Primary School April Newsletter (21–22)

Dear Primary School Families,

When the pandemic shut down began, I did a serious re-evaluation of how my children spent their free time. They were both daycare age at that time, and I felt like they were living their little lives just fine. However, I quickly realized that the amount of time they were outside was short and not their favorite thing to do! I basically grew up outside, barefoot and free, and I was ashamed that I didn’t pass that on to my two littles. We started by being outside for any amount of time that we could and grew our time little by little. Now, two years later my girls get home and go outside without asking or coaxing. When I saw this post from one of the many outdoor sites I follow, I felt better about not being a hiking, camping, or canoeing family, but we get out when we can and that is fine!. It all counts. It is all beneficial for ALL of us.

Take care, get outside, and play,

Ashley Bergman

What's new at the Primary School?

A note from our school counselor, Ms. Flynn
I have really been enjoying spending time in home base classrooms for core counseling lessons this year! Please see this letter for more information about a recent upstander lesson. And if you, like many of us, feel like you've been living through difficult times and are wondering how to support your child(ren), consider checking out this article outlining 5 things to help raise resilient, socially intelligent kids.

Welcome, Mr. Daniels!
Mr. Daniels is the newest member of our ECS Family as the K-5 music substitute teacher!

We are celebrating Earth Day every day!
Check out this E arth Month flier and be sure to register to adopt your tree from Tree Pittsburgh by April 26 at https://ecspgh.org/ecs-news/150th-arbor-day-celebration-adopt-a-tree-with-tree-pittsburgh

ECS K-5 Yearbook
Order Deadline: April 4, 2022
Price: $15.00 per book
Delivery Date: 1st-2nd week in June. Yearbooks will be delivered to the home bases.

There are two ways to order:

Check: Please make checks payable to “ECS PCO” and return with the order form (linked here) to the attention of Jill Farringdon, 5539 Pocusset Street, Pgh PA, 15217. Important, if you pay by check please look for a confirmation email from Jill Farringdon. If you don’t receive an order confirmation email by Monday, 4/4, please contact Jill at yearbook@ecspco.org immediately.

Online (preferred): You may also order yearbooks online (http://ecspco.org/2021-2022-yearbook/).

ECS PCO would like to ensure that every family at ECS has the opportunity to have a yearbook. If you cannot afford the price of a yearbook, you may request one free per family at yearbook@ecspco.org.

To help ensure that every student at ECS has the opportunity to have a yearbook, add a donation amount to your order. (Thank you!)

In Case You Missed It

Pick up and Drop off at Primary Reminders

Please DO NOT park on S. Braddock Ave. - this is the bus lane
Please DO NOT double park on Brashear St. at dismissal or arrival
Adults must park and walk to the backlot to pick up their student

ECS Candid Photos Requested
The K-5 Yearbook Committee would love to see all the K-5 ECSers out in the community or at home. We will be filling some of the pages of the K-5 Yearbook with your lovely smiling faces. Please send photos of your kiddos to yearbook@ecspco.org. For classification and sorting purposes, please put name(s) and home base(s) in the email. Deadline is April 1, 2022.

K-5 Yearbook Cover Contest
K-5 Students: Submit your original design for the K-5 yearbook cover contest! The winning designs will be on the front and back covers of the 2021-2022 yearbook!

1. Keep text and images within a 1/2″ border of the page so nothing is cut off.

2. You can use markers, paints, crayons, or colored pencils.

3. Use white 8.5 x 11″ computer paper only.

4. Be neat, and more importantly, BE CREATIVE!

5. Make sure you include the school name (ECS or Environmental Charter School), 2021-2022, and K-5 Yearbook in your cover design.

6. Keep your original design. Submit a photograph (crop or close up for the image only), or scan of your design to yearbook@ecspco.org by March 1, 2022. This is a great activity to work on during all the days off this winter! We will collect the original design after the contest winner is chosen.

Questions? Email yearbook@ecspco.org

Primary School Hawk Highlights from Last Month!

Red Panda Madness! Ms. Rabinowitz’s 2C class helped out the Pittsburgh Zoo with their red panda enrichment activity by decorating one of the red panda’s “prize boxes”. Mrs. Hunter delivered it to the zoo and the red panda keeper was kind enough to send the class pictures of the pandas enjoying their artwork.