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Amelia Makus

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Amelia Makus

Amelia Makus

Grades 3-8 Music & High School Choir

Amelia Makus

Grades 3-8 Music & High School Choir

EC Start Date: 2022

Education: B.A. - Music Education, Clarks Summit University
M.M. - Choral Conducting, Houghton College

Bio:

Amelia is delighted to be working at EC, instilling musical excellence into students of all ages. She loves making music for fun with her family and friends, and enjoys singing professionally when given the opportunity. When she’s not teaching and making music, Amelia is usually playing board games or hiking with friends. She is a member of Grace Church in Ridgewood and serves GAP, their young adults group.

Nicole Verrengia

Nicole Verrengia

Elementary School Library Teacher & Music Teacher

Nicole Verrengia

Elementary School Library Teacher & Music Teacher

EC Start Date: 2021

Education: B.A. - Communication Arts, Caldwell University

Bio:

Nicole is happily married to Jim Verrengia. They have two kids and a bunch of fish. Nicole is passionate about books and writing, having written for newspapers and magazines throughout her career. She loves to bring her joy of literature to the students at Eastern Christian School. When she’s not reading, Nicole loves leading worship and working with kids at church. You also might find her in the garden!

Melissa Macy

Melissa Macy

Upper Elementary & Middle School Strings Teacher

Melissa MacyEC Graduate 1999

Upper Elementary & Middle School Strings Teacher

EC Start Date: 2017

Education: B.M. - Violin Performance/Music Education - Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
M.M. - Violin Performance, SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music

Bio:

After completing her formal education, Melissa spent five years as an orchestra director in a local public school district. She has also worked with groups such as the Ridgewood Festival of Strings and the Northern New Jersey Youth Orchestra as a conductor and sectional leader. Melissa also continues to perform as a chamber musician and has been a violin soloist with the Hawthorne Symphony Orchestra, and the Adelphi Orchestra. She is the first violinist of a professional string quartet. Melissa has 3 children in Eastern Christian, and is humbled to contribute to the excellent education they receive there. She hopes that her students will deepen their worship to the Lord in song as they grow in their understanding of music.

Laurie Kuipers

Laurie Kuipers

Middle School Bible Teacher and Music Teacher

Laurie Kuipers

Middle School Bible Teacher and Music Teacher

EC Start Date: 1995-98 & 2014

Education: B.M. - Classical Music, William Paterson University

Bio:

Laurie’s career path has always centered around the Bible, music and education, leading to volunteer opportunities in worship ministry and professional teaching in general music, choir directing, elementary education, and middle school Bible. She graduated as a music performance major at William Paterson University and, as a life-long learner, has taken coursework at Teachers College/Columbia University and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. Teaching Bible literacy is her passion, and she is humbled that God would use her at Eastern Christian where she can pour herself into Bible study and have it overflow into her teaching. Laurie and her husband Rich Kuipers have been married for over 20 years and they have three children: Elisabeth, Anneliese, and Benjamin. The Kuipers reside in North Haledon and attend Restore Church.

Rob Flim

Rob Flim

Middle School and High School Band, Bus Driver

Rob Flim

Middle School and High School Band, Bus Driver

EC Start Date: 2009

Education: B.A. - Music Education, Calvin College

Bio:

Rob began his professional music career after graduating Calvin College. After teaching for 3 years in a small school in Montana, Rob and his wife Cindy (also currently a teacher at EC) moved back to New Jersey where they raised their 4 children, all graduating from Eastern Christian School. Rob left teaching to work in the business world for several years however his passion for teaching music was reignited and he joined the EC faculty in 2009. Being raised on a farm in Canada, Rob loves the outdoors and spends much of his free time hiking, kayaking, and being out in the yard.

Read Rob's Story
Cathy Clark

Cathy Clark

Middle and High School Orchestra

Cathy ClarkEC Graduate 1984

Middle and High School Orchestra

EC Start Date: 2000

Education: B.A. - Viola Performance, Montclair State University

Bio:

Cathy Clark, violist/violinist/music educator, began her musical studies at the age of 6 as a participant in the Suzuki Method String Program at Eastern Christian Elementary School under the instruction of Kay Andreas. As a music educator, Mrs. Clark holds the position of Orchestra Director at Eastern Christian Middle School and High School. She also maintains a private music studio where she teaches 20 violin and viola students. Her outstanding career as a dedicated music educator spans over twenty years and virtually every age level, from elementary through college. She continues to inspire young string students with her performance skills and educational knowledge sharing the passion she has for music with them.  Cathy has been married to her husband Mark for 27 years, and together they have two sons, Jeff and Matt, both Eastern Christian graduates.

Melody Zacharias

Melody Zacharias

Preschool Music Teacher

Melody ZachariasEC Graduate 2007

Preschool Music Teacher

EC Start Date: 2011

Education: B.A. - Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Eastern University

Bio:

Melody is happily married to Ian Zacharias. They have three children: Eli, and twins Bennett and Emma. Melody was born and raised in NJ. She attended Eastern Christian for her whole life and always prayed that God would open a door to allow her to teach at EC. Melody teaches in the elementary school resource room. When Melody is not teaching, she is busy being a mom, helping out in children’s ministries at her church, and being a photographer. The Zacharias family attends Covenant Christian Reformed Church.

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