Bienvenido a casa al espacio de reunión

marzo 13, 2025 / Abigail Cook

The Gathering Space

Welcome Home to the Gathering Space: A New Chapter for EMES

The excitement is palpable as we celebrate the completion of the Gathering Space at EMES, a dedicated area designed to enhance learning, foster connections, and support the emotional and social well-being of our K-5 students. Thanks to the generosity of over 200 donors, the collaboration with Grupo Gaines Arquitectos, and the diligent efforts of Herr & Co., construction is now in its final phases. This remarkable project stands as a testament to the collective effort of our community, and we are thrilled to announce that the Gathering Space is ready to welcome the entire EMES family and beyond.

The Gathering Space is envisioned as a multifunctional area that will serve several vital purposes:

Celebration: This will be a hub for weekly gatherings where students can sing, pray, and learn about Jesus. It will host shared lunches, holiday celebrations, and special events such as the annual Dessert Theater—perfectly timed with EMES’s 20th birthday party in the fall of 2025.
Service: The space will facilitate community service efforts, including donation drives, comforter knotting, and gift-making. It will also serve as a welcoming venue for friends and guests, supporting our school during events like the annual Book Fair, and offering the community a space for facility rentals as well as our broader 6th-12th grade students.
Learning: The Gathering Space will be an environment for reading together, showcasing science projects, and signing our annual peace pledge. It will also host teacher-parent meetings, upper school activities, one-on-one tutoring, and planning sessions for parents and book clubs. Furthermore, it will provide a space for after-school care, physical education, and various indoor and outdoor events.

While our elementary school has flourished in its current setting, it has long been in need of a “family room”—a space large enough to bring our entire school community together. The Gathering Space fulfills this need as an indoor/outdoor learning facility, embodying the heart of EMES.

At EMES, gathering is central to our curriculum and school philosophy. It nurtures relationships across grades, builds trust, creates leadership opportunities, and cultivates a caring environment where everyone looks out for one another.

The realization of the Gathering Space is made possible through the generous support of our community, the skilled workers involved, and a shared vision for EMES’s future. To honor our contributors from the We Gather campaign, we have organized several special events. On March 4, we held a donor preview with our supporters, board of directors, and members of the 1917 Circle, acknowledging the individuals and families whose contributions have made this project a reality.

On March 8, we hosted a Stained Glass Art Preview, featuring artist Zac Nafziger ‘94, who shared his creative process with principal Maria Archer and founding teacher Lynette Mast. His artwork, “La luz frondosa del bosque,” was inspired by the late Christopher R. Mast and his passion for EMES. Read more about the piece here.

On March 12, the students experienced their first gathering in the new space, engaging with Zac as he discussed his artistic process and answered their thoughtful questions.

We invite the entire EMES community—families and friends—to join us for the dedication of the Gathering Space on April 9 during our gathering with students and teachers. This special event will be a celebration of our new space and the opportunities it brings. Please Confirmar asistencia to attend this event.

As we embrace this new chapter, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has played a part in bringing the Gathering Space to life. Over and over this spring, we say THANK YOU and welcome home!