Middle School - 9/4

It’s a new week in Middle School, and we’re continuing to build routines that set our students up for success for middle school and beyond. Students are beginning to come home with homework and assignments, grades are being entered, and students are being challenged. Entering our second week, our clear expectations have helped create a safe, respectful, and Christ-centered environment where every student is setup to not just survive middle school but thrive this year. Thank you, parents, for partnering with us as we hold strong to these standards together—it truly makes a difference in the lives of our students.

Let’s make it a great year, Middle School!

Blessings,

Allen Banks

Middle School Principal

This week in Ms. Stites’ math class we talked about how math is the study of patterns. When we look at the world God made, we see he created it with intentionality and order. When we look at math problems with an eye for noticing patterns, we see that same order and structure. To start off the year, we did a challenge called 100 Numbers. Working in teams, students tried to circle all 100 numbers during the time. It wasn’t until we noticed and named the pattern that we had our greatest success.

As we continue into our first topics, we will continue collaborating with classmates and looking for patterns that will help us become creative problem solvers!

Middle School Friday schedules rotate between two versions: Friday (A) and Friday (B).

• Friday (A): A normal rotation of M, W, F classes.

• Friday (B): Also known by some students as “Repeat Week,” where students repeat their Thursday class schedule.

This rotation helps us balance instructional time across all classes. To make it easier, your child’s schedule will note whether it is a Friday (A) or Friday (B). Students will see and hear reminders of these so students will know what Friday schedule to follow.

Here is what our rotation will look like the next few weeks:

Friday (B) - September 5

Friday (A) - September 12

Friday (B) - September 19

Here is a link to our traffic flow map to help guide afternoon pick-up.

Grade 5–6

• Pick up at Door 2
• Parents must wait to enter the carpool line until 3:10 pm (after most lower school families have cleared—this is to prevent congestion)

Grade 7–8

• Students may be picked up at any door
• Parents must wait to enter the carpool line until 3:10 pm (after most lower school families have cleared — we recommend Door 3 or Door 4 on the south side of the building for the quickest in-and-out)

Please refrain from blocking any lanes of traffic in order to wait for or pick up your child. If you need to park your vehicle, please move into a parking space.

Thank you for helping us keep dismissal safe and efficient for everyone!

We are so excited for the 2025–2026 school year. As your school counseling department, we are honored to partner with you to walk alongside your student(s) as they grow in faith, academic learning, navigating friendships, and personal development.

Back-to-school season is always an exciting time, full of potential and a mixture of emotions. As we step into this season together, we want to take a moment to pause and reflect with you. Our theme verse from Isaiah 40:31, reminds us that God shall renew our strength. So, when it feels like it takes all your energy to get everyone up and out the door on time for school, God is there to renew you. As we ease into a new school routine, our team is here to support you!

Our counseling team supports students in three key areas: academics, social and personal growth, and postsecondary support. In middle school, some of the ways we partner with students include:

• Small groups that help students build and maintain friendships

• Individual support for students navigating mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression

• Collaboration with parents and teachers to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to succeed

Please contact our team if you would like your child to receive services or to inquire for more details! We look forward to partnering with you and getting to know your student(s) more this school year!

Over the summer, a number of students from the chapel committee and staff came together to discuss the needs of the students in regard to our chapel experience. We prayed and agreed that it was necessary to dedicate a chapel to learn more about what scripture says about the Holy Spirit. We reached out to pastor Dustin Sherry, our Next Gen Youth pastor, to see if he would be willing to share on the topic, and he graciously said yes.

Pastor Dustin dug deep into scripture with the students and emphasized the importance of all believers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ. Students were excited after chapel and are eager to hear more about the Holy Spirit in the future.

Check out the MyMCA Parents Portal. This can be a go-to hub throughout the school year. Here, you’ll find the school calendar, handbooks, report-an-absence link, volunteer opportunities, health guidelines, and other important resources.

Registration for X-Tended Experience (Grades 5–6) opens August 15. You can find more information by visiting our X-Tended Day webpage.

NWEA Map Testing: September 15–19

Fall Fest: September 22–26

See You at the Pole: September 24

Grade 6 Retreat: September 30–October 1