Native American Heritage Month
Principal’s Message:
David and I spent a few weeks in Alaska in June of 2010 with his parents. During this trip we went on many distinctly Alaskan excursions, one such excursion was to Fossil Creek near Anchorage, AK.
Riding around on four-wheelers we saw big-horned sheep, sweeping vistas and finally found a creek that meandered through the breathtaking scenery. We stumbled around the big rocks poking around for fossils. David picked up a big boulder at one point and crashed it down—this was not a tiny little boulder so we were quite surprised when it split right down the middle.
Both sides of the rock revealed a distinct imprint of an ammonite. In the middle of the two giant halves was a perfectly preserved ammonite. It was stunning for many reasons—
First, because it was a complete and total surprise. Second, it felt so important and significant to be holding a piece of history in our hands. We found ourselves imagining all the creatures and humans that roamed the very land our feet were standing on, and the acknowledgement of our transience through massive upheavals in history.
This month we celebrate Native American Heritage Month and it is a time where I am reminded, as I was in Alaska, of the tiny blip of time that we are currently living. At one point our school was land on which indigenous families planted their feet and lived out their story. As Christians we believe that “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalms 24:1
I like to think that a way to acknowledge the connectedness of all God’s children is to acknowledge the stories that make up a geographic location, difficult as that exploration might be. Sometimes those stories are ones we are quite familiar with, and sometimes we are surprised and moved by the newness (to us) of the history that we are holding in our hands.
Some websites to help you explore the area stories and Native stories in the larger context of the US:
What is Native American Heritage Month?
Fossil Creek, Alaska 2010
Announcements:
Veterans Day is November 11! Last year we were so honored to be able to visit the Roseburg VA Clinic. Tammy, the volunteer coordinator in Roseburg was hoping that despite Covid-19 restrictions we could still bring some cheer to the numerous veterans at their facilities. Tammy is requesting cards, crafts, videos of musical pieces, poems, well wishes, thank yous etc. If you are local, consider dropping off something at Emerald Christian Academy by noon on Wednesday, November 11. Or, send in digital copies right here.
Online Co-Op Families we would LOVE to see what you are working on—please send pictures for our website and for the yearbook staff!
If you have not signed up for Parent-Teacher Conferences, please sign up as soon as possible here.
Reminder, this Friday is Enrichment Friday! Taylor Walker a lego designer and filmmaker will be joining us this Friday at 9 am! More info to come soon.
Covid-19:
ECA’s Covid Advisory Team will be meeting again at the end of 1st quarter, November 6.
Questions, concerns, ideas? Please email office@emeraldchristianacademy.com with the subject—Covid Advisory Team.
Are you unsure about your child’s symptoms? Do you want some guidance on whether they should be at school or stay home or get a Covid test? Call Lane County’s Non-Emergency Call Center line for Covid-19 at 541-682-1380
We will provide an update after the Covid Advisory Team meets this week.
ECA Pray-ers:
Please send us your prayer requests so we can take time to pray for them on our campus! principal@emeraldchristianacademy.com
Interested in joining an ECA Prayer team? Email Mrs. Crawford at the above email address to participate!
