WINGSPAN | Volume 1 | Issue 3 | Spring 2015

Dear MCS Family and Friends, In my last article I indicated that I would bring some great news regarding the future building project — so here it is!

We are on schedule to begin construction in June of this summer!!! Bulldozers are rumbling around the corner and will begin to prep the campus for the NEW HIGH SCHOOL building (Phase I) as soon as the last bell rings for the year.

Building a new High School and expanding our Athletic Fields will allow students to increase their potential and fulfill their calling in Christ through Academics, Arts, and Athletics.

Over the past six months, we have worked closely on the program and design with our building contractor, architect, faculty, and parents; and will continue to do so throughout the summer and coming fall. Please pray for this project over the summer, as there will be a flurry of activity on campus.

We anticipate the groundbreaking ceremony will take place this coming September, and look forward to inviting the entire community to celebrate this milestone!

We can’t wait to start moving some dirt around and get Phase I of the High School and new Athletic Fields underway.

Our goal is to have the High School building occupied by the fall of 2016.

It was just over one year ago that we completed our Strategic Plan which involved our entire community — how time flies! The number one school-wide desire that emerged from this collaborative time together was the need for a High School building. Through much prayer and deliberation with the School Board and the leadership of Maranatha Chapel, we have concluded this is the time to grow. We are on a journey defined by the Lord; we are walking faithfully toward this new endeavor, and asking the Lord to grant us His wisdom and favor.

Science Lab

Athletic Fields

PHASE I PLAN:

• High School Building • Newly renovated and expanded Athletic Fields • Performing Arts Black Box (Studio) • Campus facility improvements

IMPACT:

• Allows the High School program to expand its College Preparatory Program while growing into a 21st century learning center • Establishes learning environments designed for innovation and collaboration • Differentiates High School and Junior High student bodies • Creates dedicated space for state-of-the-art science labs and STEAM classrooms • Allows for school-wide growth (K-12)

As we wrap up another amazing year and prepare to send our graduates throughout the country, we are proud of the many accomplishments our students have made this year.

Summer will be a time for them to rest and be refreshed for a new beginning in the fall.

I want to thank you for your enduring commitment to our mission. It’s a privilege to watch our shared vision of growth literally spring to life – it’s an honor to have you with us on this journey. Enjoy summer vacation with your families - see you next year!

Jess Hetherington MCS Superintendent

Example Black Box (design subject to change)

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

3

High School Building

14

Did You Know?

20

Dynamic Duo

14

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

6

6

Biblical Studies & Discipleship

10

Curriculum, Admissions

12

Marketing and Development

16

High School

18

Junior High

19

Elementary, Jog-A-Thon Update

22

Athletics

24

Performing Arts

25

Preschool, ASCP

26

PAC

20

6

Transformed

LIVES

I recently had the privilege of joining several of our High School students on our annual Spring Mission Trip. By selflessly giving up their Easter Break in order to be a blessing to others, about twenty of our High School students partnered with Mission Generation to share the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Panama.

Mission Generation is a ministry that specializes in implementing Bible-based curriculum throughout the public school systems of South America, and now, Central American countries. Our students were the first team ever to represent Mission Generation in Panama.

By using various mediums such as musical dramas, athletics, and good old-fashioned piggy-back rides, our students made a positive impact – and connected with hundreds of students from various schools around Panama City. This has resulted in each of the schools we visited looking into acquiring and teaching the Mission Generation curriculum in their schools. What an open door for the Gospel to go forth!

More so, it was interesting to see how the Lord used the Panamanian culture to affect our students in their own growth and walk with the Lord. How encouraging it was to watch the Lord’s sanctifying process in the life of one 11th grade student, for example, who trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior earlier in the year at our High School Retreat – he is now going around the world to share the gospel with others.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

7

Additionally, due to the recent Presidential Summit of the Americas that was held in Panama City while we were there, several of our original plans were cancelled. However, in the Lord’s economy, these obstacles are often ‘opportunities in disguise’.

That was indeed the case here.

The Lord opened up unforeseen doors for our team to travel by boat and take the gospel to several islands of indigenous tribes.

-Nate Jackson, Director of Biblical Studies and Discipleship

“Our motto at MCS is “Transformed lives…

Transforming the World.”

