EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

We are far from immune from the effects of the state and national economies, but our mood at Environmental Charter High School is very optimistic and hopeful.     Seven years of dedication by our teachers and administration – and the hard work of our students - have resulted in a string of good ECHS news:

• Ever-increasing student achievement
• A Ranking in the top 3% of high schools by U.S. News and World Report
• ECHS’ Green Ambassador program director, Sara Laimon, named Educator of the Year at the Green Technologies California Schools Summit
• Major new grant to build an on-campus library
• Continuation of our after-school program grant
• And most importantly - record numbers of our seniors achieving early acceptance into four-year colleges and universities, and securing university scholarships

It is only through the support of our many community and business partnerships that we have been able to deliver the unique educational opportunities available at ECHS.   We are incredibly grateful.   We are counting on the continued help of our partners and supporters as we grow and strive to provide even more opportunities for student success in our targeted underserved neighborhoods. 

If you are looking for good news, get “on board” with ECHS and help make it happen.

John Quiter is on the Board of Directors of Environmental Charter High School.

TOP STORY

SOCIETY OF SATELLITE PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL (SSPI) LAUNCES WITH ECHS

Scholarship Program To Help ECHS Students Pay for College

In announcing a partnership with ECHS to award up to $10,000 for ECHS seniors towards college tuition, Tony Nguyen, President of SSPI of Southern California said “We look forward to helping this innovative Los Angeles Charter school send one or more of its graduates to college this year.”    ECHS’ Executive Director Kennedy Hilario added, “Our Southern California community is home to leading Aerospace companies and satellite firms.  We are thrilled to work with SSPI towards the goal of helping to foster a next generation of space technology workers.”

GREEN AMBASSADORS

Who'll Stop the Rain? ECHS Students

Did you know that one-fifth of all Los Angeles electricity is used solely by the Metropolitan Water District to pump potable water for household consumption - and nearly 40% of this water goes to lawns and driveways?

But ‘harvesting’ the rain off the roof can yield huge savings, according to Green Ambassadors - 10th-grade students at ECHS.  As part of their Inter-Session service-learning project, students calculated that over 500,000 gallons of water runs through storm drains to the ocean instead of watering plants.   They have set up a 'grey water' system to catch the rain and demonstrate how this can be done at home.   

ECHS’ award-winning Green Ambassadors program exemplifies our service-learning philosophy. It creates opportunities for youth to build leadership skills and address critical environmental issues facing our planet.

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT 

Amanda Breuer

Job:  Student Services Director.  Responsible for student activities, counseling, support services, and college preparation. 3 years at ECHS.

Educational Background: B.A. Public Relations from Texas Tech University.  M.A. Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. Teaching Credentials & Certifications: P.P.S.

Before ECHS: Worked at Compton High School.  Launched and ran a mentoring program at Felton Elementary in the Lennox school district.  Before deciding to get her Master’s Degree in counseling, she worked in TV at FOX Broadcasting.

On ECHS: Winner of the Dean’s Award for Social Justice, Breuer is a big contributor to building ECHS’ school spirit.  “I’d like to see ECHS continue to grow its student activities and build tradition for past and future students alike,” she says.    Breuer is reminded just how real that spirit is by the frequent emails she gets from graduates in college, who report on their academic successes after ECHS. 

When Extracurricular: A guitar-slinging Texan by adoption, and proud of it, Breuer confesses she loves to hit the open road with “with all the windows down and the iPod blaring.” 

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 Carlos Ángeles

Job: Spanish and ESL Teacher.

Before ECHS: At the High School level, Hernandez taught Spanish for over a decade, as well as Mexican History, Labor Law, Civil Law, and Socio-economics.  He has also taught Civil Law, Legal Sociology, General Law Theory at Universidad de las Americas, Cuernavaca, Mexico. 

On ECHS: “Teaching energizes me,” says Angeles.  Being around great teachers and people who are really committed to helping our students succeed,” is what he likes most about ECHS.  But one event particularly touched him.  “Seeing my students organize a traditional Mexican Dia de los Muertos event, I was so impressed with their maturity, knowledge, respect and enthusiasm for each other’s cultural backgrounds,” he says.  

When Extracurricular: Angeles is a movie and music buff.  In addition to enjoying soccer, and basketball in his time off, he’s also been known to pull out the canvas, oils, easel, and paintbrushes and create beautiful works of art. 

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INSPIRED STUDENTS

ECHS Senior ECHS Senior Hits Home Run with First Sports Scholarship for College

Awarded scholarship for College

“ECHS has taught me if I want something,to go out and get it. Go out and be part of the change,” says college-bound senior Tamara Vickers, whose dream came true recently when she became the first ECHS senior to win a sports scholarship for college.   She credits her teacher Ms. Cobb with helping to inspire her and find the scholarship to attend Hampton University in the fall.

Vickers sacrificed many weekends to travel to softball tournaments for the past three years – determined to win a scholarship so she could go to college. The Girls’ Basketball and Softball team captain, Vickers is a High Honor Roll student and winner of ECHS’ First Student of the Month award. 

ECHS’ Tracey G. Alvarez wins $10,000 scholarship through the Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds® Program

Since 1990, Children's Defense Fund has honored remarkable young people who have beaten incredible odds to succeed. Beat the Odds® programs affirm the success of young people who are overcoming tremendous obstacles in their lives and continuing to work hard, demonstrating academic excellence, giving back to their communities, and personally persevering to "beat the odds."  

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OTHER NEWS – CELEBRATING SUCCESS

So far 51% Of ECHS 2009 Graduating Class Already Admitted to College!

Early applications by our 2009 seniors class have yielded impressive college acceptance results  - and it's only February!

STUDENTS LEAD A COMMUNITY FORUM

Experiential-Learning Project Earns High Praise 

The culmination of ECHS’ innovative project-based learning program called Inter-Session, was a student-led Community Forum on civic issues held last month on campus.

Over 100 parents and local citizens attended the event.   Teens from all grade levels delivered presentations, debated, and discussed civic issues ranging from “The Meaning of Progress” to “The Future of the American Dream” in a public forum with adults from the surrounding community.     

The forum allowed ECHS high school students to demonstrate their academic knowledge, poise, professional presentation, critical thinking, and team working skills - developed through participation in the program.  

“You could easily see the strong value for education and learning that these teenagers have developed.”   “What maturity, composure, confidence, and sincerity.             Comments from participants

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OUR PARTNERS – A BIG GREEN THANK YOU

 We thank our corporate, professional, and community partners for supporting ECHS. From generous financial and in-kind assistance, to time and expertise, your support is helping us inspire and educate like never before.

Our many sponsors and partners

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EVENTS

ECHS Students & Teachers are also participating in these
upcoming local and national events!