Intermediate School October Newsletter (23–24)
Important Dates
10/2: Enrollment for the 24–25 School Year Opens
10/4: PCO Meeting at 6 p.m. at the Middle School
10/6: ECS Spirit Day
10/9 - No School–Staff Planning Day
10/13 - No School–Staff Planning Day
10/18 - Board of Trustees Meeting at Middle at 6 p.m.
10/20 - PCO Fall Festival
10/25 - K–5 Curriculum Night
10/27 - Student Half Day, Pumpkin Parade, End of Quarter 1
11/1 - PCO Meeting at Intermediate at 6 p.m.
11/3: ECS Spirit Day
Dear Intermediate School Families,
As we witness global climate-related events from floods to wildfires, the topic of climate change has impacted our lives. As ECS continues its mission of growing global citizens that are able to use the important skills of analyzing problems and suggesting creative solutions, the students had the opportunity to participate in a climate strike on September 22nd. Partnering with the Primary School, the students were able to share their voices with the community along South Braddock Avenue through creative posters and enthusiastic chants that proclaimed their hopes for the Earth. The students were great environmental advocates which were well received by the community. Please see below pictures of some of our favorite moments of that powerful day.
Sincerely,
Laura Williams
Intermediate School Principal
What’s new at the Intermediate School?
Pumpkin Parade
ECS Intermediate will participate in its annual Pumpkin Parade on Friday, Oct. 27. Keep an eye on your grade-level newsletters for more information.
This Month’s Cultural Celebrations
Hispanic Heritage month is Sept. 15–Oct. 15.
Pittsburgh Promise Information
Reminder: Class of 2028 is the final to receive The Promise scholarship:
We sent a reminder to all families in PPS last week that The Promise is committed to funding scholarships through the class of 2028 (currently in the 8th grade). I am also enclosing an FAQ sheet with additional information as well as the letter we sent to families. The Promise’s scholarship will continue to operate without change until 2028. No action is required of students and families. We are sending these reminders to students and partners now to ensure that as 2028 approaches, students and families clearly understand our eligibility requirements and timeline.
Our Board of Directors and staff will continue to craft The Promise’s post-2028 role and work through our current fundraising campaign. We know we will deepen our direct outreach work through Promise Coaches (currently serving in Carrick, Perry, and UPrep). We also know that we must continue to work towards post-secondary educational access. We will continue to advocate for the public sector to commit to a sustainable policy solution for funding post-secondary education in Pennsylvania. We are pursuing public policy solutions and will continue to keep you in the loop as those projects take shape.
Attendance Waiver: Class of 2023 AND 2024:
Cumulative attendance for the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024 were both impacted by the 2020-21 remote school year, when attendance was difficult to equitably assess.
Therefore, we have waived the attendance criteria for The Pittsburgh Promise scholarship for both the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024.
Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship Requirements (attendance is waived for Class of 2023 and 2024):
Live in the city of Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg, or Mt. Oliver from 9th grade through graduation
Attend a PPS high school (or city charter school) from 9th grade through graduation
Graduate with a 2.5 unweighted cumulative GPA* (Promise Extension Program GPA = 2.0-2.49. More on that below)
Graduate with a 90% cumulative attendance rate (again, this is waived for the class of 2023 and 2024)
Must graduate in, or before, 2028
Promise Extension Program Reminder:
Students whose GPA is between 2.0-2.49 unweighted when they graduate are welcome to participate in The Promise Extension Program. These students may use the scholarship at CCAC, a non-CCAC offered program (ex: cosmetology schools), or if they are accepted to any of our Preferred College Partner schools.
More information about the Extension Program is attached (“For HS Staff – Pittsburgh Promise Extension Program Update”).
Promise Portals, Signups, and 2023-24 Signup Competition:
The Promise portal (the application for The Promise scholarship) is now active at www.pittsburghpromise.org/portal for the class of 2024.
I will send each school’s counselors their students’ login information later today. Students should receive a Promise packet in the mail with their login info and portal completion instructions in the coming weeks.
All students have the same password when they first log in: Welcome (capital W).
I will also be reaching out to each school’s counselors to set up Promise presentations to ensure your seniors have all questions about the scholarship answered and to help them register for the scholarship.
