December 16, 2011

December 16, 2011

Message From Principal Andrew Culp:

Intervention

In the ninth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet foretells the coming of Christ saying, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned." In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he articulates that "now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near..." Woven throughout scripture is the radical narrative of an ever-loving God who refuses to let humanity remain in its state, but straddles the chasm between the eternal and earthly to become Emmanuel. The storybook Bible that I read to my boys each night puts it this way when speaking of the Incarnation, "Heaven had broken through. The Great Rescue had begun!" Our celebration of Christmas is in its purest form, a recognition of the Ultimate Intervention.

The Christmas season and, specifically the Incarnation, provide us as a school with a redemptive model for engaging the regions of intellectual and academic darkness. At ECMS we are seeking to increasingly move into the arenas of dim confusion and unveil the light of understanding. However, we recognize that as we instruct, empower and encourage students through best educational practices, areas of shadow in comprehension remain. In response to that, we are increasing our intervention models to address learning gaps and bring understanding closer. This past week, we officially launched our SMART (Specials, Math, AR & reTeaching) time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We have allocated time in the middle of our day to intentionally address the areas where individual and small group intervention is most needed. Similarly, we are leveraging our technological capacity to target individual needs through virtual programs like Success Maker and MangaHigh.

One additional way that we are seeking to meet these needs is through our After-School Homework Help and Coaching Program. Beginning in January, ECMS will be hosting an after-school program on Tuesdays and Thursdays that will be geared towards assisting students in homework, and also coaching students in study habits and learning readiness. From 3:15 to 4:30, students will be assisted by ECMS teachers in a small group or individualized environment. Please see the flyer in this week's Friday Folder or sign-up for sessions at tinyurl.com/homeworkhelpandcoaching.

At ECMS, we feel it is our mission to increasingly grow in personal and intellectual relationships with students, exhibit a keen sense of individual needs, and foster sensitive hearts that are eager to step into areas of darkness. Through this season and beyond, it is my prayer that this will be modeled after the Ultimate Intervention. Merry Christmas!

School Stuff

5th Grade Parents: Last week a flyer went home regarding our Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Houses. Thank you for all the donations that have already come in! We are still looking for donations of candy (marshmallows, gum drops, M&M's, small candy canes, licorice, peppermints, Hershey kisses, etc.). Please send these in by Monday, December 19.

8th Grade Parents: The 8th grade students will have a combined Christmas party this year, which will include a White Elephant gift exchange in the $5 - $10 range. More info may be found in the flier coming home today or by calling Beverly Albies at 201-312-7862 or Lynda Vincenti at 973-227-4084.

Calendar Revision: All Eastern Christian Schools will be open 1/2 day for students on Friday, January 20, 2012 to make up one day lost to the October snowstorm. This will allow for 3 snow days going into the winter months of the year and will add one day to the first semester. The after school program and Stay 'n Play will not be available.

Pizza Order Forms: Get your pizza hot lunch order forms in! This form is for pizza to begin on Thursday, January 5. The last serving day for this period will be Thursday, April 5. Please send the form back to school by Monday so your child does not miss pizza hot lunch in the New Year. Please also mark the dates on your home calendar so you know when it begins and ends!

Save the Date! The next Hot Dog Hot Lunch will be Tuesday, January 24. Forms will be sent home after the Christmas break.

Christmas Break begins Friday, December 23 (no school). First day back is Monday, January 2.

Spring Break is March 26-30, 2012.

PTO Prayer Time: Join us monthly to pray for the students, families & staff of ECMS. Fridays, 1/27, 2/24, 3/16, 4/20 and 5/18, from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. If you have any questions, contact Joy Vincent at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Are you running out of time to bake holiday cookies for those parties you need to go to? Do you have a special someone that you would like to give a personal gift to? Let Cedar Hill CRC do your baking for you! Come to Cedar Hill CRC in Wyckoff tomorrow morning from 9:30-12:00pm and buy our homemade cookies and bars for just $7.50 a pound. All cookies were made by our famous Cedar Hill bakers and proceeds will benefit the Cedar Hill CRC EC Scholarship Fund.

TRIP News: There are no Monday orders on Monday, December 19. They will resume Monday, January 2. Remember: Help us by checking your order carefully when you receive it and report problems immediately. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, call the TRIP office, 973-427-9294, ext. 210.

News from EC's Foundation Office:

Christmas Tree Sale: Abma's Farm has generously offered a donation to EC Sports Boosters on purchases made at Abma's Nursery, 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff. 6-7 ft. trees ($15 donation); 7-8 ft. trees ($20 donation) an all other purchases (10%) made with the appropriate coupon. Coupons are available at: www.easternchristian.org/athletics/ec-athletic-boosters.

Denim & Diamonds Auction Gala: Be sure to reserve the date – April 19 – on your new 2012 calendar! You do not want to miss this exciting fundraiser for EC! Watch for more information in January! If you receive any large gift baskets over the holidays, at home or at work, please consider saving them for EC's Auction. They can be dropped off in any school office or in the TRIP Store. Large baskets only! Thank you.

Advertise your business in the next Herald! The next issue of EC's Herald will be mailed out in March 2012. Don't miss out on this great advertising opportunity! The Herald is mailed to over 4,800 households and businesses and businesses in NJ with an additional 350 mailed to New York. The total number mailed is approximately 8,000 to households and businesses which include all alumni as well as current parents and supporters of Eastern Christian School. There are several advertising packages to meet your budget and marketing needs. For more information, call Beth or Garry at EC's Foundation Office (973-427-9294).

Stop and Shop Shoppers: Eastern Christian has earned $603 for the first 2 months of this program! If you have not signed up your card, there is still time! Go to www.stopandshop.com/aplus and click on Register Your Card. Please note that Eastern Christian is listed under North Haledon, NJ in the school listing. Over the holiday season, ask friends and relatives for their Loyalty Card number and register them as well! This program continues through March, 2012.

EC Sportswear: Need a last minute gift? EC T-shirts ($15), sweatshirts ($35) and golf polo shirts ($30) are available in EC's Foundation Office. Call Beverly at 973-427-9294 if you are interested in making a purchase.

Sports Booster News: Sports Boosters 3rd Annual Beefsteak Dinner is on Wednesday, January 25, at the Brownstone in Paterson. EC student athletes are selling tickets - $55 each or $500 for a table of 10. Please send in your ticket money before Christmas vacation if possible. This is the Sports Boosters' major fundraiser and we need your support. An auction will take place after dinner. At this time we are collecting auction items such as tickets to sporting events, sports apparel and sports memorabilia. If you can help in this way, please call EC's Foundation Office at 973-427-9294.

ditto, Eastern Christian School's upscale-resale store located in North Haledon is seeking a volunteer accountant/bookkeeper to manage the financial records of the store. A time commitment of approximately 8-10 hours per month is required. Applicant must be familiar with Quick Books. Interested parties should contact the EC Foundation office at 973-427-9294.