Middle School - 8/20

💡 Want to jump to your section? Open the menu on the left to navigate directly to 5-6th or 7-8th grade updates.

The first day of school is almost here, and we are excited to welcome our 5th and 6th grade students back to MCA on Monday, August 24! This communication is intentionally focused on the few things families need to know to help the first day run smoothly.

Monday Morning

School begins at 8:15 AM. Students should drop their personal belonging to their locker and report directly to their first period class when they arrive. For families who need an earlier arrival option,

E.A.R.L.Y. Care opens at 7:00 AM. Students participating in E.A.R.L.Y. Care should report to the cafeteria. The gym opens for middle school students at 7:35 AM. Students arriving before the school day begins should remain in the appropriate supervised location until it is time to transition to class.

First Day Photo Opportunities

First day pictures are always a fun tradition!

Families will have opportunities to take photos before students head to class in two locations:

📍 Mall Hall

📍 Door 2, Maranatha’s Main Entrance

After pictures, students should head to their first period classroom.

Afternoon Dismissal

Dismissal for 5th and 6th grade begins at 3:10 PM. Students are picked up at Door 2.

Please follow the designated traffic flow and pickup procedures shown on the MCA dismissal map.

After School Expectations

For student safety and supervision, all 5th and 6th grade students are expected to have a clear after school plan. Students should either:

• Be picked up after dismissal, or
• Report to X tended Day if registered

Students are not permitted to remain in the building or roam around campus after dismissal.

If a student is being picked up by an older sibling, they are expected to leave the building shortly after being picked up. Students are also not permitted to go to the Coffee House after school.

These expectations help us maintain appropriate supervision and ensure that we know where students are at the end of the school day.

Sunday Night Checklist

☐ Know your first period class

☐ Plan your morning arrival

☐ If attending E.A.R.L.Y. Care, report to the cafeteria

☐ Decide whether you want to stop for a first day picture

☐ Know your after school transportation plan

☐ Confirm X tended Day registration, if applicable

☐ Know that dismissal is at 3:10 PM at Door 2

☐ Review the expectation to leave campus promptly after pickup

Ready for a Great Start

Fifth and sixth grade is an exciting season of growing independence, responsibility, and community.

Our staff will be ready to welcome students, help them navigate their schedules, and support them as they settle into the routines and expectations of the new school year.

We cannot wait to see our 5th and 6th graders on Monday morning!

Rachel David

Maranatha Christian Academy

Families of returning students entering Grades K, 7, 10, and 12 are required to submit updated Health/ Sports Physical and Immunization forms for the upcoming school year.

Please click the link below for detailed requirements and access to the necessary forms.

Mr. Van Otterloo and Ms. Welsch will be holding a Band and Orchestra Open House for families on August 13th from 5:30 to 7:30pm. In addition Mr. VanOtterloo will be holding a Band Open House the night of Back to School Night, August 20th, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

If you already have an instrument and the correlated book one, you are good to go. If your student is unsure of which instrument they’d like to play, or your family has additional questions, please join us at either of these.

You can also visit the nearest Schmitt store and let them know you are with Maranatha and they can get you signed up and ready to go. If you’d rather order online, visit their website to set up a trial purchase plan and also to order an Essential Elements Book 1. You can search for the correct instrument on the left-hand side of the webpage.

Please feel free to email Mr. V at gvanotterloo@mcamustangs.org for questions about band and Ms. Welsch at kiana.welsch@mcamustangs.org for questions about orchestra.

Welcome to the 2026 fall sports season at Maranatha Christian Academy. Click here to go to our new registration site. This is where you can find the high school sports registration form, the middle school sports registration form, and the MSHSL sports qualifying physical exam form that is good for three years. If you have sport-specific questions about tryouts or the season, please contact the head coach for that sport.

Here is some general information about fall sports.

FOOTBALL

High School and Middle School | Co-op with Providence Academy

• Head Coach: Collin Rooney – football@providenceacademy.org
• Visit the Lions Football homepage for more information about the upcoming season.
• Grades: 6-12
• Register through Providence Academy. Click here to register.

SOCCER, BOYS

Middle School

• Head Coach: TBD
• Grades: 5-8
• Register through MCA. Click here to register.
• Important dates:
• Registration Closes: August 17, 2026
• Season Start Date: Week of August 31, 2026

SOCCER, GIRLS

Middle School

• Head Coach: TBD
• Grades: 5-8
• Register through MCA. Click here to register.
• Important dates:
• Registration Closes: August 17, 2026
• Season Start Date: Week of August 31, 2026

SWIM & DIVE, GIRLS

High School and Middle School | Co-op with Osseo

• Head Coach: Linsi Jagger – ljagger01@hotmail.com
• Visit the Osseo Girls Swim & Dive homepage for information about the upcoming season.
• Grades: 7-12
• Register through MCA. Click here to register.

