Exchanges Pull-Outs for Achievement

The Parent Community Organization newsletter of Imagine Environmental Charter School DECEMBER 2009 Vol. 2, Issue 2

A letter from Jon

SWAP In the coming weeks, we will be embarking on a new phase of our work here at ECS. With this in mind, Exchanges Pull-Outs I wanted to take a moment to explain our mission as we move forward. for Achievement Why does ECS have to expand? Our waiting lists are long and inquiries into current available space and future enrollment opportunities are constant. Our front office fields calls from across the nation from families relocating to Pittsburgh who are looking for quality choices in public schools. ECS continues to grow in stature and influence due to a learned and dedicated faculty that works closely each day with parents to ensure all students’ needs are met. Student achievement results have outpaced many local schools and we anticipate similar outcomes at the conclusion of year two. Each Friday since early October our staff conducts tours for prospective parents all seeking to enroll their children in the ECS program. It is

See A Letter from Jon, page 8

In this issue... By MIKE BENNETT Calendar...... 4 RiverQuest...... 6 Since special and gifted education became a typical feature of ECS Marketplace...... 7 American education half a century ago, students and teachers alike have had to cope with “pull-outs” from the classroom. Field Guide...... 9 Teachers would pull small groups of students, or even individu- Green New Year...... 10 als, out of the classroom for part of each day to receive instruc- Get Fresh: Recipe...... 11 tion specific to their skills or ability level. The rest of the students Book Nook...... 11 would remain and become, by default, the “mainstream”. New Book Program...... 11 Naturally, this situation creates problems for both students and Just 4 Kids...... 12 ECS Recess...... 15 See SWAP, page 2 5 Questions...... 16 SWAP Achievement continued from page 1 his or her level and end the practice improve performance in reading and teachers. Teachers have to cope with of “pull-outs” for good. Federal Pro- math. However, students still cover interruptions of their classes and recre- grams Coordinator and Literacy Coach these subjects in their regular classes; ate their lessons later for the students Dwight Laufman describes SWAP as an SWAP is designed to supplement, not who were pulled out. Special and gifted educational environment in which “each replace, classroom instruction, to give education students are separated from child is met where they are” in terms of teachers support focusing on strengths their peers, removed from the lesson, academic ability. “This is a time to look and weaknesses of each student in and often stigmatized socially. “Main- at the individual needs of each student specific grade-level skills. The school stream” students are left to wonder and meet them, whether that is reteach- uses various standardized tests—the what they’re missing—and the answer ing skills, practicing skills, or extending Terra Nova (soon to be the Stanford), is often special attention to their learning skills” he said. DIBELS, AIMSweb, and 4Sight—to figure out which skills need development needs. SWAP comprises 45 minutes of each or enrichment. ECS meets these problems head-on instructional day in grades one through through the SWAP program. SWAP— four, with kindergarten scheduled to In each grade, students split into short for “School-Wide Achievement join them in January. During this period, three groups, roughly defined by the Period”—is designed to afford each students work with Title 1, special teaching strategies required to best student individualized instruction at education, and classroom teachers to suit the needs of each; enrichment, practice, and reteaching. Enrichment groups focus on building the skills of high achievers and challenging these students to stretch themselves further academically. In re-teaching groups, teachers can spend time with students reinforcing skills and working toward goals that have been set, but perhaps not quite reached, in the traditional classroom. Practice groups strengthen skills that have been acquired in class, and establish solid grade-level achievement for each student. Though SWAP splits each grade into these three groups, students are not pigeonholed into unchanging catego- ries for the year. The SWAP program is designed to be dynamic in every way; teachers discuss the program in detail at weekly grade level meetings, and Mr. Laufman and other school administrators will reassess the program quarterly, with the help of the standardized

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2 tests. Teachers monitor each student’s weekly meetings and quarterly reas- points out that SWAP makes the great progress carefully to figure out which sessments help to point out the best teachers at ECS even better by giving teaching practices are working for projects and assignments by checking each one “the opportunity to … refine each student, or even move students in with student progress early and often, [their] practice” every day. between groups if achievement slips— and also to point out which projects or, as is often the case, if it improves aren’t working. dramatically. Also in store for the program’s future is Classroom teachers also rotate between greater incorporation of environmental enrichment, practice, and re-teaching topics, in keeping with the school’s groups quarterly to make sure that each mission of awareness and stewardship. teacher has the opportunity to work Currently, SWAP projects cover environ- with each group throughout the year. mental issues when possible, according However, teachers often find they are to Mr. Laufman. But as teachers and especially comfortable or effective work- administrators gather more information ing with a particular group, and decide and fine-tune SWAP, more effort will be they would like to remain with a group made to bring the program in line with from quarter to quarter. In these cases, the school’s environmental curriculum. administrators allow teachers a great Although SWAP requires extra work deal of leeway in making decisions. The from teachers and administrators and school makes every effort to balance can be, in the words of one teacher, a teacher autonomy and administrative “scheduling nightmare”, the benefits are control. obvious. Classroom teachers can focus The SWAP program is brand new this on lessons without worrying that some year, and is designed for constant students will miss instruction because of change and adjustment. Regarding pull-outs, and students get tailor-made the future of the program, Mr. Laufman education that focuses on their indi- wants to keep this ease of movement, vidual needs. Environmental Education but also to establish a baseline of prac- Coordinator Nikole Sheaffer, who works tice in each group, in each grade. The with the fourth grade enrichment group,

