Saying “Thank You” to our many Veterans
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
I Am a Veteran
by Andrea C. Brett
You may not know me the first time we meet
I’m just another you see on the street
But I am the reason you walk and breathe free
I am the reason for your liberty
I AM A VETERAN
I work in the local factory all day
I own the restaurant just down the way
I sell you insurance, I start your IV
I’ve got the best-looking grandkids you’ll ever see
I’m your grocer, your banker
Your child’s schoolteacher
I’m your plumber, your barber
Your family’s preacher
But there’s part of me you don’t know very well
Just listen a moment, I’ve a story to tell
I AM A VETERAN
I joined the service while still in my teens
I traded my prom dress for camouflage greens
I’m the first in my family to do something like this
I followed my father, like he followed his
Defying my fears and hiding my doubt
I married my sweetheart before I shipped out
I missed Christmas, then Easter
The birth of my son
But I knew I was doing what had to be done
I served on the battlefront, I served on the base
I bound up the wounded
And begged for God’s grace
I gave orders to fire, I followed commands
I marched into conflict in far distant lands
In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores
In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors
While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea
My family and friends were home praying for me
For the land of the free and the home of the brave
I faced my demons in foxholes and caves
Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife
I lost an arm, my buddy lost his life
I came home and moved on
But forever was changed
The perils of war in my memory remained
I don’t really say much, I don’t feel like I can
But I left home a child, and came home a man
There are thousands like me
Thousands more who are gone
But their legacy lives as time marches on
White crosses in rows
And names carved in queue
Remind us of what these brave souls had to do
I’m part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band
Of each man and each woman
Who has served this great land
And when Old Glory waves
I stand proud, I stand tall
I helped keep her flying over you, over all
I AM A VETERAN
Copyright Andrea C. Brett
Thank You to our school and community veterans who have served our country!
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” - 1 Peter 4:10, 11
Oops! John Hopkins Institute for Educational Policy Survey This Week
This week, students in grades 3-8 will be participating in the ECA School Culture Survey at school. Parents will also be receiving an email with a link to take the school survey. Additionally, staff and school board members will be taking the survey. Thank you for sharing your time and honest input so we can continue to make our school better and find ways to better serve our community.
November - Important Days are Coming Up
The month of November has a mixture of days that affect our normal school week. Additionally, our normal 1/2 day Friday will be on November 21 this month. Here is a list of modified school days this month:
Tuesday November 11 - No School - Veterans’ Day
Friday, November 14 - Makeup 1/2 day of school - No After-school
Monday, November 17 - No School - Teacher Inservice Day
Friday, November 21 - ECA Annual Thanksgiving Potluck for school & church families
Wednesday, November 26 - 1/2 day of school to start the Thanksgiving Vacation.
Thursday, November 27 - No School - Thanksgiving Day
Makeup School Pictures Day
Last week, your child received their school pictures. If you would like picture retakes, tomorrow is the day. Please send your child’s old packet with them to school if you would like retakes. If you did not order pictures for your child, orders can be placed with their picture from last week or have new pictures taken tomorrow. Please let your child know if they will be having picture retakes. Retakes will only happen if needed.
ECA’s “Eat Your Rainbow” Food Challenge starts this week!
Last week, your child brought home an envelope explaining our ECA healthy eating challenge. Connie Dunks, a board member, grandmother, and volunteer at our school runs the program. This is a fun way for students to get rewarded for eating healthy this week. Be sure to ask your child for the envelope for more details.
Veterans’ Day - No School
This Tuesday, November 11, ECA will be honoring veterans and their families. There will be no school. If you would like to be celebrate and show your appreciation to veterans in the community, there is a Veteran’s Day Parade that our school has gone to many times in Albany, Oregon. If you would like more information on the parade and times, here is a link: VETERANS’ DAY PARADE.
1/2 Day Friday this week and next week too!
This Friday, November 14, ECA will be having our monthly 1/2 day Friday. We will be having a core classes Friday morning. We will not be having a chapel. Next week, will also be having a 1/2 day Friday. It will be our ECA School Family Thanksgiving Meal. So, two weeks in a row with 1/2 day Fridays!
Monday, November 17 - No School
There are four times per year, our staff have professional growth and training. Next Monday, November 17 there will be no school. We are making up the school day with a 1/2 day core the this Friday, November14.
November 21 - ECA School Family Thanksgiving Meal
I know Thanksgiving seems a long way away, but ECA is getting ready for our annual ECA Family Thanksgiving Potluck. Know this - your family is invited to join us on Friday, November 21 to have lunch with your child and all of the other school families. Grandparents are invited too. We also invite families from our constituent churches.
Parents, as we plan for the school “potluck” we want to invite all of you for our early lunch on November 21. We will be having a 12:30 pickup on our monthly ½ day Friday. Our ECA school family Thanksgiving meal will begin at 11 am in the gym. Thank you especially to our Home & School, who is providing the main “kid-friendly” entrees. As school families, if we each do a small part, we will have plenty of food for everyone.
Please note: Our meal is vegetarian. Please do not send any foods containing meat. Also, please use disposable serving dishes, if possible, to speed up clean-up time.
Also, if you notice that a particular food item looks full, you can look at the bottom of the list for an “Other Ideas” list. Food contributions DO NOT have to be traditional Thanksgiving foods; kid-friendly food is always a hit with our elementary, tweens, and youth.
Here is a list of suggested classroom donations:
Grade K-2: Side Dishes
Examples: casseroles and warm side dishes, veggie/fruit platters, etc.
Grade 3/4: Salads (pre-made in a bowl please)
Examples: lettuce salad, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, dressings, taco salad, 3-bean salad
Grade 5/6: Rolls & Bread/Cheese & cracker platters
Examples: bags of pre-made rolls, butter & jam, pre-made cheese & cracker plates, etc.
Grade 7/8: Desserts
Examples: cookies, pie, brownies, cupcakes, gluten-free and/or vegan options
OTHER ITEMS: kid-friendly choices please ☺
Examples: chips & dip or salsa, PB&J sandwich halves, bags of popcorn, drinks, etc.
AG Program - Monday’s Science Class
Our Monday AG Class will be for grades 3&4. Students will be outdoors doing a variety of things with Mr. Wyatt Johnson. Throughout the year, there may be a few rainy days. Boots and gloves are great things for working outdoors on Monday Science Days. Water bottles are great things to have outside too. Here is a schedule of the days and classes:
Monday, November 10 - Grades 3&4
Monday, November 24 - Grades K-2
Hot Lunch for the Month
How do rubrics & SBL work?
Rubric - An assessment tool developed for evaluating performance on a specific product, project, or task. Teachers at ECA use rubrics to help clarify expectations and highlight standards that students learn in proficiency scales. Here is a sample rubric:
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, November 10 - Picture Retakes
Monday, November 10 - “Eat Your Rainbow” Food Challenge begins
Tuesday, November 11 - No School - Veterans Day
Friday, November 14 -1/2 Day Friday - Makeup Day - No Afterschool
Monday, November 17 - No School - Teacher Inservice Day
Friday, November 21 - ECA Annual Thanksgiving Potluck
Wednesday, November 26 - 1/2 day of school
Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving - No School
