High School - 12/18

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!

As we head into the Christmas season, my prayer is that your family experiences rest, joy, and meaningful time together as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of MCA. We are grateful for the trust you place in us and look forward to finishing the semester strong together. Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your family!

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

High School Principal

This week in chapel, we celebrated Christmas with one another.

Our chapel committee worked very hard for this chapel and made a video of various students reading Luke 2 from grades 5–12. Reading the word of God together has been a focal point for our chapel experiences this year. It blessed us to see our students reading the Bible and celebrating the birth of Christ. We were so blessed by our chapel band, which sang three Christmas hymns for us. They have been doing an exceptional job this year.

Lastly, Pastor Dustin Sherry spoke on the meaning of Christmas, and our Head of School, Mrs. Deb Larson, led us in communion. It has been a fantastic year for chapel so far. Please be praying for our community as we go into Christmas break with the intention to rest, be with our loved ones, and to come back in January excited to see what God has in store for MCA!

~ Mr. Agrimson

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.

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!

• 2nd Semester schedules will be released to students on Monday, January 12th.
• The add/drop period for 2nd Semester will be from January 19-22.

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

• 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.

More to come!

• 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 @ 8:15 am
• February 2–6: Homecoming Week