Spirit Week at ECA

Principal’s Message:

Hello ECA families,

What better way to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas than to start our first full week of December with Spirit Week.

Thinking back to my Christmas traditions when my girls were younger, I remember filling December with live nativity scenes, lights, decorations, church and school programs, and time with family and friends.

The past 12 months have had their share of challenges. As we go into this Christmas season, I’m thankful that we can remember that Jesus truly is the reason for the season. When God sent us his son, he invited us to accept a precious gift that will last for all eternity.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6

Spirit Week Daily Themes

Join ECA as we celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. Each day’s events are meant to fill our days with joy, culminating on this 1/2 day Friday, when our students go shopping to purchase gifts for children at Jasper Mountain SAFE Center.

Here are the daily themes:

Monday - Pajama Day

Tuesday - Twin Day

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday

Thursday - Old World Day

Friday - Career Day

Your child brought home a flyer explaining each of the day’s events with more details (especially Friday’s trip to Target).

Click Here for More Information

1/2 Day Friday this Week

Yes, we will be having school this Friday. We will have a short chapel together and then proceed to break up into two large groups of big brother/sister groups.

Half of the groups will be going to Target by Gateway Mall by ECA bus at 8:45. The remaining group will be working in smaller big brother/sister groups doing Christmas crafts in preparation for our Christmas program.

Groups will switch when the bus returns around 10:15. The second group will then go to Target at Gateway Mall and should be back to school by 11:45,

Due to Covid restrictions and spacing on the school bus, we will need to take two trips. Masks will need to be worn on the bus and while shopping in groups at Target.

So why are we doing all of this? We are asking for each student to share $1 per day or $5 for the week to fundraise money for this Friday’s big event! Big brother & sister groups will be going to Target this Friday by bus. The donations will go towards purchasing Christmas gifts for ALL of the students at Jasper Mountain SAFE Center. Our school has a long history in supporting our community and each child’s donation of $5, along with donors in our community, will make this year’s Christmas memorable as we remember the best gift of all isn’t the one you receive, but the one you give.

Classroom Goals During Spirt Week

To help classrooms get into the giving spirit we have created classroom fundraising goals and rewards. Additionally, the class that brings in the most money (averaged per student per class size) will receive an ice cream party.

1/2 Day Hot Lunch $5

Burrito Boy Bean & Cheese burrito

Tortilla Chips,

Apples,

Drink,

Cookie

(Please call the office to make arrangements for hot lunch for your child. The best time to call is from 11:30-4:00.)

ECA Christmas Program

Set your calendars for Wednesday, December 15 for a 7:00 evening Christmas program. Our music teacher, Mr. Roca, has been working with the students to prepare a special evening. For this to work we need families to do a couple of things this week:

1) Due to Covid restrictions that are in place for indoor gatherings, we will be creating family sitting areas in our gym. The seating areas will be spaced out with assigned seating and masking required. Please think about how many TOTAL members will be in your family unit (including your ECA students).

2) Please call the ECA office this week so we can arrange the gym into family units of chairs with the necessary spacing in place. It really is important for us to plan for a safe and enjoyable evening. Please call between 11:30 - 4:00.

3) Plan on arriving next Wednesday for a wonderful evening filled with Christmas blessings. Parking will be available at the school with an overflow area at the Pleasant Hill SDA Church.

Do You Need a New, Local Artist-Created Mask?

Claire Hart, a member of our Pleasant Hill SDA Church has worked with a local artist to create high quality masks. She has donated all supplies and the artist has donated her beautiful craftsmanship and talents to benefit your family if you are looking for new masks. She has asked that masks are sold at $8 per mask and ALL proceeds go to ECA’s worthy student tuition fund. Take a look at the attached pdf for a better glimpse of the masks.

$8 Donated Mask Fundraiser $8

Masks can be purchased in our school office between the hours of 11:30 and 4:00.

What About Cold Symptoms? Does My Child Need to Stay Home? Is it Covid?

There are some new changes to quarantine guidelines that are a little more relaxed. Oregon is putting those new guidelines into updated resources. When those updates are complete, I will share links. Our school follows guidelines posted and updated by the Oregon Health Authority. By following the link below, you can find more information that the school uses. Pay special attention to pages 4,5 and 7,8.

Cold vs. Covid - What are the Symptoms?

Staying Covid Safe

With classes and children back in session, it is important for us all to do our part to keep our campus clean and safe. Despite our best practices, students still may be exposed to the Covid virus in the community. Our school has access to the Oregon K-12 Screening Testing Program. This program provides screening to students. Click on the link below to find out more about how ECA can help your family if you find yourself in this situation.

Oregon K-12 Student Screening Testing Program FAQ

Our school can also provide diagnostic testing. Here is the link for more information.

Diagnostic Testing at School

After-School Schedules for this Week

Thank you for calling the school the previous week to let the office know which days your child will be attending after-school. If you have not already called to let us know about this week, please call the office after 11:30 so teachers can plan.

This week:

Monday - Photography / Yearbook

Tuesday - Lego Robotics

Wednesday - Library Day

Thursday - Outdoor Learning

NO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM ON Friday. Please pick up your child at 12:30.

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I hope this new week is filled with daily reminders of God’s blessings.