Newsletter Archive

comPOST was a bi-monthly newsletter which served as forum for communication among the PCO, ECS parents, ECS students and the school administration, as well as the surrounding communities, from 2008 to 2013. We provide this archive as a representation of the school and its strong community of support during its five inaugural years.

Call for Volunteers! If you are interested in relaunching this newsletter, please contact the PCO.

Vol. 5 Issue 5 June 2013

  • Imagining Our Playspace
  • Letter From Jon
  • Letter From the ECS Board
  • Cybersafety
  • Community Connections
  • Help Us Grow! Summer Garden Volunteers
  • 6th Grade Greek Olympics
  • Success of the Bash
  • Flying High with Air Quality Awareness: School Flag Program at ECS
  • Take a Hike in Riverfront Park
  • Summer Music Events for Families
  • Earth Nite at ECS
  • A First Grade Essay
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Favorite Farmers’ Markets and Our Growing
  • Food Service Program
  • A New Pecking Order for One ECS Family
  • Power Your Green Home
  • World Dossier Project in 7th Grade
  • Konnichiwa in E-Day
  • Community Coffee at Biddle’s Escape
  • 5 Questions from an ECS Student

Vol. 5 Issue 4 April/May 2013

  • Reimagining Our Green School
  • Letter From Steve
  • Renovation @ ECS: Making Ecologically Literate Choices
  • ECS PCO Spring Flower & Plant Sale
  • Our Collaboration: Letter from the ECS Board of Trustees
  • EcoSteward Heroes: ECS families adopt our park spaces
  • 5th Annual Earth Night Celebration
  • What’s Happening? Events in the community for you and your family
  • Your Invitation to the pARTy! of the year
  • 6th Grade Student Book Reviews
  • Making the Most of MAKESHOP: Kindergarten and First Grade Partner with the Children’s Museum
  • The PCO Parent Liaison Committee
  • MOO tracks: “Take-a-Hike Amy” discovers the fusion of drums, guitars and cows
  • Bully Movie Screening
  • RE-ELECTronics: Fundraising opportunity through Orro
  • New ECS Car Magnets
  • PCO Mini Grant Update
  • What’s Cooking @ ECS
  • RECIPE: Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Allergen Free Foods and Resources
  • ECS Family Cooking Night
  • Your CLEAN & GREEN Home
  • A Thriving Civilization in 7th Grade
  • Waxing Poetic in E-Day
  • It’s Only Natural at Animal Nature
  • 5 Questions from an ECS Student

Vol. 5 Issue 3 February 2013

  • Being Tested
  • Letter from the ECS Board
  • A Symphony for ECS
  • In Our SPACE: Our relationship with the classroom environment
  • ECS Kids Comix
  • What We Are Reading in 5th Grade
  • Take a hike! Amy Bianco visits the historic and changing Nine Mile Run Trail
  • What’s Happening Around Here? Events from ECS partners for you and your family
  • ECS PCO Blooming Bash pARTy!
  • Architects of Graham Houses
  • ECS ART in the community: Children’s Museum Exhibit Features 5th Grade Projects
  • ComPOST Help Wanted
  • ECS Parents: Are your kids growing out of their uniforms?
  • Discovering Our World: 2nd Grade Celebrates Cultural Traditions
  • PCO Mini Grants
  • Two Worlds United: ECS Students Making a Cultural Connection
  • Grow Pittsburgh: Cooking With Our 4th Graders
  • Water Conservation in Your Home
  • Call for Spring Chicken Farmers
  • Student Voices: 7th Grade Students Publish “A Memory Map”
  • A Cool Treat from the Sierra Club in E-Day
  • Our new neighbor… 61B Coffee House
  • 5 Questions from an ECS Student: Stacey Formal

Vol. 5 Issue 2 December 2012

  • Cultural Literacy at ECS
  • A letter from Tawana
  • Your Gifts to ECS
  • Connections in Counseling
  • Focus on the Coaching Team
  • Take a Hike! Amy Bianco takes you on an adventure in Settler’s Cabin Park
  • Fall Event Photographs
  • USA Navigators: Course Set at ECS
  • Getting to know… Women of the Cloud Forest
  • Holiday Marketplace
  • E-Day Wednesday Workshops
  • PCO Mini Grant Awards
  • What students are Reading Now: 3rd and 4th Grade
  • Eco-Literacy for the Holidays
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Festive Recipes: Muhammara and Hummus
  • What’s Happening Around Here? A sampling of local events for you and your family
  • Your Green Home: Fighting the Chills
  • Student Voices: Selections from ECS 7th Grade Students
  • 5 Questions from an ECS Student

