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Weekly Update
March 31st, 2024
Upcoming Dates
April 1st - 5th | CCSD Spring Break - ECHS Regular Schedule! |
April 1st | Happy Easter! | National Assistant Principal Week
April 5th | ECHS Prom | Friday Bell Schedule (clubs)
April 8th | 9th Grade Field Trip - Ranky Tanky
April 9th | WIN Testing (all Juniors) - New Date!
April 12th | Spring Blood Drive (schedule to Donate) | Friday Bell Schedule (Freestyle Friday)
April 15th | Tax Day!! | Spring Student Panorama Surveys (AVID Classes)
April 16th | Fire Drill @ 9:15 am | CIS - Claflin University Field Trip
April 19th | Friday Bell Schedule (Freestyle Friday)
April 22nd | ENG 2 / USHC (A-Day) Final Benchmarks
April 23rd | ALG 1 / USHC (B-Day) Final Benchmarks | Senior Check Out (Fines and items due)
April 24th | BIO Final Benchmark | 11th Grade Field Trip (Fort Sumter) | Senior Beach Day
April 25th | Senior Meeting & Carnival (Last Day for Approved Seniors!)
April 25th | Early Release (12:45 Dismissal)
April 26th | Teacher Work Day (No Students)
April 29th - May 3rd | ECHS Spring Break (No School)
May 3rd | TTC Graduation!
May 6th - May 10th | Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6th | Maymester Classes Begin (Juniors and select Seniors)
May 8th | Fire Drill @ 9:40
May 9th | ELA 2 EOC (writing)
May 10th | Friday Bell Schedule (clubs)
Extracurricular Information
Spring Blood Drive - April 12th
Please announce the last Blood Drive of the 23-24 school year will be held on Friday, April 12th. (Flyer is attached) Here is the link to donate: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/214453
All donors will receive $30 in e-gift cards as well as be entered into a drawing for a guaranteed prize!! Also, donors can earn 2 hours of community service.
New Dismissal Exits
New Procedure - Starting 3/21, students should only exit the building by using the ECHS main entrance stairwell (across from 204), and the North Hall Stairwell between rooms 233 (Passerella) and room 237 (King). Students will now use the same stairwells for arrival and dismissal!
Charleston County Department of Public Safety's Slip Internship
Student Leadership and Intern Program
Students will be assigned to the Department of Public Safety. They will attend training in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Consolidated Emergency Communications Center (ECC/9-1-1). Training will be provided free of charge with the focus being to prepare them for employment within the Department of Public Safety. The program is a paid part-time internship. Come Learn to Save Lives with Us! This paid temporary internship’s goal is to train and develop high school students to fast-track employment within the Charleston County Department of Public Safety’s Consolidated Emergency Communications Center and Emergency Medical Services once the student is eligible for full-time employment. Students will receive an introduction to areas such as Public Safety within Charleston County, the National Incident Management System, Basic Life-saving Instructions, and Emergency Telecommunicator Certification Course.
HIRING PAY RATE: $16.30APPLICATION PROCESS & DEADLINE: Submitted applications are www.governmentjobs.com
Social Norms Campaign: Dangers of Vaping
Student Support Services and Department of School Support are excited to launch a social norms campaign to help students reduce the misperception and further encourage healthy choices around substance use. We want students to learn to Follow the Crowd, and national data supports that the majority of students are not using vapes.
January Resource: "Follow the Crowd" video
February Resources: For Students & Families
March Resources: The effects and dangers of using marijuana -THC, cannabis, edibles, etc
Looking for information to share with families?
Invite families to attend the Dangers of Vaping: What Parents Need to Know Webinar on March 12 to learn the essentials for helping kids avoid or quit vaping.
Reminder: PM Homeroom Dismissal
It is imperative that students remain in their PM homeroom until the teacher has given the dismissal signal. Leaving the room prematurely may result in missing important announcements and information crucial for the school day. The walkie does not dismiss students; rather, it is the responsibility of the HR teacher to officially release students from homeroom.
Dismissal Reminders
We respectfully ask that students who are not feeling well be seen by Nurse Horton or Nurse Varvaro before calling a parent to pick them up.
Double Early Dismissal - Students with early dismissal are to leave campus at their assigned time. Students with early dismissal or double early dismissal are not permitted to remain on campus beyond their assigned departure time without prior permission.
National Honor Society
Applications to join the ECHS Chapter of NHS were hand delivered during homeroom and emailed to all eligible sophomores, juniors, and seniors on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 29, 2024 at 3:00 PM.
Failure to complete ALL parts of the application and/or submit the completed application by the deadline automatically disqualifies a candidate from membership.
In anticipation of a number of questions, we have provided a chart with answers to the most frequently asked questions about NHS at ECHS. If a student has a question that is not on the chart, please encourage him or her to reach out to either Ms. Kennerly at ashley_kennerly@charleston.k12.sc.us or Ms. Meadows at elizabeth_meadows@charleston.k12.sc.us.