What a joy then to see this being played out in real tangible ways where the rubber meets the road.”

8

“…the Lord used the Panamanian culture to affect our students in their own growth and walk with the Lord.”

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

9

CURRICULUM - LANGUAGE ARTS SUCCESS It has been so much fun to look back on the year and see the fruit of the teachers’ hard work as they have strived to improve and grow our school. Our new Language Arts Program has proven to be a huge success with the teachers reporting Autumn Gray solid MAP scores, great critical Director of Curriculum & Instruction thinking development, and more confident writers. We are all encouraged by the mastery of language arts skills under the rigor of this new program. Next year promises to bring even more growth and improvement!

“Next year promises to bring even more growth and improvement!”

our new Language Arts Program and will begin the process of evaluating our current math curriculum. Finally, the High School will be adopting a learning management system, Schoology, to improve communication, organization and instruction both in and out of the classroom.

What are your thoughts on this year? Do you like the changes we have made? Do you have any curriculum ideas for next year? I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email me or give me a call and we can set up a time to meet. Have a great summer!

The Preschool will be introducing LEGO curriculum to lay the foundation of our STEAM program. The Elementary and Junior High will continue to implement and perfect

ADMISSIONS - RETENTION RATE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH It’s been another great year in the Admissions Department at MCS! We are excited to report that as our program and curriculum continue to improve, we are seeing an all-time high in retention rates across all divisions – 87%.

Jennifer Mixer Admissions Director

We’ve also worked hard to welcome many new families into our community as a result of your recommendations. Because of you, we are experiencing greater growth. If you happen to run across a friend or neighbor who is looking for a new school over the summer, please tell them about MCS! We would love to show them our campus and what we have to offer their children. We will be open and in full Rentention Rate: swing all summer, giving tours and processing applications in preparation for fall.

Enjoy your summer vacation; we can’t wait to see you and your family again next school year!

10

87%

among current students

SUMMER CAMPS JUNE 22 - JULY 31

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

OPEN TO THE

Co m

y t i n mu

*SPORTS Camps *FUN Camps *THEATRE Camp *ENRICHMENT Classes *PRESCHOOL Camps

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY

maranathachristianschools.org WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

11

MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT - REACHING NEW HEIGHTS MARKETING While taking a moment to pause in the early hours one morning, a scripture came to my mind.

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” –Mark 16:15 As I reflected on Jesus’ words, I realized this too is the responsibility of the Marketing Department at MCS, to spread the good news of our Christian based educational program to the entire community. Once students step into our classrooms, they are taught about the Gospel through Academics, Arts and Athletics.

Francine Good

Marketing | Development Director

This year the Marketing Department has taken an aggressive approach to spread the word of our program. We have intentionally broadened our advertising by increasing our exposure through print and various types of media. Our approach proved successful – our expanded campaign touched many families, and resulted in increased enrollments.

Here are some examples of what the team has accomplished in 2014 - 2015: • MCS Branding - Refreshed Color palette, Typeface, Style, Tone • MCS External Messaging & Positioning - Communicated our College Prep Position to the Community • Athletics Programs - Produced Fall Football Program, Homecoming Brochure, Spirit Wear • Performing Arts Spring Musical Collateral • Print Advertising - Year Round Coverage in Z-Code Magazine, New Ad in San Diego Magazine • Radio Advertising – Weekly Commercials and Sports Reports on KPRZ, KCBQ • Banners Promoting all External Events • Quarterly Magazine - Produced 3 issues of WINGSPAN • Direct Mail Campaign - 3 Drops; Inviting Community to Come and See Us • Z Code Summer Camp Directory - Promoting MCS Summer Program • Press Releases – Sharing Information on our Events to Community (Peter Pan, Sidewalk CPR, ArtFest, Robotics, Father|Daughter Social, Blood Drive, Operation Christmas Child, Honor Roll etc.)

• Eagle Express - Editing and Refreshing Format • Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram • Maranatha Chapel Communications – Bulletins, Web Promotions and Ads for MCS Programs • Capital Campaign – Participation in Drafting Short and Long Term Development Plan (Building Plans and Fundraising) • Website Update (Phase I) Communication, (Phase 2) Redesign

Junior Jake Bronson in the K-Praise Studio As we come to the close of the 2014-2015 school year, I would like to thank all our families for sharing the good news of MCS with your circle of friends. Advertising is one means of spreading the word, but the most powerful is through sharing your personal experiences. Several families are here because of you – we are truly grateful for your support!

