Raggant Standard

Letter From the U.H.

Happy summer, ECS families.

This time of the year is a different sort of busy around ECS. We feverishly make plans for the fall, write schedules, buy books, enroll new families, make any necessary staffing changes, and try to catch up on the household projects and vacations that have patiently awaited summer’s arrival.  While I could regale you about all of these things, at present I’ll speak to the most significant staffing changes you’ll witness in the fall. Here goes…and in no particular order:
 

• Kara Rothenberger will be stepping away from ECS, after having been a huge part of it for the first 10 years…first as a student, then as a teacher.  She will be sorely missed, but plans to be around the school in the fall to help us out as a volunteer. 
• Replacing Kara in second grade will be Brianna Johnson.  Brianna’s family has been a part of the school for a couple of years, and she has previously taught at Arlington Christian School.
• Fifth grade teaching duties this year will be shared by Gresham Callender and Josh Walton. Gresham previously taught a handful of classes at ECS before he attended New Saint Andrews college last year.  He’s back, and ready to join us in a full-time capacity.  In addition to teaching 5th grade, Gresham will teach HS Latin 1, HS Latin 2, and Algebra 2. In addition to teaching 5th grade with Gresham, Mr. Walton will be working in facilities and maintenance in a half-time capacity.
• Erin Pakinas and I will be stepping out of the classroom this year (though Erin will again teach Capstone to the senior ladies).  This is intended to afford us more opportunity to support the teachers…both new and returning.
• Abigail VanderBeken will be shifting her teaching focus to junior high.  She’ll be addressing some important needs for our school in the form of a Skills class to students in grades 7-9.  In the afternoon, she’ll teach Algebra for us.
• Replacing Abigail in kindergarten will be Dineke Blake.  She’ll be assisting Mrs. Hall in the morning and teaching Dulcia in the afternoon.
• Replacing Mrs. Blake at the M.O.A.T. desk will be Aisha Bone.  She’s no stranger to the school, but shifts from volunteer to staff member with this important move.  We have no doubt she’ll do a great job in this capacity.

The shuffle rounds out as follows:

• Mr. Olson moves from 5th grade to take over for me in Omnibus and to teach Rhetoric 1.
• Mr. Higgins will be teaching HS Latin 3 and Rhetoric 2.
• Mr. Giddings will be teaching Introductory Logic and Capstone in addition to Omnibus.

Of course it’s my job to say nice things about the school, but I’m truly excited about these changes.  There are some significant challenges before us, but I believe that these changes will make us better and address a few of our directional goals.  Please pray for these teachers, and that they are able to use the remaining weeks of summer to prepare well for the fall.

Risus est bellum!

-U.H. 

May the back-to-school shopping begin! A few quick notes on supplies:

• The 2022 - 2023 supply lists can be found here.
• We do ask that, where requested, you purchase specific brands of items. Nothing can rival a Ticonderoga pencil...but if you want a composition book dotted with dancing llamas, go right ahead. We promise we're not trying to be fussy - if a brand is specified, it's because the quality of the product will be a blessing to you, your student, and your teacher.