Moving Forward
Principal’s Message:
Hello ECA families,
When I was a young child, I was usually one of the last kids picked for a team. I’m sure you remember seeing me at your school: shortest, smallest, skinniest, thick glasses, not always coordinated. Being the last picked was a way of life for me.
As I grew up, I remember hoping that there would be a time when things would go my way and I would be the hero for the day. My opportunity happened in the spring of 6th grade during an afternoon recess. I remember it like it was yesterday. Again, I was picked last and I began my usual walk to right field (yes, that right field). My family struggled with finances and I never had a baseball mitt, and so I went out into the field ready to watch the other kids work together to get the three outs. Two outs later, I watched as the next hitter came up.
Switch-hitting was not a thing for most of us kids. And when it did happen, it usually had predictable results: grounder to first base and an out. Destiny had a different plan that day. I remember the swing, hearing the crack, and watching as the ball went high into the air. I remember everyone yelling my name, but for some reason I don’t remember hearing any of the voices. I focused on the sailing sphere that was hurling towards my bare hands. Straight out of the movies, it plopped right into my hands. I didn’t chase after it or anything. Suddenly, I heard the voices cheering. My hands stung a bit, but that was a good day. It gave me hope.
Don’t we need days like that in our lives today. As a school family, we have gone through some difficult days in the past two years of Covid. Our hands have been stung. My hope is no longer placed in how well I catch a ball. My hope is placed in a God who has a plan for me. I’m so glad to be moving forward!
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” - Hebrews 6:19
Covid, Masks, and Looking Ahead
ECA family, together we have gone through the ups and downs of Covid over the past two years. As a school, this will be our last week of mandated masks at ECA. Beginning next week, on March 13, masks will be optional for staff, parents, volunteers, and students. For a more comprehensive look at our school’s Covid policy for the remainder of the year, please click on the link below:
ECA Covid Policy for the Rest of the Year
ECA Welcomes a Local Author This Friday
This 1/2 day Friday, ECA will be welcoming a local children’s book author to our campus. Robert Young has written several books and is coming to our campus to share his love of writing with our students. Parents are welcome to join us to hear him as he shares stories and his journey in writing.
There will be three different age groups with different times. Each group will be meeting in the library with a different focus. If you are interested in joining, please join us for our morning chapel and plan on staying a little bit longer for the group presentations:
9:15-9:30 - K-2 Presentation
9:35-10:00 - Grades 3&4 Presentation
10:05 - 10:35 - Grades 5-8 Presentation
Sharing Our School With Our Community With a Visitation Day
ECA will be having our 2022 Visitation Day the first week back after Spring Break. A final date and time will be worked out this week with staff. We are proud of our school family and excited to share the good news about our school and how we can serve families in our community. You can help us spread by posting school activities and events your child is involved in. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other resources are all ways we can share the good things that are happening at our school.
Online School Survey
This week, ECA will be sending out an online survey that will help us make plans for school growth next year. We will be sending this out as a shared Google Doc. Please check your email this week. Thank you for giving us feedback on how things are going well, and how we can continue to grow.
Preregistration for Next Year Will Open This Week
Later this week, you will be receiving a letter sharing our reenrollment guidelines for students and the 2022-2023 school year. As a staff, we look forward to our last quarter of the 2022 school year, and are excited about a new school year in the fall.
Hot Lunch this 1/2 Day Friday
Thank you again to a wonderful Home & School. They will be offering hot lunch for this Friday. The menu will be pizza, veggies, drink, and dessert. Please call the office by Wednesday so all orders can be processed.
After-School Schedules for this Week
This week:
Monday - Photography
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, March 11 - 1/2 Day Friday - Author Visitation Day. Hot Lunch.
Sunday, March 13 - Daylight Savings - Move your clocks forward an hour.
Thursday, March 17 - Last day of 3rd Quarter
4th Quarter Events: School Visitation Day, K-4 Swimming Lessons, Emerald Expo, Spring Music Program, Spring MAP Testing, ASB Community Service Day, Grades 6&7 Outdoor School, 8th Grade Class Trip, Red Cross Community Blood Drive.