1. education
2. school

Where
Eagles
Soar
“...But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;” from Isa. 40:31
Elyria Christian School…Through the Years
My first experience with Elyria Christian School was in April of 1997. I remember driving into the parking lot
for my initial interview with the administrator, and wondering how it was that I lived 10 miles from this school for
most of my life and never knew it existed. I have to admit, at first glance I was a bit skeptical about this unknown
place. Keep in mind, the gymnasium, teacher workroom, art room, science lab, high school restrooms, and AD
office didn’t exist; the commons was barely “open for use”; and the high school wing was still under construction.
The main office was squashed into our current Learning Center, and the sixth grade classroom was housed in
what is now our front office. Oh, how things have changed!
My skepticism flew out the window as soon as I began to meet the people at ECS. After I was hired, one of the
very first teachers I met said to me, “Welcome to Elyria! Before you know it, you will feel like family.” I have seen
this ring true time and time again, both in my life and in the lives of other school families.
When I first started at ECS, I had no idea what I was walking into. I was a brand new college graduate, a
brand new wife, a brand new 5th grade teacher, and a brand new assistant volleyball and basketball coach. It
didn’t take me long to realize that I was in a bit over my head, but I still loved every minute of it (I am fairly sure
my brand new husband had no idea how many meals he would be cooking or how many math papers he would
grade in our first year of marriage!). Our first day of volleyball practice brought me to tears when I realized that
the girls started every practice with team devotions and ended every practice with prayer. A few days later, when
we began teacher in-service, I was again amazed by the praise and worship, prayer, and fellowship time.
I learned so much in my first few years at ECS. As I began to integrate my faith into teaching, both the Bible
and academics became alive to me! I prayed daily that my students would experience the love of Jesus as they
uncovered the joys of learning. My first ECS fifth graders are now 26 & 27 years old, many of them married and
having children of their own. I still think of them often and cherish the lessons they taught me.
Why do I share all of this? As I look over the past seventeen years, I am so thankful for all that God has done
at ECS. I remember when our only gymnasium was what is now the auditorium. The basketball fans sat on the
edge where the three point line should have been, and hoped to make it through a game without being run over
by one of the players! I could list pages of changes… ACSI Accreditation, remodeling the auditorium, the addition of a science lab and music room (music in the concrete room that is now the high school girls’ bathroom was
very interesting!), dual credit courses, technology upgrades, and musicals and dramas, to name just a few. More
importantly, watching students grow spiritually over their years at ECS and beyond has been a wonderful blessing. None of this could have been possible without the prayers and support of many people. We are incredibly
blessed by all who have sacrificed much to provide Christian education to hundreds of students over the years.
In spite of all of the changes over the years, we are still centered on biblical truth in academics and in all extracurricular activities. An ECS education is designed to prepare students for life, and while we are continually setting
the bar for high-achieving academics, we are also fully aware that being prepared for life does not rest in knowledge alone. Elyria Christian School prepares students for eternity.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We are incredibly grateful for the way each of you have
impacted students for Christ.
Where
With perfect temperatures and sunshine after the rain, fortysix high school students and several staff spent August 28-29 at
Kansas Bible Camp west of Hutchinson. Games, good food, and
class team competitions rounded out the time around chapels led
by Pastor Andy Addis. The high school praise team led worship
time. Each class was responsible for a meal—from preparation to
clean-up. During class meetings with their sponsors, students
elected officers and StuCo representatives for the year. It was a
very good start to the 2014-2015 school year.
Freshmen give high
-fives before the
next team competition.
Senior Matthew
Gemmer gets sloppy
joes and watermelon for the evening meal.
The school wasn’t a quiet place this summer. From sanding and
painting lockers to fixing many maintenance issues, many people put
in hours of volunteer labor to get the building ready for a new year of
school.
Two Saturdays were designated Summer Work Days. Volunteers
could sign up online to help work in different areas around the school
building. Each of those Saturdays started at 7:15 a.m. with a pancake
breakfast, devotions, then working together until noon. Much was
accomplished with the hard work of many hands, but also an enjoyable
spirit of camaraderie.
