ECS 🦅 June 2024 News
Dear ECS Families,
As ECS’s founding principal and CEO, know that it has been an absolute pleasure to grow citizens for the last 15 years. Since 2008, ECS’s unique out the door education has brought innovation, play, curiosity, and experiential learning to our area. While a new era is beginning for the school district, ECS’s organizing principle, eco-literacy, and mission will remain. Students will continue to learn how their actions ripple through the built, natural and social environments, and the district will cultivate its deeply rooted commitment to educating for sustainability.
I am forever grateful for the experience that ECS has provided me with, and it is in collaboration with the extraordinary faculty and staff, mission driven leaders, thoughtful students, engaged families, and dedicated community partners that our great district leads the way in environmental education. I look forward to seeing ECS sprout to new heights and thrive in this next chapter.
Know that you’ll learn more about the CEO Succession Planning process and additional information in the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned!
For now, have a safe and fun summer.
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?
Staff Event Wednesday, June 12
ECS will close immediately after Middle School’s half-day dismissal on Wednesday, June 12 due to an all-staff event. The district will resume normal operations and hours on Thursday, June 13.
End of the Year Food Service Note
ECS will serve bagged lunches during the last week of school to assist with closing down the kitchens and to allow for flexibility during end-of-the-year fun days, field trips, and celebrations.
End of the Year Survey Results
Thank you to our ECS community who participated in the end of the year surveys. Your responses and feedback help the district grow and improve. During the summer, the ECS team will take a deeper dive into the results, but in the meantime, below is a snapshot of some results from each survey.
School Safety and Climate Survey received 61 parent/guardian responses, and based on the responses, ECS received a total average school climate score of 3.4 which is a 0.12 increase from the Fall 2023 score.
Title 1 Survey received 55 responses: 36.4% from Primary, 40% from Intermediate, 20% from Middle, and 3.6% from the High School.
The Communication Survey received 70 responses with 42.9% preferring the computer and 57.1% preferring a cell phone as their primary device when reviewing communications.
Upcoming Events
#ECSCares Day–June 13, 2024
ECS looks forward to seeing you at the 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.
Hawks Out of School!
Sports Physicals
ECS Athletics is offering Sports Physicals (PIAA 2024/25 Sports Physicals) for High School Students planning to participate in High School Girls Volleyball, High School Boys Basketball, or High School Cheerleading on Thursday, June 6. Learn more and sign up…
Spring, Summer, and Fall Athletics Update
Track and Field, Flag Football, and Kick Ball! Spring’s athletics program was filled with success and teamwork. Read their accomplishments and learn more about summer and fall sports programming…
Little Bellas for Rising 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders
ECS is partnering with Little Bellas at Frick Park for rising 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders to ride bikes, make friends, and have fun this fall! Little Bellas emphasizes the importance of goal setting, healthy choices, and strong female bonds. The Program is on Wednesdays at Frick Park 5:30-7:30, starting Aug 14th. This program is offered at low to no cost. Bikes & helmets are provided. Reach out to elysar@littlebellas.com for more information and to sign up
Congratulations!
Dean E. and the Math Kangaroo Competition
Congratulations to 3rd grader Dean E who earned a 2nd place ranking in the state and 5th place in the nation for Math Kangaroo Competition where students puzzle their way through some seriously challenging math problems.
ECMS Girls’ Track and Field Team
The ECMS Girls’ Track and Field team won the SWPAA Championship on May 10 at Shady Side Academy. Dede Cain was selected as the MS Girls Meet MVP with Dara Scott-Hope winning both the long jump as well as the high jump competition.
Darnell Peak (Grade 9)– Next Narrative Monologue Competition at the Apollo Theater
On Monday, May 6, 2024, high school students from around the country gathered in Harlem, New York, for the annual NEXT NARRATIVE Monologue National Competition. The Next Narrative Monologue Competition celebrates the work of contemporary Black playwrights.
The Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project featured two Pittsburgh students in the competition one being ECS’s very own Darnell Peak. Congratulations! Check out his performance at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem…
PCO News
In Case You Missed It
Be SMART Resources
Gun safety is important especially as we head into the summer months. Be SMART is a program developed by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to bring together parents and all adults concerned about kids, guns and safety. View the presentation from the Janurary PCO meeting…
End of the Year Health Office Reminders
As a reminder, if your child has medication stored at school, a parent/guardian must pick it up by June 12. Learn more about end of the year health office information and how to prepare for next school year…
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…
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.
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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.