DEVELOPMENT By now you’ve read the exciting news about our Phase 1 building project starting this summer. We are eager to begin the process, and I know you are too! As we move |further into the project, be on the lookout for more details. The Development Department is an integral part of the building process, so plan on hearing from us – a lot!

The journey to get us to this point has been exhilarating, and now it’s time to answer your call to expand and build! The 2015-2016 school year is sure to be filled with anticipation and excitement. We look forward to walking arm-in-arm with you as we press on to complete our Phase I project.

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:14

As in most organizations, it takes a team of people to execute each project. These people are usually behind the scenes diligently working to ensure the success of the department. So it is with excitement that I acknowledge the people who are behind the scenes in Marketing and Development. Kathy Wall, Marketing Coordinator, Nicole Shepard, Graphic Designer, Soncee Partida, Development Coordinator. It’s because of this team that we have increased our visibility and elevated our branding platform throughout the community. I’m grateful God’s blessing is upon this department - we’ve accomplished much this year!

Branding Board – establishing continuity across all marketing platforms

Marketing & Development Team: Kathy Wall, Nicole Shepard, and Soncee Patrida In addition, Lissy Petty will be helping in the area of Alumni Relations.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

13

By Kathy Wall and Francine Good

Did you know there was a time in early Christianity when saying the word, ‘maranatha’ could mean the difference between life and death?

The early church faced much persecution, and life for Christians under Roman rule was not easy. The Romans required everyone to declare Caesar was god.

The early Christians knew that there is only one God and one Lord – Jesus Christ – and in all good conscience they could not call Caesar ‘Lord’; so the Romans looked upon them as traitors, persecuted them and put them to death. Christians whispered a word to one another, and used it to identify fellow believers. It became a watchword and a password – ‘maranatha’.

This ancient Aramaic expression can be interpreted in two ways; ‘Come Lord’, or ‘Behold the Lord is Coming.’ It was a clever password for early Christians, since their captors only spoke Greek and Latin. Besides helping them to identify one another, it became a common greeting, as well as a parting word of hope. More recently it has become a calling, a plea, and a prayer.

14

Pastor Ray Bentley has always had a strong connection to the word maranatha and its meaning. The word resonated so deeply, that when he was led by God to start another church, he chose the name Maranatha Chapel. “I always prayed that I could be of the generation to see Christ come back,” said Pastor Ray, who can often be heard using the expression, “Behold the Lord is Coming!” in his sermons.

Near and dear to his heart, the expression, ‘maranatha’, seemed destined to be the new name for Pastor Ray’s growing fellowship in North County. He respectfully asked his pastor and mentor, Chuck Smith, for his approval to use the name, Pastor Chuck’s reply…“Yeah, you’re part of the tribe. It’s okay to have a unique name!”

Maranatha’s founders decided to keep the school under the same name – since the school would be the biggest ministry of the church. In fact, Pastor Ray referred to Maranatha Christian Schools as a mission, “…it’s our biggest mission in our own backyard”.

Since our mission at MCS is to transform lives for Christ, it seems divinely fitting that our school is named after one of the most powerful words in the Bible.

‘Maranatha’ is Paul’s final instruction to the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:22), as well as John’s final exhortation in Revelation (Rev 22:20). We are blessed to have it as our namesake, and as a constant visual and audible reminder of the promise of Christ’s imminent return. Maranatha!

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

15

HIGH SCHOOL - BIG PLANS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES What an exciting time for the MCS High School community. As we close out the 2014-2015 school year and look forward, we see a very bright future! With the High School on the verge of expanding its capacity, we can anticipate more opportunities for our students to engage in all Pete Plotnik aspects of our program. Completion High School Principal of a detailed SWOT analysis, as part of an overarching Strategic Planning Process, has provided a clear vision and path for development.

“We have renewed our commitment to providing a stimulating and rigorous College Preparatory Program…”

We have renewed our commitment to providing a stimulating and rigorous College Preparatory Program where a Christian worldview is paramount in our instructional approach. We continue to explore and integrate emerging technologies that are not only relevant to 21st century learners, but also equip our teaching staff with rich digital curriculum, varied instructional strategies, and productivity resources.

