High School - 8/7

Dear High School Families,

We are just two and a half weeks away from the start of a brand-new school year, and we are eagerly anticipating having our students and families back on campus! One important date to mark on your calendars is Back-to-School Night, which is right around the corner, on Thursday, August 21st from 5–7 pm. This evening is a key part of our school year launch—it’s when students receive their schedules, take school photos, and gather with fellow families to hear from our Head of School, Mrs. Larson-Jarpe. She’ll be sharing our theme verse for the year and setting the tone with some important messages to help us all begin the year strong and unified.

In this week’s newsletter, I’ll be highlighting several key updates from our Academic Handbook. These updates include changes or clarifications to policies that impact grading, attendance, and academic expectations across the high school. Please take a few moments to read through them carefully. If you have any questions or would like clarification on anything, I’d love to hear from you.

We’re also excited to introduce a new recurring section to the newsletter called Senior’s Corner. This space is dedicated to providing timely information and resources specifically for our senior class, including scholarship opportunities, college planning checklists, and upcoming deadlines. We know senior year is full of big decisions and even bigger emotions—our goal is to make sure our students and families feel supported every step of the way.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. It’s a joy and privilege to serve your students, and I look forward to the year ahead with hope and confidence in what God has in store for us.

Sarah Rothstein, Ed.D.

High School Principal

As we prepare for Back-to-School Night, we want to make sure families know what to expect. In the coming weeks, each high school family will receive a personal phone call from one of your student’s classroom teachers. This is a change from previous years, when the call typically came from an advisor. The teacher will introduce themselves, welcome your family to the new school year, and share helpful information about what to bring and where to go on Back-to-School Night. Feel free to ask any questions you may have during the call—they're happy to help.

Back-to-School Night will begin with a general session in the LW Sanctuary from 5–5:30 pm, where we’ll gather together as a school community. From 5:30–7 pm, students and families will rotate through important stations in the MCA Gym to get their school picture taken, pick up schedules, and drop off any classroom supplies (e.g., plastic bags, tissues). Afterward, students are encouraged to find their locker, walk through their schedule, and take time to connect with teachers, classmates, and members of the College & Career Center (CCC).

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back and starting the year with a strong sense of connection and purpose!

I’d like to draw your attention to a few key updates in the 2025-2026 Academic Handbook.

Turning in Service Hours (p. 4)

• Beginning this school year, Upper School students will turn in their service hours to their Bible teacher. (Bible teachers will discuss the specific process in class)

Schedule Changes & Withdrawals (p. 5)

• Students will have four school days at the beginning of the 1st and 2nd semesters to request a change to their semester elective classes. (parents may also reference the Course Syllabus)
• After the first week within a semester, a student withdrawing from a class may receive a grade of “F.”

Finals Exams (p. 5)

• To ensure comprehensive assessment of student learning, a final exam will be administered at the end of each semester for every class. The final exam serves as a summative evaluation of the material covered throughout the semester.
• The final exam will constitute 15% of the overall semester grade for the course.
• Please review the 2025-26 Calendar at a Glance for the Final Exam dates. (note that these dates will be partial days for high school students)

Grading and GPA: School Year/Marking System & Late Work Policy (pp. 6-7)

• At the conclusion of a quarter, a progress report is uploaded and available for private use in FACTS Family Portal.
• At the conclusion of a semester, a report card is uploaded and available for private use in FACTS Family Portal.
• The semester grades earned are entered on the student’s official school transcript at the conclusion of the semester. Grade-point averages are based on final grades.
• Final semester grades are based on the following formula:
• Bell Work: 5% of total semester grade
• Homework/Assessments: 80% of total semester grade (breakdown differs based on department; see course syllabus)
• Final Exam: 15% of total semester grade
• Late Work Policy:
• Late assignments will be penalized 20% for one day late and up through two weeks late. If work is not turned in after two weeks, the assignment will turn to a zero in the gradebook.

Academic Help: Failing a Class (pp. 10)

• Upper school students who fail a required class (i.e., graduation requirements) at the end of a semester are required to retake that semester. Advancement to the next grade level is determined by the total number of credits earned.

Last week, MCA staff and student leaders came together for our third annual Student Leadership Conference. Students engaged in worship, prayer, leadership training, and a number of traditions at our leadership conference.

Our experience together ranged from heartfelt laughter to meaningful moments where students shared their testimonies. A highlight of the event included Ms. Block asking the students what they would do if they had one day left to live. She then pointed to Jesus Christ, reminding all of us that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples the day before He was crucified. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. This truth challenged all of us as we re-examined leadership as an opportunity for intentional service rather than simply being a title.

A special shoutout to Rachel Block, Jamie Axelberg, Tanya Marvel, and Alyssa Faust, who spent countless hours to make this event happen for our student leaders. It is the dedication from staff members like these that make MCA a community that deeply cares about the next generation.

Praise the Lord for our student leaders!

Seek the King, He is so worth it.

