One for the Record Books
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
February 26, 2023
Records are made to be broken. That is a saying that has been around for quite a while. Growing up, I enjoyed following baseball and had a good collection of baseball records that seemed unbreakable - most hits in a season, stolen bases, consecutive games played, lowest ERA, most homerooms in a season, hitting over .400. Perhaps you can relate. Last week, my daughter called me from Portland saying it snowed over 6 inches in one day. That was a record this late in the season for the region. Weather is funny that way. So are so many other things in life.
Just when we think we’ll never see anything or anyone like X,Y, or Z… surprise! isn’t that how it is with seeing the amazing miracles of God. I will continually praise the goodness of God and the wonders he has in store for those who love him. Keep an eye out for his wonders in your life this week!
“Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.” - Psalm 136
Upcoming 100 Day of School for students in the lower grades
Watch for announcements from our K-2 teachers for the upcoming 100 Day of School. Lots of special “100” events happen for all of our students.
Updating Remind emails, text numbers, and pick-up names
Last week, students brought home a slip of paper with a short fill-in for updates to emails for Remind, contact lists, and just letting us know you are receiving communication from school and teachers. If you have not had a chance to return those forms, thank you for filling them in and keeping us current with emails, phone numbers, and pick-up names.
Enjoying the snow & a special thank you to Jeremy Johnston & Brad Harness
Last week, students had opportunities to enjoy snow at school and at Hoodoo Ski Resort. More pictures will be added to our school yearbook to help make memories. In preparation for our snow trips, I had our school bus recertified in January and purchased new batteries. With the cold weather, that still didn’t keep everything smooth and carefree. The trips up and down went well, but when it came time to leave, the bus just wouldn’t start. Thank you to Jeremy Johnston and Brad Harness for testing the battery and solenoid on the bus. Their ingenuity and experience in 6 degree weather got our bus going and helped all of our students make it safe off of the mountain.
AG Program and Monthly Classroom Participation
Our classroom agriculture program will continue tomorrow, Monday, February 27. The next class to participate will be the 3rd & 4th grade room. Students will be in the class from 1:15-3:15. Make sure they have the necessary attire to spend two hours outside in an area filled with dirt and possible cold weather. Here is a schedule of when your child will be involved in the afternoon class:
Monday, March 6 - Grade K (1:15-2:15) and Grades 1&2 (2:15-3:15)
Monday, March 13 - Grades 7&8
Monday, March 20 - Grades 5&6
Students will be outside and working in a garden space. Plan now as you look at the schedule of dates. Boot and gloves should be worn. If boots are not available, students can bring an extra pair of old shoes, but please send a bag so they can be put in the bag and sent home until the next class rotation. Students who already have boots and gloves from the after-school program are all set.
If you have not signed up for the after-school program and would like to do that on a monthly basis, please call the office. The one-time fee of $50 covers all days of the week (M-Th) for all students in a family. There is also a $5 per day option. Just call the office to sign up.
ASB Winter Banquet
This Thursday, student in grades 5-8 will be able to enjoy a fun evening that has been a tradition at ECA for as long as there has been the idea of fun. ASB leaders have planned a winter banquet for students in grades 5-8. There is a $5 charge to help offset costs of the meal and evening entertainment. This evening program will be across the street from the school at the Pleasant Hill SDA Church. Students can be dropped off at 6:15 and should be picked up at 8:30. Dress is formal. Our ASB leaders have worked with volunteers and teachers to prepare a wonderful meal in a decorated setting with wonderful entertainment. Pictures will be taken by volunteers or staff. We hope everyone can make it!
Supporting ECA’s Spring Mission Trip
ECA will be taking the students in grades 7&8 to Monterey Bay, California to do a mission project during our school’s Spring Break. We will be working with the SDA boarding school, Monterey Bay Academy, to find ways to support the school and community. We are excited for this opportunity. If you would like to support this trip, there are several ways to do this:
Can & bottle drive - bring your cans and bottles to school and we will collect them for the mission trip fund.
Donations - Any donations will be used 100% by students for this mission project.
Utilize our 7th & 8th grade students for “babysitting” for a night out. Donations will go to the mission trip,
Grades 7&8 Final Mission Trip Meeting - February 28
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28, families from grades 7&8 are asked to attend a final planning meeting for our mission trip that is coming up. We will be meeting from 6:30-7:30 in Ms. Lidia’s classroom. We will plan the final key pieces: vehicles, drivers, daily schedule, activities, deposits, and fundraising opportunities. There will also be a zoom invitation for families unable to attend in person.
Diamond Heist Dinner - Sunday, March 12 - It’s time to call the school to purchase your tickets! Support our students and school and have a great evening!
If you are ready to have a fun evening filled with good food, good friends, intrigue and mystery, then call our office now to reserve a spot for our Diamond Heist Dinner on March 12. We are excited to offer a fun evening and a mystery to solve. We are inviting a group of theater performers to our school for an evening meal. They will be leading us in an evening of mystery where you, the audience, gets to solve the mystery of a diamond heist. We will also end the evening with a dessert dash. The dessert dash is in the form of a silent table bid for “dashing off for dessert for your table.” The highest table bid (combined bids of table participants) gets the first dash for the dessert table. This is sure to be an evening you do not want to miss. Even better, you can invite friends to share the evening with.
We are also in the process of arranging child-care services if you would like to have a date-night out on that evening. Child-care will be at the school during the evening program. As a school, we try to have a community program that allows our school and church families to come together. This will be our winter program. As a school family, you are invited. Consider inviting friends or church friends for a fun evening. Funds that are raised will support our students’ upcoming mission trip and summer renovations for our playground.
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
March 2 - ASB Winter Banquet
March 10 - 1/2 Day Friday / School Hot Lunch
March 12 - Diamond Heist Mystery Dinner
March 12 - Daylight Savings Day
March 23 - Last day of the 3rd quarter
March 24 - April 2 - Spring Break