WINGSPAN | Volume 2 | Issue 1 | Fall 2015

Department

2

Department

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

3

Department

Fall 2015 | Volume 2, Issue 1

EDITOR IN CHIEF Francine Good

PRODUCTION MANAGER Kathy Wall

COPY EDITORS Kathy Wall Soncee Partida

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jess Hetherington Superintendent Pete Plotnik High School Principal Bryce Forrester Junior High Principal Mary Cook Elementary Principal Patrice Andrews Director of Early Education Nate Jackson Director of Biblical Studies Steve Whitley Director of Athletics Jayne Howard Director of Performing Arts Autumn Gray Director of Curriculum Doris Thurman Director of Admissions Francine Good Director of Marketing | Development Julie Elliot Director of Co-Curricular Activities Soncee Partida Development Coordinator Brigit Sheng and Katie Sherpbier Co-PAC Presidents

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim McCormick Nicole Shepard GRAPHIC DESIGN Nicole Shepard 4

6

A Venture of Faith

22

Campus Life

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

6

12

10

Biblical Studies & Discipleship

12

High School

18

Junior High

20

Elementary

21

Preschool

26

Athletics

28

Performing Arts

30

Curriculum

31

Admissions

32

Marketing

34

ASCP

35

PAC

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

Department

In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus uses a parable to describe the difference between wheat and tares. Tares and wheat look identical, until they are full-grown. When mature, the tares do not produce anything of value; but the wheat yields life-giving seeds that can be harvested. When we’re in the Word of God, we bear fruit. At MCS, our foundation is His Word, and with His guidance our harvest will be plentiful.

6

Jess Hetherington, Superintendent

It’s hard to believe this is Maranatha Christian

Schools’ 25th year!!! It seems like yesterday that Maranatha Chapel and itsSenior Leadership, under the direction of Pastor Ray Bentley, embarked on a venture of faith that has now come to produce a harvest of transformed lives.

The journey began with one teacher and eight students on the old campus in Rancho Penasquitos, which was shared with the church. Every year after the inception of the school, parents continued to enroll their children with the hope they would be taught and educated in a way that was different, dynamic, creative, and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

As time passed, God continued to bless the school until the campus became too small to accommodate the emergent student population. In 1998, the church leaders stepped out in faith—against all odds—and decided to purchase the land our K-12 program is now on. Life along Camino Del Norte then was very quiet, and void of any homes at the time—other than the homes of the native bird, bug, and rattlesnake. Pastor Ray believed the next step for the school was to build a new school facility and to open the door for the new High School division. Well, here we stand today, amidst a booming family-oriented community of 4S Ranch and Del Sur, embarking on the 2015-2016 school year with 761 students and 134 faculty and staff members– still committed to our original mission and vision, to Transform Lives.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

7

Message from the Superintendent As amazing as this journey has been over the past 25 years, I am welling up with great anticipation to see what our God will do over the course of the next 25 years! “Glory to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…” -Ephesians 3:20

Last week I was able to catch up with our Senior Pastor, Ray Bentley, to ask him his thoughts on entering our 25th year annive

It’s a special time to be at Maranatha Christian Schools, and it is an honor and a privilege to share this part of the 25-year journey with you. Looking forward to many more exciting things ahead!

The Venture of Faith Continues As it was in 1991 and 1998, we are yet again ready to step out in another venture of faith as we look to build our new High School and Sports Complex. Many are curious about the details so let me lay out some bullet points to catch us up to speed and allow us all to pray for a successful project: 1. Grading permits have been submitted and are awaiting approval.

Grading will most likely begin in November.

2. Groundbreaking Event (All School Event): November 3. Capital Campaign begins: November 4. Construction is scheduled to begin January 1st 5. High school building construction to be completed July 2016.

INITIAL FOUNDING The school opened in 1991 with eight students and one teacher.

1991

8

1998

START BUILDING

ADDITIONAL EX

MCS began building a campus on a 100-acre parcel of land. (current K-12 location)

Seven modular units w to accomodate the gro High School program.

2005

2006

CHURCH MOVES

NEW BEGINNING

The Chapel moved from its previous Black Mountain location to its current Coastwood Road location.

The new campus featured K-10 classrooms, administrative offices, a multi-purpose gym & outdoor athletic facilities.

2010

Department Development

ersary.

Soncee Partida, Development Coordinator

Mos t of u s t hese days are not particularly good at waiting. In fact, we have become a generation of get-it-done-faster-multitaskers.

Clearly the challenge of learning to be patient in waiting is nothing new to man – God’s Word is full of verses to equip us. We find instruction and promise in our own school verse,

XPANSION

GROUNDBREAKING

were added owth of the

In November 2015, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the beginning on the Phase I Plan.

2014

ESTABLISHING PLANS New Strategic Plan emerged from collaboration with faculty, staff, parents, the student body, and leadership from the Chapel.

2015

“But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

-Isaiah 40:31

If you have stepped on our campus recently, you may have noticed the construction fence around the location of the new High School building and thought, “What are they waiting for?” The answer is simple: Permits. As we wait to do things in the proper order, that means doing things with the proper permits in place. In the meantime, we are actively planning, preparing and – most importantly – praying so when the permits come through, we are ready to build! God’s Word says,

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD.” -PSALM 27:14

As we wait – and prepare – we excitedly anticipate Groundbreaking to be sometime in November; more information coming soon. We look forward to sharing how our growing school is building lives, leaders, and legacy for a lifetime!

