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Marcus Whitman Central School (Gorham-Middlesex CSD)
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ECO Program

Camo sticker that reads Environmental Classroom Opportunity Marcus Whitman Middle School

ECO, An Overview

Marcus Whitman Environmental Classroom Opportunity Program opened in September 1997. ECO is a Marcus Whitman Middle School "curriculum of choice" for sixth-grade students who have chosen to participate by lottery. ECO serves a variety of district students across academic and socioeconomic backgrounds. ECO’s academic curriculum emphasizes experiential, project-based learning with an environmental focus.

ECO’s purpose is to provide public school choice through an alternative curriculum.  ECO has an expectation of parental involvement in a student’s education through ongoing home-school communication and “whole school” meeting attendance seven times a year.  Teachers are also expected to undertake greater professional responsibility through additional instructional assignments, extensive time commitment, frequent parental contact, and personal involvement with students.

Students study a curriculum based on the New York State learning standards incorporating many “hands-on” activities.  These involve several themes: watershed study, business enterprise, field and forest / flora and fauna study, environmental issues, outdoor recreation, service, and community.

ECO students care for tomorrow’s environment by learning and serving in today’s!

 

ECO Dates for Year 23, 2019-2020:

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  • Visit fifth-grade classrooms, Tuesday, May 21

  • Parental information meeting, Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 p.m., MS café 

  • Application due date by Tuesday, June 4

  • Tentative Lottery Drawing, Thursday, June 6 (may change due to ECO camping)

  • Lottery results notification mailing, Friday, June 7  

  • Return of student acceptance commitment, Thursday, June 13

  • ECO visit, Week of June 17 or 24

Please know:

ECO is an academic program with high expectations.

  • Each student is expected to be participative, productive and to do his/her best efforts throughout the year.

  • ECO is a “writing intensive” curriculum. This means a student must be willing to write across the curriculum in different assignments. We help all writers to grow.

  • Our school day generally goes to 3 p.m. and students are expected to be present unless all class responsibilities have been appropriately met or a student has a scheduled appointment and is dismissed by the teacher.

  • ECO students take many “field-based learning experiences” that include hiking, camping, and kayaking activities that are away from campus and standard toilet facilities.

  • ECO students visit various religious faith communities including a Christian church, a Jewish synagogue, an Islamic mosque, and a Buddhist monk as part of the social studies curriculum.

  • Each student and family is expected to participate in a parent-student teacher conference in the fall or scheduled as needed.

  • Each student and family is expected to participate in scheduled “ECO Whole School Meetings” during the evening several times a year.

  • ECO students should enjoy being outdoors in diverse environments.

  • Students are occasionally asked to make a small monetary donation to offset some activity expenses, but there is always scholarship support if a family is in need.

  • ECO is challenging, but it is a very rewarding experience that “grows” students academically, socially, and personally.

  • ECO serves all students, but it is essential that a student wants to participate and is willing to do the academic assignment work on a regular basis.

  • ECO is a choice.

  • Please make the proper choice to become an ECO student based upon your interest and willingness; otherwise another child may miss an important learning opportunity.


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