Here With Us
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
December 10, 2023
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Recently, my wife and I watched “A Christmas Carol.” We commented on the significance of Charles Dickens and his influence on literature. The OCLC, an organization for librarians, made a list of the top 100 books in literature. Take a look at the top 20. Charles Dickens takes five of the slots.
As a Christian school, we feel there is an error in the list. Where is the Bible? Where is the greatest story every told? Where can we read about God’s plan to save all of humanity with the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? For this reason, I offer you a link to another of my all-time favorite songs - “Here With Us” by Joy Williams.
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21
Hot Lunch Program
You can now order lunches for each week by going to our school website. Hot lunch can be found under the Student Life dropdown. You can also click on the box below to go straight to the page.
Please place all orders for each week before Monday morning at 8:45.
Simply type your child’s first & last name.
Select the option that fits the order for the week.
Choose your payment method.
Click Submit.
Prices for meals:
students in grades K-2 - $5,
students in grades 3-8 - $6.
Just a reminder… our hot lunch menu is posted on our website.
http://www.emeraldchristian.com
AG Program - Monday’s Science Class
This year, every student will be able to participate in ECA’s Agriculture Program. This happens on the first day of each week. 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. Students are in class with Mr. Wyatt from 1:15-3:15. Here is a schedule of the days and classes:
Monday, December 11 - Grades 7-8
Monday, January 22 - Grades 5&6
Monday, January 29 - Grades 3&4
Monday, February 5 -Grades K-2
ECA Holiday “Free” Store
Last week, our plan was to have our “free” store on Friday, but unfortunately we got back from Target late. That means your child will be part of this program this week. Thank you all for helping us with your donations. Students in each grade will be able to go through the store and together, big brothers/sisters and their younger brothers/sisters will pick up to TWO gifts that can be taken home. Big brothers/sisters will be helping younger brothers/sisters wrap their gifts to take home. This will happen tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 11.
ECA Makeup Picture Day
Tomorrow morning, we will be having our makeup picture day. If your child was unable to be here in October during their first visit, tomorrow will be the second chance for pictures. Even if picture packets are not purchased, all children will have their pictures taken for our school yearbook (October or December sessions). If you have already had pictures taken and would like retakes, please send the original package of pictures with your child for tomorrow’s retakes.
Christmas Program Practice
With our Christmas program happening in two days, we will be practicing on Monday & Tuesday mornings this week. If your child has music or musical instruments they will be using for the program, please send them to school as we start our week.
ECA’s Christmas Program
In two days, Tuesday, December 12, we will be having our annual Christmas program. Please have your child at the Pleasant Hill SDA Church, right next to the school, at 6:40 in the evening. Students in grades K-4 will be meeting in the primary room next to the bathrooms. Students in grades 5-8 will be meeting at the opposite side of the church in the youth room. As you enter the main church, K-4 will go to the left. Students in grades 5-8 will go to the right. Our program will begin at 7:00.
For about half of the service, students in grades K-4 will be sitting in class groups at the back of the church. Midway through our program, the students in K-4 will finish their performances and will join you in the church. Please save seats for your K-4 child. Students in grades 5-8 will remain in classroom groups throughout the program.
We are excited to share our evening of music with you. Our program will be in our church sanctuary. Please remember church attire is appropriate for our students. We ask that jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, clothing with wording, shorts, and similar attire not be worn. Christmas colors are fine.
A Report on Our Target Trip
Last week, we capped our ASB Spirit Week with our annual trip to purchase gifts for children at Jasper Mtn. Safe Center. Thank you for your generosity. Because of your contributions, we raised over $1,400. We raised enough money to purchase gifts for all of the children at the school and still have a little left over to put in our starter fund for next year. At ECA, it is our mission that students and families love God, value learning, and serve others. Thank you for helping our students experience that mission this past week.
Looking Ahead into January
Our Christmas vacation begins this Friday, Dec. 15 and goes through Tuesday, Jan 2. Classes will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3. In addition to this shorter week when school resumes, there are a few other “no school” days in January. The second week of January will also start on a Wednesday. There will be no school on Monday & Tuesday, January 8 & 9. Our school is part of a larger conference called the OR Conference of SDA. They are having two days of teacher in-service on those days. The following Monday, Jan. 15 will be Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Again, a “no school” day. So, in summary, here are the days with “NO SCHOOL” in January:
Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 1&2- NO SCHOOL
Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 8&9 - NO SCHOOL
Monday, Jan. 15 - NO SCHOOL
Weather & School Closings
When we resume school in January, there is the possibility of icy weather, frozen roads, or snow to impact school hours. Generally speaking, our winters are usually mild. Snow on the valley floor is unlikely. Your safety and your child’s safety is important to us. We have families that come from all over the I-5 corridor and road conditions can vary. As a general rule, we follow 4J weather-related school closures or late starts. We also follow Pleasant Hill School District school closures & late starts.
In the event of a weather or storm related late start or closure, we will send REMIND notices out to families by 6:30 am on school days. We also post to area school closure news outlets.
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