Testimonials

Stacy-Ann & Sanjay

Parents

Jon & Erin Gorter

Parents

Our daughter started PK4 this school year, and our experience has been nothing short of amazing! From academics to nurturing her spiritual growth, we could not be happier to see our child loving each day in PK. She has learned so much, made new friends, and loves each of her teachers. It’s a true testament of how a school should come alongside a child and nurture so many aspects that make up their whole person. We LOVE EC!

Dr. Donna Furrey

Teacher

Having been a student at Eastern Christian, I know first hand the impact that a Christian school teacher can have on a student’s life. I will forever be grateful to my middle school science teacher. Although I may not remember any of her lessons, I clearly remember the impact she had on my life. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to return to EC and share my three loves — love of God, love of teaching and love of children. What an incredible opportunity to be part of a school that holds both academic excellence and biblical truth in such high regard. 

Eric & Stella Osae-Twum

Parents

What do you love about EC?

We love the fact that our children get to hear about God everyday at school. The bible instructs us in Deuteronomy 6:7 to teach the word of God to our children when we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up. Since they spend about seven hours at school each day, we are grateful that they do not miss out on hearing God’s word during this period. Our faith and love for God as a community also unifies us and this helps to bridge cultural differences. We have been blessed with genuine friends.

Why did you choose Eastern Christian School for your children?

• We believe in partnering with the Church and School to raise godly children and EC offered that partnership
• Impressive physical structure with boldly written bible verses
• More diverse environment than the public school setting we were in at the time
• Supportive staff
• Warm environment where authentic family relationships can be built

In what ways have you seen your children grow in their faith as a result of their experience at Eastern Christian School?

Our children love music and enjoy learning new Christian songs at school. They also love learning new bible verses. The opportunity to come together for chapel every week has taught them that worshipping God is continuous and not a Sunday affair. They are also learning to view things from a Godly perspective as this is emphasized in the subjects taught.

What would you tell another parent to encourage them to consider enrolling their child at Eastern Christian School?

We were raised in an environment where belief in God was taught in schools. Unfortunately, this is not the case in our culture now. For everyone who values a Christ centered education for their children, EC is a good place for you. Here you get to partner with the school in raising a generation of children who are bold in declaring their faith and living godly lives.

Katie Tarta

EC Parent

What do you love about EC?
What I love about EC is too much to list but I’ll share a story. We are from this region originally but lived abroad for over a decade. My eldest kids were born & grew up on an island in the Caribbean and though they’ve been at EC for 6+ years and are now at the MS, they still love their island home. In the last 18 months we’ve had opportunity to return and the #1 thing that keeps us rooted in NJ, (other than family who will surely read this), really is EC. My kids told me this summer that even if they could return to the island, they wouldn’t want to leave New Jersey because of EC and specifically cited the teachers! For a family that works hard to make sure they have this opportunity it was both financially validating but also reinforced that God has us just where we should be. And if you’ve ever tried to get a direct answer from a teenager, this is even more to the point.

Why did you choose Eastern Christian School for your children?
– Christ-focused spiritual reinforcement from the place they spend the majority of their time
– Excellent education, teachers & support systems
– Service oriented approach to building life skills
– Community & relationally driven environment

In what ways have you seen your children grow in their faith as a result of their experience at Eastern Christian School?
My kids pray openly. They pray for others first, they pray for those in need and they have developed a sense of service that surprises this mom. From my preschool student to my middle school students, they think beyond themselves and while I’d like to claim credit, the truth is, I know it comes from the style of education where they’re taught about what sacrifice & service looks like. This lesson has extended into how they act at home too.

Their educational growth should be noted as well, they have all become stronger learners even through the pandemic. We are so grateful for their teacher’s level of commitment academically and spiritually especially on those really hard long days!

What would you tell another parent considering enrolling their child(ren) at Eastern Christian School?
My husband and I met in 6th grade. We’ve been married 20+ years. It has been a wild ride even before the 3 kids. We grew up in Bergen County and went to public school. We got an amazing education at those schools. We got amazing opportunities because of them as well. Those schools gave us state championships in sports and expansive extracurriculars rivaling colleges. We got so much out of it including each other. What we did not get, however, was a sense of self through the eyes of Jesus. That came much later, in God’s good timing. But now as parents, given the choice, we want our kids to be in a place where that is reinforced, daily, hourly and by everyone they encounter at school. What is even better is that we don’t have to give up the other side of things either. EC’s education, programing and activities opens doors for our kids just like our own schooling experience BUT our kids have the signs of being rooted in faith sooner than we were. I think God is everywhere, every school, every grade with everyone who calls on Him, but what I love about EC is that when my kid isn’t calling on Him, those around them are and we can all feel the difference.

