ECA News: The Inside Scoop

We ended this week with an extremely rare professional learning opportunity for our entire Consortium (WEOC). WEOC hosted the Teacher Powered Schools National Conference this year. We had visitors to our campus from all over the country on Thursday, and convened with hundreds of other educators–just down the street at the Eagle Crest Conference Center–on Friday. It was a wonderful chance to learn and share ideas, with a strong focus on the importance of teachers being partners, collaborators, and leaders (alongside administrative staff, students, and families) in our schools. Ask your teachers, CORE Advisors, counselors, and others what their takeaways were!

Next week will be a very exciting week, as it’s ECA Spirit Week!! The Harvest Hangout is our 2nd big social event, planned and carried out by Student Leaders. Plan to show up and dress up!!

REMINDER: Picture retakes are on Monday, Oct. 27 from 10am - 4pm in the King Hall Multicultural Lounge. An official school picture is required of each student, each year! Please be sure to get that done, if you haven’t already done so.

Please see the signup for the Memorial Garden cleanup and fall planting - taking place on Tuesday after school. I need some help to get our garden put away for the winter. It’s always so amazing to see our bulbs bloom come springtime–and you can log a few hours of volunteer work, too! HERE is the signup (also below).

Have a great weekend!

~Dr. Fischer

Character Quote of the Week

Pics from the Teacher Powered Schools site visit to campus and conference at Eagle Crest.

If you did not have your school picture taken THIS SEMESTER -- or would like to retake your picture -- our makeup/retake picture day is Monday, October 27, from 10:00am – 4:00pm in King Hall's MC Lounge. Drop in anytime during these hours (it literally takes 2 minutes!) and get your picture taken.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ECA students must have their pictures taken! Families do not have to purchase pictures, but students MUST get their photos updated, as this is a MANDATORY activity for CLICK.

All students will receive a QR Code Card at the time pictures are taken, which is needed if students want to order printed photos or other items. If you have questions about ordering pictures, please contact SchoolPictures.com at 734-677-3400.

The ECA Student Leaders invite all ECA students to our annual Veterans Day Celebration! The Veterans Day Celebration will feature a guest speaker, physical activity challenge, a fun Kahoot (win an Amazon gift card or Pizza Thursday card!), and a short, informative presentation. Join us on Friday, November 7th, from 1:00pm - 2:10pm in Pray Harrold 201 to help celebrate our veterans! This event is a part of Core Connections Day - more details will be shared soon.

In preparation for our Veterans Day Celebration, we would like your help in honoring ECA's Family of Veterans.

• Do you have a VETERAN in your family or circle of friends? Share your Veteran photos!
• Please complete this form to submit a picture(s) for the slideshow.
• All submissions are DUE by Friday, October 31st.

Please email Mrs. Jackson (jackson@earlycollegealliance.info) if you have any questions. Thank you in advance!

PARENTS & GUARDIANS: Our Student Leaders are requesting some items to be donated to make the event a success for all of the students. Please sign up for an item or two! You may drop items off in the Main Office (221 King Hall) with Mrs. Jackson or send them with your student. The sign-up for Harvest Hangout donations can be found HERE, and donations can go toward your parent commitment. Please email Mrs. Jackson with any questions. Thanks in advance for your help!

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

Art Club painting rocks for the Memorial Garden, Pre-Med Club's Bake Sale, 26-27 enrollment event at Emerson School, and ECA students in office hours, in classes, and around campus this week!

Red Cards are now PAST DUE! If you haven’t done so already, please submit your Red Cards to your Core Advisor ASAP!

Academy, Returning Academy, and First-Year Students

Just a few reminders:

• Please make sure you are reading the weekly Monday morning announcement/email, I send through canvas. It details important and relevant information for all my students.

• The next CLICK Days are November 21st and 24th and the only CLICK assignment you should be working on is the Educational and Community Engagement. Harvest Hangout will be this Thursday, October 30th after school, look for flyers in King Hall for more information. Attending this event can be used to fulfill your requirement for the Educational and Community Engagement assignment.

