High School March Newsletter (23–24)
Important Dates
3/6–3/7: School Physicals for Spring Sports
3/14: ECS PCO Choolaah Fundraiser
3/19: ECMS Instrumental Showcase at 7 p.m.
3/20: Digital and online safety event at Middle at 6 p.m. with expert Ryan Klingensmith. RSVP!
3/20: ECS Board of Trustees Meeting at Intermediate at 6 p.m.
3/22: Student Half Day
3/22: Career Day
3/22: End of Q3
3/25–29: Spring Break
4/1: Students and Staff Return
4/3: PCO Meeting at Middle at 6 p.m.
4/5: ECS Spirit Day
4/5: Q3 Report cards are Published
Welcome to the month of March and welcome to some beautiful sunshine and spring weather (hopefully…it is Pittsburgh after all).
The month of March is also Women's History Month. As a culturally sustaining, anti-racist and equitable educational organization, it is important to celebrate at the intersections during these special cultural celebrations. This month we lift up some powerfully impactful women who made sure that our wondrous National Parks either remained or became spaces for the country to delight in and respect. I would like to highlight specifically Sue Kunitomi Embrey this month, who transformed her horrific, traumatic and racist experience living on the grounds of the Manzanar War Relocation Center, which was one of ten WWII Japanese American incarceration camps.
After attending her first pilgrimage back to this camp in 1969, she began her campaign for turning this land into a historical landmark, in order to preserve the history of the horrors she survived, so no generation to follow would ever forget. Embrey believed “It might happen to another group of people or people with different political beliefs…and it’s important for us to remember that we have a Constitution, a written document that is only good when people make use of it. And they have to use it, and not abuse it.” In 1972, after 37 pilgrimages and a successful campaign, Manzanar was named a California historic landmark. In 1992, the Manzanar would go on to become a unit in the National Park system. Sue Kunitomi Embrey would continue her work to raise awareness of Japanese American incarceration camps throughout the rest of her lifetime, fighting injustices as a powerful advocate for civil rights and land preservation. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 83. Please continue to take this month to learn more about Sue and many other amazing women.
Testing Season has arrived!
As we glide gracefully into March, we are about to embark on testing season here at ECHS. Our teachers have been providing challenging, rigorous and state standards aligned content to your students from day one. As a result we have been continuously preparing each scholar to enter into our testing season with confidence and great success. Please support us by ensuring that they arrive at school on time, get some great rest, try to stay as healthy as possible and remain positive about the next few months ahead.
Please read on for more information about what’s happening this month and beyond at ECHS!
What's new at the High School?
Track and Field
Registration is now open for high school track and field. Learn more and register today!
Congratulations, Tobias Howard!
ECHS Hawk Basketball player, Tobias Howard, was named to the SWPAA Western Division, All-League team. He is the first player in the team's history to make this accomplishment.
ECHS Girls’ Volleyball Team
In recognition of their participation in ECS’s first-ever girls’ varsity sport, the 23–24 Girls’ Volleyball was recognized at the Feb. 21 ECS Board of Trustees meeting. Learn more…
Acceptance Letters!
ECS is proud to announce that its seniors have been accepted to the following schools, colleges, and universities: West Virginia University, Virginia State, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, Rutgers University, Chatham University, Point Park University, Quinniapiac University, Penn State University, Waynesburg University, Clark-Atlanta University, Johnson C. Smith University, Youngstown State University, Norfolk State University, Robert Morris University, University of Valley Forge, South Carolina State University, Clevland Institute of Art and Design, Community Collage of Allegheny County (CCAC), Bowling Green State University, Thiel college, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Savannah College of Art and Design
Learn about the Dynamic Landscape of A Digital World: Youth, Social Media, Sexualized Content, & Mental Health with expert, Ryan Klingensmith
Responding to the strong interest in internet safety from the 22–23 end-of-school-year Title 1 survey, ECS is thrilled to host an engaging session with expert Ryan Klingensmith. Save the date for this adult-only, community event on Wednesday, March 20, where you'll learn valuable insights into the latest social media trends, discover effective strategies for ensuring online safety for your children, and explore the critical intersection of mental health in the digital age. RSVP now and share the invitation with friends and family eager to navigate the complexities of the online world. Let's collectively empower our community for a safer digital future! Learn more and RSVP….
