PTA Sponsored Programs
The PTA provides ECC families with news about school activities, programs and events in a weekly electronic newsletter. A message from the principal, PTA updates, after-school program information and more is delivered to subscriber in boxes. To get on the mailing list, please click here.
School Directory
Fall
The PTA provides its members with a school directory listing student names, addresses, phone numbers, classroom information and general school information. Directories are provided free to PTA members.
Future Problem Solving
Updated 8/11
APPLICATION
Future Problem Solving is an innovative academic competition that provides students with an opportunity to use higher level thinking skills and creativity to solve complex problems. It promotes and builds upon teamwork, brainstorming and problem solving skills.
Founded by Dr. E. Paul Torrance in the early 1970’s, Future Problem Solving International encourages students to develop a vision for the future. FPSI involves over 250,000 students annually from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.
Participating students research specific topics related to current issues and then use a rigorous six-step problem solving process to address the topic in a futuristic setting. Students work in groups of four to brainstorm challenges, select an underlying problem, develop solutions, create criteria, judge their solutions, and finally complete an action plan to implement their best solution. Topics for this year include: All in a Day’s Work, Coral Reefs, Human Rights, Trade Barriers and Pharmaceuticals.
Does my child need to have prior knowledge of this year’s topics?
No. We will be learning about these topics at our weekly meetings. In addition, we will give the students a packet of articles on each topic that they can take with them. They are encouraged to read and discuss the topic at home with a parent. The more they learn about a topic, the more successful they will be in the competition. Other than the at-home reading, there is usually no other FPS “homework.”
What is the expected commitment level of students participating in Future Problem Solving?
Teams (comprised of 4th-6th graders) complete two practice problems and one qualifying problem throughout the school year. Trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. The top scoring teams on the qualifying problem are invited to the state competition in San Diego in April. The winners of each state competition advance to the FPSP International Conference in June at Indiana University.
As trained volunteer coaches, we will be meeting with the students each week to teach them the six-step process. Meetings will take place Thursdays from 6:45-8:00 p.m. at El Camino Creek Elementary beginning Thursday, September 15. A mandatory student/parent meeting will be held that same evening from 6:30-7:00. A more detailed explanation of the program will be given at that time.
Weekly meetings will continue through early March. If your child’s team advances to the state competition, meetings would continue through late April. Should a team advance to the international competition, team members would continue to meet with us through late May.
Because this is a team-based activity, it is critical that participating students attend every meeting from September through March. A different step in the complex problem-solving process is taught at each meeting. If your child misses a meeting, it will be difficult for them to catch up, and it will place their team at a disadvantage. Furthermore, since we can’t effectively coach everyone who would like to be involved, we ask that only students who can commit to the entire year participate.
What is the cost of participation?
PTA has generously committed to fund registration fees for four teams. To cover the costs of materials and registration for any additional teams, each child is asked to pay $35 for the year. If your child advances to the state and/or international competition, travel costs would be the responsibility of the child and his or her family.
Who are the coaches?
ECC Future Problem Solving Coaches are trained volunteers and moms of ECC students. You may contact any of them with additional questions:
Anne-Katherine Pingree – akpingree@hotmail.com – 760-436-1026
Anne O’Donnell – odonnell@ucsd.edu
760-943-8732
Gina O’Leary – gina1230@att.net
760-634-7608
Where can I find out more information about the program?
ECC dads are encouraged participate in the Dad's Club, which builds a sense of community and offers fun events for families. Signature events include the Back-to-School Ice Cream Social, Movie Night and more. Year round.
Yearbook
Year Round
The El Camino Creek Yearbook is a full-color, hard-bound memory book of the school year. Volunteers take orders for yearbooks, provide photos and layout class pages. Parents also work with sixth-grade students to design and layout portions of the book, which is delivered to students in June.
Variety Show
February
There’s no business like show business – just ask the myriad of students who participate each year in the school Variety Show. Singers, dancers, magicians and more entertain families during two nights of performances. Auditions are held in January, and the shows are held in late Feburary.
