ESA Weekly Parent Update

3/20 - Parent Caregiver Council Meeting @5

3/21 - Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day

3/21 - 8th Grade Ice Cream Social with STEM and Toby Farms @ ESA

3/21 - Annual Oratorical Contest and Art Competition

3/22 - March Madness Spirit Day: Wear School Colors - Burgundy and Gray

3/22 - ESA Has Talent - Talent Show

3/25 - 4/1 - Spring Recess

4/5 - End of the 3rd Marking Period

4/10 - EID al-Fitr - Schools and Offices Closed

4/11 - Parents Night Out 6pm - 8pm

4/15 - No school for students: Teacher in-service AM, Parent Teacher Conference PM

4/22 - 5/10 PSSA Testing Window

5/27 - Schools and Offices Closed for Memorial Day

We have space provided for students who are fasting during Ramadan. Please ask your scholar to check-in with their homeroom teacher to ensure that their needs are met.

All students and staff are encouraged to rock their mismatched socks on Thursday for World Down Syndrome Day.

Students in grades 5-8 participated in an information session on the Delaware County Technical High Schools and the 22 programs offered. This was a great opportunity for our scholars to learn about opportunities available to be Career and College Ready.

Ms. Farela Howie and Ms. Mary Payne, retired Chester Upland School District educators, and members of the Chester Inter-Greek Council, read books to our second and third grade scholars. The CIGC donated books written by African American authors to ESA in February.

Our Kindergarten and First Grade scholars had the opportunity to try out various instruments during the Musical Petting Zoo this week.

We are seeing an increase in Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub food deliveries. Please do not send your child food through these services. Many times, the food is left outside causing an unsafe situation. Students are welcomed to have a school lunch or pack their lunch, but Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub are not a safe or acceptable option.

We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Save the Date for a Parents Night Out Mixer along with our community partners DELCORA

When: Thursday, April 11th from 6 pm - 8pm

Where: Edgmont Scholars Academy

Why: To promote community engagement and build positive relationships

*more information to follow

Parents of 8th grade students, please bring class dues payments to the main office between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. If you have any questions pertaining to 8th grade activities, please email Mr. Barnes: mbarnes@chesteruplandsd.org

Please see the information below pertaining to the application process for STEM Academy:

- The 2023-24 Application will be online at: www.chesteruplandsd.org/stem/home

- March 4th - March 31st : Early Application Process - get your application in before Spring Break for an early decision

-The Application remains available

- Math and Writing Screener Days will be available during the school day for students who apply in March

- STEM Admissions Committee will review:

• Grades
• Attendance and Behavior
• Teacher Recommendations
• Essay

Please see the attached flyer for important details for the annual oratorical contest and art competition. We would love to see ESA students represented!

Free vaccines, healthy cooking classes, a wellness hotline for all of your health questions, free doula support at home before, during and after giving birth, and other services

https://delcopa.gov/health/

View their clinics and classes at

https://delcopa.gov/health/calendar.html

Williamson College of the Trades is excited to announce that it will hosting two different 4-day long, no-cost, residential trade camps this July for young men of good character currently in 11th grade (rising seniors, graduating in 2025) interested in exploring the trades. Write me back if interested in getting the application forms.

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Three events presented by Girls Spark

1. March 19th, 7pm Virtual Presentation "84 cents makes no cents". This event is open to women and girls nationwide. Information and the sign up for this can be found here: Girls Spark

2. April 20th, 6-9pm at the Media Community Center: Sparkle and Groove Dance Party!! Information can be found here : Girls Spark

3. June 1, All Day at Penn State Brandwine: Annual Girls Spark Summit. Information can be found here: Girls Spark

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Sat, March 23, 11am-2pm: Asthma awareness event, Let Us Breathe, at the ACCESS Center, 701 Booth St in Chester. Enjoy free lunch, family-friendly activities and prizes as we all learn more about community health and wellness.

Sat, March 23, 11am-2pm at Chester Park: Free Easter Egg Hunt.

Wed, March 27, 9:30am-12:30pm: Craft activities and nature scavenger hunt at Swarthmore College’s Scott Arboretum, 500 College Ave in Swarthmore. No registration required. Free transportation available upon request.

Sat, March 30, 12pm-1:30pm at Memorial Park: Free Easter Egg Hunt.

Save the date: Tues, May 7 is End Gun Violence Advocacy Day. There will be a free bus to Harrisburg and free lunch and tshirt for all attendees. Sign up at https://act.ceasefirepa.org/a/advocacyday24?ms=grant

Here at ESA we encourage our scholars to SOAR every day.

S - Safety

O - Ownership

A - Achievement

R- Respectful

Be Safe

-This means keeps self and others out of danger.

Take Ownership

-This means to take care of self, others, and school. I will make good choices that help me learn and do my best work. I am on time and prepared for success each day.

Achieve

-This means I will work hard, focus on my goals, and trust myself and my teachers. I know I will succeed if I commit myself to putting forth my best effort.

Be Respectful

-This means treat yourself and others with kind words and actions, address all students and adults by name. I will use kind words, help others, and display concern and compassion for others.

Has a staff member here at ESA made a difference for your child? Did a staff member go above and beyond for your child or family? This is your time to shout them out. We would love for families to fill out the Google form when a staff member has impacted you in a positive way, so we can celebrate them here at school.

Thank you for helping us to keep our staff encouraged, feeling appreciated, and giving their best to your children for a successful year!

Please fill in the short form below:

https://forms.gle/smcv4TfUDrNtkUXs5

Cell Phone and Electronic Devices

The use of cell phones and electronic devices are not permitted at ESA. Upon entering the school building students must turn off all electronic devices and keep them stored in their backpack or lockers (grades 5-8) If the electronic device is seen or heard by an ESA Staff member, the device will be confiscated. The first time the device is confiscated it will be returned to the student at the end of the day. For each infraction thereafter, confiscated phones will be turned in to the Dean and must be picked up by an adult. Confiscated phones will not be given back to the child. ESA will not assume responsibility for the loss or theft of any electronic device. Smart Watches are prohibited from being worn in the building. ESA reserves the right to reasonably search and/or confiscate any and all electronic devices to the extent allowed by applicable state and/or federal laws and regulations.

If any of your parent contact information changes, please notify your child's homeroom teacher. We need your most up to date phone numbers in case of an emergency.

While we acknowledge the fact that birthdays are occasions for celebration, we must maintain the integrity of our instructional program. To that end, we will allow parents to host monthly celebrations during the last 20 minutes of the day (3:10-3:30). At this time parents will be permitted to bring in cupcakes to share with the class. Only store-bought cupcakes in sealed packages are permitted to be distributed in school. Due to student/staff allergies, please keep in mind that ESA is a nut free, latex free, and seafood free environment. The items mentioned are NEVER permitted in the school building. For health reasons, please consider an alternative to food-based celebrations. You could donate a book or a game to your child’s class. You could bring in a stuffed animal or a tee shirt for the class to sign as a keepsake. You could donate pencils and erasers, or activity books to the class.

Monthly celebration days are as follows: Celebrations will only be permitted on these days. (No Exceptions)

Friday, March 22nd

Tuesday, April 30th

Friday, May 31st

Wednesday, June 12th