ECS Blog

Students from one of our 4th grade classes have worked diligently this week to complete their writing assignments, in order to give them to their parents in time for Valentine's Day.  The class was asked to write about a favorite memory, and their work is being graded (like many other writing assignments) on a rubric of clear expectations their teacher gave them.  Many of these writing expectations are core standards we expect in all of our classrooms, including neatness, correct spelling, appropriate grammar, vocabulary, and the inclusion of sensory details. To help make the assignment fun, their teacher read a [...]

STEM (STEAM) Learning at Eastside Christian School What is STEM/STEAM? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.  We add an "A" (STEAM) to represent the artistic flair our students frequently add to their STEM projects.  STEM projects blend the subjects listed above, giving students the chance to learn some "21st century skills" they need to succeed in the workplace.  Skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, postulating a hypothesis and finding evidence to support or negate the hypothesis, and group collaboration are important tools for today's students.  Studying and applying lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math help build these important skills. STEM [...]

The readers of 425 Magazine have once again voted Eastside Christian School as the "Best Private Middle School" on the Eastside for 2019! This makes the fourth year in a row that we have received this honor. 2019 Best Middle School (Private) 2018 Best Elementary School and Best Middle School (Private)2017 Best Elementary School and Best Middle School (Private) 2016 Best Preschool and Best Middle School (Private) Additionally, both of our first grade teachers, Carolyn Karkainen and Paula Satterberg, have been voted 425 Magazine's Best Teacher award in the last two years. We are so grateful to have a school full [...]

Hallelujah, everyone Everyone can come to the cross It doesn't matter what you've done Everyone can come to the cross ~Michael W Smith, "Come to the Cross" What a joy-filled week we have enjoyed during our annual "Faith Week," leading up to Good Friday today. Today we commemorate Jesus' physical death on the cross 2,000 years ago, but death itself is definitely not good. So why do we call this day "good" Friday? It is good because Jesus sacrificed himself in our place, taking the penalty of our sins on himself, even though he himself never sinned. It is [...]

One of our top priorities at Eastside Christian School (ECS) is to help children learn how to read and enhance their verbal fluency and vocabulary. This is a focus area for our kindergarten, first, and second grades (K-2). Our teachers firmly believe that reading readiness begins at home. Parents who surround their children with age-appropriate books and, even more importantly, read to and with their children instill an interest in books that grows into a passion as children learn to read books for themselves and share insights and ask questions of family members. As described in a recent editorial in The [...]