Vol. 5 Issue 1 October 2012

  • Thinking Outside the Classroom
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Building Ecoliteracy: ECS’s Cultural Literacy & Environmental Literacy Blocks
  • Take a Hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to Duff Park
  • What’s Happening Around Here? Events from ECS partners for you and your family
  • Josh & Gab Show
  • ECS Family Tree
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Fun Recipes for Fall: Butternut Squash Gratin and Vegan Molasses Ginger Cookies
  • Your Green Home: A look at how families can cut costs and go green
  • What Are We Reading in Class? 1st and 2nd Grade
  • Lower School Receives “Walk to School” Prize
  • In Training: ECS Kids of STEEL Marathon Club
  • Student Voices: Writing Selections from ECS 7th Grade Students
  • Art Attack, Caveman Style!
  • Getting to Know… Springboard Kitchens
  • 5 Questions from an ECS Student
  • Mini Grants

Vol. 4 Issue 5 Summer 2012

  • Academics moving forward at ECS
  • Increasing eco-literacy
  • ECS summer hours
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Farmer’s markets
  • Photo memories
  • Take a hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to The Seldom Seen Greenway
  • ECS summer events
  • E-Day’s greatest hits

Vol. 4 Issue 4 May 2012

  • Forward Thinking: ECS’s Unique New Lab
  • Book Bash Results
  • Earth Day Parade
  • Getting to know… Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse
  • Take a hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to Riverview Park
  • Playing Catch-up with ‘Pink Slime’
  • Get Involved at ECS
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Recipes: Ratatouille and Roast Chicken
  • Local Events: goings on in your community
  • Join Urban EcoStewards

Vol. 4 Issue 3 February 2012

  • The PCO’s Book Bash
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Palatial Park Place is Practically Perfect
  • First Grade Hits the Ice
  • Take a hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to the Carrie Furnaces
  • Getting to know… East End Wellness Center
  • Family Game Night at ECS
  • Simple Green: small ideas to make a big difference
  • A parade of puppies, pinnipeds and projects in E-Day
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Recipe: Homemade Granola
  • Local Events: goings on in your community
  • 5 Questions: Deirdre Lynch

Vol. 4 Issue 2 December 2011

  • Mini-grant, Maximum Impact: Mini-Grants make the most of PCO fundraising
  • A Letter from Jon
  • E-Day Program partners with the Endangered Species Action Team of the Sierra Club’s Allegheny Group
  • Quick overview: unexcused absences
  • Take a hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to Highland Park
  • Getting to know… Jewart’s Gymnastics
  • Photo Essay: The Pumpkin Parade
  • ECS family brings fair trade to the Holiday Marketplace
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh.
  • Recipe: Ribollita (Tuscan Bread Soup)
  • Environmental Club for ECS adults
  • The Book Nook: Kids Edition
  • PCO 4th Annual Fall Festival
  • Toys For Tots Drive

Vol. 4 Issue 1 October 2011

  • Inside Park Place
  • A Letter from Jon
  • How to speak ECS: curriculum lingo
  • Take a hike! Let Amy Bianco guide your family excursion to Schenley Park
  • Getting to know… The Edgewood Club
  • Pull-out Poster: 2011-2012 ECS Family Tree
  • What’s happening? (Local events for you and your family)
  • Kelsey’s Kitchen: Where ECS goes to get fresh
  • Recipe: Cranberry Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Streusel
  • Grow Pittsburgh
  • The Book Nook
  • PCO Mini Grants
  • 5 Questions: Ashley Frye and Vanessa Jackson

Vol. 3 Issue 4 April 2011

  • Radio Heads: ECS students share their stories on the air
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Test Your Knowledge: Are You Smarter than a Fourth Grader?
  • Treehouse brings outdoor learning to Frick Park
  • Getting to know… eco ike
  • Talent Show
  • Earth, INK: Chatham volunteers teach creative writing to E-Day students
  • What’s that growing on the roof?
  • Parents tackle gas drilling
  • Get Fresh: Seasonal recipes from Jamie Root (Rhubarb Vinaigrette)
  • The Book Nook
  • Alone at Home program coming to ECS
  • Knotweed beware… ECS Urban EcoSteward group is back!
  • He said, she said: awards in school?

