Running Into the Last Month of School
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
Principal’s Message:
There are several track & field world records that are amazing:
50 M - Donovan Bailey - 5.56 seconds
100 M - Usain Bolt - 9.58 seconds
800 M - David Rudisha - 1:40.91 minutes
1 Mile - Hicham El Guerrouj - 3:43.13 minutes
Marathon - Eliud Kipchoge - 2:01:39 hours
What is even more amazing is that as we get down to our last month of school, even 5.56 seconds of school can seem like an eternity for students anxious for summer vacation.
I understand their impatience though. I too am anxious for something. Our Lord has promised he is coming soon and he has made a place for all of us. We just need to accept his invitation, open the door, and let him come into our hearts. The book of Revelation tells us “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” I can’t wait!
"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done." -Revelations 22:12
P/T Conferences
ECA will not be having a formal day for P/T conferences this 4th quarter. Instead, individual teachers will be reaching out to families to share MAP results and plan strategies for summer success. Our desire is to give you feedback to help you understand the progress your child has made, and an educational map to show how your child can reinforce important ideas over the summer.
ECA Track & Field Day
Last Friday all of our prayers were answered. The morning hours were filled with sunshine and good times for all. ECA students competed in several different events. Ribbons will be passed out during our Awards Ceremony on our last day of school, Friday, June 10. You can see photos of some of the events at the bottom of the newsletter.
ECA Jog-a-thon
We are starting our second week for our donor lists for our upcoming Jog-a-thon. Just like last week, prizes will be given out for this week’s donors. Five donors or $50 receives a prize.
To review, again, this year, our school has been blessed with an opportunity for donations of up to $150,000 to be matched dollar for dollar. This time period is ending on June 30, 2022. So far, ECA has had close to $130,000 donated.
ECA is planning on investing a portion of the matching funds to our playground. We will be replacing much of the rocks in the playground with a rubberized surface. This surface will help our students have a safer playground experience.
Your child brought home a packet explaining one way we are hoping to raise the last funds to maximize our matching donor’s gift. Please take time and consider ways friends and family could help our school meet this exciting opportunity.
ECA Spring Music Program & Expo
As a school, we are excited to be able to share an evening of music with your families on Thursday, May 26. Another ECA tradition our school has hosted has been the Emerald Expo. This “open house” and display of yearly projects has usually been an event we have had in late April. Covid made for difficult planning this year, so we will be having a “smaller” version of our traditional Expo in combination with our Spring music program. Classrooms will be open for families to visit from 6:30-7:00. Our music program will then start at 7:15. Upon completion of our music program, classrooms will again be open for an additional 30 minutes.
In the past, Home & School has provided a meal. This year, there will be no meal provided. We are excited as we prepare for next year to adding our Emerald Expo as an ECA Family Event in April.
ECA Yearly Constituency Meeting
Our school is supported by six local constituent churches. Representatives from these churches make up our school board. Once a year, we have a yearly meeting aside from our monthly school boards to share information about the past year, and present our plans for the coming year. This meeting will take place this Thursday, May 19. It will be held in the ECA gym at 7:30. All families are invited to attend.
ECA Outdoor School for Grades 6&7
Students in grades 6&7 will be able to participate in an Outdoor School program sponsored by Mr. Gaylor & Mrs. Thorp on May 20-22. If you plan on your child attending this coming weekend’s event, please call the school office or send Mrs. Thorp or Mr. Gaylor an email letting us know you are planning on your child being there.
We will be sending home a list of the weekend’s events early this week. We will have an official drop off/signed paperwork on Friday at 12:30. This will be at ECA. Special thanks to the volunteers who are helping us get ready for the weekend:
Renee Littman - Shopping
Dr. Larry Jackson - Site preparation / Tractor & lawn mowing
ECA will be hosting a community blood drive through Red Cross
Our school values our community. During the past year, shortages in blood donations have been challenging for health officials. We want to do our part to help. Join me and others who have already signed up for Thursday, June 2. Our school will be hosting the blood drive in our school library from 12:00-5:00. Plan on drinking extra fluids that day and arriving a little early before your scheduled donation time. You will need to create a Red Cross account to donate, but this is only a 2-3 minutes process.
If you have ever considered donating blood, we still have several time slots to fill. Click on the link below to see available times for that Thursday.
Who: This is an invitation to adult friends and families of Emerald Christian Academy.
What: Click on the link to sign up for a time to donate blood at our school.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=emeraldchristianacademy
When: Thursday, June 2 from 12:00 - 5:00.
Where: ECA Library
Why: We love our community and our mission is to Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
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
ECA Covid Policy
ECA Covid Policy for the Rest of the Year
After-School Schedules for this Week
This week:
Monday - Photography
Tuesday - Lego Robotics
Wednesday - Library
Thursday - Outdoors
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I hope this new week is filled with daily reminders of God’s blessings.
Announcements & Upcoming Events
May 13-16 - 8th Grade Class Trip to Lincoln City. 8th grade students return on Tuesday.
May 20-22 - Grades 6&7 Outdoor School
Tuesday, May 24 - ECA Jogathon Fundraiser
Thursday, May 26 - ECA Spring Music Program & Expo
Monday, May 30 - No School - Memorial Day
“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift."
- Steve Prefontaine