Future Problem Solvers
Year Round
Teams from ECC are formed to participate and compete in an international competition that encourages students' creative thinking skills and development of a vision for the future.
Everyone A Reader
Year Round
Students practice and improve their reading skills one-on-one with parent volunteers one day a week. The children, who have been identified as needing additional reading practice and help, read books at their instructional level while the tutors listen and assist with new reading strategies. Volunteers, who make this important program happen, are trained by the San Diego Office of Education.
Study Buddies
Year Round
This after-school program pairs ECC students with La Costa Canyon High School students, who provide help and guidance with homework. The goal of Study Buddies is to encourage good study habits and to foster a positive relationship between the students. Parent volunteers provide snacks and supervision.
Playground Partners
Year Round
Organized sports and activities are offered by recreation professionals from the YMCA and parent volunteers during recess. The goal is to get students enthused, involved at active at recess.
Running Club
Year Round
Arts Attack
Students learn and hone skills such as creativity, aesthetic judgment, problem solving, critical thinking and visualization in the Arts Attack Program. Parent volunteers act as program docents and deliver the arts education lessons to students every other week. Art history, principles of art and self expression are taught using a variety of media.
Clay 101
1. The Basics
2. How to Cut Clay
3. Scoring and Slipping
4. Basic Slab Projects
5. How to Roll Out Slab
6. Pinch Pot Basics
7. Characters and Animals
8. Running a Clay Lesson
9. Vases, Tealights and Cups
10. Grade Specific Lessons
11. Glazing New
Math 24
ECC students in 3rd through 5th grade hone their math and logic skills by playing the Math 24 game at lunch recess. Parent volunteers assist weekly with the game and at the district-wide Math 24 tournament in May. January to May
Science Nights
Year Round
Students and parents together explore science concepts and learning though hands-on experiments at Science Night. A special evening is held for each grade level, and students and parents may rotate through science stations at their own speed.
PTA supports ECC’s media center by funding the 
checking out books.
Spiritwear
Year Round
Show your spirit with ECC shirts and sweatshirts! School apparel is sold on campus and at a few events during the school year. Child and adult sizes are available. Don’t miss out on advertising your pride in ECC.
Campus Beautification
Year Round
ECC families take great pride in their school and its surroundings. Campus Beautification efforts focus on sprucing up grounds, and also maintaining classrooms and facilities. A team of gardeners and helpers is needed to keep the campus looking spiffy.
First Lego League Robotics
For information regarding FLL, please visit our website:
http://eccrobotics.org
Yearbook
Year Round
The El Camino Creek Yearbook is a full-color, hard-bound memory book of the school year. Volunteers take orders for yearbooks, provide photos and layout class pages. Parents also work with sixth-grade students to design and layout portions of the book, which is delivered to students in June.
Staff Appreciation
Staff Appreciation is program that enables ECC families to thank teachers and staff for a year of hard work, dedication and support. Each month, parents from a specific grade level host a luncheon. In May, special thanks are offered in the classroom during a district-wide Teacher Appreciation. Year Round.
Red Ribbon Week
October
Each year, students around the country celebrate health and saying no to drugs during Red Ribbon Week. The program, coordinated this year by 6th-grade girl scouts, features activities to encourage students to make drug-free and healthy choices. Students learn in the classroom and at assemblies how to live a healthy lifestyle.
Parent Education
Year Round
The PTA brings in expert speakers on a variety of subjects to offer information and support to parents. Fred Becker will be offering a parent education seminar free to ECC parents this year. For a sneak preview of "How to Unlock Your Child's Full Potential," see here.
PTA Reflections Program
Reflections is a national PTA art program that encourages students to express themselves in a variety of media. Students submit work under the year’s specific theme and compete in school, district, state and national competitions.
Participants are invited to display their work at a student art exhibit. Students submit individual works in their choice of medium based on a specific theme. For more information, please visit the PTA Relections website here.
As the weather cools, the heart warms. ECC families donate hundreds of new and gently used jackets, coats, sweaters and sweatshirts for local families in need.