By Nancy Reed, Scappoose Adventist School
Scappoose Adventist School (SAS) held its first annual ‘Homecoming Sabbath’ alumni event in March. Teachers, students and staff, past and present, along with church members gathered together to celebrate the school’s 88 years of service to Columbia County. Sabbath’s sermon was presented by guest speaker Elder Burt Pooley, who offered that it wasn’t his first time in the pulpit at Scappoose-St. Helens Adventist Church as he stood in the pulpit approximately 50 years ago to preach one of his very first sermons. Current school staff led out in worship and everyone enjoyed 1st and 2nd grade teacher, Riza Estores-Estocada, enthusiastic presentation of an original children’s story on the subject of pride. Church was followed by fellowship dinner in the school’s gymnasium and visiting continued throughout the afternoon.
The evening program began with the singing of our National Anthem lead by 5th grade student Rex Wethern, and the Pledge of Allegiance by SAS kindergarten students. Highlights included parent Fiona Foulk’s testimony of how our school has blessed her family. As a child, she and her siblings attended SAS so she decided to send her own kindergarten age daughter, who is now flourishing. Because of the influence of the school, her family and siblings have all been blessed. Fiona is also a regular SAS volunteer. Debbie Douglas shared that she worked for 16 years as the school’s janitor and was able to send all three of her sons through SAS on her janitor’s salary. Through relationships built with school personnel, she decided to become Adventist and join the church family as well. She also shared that the church and school have been a wonderful influence on her entire family. Kate Lefarth, the church’s current head deaconess, both taught and served as principal at SAS 1999-2000. She still enjoys teaching and substitutes often. Jim Harding told that his Mom was a teacher when the school was established. He said there are now four generations of his family who have taught or attended SAS. In fact, his daughter Rhonda Appleby, who initially thought of the reunion fun, got this ball rolling. Thank you, Rhonda, for initiating!
Special thanks also to Terry Sexton who is running the facebook page Scappoose Adventist School Alumni (future Homecoming Sabbaths are planned for the third Sabbath in March), Kate Lefarth and church deaconesses for their service attending to the wonderful meal, and Don Estocada who created the beautiful stage decorations along with his wife, Riza, along with Jae Valencia, Jennifer Plahn, Jennifer Williamson and Pattie Kienholz who decorated tables as well.
Pastor Antonee Aguilar of Scappoose-St. Helens Adventist Church along with his wife, Principal Girlie Aguilar of Scappoose Adventist School, continually demonstrate the principles of the ‘Together As One’ church and school collaboration. Their coordinated planning produced this successful event. Currently 87% of the nearly 90 students attending SAS are non-Adventist and many of their families do not regularly attend a church. SAS is a mission school called to serve God and the community.
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