• During this down time, you should be trying to get your semester meeting with me completed. Look for my availability in the weekly Monday morning email as well as how to make an appointment with me.

Local Mental Health Resources

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

Attention Students:

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

WCHD - Fall vaccines, local health events, & more!

Please CLICK HERE more information.

Riverside Arts Center Fall After-school Art Classes

ECA students, are you interested in an upcoming printmaking class? Riverside Arts Center is offering after-school art classes this fall -- subsidized by Kiwanis, so it only costs $10 for the 6-week course. Please click here for more information. Huge thanks to ECA parent Ms. DeBord for sharing!

Michigan Child Protection Registry

The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a do-not-contact service that families can easily sign up for at www.ProtectMIChild.com in order to keep their children safe while on their devices at school and at home. This is a free Registry offered through the State of Michigan that stops adult advertisements from reaching our kids through e-mail, text, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, Twitch and TikTok. This Registry is an excellent resource for making sure our kids aren’t being served ads for alcohol, tobacco/vaping, online gambling, pornography or marijuana.

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.

Girls Talk Tech Virtual Reality Workshop - Nov. 22:

Dexter:

Please CLICK HERE for home district information for Manchester.

Manchester:

Please CLICK HERE for home district information for Manchester.

Saline:

Please CLICK HERE for home district information for Saline.

AAPS - Pioneer:

ECA-Pioneer students who need a Pioneer Student ID: click on the link for the High5 ID. If you are in the Pioneer database, put in your student ID and take a selfie. This will get you a Pioneer virtual ID and allow you to attend the athletic events for free. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Anglin at 734-994-2120

Lincoln:

Student Picture Retake Day is on November 3rd from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Room 200. Any student in an outside program that needs a picture retaken must report to the Main Office before heading to Room 200.

Jostens Senior Cap and Gown Presentation (for 12th grade students only) - Jostens (students only) informational presentation on Senior Cap and Gown will be on November 19th from 9:08 a.m. - 9:38 a.m. in the PAC. (All information will be shared online and digitally, after the presentation for parents to view.)

AAPS - Skyline

HERE is the Oct. 24 Skyline newsletter, with information about athletics, NHS, the fall play, upcoming HBCU Tour Info Sessions, and several other potentially relevant things!

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.

Students, remember to turn in your fully punched pizza cards for a chance to win a FREE pizza punch card! 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.

Please email Mrs. Jackson (jackson@earlycollegealliance.info) if you have any questions.

This semester, the Holman Success Center has tutors available to support BIO 110, BIO 120, BIO 251, BIO 252, and BIO 301 through in-person and online drop-in sessions, as well as individual appointments via Starfish. Schedules and additional details are available on our Drop-in Tutoring website.

The program connects students with passionate peers who share their own learning experiences and strategies. Peer-to-peer learning helps students strengthen their understanding of course material, build effective study habits, and develop skills to become independent learners.

Students who need ECA ID cards: All ECA students need to have an ECA ID card. You can have a new ECA ID each year–but you don’t have to get a new one if your old one is working (the picture is clear & the magnetic stripe is functional). If you did NOT get an ECA ID card, or if you need a new one for this year, there are two ways to get this handled:

1. Email your E-ID number and headshots to EagleOneCard@emich.edu. The photo requirements are as follows:

• Background Solid White

• Similar to a passport book photo

• Color Only

• Minimal facial expressions or a natural smile with both eyes open

• Centered with full face in frame

• Cropped just above the head to the collarbone

• Taken within the last six months to reflect current appearance

• Saved as a .JPG file type

Photo should not

• Include hats, sunglasses, headphones or clothing obscuring the face

• Noticeable background shadows or glare

• Be too close/selfies

Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider

Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

• Connect with Care Solace 24/7 for free by calling (888) 515-0595 or by visiting caresolace.com/aaps.

• Multiple Languages supported.

• Care Solace flyers are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin