A New Season and a New Quarter
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
For Sale - One slightly used school quarter - low miles.
October 30, 2022
Hello ECA families,
Since my wife and I first got married, we have ALMOST always started new stages of our lives following other families as they were starting a new path. Let me explain. We have lived in one apartment and three homes. None of them were brand new when we moved in. We have owned several cars and trucks, and almost all of them have been previously owned. I’m sure most of you can relate in one way or another. Each “new” home, car, rental, or vacation spot was still a new adventure we were excited to begin.
Tomorrow, we start the second quarter of the school year. It is a chance for students to fix one or two things as they continue to grow at school. With a new quarter, now is a good time to check in with your child on basic school supplies. It is usually about this time that pencils, pens, and often scissors and glue start to run low or are completely gone. It is also a good time to start planning on colder weather.
I’m so thankful that we have a daily chance to recommit our lives to God each day too. Just like a new quarter brings a new hope for academic growth and to right a ship drifting off course, each day we have a chance to become a new creation in Jesus.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Parent/Teacher Conferences
This Thursday, November 3 school will be dismissing at 12:30. There will be no after-school program on that day. Parent/teacher conferences will then be starting at 2:00 and going into the evening. The next day, Friday, November 4, meetings will resume from 9:00-2:00. For students in grades 5-8, there will be slightly earlier and longer hours to allow for the extra students between Mr. Gaylor and Ms. Sobor. Kindergarten students will be in joint meetings with Mrs. Waterson and Mrs. Hager. Students in grades 5-8 will be in joint meetings with Mr. Gaylor and Ms. Sobor.
Please call the office to set up a conference time. Meetings will be 20 minutes. The office will be open in the morning at 11:30. Tuesday-Thursday there will be full office hours. We look forward to sharing progress and goals as we plan for a successful year.
No Hot Lunch Tomorrow, Monday, October 31
There will be no hot lunch tomorrow. Plan on hot lunches resuming in one week as we start the month of November.
ECA Picture Day will be tomorrow, Monday, October 31
ECA has used the same traveling photographer for the past few years. Packets went home two weeks ago with prices if you are interested in purchasing picture packets. Even if your family is not interested in getting a packet, pictures will still be taken for our annual yearbook. Also, for families new to ECA, we ask that students do not dress in costumes on Halloween. Later in the year we will be having a Spirit Week to celebrate the spirit of giving (around Christmas). ASB is starting to make plans for that week and it involves dressing up for each day with different themes.
Plan Now to Attend our Annual ECA Thanksgiving Potluck Meal
Almost a month away, on Friday, November 18 ECA will be having their monthly 1/2 Day Friday. In November, this will be happening on the third Friday since November 11 is Veterans’ Day. On the 18th, we open our school up to school families, church members, and our school community. More details will be going home later, but plan on joining us for a school community gathering in November.
After-School Tutor Position and Music Position Availability at ECA
ECA is looking to fill a position for an after-school tutor/helper with our after-school program. This position would be from 3:00 - 5:00 M-Th. As a part-time worker for the school, you would be compensated with an hourly pay. You would work with our CORE Full-Time teachers to help students in reading, math, and writing. You could also help out with after-school programs. If this sounds like an adventure you would like more information about, please call the office or send an email to principal@emeraldchristianacademy.com. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has the flexibility to work with a great team of teachers receive financial compensation that help offset the costs of tuition.
Additionally, ECA is still searching to fill our open music teacher position. If you are aware of any music lesson instructors that might be interested in part-time work with transportation expenses covered in the paid position, please call the office. Any information provided will be followed up by the school. We have short-term teachers in place, but our goal is to have a long-term plan in place. Music has always been an important part of our school and we look forward to seeing God’s plan as we trust in his plan for this year.
Grades 3-6 Music Field Trip to the Hult Center
Students in grades 3-6 will be going to the Hult Center on Tuesday, November 15. Parking is very limited, so we will be taking the bus for this mid-day field trip. If you would like to come along for the day and help as a chaperone, parents that have been cleared as volunteers with background and Covid proof or exemption are able to participate. Please call the office by 12:30 on Tuesday, November 1 if you would like to join us. I will be registering our school later in the afternoon and our numbers need to be finalized. There is no additional charge for this music program.
Upcoming AG Program at ECA
We are excited to be offering an after-school agriculture program for students at ECA beginning in December. Our hope is to grow and develop this program to help students see the value in working in nature, develop financial management skills, and enjoy interacting with our community. There will be different stages that will happen as we start this program. The first stage will be the completion of a donated greenhouse kit. We currently have foundation set for the 8x20 greenhouse kit. If you have any experience or interest in working on this one-two day project, please consider calling the school. I know Wyatt is excited to start working on raised beds, fencing, irrigation, and instilling a passion for the love of Jesus. Thank you for keeping this in your prayers.
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
Monday, October 31 - Picture Day at ECA
Thursday, November 3 - 1/2 Day of school. P/T Conferences start at 2:00.
Friday, November 4 - P/T Conferences continue from 9:00-2:00.
Friday, November 11 - No SCHOOL - Veterans Day. We will have our 1/2 day Friday on November 18.
Sunday, November 6 - Set your clocks back one hour.
Tuesday, November 15 - Grades 3-6 Field Trip to the Hult Center
Friday, November 18 - ECA’s annual Thanksgiving School Community Potluck and Meal
"“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind”” - Isaiah 65:17