Holding On…
At ECA, our vision is that school families Love God, Value Learning, and Serve Others.
Downhill Adventures
Several of my favorite memories from growing up were the many times I was able to go sledding with friends and family. When my daughters were younger, sledding was a favorite with them too. If you can, picture the scene. It was a crisp, sunny, wintery day that children usually dream about. My friends and I had gone up with a church group to go sledding for the day. Inflatable tires, plastic sleds, and even cardboard boxes were the chosen machines of merriment. As the caravan of sleds started up the hill, I unloaded my own downhill driver - a round, aluminum disc. My neighbor let me borrow this waxed, winter wonder and I quickly joined the line trudging up the hill. The plan was simple: go up the hill on one trail and slide down on a parallel course. All of the children understood the rules.
Unbeknownst to me, my sled had different ideas. I had no problems controlling the slippery, silver saucer going up. And once I reached the top and got a running launch toward the hill down, I had hopes for a successful first run. Somewhere between jumping on and reaching for the handles, my sled hit a bump and jerked quickly to the right. Not the right path mind you, but 45 degrees toward the “up” trail. I was soon rocketing down the wrong trail yelling as hikers going up leaped out of my uncontrolled path. I survived, but I’m not sure about all of my friends from church. Perhaps that is why I never joined the Olympic bobsled team.
Life can seem a little out of control at times. As we start this busy month of December, I hope you find peace and control with God steering your wintry happenings.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” - Psalm 16:11
Hold on! December is here!
ECA Winter Spirit Week
Next week we will be having our annual Spirit Week. Here are the themes for next week!
Fundraiser for next week’s Target Trip to support Jasper Safe Center
Below you will see an overview of how we will be raising funds for our Target Trip. Jasper Safe Center has 13 students that we will be purchasing Christmas presents for. The children at Jasper Safe Center live at the school and vary in age from 7 into early teens. Our big brother and sister groups will shop for these children next Friday following chapel. Our hope is to raise funds for these gifts for the thirteen children next week in a fun class competition. As you can see, there are ways to help your class, and there are ways to “sabotage” another class.
ECA Christmas Program - Wednesday, December 17
ECA will be having our annual Christmas program on Wednesday, December 17. In the next couple weeks, we will be practicing individual solos and class songs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. More information will be going home next week about the program. All families and friends are welcome.
AG Program - Monday’s Science Class
This week’s AG program is for grades 7-8 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 8 - Grades 5-6
Monday, December 15 - Grades 3&4
Hot Lunch for the Month
How are instructional hours and standards related?
In the state of Oregon, there are required hours of instruction for different grades. Here are the yearly requirements for each grade:
Focusing on key standards for each grade lets us optimize our instructional time. Our 4-day school week and one 1/2 day Friday each month exceeds state requirements. Standards keep the instruction on target for each grade.
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, December 1 - Classes Resume
December 8-12 - ECA Spirit Week
Wednesday, December 17 - ECA Christmas Program at the Pleasant Hill SDA Church
