Articles
Rapidly changing information, disbelief, fear, and confusion hit EMS in early March as much of the rest of the country began its own journey with COVID-19. Our last “normal’’ day of school was Thursday, March 12, when students departed for what they thought would be a long weekend, wrapping up third quarter. From March 18…
Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends shared 98 gifts totaling $26,920 for the April 22 #FlamesStrong Giving Day for our COVID-19 Aid Fund. Additional gifts brought the fund to $31,448 as of May 11. EMS committed to supporting families experiencing coronavirus related hardships. Gifts are still welcome! easternmennonite.org/support The engraved brick pavers celebrating students, alumni,…
Principal Justin King delivered yard signs, caps, and gowns to each senior’s home in late May. Senior presentations, an important milestone and culmination of Kingdom Living class, took place this year on Google Meet with invited guests. Teachers and administrators cheered the seniors on Friday, June 5, as they drove through the auditorium lot to…
Creative Classrooms Teachers navigated PowerSchool Learning Management System, various video-making tools, Google Meet, Zoom, and other technologies to deliver creative content and engage with students 1:1 and in groups. See videos from many of these activities on the EMS YouTube channel. CLASS WORK INCLUDED: A smoothie making lab in each person’s kitchen with Ms. Haarer…
Nothing I have done in my 30+ years as an educator and school administrator compares to the challenges brought by COVID-19. As a small private school, EMS was uniquely positioned to nimbly respond to our students’ social and emotional well being, as well as educational needs. Thanks to the diligent work and commitment of our…
An EMS Faith Formation Hub developed this content to post throughout the school as a reminder of our foundation. Our students are encouraged to grow in relationship with Jesus and to follow Jesus daily in life through attitudes and practice. Our students grow in understanding the process of Biblical discernment by asking questions, practicing spiritual…
The Advancement team does all the things that, well, “advance” the mission of the school! Students, faculty, and staff brought in 739 gifts totaling $150,025 for Christmas Fund Drive this year. Thank you for responding when students reached out by mail, phone and in personal contacts! EMS will join Harrisonburg’s Great Community Give, April 22,…
Ribbon cutting, prayer and building tours on Jan. 28, 2020, marked the completion of a building renovation that gives Eastern Mennonite Elementary School a permanent home. The celebration came a little over 15 years after it first opened in the basement of Lindale Mennonite Church in the fall of 2005. Maria Archer, K-8 principal has…
Each “pathway” has one to five goals with multiple strategies for momentum. Following are examples of implementations toward varied goals. (The full plan is available at: https://www.easternmennonite.org/strategic-plan 1. TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL CULTURE All faculty and staff were divided into one of three “Innovation Hubs” last year for out-of-the-box thinking: Faith Formation, School Culture and Scheduling.…
Strategic plans generally go one of two ways: Onto a shelf where they collect dust, or into the life blood of a living, breathing organization’s story. My vision for our new Strategic Pathways to 2022 is the latter. Our Board of Directors – under the leadership of chair Jeff Shank ’91 – adopted the document…