“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
2004 - Staff praying over the future site of MCS
Dear MCS Family and Friends, Maranatha began its education ministry 23 years ago with only eight students enrolled. With every year that passes, we continue to witness the faithfulness and goodness of God in not only sustaining us, but growing us!
pray where God would lead us in the days to come. Out of this time of reflection, God has been faithful to speak and give us renewed strength and a fresh perspective. Over these next very important years, we are dedicated to fulfilling a Strategic Vision that has emerged as a result of a year of collaboration with faculty, staff, parents, the student body, the leadership of Maranatha Chapel, and a Strategic Consultant.
In 2006, Maranatha Christian Schools (MCS) relocated to a brand new campus and began a new venture by adding a High School program. It was a time of great faith and hope. Well, here we are, eight years later and so much has changed! We continue to grow as a school, and with that, continue to experience the ‘blessings’ of ‘growing pains.’ Facility restrictions are part of this growth process – yet, here at MCS we have a knack for being entrepreneurial and creative in carrying on with our mission, despite the daily restrictions of our facility. Our school has recently reached an all-time high in enrollment, now totaling 745 students! A growing program presents us with the challenge of growing needs. These needs have served as the main ingredients for launching us into a ‘Three-Year Strategic Planning’ venture this past year. It was a time to re-evaluate our mission and 1991 - Maranatha’s first class, made up of eight students
So what is this vision, and how are we going to fulfill it? We have carefully crafted short and long-range goals that aim to support and fulfill the following strategic vision:
THREE YEAR STRATEGIC VISION “MCS is an authentic Christ-centered learning community, passionate in pursuit of our mission and clear in our identity as we build a premier college preparatory program with outstanding faculty, staff, and facilities.” -Strategic Plan, Maranatha Christian Schools 2014-2017 Never in our history have we been so intentional in articulating our school’s vision. Yes, we have a mission, vision, and core values; but this is very specific in its description. MCS is focused on enhancing the following key points from the vision in the coming days, months and years: • Christ-Centered Learning Community • College Preparatory • Outstanding Faculty and Staff • Outstanding Facility
Additionally, we have created this quarterly newsletter, WINGSPAN, to give the MCS Community a glimpse into all that is being accomplished throughout the divisions (EE-12th grade). WINGSPAN will give Maranatha Christian Schools the opportunity to showcase its activites while allowing the Administration and Directors to give timely news and updates about all of the exciting things that are happening in their divisions. The next WINGSPAN will be published in January, and I will dedicate the Superintendent’s article entirely to the exciting building plans that are on the horizon! Stay tuned!
In a nutshell, pursuing this vision has put us on a trajectory (on paper as well as in practice) to see this vision one day become a reality. I believe, with all faith and sincerity, we are well on our way!
We hope you enjoy our very first quarterly issue of WINGSPAN!
I would like to encourage the entire MCS community to take a moment and read our Three-Year Strategic Plan to see how we are tracking along with our yearly executive summaries. Here is a link to our plan, as well as an update on our status in the planning process. Please click on the links above to discover these exciting goals and plans, and watch our progress as we seek to fulfill this incredible vision.
Jess Hetherington MCS Superintendent
WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2014
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Future rendering of MCS’ campus
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Homecoming Game
20
MCS Robotics Clubs
22
Freshman Follow Up
20
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
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6
Biblical Studies & Discipleship
8
Curriculum
9
Admissions, Development & Marketing
10
High School
12
Junior High
13
Elementary
14
Athletics
15
Performing Arts
18
Preschool
19
After School Care Program
23
PAC
22
BIBLICAL STUDIES & DISCIPLESHIP - SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19
Nate Jackson
Director of Biblical Studies & Discipleship
The Lord is doing a ‘new thing’ amongst His people here at MCS! Have you noticed? In just over two months into the new school year we have experienced such progress that it is almost hard to keep up with. As the new Director of Biblical Studies & Discipleship, I would like to encourage your hearts and excite your souls with what the Lord has been doing on the spiritual front at MCS.
Over the summer we were blessed by the Lord with the addition of two new High School Bible Teachers. Mr. Jeremy King and Mr. Ryan Jackson bring to our staff years of ministry experience and Biblical training. Through a collaborative effort, we have revamped the High School Bible curriculum by adding Systematic Theology and Apologetics for the upper-classmen. By adding these classes, students will be grounded in knowing what they believe, why they believe it, and how they can effectively share the truths of God’s Word to a lost world that is so desperately in need of answers. Our High School ASB has strategically transformed from a mere ‘student government’ into more of a ‘student ministry team.’ It is our desire that no student will fall ‘between the cracks’ while attending MCS. Rather, by way of peer mentorship, we can assure that every student is prayed for, prayed with, and spiritually discipled.
