Third Quarter is Almost Here!

 

Principal’s Message:

Hello ECA families,

As a young child, I sometimes had the opportunity to go to work with my grandfather. He was a carpenter and worked on a variety of projects. I remember “helping him” on framing projects, indoor kitchens, mixing cement, and cabinetry work. Being six years old at the time, I felt I had a helping hand in building houses. Reflecting back, I realize just how special those times were and how he helped me feel important and needed.

Often, we feel like the small tasks we do daily don’t always add up to big things, but I assure you, the teamwork we share in helping these children learn both academics and a love for the original “carpenter” of the universe is accomplishing amazing things. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue into this new year.

“Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” - Isaiah 66:1-2

Our Last Week of the Second Quarter

This week is the final week of our second quarter. Report cards will be mailed out at the end of the month. ECA has scheduled P/T conferences after the 1st & 3rd quarters. If you would like to talk with your child’s teacher about their progress, please reach out to your homeroom teachers. Teacher emails are in the format of first letter and then last name: (example) dgaylor@emeraldchristianacademy.com.

A Full and Busy January

This week will be the last full week of the month. We have a full 5-day week with a 1/2 day this Friday. Next week, we will be celebrating MLK, Jr. so there will be no school next Monday. The Following week, January 24 & 25 there will be no school on Monday and Tuesday for teacher in-service days. The Oregon Conference schedules these days into the calendar. We will be meeting and working on the implementation of standards based learning.

1/2 Day Friday

This Friday, we will be having school from 8:00 - 12:30. We will also be having hot lunch. The menu for this Friday is burritos, orange slices, veggies, cookie, and a drink. If you still need to sign up, please sign up before the end of the day on Wednesday. This will allow our great Home & School volunteers to place orders and have everything in place.

Are you Starting to Think about Spring Already?

Special thanks to Jennifer Lindsey for helping ECA with fundraising projects this year. She is working on the final stages for a winter fundraiser with territorialseed.com. More information will be coming shortly. Our fundraising efforts help real families at school by helping to build up our worthy student fund for the next school year..

Being Cautious and Careful With Covid

Last week, I spent quite a bit of time explaining the current state of Covid and how as a school we need to keep policies in place to keep our kids in school.

1) Currently, the Oregon Health Authority is allowing individual counties to decide Covid regulations and protocols. As of today, Lane County is following the 5 day quarantine and then return recommendation.

  • What does that mean? If your child has been directly exposed to Covid away from school (direct & greater than 15 minutes), and is not vaccinated, then your child needs to quarantine at home for 5 days. After five days, if your child is symptom free, they can return to school. They will also need to wear a mask for 5 additional days at school.

  • If they are fully vaccinated and current with boosters, they do not need to quarantine if they are symptom free.

  • What about exposure at school? If they are exposed at school, they can follow “test to stay” protocols and stay at school as long as they remain symptom free. This requires two Covid tests. The school can give tests with signed parent consent. More information below.

2) What if my child comes down with Covid and tests positive? Once a child starts to show symptoms or tests positive, a 5-day isolation period needs to start for your child. During this time your child may have minor symptoms or none at all, but they still need to isolate for those 5 days at home. After 5 days, if your child has not had a fever without medicine for 24 hours, they can return. They will need to wear a mask for 5 additional days. Note, this is different than “test to stay.”

3) What “tool” does ECA use to decide what an exposure incident is and what steps to take? ECA uses the updated Covid-19 Scenarios in Schools document. Here is a link if you have any questions:

LINK Planning for Covid-19 Scenarios in Schools

4) Thank you for helping us keep your child and other children safe at school. Thank you for reminding students about the importance of washing hands, distancing, and wearing masks. As a staff, we work hard to set examples. We want to spend our time teaching, and not policing masks. Help us by sharing this important point with your child.

5) Did my child get exposed to Covid at school? Currently, the state of Oregon has a program called Test to Stay at School that your unvaccinated child can use if they have been exposed to someone AT SCHOOL INDOORS that has tested positive for Covid and has been in close contact for longer than 15 minutes INDOORS. This lets them stay at school without quarantining as long as they do not show symptoms; however, there are some conditions though:

CLICK FOR TEST TO STAY PROTOCOLS

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

We still have some masks left. If you are wishing to replenish any masks, 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

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.

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

 

Announcements & Upcoming Events

  • Friday, January 14 - 1/2 Day Friday & end of 2nd quarter. Hot Lunch.

  • Monday, January 17 - No School - MLK, Jr. Holiday

  • Monday & Tuesday, January 24, 25 - No School - Teacher Inservice.

  • Monday - Thursday, Jan. 31-Feb. 3, Winter MAP Testing

Excited to Start a New Quarter!

 
Doug Gaylor