ECS 🦅 February 2025 News
Dr. Patrick Dowd
CEO
Email: patrick.dowd@ecspgh.org
Dear ECS Families,
We are two weeks into the second semester of the 24–25 School Year, and I’m overjoyed to see students participating in out-the-door educational opportunities, despite the cold weather. In the past two weeks, many of our high schoolers have adventured through more than four field trips, one of which was to observe open heart surgery.
8th grade quest labs are resuming with the first one taking place last Thursday at the Frick Museum. During their quest lab mid-year checkpoint meeting, 8th graders also had the opportunity to hear from Moonshot Museum’s Dr. Jimyse L. Brown, and Community Forge’s Dr. Patrick Cooper. Check out the press release here to learn more about their experience.
Finally, our K–5 students continue to build connections between playful learning, curiosity, and sustainability. Students in grades 3–5 quickly jumped back into Frick Park Field studies. Last Thursday and Friday, 5th graders continued their studies on watersheds and how they impact our community. 5th grade is partnering with UpstreamPGH to use magnifiers to search for living organisms in Nile Mile Run and use a variety of tests to measure PH, turbidity, temperature and more while connecting them to classroom discussions about watersheds. During the first week of Q3, first graders used sustainable materials to create a Toy Museum that they presented to their families.
ECS values these moments of adventure and building classroom to real-world connections. As we venture into the coming weeks and months ahead, be sure to keep an eye on the public calendar and monthly newsletters to stay in the loop with ECS’s unique, upcoming family engagement events. I hope to see many of you at the PCO Game Night, the GreenRoots fairs, and many more exciting happenings.
ECS. We Grow Citizens.
Patrick Dowd
CEO
What’s New at ECS?
We CAN Update
ECS is currently in 9th Place and has saved more than 27,000 cans from going to a landfill or being littered. You’re environmental superstars! ECS is inching closer to its goal to recycle 100,000. Keep up the great, and remember to drop off your cans at the Primary School or your building’s designated can drop off area until April.
Cultural Celebration Lunch–Black History Month
During February, students will learn about and celebrate Black History Month. This month’s cultural celebration lunch will occur on Friday, Feb. 21 and will include:
Molasses baked chicken
Sweet potato mash
Southern green beans
Important Re-Enrollment Dates for 2025
Mark your calendars and complete your students’ re-enrollment for the 25–26 school year! If you have any questions, please reach out to the Enrollment Department at enrollment@ecspgh.org. When re-enrollment is available in SchoolMint, you will receive an email notification.
K–4 Re-Enrollment Deadline is Approaching: Monday, February 3, 2025
Grades 5–11 Re-Enrollment Opens: Monday, March 17, 2025
Do you have a connection to a business or sponsor who is passionate about education and community impact?
The ECS Foundation is seeking partners to support our athletics, arts, and STEM-focused projects and clubs. Like other districts of our size, ECS needs to support the increasing costs of these programs through sponsorships and "boosters." If you know a company that might align with our mission, we’d love to connect—every partnership helps us go further! Reach out to nikole.sheaffer@ecspgh.org to start the conversation.
Alma Tip of the Month
The student Overview tab is the landing page you'll see when you click on your student(s) in Alma. Here you can see the current grade in each of their classes. If you want more detailed information, click on the grade to see individual assignments and scores.Learn more about the Student Overview Landing Page.
Upcoming Events
Student Career Day is Approaching–Friday, Feb. 28
On Friday, Feb. 28, students in grades K–12 will hear from diverse presenters and learn about a variety of occupations and opportunities that lie ahead. This year’s theme is UN Sustainable Development Goal 10, reduced inequalities. Thank you to our volunteer presenters!
Kid’s Heart Challenge at Intermediate during March
Intermediate School students will participate in the American Heart Association’s Kid’s Heart Challenge during the first two weeks of March. An assembly on March 3 will kick off activities which will include PE Lessons on Heart Health and house competitions with a jump rope competition and home based education opportunities. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon.
Save the Date: K to 5 PCO Game Night–March 14
Enjoy fun for the whole family while supporting student math learning! The PCO in collaboration with the ECS academic team will host its annual Title 1 Game Night for students in grades K–5 at the Intermediate School on Friday, March 14 from 5–7 p.m. Check your Feb. 16 building based communications to learn more and register.
Save the Date: GreenRoots Fair
The GreenRoots Fair is returning to ECS in May 2025. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, will connect the ECS community to climate action and Earth Day Initiatives. Save the date for your grade level’s GreenRoots Fair and join us for a fun filled night of games, music, and more with community partners.
