ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH PITTSBURGH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ROBUST OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
For Immediate Release
ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH PITTSBURGH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ROBUST OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
PITTSBURGH (Sept. 18, 2024) — Environmental Charter School (ECS) hosted its 3rd Annual Out-of-School Time (OST) Activities Fair on Thursday, Sept. 12 with community partners and district-provided activities to support whole child development.
The event provided current ECS families with information about more than 10 of the district’s community partners including Thelma Lovette YMCA Gators Swim Team, YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, Venture Outdoors, First Tee -Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Rowing Association, Steel City Squash, The Kingsley Association, Assemble, EKTO VR Academy, Cub Scout Pack 343, Queen’s Gambit Chess Institute, Mad Science and Simon Phillips’ Dance Club.
“The OST Activities Fair provides families an opportunity to sign up for ECS specific programming like athletics and clubs, learn about community programming options and have fun with hands-on activities all while connecting to the district’s mission to foster a love of the environment,” Ashley Wellman, ECS after school programs and OST Activities Fair event coordinator said. “Our goal is to connect students and families to interest-based activities in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
In addition to the community partners that tabled at the event, ECS-approved programming recruited new team and club members. The district has a myriad of OST activities for students in grades K–12 including Ski, Anime, Mandarin, GSSU, KaPow! Cooking, D&D, EcoStewards, Flow Club and Biking Clubs. Student athletics from ECS’s basketball, cheer, volleyball, flag football, cross country and soccer teams also attended the event to meet potential teammates.
“The foundation of ECS’s athletics program is UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and we firmly believe that sports instill important values, foster teamwork and help students develop both physically and mentally,” Rob Van Rheenan, ECS athletics director said. “It was fantastic to see student-athletes participate in this year’s event to showcase their collaboration and openly welcome new members to the team.”
The OST Activities Fair had something for everyone including parents. ECS’s Parent Community Organization (PCO) and program coaches spoke to parents/guardians interested in joining a committee and volunteer coaching.
“This event is about community connections,” Kristan Abeshouse, director of community relations said. “We know that when we collaborate with students, staff, parents and community partners, we can have a positive impact on students’ lives. That’s why we provide this experience and work hard to not only promote ECS-specific programming but also the opportunities outside of our walls.”
ECS focuses on accessible and equitable OST programming by providing families who qualify for free or reduced lunch discounted activities pricing. Approximately 300 individuals signed up for the Sept. 12 event, and families who attended received early bird registration for Fall OST programming and were placed in a raffle to win a free club and ECS-branded gear.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Deana Callipare, director of communications
(412) 247-7970 x9200
About ECS:
The Environmental Charter School is a tuition-free, K–12, public charter school in Pittsburgh, Pa. ECS combines the academic rigor of the best public schools with a multi-disciplinary, “out-the-door” learning approach rooted in real world problems that build active, engaged and empathetic citizens. ECS Grows Citizens.
Photo Caption:
Students at the Environmental Charter School (ECS) learn how to create science experiments with community partner, Mad Science, during the 3rd Annual Out of School Time (OST) Activities Fair on Thursday, Sept. 12.
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