High School - 11/13

Dear High School Families,

Thank you to all the parents who took time out of their week to attend conferences last week. We always appreciate the opportunity to connect with families and partner together in supporting our students’ growth—academically, spiritually, and personally. If you did not receive your child’s progress report, please reach out to Ms. Faust at alyssa.faust@mcamustangs.org. Below you’ll find an explanation of the progress report as well as our Parent Schoology Guide. We encourage all parents to review the guide, as Schoology is the primary way teachers communicate with families about student grades and class updates.

Looking ahead, our Fall Blood Drive is coming up on Thursday, November 20. Students ages 16 and older, as well as parents, are encouraged to sign up and donate. This is a great opportunity for our school community to come together and make a tangible difference. More information about the blood drive can be found below.

We’re also excited to announce that our Christmas Toy Drive has officially begun! Students can start bringing in new toys and turning them in to their first-hour class. Let’s work together to bless children in need this season and make this year’s Toy Drive a success!

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

High School Principal

On Tuesday, our high school gathered for a meaningful Veterans Day Chapel to honor those who have served our country with courage and sacrifice.

The service began with a presentation of the colors by the Color Guard and the National Anthem performed by Mr. VanOtterloo, followed by a time of reflection through Scripture, a video tribute, and a symbolic POW/MIA table honoring those missing or held as prisoners of war.

A special part of the chapel was a panel discussion featuring students and service members who shared what service means to them and how we can continue to honor our veterans. The chapel concluded with the playing of Taps—a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom and our deep gratitude to those who have served.

We’re excited to share that each high school grade level will be heading out on a field trip in early December!

• On Wednesday, December 3, our 9th and 10th graders will visit the Minnesota History Center in the morning to explore the Native American exhibit, followed by an afternoon of skating and lunch at Cheap Skate.
• On Friday, December 5, our 11th and 12th graders will tour and participate in a discussion at Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, then enjoy an afternoon of fun and lunch at Slick City.

Each field trip includes an academic learning experience in the morning and a community-building activity in the afternoon. These experiences are part of our goal to provide every grade with one annual field trip in addition to our High School Retreat in the fall and Valleyfair trip in the spring—helping students grow both academically and relationally throughout the year.

This winter, 9th grade students will not be participating in NWEA/MAP testing. Instead, they will complete their testing in the spring, along with students in grades K–8. As we continue to evaluate the best approach to testing for 9th grade in the future, our goal is to find the right balance between minimizing time out of classroom instruction and gathering meaningful data. At the high school level, our focus increasingly centers on college readiness assessments and in-class measures of mastery, which provide valuable insight into student growth and academic progress.

When you came to conferences last week, you received the two documents below along with your child’s progress report. Electronic copies are available here for your convenience.

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.

This letter explains the purpose of the new high school Progress Reports, which provide a mid-semester snapshot of student performance. It also outlines the shift to continuous semester grading.

Marantha will be hosting Memorial Blood Centers on Thursday, November 20th from 8:30am-1:00 pm in the Mall Hall for the Fall Blood Drive.

Staff, students (ages 16 and older), and parents are encouraged to donate to the 2025 Fall Blood Drive. Sign up to donate on November 20th, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, in the Mall Hall. Every unit of blood collected turns into a $10 scholarship for a senior, which will be given after the Spring Blood Drive, but first, 50 units of blood must be donated!

New this year- the MCA community is now able to support the school and save lives even if they cannot make it to the blood drive on campus. Simply make an appointment and show up to donate between November 20 and November 26 at the Memorial Blood Centers Maple Grove Donor Center. Be sure to enter your group code during the health screening interview – it will come up on question #54 while you are using the computer to complete your health-related questions. Your code is 4690.

