ECA News: The Inside Scoop

It’s been an eventful week here on campus, with academic demands ramping up a bit. Most students have had their first quiz, test, paper, speech, or lab completed and graded already. It’s a good time to check in and check grades at home for both ECA and EMU classes.

This week, we had our first at-large ECA Pi meeting. It was wonderful to see so many new and returning parents/guardians, and we have some exciting plans taking shape! I hope to see a lot of folks at tomorrow’s tailgate - more information below, in the News, about that. And we have a Dine to Donate scheduled for Oct. 8 at Aubrees on Whitaker Rd.!

Next week on Thursday, our annual all-school Unity in the Community event will take place from 3:45 until 5:00 p.m. in the King Hall Multicultural Courtyard. This is always a really great time to gather, have fun, see what clubs and organizations our students can join, and celebrate the incredible diversity of our school community.

Please review the “Dates to Remember” section of ECA News; in a few weeks, we have some big events that impact schedules and we want to make sure everyone is well-prepared for that!

Enjoy your weekend - with a special cheer for EMU's Hoco! Go Green!

~Dr. Fischer

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20th, is ECA PI's Tailgate party and EMU’s Homecoming Game! The Tailgate starts at 11am and will include a Chili Cook-Off, snacks, games, and fun!

For the game: If you bought your ticket through ECA PI, you must show your ticket to the folks in the parking lot to avoid the $10 parking fee. The exact tailgating spot can be viewed HERE and on the ECA PI’s Facebook page (password is Tenacity).

Don't forget: ECA students get FREE tickets to EMU’s games - CLICK HERE to sign in or create an account using your emich.edu email and use the promo code EAGLENATION. You must show the QR code that you will receive to get into the stadium.

PLEASE BE ADVISED that EMU's clear bag policy and metal detectors will be in effect, so please plan ahead.

If you have any tailgate questions, please email Sherry at sherryv@med.umich.edu or Lucinda at cindabechtol@gmail.com.

A few pics of the great turnout for our first ECA Pi meeting of the year! Also, students at lunch, playing chess, working out math problems, and studying!

Click HERE to see the menu for next week.

ECA Breakfast and Lunch Information:

• Students will not need to order meals ahead of time. They can just come to King 122 and pick them up.
• If a student forgets their lunch or needs a meal for whatever reason but doesn’t usually pick up, they can still come to King 122 and pick up a meal. I will have extras.
• Meals are free for all ECA students this year.
• Breakfasts can be picked up in King 122. Breakfast will be served between 8am and 9am unless the student makes other arrangements with Mrs. Dace.
• Lunch can be picked up in King 122. Academy Lunch (9th grade) is at 12:30. Everyone else’s lunch is at 11:50.
• All meals are pork-free. All meals are free of peanut products.
• Gluten-free and other special diet needs require a physician-signed form. (Contact Mrs. Dace to get the form.)
• Soy milk does not require a physician's signature, but a parent/guardian needs to request soy milk (contact Mrs. Dace to get the form).

Please email Mrs. Dace (dace@earlycollegealliance.info) for any breakfast or lunch questions!

Need community service hours for CLICK? Please consider donating NEW socks of all sizes to help members of our community in need via SOS Community Services! The sock donation drive runs from October 1st - 31st.

Be sure to bring socks to Mrs. Jackson BEFORE you put your socks in the decorated bin by the MC Lounge to get a raffle ticket (5 or more pairs). Every FIVE pairs donated earns an entry for a FREE Pizza Thursday Card. Take a picture of you/and your donated items and upload to Innerview for community service hours (contact Ms. Fountain or Ms. Squirewell with Innerview questions).

Did you know socks can reduce the risk of infection, prevent frostbite, and foster good hygiene? We appreciate your donations and Support! ~Student Leaders

If students will be absent, tardy, or need to leave campus early, the following procedure must be followed:

• Parents/Guardians should notify the Attendance Office (attendance@earlycollegealliance.info, 734-487-7882) that the student will be absent, tardy, or picked up early, along with the reason.
• If the student is absent/late/leaving early, they should contact their teachers.
• If the student is waiting to be picked up, they must wear a mask (if sick), and they must be in King Hall where an ECA adult can see them.
• If the student leaves early, they MUST come to the main office FIRST and sign out each time they leave campus early!

Again, if your student will be absent for all or part of the day, parents/guardians must notify the ECA Attendance Office (734-487-7882) or attendance@earlycollegealliance.info so that the absence may be documented.

Make your way to Pizza Thursday on Thursdays during both ECA lunch periods from 11:50-1:00 in King Hall's MC Lounge (across from the main office, room 221).

Enjoy HOT Little Caesars Pizza with other ECA students! To participate in Pizza Thursday, you must first buy a Punch Card:

• Punch Cards are $5 (cash only, please!) and are always available in Mrs. Jackson’s office (221 King).
• Each Punch Card is good for any 5 items (a slice of pizza, canned pop, water, or candy). We will have cheese and cheese/pepperoni pizza from Little Caesars.
• Punch Cards with remaining punches can be saved for use at a later date.
• Payment for Punch Cards must be made in full at the time of purchase.
• You must have a Punch Card to participate in Pizza Thursday.

Please note that pizza is on a first-come, first-served basis. If a student does not get pizza, they can see Mrs. Dace in King 122 for options from the food pantry.