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Our emphasis for the 2014-2015 school year has simply been ‘The Gospel.’ Through chapel services, classroom lessons, and personal interactions, several students have been born again upon hearing a clear presentation of God’s plan of salvation. Additionally, students have been given tools to help them share the good news of Jesus Christ through memory verses, and a High School-wide two-week crash course on ‘What Is The Gospel?’ to begin the year.
We combined the Junior High and High School Chapel services, which resulted in powerful times of worship and more creative weekly presentations. Already, this has benefited our student body by creating a more consistent feeling of ‘community’ and ‘spirit’ among the students. In fact, we have already hosted two all-school services (Elementary included) with our ‘One Nation Under God’ patriotic chapel and our annual ‘See You At The Pole’ schoolwide prayer service. Many parents and grandparents were in attendance as well.
This year’s High School retreat was the “best one MCS has ever had.”
In mid-September, our High School student body enjoyed the annual High School Retreat at Palomar Christian Conference Center at Palomar Mountain. Many students and staff described this retreat as the “best retreat MCS has ever experienced.”
“Students will be grounded in knowing what they believe, why they believe it, and how they can effectively share the truths of God’s Word to a lost world that is so desperately in need of answers.” Certainly the Lord used this platform to draw many students into a deeper personal relationship with Him as students heard insightful messages, learned to have daily quiet times in God’s Word, and heard powerful and authentic student testimonies on the final night of the retreat. Finally, to strengthen our foundation, our entire staff is currently undergoing an intentional series on ‘Biblical Integration.’ By seeing that the Biblical Worldview is the only worldview to logically and consistently hold up – our teachers are being further trained in what makes us distinct as a Christian school and how we are to use all subjects to teach our students to ‘think God’s thoughts after Him’.
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CURRICULUM - FULL S.T.E.A.M. AHEAD... One of the outcomes of the strategic planning process last year was the definition that we are a Christ-centered, rigorously academic, college preparatory school. What does that look like in the 21st century? And what does that look like here at MCS? While we are firm in holding to the foundation of classical and traditional principles in the classroom, we also are looking to stay current and Autumn Gray relevant in education as we are unwavering Director of Curriculum & Instruction in our commitment to prepare students for acceptance into prestigious colleges and universities. As you will notice in the following articles from the principals, one of the current educational trends today is the implementation of STEAM activities, programs, and classes. What is STEAM you ask? STEAM is defined as “Science and Technology interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements.” MCS believes each of these elements is essential in education and is already represented here in our programs. More advanced placement (AP) science classes have been added this year, and we have integrated technology across all disciplines, including digital curriculum. We now have a High School programming class for those interested in engineering; and we have also initiated new programming curriculum in Elementary and Junior High. We have a rigorous Math program K-12, complete with AP courses and math competition teams.
We recognize the importance of engaging the creative side of the brain in order to enhance the academic side. Creative processing is a vital part of the MCS experience. Our Visual and Performing Arts Department is growing across all divisions. Musical performances are on the calendar every season, presenting a variety of opportunities for students to challenge their creative development. MCS’ visual art curriculum includes sophisticated instruction, and is not based on a template. The program also includes formal lessons in Art History and Famous Artist Profiles. Be sure to attend one of our amazing musical performances this fall, and plan to see our award winning artwork at MCS Artfest in the Spring.
“STEAM is defined as ‘Science and Technology interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements.” It is our goal to provide the highest quality curriculum available in order to teach our students to think critically, solve complex problems, and drive advancements in science, math, arts and technology through hands-on projects with practical applications. MCS is serious about preparing students for success in the 21st century, and this can be achieved by facilitating high-level learning. We believe designing and testing solutions to real problems will create an excitement about learning – particularly in crucial STEAM-related fields, which many of you are a part of!
S T E A M SCIENCE
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TECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING
ART
MATH
ADMISSIONS - HERE WE ‘GROW’ AGAIN! The Admissions Department has added two new assistants, Carrie Barnard and Cherie Dorsey. If you haven’t had a chance to meet them, stop by and say hello! This past summer has been the busiest I have experienced in my eight years working at MCS! The Admissions Team has been serving the steady stream of new students applying to the school. Did you know we Jennifer Mixer Admissions Director have 118 new students that started this year? Elementary had the largest number of new students with 64 new faces. Junior High enrolled 30 new students with 6th and 8th grade bursting at the seams. High School enrolled 24 new students making this year’s total enrollment the
highest it’s ever been since the High School was established. It’s exciting to see new milestones being reached in all of the divisions! The Strategic Plan helped us identify our mission as a college preparatory school; which led to the creation of new admission criteria. These standards played a key role in helping us identify applicants that are a mission match for MCS. If you would like to take a peek at what was decided, please click here to view the new standards. It may seem early, but we’ve already started gearing up for the 2015-2016 school year. Friday tours have begun and families are now touring the campus. Applications will be available online beginning November 1st for new students applying for Kindergarten through 12th grade. Tell your friends and neighbors about us! We’d love to meet them and give them a tour!
