February 1, 2011

**MEDIA ADVISORY** ECHS Annual Community Forum

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
 
AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL TO HOLD ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORUM AND SCHOOL TOUR ON FEB 4TH
Cutting Edge Environmental School Offers Community a Glimpse At Their Award-Winning Methods
 
On February 4, 2011 from 8:30am to 11:45am, Environmental Charter Schools (www.echsonline.com) will give their students the opportunity to display their knowledge of environmental and societal issues with in-depth presentations to parents, faculty and community.  Students will present, advocate, debate and demonstrate their understanding of sustainable practices, power and how decisions affect our physical environment.
 
In addition, ECHS will be conducting a student-led tour from 12:15pm – 1:15pm to guide attendees through the dynamic campus and offer an inside glimpse at the innovative facilities and sustainability projects as well the school’s award-winning environmental curriculum.
 
Environmental Charter Schools is a model for green learning founded ten years ago in Los Angeles.  Since receiving its California Charter, ECHS has become an award-winning institution delivering dramatically improved academic results and enriching the lives of hundreds of young people of whom nearly 80% are financially disadvantaged.
 
VISUALS:

• High school students presenting environmentally conscious projects to a diverse crowd of students, parents and community members:
• 9th graders will display 3-dimensional university campus constructions and justify their designs in terms of function, mathematics, aesthetics, eco-friendly materials, and other sustainable practices.

 

• 10th graders will engage the community in lively debates about the costs and benefits of progress in our society. Example topics include: whether we have reached carrying capacity, whether we should be able to choose the genetics of our children, and whether we should we close the Port of Los Angeles

• 11th grade advocacy groups will share student-created websites revealing issues with and solutions to the sustainability of our American Dream. Their websites will engage visitors in exploring whether the American Dream is sustainable in terms of: equitability, economic accessibility, and respect to the environment.

 

• 12th graders will demonstrate their skills as investigative reporters in 20 minute newscasts deconstructing issues of social justice in our community.

 

•  Student-led tour of a state of the art public school facility.

 
WHO:   ECHS Students
 
WHAT:  Annual Community Forum and School Tour
 
WHERE:  Environmental Charter High School

                 16315 Grevillea Ave
Lawndale, CA 90260-2858
 
WHEN:  Annual Community Forum - 8:30am to 11:45am
                Student Led Tour – 12:15pm – 1:15pm
 

About Environmental Charter Schools:

The mission of Environmental Charter Schools is to inspire students to discover their own sense of purpose, to equip all students with the knowledge and skills to graduate from college, and to empower them to become quality stewards of their community and world.  On top of their challenging classroom programs, students are required to apply concepts and skills gained in class to problem-solve local civic and environmental issues, and take action to make a measurable impact.   Students also participate in outdoor educational challenges to develop self-confidence and leadership skills.  The first school was formed in 1999, by founder Alison Suffet-Diaz along with a group of parents, educators, businesses and non-profits to meet the educational challenge in a low-income area of SW Los Angeles. In 2010, ECS was a finalist (#2) in consideration for President Obama to attend and present a graduation speech.  http://www.echsonline.org/
                                                              
                                                  
 
PRESS CONTACT: BBPR, Dienna D’Olimpio
email: ddolimpio@bbprinc.com
phone: 310.656.4668