EMS Expressions S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 7 , I S S U E 1

Communicators Extraordinaire Welcome to the Ephrata Mennonite School Media Team 2018-2019! This

year we have a rather large team overall, but it is once again broken into four smaller

teams. These teams are Student Newspaper, Yearbook, Audio/Visual/Social Media

and Digital Display. We are all excited about the content we are bringing to our

community this year!

Now, allow me to introduce the teams individually. In Student Newspaper

Jenna Stauffer is the editor and team leader, and she is in charge of assigning articles

to her “employees,” writing, and assisting her team members. She is in charge of

proofreading and editing the layout of the newspaper. She makes sure everyone

knows what they are doing, and she keeps the team moving forward. Jordanna

Musser is the secretary which means she helps brainstorm for upcoming articles and

keeps the team’s documents organized. Alexa Burkholder, Kya Snyder, and

Hadassah Martin are all writing, taking pictures, and performing other odd jobs to

complete each month’s edition.

The next team is the Yearbook staff, and they are already busily designing

pages, taking pictures, and finalizing a color scheme. Karissa Stoner is the editor and

team leader which means she is in charge of making sure the rest of her team is

completing their assignments and providing assistance when necessary. She is a key

part of the planning of the basic design and theme of the book. Kendall Copenhaver

is the Advertisement Manager which means he takes care of speaking with

businesses about sponsoring the yearbook and getting an advertisement in the back

of the book. Kelsey Rutt, Kyle Martin, and Keri Weaver are all staff members. They

are invaluable assistants to Karissa in the planning process. Each member then has a

different part of the yearbook that they are tasked with completing. Each takes their

own photos, edits them, and drops them in layouts they’ve created.

Next up is the Digital Display team which is a smaller team consisting of

Krista Wenger and Alisha Weiler. They are in charge of the digital display board in

the lobby across from the office. They come up with all the fun slides and pictures

that are enjoyed by visitors, staff, and students waiting in the lobby. Krista and

Alisha also assist the yearbook team when needed

The last team is the Audio/Visual/Social Media Team. This team is also

small, and it includes Lamar Alwine and Shanda Nissley. They are the managers of

the school’s Instagram and Facebook pages. They are primarily focused on recording

short news segments to upload to Facebook, so make sure to keep an eye out for that!

This year we are very

excited about the content

we will be offering the

EMS community in

various capacities. Make

sure to look out for all

the new content coming

your way! -Hadassah Martin

PAGE 1

Building Blocks Each school year brings

many changes for students. This

school year has brought several

large changes that have taken, for

most students, some getting used

to. One of the major changes is the

way our secondary school’s

scheduling works. In the past,

we’ve had an eight period day

which consisted of eight classes

that were 40-45 minutes each. This

year school administration decided

to change it to something called

“block scheduling.” Instead of

having 8 periods in one day, we

have four blocks, two in the

morning and two in the afternoon.

Each block is 80 minutes long.

This allows the teachers to get

through more content each day and

have more time for in-class

activities and discussions. After

lunch, in between blocks three and

four, there is something called flex

time. On most days flex time is

used as a study hall, but on

Wednesday it is used to finish

class time that was missed during

all-school chapel.

Some students say that

they are liking the block

scheduling, and that class time

goes much faster than they thought

it would. Others don’t quite agree.

Students weren’t the only ones

who had to adjust; teachers also

had big changes to make. After

this first month of school, though,

the days have been going smoothly

and will only continue to improve.

-Alexa Burkholder

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

E D I T O R I A L

E D I T O R I A L

Learning to Be Legendary

Sizing up the Situation H U M O R

This year at EMS we have embraced a couple of new words to help shape our character and identity.

“Courage” is our new word of the year and “Legends” is our new school moniker. Besides being a power “c” word,

the timing is appropriate for the word “courage” as we are, as a school, memorizing a number of Psalms this year.

David exemplified “courage.” When facing Goliath of Gath,

David had faith that the Lord, who had delivered him before,

would deliver him again. And that faith gave him the courage to

do what a king and an entire army was afraid to do. Later in his

life, David had the courage to confess his sin with Bathsheba

and in Psalm 51 humbly plead with God for forgiveness and

renewal. At EMS this year, we want to have a similar courage.

A courage that comes from our faith in God’s goodness. A

courage that allows us to boldly fight to build God’s kingdom on

earth as it is in heaven. A courage that admits mistakes and

shortcomings in an effort to be lifelong learners and team

players. We are also excited about our name “Legends.” Legend

is an old Latin word that was initially used to describe great

missionaries from the past. In recent usage, the word has a

positive connotation that is often used to describe notable feats or memories. At EMS we aspire to do “legendary”

things in service of God’s Kingdom and for his glory. In the political kingdoms of this world, the times are unstable

and scary. Yet, in God’s Kingdom we can have faith in God, and in that faith, courage. And in that courage, do

legendary things for the cause of Christ. And in so doing, live up to our aspirations, and be Legends. -Mr. Joshua Good (EMS Administrator)

Longest

&

Shortest

Beard

Mr. King Mr. Oberholtzer Logan Fahnestock

(12th)

Patrick Zimmerman

(11th)

Mr.