We have
118 NEW
students this year!
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING - CAPTURING THE VISION It’s been an exciting few months as we have started to implement some changes as a result of the Strategic Plan. The schoolwide plan has been heartily endorsed by a team of contributing MCS parents, students, staff, board members, and pastors. We are excited to share the resounding message that has bubbled up from our research. The community has Francine Good spoken! And the primary message is unaniDevelopment/Marketing Director mous…“Move forward and grow!” We are thankful to all who graciously assisted in crafting Maranatha’s long term Strategic Vision. It is my pleasure to share the recent changes to Development and Marketing. We have been rigorously evaluating our projects and personnel to align with the new Strategic Plan. This put the department into a burst of activity, responding quickly and seamlessly to the new vision. We were immediately tasked with restructuring the department to fulfill our newly defined annual performance metrics.
With the addition of two new people to the team – Kathy Wall, Marketing Coordinator, and Nicole Shepard, Graphic Designer – the department is flourishing. In addition, we are actively looking for a Development Coordinator to work on various projects, beginning with the Eagle Fund campaign this fall. We are hoping to raise the necessary funds to strengthen our financial foundation. Like most non-profit Christian Schools, we rely on the support of our generous donors. On the marketing side, we are working diligently to expand our reach to the community. By contacting local media stations and publications such as NBC 7, KUSI, ZCode Magazine, U-T San Diego, and RB News Journal, we continue to spread the word about our programs. Listen for our radio ads currently running on KPRZ and KCBQ. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to catch up with current events. We love to see your pictures, so tag them with #mcseagles14! We are thrilled to ‘move forward and grow’ as we watch God’s plan for MCS continue to unfold. WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2014
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HIGH SCHOOL - FOCUS ON ACADEMIC RIGOR Welcome to the first issue of WINGSPAN, which will provide the opportunity to share a little more depth about some of the amazing programs and people operating within MCS’ High School. Though we have a relatively short history, our ever-expanding offerings are worthy of praise and publication. Our entire community can celebrate the success we have experienced and the brilliant vision for the future!
Pete Plotnik High School Principal
When we talk about academic rigor at Maranatha Christian High School (MCHS), or in any educational environment for that matter, what do we mean? In a certain context, rigor can refer to the ability of the courses to prepare and equip students for the next level of academics. When preparing our students for the next academic level beyond MCHS, at least two standards can be considered: University of California (UC) standards for course content (the “a – g” requirements), and College Board approved advanced placement courses (AP). At MCHS, we currently offer 13 AP courses. This is a phenomenal number given the size of our student body (160). Courses are intended primarily for junior and senior students, but certain classes may also be taken by sophomores. The list of current offerings includes: Photography, Studio Art, Spanish, English Language and Composition, English Literature, Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, U.S. History, European Civilizations, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. During the 2013-2014 school year, 55 students took 88 AP examinations administered on our campus during the spring. Nearly 80% of these students scored a 3 or higher on the examination, worthy of receiving college credit or satisfying prerequisite work, depending on the university standards. This phenomenal record is a continu-
% OF AP STUDENTS WITH A SCORE OF 3+
ation of the success we have experienced during the time that we have offered College Board approved AP classes. In large part, we can attribute this success to our low student-teacher ratio and the quality of instruction offered by our amazing teaching staff.
“Nearly 80% of our students scored a 3 or higher on the examination, worthy of receiving college credit or satisfying prerequisite work, depending on the university standards.” According to information published by the College Board, “…success on an AP Exam is defined as an exam score of 3 or higher, which represents the score point that research finds predictive of college success and college graduation.” During the most recent five year period, the number of examinations administered at MCHS has grown from 20 (2010) to 88 (2014), while the number of students taking exams has nearly tripled in the same period of time. MCHS boasts a ‘success’ rate (% of total AP students with a score of 3+) of 86% during this five year history. This exceeds by significant margins both state and federal testing levels, where ‘success’ rates range in the low to mid 60th percentile. MCHS’s AP scores have proven to be among the best in the country due to the hard work and dedication of our teachers and students. We will continue to focus our emphasis on AP in the future. Our instructors will be increasing the depth of the current course content, emphasizing sophisticated academic skills such as perceptive reading, critical thinking, and clear concise writing. Look for follow-up articles in future issues of WINGSPAN where we will continue this vital discussion on academic rigor. Our intent is to demonstrate the positive connection between MCHS’s unique academic program and your student’s ability to be accepted by his/her college of choice in the near future!