As a reminder: we hold an annual signup “competition” among the high schools. Whichever senior class in each group signs up the highest percentage of seniors for The Promise scholarship (by logging into their Promise Portal AND adding schools to complete The Promise application) wins $1,000 toward senior activities/prom. The competition ends on April 1st, but students can continue to add schools to their portal beyond April 1st. The groups are:
Large Schools: Allderdice vs. Brashear
Magnet Schools: CAPA vs. SciTech vs. Obama
Medium Schools: Westinghouse vs. City Charter High vs. Carrick
Small Schools: Perry vs. UPrep vs. vs. Environmental Charter vs. Urban Pathways Charter
Scholarship Payment Details:
The Promise scholarship dollar amount remains the same: up to $5,000 annually for four years of post-secondary education (may be used over a five-year period) for a total maximum of $20,000.
The scholarship may be used at any accredited, Pell-eligible, brick-and-mortar institution in the state of Pennsylvania. This includes colleges, trade schools, and technical schools (including cosmetology schools, barber schools, and nursing programs through hospitals).
Students must attend full-time to receive Promise and a completed FAFSA is required each year (undocumented students must submit a paper form FAFSA to The Promise office).
Out-of-state students may use Promise funds for summer courses, as long as the school is in-state.
Dual Enrollment:
Students can use their potential Promise scholarship funding to pay for courses at CCAC, beginning the fall term of their junior year. This is an advance on their Promise scholarship funding.
Students can take one course in the fall and spring terms and take up to two courses in the summer.
Students must meet Promise residency and enrollment requirements, only (we do not look at GPA or attendance for this opportunity!)
Full Dual Enrollment info (including steps for registration) can be found here: The Pittsburgh Promise: Dual Enrollment
Preferred College Partners Fair: October 19th at the August Wilson Center:
Just a reminder that our annual Preferred College Partners Fair will be held at the August Wilson Center on October 19th. The flyer is attached.
The Promise can pay for transportation. Counselors: please order the bus and send us the invoice.
36 schools will be in attendance, and 19 of those will be offering “instant decisions”.
In Case You Missed It
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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.
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Arrival:
Students being brought to school by car, bike, or on foot will be accepted at the Henrietta Street entrance between 8 and 8:20 a.m.
The front door will close at 8:20.
If your child plans to get breakfast, please plan to have them arrive prior to 8:10 to allow time for receiving breakfast, eating, and then arriving at home base.
Please use the visitor parking spaces on Milton Street, adjacent to Turtle Park, if you must park your car during student arrival. Please do not park in front of the school or on Milton Street.
Please avoid obstructing neighbors’ driveways.
Please be aware of cyclists and pedestrians in and around Regent Square.
Please do not make a U-turn on Henrietta Street (street in front of the building) or turn left on Milton. Instead, please continue straight down Henrietta and turn left on LaClair.
If you arrive after 8:20, please bring your student to the front door and ring the bell. The office manager will confirm the receipt of your child and they will sign in at the front desk and receive a pass to class
Dismissal:
Student dismissal begins at 3:20 and concludes at 3:50 p.m. Please be timely in picking your child up as close to 3:20 as possible. If you are running late, please contact the school.
Do not stop or park in front of the school or on Milton Street. Please park on the east side of South Braddock Avenue.
All pick-up students will be dismissed from the side exit of the school building, next to Turtle Park.
Dismissals from the office are for pre-arranged early dismissals only. Please pick your child up from the designated dismissal location outside of the school.
Please avoid obstructing neighbors’ driveways.
Be aware of cyclists and pedestrians in and around Regent Square.
During severe weather incidents (such as thunderstorms) parents may pick up students from the school gym.
Do not make a U-turn on Henrietta Street or turn left on Milton. Instead, please continue straight down Henrietta and turn left on LaClair.
Make sure that your child has checked in with the staff member assigned to their dismissal.
All early dismissals MUST be pre-arranged with the office prior to dismissal.
Please arrange dismissal by 11:30 a.m. via email (transport.int@ecspgh.org). Any dismissal notifications after 11:30 a.m., please call the office at (412) 247-7970 x 2400.
Students will only be released to pre-authorized adults/person(s). All unauthorized people will need the consent of the parent/guardian via email and/or phone call listed on the student’s profile. These individuals must be 18 years of age or older with valid identification.
Once at the school, please ring the front doorbell and ask the office manager for your child. Your child will check in with the office and meet you at the front door.
Early dismissals will NOT take place after 2:50 p.m. If you arrive after 2:50 p.m. for an early dismissal, you will need to wait until your child is dismissed at their normal time.
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Intermediate School students are dismissed at 11:20 a.m. on half days.
Intermediate School Hawk Highlights From Last Month!