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3 What’s going on here? (local fun for your family)

Saturdays,1 p.m., all winter able gifts. Parents and staff will also have a the following Tuesday. We can also mail it chance to shop starting December 7. to you for an additional fee. Winter Nature Hikes Contact [email protected] Ages 10 and above. Cost is $25. Pre-regis- On Saturdays throughout winter, join for more info. tration is not required, but we suggest that naturalists and educators for family- you call ahead because time slots fill up appropriate, seasonal nature hikes at fast. For more details or to register call the Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. Powdermill Nature Reserve. These hour- Pittsburgh Glass Center, 412-365-2145 ext. 201. long hikes take place in snow, rain, wind, CarKids: One Horse or cold, so please dress appropriately. Open Sleigh Powdermill is the biological research Check out The Frick Car and Carriage Sunday, Dec. 5 - 12, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. station of Carnegie Museum of Natural Museum’s real jingle bells and sleigh, and WSCC Holiday History. Located in Rector, PA, amidst learn how people made wintertime fun with Gift SHop the rolling Laurel Highlands, wildflowers, sleighs, sleds and skates 100 years ago. The annual WSCC Holiday Gift Shop is a trees, songbirds, and salamanders can be Make your own wearable jingle bells. wonderful opportunity for area shoppers. examined by eye, ear, magnifying glass, Family program, kids ages 4–8. It’s a stress-free pleasurable way to find the and camera. The world-class research This event is FREE. For more information perfect gift for everyone on your holiday programs at Powdermill, including the e-mail [email protected] or call 412-371-0600. Includes take-home activity. gift list. Once again the main floor of the renowned bird-banding laboratory, take WSCC will be transformed into a unique advantage of the biodiversity of the boutique filled with original hand crafted Saturday, Dec. 5, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Allegheny Mountains. gifts. Net proceeds for this year’s HGS will Free, no registration required. Please note: be earmarked for increasing WSCC build- The December 12 hike will take place on Make-It-Now Sunday, December 13 instead of Saturday. Glass Ornament ing handicap accessibility. Funds collected For more information or directions, call A very special holiday activity and gift. so far helped with the installation of ramps 724.593.6105. Make your own colorful glass ornament for and handrails throughout the lower level. display in a window or on the tree. This is Visit the Wilkins School Community Center November 30-December 11 one of Pittsburgh Glass Center’s Make-It- website for more information. www.wsc- cpgh.org ECS Holiday Now workshops. Make-It-Now workshops are an opportunity to try glass making “on Marketplace at Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. The Holiday Marketplace is ECS the spot” in 20 minutes or less. an opportunity for students Just a reminder that the temperature of hot Family Workshop: to shop for gifts for their loved glass is 2,000 degrees. That’s much too Pretty Paper ones during the first week of December. hot to put your masterpiece in your purse Wrapping paper, gift tags, cards, and The Holiday Marketplace aims to provide a or pocket. We will slowly cool your artwork bows—get started on your list (and your selection of fair trade, sustainable, afford- over night and it will be ready for pick-up holiday fun!) with an afternoon of creativity. Make a cheery selection of paper items for your own use or for gifts. Hot chocolate and cookies make your time together complete! Ages 6–12, with accompanying adult. Advance registration and pre-pay- Gingerbread at ECS ment required. House Event $5 child members; $7 child non-members and guests. For more information e- mail [email protected] or call Dec. 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. 412-371-0600 Bring your family to make a gingerbread house at school. Saturday, Dec. 12, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Choose from the afternoon session at 12:30 p.m. (after the half day Family Snowshoeing of school) or the evening session Intro & Hike at 5:30 p.m. Shake the winter doldrums out of your Please pre-register! Contact Angel system with an easy, rejuvenating winter Lehrian at [email protected] walk in the park. We’ll start with the basics for details. of this fun winter sport and then hit the trails for experience. If there isn’t enough snow to snowshoe on the trail, we’ll try snowshoeing in the grass before walking along the trails.