100% 86%
WE ARE YOUR COLLEGE ACCEPTAN 64% 58%
MCS has expanded our Advising Department recent Mr. Mireles comes to us after a decade of working w counselor for a top ranked charter school in South F ence all that the Lord is doing here.
61%
50% Joe Mireles College & Career Advisor
We have already seen a renewed focus on college a of the Information Sessions for Parents and Student timelines’ and ‘to-do’ lists while allowing MCS to ad
The College Day Event, which included PSAT testing and set the stage for the rest of the school year. We take college prepara they have the tools in place and the support they need to navigate the c
Mr. Mireles is passionate about helping students make their college drea advocate. With his guidance, students will be encouraged to grow acade an expert in their corner as they navigate the road to success.
2009-2014 MCHS
CA STATE
NATIONWIDE
GLOBAL
MCS GRADUATES ACCEPTED TO TOP SCHOOLS CLASS OF 2014 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Arizona State University Azusa Pacific University Baylor University Boston University George Fox University Gonzaga University Grand Canyon University Hawaii Pacific University King’s College Maryland Institute College of Art New York University Penn State Altuna Point Loma Nazarene University Purdue University St. Andrews University (Scotland) Suffork University University of Arizona University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Riverside Ursinus College Pennsylvania Westmont College Whitworth University
CLASS OF 2013 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Adams State University Air Force Scholarship with ROTC for PLNU Azusa Pacific University Baylor University Biola University Butler University Cal Baptist University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Calvin College Colorado Springs Colorado State University Corban University CSU Fresno CSU San Marcos Geogia Tech Grand Canyon University Holy Names University Indiana University Johns Hopkins University Masters College Penn State Point Loma Nazarene Unversity Portland State Purdue University Rose-Hulman Inst. Of Technology
NCE PLAN
tly, bringing in Mr. Joe Mireles to serve as the College & Career Advisor. with students, families and community stakeholders as a teacher and Florida. He is excited to join the MCS family and cannot wait to experi-
and career preparedness during his short time here. The initial rollout ts has given an opportunity for families to work on ‘grade-specific ddress concerns about college planning and financial aid.
g and Naviance training, kicked-off our College Readiness Program, ation seriously, and we will be working closely with students to ensure college admissions process.
am a reality. More than an academic advisor, he can be considered an emically, socially, spiritually and personally. Best of all, they will have
San Diego Christian St. John’s University U.S. Naval Academy UC Berkeley UC Merced UC Riverside UC Santa Barbara University of Colorado University of Houston University of Oregon University of San Francisco University of Wyoming Vanguard University Washington University in St. Louis Westmont Wheaton College Whitworth University CLASS OF 2012 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Azusa Pacific University Baylor Bethel University Biola University Cal Lutheran Cal Poly Pomona Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Cal State Fullerton CSU Monterey Bay CSU San Marcos George Fox Grand Canyon University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount Marist College Master’s College Northern Arizona University NYU Pepperdine Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego City College San Diego State University San Jose State University Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University Seattle Pacific University Southern Methodist University Syracuse University Texas Christian University UC Irvine UC Merced UC Riverside UCSD
University of Alabama University of North Carolina Charlotte University of Rochester University of Vermont Vanguard University Western Washington University Westmont College Whitworth University William Woods University PREVIOUS YEARS COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Private Colleges: Azusa Pacific University Baylor University Colorado Christian College Concordia Dordt College George Fox University Gonzaga University Gordon College Grand Canyon University Masters College Northwest Christian College Platt College Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego Christian College University of the Pacific Vanguard University Westmont College Whitworth University University of California: UC Irvine UC Merced UC Riverside UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz California State Colleges: Cal State Fullerton CSU San Marcos San Diego State University Bible Colleges: Calvary Chapel Bible College Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe Out of State Colleges: Arizona State University Northern Arizona University Portland State University University of Arizona University of Colorado, Boulder
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JUNIOR HIGH - TIME OF TRANSFORMATION “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9
Bryce Forrester Junior High Principal
This verse is as much for all of our Junior High parents as it is for our students. Whether you entered the field of play this year with your first 6th grade ‘tween,’ or you are on your last year with a seasoned 8th grade pro, we are off to a great start with much to look forward to. Our Junior High program is at a record breaking high with 162 students, and will most likely continue to grow before the end of the year.
So how’s our first quarter going? Approximately half of our Junior High students are participating in an after school sport: flag football, volleyball, cross country or cheer, and they are all very competitive within their leagues. On the music scene, every year there’s something new and exciting. It’s only been two years since we started our first band and orchestra with 18 students. This year we held our first Summer Band Camp and recently unveiled our brand new uniforms for band and drumline. Our Junior High choir is singing its heart out with old time hymns and Broadway hits. They’ll be on the road at Cypress Court Assisted Living Center in November and back home at Maranatha Chapel for a final performance on Friday, December 12th.