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony 16

With the hiring of our College and Career Advisor, Joe Mireles, MCS is poised better than ever to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities – allowing them to pursue their unique God-given gifts and talents! This month we will conduct our 7th commencement exercise, and our 183rd graduate will turn their tassel and continue their life journey. We are confident their education at MCS has prepared them well for future endeavors!

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2015!

MCS seniors have been accepted to the following colleges and universities:

Abilene Christian University Arizona State University Austin College Baylor University Belmont University Biola University California Baptist University California Lutheran University California State Polytechnic University California State University, San Marcos University of California, Irvine University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz Cedarville University University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Concordia University – Portland Creighton University University of Denver Fort Lewis College George Washington University Grand Canyon University Harding University Humboldt State University University of Idaho The University of Iowa University of Kansas The King’s College Le Tourneau University Liberty University Loyola Marymount University University of Maine University of Miami Michigan State University

Montana State University Northern Arizona University Ohio University Ohio Wesleyan University Oregon State University University of Oregon Otis College of Art and Design Pacific University University of the Pacific Parsons The New School for Design Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Point Loma Nazarene University Pratt Institute Purdue University Quinnipiac University Rochester Institute of Technology University of Rochester San Diego Christian College San Diego State University University of San Diego University of San Francisco Santa Clara University School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of Visual Arts Syracuse University The Ohio State University Vanguard University of Southern California Washington University in St. Louis University of Washington Wayne State University Western Washington University Westmont College Whitworth University University of Wyoming

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

17

JUNIOR HIGH - FILLED TO CAPACITY FOR 2015-2016 “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

William Arthur Ward once said, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

So it is with sincere gratitude that we thank all of our Junior High parents, staff, and students for transforming Bryce Forrester Junior High Principal our seemingly ordinary days in to joy filled blessings of thanksgiving. To God be the glory, and thank you for the opportunity to serve.

We’ve had a year filled with sensational growth guided by seasoned, experienced teachers and staff. We are looking forward to the same for the 2015-2016 school year.

We fully expect to be filled to capacity next year as we continue to pursue a very challenging academic program with a growing focus on STEAM related activities. All of this will be balanced against our growing Athletics, Arts and “Junior High Fun” as we transform the lives of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at MCS. God bless everyone, and have a great summer!

8th Grade East Coast Trip 18

ELEMENTARY - BUILDING ON THIS YEAR’S SUCCESS “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” -Psalm 92:1-2 • Performing Arts grew to include 5th Grade Band and a full time choral music teacher for grades K-4.

The Lord has abundantly blessed our Elementary School with His faithfulness!

With grateful hearts, we want to thank the teachers and classroom aides for teaching and mentoring the Elementary children throughout this past school year.

There are even more exciting things ahead! Building on this year’s success – here is what we are planning for next year:

We also want to thank our parents for continuing to partner with us in building the academic, spiritual and social success of our students.

Mary Cook Elementary Principal

Lastly, we want to especially thank our supportive Room Moms and volunteers, who have diligently served throughout the year by creating special fun events for the classrooms.

Now, with the school year winding down, it’s time to look back at our accomplishments. Here are some highlights: • Students experienced a vibrant Chapel service every week. The events included fun worship time and engaging speakers that inspired us with God’s word.

• Elementary marched full STEAM ahead with hands-on engineering experiments, more computer programming for students, and our first Robotics Club for 4th and 5th graders.

• Additional Robotics Clubs for 1st – 3rd grade and additional 4th and 5th grade clubs.

• New STEAM experiments and class projects.

Room Mom Tessa Fuller and daughter Skyla, 2nd grade

Thank you again for all who make MCS a great place of learning and growth for our students! We are extremely proud of their achievements and we look forward to even greater successes next year!

JOG-A-THON RAMPS UP STEAM PROGRAM This year’s Jog-A-Thon was a huge success, thanks to the participation of our Elementary and Junior High families! We are grateful for every donation, and truly appreciate the time our parent volunteers spent passing out water bottles, wristbands and cooling off sweaty children. We also want to give a heartfelt thank you to Krista Falk for all the hard work that went into chairing this event!

