High School - 12/11

Dear High School Families,

As we move toward the end of the semester, finals week will be here before we know it. Please ensure your student is on campus January 14–16, as these three days are essential for completing semester exams. The detailed finals schedule—including which classes test on which day and release times—is included below for your reference. We will continue to share additional information as the dates get closer, but we encourage families to plan ahead to support their students' success during this important week.

This is also a great time to check your student’s grades to be sure they are on track for the end of 1st semester. I have included the Schoology Parent Guide in this newsletter to help you navigate grade viewing. As a reminder, during Quarters 2 and 4, grades will appear blank on the main dashboard. To see accurate, up-to-date progress, please open each course individually and select Quarter 1 for Semester 1 grading (or Quarter 3 during Semester 2 later in the year). MCA High School uses continuous semester grading, meaning grades are calculated across the full semester rather than averaged between quarters.

To support students academically, we offer several resources throughout the school day:

• Mandatory Study Hall for any student with a D or F in one or more classes

• Teacher Office Hours for additional help or clarification

• Student Tutors available during WIN Time (students can sign up in advance)

• WIN Time Support Rooms providing targeted help in math, reading, writing, and science

• School Counselors available for individualized support, including organizational strategies and academic planning

Finally, please note that if a student fails a required class in 1st semester, they will need to retake that semester. Students are no longer able to “make up” the percentage during 2nd semester to pass the full year. Thank you for your partnership in helping our students finish the semester well!

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

High School Principal

This week, our students gathered for a special Advent Chapel filled with beautiful Christmas music and a meaningful time of reflection. As we enter this season of anticipation and hope, we focused on the true reason we celebrate—the birth of Jesus. It was a wonderful opportunity for our community to pause, worship together, and center our hearts on the gift of Christ as we prepare for Christmas.

Finals week is fast approaching, and we want to ensure that all students and families feel prepared for this important part of the semester. The official finals schedule will be sent out next week, but we want to provide an early reminder as you begin planning ahead. Per the 2026–27 school calendar, finals will take place January 14–16. Each of these days will be early-release days to give students dedicated time in the afternoon to study, rest, and prepare for the following day’s exams. The specific Finals Week Schedule is attached below.

As a reminder, finals account for 15% of a student’s overall semester grade. If your student has a pre-planned vacation or will be absent during finals week, it is essential that they connect with their teachers before finals begin to arrange a plan for making up their exams.

We encourage all students to stay organized, complete missing assignments, and reach out to teachers if they need support. Thank you for your partnership as we help students finish the semester with confidence and excellence.

This guide explains how parents can navigate Schoology, Maranatha’s Learning Management System for grades 5–12. It outlines how to view assignments, grades, and teacher feedback, adjust notification settings, and stay informed about your child’s academic progress throughout the semester.

The Christmas Toy Drive is in full swing! From Monday, November 17 through Friday, December 12, students have been invited to bring in new toys to bless children in need this Christmas season.

As of today, our high school has collected over 200 toys—an amazing accomplishment! This means students have officially earned a week out-of-dress-code on Monday, December 15 through Friday, December 19.

We are excited to share that MCA will once again offer the ACT on campus this spring for all interested Juniors and Seniors. As outlined in the attached ACT Parent Letter, students will have the opportunity to take the ACT on April 21st at 8:15 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. While this exam is optional, a strong ACT score can strengthen college applications and open doors for valuable scholarship opportunities. Families wishing for their student to participate should complete the opt-in form by Friday, January 10th. Please note that, due to ACT ordering deadlines, late registrations cannot be accepted. Students testing that day will be responsible for making up any missed classwork.

To support student success, we are grateful to offer high-quality ACT preparation through Mrs. Elizabeth Brandstrom, MCA’s ACT/SAT tutor. As outlined in the attached tutoring overview, Mrs. Brandstrom is a licensed educator and ACT Certified Educator with a strong track record of helping students achieve high scores. Sessions are flexible, affordable, and include official ACT study materials. Families may contact her directly to schedule individualized prep sessions or express interest in the course.

Mrs. Brandstrom will also be offering an on-campus ACT Prep course next semester during the school day, which requires a minimum of eight students to run. Please contact the CCC for more information or to register.

Please take a moment to review both attachments for full details. We are here to support your student as they prepare for this important step in their college journey!

Please see the ACT website below for information on ACT testing dates. All Juniors and Seniors will be invited to take the ACT at Maranatha on April 21st, 2026. We strongly encourage all juniors to take this opportunity to take the ACT this coming April on campus. More information will be coming out in the coming months.

• Deepen your commitments to your favorite community activities, seeking leadership positions as appropriate

• Meet with college admission officers when they visit MCA to learn about your college options and which campuses you would like to visit

• Meet with your college counselor in the Spring to discuss your letter of recommendation

• Ask 1-2 teachers to write a letter of recommendation for you in the Spring

• Finalize the list of colleges you will apply to

• Begin applying for scholarships and create application templates for various scholarship databases (check weekly)

• ACT Testing: April 21

Cap & Gown Orders (Due December 12)

• Every graduate/family needs to place an order through Herff Jones for their graduate's cap/gown/tassel set. All orders are sent directly to MCA and handed out during a rehearsal the week of graduation. Graduates keep their caps/tassels are theirs to keep; gowns are rentals and returned after the commencement ceremony.
• Here are the ordering instructions, that include a link directly to Herff’s website: Herff Jones Online Ordering.pdf

Below is the link to the MCA Senior Page with all to-do list items for the school year.

• Complete college applications with the help of your college counselor
• Work with your college counselor, as needed, to finalize your application essay(s) and supplemental resources
• Check early action application deadlines for your college(s) of choice

The Common App is live for students to begin submitting their college applications. Students can stop by the CCC if they need help navigating the common application website. Mr. Jensen has a practice account that he can walk them through. Feel free to email Mr. Jensen (jacob.jensen@mcamustangs.org) with any questions or to make an appointment.

If you have any questions or would like additional support in the scholarship process, please don’t hesitate to connect with Mr. Jensen.

• $1000 Scholarship - 1 Award

• Must show good academic standing with a GPA of at least 3.0.

• An unofficial academic transcript.

• A 1,000-word essay.

• Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program awards more than $200,000 in assistance every year to college-bound students around the globe.

• Scholarships are awarded based solely on 550-word essays expressing applicants’ academic and professional goals and how their personal experiences will help them to accomplish those goals.

• $1,500 scholarship awarded to a high school senior who best embodies our mission of making a paws-itive difference for animals.

• Open to US residents.

This week, I am excited to highlight Mrs. VandenLangenberg, our incredible High School Spanish teacher. In Spanish 3, students have been learning how to form preterite tense ER/IR verbs—a challenging concept made both engaging and enjoyable thanks to her creativity and passion for teaching.

Mrs. VandenLangenberg consistently brings energy and innovation into her classroom. Whether students are playing Spanish Bingo, listening to music in Spanish, participating in Blookets, or collaborating in small groups, her lessons are designed to make language learning interactive and fun. We are grateful for the vibrant environment she creates each day and for the ways she inspires students to grow in their confidence and love of Spanish.

• December 12: Last Day of the Toy Drive
• December 18: HS Christmas Concert (6 pm, LW Sanctuary)
• December 22-January 2: No School, Christmas Break
• January 12: Evening of One Acts
• January 14–16: Finals Week
• January 19: No School, MLK Day
• January 20: No School, PD Day
• January 22: Annual Vision Meeting
• January 23: Maranatha Morning @ 8:15AM
• February 2-6: Homecoming Week