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This year, ‘Show me the LUV’ comes in tangerine orange with blue trim, complementing last year’s Carolina blue and pink shirts with blue trim. Ours kids are living out the culture of Love, Unity and Voice with several students wearing the new ‘Show me the LUV’ shirts distributed in a recent chapel.
“We are well on our way to becoming a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) school.” We are excited about the addition of our three new Junior High Robotics Teams; Technomasters, Mecha-Eagles, and the ModBots. Our 7th and 8th grade teams will be competing in their first tournament November 1st at Poway High School from 9am-4pm. This year’s challenge theme is World Class Learning. We are well on our way to becoming a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) school. Our higher level math classes are growing in numbers, while 6th grade science classes are being enriched through the use of Foss® kits, which make science come alive and to the forefront! Hands-on curriculum and in-depth problem solving practices combine to develop critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime. Our Junior High computer class now offers a section on ‘Coding.’ This month our 7th/8th grade Robotics teams will be going on a field trip to Legoland for instruction in robot programming, to get strategy tips, and practice their missions under the direction of an experienced tournament referee and Lego Mindstorms EV3 instructor. All 54 of our 8th grade students will be guests of Qualcomm at their Thinkabit Lab in April. Lots of learning going on, in a Christ-centered culture, with a lot of fun thrown in for good measure!
ELEMENTARY - THE PATH TO LEARNING “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” -Proverbs 22:6 With the first quarter of learning under our belts, the school year is off and running! Students are hitting their strides learning math, language arts, science and everything in between. Ever present are the numerous classroom conversations about how God is real, loving, and His Word guides the path to our students’ lives. We do not take for granted the freedom we have at MCS to Mary Cook invite God into our classrooms each day – Elementary Principal this is what sets us apart from the rest. Our teachers are honored to be able to pray for, and with your children.
and down! And… the ‘Hour of Code’ is coming in December. MCS students will join others around the globe to code and program. Check out www.code.org for ways you can work with your children at home. It’s fun and easy!
“A student’s path to college begins in elementary school, and our teachers are prepared to start them on this journey – training them to be lifelong learners.” A student’s path to college begins in elementary school, and our teachers are prepared to start them on this journey – training them to be lifelong learners. This year we are putting more emphasis on the sciences, and teachers are bringing more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) into the classrooms. Students are doing more challenging and fun experiments using engineering and math skills. In weekly computer classes, K-5 students are learning programming. I have watched their faces light-up with big smiles when they figure out how to program a monkey to jump up
Be ready for the upcoming STEAM Science exhibits in February during Open House. Interesting and exciting experiments highlighting a variety of skills including math, technology and engineering will be displayed in every classroom. Our Elementary Team would love to have an after school Legos Robotics club up and running by the end of this school year. After all, we need to keep up with the popular Junior High and High School Robotics Clubs! Email me and let me know if you are interestedin being a Robotics team leader for Elementary. Thank you for your commitment to Christian education, and trusting us with your precious children. It’s a blessing to partner with you.
Daisy the Dinosaur Coding App
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ATHLETICS - A RENEWED FOCUS Excitement is brewing at Maranatha Christian as a new era of athletics begins! The Eagles are shifting their focus toward creating an athletic program that will heavily emphasize player development with the long-term goal of training athletes to play beyond high school. Our focus is turning Maranatha from a school that simply offers athletics as an option for its students into Steve Whitley a school that attracts and develops athletes Athletic Director and trains them for higher levels of play. Most importantly, we desire to strengthen the Christian walk of every athlete, and help them strive to please God and honor Him in everything they do - both on and off the field.
