ECS 🦅 May 2024 News
Dear ECS Families,
April showers certainly brought May flowers, and just in time for ECS’s marvelous outdoor activities and end of the year celebrations. While the end of the school year is just around the corner and we grow with feelings of anticipation for summer fun, know that the ECS staff and faculty remain committed to ensuring that our students finish the year strong with the ECS mission and environmental education rooted in everything we do.
With that said, ECS has a healthy calendar of events that support eco-literacy, showcasing student work, and celebrating their extraordinary accomplishments during the 23–24 school year. May is also a time where we rely on your brilliant feedback and suggestions through various surveys so we may enhance the programs and services in support of our students.
Finally, this month, we celebrate all of you: your volunteerism; your early runs to schools to set up coffee for staff; your late nights selling uniforms or providing refreshments for ECS events; your mid day snack and party runs to classrooms. YOU are at the heart of ECS, and we can’t thank you, our parents, guardians, friends, and community, enough for your dedication to our school, students, and mission. Please be sure to sign up for volunteer breakfast in the upcoming events section to celebrate your contributions. I hope to see you there.
Be Well,
Jon McCann
CEO
Hear from your building’s principal and learn what’s happening in your student’s building through their online newsletter.
What’s New at ECS?
School Safety and Climate Survey Spring 2024
In connection to the Fall 2023 School Safety and Climate Survey, ECS highly encourages you to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s School Climate Survey. By clicking the link below, you are able to select the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, and anonymously respond to the state’s questions. ECS will compare the survey results to the Fall feedback which helps the district allocate security funds. Take the Survey by Friday, May 24…
Title 1 Survey
Title I is a 100% Federally funded supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to improve educational opportunities for educationally deprived children. ECS uses Title 1 funding for a number of events that support our community. Take the Survey by Friday, May 24 to help ECS improve family engagement…
Communications Survey
ECS believes that when parents are well informed about district, school, and grade-level academics and events, students will reach their highest potential. ECS continually works to refine its communications, and your feedback is a valuable contribution to the district’s communication strategy. Please take a few minutes to complete the 23–24 Communication Survey by Friday, May 24…
CEO Succession Planning Update
Once interviews conclude, up to 3 candidates will be invited for in-person, full-day visits on May 20th, 22nd, and 23rd. Visits will include school tours and meetings with board members and staff. Additionally, an employee roundtable and a parent/caregiver roundtable will be available for volunteers.
If you are interested in joining the parent/caregiver roundtable, you need to be available on all three days (May 20th, 22nd, and 23rd) from 2:30 to 3:15. We will meet in-person at the Intermediate School. Please fill out this form to sign up by Thursday, May 9 at noon. If we get more interested than spots available (we're aiming for 6-8 parents/caregivers to maintain a small group setting), we will hold a lottery. Learn more about the process...
Summer Meals Program
Students at ECS may automatically qualify to receive Sun Bucks for summer meals through the Department of Human Services (DHS). Learn more…
Lunch Menu Change: May 7
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the lunch menu will change to the following for May 7:
Chicken Fajitas
Pico de Gallo
Lettuce
Sour Cream
Cheese
Tortillas
Mexican Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Upcoming Events
LAST CHANCE to RSVP - Green Roots: A Sustainable Affair
Green Roots: A Sustainable Affair
ECS’s fun-packed, sustainability events are back in honor of our Earth! RSVP for your student’s Green Roots: A Sustainable Affair event to learn about the school's commitment to the SDGs, participate in activities, and meet community partners.
6–12 Sustainability Fest: Friday, May 10, 2024, from 6–8 p.m.
This year's event will feature:
S'mores & Camping 101, Cornhole & Ping Pong
Black Out Poetry & DJ
Bike ECS & Bike People
Student Art Showcase
Environmental Citizenship & 8th Grade Capstone Presentations and award ceremony with Keynote Speaker, Camila Rivera Tinsley
6–12 Sustainability Fest RSVP
K–5 Sustainability Fair: Friday, May 17, 2024, from 5–7 p.m.
This year's event will feature:
5th Grade Environmental Literacy posters
Thinking Lab Artwork
EcoStewards Scavenger Hunt & S'mores
Drumming Circle
Storytime in the Garden
AND You'll have the Chance to Pie a Teacher!
RSVP Today– Parent Volunteer Breakfast!
Parent volunteers are invited to join ECS staff on May 21 from 9–10:30 a.m. at Turtle Park next to the Intermediate School for a breakfast in appreciation of all you do for the ECS community. RSVP by Tuesday, May 14!
#ECSCares Day–June 13, 2024
ECS is pleased to host its second annual #ECSCares Day on June 13, 2024. As global citizens, students and families are encouraged to volunteer at various community sites from 9–11 a.m. or participate in a service project on their own to receive attendance credit for June 13th. Select your volunteer site by Friday, May 31…
Hawks Out of School!
Congratulations!
Rosie, ECS 6th Grader
Rosie’s Sea Creature Sculpture, inspired by the narwhal and constructed with old planters, soda bottles, corks, and other repurposed material will be on display at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Learn more…
Zanayrah and Darnell from ECHS
Congratulations to Zanayrah and Darnell for their participation in the August Wilson New Voices Competition. .With her performance of "Seven Guitars," Zanayrah brought home third-place! Learn more…
Shayla from ECHS
Shayla recently teamed up with students from the area and Communitopia to organize the Pittsburgh Youth Climate Action Summit. Learn more…
PCO News
ECS’s annual Spring Flower & Plant Sale is back in time for Spring planting!
Annual bedding flowers, hanging baskets, and individual potted flowers are available from a local, woman-owned business. We are also offering organic vegetable, herb, and native pollinator seedlings from Grow Pittsburgh. Pick-up will occur on May 17th at the Intermediate School. Browse plants and place orders
We need many hands to make this fundraiser happen! Please sign up to help.
In Case You Missed It
24-25 School Year Calendar
View the 24-25 school year calendar. More events and information will be posted in the coming months.
Official Social Media Pages
As a reminder, ECS encourages families to follow its official, district-run social media pages to stay up to date on school happenings. Please review the links to ensure you are following accurate, ECS-owned social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Subscribe!
Half-Day Dismissal Times
Know your building’s dismissal time on Half Days:
Primary: 11:30 a.m.
Intermediate: 11:20 a.m.
ECMS: 11:50 a.m.
ECHS: 11:38 a.m.