April 6, 2024, was a high day for the El Cajon SDA Christian School (ECSDA) as they celebrated 100 years as a school with a special program during the church service.
With very humble beginnings, the El Cajon church was established in 1912, and a sanctuary was built. The members decided to open a one-room school on the same property as the church. The school has grown over the years, and a new building was erected with more classrooms and a gymnasium.
For the special anniversary program, El Cajon was privileged to have Patty Marruffo, executive secretary of Southeastern California Conference (SECC), as the guest speaker. Other notable participants in the program included Datha Tickner, SECC superintendent of schools; Rachel Romero, SECC coordinator of small school support and former teaching principal of ECSDA; and David Roysdon, teacher at San Diego Academy.
The students sang and provided the children’s story. Many alumni attended. One alumna, Lisa Fultz Bradley, came all the way from Roseburg, Oregon, and shared her memories of El Cajon. “I am still close with dear friends from even the earliest years there,” said Fultz Bradley. “In first grade, we had a very special teacher who had a special story time each day. She taught us how to play the ukelele, and we performed at various churches in the area. Many of us still have our ukes and have taught or are currently teaching others how to play because we still enjoy it so much and such a fondness is associated with it.”
“The El Cajon SDA Christian School is a hidden jewel in our area,” shared Diana Harper, a teacher at ECSDA. “I was the teaching principal (1994-1999) and felt the entire time I served there that it was indeed a wonderful blessing in my life. God was present each and every day and worked in the lives of the students, parents, and staff.”
Currently, the school has two dedicated teachers and many volunteers. ECSDA is a multicultural school and is proud of its young people. The school’s goal is to prepare their young people for heaven, where they will have the most wonderful reunion that will never end.