Friday, May 9: K–5 GreenRoots Fair
Friday, May 16: 6–12 GreenRoots Fair
Save the Date: High School Graduation 2025
Hawks Out of School
Girls on the Run (GOTR) Spring Season at Intermediate
GOTR is a national club for girls in grades 3–5 that focuses on healthy habits, both emotionally and physically, and occurs on Mondays and Wednesdays from Dismissal to 5 p.m. Girls on the Run registration opened Jan. 31, and the season starts on March 3. Register for GOTR Today!
Questions? Email francesca.esposito@ecspgh.org
Congratulations!
Flash Fiction Celebrations
Congratulations to Clayton whose Flash Fiction story, Heaven's Tears, won first place in the WPCTE Flash Fiction Writing Competition which had over 300 entries this year.
Congratulations to Sienna who won the WPCTE Flash Fiction Writing Competition in the 1st–3rd grade group!
Congratulations to the following Honorable Mentions: Xael, Wyatt, Amea, Evelyn, Lucy Jo, Melody, Willow, and Flora
PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band
On Jan. 17, ECMS student, Asher, represented ECS in the PMEA Jr. High District 1 Band! The ensemble featured students from over 30 different schools. The students prepared music before the festival, rehearsed together all day, and performed a concert that night.
New Book Featuring ECMS Student
ECMSer, Amy, is a supporting character in a new book called, Watching Sarah Rise: A Journey of Thriving with Autism. The book is written by Amy's parent, Jennifer Celeste Briggs, and came out Jan. 21. Learn more...
PCO News
Feb. 7 PCO Meeting
Join the PCO and special guests, Nick Tutolo, ECMS Principal, and Betsy Lamitina, Associate Director of Curriculum & Professional Development (6–8), as they talk about reading, writing, culture, and climate at the Middle School during the Feb. 7 PCO Virtual meeting at noon. Join the video call.
Blooming Bash
Join the PCO for its biggest fundraiser of the year at the Blooming Bash on Saturday, March 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Union Project. Tickets are only $30. Learn more and buy your tickets today!
Student Services News
Online Safety & Awareness Resources
Winter months can offer a great opportunity to dig into digital safety. Here are a few resources for families as you navigate boundaries for children playing online games and communicating online.
Common Sense Media helps families understand the risks and benefits of apps and games online. Check out two examples here: Roblox and Minecraft. Common Sense Media also gives insight and age-based reviews into tv shows, podcasts, movies, books, and youtube.
StopBullying.gov provides additional information about social media apps and sites, as well as a How to Prevent Cyberbullying Guide.
In Case You Missed It
Get to Know the ECS Foundation!
Discover what the ECS Foundation does, how we fund innovative educational experiences, and ways you can get involved!
What can you do today? Consider a gift to the ECS Annual Fund.
Every contribution to the Annual Fund helps enhance the experience for every student at ECS. Annual Fund gifts are essential because they fill the gap between the public school tuition dollars and the actual cost of providing exceptional education and opportunities for our students. No matter the size of your gift, your generosity makes a difference!
ECS We CAN
Help ECS 2nd Graders reach their goal of recycling 100,000 cans for the Million Cans Recycling Contest from Oct. 2024 to April 2025. Students will earn $1 for the Primary school for every 58 cans they collect. Funds will support ECS Primary’s environmental literacy out-the-door education opportunities. With the money raised, Primary students will go on trips to the zoo, farms, the Frick Park Environmental Center, and more.
Here's how you can help:
Save aluminum cans.
Do not crush them.
Arrange for drop off at your building’s designated can drop-off location.
ECS encourages and prefers adults to drop off aluminum cans.
If a student plans to transport aluminum cans themselves, they are not permitted to bring alcoholic cans.
Building can drop-off locations are as follows:
Primary School: The can bin in the back parking lot.
Intermediate School: A can bin is located in the front vestibule of the school.
Middle School: A can bin is located in the front vestibule of the school.
High School: A can bin is located in the lobby.
Spread the word using the ECS We CAN toolkit.
If your business is interested in contributing to the ECS We CAN project, please complete this form.
The ECS We CAN Project is sponsored by PPG.
Complete the Excuse Form When Your Student is Absent
An excuse must be turned in within 3 days of the absence or it will be marked unexcused. You can submit an excuse in any of the following ways:
Complete your building’s form
Email your child's teacher or school office manager
Call the school office manager
Submit a note from you or a physician
Get Your Clearances, Get Involved!
With many classroom celebrations coming up, please ensure your clearances are submitted through Raptor, ECS’s School Safety Software, to volunteer in any of our schools. ECS cannot accept paper copies. Learn how to volunteer and what clearances are needed.
Half-Day Dismissal Times
Students will be dismissed at the following times on half days:
Primary School: 11:20 a.m.
Intermediate School: 11:20 a.m.
Middle School: 11:40 a.m.
High School: 11:38 a.m.
2024–2025 Calendar
View this school year’s calendar and subscribe to the online public calendar.