> > Base trim in the 1st grade classroom
> > New tile on the K/1st bathroom floor
> > New window blinds in several classrooms
> > New carpet in 2nd grade
> > New white board in 4th grade
> > Rewiring lights
> > Painting
Joshua Allen, 5th and Cross
> > Mounting projector to ceiling
Allen, 8th, pull weeds on the
> > Redoing concessions closet
playground.
> > Hanging athletic banners
Those were the "new" things. Then there were all the typical
"cleaning/fixing" types of things - waxing floors, washing windows,
repairing outlets, cleaning the kitchen, installing vents, pulling weeds,
mowing, cleaning bleachers, shampooing rugs and chairs, cleaning and
changing filters, mopping gym mats, repairing handrails, cleaning bathrooms, replacing ceiling tiles, dusting trophy cabinets, fixing cabinets,
spraying weeds, etc.,
etc.!
Mr. David Thiessen and
Mr. Scott Unruh trim
weeds around the
playground shed.
See You At the Pole
A large group of students, ranging
from elementary through high school,
met before school September 24, for
the annual See You at the Pole event.
This year’s theme, Never Stop Praying, is based on the scripture from
Ephesians 6:18, “Never stop praying,
especially for others.” This event, held
around the globe, calls students to
pray for their school, friends, families,
churches, and communities.
Addison Fields, 12th, and Mrs. Tonya
Robertson wash windows on a summer
Saturday morning.
Senior Anna Adamyk
Due to a rainy morning, students and staff
gather around the flag in the auditorium for
prayer.
Eagles Soar
Led leads a prayer.
by
StuCo president Ethan
Price, several students
offered prayer. Following prayer time, students were treated to a
breakfast buffet provided by StuCo members.
ECS Night at The Furniture Store of Kansas
With the incentive of giving thirty percent of total
sales back to Elyria Christian School, school families and
friends shopped at The Furniture Store of Kansas the
evening of September 26. Thank you to The Furniture
Store of Kansas and all who shopped and supported the
school at the same time!
Where Eagles Soar is published three times a year by Elyria Christian School and distributed free of charge as a service to those who are interested in its educational ministry. Correspondence is welcomed. Address it to: Where Eagles Soar; Elyria Christian School; 1644 Comanche Road, McPherson KS 67460. Office
phone: (620)241-2994. Fax: (620)241-1238. Elyria Christian School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national or ethnic origin in its
hiring practices, educational/activity programs, admissions policies, or financial aid.
Feature Teacher—
Mrs. Kristi Archer
The junior high
volleyball girls pray
before leaving for an
away game.
In charge of the ball,
Kobe Neufeldt, 8th,
plays in the junior
high soccer game
against CCA.
At the cross country meet at
Halstead, Sam Diederich, 11th,
pushes to the end.
Returning the volley,
the high school girls
play on their home
court.
Dillons is partnering with
Elyria Christian School to
give back 5% of the amount
loaded onto a Dillons gift card purchased through
ECS. The card works like a debit card, and can be
used to purchase groceries and gas. If everyone
who has a card will continually load money onto it
for all of their Dillons purchases, the earning potential for the school is HUGE! Take advantage of
this wonderful, easy, and generous resource. Think
about purchasing gift cards at ECS for grandparents, friends, and neighbors. The first card is only
$5.00, then more money can be loaded at Dillons.
I am currently teaching an amazing group of
kids in second grade at ECS. They are keeping
me on my toes as we enter each new day as an
adventure and rely on God to get us through
each and every moment of our days together.
I am the youngest of four children that grew
up in a tiny community named Webber, Kansas. We traveled each
day to Superior, Nebraska for school and my parents work. I had a
wonderful childhood in a loving home. Once I was getting ready to
enter 8th grade, my family had some life changing events occur that
took us to Lyons, Kansas. Everyone was dragging their feet, for none
of us wanted this change. However, God’s plan was being revealed in
each new day. For this is where I met my true love. This is also the
path that needed to be taken for me to become more and more reliant on God.
