“Decem” ber
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
How well do you know your Latin?
The word “December” comes from the Latin word “decem” (meaning ten). The Roman calendar was originally the tenth month of the year, which began in March. “Decem” was also the final month with extra days of winter. Gradually the extra days of winter were turned into January and February. Today, we remember Jesus’ birth at Christmas time in the month of December, but what can we learn from reading the Bible more closely? What can we know about the actual date when Jesus was born?
Bibleinfo.com shares important ideas about when Jesus was born. You can read more for yourself by clicking on the link below. The exact date of Jesus’ birth may not be known, but we can rest assured that Jesus died for our sins (Galatians 3:13), rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-6), and that He will one day come back to take us to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Picture Retake Day - This Wednesday
If you would like to have your child have picture retakes, it will be happening this Wednesday, December 4. Just have your child bring back their picture packet and the photo studio will take care of the rest.
ASB Spirit Week is Next Week
ECA is excited about our upcoming ECA Spirit Week. Our ASB officers have been planning a fun week that will end with ECA’s annual trip to Target to purchase presents for children at Jasper Mountain Safe Center next Friday. We will be traveling by school bus following chapel and shopping in big brother/sister groups. Our school has been providing gifts for all of the children at this live-in facility for 15+ years. We are excited to carry on this tradition of giving this year. This week a flyer will be going home explaining more. During our spirit week, we will be having a fundraiser to raise money to purchase the gifts for the children. If everyone can help out a little, our drive will be a success. Each day of the week will have a theme. Here is the daily themes for NEXT WEEK.
Monday - Class Color Day (Each class wears a unique color
- (K-2 - Green)
- (3/4 - Purple)
- (5/6 - Red)
- (7/8 - Blue)
Tuesday - Tired Tuesday (Pajama Day)
Wednesday - Sporty Wednesday (Wear your favorite sport clothing)
Thursday - Double Trouble Day (Twin Day)
Friday - Fancy Friday (Dress like royalty, prince, princess, king, queen, etc.)
How are instructional hours and standards related?
In the state of Oregon, there are required hours of instruction for different grades. Here are the yearly requirements for each grade:
Focusing on key standards for each grade lets us optimize our instructional time. Our 4-day school week and one 1/2 day Friday each month exceeds state requirements. Standards keep the instruction on target for each grade.
ECA FREE Holiday Gift Program for our Students (Again this year!)
One of our alumni high school students is operating a holiday gift “store” for her community service project again this year. The neat thing - the store is FREE to all students at ECA. What’s the catch? This is where we need your help parents. If you have items in your closets, under your bed, in the attic, etc. that have been loved but are ready for a new home, you have the opportunity to bring these items to the school office where they will be organized in our “holiday store” for our ECA students. Students will be able to come to the store before vacation begins, select a gift for parents, grandparents, or siblings and the gifts will be wrapped at school, ready to be taken home, and saved for Christmas morning. If every family is able to contribute a few items that are taking up space and ready for a new home, this will be an exciting program for everyone. If you have any wrapping paper you would like to donate, that is appreciated too.
Remember, the purpose of this program is to regift an item that your household no longer needs or wants. The gifts that children pick out are for their siblings and parents. There will be a donation box in the school office. Donations can be dropped off there. If each child in our school picks 2-3 gifts, then we are in need of 2-3 donations per child.
ECA Christmas Program - Tuesday, December 17
ECA will be having our annual Christmas program on Tuesday, December 17. In the next couple weeks, we will be practicing individual solos and class songs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More information will be going home next week about the program. All families and friends are welcome.
AG Program - Monday’s Science Class
Our Monday AG classes will continue at the end of the month. Students will be outdoors doing a variety of things with Mr. Wyatt Johnson. Throughout the year, there may be a few rainy days. Boots and gloves are great things for working outdoors on Monday Science Days. Water bottles are great things to have outside too. Here is a schedule of the days and classes:
Monday, December 2 - Grades 3&4
Monday, December 9 - Grades K,1 &2
Monday, December 16 - Grades 7&8
Hot lunch happens every Monday and Wednesday. Additionally, whenever we have a 1/2 Friday, hot lunch will be offered by our Home & School. You can click on the link below to order hot lunch for the week for your child. If you have more than one child, please click the link more than once and turn in one week’s submission for each child. There is a payment option that is included in the form.
Christian Counseling Available - Free Resources:
The NAD (North American Division of SDA) has recently shared new resources for children and teens that offer a safe and anonymous place to talk or text. Here is a news release from the NAD.
We’re excited to announce the launch of www.aruggedjourney.org our newest NAD site providing free online mentoring for guys. A Rugged Journey joins www.gorgeous2god.org (for young women) which has grown in its scope and ministry since its beginning in 2017.
These sites, along with their counterparts on social media, provide free help to our teens/young adults in a space they can ask questions without judgment or fear. The questions are answered by a team of dedicated Seventh-day Adventists at AIM on the campus of Andrews University.
In addition to the confidential Q & A, positive content is provided through videos, posts, etc.
www.gorgeous2god.org/ FB: gorgeous2god/ IG: @gorgeous2god
www.aruggedjourney.org/ FB: aruggedjourney/ IG: @aruggedjourney
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Monday, November 25 - Grades 5&6 Ag Program
Wednesday, November 27 - 1/2 day - NO AFTERSCHOOL
Wednesday, Dec. 4 - Picture Retake Day
Monday, Dec. 9 - 13 - Spirit Week
Friday, Dec. 13 - 1/2 Day Friday & ECA’s annual Target Trip
Tuesday, Dec. 17 - ECA Christmas Program
Thursday, Dec. 19 - last day of school before Christmas vacation begins
Monday, January 6 - school resumes