4 at ECS Winter Concert ECS @McKinley Park. Cost is $5 per person, or $20 per family. Fee includes snowshoe rental. Supply is limited, so advanced Winter Concert: Dec. 8 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. registration is recommended. For more Students in grades 2-4 will be featured in this informal music event. The information, visit ventureoutdoors.org concert is free and open to the public with all students encouraged to participate. Join the ECS family for some fun songs and a few holiday Saturday, Dec. 12, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. selections for the festive season! Contact the ECS music teacher, Jon Erik Schreiber, Thumbwrestling at [email protected] at 412-247-7970. Tournament LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!! Calling all athletes to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh THUMB WRESTLING TOUR- NAMENT!!! Competitors welcome ages 5 and up, from gifted thumb wrestlers to enthused novices. Create a thumb wrestler identity, compete in the tournament or wave your pompoms for your friends and family to see who takes home the ultimate prize! All International Thumb Wrestling Competition Rules Apply (just kidding). lots of fun for everyone. Stations through- It Up Seminars are one hour in length, in- For more information visit: out the Conservatory will feature lots of teractive and designed to give participants www.pittsburghkids.org activities and crafts that reflect the beauti- a “quick dose” of information that can ful designs of nature. Let your kids make implemented immediately. The seminar will Sunday Dec. 13, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. a pinecone birdfeeder for the backyard, follow a short PCO meeting. Light refresh- Skate with Santa or take part in the snowflake decoration ments and childcare for school-aged Bring the kids and “Skate with Santa” contest. children will be provided. during this popular annual event at the For more information please contact Contact nikole.sheaffer@imagineschools. Schenley Park Skating Rink. The festivities Kelliann Walsh, at [email protected] com for more info. vatory.org or 412-622-6915, ext. 6904. will include music, refreshments, and an Monday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. opportunity to skate outdoors in beautiful Thursday, Dec. 31, 1 a.m. - 3 p.m. Schenley Park. Family Fun on MLK Day For more information, call 412-422-6523 or Family Dance Party Get ready for heat-defying acts of art and visit www.SchenleyRink.com. Admission Kick up your heels one more time in 2009 hands-on fun for the entire family on Martin is $4 for adults and $3 for youth (17 and as we transform the theater at the Pitts- younger) and seniors (60 and older). Skate Luther King Jr. Day at Pittsburgh Glass rental is $2.50, and skate sharpening is burgh Children’s Museum into a Family Center. Glass blowing demonstrations will $3.50. Dance Party with kid-friendly DJ Raw-Z. be ongoing throughout the day, plus you Pittsburgh Children’s Museum have a chance to Make It Now with beads. www.pittsburghkids.org Monday, Dec. 21, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Try your hand at making a glass bead for $15. Winter Solstice Hike Friday, Jan. 8, 5:30 p.m. at Free/$15 bead making. Pre-registration Join us for an evening of exploration on an ECS is not required. For more information visit easy 3-4 mile hike around Boyce Park. The ECS Game Night www.pittsburghglasscenter.org sun has set and we’ll see how our eyes Enjoy an evening of family fun adapt to the darkness. On the shortest during our first game night at ECS! Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. day of the year, we will enjoy the tranquility For more information contact marla@ ecspco.org. ArtKids: I Art of the evening, while listening for the February is all about love! Come look for critters that prefer the dark and stopping Thursday, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. examples of loving friends and family in occasionally to gaze at the stars. the paintings and tapestries of The Frick $8.00 non-member / $5.00 member. For Greening it Up Art Museum. Create a special valentine for more information, visit ventureoutdoors.org at Seminar ECS someone you love. This family program The PCO is hosting the Dec. 26-30, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. is for kids ages 4–8.Includes take-home Environmental Focus Group activity for an exciting and informative night for Phipps Family Fun Days For more information e-mail info@TheFrick- Pack up the kids and head for Phipps parents and community members! Give- Pittsburgh.org or call 412-371-0600 during the school holiday break. There’s aways, fast facts and fabulous prizes will be included in the presentation. Greening

5 RiverQuest + ECS = Adventure

BY SARAH ANDERSON There are so many ways in which our school is special. One of the finest examples is the environmental science curriculum, known as Using the Environ- ment as an Integrating Context (EIC). The curriculum is from the Green Woods Charter School, which is the only other environmentally themed charter school in Pennsylvania. Their curriculum has received an Exemplary Status Award from the PA Department of Education’s Office of Environment & Ecology. The educators here at ECS have adapted that curriculum to be specific to Southwestern PA. The curriculum has been further enhanced through local, community partnerships such as with organizations like RiverQuest. RiverQuest is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1981 as Pittsburgh Voyager, Inc. by a group of parents who wanted to use the rivers as a classroom. Their mission “is to connect the people to their environment through river education adventures.” RiverQuest operates a river- learning center on Explorer, a green pas- senger vessel on the Ohio River near the Carnegie Science Center. Students and teachers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia can utilize the services River- Quest provides. Programs are available to students from elementary school through tion ‘How healthy is our local stream?’ high school, and RiverQuest also offers by conducting a series of field studies on teacher training workshops. In addition, the creeks that flow into Nine Mile Run. there are a ticketed events open to the Students explored macro-invertebrate life, With the assistance of some experts of public as well as summer camps for school inventoried the living and nonliving things the Creek Connections program, students age children. RiverQuest has won numer- surrounding the creek banks, and did were able to conduct fieldwork on a small ous awards for their work in river educa- some basic water chemistry to understand and large scale and then engage in discus- tion. At an environment charter school in the various components of what a stream sion about the health of our waterways as a city with three rivers, studying the rivers ecologist may investigate to determine if a city.” is an important way of understanding the a stream is healthy. After completing this Mrs. Shaeffer also noted, “The RiverQuest health of our local ecological system. exploration in our own backyard, our fourth experience is ideal for our students, and RiverQuest’s educational philosophy is: graders moved to the boat to study the especially potent when supported by cur- larger question ‘How healthy are the riv- ricular work before heading on the boat. Tell me, I’ll Forget ers?’ with the assistance and expertise of What makes the RiverQuest program Show me, I Might Remember the RiverQuest staff. more meaningful for our students is in its Involve me, I’ll Understand “On the RiverQuest boat, students ex- connections to what we do in our fieldwork This classic philosophy mirror’s ECS teach- plored the above question by conducting before having the technical experience on ing practices and is another way River- similar fieldwork, but on a larger scale. the boat. Being on the boat, exploring and Quest and ECS make ideal partners. Students also had the opportunity to seeing our city from the water perspective study plankton samples from the rivers as is an experience in itself that builds knowl- Nikole Shaeffer, Environmental Education edge and impact beyond curricular ideals. Coordinator at ECS, explained how the an additional data point to support their 4th graders at ECS recently “completed a evidence as they investigated river health. By coupling the boat experience with our study focusing on the work and science of Students were then able to compare the curricular programming, we continue to a stream ecologist. Throughout their work data discovered in their own backyard build robust and unique science program- this quarter, students studied the ques- with the data discovered ‘downstream.’ ming for students at the elementary level.”