Katherine

Class of 2021

What do you love about Eastern Christian School?

I love that Eastern Christian promotes a Christian community and intertwines faith and education. Teachers find ways to promote faith in their lessons which leaves a lasting impact.

Describe one of your favorite teachers and tell why he/she is a favorite.

My favorite teacher relates to her students and establishes a meaningful relationship with them. Rather than feeling like a nameless student, I feel recognized and appreciated as an individual. Additionally, she applies her faith and personal experiences, ultimately encouraging a Christian environment.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

I can surely say that my faith has grown at EC because of the strong spiritual mentors I have met and the opportunities available to experience God. I am thankful to have experienced meaningful chapels, vulnerable Bible classes, and fellowship through Bible studies and other clubs. I have been able to connect with teachers and students alike to relate our struggles and pray over each other, which has allowed me to make my faith my own.

At Eastern Christian we talk about an education that is “Engaging. Nurturing. Transforming.” How did you experience this kind of education at EC?

From my teachers’ unique takes on subjects and their fun personalities, it is easy to be engaged in school. EC promotes a nurturing environment by establishing personal connections with students and making students feel welcome and loved. Overall, my experience here has been transformative as it has led me to make my faith my own and set me on track to achieve my future goals.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life?

Because of the numerous class options available at EC, I have been able to pursue different fields of interests and found out what I enjoy most and want to pursue as a future career. The mentors I have met through my time at EC have helped me navigate my interests and find a plan that is best suited to fulfilling my career plans.

What opportunities did you experience at EC that you don’t think you would have gotten to experience anywhere else?

I am so thankful for the Christian community Eastern Christian is a part of. I feel unified with my community which has allowed me to have a personal experience where I feel like I am a part of something.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

There are so many opportunities to find your place within the community! Teachers genuinely care about you and want to see you succeed.

Maya

Class of 2021

What do you love about Eastern Christian School?

I love the sense of community that EC has to offer. All of the faculty and staff are super caring and supportive.

Describe one of your favorite teachers and tell why he/she is a favorite.

My favorite teacher is Ms. Bazanowski, she is caring and really tries to make sure everyone in her class is engaged and having fun! She opened my eyes to all of the opportunities for careers in the science field.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?

Before EC, I was never really in touch with my faith, however, being surrounded by people who are very passionate about their faith helped me realize that I wanted to be more involved.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college/career and life?

I feel that EC has prepared me very well for my future. All of the teachers I had made sure I was doing my best and earning the grades I deserved. There was a lot of work that had to be put in but with the support that the EC teachers offered, it seemed almost impossible to not work to my full potential.

What opportunities did you experience at EC that you don’t think you would have gotten to experience anywhere else?

I enjoyed the smaller class sizes because there was more one on one time with the teachers which helped me focus on classwork and doing the best I could. EC also gave me a wonderful opportunity to serve and give back to a community in a third world country through going on a Mission Trip to Guatemala.

What would you say to a prospective student considering joining Eastern Christian School?

EC can help you succeed no matter where you are going in the future.

Jesse

Class of 2016

What do you love about Eastern Christian School?
Definitely the warm, community environment. I have never gone a day in my life walking through the hallways at EC without a teacher saying “Hi” to me as I walked towards my next class of the day. Everybody is friendly and it is easy to get comfortable and acquainted with so many caring and unique people that make up our school environment.

Describe one of your favorite teachers and tell why he/she is a favorite.
Definitely Mr. U because he is such a personable and charismatic teacher. He began chatting with me near the end of freshman year because he began to anticipate his future sophomore class and immediately picked up on my love and passion of history. He has such a way with students by combining personal anecdotes and effective, hilarious, humor and balancing that with the seriousness history classes offer. Over time, he has become one of my greatest influences by pushing me to become a better student though my papers and projects. He has also been a strong mentor by supporting my endeavors and quest to become the future President of the United States.

In what ways have you grown in your faith as a result of your experience at Eastern Christian School?
It is amazing that in every subject I have taken in school, the teachers have done such an amazing job of intertwining our Christian values and worldview into the subject material. I have learned that God is relevant in any subject or occupation that I will pursue in my future. EC has brought me closer and shown me the essential need of having a strong personal relationship with Christ in order to flourish in the world.

The Eastern Christian tagline is “Engaging. Nurturing. Transforming.” How did you experience an education that is engaging, nurturing and transforming at EC?
I was able to take rigorous courses that pushed my academic limits by classes that engaged me such as Humanities and the honors courses in math. In addition, the electives offered by EC were beneficial to my interests such as International Relations and American Law because I have the intention of majoring in Political Science in college. Experienced teachers, like Mr. Beverly, were able to challenge our preconceived thoughts on certain issues and make us look at the world through different lenses; this has certainly transformed the way I looked at the world.

