January 2009 Archives

In an attempt to help allow all of the children get outside more often, we are asking for donations of snow pants, snow boots, mittens, gloves, hats and even winter coats.

These items will be kept at school to use as needed. If you have any gently used items, that your child/children have outgrown, please consider donating them to ECS.

There will soon be a box in the entryway where you can drop things off.
Thanks everyone!

Energy Week Co-Chairs
The staff at school is planning "Energy Week," with activities for the students to learn about energy conservation and alternative energy sources. It will probably happen in March. The staff is looking for someone to coordinate/oversee the week's activities. Would two parents be willing to step up as co-chairs for this week?

PR Volunteer
Is there a parent out there who has some experience dealing with the media? The school is planning and implementing several environmental initiatives which may be newsworthy. The staff needs help writing and sending press releases to attract the media.

Read more details about both of these tasks under Volunteer Opportunities on the message board and post a reply there or contact Marla Ferrency if you are interested in helping.

Curriculum Night
Thursday, Jan. 29th 6:30
You are strongly encouraged to attend the first Imagine ECS Curriculum Night.  The staff will share strategies and activities that you can use at home to help your child succeed as a reader.  We will also discuss some new reading initiatives that will be implemented for all students.  The whole family is welcome to attend but there will be no childcare provided.

Prospective Family Open House
Saturday, Jan. 31. 10 - 12
If you're able to be there to help the staff give tours and provide information, please contact parentinvolvement@ecspco.org.   We're also looking for bakers to donate for the event!

After-school Tutoring
The school is looking for after-school tutors. If you are interested or know of someone like a college student who may be interested in this part-time paid position, please contact Jon McCann at 412-247-7970.

Movie Night
Friday, Feb. 13th 7:00
Save the date for our first movie night of the school year, Feb 13th.  Movies will start around 7:00 and there will be three movie options. Kids (and adults too) are encouraged to wear pajamas and bring a sleeping bag or blanket.  This will be the first of 3 movie nights that will take place on the second Friday of each month through April. To volunteer to help organize and run Movie Night, please contact Angel Lehrian.

A bake sale will take place at this event - please consider volunteering to help run the table and/or to bake something to donate.  To volunteer for the bake sale, please contact Kerry Fogarty.

Imagine Environmental Charter School Open House Dates

Saturday, January 31st 2009 at 10:00 am
Saturday, February 21st 2009 at 10:00 am
Saturday, March 7th 2009 at 10:00 am

Come see what the school is all about. Get a tour, talk to current parents and experience firsthand why the school is so special.

Volunteers are still needed for all of the dates. If you would like to volunteer please e-mail parentinvolvement@ecspco.org

Imagine Environmental Charter Schools presents
Adventures in Spanish by ABC Spanish Playtime™

Registration for Winter-Spring 2009 Adventures in Spanish is underway. Your child
can learn Spanish in the way that he or she learns best, through play. Spanish
Adventures is a 45-minute after school program that immerses children in a Spanish-
language environment where they are engaged, stimulated, and integrated naturally
and seamlessly into the world of Spanish through specially designed interactive play,
songs, and hands-on activities led by native and fluent speakers. Classes start
January 28th thru June 5th. Tuition for the 18-week class will be $110 per child and
$95 for each additional sibling. Classes for grades K-1 will be held on Wednesdays.
Classes for grades 2-3 will be held on Fridays.

Extra enrollment forms are in the office.

The PCO is partnering with a local non-profit organization called Building New Hope to bring a unique monthly fundraiser to ECS. Building New Hope's signature coffee, roasted to a light French roast, yielding a medium body, crisp, full flavor cup of coffee comes directly from El Porvenir, a farming cooperative in Nicaragua. Buying this coffee guarantees fair market and living wages for the farmers. The farmers use recognized proper environmental practices from planting through processing. Shade-grown coffee reduces soil erosion and maintains a biologically diverse habitat for plants, birds and other wildlife. The coffee is certified organically grown by the OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association). Also available is a decaffeinated organic, fair trade coffee, using a chemicalfree water process, from cooperatives throughout Latin America. Read more at www.buildingnewhope.org/coffee.html.

ECS is making a 50% return on this fundraiser. At $13/lb, this is an easy way to support our school and drink some great coffee!

Order coffee by the 20th of each month for delivery on the first school day of the following month.  Turn this order form and your payment in to the school office or send in your child's folder.  If you want to take orders from friends, family, neighbors or co-workers, download this sign-up form for keeping track of sales.