Middle School November Newsletter (23–24)

Nick Tutolo
Middle School Principal
Email: nick.tutolo@ecspgh.org
Phone: x559

Important Dates

11/6 - Quarter 1 Reports will go live in Alma

11/7 - No School (Conferences)

11/7 - Election Day Bake Sale at Intermediate School

11/9 - Report Cards Go Live

11/10 - No School (Conferences)

11/10 - Deadline to Donate to the PCO Friendsgiving Fundraiser

11/12 - Diwali

11/13–11/17 - Attitude of Gratitude Week

11/15 - ECS Board of Trustees Meeting at 6 p.m. at Middle School

11/16 - Children's Grief Awareness Day

11/21 - Harvest Fest

11/22 - Student and Staff Half Day

11/23–11/27 - Thanksgiving Break

11/28 - Students and Staff Return

12/1 - ECS Spirit Day: Wear Green!

12/6 - PCO Meeting at 6 p.m. at Middle School

12/8 - PCO Gingerbread House Event at 5 p.m. at Intermediate

Dear ECMS School Families,

As we move into Quarter 2, I have asked students to reflect on Q1. I asked them to think about how they showed up as a learner. Were they engaged, asking questions, and completing assignments? Did they ask for help when they needed it? I asked them to think about the things that they would like to take from Q1 and what things they want to leave in Q1.

Octavia Butler said: “First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.” Each day that our students show up to school, they are building, maintaining, or breaking habits. It is our collective responsibility as the adults in their lives to guide them to the habits that will carry them into a successful future. We must all be having these conversations with our students every day. While the content, grade level, or interest may change, the habits of learning will remain.

Nick Tutolo
ECMS Principal

What's new at Middle School?

Quest Labs for Eighth Grade
In keeping with our goal of building student agency, eighth-grade students will participate in a series of mini-adventures connected to a central theme. Students got a chance to rank their interests in a series of 10 cohorts that ranged from Art and Theatre to Culinary Arts to STEM. Each cohort will participate in a series of 6 Quests that are designed to immerse students in new experiences.

Lateness to Class Policy Update
We continue to analyze the data in order to best support the needs of our students. While the attendance initiative has been largely successful, we have made adjustments to the policy to account for students who are habitually late to class. Check out the information your student received here.

Food Service Changes for Diwali and Harvest Feast

On Thursday, November 16, for Diawali we will be serving:

Biryani (made with Basmati Rice)

Indian Seasoned Chicken (tandoori)

Indian Style Cauliflower

For our Harvest Feast celebration, November 21:

Turkey

Gravy

Mashed potatoes

Stuffing

Green beans

Cranberry sauce

Cobbler

This Month’s Cultural Celebrations

Diwali
Students will learn about the Hindu Festival of Light: Diwali. They will better understand the origins and purpose of the festival throughout Indian Culture.

Native American Heritage Month
Throughout the month of November, students will learn more about Native American Heritage and culture through a variety of activities and conversations during their CREW blocks. During the month, they will explore the Native American language and participate in a land acknowledgment activity.

In Case You Missed It

Conference Sign-Ups
Please don’t forget to sign up for a conference on either 11/7 or 11/10. The links to the sign-ups can be found here.

View the Middle Food Allergy Flier_2022.2023

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.
Receive Board of Trustees Meeting Reminders