Saying Thank You by Giving Back
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
Sharing Our Blessings
This past week, students were busy in many ways. For some, it was studying for a spelling test. For others it was getting enough reading points for the week. Still for others, it was helping to be ready for last Friday’s ECA Thanksgiving meal. Our school mission is that ECA students love God, value learning, and serve others. For many in our school, our service to others happens on our 1/2 day Fridays. As a community of students, staff, and families, we were able to host a meal for over 140 people, inviting families from our school and churches.
For our ECA students, our spirit of community began earlier in the day though. Thanks to our community’s generosity, we have been able to build a community service fund. This year, our community service event for November was to remember individuals in our constituent and supporting churches. Every day, our school is blessed with the joyful sounds of children’s laughter and the business we call learning. For many in our churches, those voices are quieter during the holiday season. Perhaps families or church members are going through sickness or loss. Working with our area pastors, our students prepared gift bags that our churches will be delivering. We crafted 76 gift bags with seasonal touches of warmth: gift candles, sweets, puzzle books, cinnamon-scented pine cones, packs of gum, seasonal treats, chapstick, hand warmers, fuzzy socks, hot cocoa & biscotti biscuits, and a colored letter and drawing that shared these words: “All of us at ECA want to share God’s love with you. We are learning a lot at school each day. We are also learning that Jesus loves us all so much. Happy Thanksgiving.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8
And Speaking of of being thankful…
The ECA staff and school would like to say a special thank you to our Home & School leaders and all of the volunteers who helped to make our Thanksgiving Meal a blessing for our school and community. We would also like to thank each family for sharing a small part to make such a large event possible. One of the incredible things to witness every year at school is the amazing community that is part of ECA. It is the volunteers who come and help in the classrooms: reading in the library, working in small groups, reading with students, helping students with math, helping out at STEAM time, helping in the lunchroom. It is the parents who give their time to help make programs happen: sharing music, time, planning, resources, volunteering for class functions and overnight excursions, and helping with financial contributions. Thank you to all of you. Because of you, our school community helps make a difference in the lives of students and families every day!
Thanksgiving Vacation begins this 1/2 day Wednesday.
Thanksgiving vacation will begin this Wednesday at 12:30. There will be NO AFTERSCHOOL on Wednesday. School will resume on Monday, Dec. 1.
AG Program - Monday’s Science Class
This week’s AG program is for grades K-2. 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, December 1 - Grades 7-8
Monday, December 8 - Grades 5-6
Monday, December 15 - Grades 3&4
Hot Lunch for the Month
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
Wednesday, November 26 - 1/2 day of school
Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving - No School
Monday, December 1 - Classes Resume
December 8-12 - ECA Spirit Week
Wednesday, December 17 - ECA Christmas Program at the Pleasant Hill SDA Church