Stauffer

P A G E 2

Mrs.

Weaver

Tallest

&

Shortest

Bradley

Hurst (11th)

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

Biggest & Smallest Feet

Logan

Fahnestock

(12th)

Lakelyn

Martin (K)

Lakelyn

Martin (K)

Mr.

Stauffer

Miss

Farrar

SPORTS NEWS

Getting Sporty! This school year, there have been many new changes at EMS including the sports program! At the conclusion

of last school year, the student body voted for Ephrata Legends as our team name. Along with that, we are awaiting our

new school sports gear! All students in the sports program have the option of purchasing new athletic shirts! Not only

can we purchase new shirts, but Mr. Good has made a website called Squad Locker available to the students where we

can purchase other EMS merchandise as will. There are shirts, sweatshirts, gym pants, hats, bags, and much more

available to be personalized and designed to your own preference. As students we are very excited to kick off this school

year with a great soccer season and aim for a successful basketball and volleyball season! Check out our game stats so

far this year and be sure to come and see us play hard in our upcoming games!

-Jenna

September Snapshots PHOTO GALLERY

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S P A G E 3

Date Sport Away Team Home Team Win Loss Score

9/6/18 Soccer TEACH High School

Guys X 2-3

9/27/18 Soccer Terre Hill 9th-10th

Grade

X B: 2-0

G: 4-1

10/1/18 Soccer Fairview High School

Varsity Guys

X 2-4

10/2/18 Soccer Gehmans Middle

School

X X B: 4-2

G: 1-6

10/2/18 Volleyball Faith High School

Girls

X JV: 22-25

V: 24-26

Sports Statistics

Every Class Has One

P A G E 4 E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

Making Memorizing Memorable

MONTHLY SPECIAL

NEW FACULTY

New Year, New Teachers

Have you ever felt that Bible memory and memorizing Scripture is a burden rather than something you want or

like to do? Memorizing Bible memory can get old sometimes, but it really shouldn’t. If we stop and think about why we

memorize Scripture and why it is important, we will discover that memorizing Scripture is biblical.

First, we are called to memorize Scripture. In Colossians 3:16 we are told to “let the word of Christ dwell in us

richly.” Deuteronomy 6:7 says to teach the law of God to our children, tell people about it wherever we go, and make it

an essential part of our lives. To teach and apply Scripture we must first know Scripture.

Second, memorizing Scripture helps us resist temptation and also helps us live in obedience. When Jesus was in

the wilderness being tempted, he disputed Satan’s temptations with words of truth found in Scripture. When we have the

Word of God in our hearts and minds at all times, we can fight the lies Satan tells us.

Third, memorizing Scripture also allows us to encourage other believers and to share with unbelievers. Just like

memorizing Scripture can help us live our lives in obedience, we can also use the Scripture to encourage other believers

to also live in obedience, fight temptation, and be more like Christ. II Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by

inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Knowing

Scripture is a very important part of ministering to others.

Last of all, when we memorize Scripture we will have a better understanding of God and his will for us.

Knowing God’s word and obeying it enables us to experience God at a deeper level, and the deeper we know God, the

deeper we know his will for us. Romans 12:2 advises us not to be conformed to this world, but to renew our minds and be

transformed. When we do this, we will be able to recognize the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

So as you memorize Bible memory this year and feel like complaining, remember why we memorize Scripture.

-Alexa Burkholder

What do you do in your free time?

“I enjoy doing yard work, playing ultimate Frisbee, riding bike, and playing softball with friends.” -Mr. Mummert

What is something quirky about your personality?

“I am an introvert who enjoys the challenge of planned public speaking.” -Miss Farrar

If you could be an animal what would it be and why?

“I would be a panda. They have no natural predators, live in a mild climate, and are generally well taken care of by

humans.” -Mr. Oberholtzer

Who is your role model and why?

“My father. He is the kind of man I desire to be. I wouldn't be the same without him.” -Mr. Priest

What is the most interesting thing that happened to you in your childhood?

“I fell out of a car when I was five; it was painful, but I got lots of get-well gifts!” -Mr. King

Do you have any hidden talents?

Mr. Kenton

Mummert

Miss Caroline

Farrar

Mr. Delmar Mr. Ryan Mr. Sheldon Mrs. Chantal

Zimmerman

I N S I D E T H E C L A S S R O O M

Learning to Serve in Louisiana

P A G E 5

A Beary Good Week

M I S S I O N S T R I P S

Bear Week is a very exciting time for the first grade legends at Ephrata Mennonite School. They get to bring their

favorite stuffed bears for two whole weeks and do all kinds of fun activities with their furry friends. These activities include a

bear parade throughout all the classes in the school, a bear picnic, making bear snacks, reciting bear poems, writing bear

stories, making bear projects like headbands or stuffed bears, and more activities along the same lines. Miss Birt started Bear

Week as a one-week activity, but it has now grown to be two and a half weeks long! At the end of the two and a half weeks,

first grade even gives a program for their parents that is all about bears. This is a huge highlight for them. They spend hours

practicing their songs, skits, and poems.