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

9

PEOPLE GET READY

THERE’S A

Department

TRAIN COMIN

YOU DON’T NEED

NO

BAGGAGE, YOU

JUST GET ON

BOARD ALL YOU NEED IS

FAITH

to hear the

diesels hummin’

You don’t need no ticket

you just thank

10

the LORD

Biblical Studies & Discipleship Nate Jackson, Director of Biblical Studies & Discipleship

In the words of the 1965 hit single by The Impressions, “People get ready, there’s a train a-comin’!” A quick glance around MCS, as a new school year begins, will reveal that the ‘diesels’ are truly ‘hummin’. Do you have the faith to hear them?

The 2014-2015 school year is securely in the rearview mirror; yet, the foundations that were laid make for even greater expectations for this school year. While last year’s emphasis of ‘The Gospel’ resulted in the beginning of new life for many, this year’s emphasis is toward going on…to new growth. To foster this, strategic ‘train tracks’ have been laid down for this year.

We are committed to ensuring the curriculum in all divisions is purposefully designed to incorporate the Christian Worldview. To provide our teachers with the resources that will strengthen their ability to ‘Biblically Integrate,’ all are being provided with 12 hours of Biblical worldview training from Dr. Christian Overman of Worldview Matters.

The teacher’s workshops are designed to help them examine assumptions regarding God, Creation, Humanity, Moral Order, and Purpose as perceived through the authority of the Bible.

ELEMENTARY DIVISION A brand new memory verse and application program has been implemented for the purpose of giving students a firm foundation of basic Bible truths. By the time Elementary students go from Kindergarten through 5th grade, they will know these truths through memorized scripture verses.

elem

JUNIOR HIGH DIVISION Mission trips are set for the spring – motivatJH ing students to take action while broadening their experience in ministry to others. To supplement, dynamic chapels and assemblies are scheduled to foster their growth in Christ and to inspire them towards a life of ministry in their various callings.

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION HS

September 16-18 was the annual 3-day High School Retreat at Palomar Christian Conference Center. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen friendships, grow in

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS JOIN US FOR THESE SPECIAL ‘ALL FAMILY’ EVENTS

SEPT

23

SEE YOU AT THE POLE & FAMILY CHAPEL

DEC

MCS CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

MAR

SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK’S RESURRECTION CELEBRATION SERVICE

9

24

Christ, and experience God’s love. Students enjoyed challenging and inspiring messages from Pastor Ben Courson.

The title of the retreat was “The Gambit.” This is defined as “a calculated move where something is sacrificed up front for future gain.” This is to emphasize Jesus’ statement in Mark 8:35, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s, will find it.”

Additionally, in partnership with Judah Life Curriculum, the High School division is piloting a brand new Life Curriculum program in October and November, which will help direct each of our High School students in specific discussions of life decisions and relationships.

Finally, in a desire to grow together as a school family & community, dates have been scheduled for all-school and all-family community breakfasts and assemblies. We invite all families to join together in the courtyard on September 23rd for our annual ‘See You At The Pole’ prayer service.

On December 9, we welcome all to join us for our “MCS Christmas Extravaganza” in celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The week of March 21st will mark our second annual ‘Spiritual Emphasis Week’ with a closing all-family Resurrection Celebration Service on the 24th.

Please join us for these festivities; “you don’t need no ticket…just thank the Lord.”

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

11

High School

Pete Plotnik, High School Principal

‘Here we grow again!’ In the 2006-2007 school year, when we opened our High School program, the 9th and 10th grade enrollment was 38.

We occupied four classrooms at the end of the west wing on the second floor of the C-Building. The science lab was dedicated to the Junior High program, and the trees in the courtyard were so small you could snap them like a toothpick; we feared for their survival.

12

As our space capacity was stretched to its limits, we pursued temporary alternatives. Because the modular units (‘cottages’ as we so affectionately refer to them) weren’t immediately available for our use, we occupied the Mezzanine in 2009-2010, converting it into two classrooms, displacing PE from the gym for one year. This obviously was less than ideal, but then the seven ‘cottages’ became a welcome addition to our program in 2010-2011.

Department

Proposed rendering of the Student Center in the new High School building.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

13

Proposed rendering of the exterior of the High School building

A LOOK inside UPPER LEVEL: • 12-13 classrooms • 2 state-of-the-art dedicated science labs with a separate prepstorage room

LOWER LEVEL: • Dedicated spaces for studio & digital arts • ‘Maker-space’ rooms that can expand for larger assemblies • Student Center • More classrooms • Conferernce area • Teachers’ lounge 14

This coming year, our tenth, year as a high school, enrollment could surpass 180 students (179 as of this writing).

Complemented by one of the highest retention rates from 8th to 9th grade in our history, we are experiencing yet another enrollment record.

Despite emerging educational opportunities (e.g. online instruction, blended classrooms, charter schools), God has continued to show favor on us.

Even with competition from other more established private institutions and a new public high school just down the street, we have increased our student population more than 470% over the past decade.

In the 2015-2016 school year alone, we have experienced a 10% increase over last year.

What does this mean? It’s time for expansion, and we are very excited about the future of Maranatha Christian High School! The hope and expectation is for occupancy of the new building by this time next year. The increased classroom capacity will eliminate constraints on growth due to space limitations, allowing us to reach our full potential and providing education from a Christian worldview for all of those whom He calls to our campus.