Now for the exciting news - this year’s Jog-A-Thon raised…$22,000!

Because of your generosity we are able to invest in our overall STEAM program and curriculum including:

• Laptops • Mezzanine improvements • GoPro cameras • Foss Kits • iPad apps • Part-time Robotics Team Coordinator

And here’s more exciting news – nearly 100 students across all divisions will be participating in Robotics next year in addition to other STEAM related activities! Thanks to you, we are truly running FULL STEAM ahead at MCS! WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

19

D When did you decide to become a teacher and why did you choose this field? I decided to become a teacher when God called me to teach. I was in a totally different field and He revealed to me He wanted me to teach in a dream.

It was so powerful…I could not ignore it.

What surprised you the most about MCS? The amazing love of Christ on our campus. It truly is His school.

What do you love about teaching? I love teaching, inspiring and motivating students to use their God-given gifts and talents to become the best they can be. Knowledge and understanding of the true Word of God gives us the strength and power to make good, positive changes in a world that has gone astray.

Years at MCS: 16 years Teaches: Math, Science and Bible Fun Fact: Worked as a Visual Merchandiser

and Display Designer for a season

“Good teachers know how to bring out the best in their students.”

At MCS, we intentionally hire and retain professionals who strive for the highest level of excellence. But it’s not just about rigorous academics at our school – we set an even higher standard in Biblical values.

We are blessed to have Lydia Clark on staff since 1999 – she sets a high standard in academics and inspires students to achieve their very best in Christ.

Where did you teach previously & what brought you to MCS? Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a visual merchandiser and display designer for Mervyn’s Department Store.

I was first an Art Teacher at MCS for two years before I was called to teach 6th grade.

Are you married? Do you have children?

I have been married to Jerald Clark, former San Diego Padres outfielder, for 27 years. We have two children; Gabriella, age 23 and Marcus, age 21. We are expecting our first grandson in August. Both of my children graduated from Maranatha Christian Schools.

20

What do you think is the most challenging thing facing students today? That the definition of success is found in material things.

What is something you tried for the first time in your classroom this year? For the first time this year I had three groups of 10 students each, working and collaborating together to investigate heat transfer with the three states of matter; gases, liquids and solids. They nailed it! Each group appointed a Captain, Assistant and Pacer, and then we rotated after each investigation. It gave all of the students an opportunity to work with one another, learn the importance of collaboration – all while applying the Scientific Method to each investigation.

What would you say is your strongest belief about the subject you teach? Since Bible is my favorite subject, being able to come to school, start my day with prayer and share the true Word of God; believing and knowing that all wisdom and understanding comes from Him, “For in Him you have been enriched in every way – with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.” –1 Corinthians 1:5.

What part of the school day is your favorite? When the first bell rings! Ahhhhh the day has begun.

How would students describe you as a teacher? She says what she means and means what she says.

What do you hope your students will remember most about you as a teacher? That I did not prepare the road ahead for them… but I did my best to prepare them for the road ahead.

Was there a certain teacher who had a profound impact on your life? Yes, my 6th grade teacher, Mr. Bryant. He truly believed in me as a student.

Dynamic Duo Lydia Clark & Erica Downey | 6th Grade Team

In what way do you hope to change the lives of the students this year? That they would leave 6th grade knowing they are blessed, loved and cherished by our Father in Heaven. He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us so that we would live. -John 3:16

from college. The Lord brought me to Maranatha right after college. I have been here ever since!

Are you married? Do you have children? Yes. My husband and I have two children, a girl and a newborn baby boy!

When did you decide to become a teacher and why did you choose this field? I have always known that the path God had for me was to be a teacher. I have known this since I was in Junior High School.

What surprised you the most about MCS? The supportive and caring attitude.

What do you love about teaching? I love when students finally understand a difficult concept. The ‘aha!’ moment!

What do you think is the most challenging thing facing students today? The balance of social media.

What would you say is your strongest belief about the subject you teach? Grammar can be fun! Actually understanding that speaking and being able to write properly is extremely important in today’s world. God gave us language as a way to communicate His message and His love.

What part of the school day is your favorite? First thing in the morning! Everyone is fresh and ready to learn.

What do you hope your students will remember most about you as a teacher? I hope my students remember most that I truly wanted them to succeed.