Vol. 3 Issue 3 February 2011

  • The long road to expansion
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Mini-grants
  • Join us on the Executive Committee!
  • Disney Planet Challenge: 3rd grade takes on native planting
  • Getting to know… Le Mix
  • Kindergarten: Play in Pittsburgh
  • First Grade: Invention Convention
  • Are you ready for the summer?
  • Get Fresh: Seasonal recipes from Jamie Root (Stained glass cookies)
  • The Book Nook
  • He said, she said: Holidays in school?
  • Take a hike! (With a Field Guide)
  • Raptors come for a visit at E-Day
  • Holiday Marketplace a success

Vol. 3 Issue 2 December 2010

  • Morning Glorious: Morning meeting brings ECS together
  • In their own words: 4th graders’ take on morning meeting
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Partnerships: ECS cares for waterways with RiverQuest and Creek Connections
  • In memoriam: Aimee Weslowski
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Doing good: ECS students donate 705 pounds of food
  • Walk About: Walk to School Day and the Pumpkin Parade
  • Getting to know… East End Food Co-op
  • Holiday marketplace: fair trade shopping for ECS
  • Get Fresh: Seasonal recipes from Jamie Root (Holiday Left-over Sandwiches)
  • Know your home’s score
  • The Book Nook
  • Sierra Club teaches E-Day students about sea turtles
  • PCO Mini-Grants
  • The Zombie Walk
  • 5 Questions: Thomas Pasquale, Physical Education

Vol. 3 Issue 1 October 2010

  • ECS makes improvements, inside and out
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Urban EcoStewards: ambassadors to our parks
  • Volunteers: We need your help!
  • ECS Community Partner: Penn State
  • Getting to know… Legume Bistro
  • ECS Family Tree 2010-11
  • 3 Days at McKeever: A Journal Through the Eyes of Three 4th Graders
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • The Book Nook
  • Get Fresh: Seasonal recipes from Jamie Root (Watermelon Salad and Heirloom Tomato Salad)
  • Take a hike! (With a Field Guide)
  • E-Day Hits the Ground Running
  • 5 Questions: Margaret Sinnott, First Grade

Vol. 2 Issue 5 June 2010

  • Growing Pains: ECS Divides and Conquers Expansion Plan
  • A Letter from Jon
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Diary of the Field Guide
  • 10 green things to do this summer
  • Fourth graders travel to McKeever Learning Center
  • The Dream Job Series… Making Dreams Come True/Compass Club
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root (Rhubarb and Berry Trifle)
  • The Book Nook
  • E-Day hatched chicks!
  • First Grade hosts an “Invention Convention”
  • 5 Questions: Heather Dessell, First Grade

Vol. 2 Issue 4 April-May 2010

  • Habitat Explorers: Building Connections, Building Community
  • A Letter from Jon
  • PCO Mini-Grant Awards
  • Black and Gold City Goes Green!
  • Diary of the Field Guide
  • Obama’s and Parents’ New Battle: No Child Left Behind
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Become an ECS Urban EcoSteward
  • We Will Not Bully Others
  • 10 Green Gardening tips
  • Spring 2010 Book Fair a Success
  • New Faces at ECS
  • The Book Nook
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root (Easy Whole Wheat Personal Pizzas on the Grill)
  • 5 Questions: Mike Brown, Maintenance Supervisor
  • comPOST is Seeking Volunteers

Vol. 2 Issue 3 February-March 2010

  • Technology in Our Classrooms
  • A Letter from Jon
  • Sierra Club Visits E-Day
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Everything you ever wanted to know about snowflakes, but were afraid to ask
  • ECS Holiday Marketplace a success
  • The Charter Corner
  • Diary of the Field Guide
  • 10 Green Cleaning Products
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root (Warm Wheat Berry Salad)
  • Book Nook
  • The World According to ECS kids
  • E-Day Gets a Presidential Surprise!
  • A Different Kind of Time Out: Be Out There Resolution
  • 5 Questions: William Tracey, 4th Grade Teacher