All Things College & Career @ ECHS
FAFSA for 12th grade families - While some of you may have already completed your FAFSA, there is still time for those who have not finished! CCAC is offering workshops to help complete the application for those who need it. Sign up for a time if you are interested! Seats may be limited, so please register ahead of time. They are offering both in-person and virtual workshops. Visit their website here to register for your preferred workshop!
Our 11th graders recently attended the Pittsburgh National College Fair at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. They had the opportunity to speak with over 200 colleges and post-secondary options from all over the country. Later this spring we will have our 11th graders visit several local colleges and technical schools such as LaRoche, Pitt, Waynesburg, PTC and more!
SAT and SAT Prep Course: ECHS is offering an SAT prep course for interested juniors and seniors. This is a 4-week course in the month of April fully paid for by ECS. Families who are interested in signing their child up can do so in this form.
ECHS has fee waivers available for qualifying families of 11th and 12th graders for the SAT. To see if you qualify, please fill out this request form. If you qualify, you will be contacted with a unique waiver code to use when registering your child for the SAT.
Investing Now @ the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh's Educational Outreach Center reruns with their Investing Now program for another summer of amazing learning for your student! This is a wonderful opportunity that several of our HS students participated in last summer and this year. It has literally changed the way that they "show up" at ECS. Please read on for how your scholar can join in on the fun.
We are thrilled to announce that Investing Now will continue this Summer with a 2-Week Hands-On S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) experience on the Pittsburgh campus! Applications are open for rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders and the deadline to apply is April 1st, 2024.
Participants will experience campus life while participating in academic enrichment and hands-on STEAM programming. Beyond the summer, during the academic year students who participate will have access to:
Monthly on-campus experiences and hands-on S.T.E.A.M. activities,
Weekly drop-in tutoring for those who need additional academic support
College and career readiness workshops,
Incentives including invites to Pitt games and other on-campus events,
PSAT and SAT Prep,
and more!
The application can be submitted online at https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d0hb7vHauWYTBhY
Cultural Celebrations
Women's History Month
If you have any ways that you celebrate during the month of March, give back to the community during this time, or have ideas of ways we can continue to learn in the month of March please reach out to Dr. Leeper or Assistant Principal Ruffus!
In Case You Missed It
Here is a copy of the ECHS Student Handbook for the 23-24 school year.
Here are the Orientation slides from the ECHS Orientations this week!
Attendance Reminder
As the Holiday and Winter Season approaches, we recognize that trips may be planned in the coming months, as well as some unplanned sickness. 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.
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Sibling Preference for the 24–25 School Year
Have a sibling who would like to attend ECS for the 2024–25 school year? Please complete an application in your SchoolMint account by pressing the add new student application after Oct. 2. The application deadline for sibling preference is January 31. Current students do not need to apply. Re-enrollment will occur in March.“A sibling is defined as one of two or more individuals having at least one common legal parent/guardian. Sibling preference does not guarantee enrollment.”
Enrollment for the 24–25 School Year Opens Oct. 2!
Let your friends and neighbors know about our open enrollment! The application deadline to be considered for the lottery is Jan. 31, 2024. Learn more…Family Portal on the ECS Website
Based on feedback from last year’s communication survey, ECS has identified areas of improvement on the website. ECS is pleased to launch its Family Portal, a designated space for current families to view and learn information. Browse the Family Portal.Volunteering & Clearances
ECS values volunteers in our district. To learn how to volunteer and what clearances are needed visit the Family Portal Volunteer page.Receive Board Meeting Reminders Did you know that ECS has monthly Board of Trustees meetings? Opt-In to receive Board Meeting Reminders that will include the date, time, and location of the meeting as well as links to the agenda draft, sign up to speak form, and YouTube Live feed.