Remembering a Leader
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
January 16, 2023
Today, we honor the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a minister, Dr. King lead his congregation into a closer relationship with Jesus. As a Civil Rights leader, he led a movement that made an impact on our country that continues to change lives for the better today. Just as God entrusted this important work to Dr. King, he asks us each day to lead our children into a closer relationship with him.
Last Friday in chapel, we examined Psalm 23. We learned about our dependence on a shepherd that wants to lead us in every minute of our day. By exploring the hills and pastures around Jerusalem, we saw how misconceptions about “green pastures” can lead to a misunderstanding of how God leads as the good shepherd. Take a 5-minute visit to Jerusalem and see just how God wants to lead us each day. What does Psalm 23 really mean? Click on the link below for more…
Our Third Quarter Begins
Tomorrow will be the first day of our third quarter. Teachers will be finishing up grades in the last days of this month. With MAP testing happening next week, our plan is to pass out report cards at the end of the month with test results from next week’s testing included. Also, please check with your child to see if any of their school supplies are in need of replenishment. Pencils, expo markers, and glue are usually items that need to be stocked up again.
AG Program and Monthly Classroom Participation
Beginning in February, students in every class will start to spend 1-2 hours about once a month with Mr. Johnston. Homeroom teachers will also help with the class. There will be an AG program that all students will be involved in every Monday from about 1:15-3:15 for the grades 3-8 classrooms. Students in K-2 will have a one-hour monthly class. This will begin Monday, February 6. Here is a schedule of when your child will be involved in the afternoon class:
Monday, February 6 - Grades 7&8
Monday, February 13 - Grades 5&6
Monday, February 27 - Grades 3&4
Monday, March 6 - Grade K (1:15-2:15) and Grades 1&2 (2:15-3:15)
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.
ECA Winter Visitation Day
Our next 1/2 day Friday in February, Feb. 10, will be our winter visitation day. We are excited to see our school grow, and we are always trying to find ways to make our program better to meet our community’s needs. If you have friends in the community who are looking for a change in their child’s education, be sure to share the date. The visitation day will last the entire 1/2 day Friday and visiting families will be able to have a sample of what makes ECA special. There will also be a session time to meet with the principal for a Q&A session. There will be a hot lunch offered that day and visiting families eat for free. Please have families call the school at 541-746-1708 to sign up for the day.
Grade SIX Outdoor School is Coming Up
Students in grade six will be going to outdoor school from February 14-17. Students will be going to Big Lake Youth Camp out of Sisters, OR. If you would like to see more about Big Lake Youth Camp and the facility, just click on the link below to see more about the camp. Students will be staying in cabins. Boys and girls will be separated. Mr. Gaylor will be the boys’ chaperone. Mrs. Raman has volunteered to go up and be the girls’ chaperone. If you would like to join us, it is important to get your background check and volunteer paperwork done immediately so there is time for everything to be processed. There is no additional cost and registration paperwork will be going home soon.
Grades 7&8 Winter Meeting Coming Up
Families in grades 7&8 should have received a remind notice about an upcoming evening meeting at school. We are looking forward to our Spring Mission Trip and we are needing to share details and get parent feedback. Please check your email and respond back so we can plan the best time to meet. We will be having a zoom session during the meeting for those who cannot be there in person. Thanks for helping us with our plans as we prepare for upcoming events!
ECA Winter Survey
Later this week, we will be sending a Remind notice with a link to a shared Google survey. We value every family’s input as we continue to make our school better. It’s nice to see the things that are appreciated, and it is nice to hear ideas about how we can improve. Keep your eye open for the remind notice.
ECA Winter Ski Day for ASB students in grades 5-8
Every winter, ECA takes students in grades 5-8 to Hoodoo Ski Resort for a ski/snowboarding PE day. This is an optional day and students are not required to attend. This week, packets will be going out to families with information and prices for lift tickets and rental packages. Parents of students can attend too. Students in grades K-4 will be doing swimming lessons later in March so this program is not offered to those classes. Note: If you as a family decide to go with a student that is in grades 5-8, all members of your family are welcome to attend (even younger students). To be clear, in order to participate in this program you must have a student in grades 5-8. Costs of lift tickets or rentals are the responsibility of the family attending. ECA does not cover the cost of the ski/snowboarding program. We do cover transportation.
A Thought On Our After-School Program
If your family has been utilizing our after-school program, that is wonderful. We appreciate and respect the commitment you have to Christian education, and we try to provide a safe and nurturing program to help your child grow. We ask that you arrive as close to 5:00 as possible. Teachers who run the program after school often find their “after-school” day is a late day. Many teachers often leave school 6:30 or later on those days as they struggle to rush back to the classroom and get ready for the next day. Thank you for your understanding.
Winter Fundraiser
This is our second week of the Territorial Seed Fundraiser. Orders are due the 19th of this week. Note: Territorial Seed Company has hundreds of types of seeds. The seeds that they make available to us at a discounted price are not from their entire catalogue. Only seeds from the fundraising catalogue can be purchased at the “fundraiser price.”
Click here for the fundraiser catalogue.
Click here for the fundraiser order form.
3rd Quarter Events Coming Up
We are excited about our ski/snowboarding day and mission trip. Lots more events are scheduled for the third quarter. Here is a short list: ASB banquet, 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
January 23-26 - Winter MAP testing
Friday, February 10 - ECA Winter Visitation Day
February 14-17 - 6th Grade Outdoor School for 6th Grade Students
February 23 - Ski/Snowboarding Trip for Grades 5-8
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever..” - Psalm 23