The High School currently functions with 10 dedicated classrooms between the seven modular units and three rooms in the C-Building, including the science lab.

The new building will provide 12 to 13 classrooms on the upper level alone; including two state-of-the-art dedicated science labs with a separate prep-storage room.

The current master schedule of classes can be superimposed on the

“It’s time for expansion, and we are very excited about the future of Maranatha Christian High School!

The hope and expectation is for occupancy of the new building by this time next year.”

Department

upper level of the new building. However, the lower level has plans for dedicated spaces for studio and digital arts, a ‘maker-space,’ rooms that can be expanded to house larger assemblies of students (e.g. for chapels or other functions requiring group sessions), a student center, and more classrooms and small conference areas. Teachers will have a dedicated workspace with lounge to improve their efficiency and effectiveness to serve our families.

We are so blessed by God’s provision and look forward with great hope to a very bright future!

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 4:19

Proposed rendering of the STEAM room

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 |areFALL 2015to change.

15 * All renderings are preliminary – plans subject

College & Career

ACHIEVING A HIGHER CALLING

Joe Mireles, College & Career Advisor

This time of year is so exciting for the College and Career Department! As we begin a new year, we feel a renewed sense of hope, optimism and expectation.

This rings true for teachers and administrators as much as it does for parents and students.

Nothing prepares students for college-level studies more thoroughly than a rigorous, high-quality, High School education. We are constantly striving to improve our lesson plans, policies and delivery of curriculum to meet today’s demanding academic environment. This also sets the expectation for our students to start off the school year with a heightened level of responsibility, and a deeper sense of ownership of the learning process. In order to insure we are all on the same page, it is important to have a plan with a purpose.

THE COLLEGE AND CAREER DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO HELP: • Evaluate each student’s academic background • Challenge students to explore their interest and reach their potential • Inspire students to do their best work • Pursue educational opportunities beyond high school 16

To kick-start this process, we rolled out a new ‘one-on-one’ program over the summer, where each returning student (accompanied by their family) met with their College and Career Advisor. Not only was this a great opportunity to get to know each other – it helped pave the way for individual

“Nothing prepares students for college-level studies more thoroughly than a rigorous, high-quality, High School education.” college and career planning. Most of our time was spent on finding the right college fit, creating testing and timelines for SAT/ACT, and setting the expectation for this academic year.

We look forward to seeing all that God will do with each unique student through this program, and many others at MCS, that yield real academic results. The most important goal is to remain diligent to His calling. We look forward to seeing each student respond to God’s call as we encourage them to reach their highest potential in the 2015-2016 school year. It’s going to be another fantastic year at MCS!

Department

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

17

ON GOD’S TIMING

Bryce Forrester, Junior High Principal

Modern day technology and social media have made our world a much smaller place requiring us to have a Global perspective, and in our case a Biblical Worldview. It is vitally important that we capture the hearts and minds of our students at an early age.

The average student spends seven to eight hours in school, and should get eight hours of sleep nightly. This leaves about eight hours of ‘other time’ plus the weekends.

Consider all that our students are exposed to outside of the normal academic day via friends and family, television, social media, church, co-curricular activities, etc. — a great deal of learning takes place outside of school.

18

2015-2016 will be another exciting and productive year for Junior High students. We will continue a strong STEAM related curriculum through the use of Foss kits, and activities like Hour of Code, Robotics Teams, Art projects and

“Development of moral character of our students is central to our foundation.” our annual Science Fair. Of course, we will continue to offer a multitude of sports for both girls and boys, starting with the largest turn-out ever for our cross-country team.

Junior High gets a double blessing this year in Performing Arts as they will be able to participate in Shrek this fall and the Junior High | High School spring musical. Speaking of music, look for “The Pulse,” the new JH | HS Band &

Junior High

Drumline that will be performing field shows during half time at football games as well as other venues throughout the school year, and we have a new JH Choir as well. This year’s 8th grade class can look forward to being the first freshman class in our new High School building 2016-2017. Show Me the LUV this year is lime green, and as usual everything we do will be wrapped in love, unity, and voice, affirmed through a mighty Bible program and inspiring chapels.

LOVE • UNITY • VOICE We look forward to partnering with our parents and the 2015-16 Junior High students, helping to fill that ‘other time’. Using that time constructively can most assuredly impact the future of our students (see box below).

It is also vitally important to maintain a healthy balance and remember; our students’ value is not dependent upon their performance. Each and every one of them is created uniquely for God’s specific purpose. We want to train our students to contextualize everything through unchanging Biblical truths as they relate to God, creation, humanity, moral order and purpose. We are headed into an exciting new year, “Let’s go… all things unto God!”

Jim Rooney, Youth leader for C3 Church, speaks to our Junior Highers during chapel.

COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS

1

Read, read, read! The faster you are able to read and comprehend material, the easier school will be – and the better you’ll do on college admission tests.

2

Take school seriously. When you work hard and learn as much as you can (even doing homework when you don’t have to) it makes it easier to adapt to the rigors of high school and college.

3

Grades Matter. Colleges want to see an upward trend in grades as classes become more difficult, so keeping up good grades is important.

4

Talk to parents and family members about going to college. Engaging in conversation about college will help fuel your desire to get there.

5

Think about careers/majors/jobs. Researching jobs on the internet that sound interesting can pave your way to an eventual college choice and career path.

6

Spend time on college campuses. You’ll start to see what colleges have to offer, and you’ll begin to form an opinion about what you like and what you don’t like.