6 ECS Marketplace Looks to the Holidays—and Beyond

ECS isn’t your typical school, so it’s only Holiday Marketplace much more. They also produce ECS’s natural that its holiday gift market isn’t your hand-embroidered polo shirts. typical school fair, either. Guided by the Vendors www.handcraftingjustice.cedris.org Baskets of Cambodia was one of the school’s mission and spearheaded by the first businesses to open up new mar- Mr. Ellie Pooh is an eco-friendly, efforts of the PCO’s Fundraising Commit- kets for handcrafted items in Cambodia innovative company that sells 100% tee, the Global Holiday Marketplace aims to in 1996 after the war. With the help and handmade journals, stationery, crafts, provide a selection of fair trade, sustainable, dedication of talented Cambodians they scrapbook/photo albums and various affordable gifts for students, teachers and have created a growing business that grades of paper made of 75% elephant parents who want to do some holiday gift employs upwards of 400 people each dung from Sri Lanka and 25% post- giving. year and has sold over a million prod- consumer paper. Ellie Pooh Paper Why fair trade? ucts worldwide. They strive to produce is also sold at the Pittsburgh Zoo & eco-friendly products of original design Aquarium. Fair trade organizations offer a wide variety that are labor friendly, and exhibit great www.mrelliepooh.com/index.html of great, unique, often handmade products craftsmanship and quality. at really great prices. For example, here at SERRV is a nonprofit organization with www.basketsofcambodia.com ECS, students can choose from such things a mission to eradicate poverty wher- as candles, finger puppets, recycled paper Building New Hope is a volunteer- ever it resides by providing opportunity products, jewelry, chocolate and more—all driven non-profit organization based in and support to artisans and farmers for under $10 (many items under $5). Pittsburgh, PA and Granada, Nicara- worldwide. Through their work with gua that has been supporting grass- community-based organizations in 36 But it’s not just the great stuff. It’s about roots development projects in Central countries, they create economic op- the world, its resources and its people. You America since 1992. They sell the fairly portunity so these artisans and farmers can think about it like the “web of life” our traded organic coffee that has been can support their families and them- children study at school. Fair trade groups part of the monthly coffee fundraiser at selves. Their fair trade products include cultivate partnerships with their suppliers and ECS since last year. jewelry, ornaments, baskets, candles, contribute to the development of communi- www.buildingnewhope.org and other food and gift items. ties through educational, nutritional, environ- www.serrv.org mental, and health programs. In short, using Divine Chocolate produces qual- a fairer system of exchange serves to create ity and affordable fair trade chocolate Ten Thousand Villages is an excep- safer, empowering working conditions and bars. Divine is a leading fair trade brand tional source for unique, handmade ensure the rights of all people. of chocolate and a pioneer in the world gifts, jewelry, home decor and personal of socially responsible enterprise. The accessories representing the diverse How did it come to ECS? success of Divine means that cocoa cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin Most schools have some sort of winter holi- farmers in West Africa have a secure America and the Middle East. One of day shopping event during which students source of fair trade income that contin- the world’s largest fair trade organiza- can pick out gifts for their parents, siblings, ues to grow year on year. tions, the company strives to improve friends, or other loved ones. As those of us www.divinechocolate.com the livelihood of tens of thousands of who were here last year know, ECS had no disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries. Fair World Designs is part of the Fair such event in its inaugural year. Members of ECS is working with the local Squir- Trade movement that began in Europe the PCO’s Fundraising Committee knew they rel Hill branch to bring a variety of gift over 40 years ago. The Fair Trade pur- had to create a plan from scratch if it would items to our marketplace. pose has been a mission full of hope to happen this year, so they started meeting www.tenthousandvillages.com build small businesses of artisans to the about it several months ago. point of securing sustainable incomes. Women of the Cloud Forest, founded “There’s a wealth of fair trade products avail- Fair World Designs markets jewelry in 2001, produces beautiful jewelry in able,” Marla Ferrency said, “if you only know made from recycled paper beads. a never-ending range of colors, styles where to look.” Instrumental to the effort of www.fairworlddesigns.com and patterns using sustainably harvest- creating ECS’ fair trade holiday marketplace ed seeds from the dry tropical and wet HandCrafting Justice is a fair trade was Amy Sobkowiak, who arranged for the cloud forests of Costa Rica. (You may partnership working with women strug- procurement of the marketplace inventory have seen the rainforest beads on the gling for economic justice and indepen- and Ayanna Ramsey, who agreed to orga- lanyards used for volunteer name tags dence in developing countries. They nize it. in the ECS office.) The women also sew promote human dignity and justice by bags, hand embroidered with colorful, With its attention to environmentalism and creating opportunities for economic and accurate reproductions of North and equality, fair trade shopping demonstrates social transformation in part by market- Central American plants, birds, but- not only true ECS school spirit, but also holi- ing items the women make, such as terflies, and other animals. day spirit—no matter which winter holiday candle holders, finger puppets, jewelry, www.womenofthecloudforest.com you’re celebrating! coin purses, hand-made cards and