Click on the link below to register for a spot to donate:

Memorial Blood Center Donor Portal

The Christmas Toy Drive has begun! From Monday, November 17 through Friday, December 12, students are invited to bring in new toys to bless children in need this Christmas season. As a high school, we’ll be working toward the following reward:

• 50 toys = 1 day out of dress code
• 100 toys = 2 days out of dress code
• 200 toys = 1 full week out of dress code

Let’s come together to make a difference and spread some Christmas joy—every toy counts!

We successfully completed our second week of random dress code checks across the High School. We want to take a moment to thank the many students who consistently follow our dress code expectations each day—your commitment to upholding our school standards is truly appreciated.

We are noticing some recurring issues with items such as sweatpants, Friday only shirts worn Monday-Thursday, and coats/jacks, which are not part of the approved dress code.

As a reminder, the following consequences will be in place for students who are out of dress code:

• 1st offense: Verbal warning
• 2nd offense: Lunch reflection and a parent phone call
• 3rd offense: The student will be held out of class until they are in proper dress code (in-school suspension until corrected)

We appreciate your continued partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home. Thank you for helping us maintain a culture of excellence and respect in both character and appearance.

This is a super fun evening for all students in Grades 10–12. Sign-up information can be found below. Students will be placed in same-grade, same-gender groups with a staff member who will serve as their driver. Together, they’ll travel to different homes around the area, enjoying a different course of their dinner at each stop. It’s always a great night of food, laughter, and fellowship — one your student definitely won’t want to miss!

Sign-up using the link below.

Step into the pages of Scripture on this unforgettable journey through the Holy Land! From sailing the Sea of Galilee to walking the ancient streets of Jerusalem, every moment will bring the Bible to life. We will celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem and share in Communion at the Garden Tomb, retracing the steps of Jesus and experiencing His story in powerful ways. Deepen your faith, build lasting memories, and experience Israel in a way you’ll never forget. The tour highlights biblical history—from the ancient world to the modern fulfillment of prophecy in Israel today—and includes Palm Sunday in Jerusalem and Communion at the Garden Tomb.

his is a life-changing journey designed to:

• Deepen your faith and understanding of the Bible
• Explore ancient and modern Israel—from Jerusalem to the Galilee
• Learn from on-site teaching, cultural experiences, and local voices
• Build lasting friendships and spiritual insight

Open to students, alumni, families, and community members
Spaces are limited—early registration encouraged!

Please note: any student wishing to participate in the Israel Tour must be accompanied by a parent both at the meeting and on the tour.

• Questions? Contact Pastor Deb Campbell (deb.campbell@lwcc.org)

To register, click here.

Attached Itinerary (And stay tuned—surprise stops and bonus experiences may be added to make this tour even more unforgettable!):

Thank you to those who were able to attend the College Information & Financial Aid Meeting last Thursday evening. For those of you who were not able to attend, we have included a recording of the meeting below.

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

Diploma Name (DUE ASAP):

• If you haven't already done so, please fill out this form so that we have your child's name printed correctly on his/her diploma: Diploma Name & Years at MCA

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. Beginning Tuesday, September 2, 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.

Kevin McMullin, founder of Collegewise, is taking the mic to share expert advice on what truly matters in college applications. From crafting standout essays to understanding what admissions officers value most — this session delivers clarity and actionable insights.

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

• 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.

• A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded

• Applicants are in grades 9 - 12

• $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.

This week’s teacher highlight features Ms. Rachel Block, our talented Interior Design teacher. Ms. Block brings her incredible creativity and real-world design experience into the classroom, inspiring students to think critically about space, color, and aesthetics.

Her Interior Design students recently completed their first design install—and it was a big one! The class transformed the Living Word Sanctuary for the Christmas season, installing beautifully decorated trees on the main stage and in the Coffee House, and hanging festive wreaths throughout the space. Their work has brought warmth and Christmas cheer to our campus!

• November 17: Bethel Spring Registration
• November 20: NHS Blood Drive
• November 21: Maranatha Morning
• November 24: Mustang Rally (WIN Time)