7

Interview someone who does what you’re interested in. Understanding a career from a first-hand perspective can be powerful.

8

Get involved in extracurricular activities.

Join clubs, participate in sports, learn a musical instrument, take up a hobby, get active in a student government or church youth activities.

Build on what you start now throughout your junior high and high school years.

9

Volunteer. Help out in your community or with your family. Both extracurricular activities and volunteerism are highly valued by college admission committees, scholarship committees and employers. There is no better time to start then now!

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

19

Elementary

TAPPING INTO STUDENTS’ UNIQUE TALENTS

Mary Cook, Elementary Principal

Welcome back to school! Thank you for sharing your precious children with us each day. In turn, we teach, love and train them to be followers of Christ, lifelong learners, and prepared for each step in their educational journey.

Students have every opportunity to explore their gifts and talents in Elementary school, from art and music to science and language arts. Often children know at an early age what they want to be when they grow up. Our teachers are ready to tap into those desires, to nurture their students’ dreams into reality. Many students who have graduated from MCS have gone on to see their childhood college or career dream come true, and they are now truly transforming the world for God’s glory.

“Many students who have graduated from MCS have gone on to see their childhood college or career dream come true, and they are now truly transforming the world for God’s glory.”

Making your child’s education relevant and guiding them toward their talents is an essential part of planning each school year. Here are some of the new and continued focus areas: NEW ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY GARDEN Students will regularly visit our new community garden provides a living context to study plant cycles, the scientific method of research, energy and resources, and sustainability.

The garden aligns with our STEAM focus and extends learning outside for fun and engaging lessons that will include most subjects such as language arts, math, science, and Bible.

Keep an eye out for more pictures and information 20 once the seeds are in the ground!

GROWTH IN LANGUAGE ARTS New curriculum was added last year which was well-received by the students. They enjoyed reading themes and genres that are engaging and relevant. Teachers quickly noticed students having fun, and significant improvements were noticed in their writing due to the variety of assignments. At the end of the year, teachers compared MAP scores from previous years, and saw gains in the areas of reading and language arts across the board. Writing and vocabulary were two stand-out areas of growth.

ROBOTICS CLUBS ARE MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD! Nearly 50 students are participating and having fun in after school Robotics Clubs. The clubs are an extension of STEAM education curriculum in the classrooms – and are focused around the Legos Robotics Program. Thanks to parents’ generous giving at last year’s Jog-a-thon, we were able to purchase more classroom experiments, laptops, and equipment for the Robotics Clubs, while also funding the Robotics Team Coordinator position.

Preschool

ENGINEERS IN THE MAKING!

Patrice Andrews, Early Education Principal

Full STEAM ahead! We are thrilled to announce the start of our new STEAM Lego curriculum this year.

All classes received Lego playground design and construction kits, as well as beginning Lego robotics kits for the Pre-K and TK classes.

The Preschool playground kit gives students the opportunity to explore communities, social roles, feelings, and behaviors in a setting they are familiar with. They even try their hand at planning and designing their own playground while learning to collaborate with their classmates and practicing their communication and listening skills. The Tech Machines| Robotics kit enables students to take their first steps into science and technology! With this fun and engaging kit, students enhance their problem-solving skills while improving communication skills.

“The Tech Machines | Robotics kit enables students to take their first steps into science and technology.”

We began the year by diving into our Bible curriculum, Character Traits of Obedience and Courage. This curriculum comes to life during our Chapels; we take advantage of this time by using Bible stories to reinforce our monthly character traits and Bible verses. Our dedicated teachers rotate leading chapel, and it’s always exciting to see their spirit-filled presentations. Our Chapels feature songs of praise, flannel stories, or puppetry, and we introduce students to artistic expression as they re-enact Bible stories.

Everyone loves ice cream! And there was no shortage of it at our Back to School Night and Ice Cream Social. This was defi-

nitely a special evening for all of us as Preschool families and staff enjoyed our time together. But the very best part of the evening was watching students proudly show their classrooms to their siblings and parents.

The Lord continues to bless our Preschool with amazing students, families, and classroom resources. It’s a joy to partner with our families in providing a strong learning environment built on spiritual and cognitive foundations.

Together we can lay the pathway for their future success!

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

21

Department

Mr. Jackson preaching about what it means for Jesus to be our Savior in Elementary Chapel.

M A R A N AT H A

CAMPUS LIFE 22

ass releasing ’s 1st grade cl Mrs. Barclay world after ies into the their butterl cycles. ut their life learning abo

Department

Junior, Antonio Partida, praying before a home game – dedicating ALL THINGS to God.

Special chapel guest, Dean-O, leading our WINGSPAN Elementary | VOLUME 2 and | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015 23 JH students in worship.

Department

The new Blue Brew Club is going strong – coffee is available Wednesday & Friday mornings before school for $2 - tea and cocoa too!

Parents, stop by and grab a cup!

The Blue Crew leading our Eagles out of the tunnel during a home game.

Mrs. Sulliv an Teacher Jo battling it out du ring Stud usting at e our first Pep Rally nt vs of the ye 24 ar.

Department

Junior High students performing a drama during the Declaration of Dependence on God chapel.

Parents step into their student’s shoes at Back To School Night.

Mom and daughter praying together on the first day of school.

Mr. Mireles is always thinking hard

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | our FALLHigh 2015Schoolers!