7 community process, formal applications will across the city for its program and its A letter be submitted to the City Planning Offices. Our mission. As the only environmental school new school is poised to become a regional in western Pennsylvania, we have the from Jon asset of which city leaders can be proud. exciting opportunity to lead the way and serve as a model for green building design continued from page 1 How will the building play a role in the and environmental integration in a public curriculum? clear we have an obligation to parents across school setting. We need your support and the Pittsburgh region to increase our school Ultimately unique to our moving forward with commitment as we move forward in the ECS capacity to the maximum extent in a way that the growth of our school is our power to Green Roots Project. Please plan to attend is consistent with our mission. bring this experience to the learning of our the first community meeting in January to children. We firmly believe that engaging Where are we in the expansion process? show your support. students in the design, concept and actual We look forward to moving ahead on the During the past year, Imagine Schools, implementation of an expanding building Green Roots Project in the coming weeks, board members, developers, architects, critically connects them to our community and will continue to keep our parents involved researchers, city officials and academics have and to the greater Pittsburgh region – an in this process from the very beginning. come together to steer our expansion efforts asset in creating students “rooted” in their Our mission is to engage students in an and ultimately craft an innovative and exciting world. Establishing connections in our built academically-rich, environmentally-focused new building design. In early January ECS and natural worlds connects students to educational experience, and the Green Roots will participate in a series of public meetings curriculum and impacts their perspective on Project will allow us to support this mission designed to provide community members the world as they become young adults, and and the overall values of our school. We with a comprehensive overview of all aspects later, decision makers. As we move forward look forward to your continued commitment of the school expansion plan. We are excited through this growing period, we would like to and thank you for entrusting us with your to share our onsite expansion plans with all refer to our movement as the “Green Roots child’s education. We are grateful for the constituents and look forward to integrating Project,” an initiative aimed at establishing opportunity to make a difference in your additional suggestions from the wider educational and environmental roots to our child’s life. community. Green and LEED building criteria city. will inform all aspects of our project as well Details will be forthcoming in the Wednesday How can you support our expansion? as the existing building upgrades ensuring folder regarding the community meeting that our school becomes a state-of-the-art Parent support and enthusiasm will schedule for 2010. educational facility. At the conclusion of the demonstrate the support ECS has garnered

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8 hikes offered for Unit 1 (All Living Things) the Animals Hike was Diary of the most popular. There were many reoccurring sightings of the Banded Tussock Moth the Field with its long, whisker-like tufts, and, of course, the ever- active squirrel. While hiking Guide with Mrs. Cowherd’s class, we had the opportunity to By Amy Bianco watch a squirrel (12 feet away or so) stuff its mouth I absolutely love autumn! The colors in Frick full of fallen leaves, bound Park were amazing these past few months up a beech tree and disap- as was the weather! Falling leaves beauti- pear into a hole between 2 fully illustrate nature’s self-sowing bounty. limbs. It would then reap- Trying to catch the leaves as they fell from pear and bound down the the trees was a favorite activity of some of tree for another bunch the classes. When the wind would pick up of leaves. It went on like and the leaves would rain down, we’d drop that a few times while everything and try to catch one. Catching a we watched quietly. twirling leaf is harder than you think, but if None of us had ever Mrs. Karichko’s class you manage to do so, it’s good luck! seen a squirrel actually demonstrating a food It sure has been a busy autumn. As of the building a nest! energy pyramid. second week of November, I’ve been on Some of the animals over 60 hikes with the students, soaking we found weren’t as wet or shine! While on the Plants hikes, common. One fine September day, we observed the changing of flowers to one Mrs. Brunger’s class walked out of the ladybug, then 5, seeds. We identified Spicebush with its door to find a young corn snake basking smooth, simple leaves and learned how then 15, then noticed them all over the right there on the steps. Mr. Tracey’s class houses we were walking past, and then to scratch a branch to smell it so we can stumbled across a plant with an absolutely identify it when the leaves are gone. We ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL! enormous camel cricket perched on the We had ladybugs in our hair and on our popped Jewelweed seeds and wondered end of it. While hiking down the Biddle why Pokeweeds have such pink stems! clothes! A little research on the phenom- Trail steps with Miss Raimondo’s class one enon explained that this is a behavior that For the Landmarks Hike, classes identified sunny afternoon, we noticed a very large man-made and natural landmarks during happens in conjunction with the weather orb web attached between two trees. One changing. our route. We made a simple map as we of the students commented, “That’s like walked and at the end of our hike the class AN APARTMENT!” Mrs. Karichko’s class Coming up for Unit 2 (Biomes, Burrows, would name it. Some of the more interest- had the opportunity to observe a Downy and Beds) will be a Stream Hike, a Micro ing hike names were, “Miss Raimondo’s Woodpecker defy gravity while searching Habitat Hike, and a Neighborhood Hike. It Great Big Superstar Rocket Spiderman for insects on the oak trees right above our will be getting colder, but you bet we’ll be Hike” and “Miss Sica’s Landmark Mystery heads. And I must mention the October out there bundled to the hilt ready to wit- Map Leaf Challenge Hike.” Out of the 3 20th hike with Kindergarten when we saw ness something amazing!