TRAP

High School and Middle School | MCA

• Head Coach: Mark Ehlen – ehlenmf@gmail.com
• Grades: 6-12

• Registration: Contact Coach Mark Ehlen if interested.

TENNIS, GIRLS

High School and Middle School | Co-op with Providence Academy

• Head Coach: Bryan Turunen – tennis@providenceacademy.org
• Find more information about the girls tennis team by visiting the website at Providence Girls Tennis Website
• Grades: 7-12
• Register through Providence Academy. Click here to register.

VOLLEYBALL, GIRLS

Middle School

• Head Coach: TBD
• Grades: 5-8
• Register through MCA. Click here to register.
• Important dates:
• Registration Closes: August 17, 2026
• Season Start Date: Week of August 31, 2026

August 19 | Xtended Day Registration Opens
August 20 | Back to School Night
August 24 | First Day of School (5th - 12th)
August 25 | 6th Grade's Summer Reading Project Due Date
August 29 | 5th Grade's Summer Reading Project Due Date

September 2 | All School Picture Day

Dear 7th & 8th Grade Families,

Wow, I cannot believe it is August! We have so much excitement in store and want to kick things off by inviting all parents to our Back to School Night on Thursday, August 20th. The evening will begin at 5:00PM in the LW Sanctuary, and trust us — you will not want to miss it! This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to receive their schedule and locker assignment, walk their schedule, get their school supplies settled in their lockers, and meet their teachers. It is the perfect way to ease into the new year feeling prepared and confident! Be on the lookout for a phone call from your student's advisor over the next few days with information on Back to School Night.

But that is not all, we are beyond excited to use Back to School Night to kick off our brand new House System with a special big reveal! Then, mark your calendars for September 29th, as Dr. David and I warmly invite all Middle & High School parents to an informational evening where we will take a deeper dive into the House System, share other important updates, and open the floor to any questions you may have. Please save both of these dates, August 20th and September 29th, as these are evenings you truly will not want to miss! We cannot wait to see you there!

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

Grades 7-12 Principal

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.

On Tuesday, September 29th, Dr. Rachel David and I will be hosting a Parent Meeting for all Middle & High School students (Grades 5-12). This meeting will include a deep dive into the House System as well as other important update.

Time: 5:30PM

Location: MCA Cafeteria

Mr. Van Otterloo and Ms. Welsch will be holding a Band and Orchestra Open House for families on August 13th from 5:30 to 7:30pm. In addition Mr. VanOtterloo will be holding a Band Open House the night of Back to School Night, August 20th, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

If you already have an instrument and the correlated book one, you are good to go. If your student is unsure of which instrument they’d like to play, or your family has additional questions, please join us at either of these.

You can also visit the nearest Schmitt store and let them know you are with Maranatha and they can get you signed up and ready to go. If you’d rather order online, visit their website to set up a trial purchase plan and also to order an Essential Elements Book 1. You can search for the correct instrument on the left-hand side of the webpage.

Please feel free to email Mr. V at gvanotterloo@mcamustangs.org for questions about band and Ms. Welsch at kiana.welsch@mcamustangs.org for questions about orchestra.

Beginning this school year, Lower and Middle School will transition from a quarter-based calendar to a semester-based calendar. This change will create greater alignment across MCA’s academic program and is expected to have minimal impact on students and families.

Mid semester half days will remain in place and will occur on the same dates previously identified as the end of each quarter. During parent teacher conferences, families will receive a progress report that reflects each student’s current academic progress. Formal report cards will be emailed at the end of each semester.

This year, MCA is strengthening consistency in how grades are calculated and communicated through Schoology. Grades are intended to reflect academic mastery and progress, rather than simply completion, effort, or behavior. Teachers will use common grading categories, and practice work, quizzes, and major assessments will have different levels of influence based on their instructional significance. Families may notice that a short practice assignment does not affect a student’s overall grade in the same way as a test, project, essay, or other major demonstration of learning. These changes are designed to provide a more accurate picture of what students know, what they can do, and where additional growth may be needed.

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.

Families of returning students entering Grades K, 7, 10, and 12 are required to submit updated Health/ Sports Physical and Immunization forms for the upcoming school year.

Please click the link below for detailed requirements and access to the necessary forms.

• May 29 - August 24: Summer Break
• Thursday, August 20: Back to School Night (5PM)
• Monday, August 24: First Day of School
• Wednesday, September 2: All School Picture Day
• Tuesday, September 29: Middle & High School Parent Meeting (5:30PM)