25 about ways to help

Athletics

‘ALL THINGS’ A wide receiver cuts across the field, the quarterback sees that he is open and throws a pass that sails a bit high.The receiver jumps, fully extends his arms and snags the ball in midair. An alert defensive back reads the play and with perfect timing, lowers his shoulder into the receiver, jarring the ball loose and knocking the receiver down to the ground. The crowd cheers wildly in response to the clean but violent hit. With the receiver on the turf, the defensive back stands over him pointing his finger at the player, trash talking and letting everyone in attendance know he just made a great play.

Same scenario, same play. This time however, after making the hit, the defensive back reaches down and grabs the hand of his opponent and helps him up. He checks to make sure he is ok and then hustles back to the huddle to join his teammates in preparation for the next play.

This poses a simple question: Who is the better player?

Most would say the second player because he helped his opponent up. However, that answer is wrong. The correct answer is neither. Both players are the same. They made identical plays and exhibited the same level of athletic ability. The difference is that one player showed class while the other did not. To take it a step further, one player showed Christ-like character while the other was self-centered and disrespectful.

As a new school year starts, I want to remind everyone that good sportsmanship is exactly what Maranatha Athletics is all about. Yes, we have implemented a new athletic philosophy that emphasizes player development and creates opportunities for young athletes to achieve their sports dreams.

26

Photo by Tim McCormick

Athletics

’ VITAL TO ATHLETIC INTEGRITY Steve Whitley, Director of Athletics

We have made great strides in this area and we are improving daily. But at the forefront of our plan is the goal of training our athletes to play in a God-pleasing manner.

There is nothing more important. We want to play like the second player in the story: intelligent, well-trained, focused, strong, quick, classy and humble.

To paraphrase, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says to do all things for the glory of God. You have seen ‘All Things’ painted on the gym wall in large letters. You have heard our teams break their huddles yelling ‘All Things!’ Every Elementary PE student responds to Coach Rodgers by yelling ‘All Things’ when it is time to stand up and get started. Those two words have been purposefully integrated into our Athletic and PE Departments to constantly remind everyone what they are there for and what their true purpose is.

The simple statement of ‘All Things’ puts everything into proper perspective.

If everything you do is done with the single goal of pleasing the Lord; including the words you say and the effort you give, everything will fall into its proper place and order. If you strive to do ‘All Things’ with the sole focus of pleasing the Lord, you will naturally please your coach with your efforts. You will be a great teammate and friend. You will play with integrity and humility. Your opponents, officials and fans will respect you. You will be a better son or daughter and you will be a better student – all because you are working to please God, and not man.

By the way…the ‘All Things’ mentality is not just for Maranatha athletes and coaches. It can carry through every role in life. If you seek to please God in all you do, you will be a better husband or wife, a better dad or mom, a better boss or employee. The list is endless.

Maranatha’s Athletic Department is far from achieving its goals but is well on the way. We are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in our short history. For the first time, Maranatha won more games than lost. Our winning percentage increased year-over-year from .366 (in 2014) to .522 (in 2015) – a huge gain of .156 percentage points. 86% of our teams qualified for playoffs. We have developed

“The simple statement of ‘All Things’ puts everything into proper perspective. If everything you do is done with the single goal of pleasing the Lord; including the words you say and the effort you give, everything will fall into its proper place and order.” off-season programs for many of our sports. Our athletes are training year-round to increase their agility, strength and speed through the newly offered Athletic PE classes.

We are playing our games and representing our school in a more Christ-like manner. We are developing a reputation of being a school that plays with class.

To continue building on this success, we are actively raising funds to fully renovate our sports facilities. Our PSP Program (Independent Study) is developed and staffed.

It is a great alternative for students who want to play sports in a non-traditional educational environment.

Maranatha has every tool available, and is fully equipped to grow. Spread the word! Athletics is prepared to be a driving force in our school’s growth. I want to ask all of you to join me in praying for our program, specifically that it would be a very attractive choice for Christian athletes in our community. In nearly all sports – college scholarships and professional sports opportunities are not dependent on the high school an athlete attends. The more critical factors are the student’s God-given abilities and personal work ethics. With that in place, anything is possible!

Maranatha coaches will pour into our athletes like no other school and work hard on their behalf. No one should have to sacrifice or threaten their faith for the sake of a future in sports.

Please spread the word, support and pray for our program.

ALL THINGS! WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

27

Performing Arts

TRADITION, TRADITION! Jayne Howard, Director of Performing Arts

It’s been another busy summer for the Performing Arts Department! We are dedicated to providing a challenging program which inspires academic and artistic excellence throughout the year – including our Summer Theatre Arts Camp.

Over 150 1st through 8th grade students joined together in a lively outdoor stage performance to sing songs from old and new musicals interspersed with meaningful scriptures and valuable life lessons. Growth and development in both theatre performance and spiritual discipline is essential to our program.

In keeping with our longstanding tradition of excellence, I am very excited to introduce our new Band and Worship Coordinator, Mr. Mike Holguin. An accomplished professional musician in his own right, Mr. Holguin brings a wealth of experience to our program, which includes Elementary, Junior High and High School band and worship classes.

We are eager to experience new heights of success, having had a taste of Mr. Holguin’s dynamic instruction in Summer Band Camp. We’re off to a great start! Get ready for our first musical of the year, Shrek Jr. for 1st-8th grade students.

Mr. Holguin posing with the drumline – 28 looks like he’s been an Eagle forever!