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9 10 green new year’s resolutions by Brian Byrd

1. Change all of your incandescent a great place to recycle things that cannot 8. Start a compost pile. Composting light bulbs to compact be recycled at the curb. Not only do they can reduce the amount of trash that goes florescent light bulbs. take appliances with Freon, computers, into a landfill, as well as provide good According to www. scrap metal, and building materials, fertilizer for gardens. “Inside a landfill, energystar.gov, they also take Plastics numbered there is little oxygen and little moisture. “An ENERGY 1 – 5 and used bicycles which Under these conditions, trash does not STAR quali- then get fixed up and given to break down very rapidly. In fact, when old fied compact someone in need. landfills have been excavated or sampled, fluorescent light 40-year-old newspapers have been found bulb (CFL) will with easily readable print. Landfills are not save about $30 5. Kick the bottled water designed to break down trash, merely to over its lifetime and habit by installing an under bury it. When a landfill closes, the site, pay for itself in about sink water filtration system. Our especially the groundwater, must be moni- 6 months. It uses family installed a $200 system two tored and maintained for up to 30 years!” 75 percent less energy years ago and the water tastes as good http://science.howstuffworks.com/ and lasts about 10 times longer than an or better than some bottled water. landfill.htm Here is a link on setting incandescent bulb.” However, when LED We cut down on the amount up a compost pile: www.dep. lights become available for home use, of plastic that we recycle as state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/ they will be significantly more efficient than a result. For us, I would AIRWASTE/WM/RECY- even CFL lights but without the mercury. say that the system has CLE/FACTS/COMPOST. Don’t forget: CFL bulbs must be recycled more than paid for itself. HTM and not thrown in the trash. Bulbs can We have a system with be recycled at Construction Junction. a three-stage filter and Visit www.constructionjunction.org for reverse osmosis. If you 9. Stop unwanted Junk more information. don’t want to install an mail. One site you may want under sink unit, then a to look at is www.dma- pitcher filter is better than choice.org. You can register 2. Winterize your home. Apply caulking straight tap water. with an email and then connect to around older windows and weather strip- other sites where you can opt out of credit ping around older doors to stop air leaks. card offers, magazine offers, coupons, Spray foam insulation can work well in 6. Unclog drains without using harsh etc. You just decide what you do not want basements to fill up any nooks and cran- chemical cleaners. There are several to see in your mail. You can directly con- nies. Also, if your garage is integral to the good recipes online, but here is the one tact companies that send you junk mail. house, make sure that the garage door that we have been using. Pour about ¾ Keeping you phone number unlisted helps closes completely to block any unwanted cup of dry baking soda down the drain, as well. There is additional information at airflow. There are gaskets made specifi- then pour ½ cup vinegar down the drain, privacycouncil.org. cally for garage doors that will help you and plug the drain with a rag or plug. Wait with this task. 30 minutes. Remove the plug, and pour boiling water down the drain. Repeat as 10. Maybe we can start a tie commit- necessary. tee to find ways of repurposing ties 3. Have your heating system that have been cut off of Principal checked by an HVAC profes- McCann. Perhaps one of the parents can sional. This should help you 7.You can also keep sew the destroyed ties into an eco quilt. to save money by making toxic chemicals out of sure that the system is run- your house by look- ning at peak efficiency. ing for vinegar-based There are more ways that we as a community cleaners rather than can work together, and within our own families, using bleach-based to make the world a better place than there is 4. Reduce, reuse, and re- cleaners. Many work space to print. It does not matter whether you cycle. Reduce waste by not just as well, but are less are trying to save money or better the planet, buying things that you don’t toxic and cheaper to buy start with the easiest things you can think of really need, reuse by finding new or make your self. Do a web and just keep going. Being environmentally uses for things you already have, and search for non-toxic cleaning conscious is not about inconveniencing recycle things that you cannot use any- supplies. There is a huge list of clean- ourselves, its about conserving the things that more. Construction Junction, www.con- ing supplies that can be bought or made matter most and getting the most enjoyment structionjunction.org in Point Breeze is inexpensively. out of what we have.