I graduated from Barton County Community College with an associate’s degree in early childhood. I then furthered my education at
Emporia State where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in
elementary education. My first job was as a kindergarten teacher in
Lyons, KS. When my husband and I moved to Pierre, South Dakota, I
tutored children with learning variations in grades K-6. After a move
to the Topeka/Manhattan area for a few years before moving to
McPherson. I substituted then taught kindergarten in Lindsborg.
With many changes in the Smoky Valley district, I was let go to
find another group of children to love and teach. This is what
brought our family and me to Elyria. Again, trusting in Him, my family made another big change. I have loved getting to know the staff
at ECS. We truly have a remarkable staff that love teaching and love
our children but most of all love and trust God. How wonderful it has
been to be able to worship and pray as I teach. It is so encouraging to
be able to share God’s love with colleagues and our children. Elyria is
privileged to have God at the forefront of each decision and task that
is before them and in this alone this school is blessed.
I most enjoy spending time with my family: husband Brian, and
my children Makenzie, Lindzie, and Bryson. I love to lie under a blanket and watch movies. I also enjoy baking and, unfortunately, eating! Yet, for me it all comes back to family. My best moments are
with family and friends! God continues to bless me with a loving husband, children, parents, and siblings. He continues to allow my family to grow with extended family and phenomenal friends. I feel so
blessed that God has put my family at Elyria, and I am so very thankful that I now get to know so many of you, for I hold my friends and
family dear to my heart. As far as my future, I have learned to not try
to control what path lies ahead of me but to take it all to Him and
trust His will for me and my
family.
My testimony is: God sent
his Son to be born on earth, as
the Bible says. He was crucified and died on the cross for
our sins. He arose from death
three days later, and if I confess this with my mouth and
hold these words as truth, then
I will live in heaven with Him for eternity. Glory be to God!
ALUMNI NEWS
Births—
Ethan (’10) and Shawna (Penner ‘10) Ediger had a boy,
Clyde Riley, on December 15, 2013. He weighed 6 lbs. 8oz.
Hadley and Julie (Willems ‘02) Franz had a girl, Eden Hope,
on July 22, 2014. She weighed 7 lbs.
Chris (’04) and Natalie (Anderson ‘05) Adrian had a boy,
Cason Christopher, on September 12, 2014.
Weddings Michael (‘10) and Julayne (Unruh ‘10) Gemmer were married May 24, 2014 at First Baptist Church, McPherson.
Eddie and Sidney (Pease ‘11) Vadbunker were married June
21, 2014. Both are seniors at KSU, where Sidney is studying
chemical engineering.
Matt and Emily Tippin (’05) were married August 24 in Kansas City. They live in Newton where Matt works at Tippin
Dental Group.
Graduations—
Tabor College Elizabeth Nachtigall (‘10) - Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Central Christian College Libby Anderson (‘10) - Bachelor of Science in Secondary
Education in History and Political Science. She is teaching at
Ellis High School, Ellis, KS.
Julayne (Unruh) Gemmer (‘10) - Bachelor of Science in Business/Organizational Leadership.
Michael Gemmer (‘10) - Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas Austin McCullough (‘09) - Bachelor of Science in Psychology
and a minor in Kinesiology.
Advanced Studies—
Anna Weicht (‘10) is studying at Durham University in England. She is in the medieval and renaissance literary studies
program and planning to get a masters degree.
Austin McCullough (‘09) was selected to be an AMGEN
Scholar at the Siteman Cancer Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, this past summer. Now he is back at John Brown
University working towards a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, preparing for a PhD in neurological sciences.
Service—
Jordan Gassie (’00) is a sergeant in the 2-8 Calvary, 1st BCT,
1CD, based out of Fort Hood, TX. He was deployed to
Lithuania for a four-month assignment as part of NATO’s
AtlanticResolve action.
Survival Kits for Seniors
A group of alumni decided to carry on the tradition of purchasing Bibles as a gift for a graduating
class of seniors. Each student from the Class of 2014
was given a Survival Kit for Seniors, which included a
Bible and a Streams in the Desert for Graduates devotional book.
Thank you, Alumni!
Third grade teacher Miss
Ginger Richardson and
some new third graders
are eager to start a new
year.
Address Service Requested
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
PERMIT No. 116
McPherson, KS