Happy New Year
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
January 1, 2023
If you have ever fallen victim to curiosity, you understand the appeal of the words “Grand Opening” or “Grand Reopening.” For most of us, as we have driven to school, we have seen the stages of construction at the local Dairy Queen and its remodel. Coming home recently, I read the words, “We are Open! Grand Reopening!” Another common phrase is “Under new management!”
January 1 is an opportunity to hit the “reset” button for many of us. I won’t ask you to share your new year’s resolutions and how long you keep them if you don’t ask me about my resets. I think there is something powerful in the chance to start over again. We serve a creator who gives us the gift of mercy and opportunities to right the wrongs and put our course on a straight path. Welcome to a new year and God’s life-changing love.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:19
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
A Return to School, Classes, and and End of the 2nd Quarter
As we come back to school in 2023 after a two-week break, we remind you about the importance of helping students readjust to school. Here are some things to think about as we get back into the classroom:
Reset those bedtimes,
Reset times at home for reading and homework,
Reset school supplies that were used up during the first half of the school year. Expo markers, pencils, scissors, glue, and markers might need to be replaced. Please check with your child so students can be ready with materials,
Reset the warm clothing, coats, and gloves,
Reset goals that were made at our first P/T conferences.
End of the Second Quarter
Our second quarter will be ending in two weeks. For most students, that means making sure everything is turned in and AR points have been reached for the quarter. ECA does not do P/T conferences after the second quarter. They happen after the first and third quarters. Report cards will be passed out to parents or mailed at the end of the month.
After-School in the New Year & Our AG Program is starting tomorrow!
Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 3, students will be able to participate in a new after-school activity. ECA’s Agriculture Program is ready for students to stay after school. Mr. Johnston has been very busy during the past month and is ready to start working with students. The AG program will happen Monday-Thursday from 4:00 - 5:00 each day. There will also be the traditional after-school activities with homeroom teachers. It is important that Mr. Johnston has an accurate count of students who will be involved during the days of the week.
There are lots of exciting things that will be done as the program begins. We will be building pathways, working on fencing, working in the greenhouse on Spring seeding projects, doing land preparation, irrigation, and incorporating a program that helps students see God through nature. If you would like your child to participate, that is great. If you are already signed up for after-school and pay the $50 per month your family is all set. All we need from you is a phone call to the office so we can sign your child up for the days of the week you would like your child to participate. Depending on weather, there might be times you would like your child to work with homeroom teachers and indoor after-school programs. The indoor programs are as follows: Monday - Tutoring, Tuesday - Legos, Wednesday - Story Hour, Thursday - Art & Spanish.
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). There is also a $5 per day option. Just call the office to sign up. In addition to doing the AG program M-Th, Mr. Johnston will also be working with students on our half-day Friday every month from 10:30 - 2:30. School will still end at 12:30, but Mr. Johnston will be staying with students in the AG program until 2:30. That means you can pick up your child at 2:30 once a month if students are signed up for that Friday.
If you would like your child to participate, we ask that you send boots, gloves, and a raincoat. Everything else will be provided. We are preparing a storage area for students to keep things that are worn. There will be washing areas in the program areas for keeping mud minimized. If students have the boots, raincoat, and gloves at school, there will be time for students to switch between school shoes and AG program boots. We are excited to see this program start and are encouraged as we have seen community excitement and church interest. It will be exciting to see the flowers, bulbs, baskets, fruits, vegetables, and fields of produce become a product of the hard work of our ECA students.
3rd Quarter Events Coming Up
Third quarter has a lot of great things that happen at ECA - ASB banquet, ASB skiing, 6th grade outdoor school at Big Lake Youth Camp, ECA Mystery Drama and Dinner Evening Extravaganza, ECA Winter Visitation Day, K-4 Swimming Lessons, and more. Keep checking the weekly newsletters for more information.
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
Friday, January 13 - End of the 2nd Quarter / 1/2 Day Friday
Monday, January 16 - No School, MLK, Jr. Day
January 23-26 - Winter MAP testing
Friday, February 10 - ECA Winter Visitation Day
February 14-17 - 6th Grade Outdoor School for 6th Grade Students
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” - Lamentations 3:22-24