Years at MCS: 15 years Teaches: English, History, Math Fun Fact: Erica wrote these answers while staying

up all night with her newborn!

“The best teachers teach from the heart.”

One of the most wonderful things we hear from parents about our teachers is…‘they care’. In a world where so many students are falling between the cracks, MCS provides a contrasting environment where students feel acknowledged and affirmed.

Erica Downey has been on staff since 2000. Having been called to teach at a very young age, Erica found her first teaching position at MCS, and she has been here ever since.

Her dedication to her students is evident in her words, as well as in her heart.

Was there a certain teacher who had a profound impact on your life? My high school teacher, Mrs. Kim. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from her. I have incorporated many of her sayings and teaching methods into my classroom.

In what way do you hope to change the lives of the students this year? My prayer is that each one of my students experiences the deep love that the Lord Jesus Christ has for them – that they develop their own personal relationship with Him.

Where did you teach previously and what brought you to MCS? I have always been a teacher since I graduated 21

ATHLETICS - EAGLES FINISH STRONG The Maranatha Athletic Program has continued its improvement as 5 of the 6 spring and winter sports teams earned CIF playoff berths. It was the most successful season since Maranatha raised their level of competition when they joined the Coastal Conference in 2012. For the first time, all teams combined to win more Steve Whitley games than they lost. The season was Athletic Director highlighted by the boys soccer team who won their first Ocean League Championship with a 7-1 league record. With the winter season now in the books and the spring sports season in the midst of CIF playoffs, let’s take a quick glance at the winter sports highlights and a spring sports update:

WINTER SPORTS RECAP

BOYS VARSITY SOCCER – The Ocean League championship means another banner will soon hang in the gym.

Coach David Cabral’s squad finished with an overall mark of 13-8. They lost a tight 2-1 contest in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs against Mission Vista who eventually advanced to the semi-finals.

To the winner goes the spoils and when the All-League awards were voted on, 7 Eagle players were awarded post season honors – topped by Junior Isaac Schwann who was

named “Player of the Year”. 4 players made 1st-Team AllLeague: Senior Frank Cabral, Junior goaltender Andre Escoffier, Schwann, and Sophomore Matt Schumacher who led the league in scoring. Three players received 2nd-Team All-League honors: Brian Sausser, Chris Spinato, and Connor Woodahl.

“5 OF THE 6 SPRING AND WINTER SPORTS TEAMS EARNED CIF PLAYOFF BERTHS.” GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER – JD Tena’s team fought through an injury-plagued season yet still managed to make playoffs and finish with the team’s first winning record in more than 5 years.

The also lost a tough first-round D-4 CIF playoff battle against San Diego Jewish Academy, falling 2-1. Two girls received 1st Team All-League awards: Junior Morgan Wurtzler and Freshman Sarah Trent who had a fantastic year leading the league in scoring. Her 27 goals ranked 4th in all of San Diego County. Elizabeth Collins, Sheylyn Kyllo, and Kayla McCormick were voted 2nd-Team All-Leaguers.

BOYS BASKETBALL – Playing a very tough schedule, Coach Brooks Barnhard’s cagers managed to earn a D-4 playoff slot while finishing with a 14-15 VARSITY BOYS SOCCER overall record. They also suffered a first-round playoff loss to Mission Vista. Senior Corey Adkins earned First-Team Pacific League honors averaging 13.8 points per game while

OCEAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

22

pulling in a league-leading 10.1 rebounds per game. Senior point guard, Metro Henning, led the league in assists and was given 2nd-Team honors.

GIRLS BASKETBALL – The Varsity Girls Team was arguably the most improved team in the Maranatha program. Coach Nate Jackson inherited a team ranked last in the county in 2014 and led them to a 3rd place league finish with a 6-4 record, narrowly missing a CIF playoff spot. They were led by Maranatha’s all-time leading scorer, Senior Jackie Kadillak who was named 1st-Team All-League.

Sophomore forward Julia Lawrenz was given 2nd-Team honors.

VARSITY CHEER – Cheerleading is not just for games.

The girls put in a lot of hard work with Head Coach Hillary Duggin in preparation for their annual competition and their hard work paid off! On Valentine’s Day, the Varsity Cheer Team competed in the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders West Coast Championship Competition held at Azusa Pacific University and turned in a very strong performance finishing in 2nd place in the varsity division.

