ECS 🦅 August 2024 News
Dr. Patrick Dowd
CEO
Email: patrick.dowd@ecspgh.org
Dear ECS Families,
Welcome to the 24–25 School year. I’m genuinely excited for my first day of school on Tuesday, August 20 and am honored to start alongside your student. My name is Patrick Dowd, and people call me Patrick, Mr. Dowd, Dr. Dowd, & Dr. D. Over the course of this school year, I look forward to getting to know you. ECS’s Meet and Greet on Friday, August 16 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. is our first opportunity to do just that.
Meet and Greet will take place at each ECS building. This is an ECS community-wide event that provides you and your student the opportunity to meet our passionate and caring teachers, administrators, and staff as well as see school and classroom spaces. Meet and Greet is self-guided, and you are encouraged to stay as long (or little) as you’d like. You are at the heart of our community, and the ECS team eagerly awaits your arrival.
As you travel through, and for some of you, among buildings, I will do the same. I look forward to meeting you and if we don’t connect at Meet and Greet, don’t worry. I plan to fully integrate myself into the ECS community and will see you at various events, starting with coffee and donuts! Sign up for coffee and donuts during school arrival on the following days:
Primary School: Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m.
Intermediate School: Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m.
Middle School: Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 8:20 a.m.
High School: Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:45 a.m.
Please know you are welcome to attend any of these events even if your student is at a different building. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your ECS stories and what is most important to you and your students.
Since I joined ECS in July, I have already learned a great deal from our team about who we are as a community and how we work to achieve our mission. Hearing from you is equally important.
In September, I plan to share more about what I have learned and heard. We can share ideas about ensuring ECS remains rooted in its mission to provide high-quality, out-the-door education and invigorating student experiences that foster growth and development.
One thing I already know well is that as parents/guardians, you are an essential ingredient in the success of this work. Together, with our team’s eco-literacy based curriculum and your excellent engagement, we are developing critical thinkers and purposeful agents of change. Together, we are growing citizens.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful learners with us. I’m looking forward to returning to school and getting to know you.
ECS. We Grow Citizens.
Patrick Dowd
CEO
What’s New at ECS?
NEW! Transportation App: Pick Up Patrol (PUP)
To provide a streamlined and safe dismissal process, ECS is using the system PickUp Patrol (PUP) this school year to track dismissals and end-of-day schedule changes. In the coming days, families in grades K–8 will receive a registration email with a link to set up an account. Learn more about PUP, the app, and how it will help your family navigate school dismissal.
Building Arrival and Dismissal Times
Primary & Intermediate Schools
Arrival: 8–8:20 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:20–3:50 p.m.
Middle School
Arrival: 8:20–8:40 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:40–4:10 p.m.
High School
Arrival: 7:45–8 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:22–3:35 p.m.
Get Your Clearances, Get Involved!
ECS values volunteers in our district. Individuals must have clearances uploaded into Raptor, ECS’s School Safety Software, in order to volunteer in any of our schools. Learn how to volunteer and what clearances are needed.
2024–2025 Calendar
View this school year’s calendar and subscribe to the online public calendar.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
ECS is a CEP district, and this year, all students K–12 are entitled to one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. ECS recommends that families add money to their student’s School Cafe account as there is a charge for a la carte items and second meals. ECS will not collect applications for Free or Reduced lunch. Learn more…
Upcoming Events
Meet & Greet– Friday, Aug. 16 from 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Meet the ECS staff and see the buildings during the self-guided Meet & Greet on Friday, Aug. 16 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. We can’t wait to see you soon!
Middle School’s Meet & Greet will feature a pop-up Book Fair provided by Riverstone Books!
Activities Fair Save the Date– Thursday, Sept. 12
ECS will host its 3rd Annual Activities Fair on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Middle School. Join our clubs, sports, and activities advisors and ECS partner organizations for a fun-filled night of demonstrations, hands-on activities, and learning about out-of-school time offerings. Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-register for Fall out of school programming!
ECS Switch & Signal Family Skate Night– Friday, Sept. 13
Learn to skate in a controlled environment with ECS on Friday, Sept. 13 from 5:15–7:45 p.m.! Sign up for a group lesson or just come to skate at the park. Learn more…
Hawks Out of School!
ECS’s athletics department's Fall season registration is starting soon! Intermediate and Middle School OST Club registration will begin in mid-September for our Fall club season starting in October.
Register using the links below or check out the OST section on our Family Portal.
ECS Middle School 2024 Fall Sports/Clubs
👟 Cross Country: (6–8th Grade)
Season: Aug. 27–Oct. 13
Tu/Th/Sun(meets) 3:40–5:30 p.m. @ Heth’s Field
⚽ Outdoor Soccer: (7 & 8th Grade)
Season: Sept. 9–Oct. 25
M/W 3:40–5:30 p.m. @ Heth’s Field
Register between Aug. 26–Sept. 4
🏈 Girls Flag Football: (7 & 8th Grade)
Season: Sept. 11–October 23
W 3:40–5:40 p.m. @ Heth’s Field
Register between Aug. 26–Sept. 5
ECS Intermediate School 2024 Fall Sports/Clubs
👟 Cross Country Club: (3–5th Grade)
Tu/Fr/Sun(meets) 3:20–4:45 p.m.
Season: Sept. 10–Oct. 13
Register between Aug. 25–Sept. 5
⚽ Outdoor Soccer: (3–5th Grade)
M/W 3:20–4:45 p.m. @ Frick Park
Season: Sept. 16–Oct. 23
Questions: Contact Rob van Rheenen, Athletic Director
In Case You Missed It
Complete the Back to School Packet by Aug. 5
All families received the Back to School Packet on Wednesday, July 31. Log into your SchoolMint account and complete the forms for each student by Monday, Aug. 5 to ensure your student’s information is accurate.
Log Into Alma and Get Started!
ECS uses Alma as its student information system. Families can check grades, see assignments, and more! Refresh or learn more about the platform in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRxBR9ruNvo
Subscribe!
Half-Day Dismissal Times
Know your building’s dismissal time on Half Days:
Primary: 11:20 a.m.
Intermediate: 11:20 a.m.
ECMS: 11:50 a.m.
ECHS: 11:38 a.m.