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ECCS L & R Update

July 12, 2011

Uniform Changes

 

 

There are a few uniform changes for this year.  All of the uniform guidelines can be found in the 2011-2012 L & R Handbook, which is now posted on the ECCS website.  We did want to point out a few of the changes for you as you plan for the fall:

 

-Both girls and boys may wear Bermuda shorts on spirit days (no shorter than 1" above the knee).

 

-Boys may no longer wear lace up shoes, but must wear Mocs from Lands' End or Merrell.

 

-Rhetoric School boys must wear ties with long-sleeved blue Oxfords only. (Remember boys in grades 9-12 must wear ties to chapel.)

 

-The school blazer is now optional for junior boys and girls.

 

-Senior boys are required to have blazers, while senior girls must either have blazers or fine guage navy cardigans, which they must wear as part of chapel dress.

 

-PE Uniforms must have been purchased from Lands' End.  (If you're buying them used, be sure they were purchased since we began using Lands' End as our vendor. Some of the shorts from the previous vendor were too short, and the logo on the t-shirt has changed.)

 

Finally, please remember that skirt lengths should be no shorter than 1" above the knee.  Lands' End provides skirt lengths in the descriptions, so before you order, make sure the skirt you are getting will be long enough. Do not hem skirts shorter than 1" above the knee, and please leave them longer to allow for growth if your daughter is still growing tall. The new handbook outlines what pieces are required for chapel dress. Please make sure your child has the required chapel dress by the first day of school. Chapel dress is required every Monday and on additional days, such as

Awards Day, when students are given notice. 

 

Please don't hesitate to ask the office if you need anything clarified about the uniform guidelines.

 

  

Schedules

  

Schedules, as well as locker assignments, will be distributed on August 4th during our Open Door, which will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

 

 

 Upcoming Events

 

Popsicles in the Playground:  July 28 at 7:00.  L & R students will dance on the green and be treated to a skit by the NJCL.  The NJCL encourages all rising 6th graders to attend to learn more about the club and its July 29 excursion.

 

Open Door: August 4 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Come get your schedule and locker assignment, visit with teachers, put your supplies in your locker.  If you can't come on August 4, you can come on August 11, though the teachers will not be available on August 11.

 

Open House: This is a more formal time than Open Door.  Following a brief time of general assembly in the sanctuary, students and parents will "walk" through the students' schedules with seven minute "periods." 

 

School resumes on August 15.  Chapel dress will be required on the first day of school!

 
Greetings!
  
With just over a month left before school starts, we know that many of you have started thinking about and planning for the fall semester. We have been busy all summer at ECCS planning for the largest number of L & R students we have ever had. 
  
In preparation for the 145-150 students we will have in grades 6-12 next year, we've been making some changes.  A wall has gone up to create a new classroom in the library space in the new wing.  New lockers are being installed.  The computer lab is being moved to create a new math classroom in the old computer lab space.  Dozens of desks have been cleaned and put in the classrooms to allow them to accomodate the new students.  Many thanks to the Beta Club members who spent hours cleaning the desks and to the O'Neals for providing the desks!
  
Though we know that most of you are probably not quite ready to return, we wanted to give you some information to help you get ready and to remind you of some important upcoming dates. 

Three New L & R Faculty Members

We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Catheryn Helton, Mr. Matthew Carver, and Dr. David Shirer have joined the ECCS L & R Faculty.  Mrs. Helton will be teaching 6th and 7th grade literature.  Mr. Carver will be teaching 6th grade Bible, 8th and 10th grade literature, the Audio-Visual Production elective ("MIB"), and the Website Design elective.  Dr. Shirer will be teaching the 10th grade boys' Bible class, 8th grade Bible, 7th grade Music History, and Rhetoric School electives in Music.  These teachers have already been working hard to get ready for the start of school, and we are looking forward to a great year with them.

Electives

Elective selection sheets have been mailed to all Rhetoric School students.  These sheets should be turned back in by July 29, or parents can call or email to confirm their children's elective choices. 
  