~Mr. Joshua Agrimson, Upper School Assistant Principal

We’re excited to announce our all-high school student retreat to Camp Ihduhapi on Friday, September 12!

Students will travel by bus at the start of the school day and return before dismissal. While the full meaning behind this year’s retreat theme, “40:31,” will remain a surprise for now, we can share that the key word we’ll be focusing on is “renew.”

The heart behind the retreat aligns with our Culture in Action focus of becoming Kingdom Community Builders. Our prayer is that students will deepen their relationships with one another and grow closer to the Lord as we explore the theme throughout the retreats as well as during Chapel and D-group time before and after the retreat.

The cost for the retreat is $30 and will be billed to FACTS accounts as the date approaches.

We can’t wait to see how God moves in and through our students during this special day!

We have a couple additions to our elective options for the 2025–2026 school year. See the courses below, including their course description.

If you have an interest in taking either of these courses, email Mr. Jensen at jacob.jensen@mcamustangs.org

Foundations of Baking (0.5 elective credit)

In this hands-on elective, students will develop essential baking skills—from accurate measuring and mixing techniques to decorating and presentation. This course combines practical kitchen experience with meaningful reflection on biblical themes such as stewardship, perseverance, hospitality, and creativity. As students explore recipes and refine their craft, they will also engage with Scripture, drawing connections between their work in the kitchen and their walk of faith. This course aims to build confidence, creativity, and a deeper understanding of how we can honor God through everyday activities.

ACT Prep (0.5 elective credit)

ACT Prep will introduce students to strategic testing skills for the ACT college entrance exam and review the most commonly tested topics. In this flexible course, students will become familiar with the standardized format of the test(s) and learn strategies for answering the most questions correctly in the least amount of time. We will practice with both the digital version of the test and the paper-based version. Created by a test prep tutor with 15 years of experience, this course will help students meet their test score goals!

*Course fee: $40 (this will cover the cost of the ACT prep workbook that students will keep)

For families of PSEO students, we want to provide a quick update regarding Moodle access in light of our new cell phone policy.

As you know, students are no longer permitted to use their phones during the school day. However, Moodle—the learning platform used for PSEO courses—requires a two-factor authentication process that involves students receiving a code on their phone. To ensure access, we are asking PSEO students to log into Moodle and complete the authentication before 8:15 am, when the school day begins. Once authenticated, students should remain logged in and not be prompted again throughout the day.

If your student encounters any issues or is repeatedly asked to re-authenticate, please have them connect with Mr. Jensen. We are actively working with Bethel to find long-term solutions that support both student access and our school’s policies.

• 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

As I introduced last week, each week the College & Career Center will highlight 2–3 scholarship opportunities for students to explore and pursue if they meet the eligibility criteria. This is a great way for students to get a head start on financing their future education and to become familiar with the wide variety of scholarships available. If you have any questions or would like additional support in the scholarship process, please don’t hesitate to connect with Mr. Jensen.

Elevate Mental Health Awareness

• $670 Scholarship
• Students are High School Seniors

Hennepin Technical College Foundation Scholarships

• One application for 29 scholarships!
• Current Seniors and Current HTC students are eligible

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship

• Up to $40,000 per year to attend a four-year institution\
• Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA or above, an ACT score of 26 or higher, participate in available advanced courses, and have a commitment to learning
• Additionally, applicants must demonstrate persistence, leadership, and service to others

We’re excited to share an incredible opportunity for high school students to participate in a mission trip to Orlando, Florida, from June 1–5, 2026!

In partnership with Joshua Expeditions, students will engage in hands-on ministry in the heart of the city—serving through food distribution, assisting at local food pantries, participating in light construction and beautification projects, and sharing the love of Christ with those in need. This trip is designed to deepen students’ faith while giving them the chance to serve others in meaningful and impactful ways.

To learn more, join us for one of our virtual information sessions:

• Session #1: Thursday, August 28 at 7:00 pm
• Session #2: Monday, September 8 at 6:30 pm

Links for the information sessions will be shared in upcoming newsletters.

Our goal for the Summer Reading Program is to instill the love of reading and to expand students’ literacy by exposing them to great literature during the quiet days and evenings of summer.

As a reminder, summer reading needs to be completed by the first day of school. Here is a link to the summer reading assignments by grade level: Summer Reading 2025

• August 15–17: HS Student Council Retreat (at Baker Park)
• August 18: Band/Choir/Orchestra Open House (5–7 pm)
• August 21: Back-to-School Night (5–7 pm)
• August 25: First Day of School
• August 25: Mustang Rally During WIN Time
• August 28: Orlando Mission Trip - Information Meeting (7 pm - Virtual)
• September 6: Movie on the Hill (7 pm)
• September 8: Orlando Mission Trip - Information Meeting (6:30 pm - Virtual)
• September 11–12: Senior Retreat (at Camp Ihduhapi)
• September 12: Grades 9–12 Retreat (at Camp Ihduhapi)