How do you feel that EC prepared you for graduation, college and life?
The personal experiences and lessons I have absorbed from teachers have left a lasting mark on my life. It is so comforting to know that the teachers here at EC absolutely love their jobs and want their students to be world changers. EC offers an abundance of rigorous courses, and I was able to space them out throughout my four years so I could keep pushing myself to attaining my goal of getting into an amazing college. Here, it’s not just about taking set courses that culminate towards a large test or final at the end of the semester. You have flexibility and choices in pursuing what you want to do by picking different, diverse classes and this allows you to start charting a course towards college and beyond.

What would you say to a high school student considering joining Eastern Christian School?
Although high school is a place of new beginning, and that can be intimidating for many, make sure you feel right and comfortable because high school is the launching pad for your future and career towards college and life in the real world. Everything clicked for me at EC because of the strong community of students, dedication to teaching from teachers, and strong, personalized support from our amazing College & Career Office (Mr. Struck was instrumental in getting me to the place I am today). Eastern Christian really is a school where you can thrive and grow in such a supportive Christian environment by being yourself and pursuing your passions.

What opportunities did you experience at EC that you don’t think you would have gotten to experience anywhere else?
One of the most profound, deep experiences I have had at EC was after a baseball game. The day was April 15, 2013 and word quickly spread on the bus that the marathon at Boston had been bombed. It was a very solemn game we played that day knowing that a sporting event was affected by an act of terrorism. After the game, we asked the other team to pray with us and that was such a powerful experience. It didn’t matter that the other team was a public school, but we were able to come together, with Christ unifying us, and pray for our nation that had been wounded that day.

Jenna

Class of 2020

My journey here at Eastern Christian began about 13 years ago. It was the first day of kindergarten. With my only friend being a teddy bear in my hand, I took a deep breath and began the journey of a lifetime. The first day jitters came and went, and I made some pretty great friends. We laughed our way throughout Mrs. James’ Kindergarten class. We were inseparable, I mean literally one day Mrs. Turner had to pry our hands apart for book buddies. The rest of elementary school came and went with some unforgettable times like our first “big kid” field trip to the zoo in first grade, the musical performance of Daniel in the Lion’s Den, and our fourth grade day spent at Spring Lake. The next thing up for our grade was pretty new; middle school.

Middle school was a time where we were given the opportunity to expand our horizons. We made some new friends in our class and more memories that provided us with a laugh. Our class also managed to have a record number of principals during our time in middle school, 3 to be exact. Somehow in 5th grade, Mr. Kuiken’s room became home to Heinz and Guppy, the class fish. I think it’s safe to say we may be the reason for no more class pets. 6th grade was a year full of laughs and games like Squish the Lemon. If you don’t know what that is, our playground had a tube slide. Every recess we would fit as many of us as possible in that slide.

Our transition to 7th grade finally made us feel like we were one step closer to being the big kids on campus again as we got to move hallways to the other side of the school, and we also had planned an overnight trip to Spruce lake in the fall, that is, until a murderer was loose in the woods in Pennsylvania and we had to postpone. Finally, our time to shine as 8th graders had arrived. We finally got to live out our “8th grade privileges” such as being able to stay in the nice heated school doing winter recess and also getting two lockers. We had our big 8th grade trip to Philly and Gettysburg which, like many class trips, was quite unforgettable. We all made some memories before we went our separate paths for high school.

I think that the first day of high school may have been a bit bittersweet for some of us. Some friends had gone to different schools, while others had joined our class at EC. Here we were, a group of teenagers not really knowing who we are. The next 4 years provided us all with the growth we needed to find ourselves. High school was a time like no other. I still remember my first day of high school, like most people I was terrified to speak up. But as time went on, I found my place in the classroom and I made some great friends, and we were once again, inseparable. Things like a student skateboarding through CTE class, a very false bomb drill, and a global pandemic have made our high school time a time to remember.

As I reflect on my life here at EC, I am so thankful for an environment in which I could grow. Being in a place where I am cared for and appreciated helped me to take a chance and step out of my shell. If I failed, I was encouraged to try again and again. EC also provided me a place to try new things. Never once did I think I would manage to take Chemistry Honors my junior year, or voluntarily sign up for Advanced Composition Senior year. Along with growing socially and academically, I have grown tremendously in my faith. At EC, there are people on the same faith journey as you. I am thankful for the teachers and staff who openly shared about their faith journeys and helped me grow in my faith. In the end, I wouldn’t have my education any other way.