TTC/ Dual Credit Restroom Use
Please be mindful that only one student is permitted out of class at time while in dual credit courses. Students should use the restroom as timely as possible so that other students are able to use the restroom. Vending machines are only to be used during TTC class break or during lunch. Students in study hall are not permitted to use the vending machines. This privilege is reserved for students on break in TTC courses.
9th and 10th Grade IGP Sign ups
Parents of 9th and 10th grade students, please follow the directions below to sign up for an appointment slot.
Here are the links for individual IGP sign-ups:
Ms.Cuttino- last names beginning with A-L
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/iUkCzbY
Ms. Rainsford- last names beginning with M-Z
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/vfpANte
If you have questions about senior IGPs, please contact Ms. Rainsford or Ms. Cuttino.
Fall 23-24 School Fines
Fine statements were communicated to parents/guardians before winter break. If your student owes fines, please pay at your earliest convenience - Early College High School (revtrak.net).
Fines may also be paid via check or cash. Please see Ms. Gallagher in Office 214 C to pay with a check or cash. A receipt will be provided as proof of payment.
11th & 12th Grade College Visits
Important Reminders & Quick Links
COVID -19 Update
As you all may be aware, this past Friday the CDC updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Due to the updated recommendations, the School and Childcare Exclusion List has been revised and is now available on the DHEC website. The following revisions were made regarding COVID-19:
- Criteria for return no longer includes that it has been at least 5 days since symptoms started for exclusion or as part of the criteria for return. The individual just needs to be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
ECHS Calendar Crosswalk
The ECHS/CCSD Calendar Crosswalk is linked here. Please refer to the ECHS/CCSD Calendar Crosswalk for the correct date should you receive a PowerSchool notification for an absence.
Early Sign Out
In an effort to ensure dismissal is orderly and smooth as possible, we respectfully ask that you arrive no later than 2:00 p.m. to sign students out early. This will allow us to effectively communicate with students and teachers as well as ensure we are able to meet your needs in a timely manner.
COVID-19 Update from CCSD Nursing Services
Per the updated South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Exclusion List, Charleston County School District's Nursing Services Department is no longer conducting positive case investigations for COVID-19. If someone reports they have tested positive, they should isolate for five (5) days from the onset of symptoms or the test date if they are asymptomatic.
The individual may return to school/work on day six (6) if fever-free for 24 hours. There is no mask requirement upon return.
Please know every school has the purple "IntelliSwab COVID-19 Home Kits" available for staff and families. The kits have an FDA-extended expiration date of January 2024.
Student Dress Code
General Rule = Clothing must cover areas from the neckline down to midthigh. Please see the CCSD Dress Code Policy for all guidelines regarding appropriate dress.
23-24 ECHS Academic Calendar
The Palmer Campus Clothing Closet
Community Service Opportunities
Ongoing Service Opportunities
Charleston Habitat For Humanity
Keep North Charleston Beautiful
Fresh Future Farm: Help with Gardening
Charleston Uplift: Homeless Advocacy
Park Circle Cares: Food Distribution
SC Aquarium (18+): Assist with animal care
Faith Lutheran Church is collecting hygiene items and non perishable food items. See Ms. Paul-Amador if you’d like to donate items for community service.
See Ms. Paul-Amador in room 205 if you have questions or need help finding a service opportunity.
ECHS Student Parking Application
Returning student drivers will need to submit a new application and provide updated documentation in order to drive for the 23-24 school year.
MiFi Hotspots for Internet Access
CCSD will be providing MiFi units and services to families demonstrating a need for the internet this year. We will make the application available as soon as we have it.
Point of Contact: Mr. Tomasello at james_tomasello@charleston.k12.sc.us
Transportation
Coastal Buses Remind Text Alerts
First View App ECHS Code: RMBQ
ECHS Bus Routes and Important Information
New: A list of ECHS stops and pick-up times will be sent out on Aug. 11th.
ECHS utilizes CCSD magnet bus stops and transportation procedures. Student addresses are provided to the transportation office by ECHS. Bus stops are routed to centralized meeting points.
CCSD policy establishes that magnet stops are routed within 5 miles of the students' home addresses. Families, therefore, are responsible for getting students to and from stops.
We expect bus routes to be published at this link in late July. Once published, if you do not see a stop within five miles of your home address, please complete the form at this link.
Pro Tip: Students may ride any ECHS-designated bus to and from school.
If you have any bus-related complaints throughout the year, please use this link to log your complaint. This is the way that CCSD tracks bus issues and shares them with First Student.
When using the School Bus Locator, be sure to use the picture below for reference.
Point of Contact: Mr. Tomasello at james_tomasello@charleston.k12.sc.us
Early College High School
Website: https://www.ccsdschools.com/earlycollege
Location: 66 Columbus Street suite 210a, Charleston, SC, USA
Phone: (843) 720-5701