High School December Newsletter (22–23)
Important Dates this Month
12/9: Pep-Rally!
12/9 - half day; dismissal 11:38
12/13 - Choolaah Fundraiser - Ski Club
12/14 - Winter OST Programs Enrollment Opens
12/20: Middle School & High School Holiday Instrumental Showcase
12/21 - ECS Board of Trustees Meeting at Middle School at 6 p.m.
12:22: HAWK DAY-½ day of school for students, dismissal at 11:38 & cultural celebrations
12/23 - 1/4 - No School; Winter break
1/5 - Students return
Dear High School Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful, restful, and family-filled Thanksgiving! This school year is flying by as we approach the holiday season. Just three short weeks until Winter Break is upon us!
I am hoping that we are able to get together sometime after the new year for a Q&A session. Be on the lookout for an email with a link to complete a form to find a time that works best for all families!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out!
Kari Vissichelli|
High School Principal
What's new at the High School?
November Student of the Month
Each month, we will celebrate one student from each grade level for their dedication to education and for exhibiting all four ECHS character traits. During the month of November, our 9th-grade student of the month was Kania Whitehead. Our 10th-grade student was Milo Garrett. And lastly, our 11th-grade student was Frankie Sparrowen.
Student Services News
Attendance Reminder
As the Holiday Season approaches, we recognize that trips may be planned in the coming months. As a reminder, each student gets 10 excused absences from a parent per year. You can complete the online excuse form here. Any additional absences must be excused by a doctor. If your student will be absent for a pre-scheduled trip, please email your building principal for approval.
Go Guardian Break Changes
ECS uses a Beacon software tool to monitor online activity from your child’s school account. During the year when school is in session if any content related to suicide or self-harm is flagged, a member of our Student Services team follows up with students and families to ensure that students are properly supported. During the break, the ability to monitor these alerts is significantly reduced. If an alert is detected, the notification will be sent directly to the parent from Go Guardian. As always, we encourage you to have open conversations with your child and/or contact Re: solve Crisis Services (1-888-796-8226) if you are concerned about your student’s mental health and safety. Because this software tool is only based on your child’s online activity, it should not be used as a medical or psychological assessment of your child’s condition, but more so an indicator that you should speak with your child about what is troubling them.
This Month’s Cultural Celebrations
December has many celebratory days! First up is Hanukkah, which will take place from December 18th-26th. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem. It lasts eight nights. A menorah is lit each night and you can commonly find children playing dreidel and eating potato latkes. Students will engage in the game, lighting the candles, and tasting latkes! Next up is Christmas, which takes place on December 25th and celebrates the birth of Jesus. We have a lovely Christmas tree with presents underneath. Our goal is to provide EACH student with a gift prior to leaving for break. Lastly, we have Kwanzaa which is celebrated from December 26th-January 1st. During this time, we celebrate African heritage and honor African American culture. Similar to this celebration that ends with a large feast, Karamu, we will hold a large feast on December 22nd, prior to Winter Break. Donations are welcomed and much appreciated for each of these celebrations! If you want to donate or assist, please reach out to me at kari.vissichelli@ecspgh.org.
In Case You Missed It
Dec. 9 and Dec. 22 are a half days! Dismissal is at 11:38 a.m.