Category Archives: PCO Events

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

Read more about teacher and staff appreciation week and check out photos from the different events here!!

We Reached Our Goal! Teachers and Staff will receive gifts $50 Gift Cards to Target this Friday, May 12th!!!

The 2023 ECS Staff Appreciation Week is scheduled to take place from Monday, May 8th through Friday, May 12th. There are many events planned for the week and we need your help making it a success.

Description of the events can be found below. Please consider signing-up to help HERE

  • Monday, May 8th – Chalk Art & Flowers
    • Families are encouraged to come to various ECS school buildings on Sunday, May 7th from 3-5PM to help decorate the sidewalks in front of each school
    • ECS staff will be welcomed to these chalk art/messages on Monday when they arrive.
    • Flowers will also be delivered to the offices and staff lounges at each building (thank you Tia Chutz) 
  • Tuesday, May 9th – Macarons & Coffee
    • Macarons will be delivered to each build for staff to enjoy (thank you Jocelyn Mayr)
    • Coupons for a FREE cup of coffee will also be available to ECS staff courtesy of Ineffable Caphe
  • Wednesday, May 10th – Lunch & Gift Basket Raffle
    • Lunch tentatively planned for PS/IS staff to enjoy (thank you Carol Ann Welsh)
    •  Two gift baskets will be raffled for staff at each building
  • Thursday, May 11th
    • Lunch tentatively planned for MS/HS staff to enjoy (thank you Carol Ann Welsh)
    • Plants/herbs will be delivered to each staff member (thank you Michelle Boehm)
  • Friday, May 12th
    • Target Gift Cards will be distributed to staff with a $ value based on funds collected from the Staff Appreciation end-of-year staff collection
    • Staff will also have the opportunity to designate books they may want to add to their collection for parents to purchase at the bookfair later that day
    • Consider having your kiddos bring in art/cards that show their gratitude for their teachers and other ECS staff 

WE REACHED OUR GOAL!!!!!!

Blooming Bash 2020 ONLINE AUCTION

UPDATE: Auction winners announced here

The Blooming Bash, ECS’s annual adults-only party, is the most important PCO fundraiser of the year. Proceeds support the PCO general fund, which provides critical funds for community events, school programming and projects, mini-grants, classroom support, and so much more. In light of the Covid-19 related event cancellation, the Blooming Bash auction is moving to an online portal. This format is new to all of us, but we are hopeful participants will be able to bid, have fun, and support our wonderful ECS PCO! Bid on auction items and buy raffle tickets here.

Frick Park Scavenger Hunts

Experiencing some cabin fever? While it’s important to exercise social distancing, it’s also important to exercise our minds and bodies. With that in mind, the PCO would like to offer a unique opportunity to enjoy one of our outdoor classrooms, Frick Park, with a scavenger hunt! We dug these maps and clues out of our archives from past events hosted by the PCO. Now we are offering them so your family can choose your own time to explore the park in a unique way. Just download and print any of these sets of maps and clues to get started — and be sure to keep your distance from others enjoying the park and playground!

For the following clues, start your hunt at ECS Intermediate School (listed as ECS Upper School on some of the maps) at 829 Milton Ave. or at the clay tennis courts in Regent Square:

(Note: some of the clues reference the ECS Ecostewards site and/or the Knotweed Ninja — or other obsolete structures in Frick Park — consider these spaces FREE spaces on your bingo grid since the site isn’t currently being maintained and there is obviously no one available there to answer your questions.)

2014
Grades K-2 clue set A | Grades K-2 clue set B | Grades K-2 clue set C
Grades 3-5 clue set A | Grades 3-5 clue set B | Grades 3-5 clue set C
Grades 6+ clue set A | Grades 6+ clue set B | Grades 6+ clue set C
view/download 2014 map

Spring 2015
Grades K-3 clue set A | Grades K-3 clue set B
Grades 4-5 clue set A | Grades 4-5 clue set B
Grades 6+ clue set A | Grades 6+ clue set B
view/download Spring 2015 map

Fall 2015
Grades K-3 clue set A | Grades K-3 clue set B
Grades 4-5 clue set A | Grades 4-5 clue set B
Grades 6+ clue set A | Grades 6+ clue set B
view/download Fall 2015 map

2019
Grades K-3 clue set*
Grades 4-8 clue set*
view/download 2019 map
* for best printing results, change your printer layout to “Landscape” (not “Portrait”) when printing the clues


For the following clues, start your hunt at Blue Slide Park/Upper Frick Park along Beechwood Blvd:

2016
Grades K-3 clue set
Grades 4+ clue set
view/download 2016 map

PCO Event Cancellations

We are saddened to announce that both the Blooming Bash (March 21) and ECS Movie Day (March 27) have been postponed. With the Blooming Bash only a week away, and Movie Day in the near future, we made the decision to postpone now, and give attendees time to make alternate plans.