Lively and endearing, Shrek will showcase the amazing talent of our students, along with memorable songs and an uplifting message about being true to ourselves. This theme ties in perfectly with one of our core values at MCS – to honor relationships “Valuing and cultivating relationships, recognizing everyone’s unique role in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:25-26).”

Just around the corner is our spring production, where Junior High and High School students will join together for a vibrant musical performance – to be announced within the next few weeks!

As we continue to raise the standard of theatre arts performance at MCS, we are gearing up for another action-packed year, and we are excited to see what God has in store for us!

Department

“Growth and development in both theatre performance and spiritual discipline is essential to our program.”

Summer Theatre Arts Camp students performing “Freak Flag” from Shrek Jr.

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

29

Curriculum

NEW STRIDES INTO 21st CENTURY LEARNING

Autumn Gray, Director of Curriculum

It has been a busy summer around here as we have been working and planning to set the bar even higher for our rigorous academic college preparatory school.

Our New Educational Technologist is dedicated to analyzing, designing, developing and evaluating processes and tools to enhance student learning.

One of the most exciting developments for our school is the addition of our new EdTech Specialist, Jennifer Mixer.

Jennifer has served the school for many years in the Admissions department and is now using her expertise to oversee MAP testing, Compass Learning, digital curriculum, and Schoology. Jennifer is located in the IT room and is the new resource for High School students when they need assistance with platform log-ins and digital products.

We are happy to announce the addition of our new learning management system, Schoology, in the High School division. Schoology has been called the ‘Facebook’ of education, and is a secure platform for students to interact with their teachers and peers. Students can turn in assignments, take quizzes, message their teachers and manage their homework load all from the same site. In the Elementary and Junior High divisions, we have been diving into the world of math! Maranatha follows a curriculum review cycle in order to stay current and relevant in our instruction.

This year, we will be analyzing our current curriculum and comparing it to others in order to determine the best resources for our math program. We have a math committee with representatives from Elementary, Junior High and High School who will attend training and work with our teachers as they examine standards, sample new curriculums, and make final recommendations for the 2016-2017 school year. Our new findings will build on our growing STEAM program to make it even more innovative and effective.

Finally, this fall I will be working on our mid-term review report for our accreditation visit this February. I look forward to reporting on the tremendous growth that has taken place since our last accreditation visit three years ago in the next issue!

‘Schoology is an Award Winning Learning Platform that has been called the Facebook of Education.’

COMMUNICATION HUB learning experience is interactive, collaborative & in real time

COURSE MANAGEMENT enhanced communication, engaged students, information is easily shared

Schoology is a perfect example of MCS’ on going effort to bring current technologies to the classroom – in pursuit of higher levels of excellence.

30

MOBILE LEARNING class time is anytime – teachers stay connected with students

Admissions

ENROLLMENT ON THE RISE

Doris Thurman, Director of Admissions

Following up on last years’ growth spurt, we have already exceeded last year’s enrollment numbers. High School has achieved its highest enrollment yet at 179 students. It is a great time to be at Maranatha Christian schools!

AP

We are growing our programs along with our student population, so you will notice a variety of exciting new opportunities in this issue of WINGSPAN. Just to refresh you on some of the key aspects of our program, take a quick look at the facts and figures below to see what is so special about our Premier College Prep School;

test scores track in the 89th percentile compared to 60.5% nationwide

Challenging programs – integrated learning, cross-curricular collaboration and innovation

100% of the Class of 2015 transitioned to college or a career internship

MARANATHA We have highly qualified/credentialed teachers in their respective fields

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

We have a thriving Honors Society

14

AP and Honors courses are offered

Prestigious AP Scholar Awards incresed by 10% last year

88%

of our students satisfied prerequisite work or earned college course credit by taking an AP exam

It’s not too late to join us this school year. There are still a few openings in certain divisions – so please pass the word on!

While we continue to fill the final enrollments for the 2015-2016 school year, we will be diligently preparing for the 2016-2017 school year. We will formally begin our regularly scheduled campus tours on Friday, October 2 (tours begin at 9:00am), and will continue each Friday throughout the school year.

It is an honor to be in a position to offer this rigorous and innovative education opportunity to our community, and I can’t wait to get started. I look forward to meeting you and your friends and neighbors soon! Please stop by and say hello!

“It is a pleasure to serve in my new role as Director of Admissions! I can’t express how excited I am to join the Admissions team in working with new students and their families. I look forward to getting to know each applicant and facilitating their individual needs.”

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

31

Marketing

SYNTHESIZING CONCEPTS INTO COMMUNICATION Francine Good, Director of Marketing | Development

You’ve heard the old adage…two heads are better than one, well three heads are better than two.

Now that we have a three-person Marketing Team in place, we have the resources to broadcast to the San Diego community the value of Christian education – particularly at MCS – like never before! We are working hard to spread the word about our quality, accessible Christian educational program.

Comprehending the subject matter that we are trying to write about is important. In order for us to have an updated understanding of our product – MCS’ educational offerings, we decided to reexamine our programs by meeting with our Principals and Preschool Director to hear what they had to say.

The time that we spent

was valuable since it helped us to gain a clearer awareness of the unique qualities of each division. As a result of our meetings, Marketing updated the division handouts used in Admissions and at various events. For the first time, MCS has a distinctive brand (click here to see our branding board).

Within the broader scope of our branding, we have micro-branded the divisions. Each division can now be identified by the use of specific colors. Not only have we updated the handouts, we have scrutinized all collateral material.

