High School - 11/6

Dear High School Families,

This week we gathered for our annual Senior Chapel on Tuesday. It was a meaningful time led by our seniors, filled with worship and encouragement. One of our seniors shared a powerful testimony of how the Lord has worked in his life throughout his time at MCA—a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the growth that takes place within our community. Looking ahead, we are excited for next week’s Veteran’s Day Chapel on Tuesday, where we will take time to honor and celebrate those who have served our country. We warmly invite any Veteran family members to join us for this special service.

We are also looking forward to connecting with you at Parent-Teacher Conferences this week. When you arrive, you’ll receive your child’s progress report, a letter explaining the purpose of the report, and our updated Schoology Parent Guide. For your convenience, electronic copies of the letter and guide are also attached in this newsletter.

Finally, we’re finalizing plans for grade-level field trips in early December that will combine meaningful academic learning in the morning with fun community-building activities in the afternoon. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

High School Principal

The seniors took over this week in chapel! Each part of our chapel experience was led by seniors and they had a lot of fun with it. From crazy food challenges to a video portraying a typical day of a MCA teacher, they showed the importance of our community to demonstrate joy with one another. One of our seniors, Nolan Schneider, gave his testimony and gave all the glory to Christ for His transformation. He boldly proclaimed that MCA was a key vessel for the change that took place in his heart. Seeing the seniors lead chapel was bittersweet as this is their last year with us. It reminds us to treasure each moment in our lives!

~Mr. Agrimson

On Tuesday, November 11, from 11 am–12 pm, our high school will hold a special Veterans Day Chapel in the Youth Space. We would love to invite any parent or grandparent of our high school students who has served—or is currently serving—in the military to join us for this meaningful time together. If you or a family member plan to attend, please take a moment to fill out the form below.

We are excited to celebrate and honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed and served our country. It will be a special opportunity for our students to express gratitude and learn from those who have demonstrated courage and service in such significant ways.

When you came to conferences today (or when you come tomorrow), 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

Caleb Lichty, Jack Mumma, and Miles Van Otterloo won a pizza party for their D Group for completing the Medallion Hunt during College & Career Week!

We successfully completed our first 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!

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!):

Date: Thursday, Nov. 6th at 6:30-8:30 (during Conferences)

Location: Coffee House

4 Strategies for a Smarter College Search

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 Maranatha Christian Academy 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 9-11, this is incredibly important info you will not want to miss.

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.

This week’s teacher highlight features Mr. Josh Harshbarger, who does a fantastic job bringing history to life in his classroom.

His engaging lessons get students up, moving, and thinking critically about the past. This week, students explored the Industrial Revolution, analyzing four influential leaders from the era. In an engaging class discussion, they debated whether each figure was a “Robber Baron” or a “Captain of Industry”—defending their perspectives with evidence and insight.

• November 10: Toy Drive Starts
• November 11: Veteran's Day Chapel
• November 13: The Hobbit @ 7PM (LW Northwest)
• November 14: The Hobbit @ 7PM (LW Northwest)
• November 15: The Hobbit @ 2PM & 7PM (LW Northwest)
• November 17: Bethel Spring Registration