High School - 10/29
October 29, 2026
Dear High School Families,
We look forward to connecting with families at parent-teacher conferences next Thursday and Friday! This newsletter includes details to help you prepare. Classroom maps and mid-semester progress reports with current grades will be available when you arrive. Conferences are a valuable opportunity to celebrate growth, discuss questions, and partner with teachers to support your child. They are also a great way to earn points for your child’s House!
Please also save the date for Thursday, January 21, for our annual Sophomore Parent Meeting, held from 6:30-8:00p.m. for all 10th grade parents and students. This meeting will take place in the coffee house. Representatives from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul will be present to go over our PSEO partnership and the opportunities our students have to earn college credit during junior and senior year.
Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.
Grades 7-12 Principal
Grades 7-12 Chapel Recap
Tuesday, October 27
On Tuesday's chapel, we had an outside speaker come in for our students to share Gods word, the President of Northwestern Dr. Corbin Hoornbeek. Dr. Hoornbeek brought a special message talking about God's position in our lives and where we choose to allow Him. He told us that we can and are the next generation of leaders and showed us that we should prioritize God over our wants and idols. He used Matthew 6:19-21 and Matthew 6:24 to explain to us that our heart can't be in two places, and that our heart should be with the Lord and not serving two masters. Dr. Corbin also ended up sharing a couple of stories from his life about how God showed him that his heart should always be in the Lord's hands and not away. At the end of his message, he told the students to remember that the Lord should be first in our lives and that He should be our Master. After Chapel was coming to a close, the students were invited into a time of worship and reflection where everyone could spend time with the Lord, meditating and rejoicing in His peace.
~ Esteban Ordaz Aguero, MCA Chapel Committee Member
House Games Recap - October 28
Yesterday’s House Games brought students together for friendly competition and community! Students spent half their time in the gym playing a large-group game and the other half in classrooms taking on Minute to Win It challenges. See pictures below!
Our heart behind House Games is for every student to participate and feel included. By offering a variety of activities, we aim to create opportunities that are fun and draw on students’ different strengths. We welcome student ideas, too! If your student has a suggestion for a future game, please encourage them to share it with administration.
Fall Conferences Information - November 5-6
Earn House Points at Parent-Teacher Conferences!
Families, it's your turn to help your student's house earn points toward the House Cup!
During parent-teacher conferences, families of students in grades 5–12 can participate in our House Conference Challenge. When you arrive, you'll be handed a House Conference Passport and bring it with you as you visit your student's teachers. For each teacher you meet with, ask them to sign your passport. Each signature earns 2 points for your student's house, with a maximum of 8 signatures (16 points). Families who collect 6 or more signatures will earn an additional 5 bonus points, for a total of 21 possible House Points!
Before leaving, be sure to turn in your completed passport so your points can be added to your student's house total. Thank you for partnering with us in your student's education and helping build a strong MCA community!
Veteran's Day Chapel Invitation - November 10
Please join us for our Grades 7-12 Veterans Day Chapel on Tuesday, November 10, from 11:00AM-Noon as we honor those who have served our country. All families are welcome to attend, and we especially invite the veterans in our MCA community to join us for this special time of gratitude and recognition.
High School Mom's Prayer - November 11
All high school (9th-12th grade) MCA moms invited!!
Wednesday November 11th
7:00-8:30PM
Heather Lanari's home:
7425 Narcissus Lane
Maple Grove, MN 55311
College & Career Center Update
College Info & Financial Aid Night - November 4 @ 6:30PM (Learning Lane)
The college search continues to become more complex, making it harder for families to identify right-fit schools. Challenges include:
Admission trends and how colleges admit students
ACT/SAT Testing - some require it now, and some don't - what path makes sense?
The number of schools on the “more selective” list continues to grow
Substantial changes to the FAFSA, Dept of Education, and financial aid may make college more expensive
Join The CCC team, as we partner with national college expert, Cozy Wittman, from College Inside Track, to learn how these changes may impact your family, and new strategies to consider to give your student the best opportunity to be admitted and maximize scholarships and financial aid.
If you are the parent of a high school student in grades 9-12, this is incredibly important info you will not want to miss.
Class of 2027 Corner
Scholarship Opportunities
See below for some current scholarship opportunities for high school seniors.
2027 Student of Integrity Scholarship
Better Business Bureau Serving Minnesota and North Dakota awards an annual scholarship to a high school student(s) who has demonstrated integrity, leadership and ethical values. Scholarship funds are awarded directly toward winners’ education expenses at any accredited post-secondary institution. This is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship. The recipient is required to be enrolled in an educational institution immediately following high school graduation.
The BBB scholarship is primarily based on a written essay which must convey how the student has demonstrated integrity and ethical decision making.
US Bank Scholarship
Link to scholarship is below.
Parent Resources
Grades 7-12 Club & Activities Handbook
Attached below is the 2026-2027 Clubs & Activities Handbook for your reference.
Schoology Parent Guide
Attached below is the Schoology Parent Guide for your reference.
Attendance Information
Please see attached letter regarding attendance grade reductions and a link to submit an absence.
AI Policy
With increased AI use, it is a priority for us to teach acceptable AI use at school with regard to assigned coursework. Please take a few minutes to read through the AI Use Policy as this is what will be taught to students and enforced in the classroom.
Cell Phone Policy & Opt-Out Form
This year we are strengthening our enforcement of the cell phone policy. In order to help us enforce the policy, if your child 1) does not have a cell phone, or 2) does not bring their phone to school, please complete the attached form and return it to Mrs. Andrea Shoup, Assistant Principal, by email or dropping it off at school.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Shoup directly.
Grades 7-12 Weekly Schedule
Below is the Weekly Schedule for Grades 7-12 for the 2026-2027 school year (with lunch times).
Parking Lot Instructions
As a new school year is upon us, please take a moment to refresh your memory on our parking lot flowchart and assigned parking areas for families and students.
BYOD Guide 2026-27
Attached is the BYOD Guide for your reference.
High School Calendar
- Monday, November 2: NJHS/NHS Induction
- Wednesday, November 4: College Financial Aid Night (FAFSA) @ 6:30PM
- November 5-6: No School, Conferences
- Thursday, November 12: NHS Blood Drive
- Thursday, January 21: Sophomore Parent Meeting @ 6:30PM (Coffee House)


