Middle School October Newsletter (22–23)
Hey there, Middle School!
I want to take this opportunity to invite you all to visit us again! At orientation sessions this summer, I shared our desire to bring our Middle School community together whenever we can. Technology helps us stay connected in a myriad of ways, but in my opinion, there’s really nothing that can take the place of sharing space with all of you.
On Monday, October 10th, I hope you’ll stop by for Back to School Night where you’ll have a chance to see some of the content your students have been grappling with, hear from teachers about their approach to teaching and learning, and learn about discipline-specific resources and strategies you can use to support your student’s growth and engagement at home.
Feel free to stop by for as long as you wish and arrive at a time between 5:30 and 7 p.m. that’s best for your family. We’re looking forward to seeing you.
Until next time,
Jaleah
What's new at Middle School?
Safe2Say Something
All ECS Middle School students received information regarding Pennsylvania's "Safe2Say Something" anonymous reporting system. S2SS was an outcome of Act 44 legislation and is described as "a life-saving and changing school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how: (1) to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and (2) to anonymously report this information through the S2SS app, website, or 24/7 Crisis Center Hotline." If you have questions or concerns, please contact Jaleah Robinson.
6th Grade Wrote a Book!
Check out this awesome book created by the 6th grade.
Notes from Our Student Services Team
School-Based Mental Health Services: The Children’s Institute (CI)
ECS is excited to be partnering with CI to offer space for outpatient mental health services to occur within the school setting. This service can include traditional talk therapy and/or optional medication management, and is billed through your insurance. Enrolled students meet with their CI therapist during the school day. CI accepts a wide range of insurance providers! If you are interested in connecting your child with an outpatient therapist, reach out to your building-based school social worker for more information.
Sleep Resources
Daylight savings time starts Sunday, November 6th. General guidelines suggest school-aged children should be getting 9-12 hours of sleep each night and teens should be getting 8-10 hours. Wondering if your child is getting enough? Check out this article.
PAAR Virtual Parent Info Night
ECS has continued our partnership with the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) to provide our students with important lessons around boundaries and consent. Lessons will be conducted at Middle School in October and November. Join us for a virtual parent meeting on October 6, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. to hear what they will be talking about with your students! Click here to join the Zoom (passcode: ecs).
In Case You Missed It
Half-Day Dismissal Time
Middle School students are dismissed at 11:50 a.m. on Half Days.
Alma Reminders
Alma, our learning management system, allows you to check your student’s class schedule, contact staff, and review grading information. I highly encourage families to set aside time once per week to review grades and the status of assignment submissions together. If you are new to ECS, check your inbox (or spam folder) for an email from notifications@getalma.com sent on August 5th for instructions on how to activate your account. If you are returning and did not previously activate your account or forgot your password, you can request a link to reset your password by emailing helpdesk@ecspgh.org.
Last Month’s Hawk Highlights
Hawk Highlights will be back next month!
Important Dates this Month
10/5: Yom Kippur; no school for students or staff
10/6: Virtual parent night with PAAR, 6:30
10/10: Back to School Night @ the Middle School, 5:30-7:00
10/10: and 10/11 Staff Planning Days; no school for students
10/27: Band and Orchestra Concert. This event will also be live streamed.
10/28: ½ day of school for students
10/28: End of Quarter 1
11/1: Make Up Picture Day
11/8: No School- Conferences
11/9: Report Cards Available in Alma
11/11: Student Half Day - Conferences