Awesome job girls!

SPRING SPORTS UPDATE

BASEBALL – The Eagles have challenged themselves by playing the toughest schedule in school history and finished the regular season with a 10-13 record. It’s been a tough run for the Eagles who competed in nearly every game and suffered six 1-run losses and 3 in extra innings.

Nonetheless, they qualified for CIF playoffs as a respectable #5 seed in due to strength of schedule. On Tuesday, they took on Hoover High School in the 1st round of playoffs and lost a heartbreaker 4-3 as Hoover came from behind and won in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the last inning. The Eagles bounced back strongly however, by trouncing Liberty Charter 15-0 in the second round to keep their championship hopes alive.

They will face Hoover once more in an elimination game on Saturday 5/30. The game is at Hoover High and begins at 11:00.

Injuries took their toll early in the season as their two 1st-Team All-League returners recently reached full form.

Senior infielder Metro Henning (broken finger) missed the first 11 games and returning #1 pitcher Aaron Polley (disclocated shoulder) has been limited to only 3 starts. Several players have stepped up to fill the void. Newcomer, sophomore catcher/utility player Zac Bridger, who transferred from Mira Mesa at the semester, is leading the team in nearly all offensive categories with a .405 batting average while also leading the team in RBI’s, on-base percentage, slugging and stolen bases. As a pitcher he is tops on the

team with a 1.01 ERA. Polley is off to a hot start as well offensively with a .333 BA, 9 2B’s and 20 RBI’s. Henning has rebounded nicely from his injury, solidifying the defense and hitting .406. Corey Adkins (6 2B’s, 1 HR, 2.06 ERA), Bailey Williams (.319, 19 RBI), Andre Escoffier (.260, 14 SB) and Matt DeWildt (.266) have made big contributions.

TRACK & FIELD – A record number of 30 athletes, mostly freshmen and sophomores, competed for Coach Peter Gregory’s Track & Field Team and they had their best year in school history! Here is a sampling of coach Gregory’s CIF prelim synpopsis: The 2015 CIF prelims meet was the best we’ve had as a team in 7 years due to the number of entries – all 4 relay teams for both boys and girls and Izzy Landis in the High Jump.

The meet began with the girls 4x100 relay team of Sarah Trent, Sydney Sheng, Landis and Morgan Wurtzler running a very strong race from lane 9 for a seasonal best of 55.89. They were followed by the boys 4x100 consisting of Chris Spinato, Jake Bronson, James Palmer (who stepped up!) and Trevor Sheng. The boys ran a faster time than league finals and finished in 47.15. Great job both relay teams!

In the girls D-2 high jump, Izzy Landis tied for a solid 3rd at 4’ 10” and advances to the D-2 finals! Only one other Maranatha athlete has advanced to D-2 finals in Eagle track history! Landis is the first alternate for the “A” state qualifying heat if scratches occur this week! Great job Izzy!

It was a great finish with both relay teams ending in school records – again the girls broke their own school record.

Their 4:32.17 is an 18 second improvement from the previous record prior to this season! Sarah Trent, Sydney Sheng, Anna Corey, and Moran Wurtzler ran outstanding! Great finish and season!

The Boys team consisting of Josiah Secrist, Robby Yamaguchi, Brett Doig, and JP Edge ran another school record by 1 second and finished 4th in the first of three heats in a record time of 3:39.83. They finished 10th and beat tough teams like Cathedral, Imperial, and La Jolla. CIF scratches are on Tuesday and they are the 1st alternates.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

23

PERFORMING ARTS - A YEAR OF JOY IN THE ARTS

Jayne Howard Performing Arts Director

It has been a fun-filled year for the Performing Arts Program, at MCS! I would like to especially thank all of the volunteers who worked so hard on our production of Peter Pan Jr. The many long hours spent preparing sets, creating costumes, and assisting backstage made this year’s perforamance a monumental success.

Our parent volunteers are essential in helping us accomplish everything we do in the Performing Arts Department. We are grateful to have such dedicated parents who give selflessly of their time – especially during the Christmas and Spring Elementary productions.

“Our parent volunteers are essential in helping us accomplish everything we do in the Performing Arts.”