If you were to walk into the first grade classroom at 2:20 on

September 20th, you would’ve seen a straight line of nervous little kids

waiting for their parents to arrive. Once all the parents were there, the

program commenced. The students sang songs like “The Bear Went Over

the Mountain,” “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around,” and “Fuzzy

Wuzzy was a Bear.” Some sang with

confidence, while others were more reserved

and probably nervous about their moment of

fame when they recited lines for small skits.

They did a “beary” wonderful job overall!

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts

of bear week is that they begin to pass around Tim the Bear. Tim the Bear is the most special

bear out of the whole first grade class. They each take turns taking him home for an evening and

treating him like a best friend. He has his own backpack with clothing and hygiene items like a

tooth brush and deodorant. At the end of his stay, the child writes a journal entry about what

they did with Tim for other students to read. Miss Birt has saved all the journals since she

started, and sometimes she reads stories to the students about what their parents did with Tim the

Bear! All in all, Bear Week is a very important part of the life of a first grader and is certainly

one that will never be forgotten! -Hadassah Martin

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

A small white house sits among weeds; its windows are boarded over, the

cement porch cracked, and graffiti covering its wooden sides. Many such homes

dapple the community. Sometimes just cement slabs are what remain of a building

that once existed. Even though it’s a distant memory to us, Hurricane Katrina raged

through New Orleans, and after thirteen years homeowners and residents continue to

live in the destitution and homelessness of the extreme damage. After hurricane

Katrina hit New Orleans and surrounding areas, Reach Global extended a helping

hand. This past summer the Cornerstone Mennonite Youth Group spent a week in

Louisiana restoring and reconstructing buildings damaged during the hurricane.

However, evangelism and prayer were emphasized more than just the

physical work. Every day small groups dispersed into the community to pray

for people and their desperate situations. The group that I was part of painted

a women’s house a deep purple with light pink shutters. It was amazing how

a single freshly painted house brightened the neighborhood. The woman told

us of her experience of being evacuated from her home and then returning to

severe water damage. After working alongside Reach Global, I learned that

the focus is not only on the physical reconstruction, but rather that we, as

Anabaptists, need to prioritize helping others through social interaction with

the outside world. The goal of missions is not to rebuild the physical but to reconstruct the hearts of the hurting through the

love of Jesus Christ.

-Jordanna Musser

October Calendar Stuco Update This school year Stuco consists of Andrew Musser as

the president, Karissa Stoner as the vice president, Christina

Patches as secretary, Kya Snyder as treasurer, and Ashton

Zimmerman, Rondre

Weaver, Kenya Snyder, and

Benjamin Zimmerman as

class representatives. Stuco

is excited to be planning

enjoyable and Christ-

centered events for the

secondary students this year

such as Friday morning

devotions, iced coffee and

donuts, worship and game nights, and the reopening of snack

stand. Stuco hopes to continue to bless the secondary students

throughout the year, so look for the upcoming events posted on

the display board by snack stand. As Stuco strives to serve the

students throughout the year, they will focus on fulfilling their

mission that: Stuco will be known for its Christ-like service

and humility to the secondary students through consistent high

-quality events, devotions, and snack stand that demonstrate to

the students that we are #ServingForAPurpose.

-Andrew Musser (Stuco President) and Kya Snyder

Check It Out!

Learning to Serve

598 Stevens Road, Ephrata, PA, 17522

Phone: 717-738-4266

E-mail: office@ephratamennonite.org

Ephrata Mennonite School

Connect with us at:

@ephratamennonite

Ephrata Mennonite Student Newspaper

E M S E X P R E S S I O N S

On Wednesday, September 26, the Backyard Agriculture class had

the opportunity to go to the Ephrata Fair

and present a project they had been

working on for a few weeks. Each student

researched an herb, created a trifold, and

came up with an interactive display for

preschool students going through the fair.

They presented most of the day to over 300

students and were exhausted by the end but

felt it was well worth it!

-Hadassah Martin

3rd

: 6th Grade soccer game vs. Gehmans at 1:45 p.m.

4th: 2nd Grade field trip to Nolde Forest

8th-12th: Spiritual Life Week with Ray Weaver

10th: 11th-12th Grade optional SAT/PSAT testing day

11th: Annual School Banquet at Shady Maple Smorgasbord at

6:00 p.m.

12th: 3rd & 5th Grade field trip to GAiN Warehouse

18th: End of Quarter 1

18th-20th: 10th Grade field trip to the Creation Museum

26th: 8th Grade field trip to Baltimore