Questions After Governor’s Newsom’s Edict

Questions After Governor's Newsom's Edict

Dear MGA Family,

Governor Newsom issued a statement and plan for schools in California today, July 17, 2020. We, along with the Southeastern California Conference school district, will be working diligently to make any modifications to our plan for re-starting school that may be required as we study the document that has been released.

We are working diligently to be able to offer excellence in education, whether you choose to have your student(s) at home for classes using our new SWIVL technology and other other distance-learning strategies, or in-person class where allowed by the most recent guides from the state of California.

We will be communicating more specific information to you the first part of next week as we analyze the information provided today.

Stay healthy, stay happy and stay connected with God and your family!

Alfred J. Riddle, Principal and the MGA Administration

Statement from SECC

Statement from SECC

Our hearts and voices collectively cry out for justice in the recent days following the horrific killing of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. His death comes as violence against African Americans has riveted our attention, most notably with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery on February 23 and Breonna Taylor on March 13. We mourn with their families and for so many others who have lost loved ones to ongoing abuse and racial injustice. We mourn with our brothers and sisters in our own conference and communities who have also suffered as a result of discrimination or hateful language and who have been marginalized because of their race.

Recognizing that we have all contributed to this systemic culture, we ask forgiveness for when we failed to embody what it means as faith communities who are followers of Jesus to love all people well. We ask forgiveness for those times when we should have spoken but were silent. We ask forgiveness for those times when we should have taken swift action but quickly turned to what we chose as other priorities.

Southeastern California Conference is one of the most diverse bodies of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, and we commit to using our voices, our influence, and our actions toward working together and advocating that all people are treated with respect, love, justice, and mercy. We are currently doing this in peaceful protests, social media posts, individual conversations, and communication within and beyond the network of our community.

In addition to these ways in which we are currently engaging, let us commit to faithfully learning with a humble and teachable spirit. We wish to grow, to be a voice for the voiceless, and to intentionally model what such advocacy looks like, and we resolve to listen carefully to each other and develop actionable plans and pathways.

In our conference, we call on all members to purposefully work hand in hand toward creating family, church, and school communities where discrimination and racism no longer have a place in the fabric of our lives. We choose to not be complicit in violence against any person.

We acknowledge this statement is just a beginning. Southeastern California Conference must take responsibility to do this as a conscious result of our convictions. We believe this is a matter of our ethical values as individually and collectively we will stand in this space of what could be difficult conversations that lead us to our strategic actions.

The One we follow, Jesus, invites us throughout Scripture to love each other. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:9-10, NIV).

Let it be so with each of us as we seek, “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with (our) God” (Micah 6:8, NIV).

SECC Conference Officers

Sandra Roberts | Jonathan Park | Verlon Strauss

Elizer Sacay | Robert Edwards | Yohalmo Saravia

COVID-19: Message from the Principal

COVID-19: Message from the Principal

Updated 3/20/20

Dear Mesa Grande Academy students and families,

I hope that you are all in good health and that you are taking time to care for everyone in your family. I don’t think any of us were adequately prepared for the rapid change from our normal lives into this new paradigm. This virus has created chaos and uncertainty.  However, I firmly believe that God has us in his hands. He knows what we fear, and he knows each situation. He is walking right alongside us, picking us up, and helping us look forward to better times.

Students, I want to make sure you know that your teachers are working very diligently to make sure your education continues.  We really miss being face-to-face with you in our classes. Even though we don’t know when we will be able to be back together in school, we want to do everything we can to help you finish this school year well prepared for next year’s studies.

That being said, you have spring break next week.  Get whatever school work you can get done today. Then take a break.  Enjoy your time off and have fun with your family. Take a hike, ride a bike or motorcycle, build something, fly something, invent something, learn about something you really want to learn about, listen to new music, draw or paint something, play a table game with your family, do something you have not done before or something you haven’t done in a long time.  Of course do it all with “proper social distancing”.

Parents, we know that this may be the most difficult time you have ever experienced.  Many of you are trying to work and still keep your kids focused on meaningful learning experiences. Just know that our teachers have been working non-stop to find ways that will help you and your students continue learning in this difficult time.

Your child’s education is changing – but we cannot let it stop.  We are mindful of the stresses your students are facing. We want to assure you that we are committed to trying new strategies and to making adjustments as we discover what works for you.  If something is not working, let us know as soon as possible. If your student needs a resource such as a computer from the school, just let us know. Many, if not most of the public schools have had to dismiss their students with no hope of additional education for the rest of the year.  We do not believe that approach is healthy for your students. We at Mesa Grande Academy are committed to continuing your child’s education, even though the processes may be different.

None of us really know what is going to happen in the next weeks, days, or even hours.  I just know that God encourages us to keep moving forward with our lives in all the ways we can, trusting that He will take care of us in the end.

My favorite Bible text since I was a child is found in Psalms 46: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea… 

I don’t know about you, but I am not going to live my life ruled by fear.  Yes we have to do things differently now, but the learning and living does not have to stop. I will pray for each of you everyday and cannot wait until we have a welcome back party.  God Bless!

Sincerely yours,

Alfred Riddle, Principal