The Eastern Christian School Association

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The Eastern Christian School Association was founded in 1892. At that time, Christian day-schools were under the sponsorship of religious ethnic groups, for instance Irish Catholics or German Lutherans. Eastern Christian was formed by the Dutch immigrant community which settled in Paterson to work in the silk mills and had 102 students in its original enrollment. Since then, the school system has grown and diversified. It now includes three separate buildings which house an elementary school and a middle school in towns in Bergen County, and the high school in Passaic County. The system-wide enrollment is approximately 765 students, with about 342 in the high school, 196 in the middle school, and 227 in the elementary school. The schools are parent-owned and are governed by an elected Board of Directors. Support continues to be largely from members of the Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches

The school’s student body represents several Christian denominations and includes over 145 individual churches. Socioeconomic backgrounds range from urban centers, to suburbs and rural areas. Fifteen to eighteen percent of the students represent minority backgrounds. At the middle school, approximately 20%, 40 of 195 students, represent minority backgrounds…{finish information for elementaryschool}

Academic excellence is strongly emphasized along with respect for individual differences and flexibility of programming where needed. Each student is challenged to grow and develop to the highest reaches of his or her ability. As methods of reaching those goals, in 1997 the high school initiated a 4x4 block schedule after preparing the staff in a variety of teaching techniques and seeking support and approval from the community. The high school also pursued a relationship with Seton Hall University and is part of the Project Acceleration concurrent enrollment program that allows students to receive college credit while taking their high school courses. The middle school moved to a modified block schedule in September 2006, with an eight period schedule four days ( M, T, W, F) and a block schedule Thursday. This schedule allowed for three core classes to meet in an extended block every other week. In September 2009, the school added Tuesday as a block schedule day, allowing all six core classes to meet in an extended block each week. An advisory Program, providing each student with a staff member advisor who meets with students three times a week at the beginning of the day, was added to the schedule in September 2007. Additionally, a Thursday activity period each week is dedicated to student-initiated problem-based learning with a strong service learning component.

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