Each piece is being elevated to a higher standard, both in design and messaging. How does this benefit MCS?

JU

Y R A T N ELEME ndent & social

L O O H SC

lds en ear-O Y 5 ergart d 2 n r i o K f onal ams ansiti Progr r l T a n h t o n wi ucati Optio n e t r atio derga t her R c s a s pmen e e T o l n t i e n d v a e e tud dD n Re Low S ldhoo i d h n C a y s Earl Size ed in n i a r T s acher

Ju

indepe

(M stu ins a Maranath s! gin be ing rn lea stu of excitement e th e er a wh ly is cal ol mi ho de sc Elementary g students both aca al experience challengin inq an innovative education uraging children to be offers l nurture students, enco and o e gag en o s tor h uca ed esc talented team of s at Pr e otivated learners. s s a l and to become self-m C intellect. O ourages and challenges nded program that enc

the

instruc

• MCS provides a well-rou s who will be well prepared for college and university der next generation of lea the rigor • Children are prepared for entally

pm ensuring they are develo th de, ng 6 gra eri ent ore Bef ng. rni lea ra, as well a transition to Pre-Algeb g, researc llin literature, grammar, spe ndatio • Students build a strong fou ough thr rd Wo by studying God’s rize s mo me ts den stu n, In additio to t s ple nci pri to apply Christian

s the im

• MCS Elementary recognize enhan ative side of the brain to

cre music and processing through art, .

MCS experience CO

R

p parentM • Teachers maintain strong studen ure ens to n communicatio S

CORE SUBJECTS Math Science Language Arts Social Studies

32

Bible

ENRICHING

La So ACTIVITIES Bi Eleme of

Computer Art Spanish th Music (K-4 Grade)

PhysiBoc Librar 1

ENRI

•A •S •S •M

Marketing

It paints a more accurate picture of the programs being taught by our highly qualified teaching staff; which in turn, helps us to communicate our programs at the highest level of professionalism.

With our new Director of Admissions in place, Marketing and Admissions continue to work closely together. We are joining forces to go out into the community and market our school.

Part of our overall plan is to first visit preschools and church-

es who do not offer educational programs. Our mission is to make others aware of MCS and to accurately describe our programs and campus life. Marketing is also researching demographics and potential housing growth in surrounding zip codes so we know how to better target our community.

We are engaged in the ongoing process of researching the best mediums to advertise our school, and we look forward to continuing to implement our strategy and spreading the good news about MCS!

HIGH ing more responsible UNIOR self determined & grow HIGH SCH O

unior High is a time of great growth and

O L and co

transformation. Maranatha Chr MCJH) provides a learning env istian Junior High School ironment that is academical ly challenging and empowerin tudents are encouraged to g. Junior High discover their unique gifts and talents while being intellec spired. Ou ) CS (M r ls goa tua oo l lly and creatively is to Sch pro ian vid e a rigorous set of academic a Christ courses that challenge a stu High S udies, scie r Ou nce lly. choolt in Bible, social den , nta tec t’s inte hno me log op y, vel art and math. and de is the Christia llec • ally laun Ma tic th n cri cur nk ricu High S thi lum to , is differentiated according to quisitive m c hool (M ching poi students’ abilities and per ent tha opportunity to be challen formance. Thi nt for CHS) s givet sisstud ged above their grade leve challent spiritu thinkin l. ensgthe ing and prepares stu g, whil • Students have the opportuni al, aca d e e e ty the n n to up use b demic c in t t iPad tra s for li o r h s for collaborative project oaden uragin Our mission is to based learning.ey will be f and pe e in g . beyon g S t t w h u d e e ir e ll d rsonal n creativ round ts shar second ction.

• College and career planning beg ed and e pote pen th succ ary ed • Mins th in n e C 8 e u grad t ir q H e ia cation uipped S prov skills in l; l throu with Naviance curriculum in r of Junior High Schoo id f g c anducare e o ar h o s s r inger mmun a varie a rig the im program a assessment ication ig ty of c portan y ready to begin higher • Students are prepared to be Chr (MCHS dvanced curr orous ses.t of a o , t p curricu transit rob icuelum istian lead c cuers rrefor Bibl ion to , students are ready to lar act ntlylife. study curriculum pairs the NKJ in mat ademic and offers higher ivities.

V Bible with challen h and AP cou 1 ging 4 cou rse e as middle school-level s A ducatio cience material that inspires stud rses to P cour ents to live boldly for , and ses). n. enc ort writing, and reading.

equipped

Christ. g enriching activities and cocurricular programs are pro vided. MCJH educates eve ry aspect of a student’s life, resu lting in a well-rounded experience; complementin g the intellect with creativ e and intuitive activities, physica l movement, and on-going public service. Students actively eng age with the local community by leaving MCS’ campus to serve the greater San Diego area.

