Student Life

Safety 

Many students have not felt safe in school. One of our primary goals is to help EA students feel safe physically, emotionally, and relationally. Intentional strategies are in place to ensure that EA is protected from harassment, dangerous substances, and dangerous technology. Teachers and staff at EA don’t just interact in classrooms and offices – staff and students often eat lunch or socialize together throughout the school day. We want our students to feel safe not to protect or coddle them, but to create a culture where they feel confident to step out of their comfort zone in pursuing new opportunities, developing trusted relationships, and sharing their gifts.  

Relationships 

EA prioritizes restoring trust and nothing is more vital to building trust than to have strong relationships. For us, this means cultivating positive peer relationships through activities both in and out of the classroom. Collaboration and teamwork is a common characteristic of classroom learning. Shared activities like field trips and outdoor recreation – where teachers are often co-participants, rather than simply supervisors – help promote healthy adult-student interactions.  

Opportunity 

We seek to create a safe and relational environment so that students are confident stepping out of their comfort zone. We want EA students to be willing to take healthy and appropriate risks in order to discover and develop their gifts. We want them to become bold, courageous individuals who are comfortable confronting new challenges and complex problems. Because many EA students have often experienced hardship, we want to harness their resilience and direct it in a positive way.