ECS 🦅 May 2025 News
Dr. Patrick Dowd
CEO
Email: patrick.dowd@ecspgh.org
Dear ECS Families,
The last few days have been challenging for many as we navigate the results of Tuesday’s storms. While several mission-aligned events, such as the service day, bike, walk, and roll to school, and the 1st Grade Showcase, were either cancelled or postponed, student and staff safety is our top priority. There are still a few weeks of school left, and I highly encourage you to get involved, whether that’s providing valuable feedback in end-of-the-year surveys or signing up and attending events. Below is a quick overview of ways to participate as we prepare for the 25–26 School year.
Surveys
ECS is currently asking for responses from its parent community for two different surveys. If you have yet to do so, please complete the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s School Climate Survey, and anonymously respond to the state’s questions by Friday, May 23.
As many of you are aware, funding uncertainty at the federal level is a topic several schools are grappling with, and those concerns include Title 1 funding for events that support programming to ensure that all students have access to fair, equitable, and high quality education. At ECS, events such as the literacy and math nights, GreenRoots Sustainability Fairs, and more are all made possible through Title 1 funding. While these are federally sourced funds, they remain a vital need for our community and your understanding and feedback on Title 1 is more important than ever. With that said, please take a moment to complete the Title 1 Survey by Friday, May 23.
Events
Finally, be sure to sign up and/or attend upcoming events such as:
ECS. We Grow Citizens.
Patrick Dowd
CEO
What’s New at ECS?
25–26 School Year Calendar
ECS is pleased to share the 2025–26 School Year Calendar, which you can view and download here.
Key Highlights Include:
📆 First Day of School: August 19, 2025
📆 Fall Conferences: November 3–4, 2025
📆 Winter Break: December 22, 2025–January 2, 2026
📆 Spring Break: March 30–April 6, 2026
📆 Spring Conferences: May 19, 2026
📆 Last Day of School: June 12, 2026
April Board Meeting Postponed to Wednesday, May 7
Due to the widespread outages from last week’s storms, the April ECS Board of Trustees meeting is postponed until Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. at the Middle School. View agendas and more information…
May Cultural Celebration Lunch
May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Students will enjoy a cultural celebration at lunch on Friday, May 16, featuring:
Schnitzel with pickles
Potato pancakes
Applesauce
Asparagus and mushroom
Alma Tip of the Month
Did you know Alma has a progressive web app (PWA) that you can install on your mobile device? Install the Alma Now app directly from the website, and since it isn’t downloaded from an app store, you will never need to update it.
Upcoming Events
Sign Up: 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.
RSVP Today: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
ECS is grateful for all of its parent/guardian and community volunteers. If you have ever chaperoned a field trip, supported a bake sale or after school program, or volunteered for ECS, we want to thank you! Please sign up for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at Turtle Park next to the Intermediate School by Thursday, May 15.
Save the Date: ECSCares
The 3rd Annual ECSCares Day will take place on Thursday, June 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. Participation in ECSCares Day will count toward students’ attendance for the day. ECS looks forward to announcing its community partners and service locations soon.
Congratulations!
Prodigy Cup
ECS has qualified for the Platinum Tier in the statewide Prodigy Cup—a math competition where schools compete for a chance to win a $100,000 technology grant!
Our students have been working hard since January to earn their spot in the National Cup, and now they’re competing for the grand prize!
So far, our students in grades 2–5 have been leading the charge, but the competition is open to students in grades 1–8. The National Cup only runs from May 1 to May 14, so if you’d like to learn how your child can get involved and help ECS bring home the win, reach out to your student’s math teacher ASAP.
PMEA Jr High District Orchestra
Harper B (8th grade) represented ECMS in the violin section at the Jr High District Orchestra!
PCO News
May PCO Meeting
Join the PCO for its virtual May 9 PCO meeting at noon HERE.
PCO’s annual Spring Flower & Plant Sale is back in time for Spring planting!
The ECS PCO’s annual Spring Flower and Plant sale pick up will occur on Friday, May 16 at the Intermediate School. Looking for an opportunity to lend a helping hand to make this fundraiser a success? Sign up here.
ECS Kennywood Day
ECS Kennywood Day is Thursday, June 12, 2025! ECS discounted tickets are $32.99 for hard stock tickets and online tickets for $31.99 + processing fee (by May 29th ). Learn more…
In Case You Missed It
Complete the Excuse Form When Your Student is Absent
Was your child absent this week? Please remember that 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 in the near future, please ensure your clearances are submitted through Raptor, ECS’s School Safety Software, in order to volunteer in any of our schools. ECS cannot accept paper copies. 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.