August 21

2nd Week of School at ECHS

This has been such a challenging week.  On Sunday we learned that one of our alumni from the ECHS Class of 2020 Nathan Garza was shot and killed while working at Safeway in American Canyon.  This shocking and tragic event has hit the ECHS community so hard.  Our hearts go out to Nathan's family and friends and we are so sorry for their loss.  We will continue to have extra support staff available to talk with and support our students who are coping with tragedy.

Wednesday, which was our 6th day of school and the rest of FSUSD's 1st day of school, we woke up to fires in our community and found out school was optional as many of our students and staff struggled with either having to evacuate or deal with losing power and internet access in their homes.  Students who were unable to attend class will be receiving an excused absence for 8/19.  All high school and college classes were then canceled for yesterday and today 8/21.

Unless something changes we are on track to return to both high school and college classes on our regular schedule on Monday, 8/24.  If you or anybody you know from ECHS has lost their home or are displaced due to the fires, please reach out to me either through email or phone 707-410-0267 (cell).  There are supports that we can provide to help those in need.  We truly appreciate all the first responders who worked so hard to keep us safe.

Textbooks

Susan Harris, Beth Davisson, and I were working on the textbook requests but were told to evacuate the campus mid day Wednesday.  This has put us a few days behind schedule on checking to see if we have the requested books on our shelves, ordering books we don't have, and getting books ready for pickup.  We plan to be on campus Monday and will be processing books and scheduling pickups.  We apologize for the delay and we will do what we can to get them to students asap.  

I am confident that the SCC professors will be understanding in this time, but if any student has an issue where a book is needed right now for work that is due Monday or Tuesday please email me directly at johnpi@fsusd.org.  I have been able to purchase a few online additions of books for students that are in immediate need.

School Supplies/Hotspots

If you are in need of school supplies or don't have access to internet in your home please email or call Susan Harris at susanharr@fsusd.org.  We will work on getting you needed school supplies and possibly a hotspot to access internet from home.

Club Rush

With school being cancelled Thursday and Friday we have moved Club Rush to Monday, 8/24.  A link will be sent out to all students in the morning with information about each club and details on when the meetings will take place.  Many of our clubs will start meeting next while others are on pause until we return to campus.  Clubs are not required, but we do encourage all students to join at least one club.  

 

Kindness

ECHS is a program of choice where students have come looking for an alternative to a traditional high school program. Due to our recent expansion ,we have a few spots at the 10th and 12th grade levels but long wait-lists at both the 9th and 11th grade levels.

One of the things that make our program so special is we have students from all over Fairfield and Suisun that come together to form our school.  We have built a truly amazing community at ECHS.  Students look out for each other and care for each other here.  We aren't perfect and not every student is friends with each other, but we absolutely expect all students to show kindness and respect towards each other, especially in these difficult times.  

I am so proud of the ECHS students for how we have started this year in the Google Meets and the collaborative groups that are being formed in our classes.  Our mentors are reaching out to our new students and we are doing our best to support everyone.  Please remember that we are all in this together.  The school year has started off in ways nobody expected, but we will get through it together and ECHS will continue to be a truly outstanding, model program.  

Please reach out to me; School Counselor, Mae Valles maev@fsusd.org; School Secretary, Susan Harris susanharr@fsusd.org; and of course your individual ECHS teachers if anybody needs help or support in this challenging time.  We are here to help and want everyone to be safe, supported, and successful at ECHS!