The elective offerings include:

8th Period Five-Day Electives:

Drama (I, II, III, or IV) -Mrs. Houser

French I-Mrs. Woodman

Advanced Biology (juniors and seniors only)-Mrs. Collins
Journalism (Yearbook)-Mrs. Blackwell

  

8th Period MWF Electives:

Art II-Mrs. HankinsMrs. Cranston
 

Vocal Music-Dr. Shirer

Classic Films--

Greek I -Miss Montgomery

Audio / Visual Production Team (MIB)-Mr. Carver
Journalism (Yearbook)-Mrs. Blackwell

Chapel Team-Mr. Gainey

 

TTh Electives (Must be combined with a MWF Choice

Spiritual Formations-Mr. Gainey

Instrumental Music-Dr. Shirer

Art I-Mrs. Hankins

Greek II (pre-requisite Greek I)-Miss Montgomery

Journalism (Yearbook)-Mrs. Blackwell

Website Design-Mr. Carver

Classic Films-Mrs. Joanne Richardson

  

5th Period Five Day Electives (Juniors and Seniors only):

Advanced Latin--Mr. Caucutt
Introduction to Elementary Education--various

 

5th Period MWF Electives (Juniors and Seniors only):

Economics--Mrs. Scott

Creative Writing (Introductory or Advanced)--Mrs. Ballstadt
Music History / Theory--Dr. Shirer
Introduction to Elementary Education--various

 

5th Period TTh Electives (Juniors and Seniors only):

Classic Films--Mrs. Cranston
Creative Writing (Introductory or Advanced)--Mrs. Ballstadt
Art History--Mrs. Houser
 

Introduction to Elementary Education--various 

Though most of the electives are well-known to our students, there are a few ones of note. First, Mrs. Houser's Art History class is back in the rotation.  This elective is designed to enable students to recognize and appreciate the great art of Western Civilization, and it was universally loved by students who took it in the past.  It has been two years since it was last offered.  Also back in the rotation is the popular Audio-Visual Production ("Men in Black") elective, which has some exciting projects lined up for the year.  Finally, this year we are so excited to offer music electives to high school students.  This year will mark the beginning of what we hope will be a virbrant music program at ECCS.  The vocal music elective is for students who are interested in singing.  The number of students who take the elective and their interests will determine the result--ensemble, choir, etc.  The instrumental music elective will likewise be determined in large part by the students who take it and the instruments they play.  Students who take the instrumental music elective will be responsible for obtaining their own instruments.  All instruments are welcome. Dr. Shirer plays many different instruments and is looking forward to helping us begin our fledgling ECCS instrumental group.  If you have any questions about the music electives, please don't hesitate to call or email.  We will forward them to Dr. Shirer and make sure you have all the information you need before you sign up.

 
Backpacks

With around 150 students on the hall next year, space will be of more concern than ever.  In an effort to make the hallways safer, especially around the Logic School locker area, and to make the classrooms less crowded, we have decided to disallow rolling backpacks in the L & R School next year.  The rolling backpacks tend to fall over, with the handles creating tripping hazards in the hallways and classrooms. 

 

We know that some of you may be concerned, especially about your sixth graders, carrying heavy backpacks around all day.  We will be working with the Logic School students to help them learn to better utilize their lockers so that they are never carrying more than two classes' worth of materials in their backpacks at one time.  Our Rhetoric School students by and large already have developed this skill and have almost universally abandoned the rolling backpacks for the same reasons already mentioned. We shared this information with the students at Popsicles in the Playground, and it was met with great enthusiasm, as the returning L & R students do understand the issues we have with hallway congestion.  Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.

Supply Lists

The 2011-2012 supply lists are posted on the ECCS website, and a printable copy has been sent as an attachment to a separate email from Mrs. Parks through RenWeb.  While not very much has changed, especially for the Rhetoric School, there are a few additions and subtractions from last year's list.  As always, don't hesitate to call or email if you have questions about the supply lists.