ALL THINGS! 1 COR 10:31
FALL SPORTS UPDATE Varsity Football In 2012, the Eagles moved from 8-man to 11-man football and are off to their best start since making the transition. 5th year Head Coach Michael Cole has led them to a 5-2 mark and they sit atop the Ocean League standings at 2-0, ranking 2nd in CIF’s D5 Power
Rankings, which determine playoff seedings. Sophomore quarterback Christian Cortes leads the Ocean League in passing yards with 1599, which ranks him 4th in all of San Diego County. Junior Isaac Schwan ranks 2nd in the Ocean League for both receiving yards (539) and total points scored (73). He ranks 13th in the county in both of those categories. Fellow Junior Jake Bronson is tied for the league lead in sacks with 6 and has rushed for 668 yards (3rd in Ocean League). Daniel Trent’s 49 tackles are only 2 behind the league leader. The Eagles have two league games remaining: a home game Saturday 11/1 at 5:30pm vs. Lutheran (0-1, 1-5), and they travel to Calvin Christian (1-1, 4-3) on Friday 11/7 at 6:30pm. A strong finish could earn the Eagles their first-ever Ocean League title. Varsity Girls Volleyball The volleyball team is showing steady improvement under 1st year Coach Mary Beiler. The Lady Eagles are currently 5-9 overall but are solidly sitting in 3rd in Ocean League play with a 2-2 mark. 14
Several players are standing out in league play, particularly Junior Kianna Olson who ranks 1st in 3 categories: assists (81), service aces (22), and is tied with teammate Aubrie Rocha with 7 blocks. Junior hitter Corrie Kraft leads the league with 67 attack kills and Senior Casey Poon has played excellent at libero and has nearly twice the number digs than any other league player with 152. The girls have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth, ranking 10th of 22 teams in CIF’s D4 Power Rankings. Boys & Girls Cross Country Veteran Coach Peter Gregory is very excited about what the future holds for his young team. Of the 10 runners, only two are sophomores and the rest are freshmen. For the boys, Sophomore Brett Doig and Freshman Josiah Secrist have consistently run the best times. A pair of freshmen, Justin Gray and Christian Mixer, have been running well and are just steps behind the leaders. For the girls, Jessica Hewitt and Jessica Boyer battle for the best times with Anna Azeka and Leiana Rodiles close behind. Cheerleading In just a few short years, cheer coach Hillary Duggin has grown our MCS Varsity Cheer Squad from two girls into a full-blown 21 girl team. Their exciting performances bring a whole new level of enthusiasm and spirit to our games.
PERFORMING ARTS - SINGING, DANCING & MUSIC, OH MY! MCS’ Performing Arts Department had a busy summer this year with two Summer Theatre Arts Camps for 1st – 8th grade students. The two week camps offered a variety of classes in musical theatre, voice, acting, dance, and set design, including a Broadway Showcase at the end of the session. The summer camps were attended by a total of 225 students, and the final perJayne Howard Performing Arts Director formances attracted approximately 1,000 people. An outdoor stage was specially built for the showcase, so families could enjoy a beautiful evening under the stars. They were treated to lively show tunes, interspersed with meaningful scriptures and stories that included important life lessons.
This outreach opportunity gave many new students and families a chance to come to our beautiful campus and glorify our Lord through musical theatre. Included in the camp was a ‘Family Faith Night’ where the camp families returned in the evening to have dinner, worship, and make tied fleece blankets for an orphanage in Mexico. This was an amazing time for families to understand the importance of serving our community beyond the walls of MCS and the Performing Arts Department. Several students are now attending MCS as a result of hearing about our school through our community outreach. We had our very first Band Camp this summer with 12 students spending two weeks working on the drumline and marching band shows. This was a great opportunity for music students to get a head start on their skills for the school year. MCS’ after-school Children’s Choir has an enrollment of 32 elementary students and our Junior High Choir has 7 students. The choirs will be performing at Cypress Court Assisted Living, MCS’ chapel, and Maranatha Chapel for a final event on December 12th.
Dressed in Victorian costumes, and singing acapella, our MCS Victorian Carolers will be performing all over San Diego representing MCS at December Nights, Cypress Court Assisted Living, Holiday Home Tour and at Maranatha Chapel services on December 20th & 21st.
“This outreach was an amazing time for families to understand the importance of serving our community beyond the walls of MCS and the Performing Arts Department.” Other events coming up this semester are the Orchestra/Band and 5th Grade Band Christmas Concert at Maranatha Chapel on Friday, December 12th. Students will be performing Christmas music along with the lessons they have learned over the previous semester. Our Music Department is growing so much, we are busting at the seams in the music room!
The Elementary Christmas production, “A Heavenly Christmas,” will be presented by K-4th grade students on Thursday, December 18th at 5 & 7pm in the MCS Gym. Our grand finale will be an all-school spring musical, Peter Pan Jr. Auditions start in December, and final performances will take place March 13th – 20th at Maranatha Chapel. This will be an amazing adventure into Neverland with Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook! What a great opportunity for students to share God’s love through the adventures of Peter Pan.
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EAGLES SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS AT HOMECOMING GAME! MCS’ 2014 Homecoming Game was one of the best attended ever with approximately 800+ attendees! In addition, we had 34 alumni come back to their alma mater to cheer on the Eagles, who played against Rock Academy. Our campus was bursting at the seams as students, parents, family, friends and alumni gathered together to show their support. Eagle Spirit was everywhere! Excitement resounded throughout the evening as our MCS community enjoyed the game, floats, food trucks and more. A much anticipated highlight was the announcement of our Homecoming Court. Seniors Bailey Williams and Madelene Gwaltney were crowned King
and Queen while Sophomores Joey Cabral and Julia Lawrenz were crowned Prince and Princess. The competition between MCS and Rock Academy did not disappoint. With a final score of 61-7, the Eagles dominated the game. It was an incredibly memorable Homecoming event. The camaraderie was so enjoyable, that many said they didn’t want the night to end. With much anticipation, we are looking forward to this exciting event next year – we’ll count on seeing you there! Click here to view some footage from the game!