It was great to see so many parents attend our recent patriotic performance; “Songs of America – Under God.” Our students touched everyone’s hearts as they sang traditional songs rooted in America’s history – they delivered a spectacular show!

MCS’ Band, Orchestra, and Junior High Worship Team put on a fantastic Spring Concert at Maranatha Chapel earlier this month – demonstrating how much their musical skills have grown over the past year.

24

Don’t forget to register now for MCS’ Summer Theatre Arts Camps, designed for students who are interested in musical theatre. The first camp runs July 6 – 17; and the second camp runs July 20 - 31 (1st – 8th grade students only). For more information and to register online, please visit our website. Hurry, camps are filling up fast!

We have two musicals on the books for next year! Our fall production for Elementary and Junior High School students, will tell the story of a tall, green, ogre that speaks with a Scottish accent. Join us as we travel to Shrek’s swamp and watch him rescue an energetic princess with the help of a talking donkey! Our spring production will feature Junior High and High School students, and the unveiling of the title of the show is coming soon.

Thanks to you, our Performing Arts Program continues to skyrocket!

PRESCHOOL - LIGHT AND LEARNING As the school year comes to a close, we want to take the time to reflect and express our gratitude for the many blessings we have received during the year. First and foremost, we want to thank our wonPatrice Andrews derful preschool Preschool Director families who have been so supportive in partnering with us to provide the best Christian education experience for their children.

In anticipation of next school year, we look forward to implementing LEGO activities in the classroom to introduce students to beginning Robotics, planning and design, and student collaboration experiences.

We are excited to start the 2015-2016 school year with these new activities! Have a blessed and safe summer!

With our Trike-A-Thon fundraiser, we were able to purchase light tables with manipulatives for STEAM activities in all ten classrooms.

Parents participated by coordinating the event and helping their children collect pledges. Not only did this event help our Preschool, it was also a wonderful time for our families and staff to enjoy a day together.

ASCP - SUMMER CAMPS ARE COMING

Julie Elliott

Co-Curricular Activities Director

Before we transition to talking about summer, we want to first say a warm ‘thank you’ to our parents for entrusting your children to our After School Care Program during the school year.

It’s been an exciting year! It is always a privilege to serve your children, and to help them reach their highest God-given potential!

MCS Summer Camp Program has an outstanding reputation for friendliness and safety; and is professionally managed by individuals who are passionate about building selfesteem in children.

We are excited about seeing your children return for camp in a few weeks. It will be a summer filled with fun, laughter, and learning! Click here to view our all our camp information.

With summer almost here – our After School Care Program is gearing up for another fun-filled season as we transition to Summer Camps!

It’s not too late to sign up for one of our many enrichment classes and sports camps. Your child will receive excellent care from our credentialed teachers and experienced coaches – many of whom are on staff at MCS during the regular school year.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

25

PAC - FABULOUS FUN AT THE FESTIVAL The 2015 MCS ArtFest welcomed over 800+ attendees – what a tremendous turn out! The day was filled with excitement as families stepped onto our campus to see the grounds transformed into a festive carnival. There were inflatables, carnival games, a dunk tank, food booths/vendors and a talent show. All around you could hear laughter, see smiling faces – joyfulness overflowed everywhere you looked…and the smell of BBQ filled the air!

It was a special time to share in the fun and fellowship with MCS families and the outside community.

Outstanding talents were exhibited at the Art Show making this the perfect time to have an end-of-the-year showcase for our students’ creative accomplishments.

Award ribbons hung from many of the art pieces! Be sure to look for MCS’ art exhibit at the San Diego County Fair in a few weeks.

26

Over 25 students participated in our first ever ArtFest Talent Show! They dazzled audience members with their singing, dancing, acting and gymnastics.

Thank you to our 70 volunteers who worked tirelessly from set-up to tear-down in order to help make our ArtFest successful. We certainly could not have done it without them! We are deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support. MCS is a special, blessed place and we are so glad to be part of it!

-Brigit Sheng and Katie Sherpbier, Co-PAC Presidents

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3 | SPRING 2015

27

9050 Maranatha Drive San Diego, CA 92127 maranathachristianschools.org maranathachristianschools

mcs_eagles

@mcs_eagles1