Articles
Andrew Jenner ’00 is EMS’s 2020 Community Engagement Award recipient. Jenner has connected with local and international readers for more than 15 years on everything from city council to obscure science-y things, always committed to truth telling. As co-founder of the free, online independent news source, The Citizen (hburgcitizen.com), Jenner’s journalistic endeavors currently serve Shenandoah Valley…
All faculty and staff took part in a half day Zoom seminar on building community in times of division before school started. David Brubaker, organizational consultant and dean of the school of social sciences and professions at Eastern Mennonite University, facilitated. The input gave context for how communities, churches, families, and organizations experience division when the broader…
Andrea Wenger, director of advancement, has been appointed as the school’s Title IX coordinator. EMS must be in compliance with Title IX of the education amendments of 1972 because the school receives federal financial assistance through its school lunch program. “Compliance is also the right thing to do,” says Paul Leaman, head of school. “Following the guidelines…
We said farewell to the following faculty this summer: Brian Buchanan – 17 years, band, and digital recording teacher, auditorium and general technical expert Claudia Fencer – one year, anatomy & physiology and AP biology teacher Lee Good – 11 years, middle and high school science teacher Laurie Loucks – one year, English for International…
A new group made up of any interested faculty and staff met weekly this summer to begin the long-term work of looking at all aspects of school life through a racial equity lens. Participants reported on what they were learning about anti-racism and drafted proposed additions to the school’s strategic plan for review by the…
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…