The Eagles dominated with a final score of
61-7!
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Photos by Tom McCormick
PRESCHOOL - LEARNING THROUGH PLAY Maranatha Christian Preschool is off to an amazing start this year. We are blessed to be serving our returning students as well as our new families. Over the summer, we were under construction, adding two additional Patrice Andrews Preschool Director classrooms to the Preschool. We have expanded our program to include a new T-TH 3-year-old class and a M/W/F Pre-K class. Our office moved to a new location to better serve our families, and a staff workroom was opened to provide necessary classroom resources for our faculty. New Bible curriculum was introduced this year called “Walking God’s Way”. The students have daily Bible time which focuses on character traits portrayed in the Bible - helping children apply them to their lives. We also meet together in the sanctuary for Chapel twice a month for a spirit-filled time of praise, worship, and Bible stories.
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We have had two special events so far this year – our Back to School Night Ice Cream Social and our Annual Trike-a-Thon Fundraiser. Both events were wonderful times shared between staff, students, and parents. We are now looking forward to our Thanksgiving and Christmas activities. This year’s mission outreach continues to be Blessing Boxes for North County San Diego families and children in need. Boxes will be collected in November and in the coming weeks, we will provide information on how to support this mission. Maranatha Christian Preschool is committed to partnering with our families as we work together toward a Christ-centered learning community. I look forward to seeing each of you on campus!
ASCP - SEE YOU AFTER SCHOOL! We know our students work very hard mastering their regular daily curriculum, and believe they deserve a rewarding experience when the school day is over. Here at MCS, we are dedicated to making your child’s after school time matter. In fact, our Julie Elliott Co-Curricular Activities Director aim is to have a program that has a strong positive effect on your child’s academic, social and emotional life. The philosophy of our after school care program correlates with the mission of our school by offering a variety of structured activities along with the ability to learn Biblical principles through real life applications. Homework Club is available daily, providing tutoring for children that need help with their studies. Each student receives personal support and encouragement, which translates into self-confidence, better grades and test scores, and a positive attitude toward school and learning.
In addition to our on-going daily events, Elementary and Junior High students have a chance to take enrichment classes or sports on campus. Activities are led by warm and enthusiastic teachers and include a healthy mix of age appropriate activities, study time and free time. It is an honor to serve your students and to provide a safe and relaxing environment for them to flourish. Our desire is to continue to provide a quality after school care program that encourages personal growth, leadership and academic excellence, as well as playtime and a lot of fun! Drop by sometime and see us in action. We look forward to seeing you…after school!
QUIET ZONE
Monday – Thursday 3:05 – 6pm Junior High and High School Students: MCS’ Quiet Zone is an after school study hall designed to help students complete their homework, study for a test, or receive tutoring as needed in a quiet classroom. We want to encourage students playing a sport to use the Quiet Zone. It is available to them for half price during the team sport season, and is a great way to catch up with homework after practice at the end of the day.
WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2014
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ROBOTICS ROCKS AT MCS Make room reading, writing and arithmetic...there is a new ‘R’ at MCS called Robotics. By Kathy Wall
MCS’ Junior High and High School Robotics clubs started with a bang this fall, and they are making serious headway with their first team projects. Their creations will be showcased in exciting events throughout the year, culminating in final competitions where students go wild with colorful costumes, crazy hair, and rockin’ dance music. Click here to see the First Robotics Competition 2014 Kick-Off Video Parents may be surprised to know that robotics competitions are more about building life skills than making machines. Your children do not have to be Engineering students to participate. Even top universities are taking notice, stating robotics participation gives students the chance to demonstrate commitment, time manage20
ment and leadership skills, which are highly favorable to college admissions departments.
“Statistics prove that students who have participated in robotics competitions are 10 times more likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op in their college freshman year (27% vs. 3%).” While the competition makes science come alive for students, parents are excited to know about the correlation between early
exposure to robotics programs and college and career choices down the road. 1 Statistics prove that students who participate in robotics competitions are 10 times more likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op in their college freshman year (27% vs. 3%).2 In addition, they are more than twice as likely to have had a science or technology-related career after college (45% vs. 20%); and four times as likely to pursue a career in engineering (31% vs. 8%).
