ECS aims to grow actively engaged citizens driving thoughtful change in the world around them by means of their ecoliteracy program. ECS is committed to building systems thinkers by means of having students explore the environment its ecology and diversity and applying interdisciplinary perspectives to engage and explore problems. ECS according to its Founding Principal and CEO Jon McCann aims to transform students into global citizens will need to be equipped with skills that allow them to be flexible thinkers creative problem solvers and effective leaders.
The prime directive of ECS' faculty and staff are to ensure all students succeed at a high level becoming problem solvers critical thinkers and thoughtful innovators who are prepared to thrive in our changing society. The organization and programs at the school are designed and continually refined in pursuit of fulfilling that aim. This is achieved by means of collaboration reflection and progressivism.
For example ECS features a Middle School Thinking Lab which employs Visible Thinking in order to build thinking dispositions. The goals of the Thinking Lab are for students to bridge art and science by :
- using verbal visual and critical thinking skills to identify understand and express problems that cross disciplines
- making connections between science art technology and design and
- incubating and activating within the lab an innovative learning community and inspiring active collaboration between ECS faculty and partner organizations.
Through focus groups surveys and classroom visits ECS has continued to expand to serve grades K-12 across three campuses by 2020. ECS identified four themes during its most recent growth phase - Programming Looping Schedule and Spaces - and created a framework for planning logistics and guiding decisions at the building level.
ECS across three schools: http://files.constantcontact.com/748f1a22101/47014fd6-676b-4151-81eb-52d0eff2e9d1.pdf
ECS aims to feed students with healthy and fresh food (85% of which is made from scratch) while keeping costs low and reducing food waste. Families are encouraged to complete a Federal Free and Reduced lunch form and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is used to feed children (via an English or Spanish number) breakfast lunch and/or snacks during the summer months. To these ends ECS has outlined a Wellness Policy.
Wellness Policy: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a1ed6c2f43b55b309dbceb3/t/5a833ba18165f53fdae0c8df/1518549926139/Wellnesspolicy17%252F18.pdf
ECS also has an accessibility/disability Civil Rights policy (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a1ed6c2f43b55b309dbceb3/t/5a2aec94ec212d9a4f2c320e/1512762516762/Civil-rights-statement.pdf) and counseling services to support students' social/emotional academic and career needs. Students are taught to build coping self-regulation and conflict resolution skills and are offered a variety of other counseling services.
ECS Counseling: https://ecscounseling.shutterfly.com/
Budget: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a1ed6c2f43b55b309dbceb3/t/5a4e61f99140b7211870a01b/1515086329293/2017-2018-Draft-Budget-Public-Review.xls-17-18-Budget+%281%29.pdf