Verona, to benefit families receiving scholarship and subsidy through tax-deductible contributions: July 2006
- Becomes annual participant in planning and/or implementation of several community events:
- Carnegie Library Summer Reading Extravaganza: starting June 2006
- KidsPlay at Market Square: starting Summer 2007
- Family Support Conference: starting 2007
- Partners Classroom, designed as multi-age class for older children (including those not ready for Kindergarten), is established: September 2007
- Granted renewed accreditation under NAEYC's new accreditation standards and process (good through November 2012): November 2007
- Holds first annual Art on Ice benefit to support Shady Lane’s scholarship programs: June 2008