10 Get Fresh: A seasonal recipe from Jamie Root, Culinary Coordinator Sweet and sour meatballs INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons fine plain bread- For the sauce: 1 large sweet bell pepper, cut crumbs or corn flake crumbs into 1-inch pieces 1 pound ground chuck or 3 tablespoons vinegar round 2 teaspoons soy sauce, low hot cooked rice 3 tablespoons cornstarch sodium 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 can pineapple, chunks (15 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons grated or finely ounces) or preferably 1 whole 1/4 teaspoon salt minced onion 1 tablespoon soy sauce, low pineapple, cored, and peeled. 1/4 teaspoon pepper sodium Accompanied by 1- 8 ounce 1 tablespoon cooking oil container of pineapple juice

Preparation: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, egg, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, salt, pepper, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, bread crumbs, and onion. Shape into 1 1/2 in balls. In a large skillet, lightly brown meatballs in the vegetable oil. Drain well. Transfer meatballs to slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and cornstarch; stir to blend. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in pineapple with juice and bell pepper. If thicker juices are desired, combine more cornstarch with a little cold water and add, stir- ring, until thickened. Serve with hot cooked rice. Serves 4

The Book Nook New Book Program In exchange: Celebrates Birthdays • A permanent book plate will be ECS librarian Jackie Fulton selected the following placed in the book with your child’s books as appropriate to accompany EIC Unit 2: and More name and, if applicable, birthday. Biomes, Burrows and Beds. Enjoy! By Heidi Green • Your child will be the first to bor- The World That We Want (2005) row the selected book. It will be written and illustrated by Kim During its first year, our school delivered to the classroom on the Michelle Toft. library experienced tremendous child’s birthday (or other specified Using the familiar rhyming style of growth. The book collection went day). This is the House that Jack Built, from zero items to a whopping Toft artfully illustrates the intercon- 5,000 books by year’s end. A • Your child will be able to borrow nectedness of living things found strong foundation was established, the book for one week, in addition everywhere from rainforests to due in large part, school librarian to his/her regularly selected library beaches. Students will learn about Jackie Fulton notes, to “countless book. biomes, habitats and rare animals in volunteer hours and generous book these pages. In addition, they will pick up a few new All of the library books purchased donations from our families.” vocabulary words as they search the magnificent this school year—including books illustrations to find each of the 45 featured animals. This year, families can help the by acclaimed non-fiction author library collect books that support the Bobbie Kalman, titles by popular school’s environmental curriculum fiction writers Mo Willems and Lois Trout are Made of Trees (2008) written by by participating in a new Student Ehlert, and works about Pittsburgh April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Kate Recognition/Birthday Book Pro- sports teams—are available for the Endle. gram. “Families who want to honor Book Program. The title may sound silly, but this an excellent their child’s birthday or congratulate Interested? Contact Mrs. Fulton non-fiction title for younger students. Not only will them on their hard work can do so for details or see previews at the students have a better grasp of at any time during the school year,” food chains by the time they monthly PCO meetings. Brief de- Mrs. Fulton explains. are done reading this book, scriptions of the available titles and they will also learn about ob- Families who wish to participate in order forms can be found on the serving nature in a scientific this program may donate $10 to- school website. (Visit the “Download manner. ward the cost of a new library book. Forms” section.)

11 just 4 kids First Grade Focus: Butterflies

The first grade students at ECS love to learn almost as much as they love sharing the facts they know. “We know so much about butterflies.” they insisted with excitement at the end of their first EIC (Environmental Integrated Curriculum) unit. The students studied Monarch Butterflies as part of 8-week long unit that included writing poetry, reading butterfly literature, creating butterfly masks and investigating Monarch habitats at the Frick Park Nature Center. The unit designed to work learning about the environment into the traditional disciplines was a big hit with the students and the teachers. “There is so much interesting information out there, the kids just seem to absorb it so fast” Miss. Rypczyk said.

Kathryn, from the Frick Environmental Center, shows Miss. Rypczyk’s first grade class a Monarch habitat.

First Graders’ favorite “Monarch Monarch wings are “Monarchs butterfly “Their proboscis covered with are poisonous scales.” facts: is like a snake’s —John to birds.” tongue. They use it to eat nectar.” — Mackenna —Grace

12 Help the Monarch butterfly get to the meadow.

“Butterflies help by pollinating milkweed and other plants.” —Miles

“The caterpillar crawls around on the milkweed and eats the leaves or the pods” —Elena

T A N R S W A H E R Find all the words in the puzzle then read the unused E N E A A C I P R E letters to reveal a fact about M N M L O R A N u E butterflies.