Parents of non-engineering minded students are actively encouraged to get their children involved in robotics as well. Every student can participate in and benefit from competition, even those who may not be partial to science, math or technology. There are critical ‘non-math’ roles for students in everything from design and build, to computer programming and animation, as well as fundraising, research and community outreach. Mark Your Calendar to Cheer on MCS’ Junior High Robotics November 1st at Poway High School, 9am-4pm All families are invited to attend a Robotics match to see our MCS teams face off with competitors from other San Diego schools. Join in the fun at the November 1st Tournament at Poway High School from 9am-4pm. Cheer on MCS’ Teams; the Technomasters, Mecha-Eagles and the ModBots, and be sure to bring your spirit wear! Keep checking the Eagle Express for updates on more specific time slots and room numbers, and get ready for a rocking good time! Join Us for Junior High Robotics Club Open House Friday, November 7th, 3-3:40pm
This verifies the strong connection between STEAM careers and experiential learning that robotics provides through the co-curricular after school club.
“Parents of non-engineering minded students are actively encouraged to get their children involved in robotics.”
Parents, here’s an easy way to encourage younger students to get involved in robotics in their future. Stop by the gym on Friday, November 7th from 3-3:45pm and see the Junior High Robotics Club in action! The TechnoMasters and the Mecha-Eagles will be fresh off the tournament and will be excited to talk about their recent experience at the competition. Find out more at www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc or contact Mrs. Hewett to find out more about our Junior High program – or Mrs. Azeka for our High School program. 1 2
Robotics competitions may look like big crazy parties on the outside, but the application of STEAM skills are front and center. Students are leveraging the same tools as professional engineers and scientists, and they are challenged to use them throughout the competition. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time constraints, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team ‘brand,’ hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. Professional mentors and engineers volunteer time to guide them.
www.usfirst.org/ www.usfirst.org/; (Tai, Liu, Maltese & Fan 2006)
WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2014
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FRESHMAN FOLLOW UP
MCHS GRADUATE SAYS ‘HOU’S IT GAUN?’ FROM SCOTLAND There’s a world of opportunity for graduates from MCHS, and we are excited to see Christopher Ames has jumped at the opportunity to further his education on the other side of the planet – the United Kingdom to be exact. Christopher graduated from MCHS last year, and was accepted to his first-choice college, the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Regarded as one of the top three universities in the UK, St. Andrews has many notable alumni including three signatories of the Declaration of Independence and members of the Royal Family. Far from California’s sandy beaches and arid climate, Christopher is adjusting to the brisk air of the Scottish Highlands while he familiarizes himself with St. Andrews, known as the oldest and most attractive medieval town in the country.
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The 600-year old school is a perfect fit for this MCHS graduate, who loved Mr. Cabral’s AP US History and AP European History classes. One of the rich traditions Christopher enjoys is the weekly walk along St. Andrews’ pier, while dressed up in a customary red gown, after Sunday chapel. Christopher’s favorite event thus far has been ‘Freshers Week,’ where he enjoyed meeting new friends at the Christian Union Society. This faith based student group has an outstanding reputation of connecting people to Jesus Christ as they share the truth of the Gospel throughout the world. We are following Christopher’s progress as he lives in this quaint medieval college town, and if he happens to run into any former famous St. Andrew’s alumni such as Prince William, WINGSPAN will be sure to keep you posted!
PARENT ACTION COMMITTEE MCS’ Parent Action Committee (PAC) exists to build a vibrant community and foster deeper relationships between our school, parents, and families. This is done through encouraging volunteerism, supporting the MCS staff, and sponsoring family events throughout the year. There are many ways to volunteer at MCS. No required meetings, no pressure, just do what you can – when you can. If you are interested in lending a hand, please email Brigit Sheng or Katie Scherpbier. -Brigit Sheng & Katie Scherpbier, Co-PAC Presidents
2014-2015 PAC CALENDAR November 2nd Mother Son Social (Chair: Krista Falk)
PAC’s 6th Annual Father Daughter Social
February 6th
Soup & Socks
March 2015
Jog-a-Thon
May 16th
MCS ArtFest
PAC is comprised of volunteer parents who represent the school’s three divisions. Every helping hand is important and we value all of them! From the many bakers who have provided treats; to the volunteers who have helped set up, clean up, and work the family events; to the people whom have volunteered to chair our events - everyone plays a part in making a difference at MCS. Pasta Night was a fun family night with delicious food from Capri Blu. With a great turn out, good food, and Melissa Van Dyken’s touch, it was a fantastic night! Our Father Daughter Social had over 125 fathers escorting more than 200 girls to this event! Highlights included, yummy treats (thanks to our bakers), line dancing (thanks to Coach Petty), beautiful decor (thank you Mrs. Chambliss), fun raffle prizes (thank you Mr. Chambliss & Mr. Hill) and a grand finalé balloon drop! Fellowship Wednesday had a wonderful turnout at the courtyard – coffee and breakfast burritos were savored as well as the chance to catch up with staff, families and friends. Mark your calendar for the Mother Son Social at Poway Bowl from 1-3pm on November 2nd! Photos by Patti Hepner
9050 Maranatha Drive San Diego, CA 92127 maranathachristianschools.org maranathachristianschools
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