Primary School February Newsletter (23–24)
Important Dates
1/7 - PCO Meeting at Middle at 6 p.m.
1/9 - K–5 Dental Screening
1/9 - SkiECS Trip
1/9 - PCO Game Night at 5 p.m.
1/15 - Order Deadline: ECS PCO Pepperoni Roll Sale
1/16 - Student Half Day, Staff Professional Development Day
1/16 - SkiECS Trip
1/21 - ECS Board of Trustees Meeting at Middle at 6 p.m.
1/22 - ECS Lottery
1/23 - K–5 Career Day
3/1 - ECS Spirit Day
3/1 - First Day of Women’s History Month
Dear Primary School Families,
During January, ECS Primary students were trying to save the snowman by showing safe, kind, and responsible behavior in all of our shared spaces. If classes were noticed for their behavior, they received a snowball to place in our collection bin. With the days away from school due to the weather, we haven’t saved the snowman yet, but we are still working on it. Once we reach 3 feet of snow, we have a school-wide celebration with a pajama day and other in-school activities to celebrate our safe, kind, and responsible choices. In February each year, we also focus on showing kindness. Last year, we created a kindness chain and surpassed our goal of 100 links on the chain– we showed 191 acts of kindness! This year we are creating a kindness kraken. We will build chains for each of the legs of the Kraken and display it in our school for all to see.
Take care, get outside, and play,
Ashley Bergman
Primary School Principal
ashley.bergman@ecspgh.org
What's new at the Primary School?
Snack Donations - ECS Primary will be accepting bulk donations of snacks for your students’ homebases. 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.
Changes of clothing - Mud season is coming up! Please ensure you send a change of clothes and shoes/boots if possible with your child. They will be outside and they will get messy, we would like to have the ability to let them change clothes and be comfortable during the day.
Attention 2nd Grade Families! Registration is now open for Intermediate Aftercare with Venture Outdoors for the 24–25 School Year.
This aftercare program is daily until 6 p.m. and includes environmental and recreational outdoor activities like: geocaching, hiking, snowshoeing, fishing skills, crafts, creek exploration, trail games, free play and more. During daily "wind down time" students play board games, cards, artwork, work on homework, and relax. Students will also enjoy special half-day off-site adventures including kayaking, biking, and rock climbing! Learn more about pricing and part-time options…
Register for Summer Sports Camps
ECS is hosting 3 weeks of summer sports camps at its Intermediate School location for rising 1st–6th graders. Sports include soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, kickball, and more. Learn more and Register today!
Register for YMCA Summer Camp
While the YMCA will not offer a summer camp at ECS this year, they would like to invite your child(ren) ages K–14 to summer camp at the Homewood YMCA, which is less than 5 minutes from ECS! Camp at the Homewood YMCA includes STEAM activities in the newly renovated Maker Space, physical activities in the gym, and outdoor play spaces as well as time in the garden with support from Phipps Conservatory. Space for the summer camp is limited. Register today…
This Month’s Cultural Celebrations
February is Black History Month. Students will learn about the history, art, and science contributions of Black and Brown individuals.
In Case You Missed It!
Primary students collected 838 items for our food drive this past month!!!
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!