The decision to postpone our events was reached out of an abundance of caution to protect against the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, and under the advice of ECS administrators. While there is no immediate local threat at the moment, that could change at any time. We will look into re-scheduling our events for later this Spring.

In the meantime, we will soon process full refunds of all advance tickets for Movie Day. Look for an e-mail today from our volunteers.

For Blooming Bash tickets, we will have information out shortly. Expect an e-mail soon.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

If you have additional questions, please contact our Blooming Bash team (bloomingbash@ecspco.org) or our Movie Day volunteers (movies@ecspco.org).

ECS Movie Day at Waterworks Cinemas

3/12/2020 UPDATE: ECS Movie Day has been postponed. The decision to postpone our events was reached out of an abundance of caution to protect against the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, and under the advice of ECS administrators. While there is no immediate local threat at the moment, that could change at any time. We will look into re-scheduling the event later this Spring.

Please join the ECS PCO for a day at the movies! We’re thrilled to offer a private showing of Mulan at the Waterworks Cinemas in Fox Chapel. The first 100 people registered will have access to our private theater. After that, ECS families will be placed in the general showing around 2:20pm. A parent or guardian must stay with your child/children for the duration of the film. Please register below by Tuesday, March 24th.

Movie: Mulan (opening day!)
Rating: PG-13*** (see below)
Runtime: 1 hour and 55 minutes
PRIVATE SHOWING FOR ECS FAMILIES (first 100 people registered)

Date: Friday, March 27, 2020
Time: 2pm
Where: Waterworks Cinemas (NOT the Waterfront)
930 Fox Chapel Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Cost: Tickets are $8.50/adult, $8/child* and concession specials (small popcorn/drink) will be available at the door for $5.

TICKET SALES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.

*Please note that financial assistance is available. Contact movies@ecspco.org.

** Note that the ticket price includes Paypal service fee

*** Mulan is rated PG-13 for “sequences of violence” – namely martial arts and battle sequences with no bloodshed or gratuitous violence. You can watch a trailer here. Synopsis: To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China. Waterworks will also be showing a PG or G rated film (like the movie Onward) to the general public around the same time, if parents prefer.

Blooming Bash 2020

3/12/2020 UPDATE: Blooming Bash has been postponed. The decision to postpone our events was reached out of an abundance of caution to protect against the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, and under the advice of ECS administrators. While there is no immediate local threat at the moment, that could change at any time. We will look into re-scheduling the event later this Spring.

Family Game Night – January 31

Please join the PCO and the staff of ECS for a fun-filled evening of games, awesome prizes, pizza, and friendly competition! Whether you’re a fierce competitor or a novice beginner, there will be something for your family! We will have some board games available for all ages, and we encourage you to also bring your own games to enjoy. Don’t forget to buy a couple of delicious goodies from the bake sale between games in addition to enjoying your free pizza (limit: 2-3 slices per person). The event is open to all ECS families, however, please RSVP by Wednesday, January 29 as the Intermediate School cafeteria has limited space. We hope to see you there!

Friday, January 31, 2020, 6-8pm
Intermediate School Cafe

NOTE: We have closed the RSVPs for Family Game Night. We have reached capacity. If you would like to be put on the wait list, please sign up here.

If you reserved a spot and know you cannot attend anymore, or if the number of rsvps has changed, please contact gamenight@ecspco.org. We can then contact people on the wait list.

Volunteers are still needed. Please consider signing up.

Contact: gamenight@ecspco.org.

ECS Ski Days

We are very excited to be offering two options to get ECS family and friends out on the slopes this winter: ECS Middle School Ski Club (7th and 8th grade only) and ECS Family Ski Days. This is a parent run initiative and club. Click here for more information.

If you have any questions, please email Molly Bennett

Save the Date for the 2020 Blooming Bash!

Join us on March 21 for the Blooming Bash, the ECS PCO’s adult-only fundraising and social event and biggest fundraiser! This year’s event will support the PCO general fund so we are able to provide wonderful family programming and support our ECS staff. Enjoy a night out with drinks, munchies, dancing, games, silent auctions, raffles, and more.

Tickets available now!

While you are out shopping this holiday season (or receive a gift that you might not need), please keep the Blooming Bash in mind! When school resumes in January, we will start collecting items to fill themed gift baskets to be auctioned off during the event. We’ll share collection logistics in the new year. Our baskets will all be built around two larger themes: Family Fun and Get Outdoors. More info.