T E O L H A N L G P ABDOMEN LEGS T T D I H E A D E S ANTENNA PROBOSCIS W N B P E N T Y T S CATERPILLAR PUPA EGG SCALES H A A R T H O R A X HEAD THORAX O u S E A N D S P E LARVA WINGS C I E T S O F B u T G G E A T E R F L I E S I C S O B O R P A v R A L E G S S T

Created by puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com

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14 • Should the PCO purchase different types of equipment? • Should we use our funds to transform ECS Recess: the playground into a colorful pattern of Healthy Hopping “sidewalk games”? • What kind of equipment would be the or Troublesome most useful and lasting? Perhaps, the type of equipment purchased is Tagging? not the important issue. • Is it possible to have a staff member (or volunteers) on the playground to facilitate creative play and teach group games? • Can we enlist older students to organize and lead traditional playground games for our younger students? Our hard-working students need intermittent have more freedom to choose what they downtime to learn effectively each day. Many want to do and with whom. • Would semi-organized activities like studies have shown long-term memory weekly scavenger hunts or nature game How can ECS provide a fun atmosphere benefits derived from the creativity and inspire our children or take away from that is also safe and beneficial for each novelty that recess brings into the routine of their free time? student? the class schedule. VISIT OUR PLAYGROUND during recess You might not know that the ECS PCO Some parents believe that elementary and see what our children do when they are purchases our playground equipment school recess contributes to healthy peer not in their classroom. ($150 per semester) only to have it break or socialization and character development disappear in record time. The children are LET US KNOW what you think about when it is more structured and monitored by offered jump ropes, hula-hoops and dodge ECS recess and ways we can improve this adults. (The problem is having enough adults balls, which are often prematurely knotted, valuable time. Join in the discussion at: on hand to assist.) Others believe that recess mangled and crushed from misuse. http://ecspco.proboards.com time should NOT be directed. Children should

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15 To contact us, email: [email protected] Contributors: questions Sarah Anderson Brian Byrd Kirsi Jansa Molly Bennett Emily Escalante Ailish Luedde Get to know an ECS community Mike Bennett Marla Ferrency Felicia Turano member better through 5 inane Amy Bianco Heidi Green questions...this month, Sharon Leavitt, School Nurse

1. What is your favorite Kennywood ride? comPOST is printed on 100% recycled paper. I like to watch the Sky Coaster. I marvel about what is going through the minds of the people who are riding it. I just don’t have the desire to experience that much fear. 2. Who was you favorite teacher when you were growing up, and why? Mrs. Anderson, 3rd grade. She was groovy. We learned The Parent Community Organization newsletter of Desiderata, an anonymous poem about how to live life Imagine Environmental Charter School is distributed to with grace, and a few Elton John songs one line at a every family attending ECS in addition to many Partner time. I still remember each of those. She was about as Organizations and a broad range of community support tall as the rest of us and fit into the refrigerator box for groups. ComPOST is also available online at www. reading groups too. She allowed me to clean the chalk environmentalcharterschool.org/ board, grade the spelling tests, water the plants, feed the hamster and generally make a pest of myself after school. Insertion Fees: When I moved away from Pittsburgh to Cleveland, she 1/8 pg (3 5/8” w x 2 3/8” h) ...... $15$18 and her husband (a regular volunteer in our classroom) 1/4 pg (3 5/8” w x 4 7/8” h) ...... $24$30 took me out to Eat’n Park for lunch to say good-bye. 1/2 pg (7 1/2” w x 4 7/8” h) ...... $42$55 She made a lasting impression. Oh, I learned a lot too. full pg (7 1/2” w x 10” h) ...... $80$100 3. Describe your perfect Pittsburgh day... Deadlines: First: I get up at 7:00 AM and go for a 2 hour mountain All materials are due the 1st of each month for publication bike ride in Frick Park. I arrive home before anyone in the next month’s issue. has missed me, the sun is shining, the weather warm, I haven’t crashed. Next, my family and I go to Eat’n Park Submission Guides: (my favorite kid-friendly restaurant) where I have Grilled Preferred ad format: high-resolution, press-optimized PDF Stickies and eggs, easy over, coupled with an extremely ﬁle. Acceptable formats: InDesign, Quark, Photoshop and large Chai Tea. Then we go to a park, play frisbee golf or Illustrator. For a small fee, we will design your ad! something, generally play and have a good time. Or, if it Send inquiries/ﬁles to: is summer time, we put our boat in on the South Side, [email protected]@ecspco.org motor over to the Allegheny River and water ski, tube and swim all afternoon. While on the river, we stop at the Crow’s Nest in Sharpsburg for dinner. I will have a yummy seafood dish. That night, after the kids are in bed, I watch a romantic comedy with my husband who is thrilled about the evening’s movie choice. 4. If you could, who would you cast to play you in a movie made about ECS? Meg Ryan 5. What is your favorite spot in Frick Park? The “Iron Grate” single-track mountain bike trail at the top behind the baseball fields. It’s fast, has nice swoopy switchbacks, roots, a few places to catch air, a few log hops, an off-camber, steep downhill section and a teeter- Imagine Environmental Charter School totter feature. Big fun! Whoo-Hooo! 829 Milton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412-247-7970 | environmentalcharterschool.org