Turn in your fully punched pizza cards for a chance to win a FREE pizza punch card, drawn monthly!

Email Mrs. Jackson (jackson@earlycollegealliance.info) with any questions.

Academy, Returning Academy, and First-Year Students

Greetings students,

I hope that you have had a great start to the new school year thus far!

Just a few reminders:

• CLICK canvas class is now available, and you should have received your invite to accept the class. If you have not, please let me know asap.
• The 1st assignment due, on canvas, Academic and Personal goals, is due on Friday, Sep 26.
• If you missed attending CampUs on August 21st, right after Core Challenge, then you will need to reschedule with me asap, especially if you are new to ECA.
• Your 1st CLICK assignment, the signed Student/Parent Handbook acknowledgement page, and the Education Benefits form are due asap. You can bring it to my office at 327 King, give it to your 1st hour teacher, or bring it to the main office, 221 King.

Local Mental Health Resources

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

#Changingthenarrativeonsuicide

#YouareneverAlone

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to stop by my office, 327 King, or email me at fountain@earlycollegealliance.info.

Juniors, Seniors, and Scholars

Stay focused…..remember your WHY!

Announcements:

• Your first C.L.I.C.K assignments (Back to School Kickoff Activity, the signed Acknowledgement Page from the Student/Parent Handbook, and the completed Education Benefits form) are now past due. The completed forms can be dropped off in the main office at 221 King. If you did not attend the Back-to-School Kickoff, you will receive zeros for the first 3 CLICK assignments.
• All CANVAS C.L.I.C.K classes are now available!!! Students should check their Canvas for the class invitation and accept it.
• You can now schedule your Semester Meeting. Please schedule your meeting sooner rather than later!
• The Senior Packages order form will be available soon….stay tuned!

Local Mental Health Resources

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. YOU Matter!!!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at squirewell@earlycollegealliance.info

Student pics in & around campus this week!

Pre-sales for 25-26 yearbooks are open! All books are ordered online via yearbookforever.com. The current price to reserve a copy is $32, but only this month!

There are still a few copies left of our 24-25 Yearbook, released in June. They can be purchased from Mr. Priest for $20 - cash only, please!

EMU Mental Health Task Force and Washtenaw County Mental Health Department Collab

The EMU Mental Health Task Force has been working with the Washtenaw County Mental Health Department to build partnerships with their support services and service providers within the county. This fall, they will also begin "Wish You Knew-EMU, a marketing campaign to accompany our "We Care" campaign, which include monetary research opportunities for participants.

Congressional App Challenges for middle school and high school students

Pleas CLICK HERE for more information.

Career Technical Education Proposal: Vote on or by November 4, 2025

On November 4, 2025, voters residing within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s service area will be asked to consider a 1 mill tax that would support the expansion of Career Technical Education (CTE) learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation.

CTE helps students understand why they learn what they learn from PreK-12, and it opens doors to college, careers and beyond.

If a CTE millage is approved by voters in November, students in preschool, elementary, middle and high school would benefit from new programs and expansion of existing programs. Washtenaw County’s CTE framework would span from PreK-12, with age-appropriate experiences that build on each other as students grow and learn. Learn more by CLICKING HERE.

WMBK 3rd Annual Gala Dinner

Come join us for a night of unity and celebration at the WMBK 3rd Annual Gala Dinner!

Washtenaw My Brother's Keeper (WMBK) is dedicated to empowering multiple generations to build community by using innovative means to change narratives, practices and policies; resulting in improved outcomes for young men and boys of color in Washtenaw County.

We're excited for year 3! It's that time of year again to get fly and share some good vibes, food and celebrate the accomplishments of WMBK! Individual tickets are less than $60 or purchase an entire table at a discounted rate. Get your tickets today!

BUY MY WMBK GALA TICKETS

Sunday, October 26th
5:00pm-8:00pm
Eastern Michigan University
Student Center, Grand Ballroom A
900 Oakwood Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Dexter: Dexter Home District Families - please CLICK HERE for updates! Dexter District does not provide "shareable" e-blasts. So, your ECA District Liaison will be copying and pasting snippets with links and more details for you -- and sharing them to a Dexter-ECA google doc (accessible and updated throughout the year).

This week's info/updates include:

• info on how to subscribe to the Dexter e-news
• how to get your student a DHS ID card
• fall sports (and how to sign up)
• Community flyers (exchange program, travel opportunities, vaccine clinic, etc).
• Dexter extracurricular info (2025-2026 DCS Clubs & Activities Slideshow!).
• Upcoming events such as the Marching Band exhibition on 9/24, Dexter Homecoming (weekend of 10/10), and Shakespeare's MacBeth (weekend of 10/23).

Lincoln: Our Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, September 27th, from 7-10 p.m. in the East Gym.

Tickets - Tickets will be available for online purchase until 12 p.m. on September 26th, 2025. Tickets will be unavailable for purchase after the purchase window closes - no exceptions. No admittance will be allowed at the dance if you have not pre-purchased a ticket.

Homecoming Dance Guest Pass - You can pick up a guest pass in the Main Office, and a digital version of it is included here as well. If you opt to bring a guest who does not attend LHS, be sure that you read the form carefully and that it is turned in fully completed by 3 p.m. on September 24th. No late submissions will be accepted. Also, outside guests must have a digital ticket purchased to gain entry to the event.

If you have questions, please email Ms. Melcher (melcher@lincolnk12.org).