Primary School Welcome Letter 24–25
Dear ECS Primary Families,
Welcome Back!
We want to wish all of our new and returning families a warm welcome for the 2024–2025 school year. We are thrilled to have our littlest learners starting a year full of learning, play, and joy!
At the ECS Primary, we are a family and truly believe that we are all on this academic journey together. We work hard, play hard, and take care of each other. We want each child and family to feel connected to each other and ECS. We know that it takes a village to support the growth and development of every child. Open lines of communication are essential for the success of our village, so please never hesitate to reach out to a teacher or principal. We are always here to collaborate. When we are all working together, we can support and empower independent learners who can change the world!
Our annual Meet & Greet is Aug. 16 from 4:30–6:30 p.m.! Students and families are welcome to visit our classrooms, find their names, discover their spaces, see their cubbies, talk with friends and teachers, find their former teachers, and tour the building and grounds. Since there are no formal presentations, please come when you are available and enjoy this flexible, social time with the ECS Primary Family. We are so excited to see everyone!
We hope that your little one returns to school on our first day, August 20, with excitement that we will continue to foster throughout the year by creating unique learning experiences that spark delight and wonder. We look forward to another year of learning with all of you. Kindergarten families, please ensure you know which day your child will attend for orientation days.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Meet your grade-level team
Take care, get outside, and play,
Ashley Bergman
What's new at the Primary School?
First Day To Do
Ensure the office knows how your child is getting home. ECS Primary is using Pickup Patrol this year. All families K–8 families received login information on Aug. 13.
Family members can walk their children to class during the first 2 weeks of school. After that time, please walk your student to the front doors only.
Please feel free to send a picture of you/your family to school as a comfort item for your child.
This article is a wonderful resource for supporting your child’s transition back to school.
Please keep in touch with school staff. Working together is the best way to support your child.
Outdoor Reminders
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 put sunscreen on your child prior to school as it may be sunny while we are outside!
Please send a change of clothes for your child to keep at school.
Arrival
Students being brought to school will be accepted between 8– 8:20 a.m.
Students will be accepted at the FRONT door only. The back gate will be locked.
Families may pull into the bus lane on S. Braddock Ave in front of the school for a driving drop-off.
Buses and cars will all drop off in the same location.
No child will be admitted through the back door.
When pulling into the bus lane, pull as far forward as drop-off traffic allows, then your child should exit the vehicle. DO NOT wait to get to the end of the sidewalk to unload your child. DO NOT wait for a staff member to open your door. We can fit more cars than we have available staff.
Your child MUST exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Your child MUST be fully prepared to exit the vehicle when you stop at the drop-off line.
Backpack on, materials gathered, hugs and kisses complete.
There will be multiple ECS staff present to assist students to keep the line moving smoothly.
Families are welcome to park in our local community and walk their child to the front door. Please do not block residential driveways.
If you arrive after 8:20, you must sign your student in at the front desk in the main office.
DO NOT obstruct or park in neighbors’ driveways and do not double park on the street.
Dismissal
Students are dismissed between 3:20–3:50 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 un-parked 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 2 p.m. Once at school, please sign your child out in the main office.
We will NOT dismiss any student from the front doors after 3 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.
In Case You Missed It!
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Get Your Clearances, Get Involved!
ECS values volunteers in our district. Individuals must have clearances uploaded into Raptor, ECS’s School Safety Software, in order to volunteer in any of our schools. Learn how to volunteer and what clearances are needed.
2024–2025 Calendar
View this school year’s calendar and subscribe to the online public calendar.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
ECS is a CEP district, and this year, all students K–12 are entitled to one free breakfast and one free lunch daily. ECS recommends that families add money to their student’s School Cafe account as there is a charge for a la carte items and second meals. ECS will not collect applications for Free or Reduced lunch. Learn more…
Coffee and Donuts with Dr. Dowd
Meet ECS's new CEO, Patrick Dowd, and enjoy coffee and donuts during school arrivals. Sign up for one of the events below!
Primary School: Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m.
Intermediate School: Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m.
Middle School: Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 8:20 a.m.
High School: Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:45 a.m.
Virtual Back to School Night
Save the date for the Virtual Back to School night on September 10th.
Activities Fair Save the Date– Thursday, Sept. 12
ECS will host its 3rd Annual Activities Fair on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Middle School. Join our clubs, sports, and activities advisors and ECS partner organizations for a fun-filled night of demonstrations, hands-on activities, and learning about out-of-school time offerings. Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-register for Fall out of school programming! Register today!
ECS Switch & Signal Family Skate Night– Friday, Sept. 13
Learn to skate in a controlled environment with ECS on Friday, Sept. 13 from 5:15–7:45 p.m.! Sign up for a group lesson or just come to skate at the park. Learn more…