Primary School Oct. Newsletter (21–22)

Dear Primary School Families,

Wow, what a start we have had to the school year. We are so happy to have our students here and for school to feel real and “normal” once again. However, normal is not our old normal. It is our current state of normal that could change at any time due to the continuing pandemic. We have great days, we have difficult days, and we have the days in between. Each day, however, is in service to your children, and the ECS Primary staff members show up for your little ones to do everything they can to make them feel loved, safe, happy, and to help them grow as learners. We LOVE working together with you at home, and we need to work together as a team for your child to see them flourish. Please keep in touch with us at school if you need anything, have questions, or are worried. We are here for you and happy to help in any way we can. I want to acknowledge that this is a difficult time, but together, we can get through this. Together, we can give your little ones what they need. Together, we can grow and learn.

Take care, get outside, and play!

Ashley Bergman

What's new at the Primary School?

Best of Luck Ms. Stanton!
Assistant Principal Kelly Stanton’s last day at ECS Primary is Oct. 8. Please wish Ms. Stanton the best of luck in her new adventure. She thanks you all for welcoming her into the ECS Family.

Tour the Primary and Intermediate School

Primary Newsletter
Since ECS is a closed campus and many of our families did not get a chance to tour their child’s building, we are offering a self-guided tour of the primary and intermediate buildings on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9-11 a.m.

Please be aware that only 3 rooms will be available to see because we will need to deep clean them over the weekend to get ready for school on Monday. Thank you for your understanding.

Primary School Picture Days
The Primary School picture days are rescheduled for Oct. 19–20. Check out the schedule below:

10/19 - 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, KA, KB
10/20 - KC, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D

School-Based Mental Health Services: The Children’s Institute (CI)
ECS is excited to partner with the 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 our school social worker Jessica Segal (x9431) for more information.

Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is much more than just a state law. Attendance patterns in elementary school can have lasting impacts on student achievement in middle school, high school, and beyond. While missing one or two days a month may not seem like a lot, within a school year, that student will miss out on 10% of learning opportunities. If you need help establishing routines around attendance, please reach out to your school social worker for support: Jessica Segal (K-5) x9431.

In Case You Missed It

School Nurse Information
Please see the communication from Dr. Cribbs on Pooled COVID-19 testing at ECS along with the consent form for your child. If you have any questions concerning the Pooled COVID-19 testing at ECS, please feel free to contact Nurse Karen Ieong at karen.ieong@ecspgh.org.