Primary School December Newsletter (23–24)
Important Dates
12/6 - PCO Meeting at 6 p.m. at Middle School
12/7 - ECHS Boys Basketball Home Game at Kingsley at 5 p.m.
12/8 - ECMS Boys Basketball Home Game at Kingsley at 4:30 p.m.
12/8 - PCO Gingerbread House Event at 5 p.m. at Intermediate
12/14 - ECHS Boys Basketball Home Game at Kingsley at 5 p.m.
12/15–12/22 - Winter Wonderland Spirit Week
12/15 - Student Half Day
12/15 - Ski Club Fundraiser at Honeygrow
12/19 - ECMS & ECHS Instrumental Showcase at Middle at 7 p.m.
12/20 - ECS Board of Trustees Meeting at Middle at 6 p.m.
12/22 - Student & Staff Half Day Winter Break Begins
12/25–1/3 - Student Winter Break
1/4 - Students return from break
1/5 - ECS Spirit Day
1/8 - ECHS Boys Basketball Home Game at Kingsley at 5 p.m.
1/10 - ECS PCO Meeting at Intermediate at 6 p.m.
Dear Primary School Families,
As the frosty air settles in during this time of year, I try to remind everyone that time outside is still a huge benefit for our children. Our children need time outside, time to explore, and time to play. We need to bundle them up to spend time outside for recess, hikes, and classes. Please send your child to school with weather appropriate clothing. We will have abbreviated time outdoors if the “feels like” temperature drops below 25 degrees. Here is an article from the PA department of Health discussing the importance of outdoor play even in the cold weather. Have an amazing December and holiday season!
If anyone would like to donate hats and gloves, please feel free to drop them in the main office of Primary!
Take care, get outside, and play,
Ashley Bergman
Primary School Principal
ashley.bergman@ecspgh.org
What's new at the Primary School?
Half Day Adventures
Assemble will provide a 4-hour 1/2 Day Adventure on Dec. 15. Sign Up Today!
Snack Donations
ECS Primary will accept bulk donations of snacks for homebase. Attached is a list of safe snacks that any donated snacks must adhere to. Please note - there is a SNACK list and a TREAT list. Treats may only be provided for celebrations and must be approved by your classroom teacher. ANY foods brought in must adhere to this list.
Winter Wonderland Spirit Week: December 15–22
Friday, 12/15 (½ day): Snowy Day Extravaganza - Wear white today!
Monday, 12/18: Sweater/Sweatshirt Day - Wear your ugly holiday sweater/sweatshirt, your beautiful sweater/sweatshirt, or any sweater/sweatshirt today!
Tuesday, 12/19: Warm and Toasty Day - Wear your winter hat all day!
Wednesday, 12/20: Accessories Day - Wear your holiday/winter gear: headbands, necklaces, or anything you like.
Thursday, 12/21: Mad about Plaid Day - Wear plaid, checkers, squares, etc.
Friday, 12/22 (½ day): Holiday Colors Day - Wear holiday colors that represent you!
Boys’ Basketball
All families are welcomed and encouraged to attend Boys’ Basketball games. This year, ECS has two teams! Check out their schedules below and go Hawks!
Do You Live in Pittsburgh? Data Science Class Needs Your Help!
ECHS’s Data Science class is identifying community needs in Pennsylvania through an anonymous survey to send evidence-based recommendations to Senators through advocacy letters. To ensure a comprehensive data set, we are asking for YOUR help! If you identify as "living in Pittsburgh,'' please take this 5-minute survey by Monday, Dec. 11.
This Month’s Cultural Celebrations
This month, students will learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas.
In Case You Missed It!
Reminder: All electronic devices need to be turned into the office upon arrival including smartwatches. Please remind your child they need to turn devices into the office. If any device makes it to class, students will be sent to the office to turn it in.
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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. -
Primary School dismisses at 11:30 a.m. on half days.
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ME TIME is a time of day where students are working on skills and strengths in Literacy or Math. Students are in groups all over our school building to support those strengths and skills. They could be working with any of the educators in our school building in numerous locations. If you would like to know more about your child’s ME TIME please reach out to your child’s homebase teacher.
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Please send in a water bottle to school with your child. We are outside often and students need to be able to bring water along.
Please send hats, coats, and gloves for your child as it may be cold while we are outside!
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Arrival
Students being brought or bused to school will be accepted between 8:10 and 8:30 a.m.
Students will be accepted at the back and front doors only.
Do not stop or park on South Braddock Avenue; South Braddock Avenue is for buses only.
If you are driving by to drop off, please turn onto Brashear Street and drop your student off at the back gate.
If you do not see an ECS staff member at the gate, please find a parking space and walk your student to the back door
If you are walking your student to the front or back door, please park either on East End Avenue or Waverly Street.
If you arrive after 8:30, you must sign your student in at the front office. When ECS operates as a closed campus due to high community spread, families will sign students in at the table in the front vestibule.
DO NOT obstruct or park in neighbors’ driveways and do not double park on the street.
Dismissal
Students will be dismissed between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
Do not stop or park on South Braddock Ave; South Braddock Ave is for buses only. All pick-up students will be dismissed from the playground space behind the school.
Please park on either East End Ave. or Waverly St.
Do not park on Brashear Street.
Do not block the ECS gate/driveway.
Do not obstruct or park in neighbors’ driveways and do not double park on the street
No child will be permitted to go to an idling or unparked car.
Make sure to bring your dismissal sign. Your child will not be released to an adult without this sign. When you see your child please make sure the supervising adult knows you have taken your child before you remove them from the backlot.
Please arrange for early dismissals prior to picking your student up prior to 3:15 p.m. Once at school, please ring the front door and sign out your student in the office. ***Please note: When ECS operates as a closed campus due to “high” community level, families will sign students out at the table in the front vestibule.***
We will NOT dismiss any student from the front doors after 3:15 p.m.
During severe weather incidents (such as thunderstorms) families should still report to the rear of the building. Students will be dismissed from the two classrooms inside the two back doors.
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Lunch money is collected online. No cash is accepted at school as lunch money. Schoolcafe.com is our online payment portal. You will need your student’s ID number to add funds to the account. You may also obtain your student’s lunch ID by contacting Niki Hutcherson directly at niki.hutcherson@ecspgh.org. To assist in our record keeping and accounts, ECS strongly encourages families to add funds to your child’s account (suggested $20.00) to help cover last minute purchases. Families who require an alternate payment method can email payments@ecspgh.org or contact Sarah Kegarise in the Business Office at 412-247-7970 ext.9304 Meal participation invoices will be sent out monthly. Parents may also set up balance reminders on scoolcafe.com. Small negative balances can add up, and we appreciate your help in keeping our accounts up to date.
To find your student’s id, please log on to Alma.
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If a child forgets a lunch at home, he/she/they will be provided with an ECS school lunch. Families can then add money to the child’s account. Students will not be denied a meal or given an alternate meal due to a lack of funds on the account.
Primary School Hawk Highlights from Last Month!