Vol. 2 Issue 2 December 2009-January 2010

  • SWAP Exchanges Pull-Outs for Achievement
  • A letter from Jon
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • RiverQuest + ECS = Adventure
  • ECS Marketplace Looks to the Holidays–and Beyond
  • Diary of the Field Guide
  • 10 green new year’s resolutions
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root (Sweet and sour meatballs)
  • The Book Nook
  • New Book Program Celebrates Birthdays and More
  • Just 4 Kids (First Grade Focus: Butterflies)
  • ECS Recess: Healthy Hopping or Troublesome Tagging?
  • 5 Questions: Sharon Leavitt, School Nurse

Vol. 2 Issue 1 October-November 2009

  • Extended Day Students Help Endangered Species
  • A letter from Jon
  • What’s New in Food?
  • ECS students “happier and healthier” with recess before lunch
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Treespotting: The Maidenhair Tree
  • What does the PCO do? Why do they exist? Who are the members?
  • That’s debatable: yearbook
  • Diary of the ECS Field Guide
  • 5 Questions: Rachel Sica, 4th Grade Teacher
  • Book Nook
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root (Cheeseball)
  • Parking Reminders
  • Just 4 Kids
  • Environmental classroom wish list
  • Green your Halloween
  • Fair Trade Global Holiday Marketplace coming to ECS
  • You are here. Volunteer.

Vol. 1 Issue 5 June-Summer 2009

  • Moving Forward, Looking Back: Board members rate the success of ECS’s first year
  • A letter from Jon
  • The kids speak out
  • 10 Ways to help kids connect with nature
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Treespotting: MAD Horse
  • That’s debatable: homework
  • Diary of the Field Guide
  • 5 Questions: Melissa Raimondo, Kindergarten Teacher
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from John Lash (Granola)
  • Summer Reading for Parents and Teachers
  • Celebrating Earth, Day + Night
  • End-of-the-Year PCO Fundraising Report
  • ECS Students Give Back to the Community

Vol. 1 Issue 4 April-May 2009

  • Food for Thought: John Lash brings his vision to the table
  • A letter from Jon
  • That’s Debatable: Uniforms
  • 10 Steps to Green Eating
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Treespotting: Black Cherry
  • You Are Here. Volunteer. (Volunteer Photo Essay)
  • Field Guide: Giant bird nest?
  • Cleaning up local school buses
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from John Lash (Roasted Red Pepper Sauce with Rotini & Broccoli)
  • Principal McCann’s Library Picks
  • 5 Good Rules to follow when you drop off your children
  • Recycling
  • Umoja visited the E-Day Children
  • Advertise in comPOST

Vol. 1 Issue 3 Feb-March 2009

  • Our Outdoor Classroom
  • A letter from Jon
  • ECSPCO.ORG has launched!
  • Granted: library receives $1,000
  • Principal McCann’s library picks: A Forest of Stories: Magical Tree Tales from Around the World and Stellaluna
  • Meet Amy: ECS Field Guide
  • 10 ways to have a greener spring
  • Treespotting: Sycamores
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • Reindeer Penny Wars cultivated giving and goofiness
  • Gingerbread madness!
  • Volunteer Hub is here: Get Involved!
  • Get fresh: A seasonal, money-saving recipe from John Lash (Vegetable Stock)
  • 5 Questions: Joe Burke, Third Grade Instructor
  • Special thanks
  • Small Grants for Big Ideas
  • Advertise in comPOST

Vol. 1 Issue 2 Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009

  • ECS is going [even] greener
  • A letter from Jon
  • What a fabulous fall!
  • 10 Ways to green your holidays
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from John Lash (Tortellini Soup)
  • Book of the Month: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  • What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)
  • You are here. Volunteer.
  • Easy Ways to help your school grow
  • 5 Questions: Shannon Merenstein, Art Guru
  • Top 5 Most Unusual Teacher Wishes
  • Green Tips: Tips for Pet Owners
  • Sports + Recreation @ ECS
  • E stands for much more than “extended”
  • Advertise in comPOST

Vol. 1 Issue 1 Sept.-Nov. 2008

  • Stepping back to admire the view: A brief history of the PCO
  • Letter from Principal Jon McCann
  • Events Calendar
  • Green Tip: It’s easy being green
  • You are here. Donation and Volunteer Opportunities
  • How to succeed in fundraising without really trying
  • Kathy Hoel’s Library Pick: Insects are My Life by Megan McDonald
  • Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from John Lash (Zucchini Tostadas)
  • 5 Questions: Nikole Sheaffer, Environmental Specialist
  • Imagine Excellence
  • Advertise in comPOST