• MCJH provides a safe environ ment where respect, responsibility, and citizenship are emphasized.

llege boun

d

ourage a in lang nd challeng e uage a rts, so the stu cial st • MCH udi S’ r Over 8 igorous aca demic 9% of progra MCHS exams m st in statew 2015 (com udents sco has p r p e id a r the e e ng ). agi d eng to 60.5 d a 3 o mportance of • The in % natio Creative e. n sid ic o dem v aca a n the tive 1:1 nce releva iP the of n a t par t d l le p r a o d theatre is a vita r n g involv ing op ram p ed ro p in a pu – interactin ortunities. S vides co r tuden g p o w s RE SUBJEChTS it e f h ts a u c th le reative ent solutio xperience t e instructor partnerships wit consist Math: Pre-Algebra, Algebr h • an n a Our e s. t result a 1, Geometry nt success. xp s in dy Depar anded Coll n Science: Physical Science, eg tm Life Science, Labs, Research secon ent is gear e Planning a anguage Arts: Literature, Com e d n d a position, Creative Writing includ ry goals. Th toward pre d Academic , Classics, Language Mecha e e p ocial Studies: Ancient His nics, Public Speaking tory, World History, Americ career self-discove Naviance co aring studen an History r prep, ible & Curriculum and ac y, career ex llege and ca : NK JV th Gr Bible; Redemption – God’s • Relev e) ad plo re ademic (5 nd Ba Des y ign 1 (6th grade); The Life of tarn 2 (7th en a n t plannin ration, coll f Joh Christ from the Gospel grade); and The Spirit-Fille by exp Bible curric eg g d .

Life of the Bel on lo iever from the Acts of the u Educati cal Apostles 3 (8th grade) ob Jones, University Press 2 analyz ring the ma lum challen Frank Hamrick, Positive Actio ing the jor tru g n for Christ, 3rd Edition, 2010 3 ths in es and insp e a ry Jay G. Borkett, ACSI/Purpose a n rly chu orderly ful Design, 2003 the O ires r c h a ld Tes c in count throug Histor the Ne tamen ICHING ACTIVITIES & CO o h f w y S o : y T ur C US His esta stem -CURRICULAR PROGEnRA ness o tory, E f Chris atic Theolo hristian fait ment; eva glishM ACSI competitions in math, urope : LaSng h tianity writing and spelling g y a , u n a a n Civiliz ge & C d exam and beliefs in Apo Mathe Studio and Performing Art a o t lo ining m io m g a n p etics a tics: S s, Band, Orchestra, Choir, , Gove ositio Student-Led Wo tatistic n, Lite nd Wo the tru Scrsh rnmen ienipce: Science Fair, and Field Trip WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015 33rldvie r a s t , t & u C Biolog re & C alculu Politic s w St ompo y, Phys s AB, C Foreig s Math and Robotics Clu ips, ASB, sitio n La ics 1 alcu

ch, rep

on of Biblical knowledge . teacher-led curriculum scriptures and learn how their lives.

core c o

• A variety of character shapin

ADVA

NCED

PL ACE

MENT

CO U R

urses

SES

After School Care Program

FUN AFTER SCHOOL

Julie Elliot, Director of Co-Curricular Activities

We are back from our Summer Camp session – having had a fantastic 20% increase in our enrichment program attendance. Now our focus has transitioned to our After School Care Program; helping students with constructive study time and having a lot of fun during free time!

Each day we have something special for the students to look forward to after all of their hard work at school;

MONDAYS – BIBLICAL ADVENTURES TUESDAYS – GAME DAY

In addition, we are offering co-curricular activities for Elementary grades K-5.

Fall Quarter Co-curricular Activities – stay tuned for dates/times: • Chess Club • Swift Kick Martial Arts Homework Club is everyday inside at the tables – help is provided if needed.

WHAT’S NEW? More space! Our popular program has expanded to 2 locations this year, so your student will enjoy a roomier environment. As always we look forward to seeing you…after school!

QUIET ZONE

Monday – Thursday 3:05 – 6pm

WEDNESDAYS – ARTS & CRAFTS

Junior High and High School Students: MCS’s Quiet Zone program is an after school study hall designed to help students

THURSDAYS – THEATRE THURSDAY FRIDAYS – MOVIES & POPCORN

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 for half price during team sports season, and it is a great way to catch up with homework after practice at the end of the day.

34

Parent Action Committee

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - LET’S ‘PAC’ UP AND GO! Brigit Sheng & Katie Scherpbier, Co-PAC Presidents

The Parent Action Committee, known as PAC, welcomes you to our vibrant community at Maranatha Christian School!

PAC’s role at MCS is to plan fellowship events and service opportunities that enrich campus life. Volunteering with PAC provides exposure to all of the exciting programs and activities offered at our school. It’s also a great way to build relationships with other parents. Membership fees are never required, and best of all there are no mandatory meetings!

Some of PAC’s events have blessed MCS with much needed funds to promote additional opportunities – for example the proceeds from Jog-a-Thon were directed to our STEAM program, enabling our Robotics Club to purchase equipment and to expand enrollment to 1st-5th graders.

PAC also oversees the Scrip program through Great Lakes Scrip, enabling families to financially bless the school when making gift card purchases. Later in September we will hold a launch of ‘Shopwithscrip’ to answer any questions and facilitate enrollment.

Our first big event is our Koinonia Breakfast, on Wednesday, September 23. The campus is open early for a free all-community breakfast prior to the start of chapel. Staff, faculty, students and parents get to eat yummy food and socialize.

If you are interested in lending a hand, please don’t hesitate to contact Brigit Sheng or Katie Scherpbier at pac@maranathachristianschools.org with any questions.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our PAC family!

2015 PAC EVENTS OCT 3 – FAMILY TACO NIGHT OCT 9 – COFFEE & CONVERSATION NOV 1 – MOTHER | SON SOCIAL NOV 13 – COFFEE & CONVERSATION DEC 9 – KOINONIA BREAKFAST

WINGSPAN | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2015

35

Transformed Lives...Transforming the World.

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

mcs_eagles

@mcs_eagles1