#FlamesStrong During COVID-19

EMS remained #FlamesStrong throughout the spring of 2020 as we continued life as a community of learning -- as well as social and emotional health -- during closure, beginning March 18. After a summer of careful planning, we opened for "every student, every day" on August 25 for the 2020-21 school year. Read an early report here.

Paul Leaman, head of school, shares regular email updates with current parents. Those updates are posted on the COVID-19 Announcements section on the website for prospective families to view as well.

In addition to the CDC, EMS leadership is in consultation with professional peers -- and reviewing resources -- through the Virginia Association of Independent Schools and Mennonite Schools Council.

The school will move to distance learning after Thanksgiving until Christmas break, which runs from Dec. 21 to January 1. Online learning will take place again January 4 to 8 to allow families to stay home and assure good health before returning to in person learning for all, January 11.

 Teachers and staff at their home offices, spring 2019 closure

#FlamesStrong

Kendal Bauman filming an elementary PE lesson with his animal friends
Rebecca Yutzy, learning support services teacher, with her own students (one alum, one EMS) on a sewing project
Lizzy Miller, math teacher, and co-worker, Owen
Jennifer Young, health and PE teacher
Andrew Gascho, athletic director and girls varsity soccer coach (and EMES dad), doing an online team building activity with the team before the season was cancelled.
Elliot Gascho, assistant assistant athletic director.
Tyler Kauffman heads up a custodial and dining hall crew that is keeping their distance while they work on projects to make the upper building better than ever when students return.
Paul Leaman's early morning picture on March 23. Hear him reflect on the image at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75GCz1438ek&t=32s
Paul Leaman, head of school, is one of the few people able to enjoy the blossoms outside the school building
Curt Stutzman, Bible and English teacher
Laura Hershey Herr, math teacher
Gini Trotter, middle school counselor and elementary peacebuilding teacher, enjoying the blossoms while she works
Hannah Bailey, first grade teacher, has a crowded home office!
Susan Melendez, sixth grade teacher, is smiling after making some headway on technology challenges.
Laurie Loucks, learning support services, thankful for big windows and a fireplace in her home office
Claudia Fencer, biology teacher, recording bird songs for class. She wonders: Did you know that in these two months baby birds learn how to sing?
Jodi Hertzler, college and career counseling and 8th grade English teacher, says she's starting a journal along with her students this week
Trisha Blosser, development officer, at her high tech home standing desk. Photo credit: her boys
Joanna Moyer Diener, school nurse, regretting that she didn't pay better attention in middle school sewing class
Mary Cranston, English teacher, in her home office
Chris Eberly, keeping the business office humming along, at least for now
Mike Stoltzfus, director of business afairs
Erin Kennedy Hess, advancement assistant (getting in the mail and processing checks at the "real" office!)
Malea Gascho, art teacher
Christine Fairfield, front office coordinator
Marsha Thomas, admissions counselor
Lauren Gumm, after school care staff
Justin King, high school principal. He's a super extrovert, so this is hard for him!
Chad Seibert, boys varsity basketball coach and PE teacher, shared a picture of home school at his house, including his daughter and Aviwe Mahlong, host son.
Mary Jo Veurink, counseling suite coordintor, and her home office colleague
Lee Good, science teacher, in his home office/kitchen
Elwood Yoder, history and Bible teacher, from his home office, spring 2020
Maria Lorcas, strings teacher, from her home office
Learning Support Services teacher, Rebecca Yutzy, shared this image of PE/yoga class at her house
Heidi Byler, third grade teacher and EMES mom, at her home school site
Debbie Katz, high school counselor, keeps up with students from her phone and laptop in her home office.
Strategic Leadership Team meeting via Zoom during the COVID'19
Andrea Wenger, director of advancement, in her home office
Sarah DeBrun Mitch, science teacher, in her home office during COVID'19 distance learning.
Our principals prepare a video to parents and students, Day 1 of distance learning
Picking up supplies for home-based learning on March 17
Patsy Seitz, academic director, at her home office, Day 1 of distance learning.
Mike Stoltlzfus, director of operations, made sure everyone had access to the (clean!) technology they need for home-based learning
Class of 2020 members showing a good attitude as they pick up all they need for home-based learning.
Pick up for home-based learning on March 17
Ready for pick up of materials in the Commons
EMS administration keeps a safe social distance as they make decisions on March 16, 2020