Back-to-School Information

New Family Parent Social - August 1 | 6-7:30 p.m.

The New Family Parent Social, held in the MCA Cafeteria, is a low-key event designed for our newest members of the MCA community to meet other new families before the start of the school year. We look forward to meeting you.

Lower School Ice Cream Social - August 8 | 5:30-7 p.m.

Families in Grades PK - 4 are invited to meet their teacher and the lower school staff at the Lower School Ice Cream Social on the playground. There will be free ice cream and smiles.

Back-to-School Night - August 19 | 4:30-8:30 p.m.

One week before the start of school, the entire MCA community gets together for the annual Back-to-School Night. Families will meet staff, find lockers and classrooms, check out spirit wear, meet Parents with Purpose, and more. Plus, students in Grades 7-12 will get their school photos taken. To help keep congestion to a minimum, the night is divided into three distinct sections.

• Session 1 (for families with last names A-K): 4:30-6 p.m.
• All-Family General Assembly in the sanctuary: 6-7 p.m.
• Session 2 (for families with last names L-Z): 7-8:30 p.m.

Click here for additional details

International Student Orientation - August 19-22 | 8:30 - 3:30 pm daily in Room 245

New and returning international students gather together this week to prepare for their new school year. Some of the topics and activities include ice breakers, MAP and WIDA testing, finalizing class schedules, understanding cultural differences, developing host family relationships, American classroom culture, what makes Maranatha a Christian school, shopping at Mall of America, playing mini golf, and more.

Boohoo Yahoo! Breakfast - August 27 | 8 - 9:30 a.m.

Back to School can be an emotional roller coaster. For some parents, it can be sad (boohoo), and for others, it can be joyous (yahoo). We are celebrating both ups and downs with donuts and coffee on Tuesday, August 27, in the Coffee House Lobby, from 8-9:30 a.m.

2024-25 School Supply Lists:

• Lower School (PK-4)
• Upper School (5-12)

2024-2025 Technology Requirements

• Bring Your Own Device | Grades 5-12

School Picture Days:

This year we are excited to announce a partnership with Slow Road Photography. Below, please find the days Slow Road will be on campus taking photos of our students.

• Grades 7-12 | August 19 (during the Back to School Night)
• PreK- Grade 6 | September 11
• Picture Retakes | October 16

Please have your student dress appropriately for school pictures. Instructions for ordering photos will be available soon and communicated to families. 

Yearbooks:

School yearbooks can be ordered through Jostens. More information will be available. 

Senior Photos:

Seniors need to take their school picture at Back-to-School night for their school ID only. 

Seniors and/or senior parents, please click here to connect to a special page on the Jostens website for you to upload your senior photos for the yearbook and graduation program. (A security key was emailed to each family to grant you access.)

Dress Code Guidelines:

We have updated Dress Code for the 2024-2025 school year. Details can be found here.

• Every Friday is Spirit Wear Fridays! Visit our spirit wear store below. 

Gear Up with Mustangs Spirit Wear

Shop our high quality selection of Spirit Wear including, hoodies, tees, hats, backpacks, and more. Every item is made to order and will be completed 7-10 business days after your order date. Order Spirit Wear.

Door Dismissal and Carpool Traffic Flow:

MCA uses a staggered dismissal time and assigned doors to manage the carpool traffic flow. Please click here to download the 2024-2025 Traffic Flow Map. 

Transportation/Bussing:

Families residing in School District 279 may opt-in to morning bus transportation.  A Transportation Request Form can be completed as part of the enrollment packet.  If you have questions, please contact Matt Shepherd in the Business Office.

Our Business Office will submit the Transportation Request Form to District 279.  District 279 will then contact you late summer with a pick time and location (usually at your home or the cross street/corner near your home). Students are brought to the High School closest to their residence (either Osseo, Park Center, or Maple Grove High School) and then transfer to the bus going to Maranatha, arriving at Maranatha about 7:30 am.

After-school bussing is not available.

Maranatha offers students, staff, and guests multiple options for hot lunch, from al a carte to vegetarian to premium, and more. Current lunch menus can be found on the MCA App, or on the lunch program page of our website.

Adding money into your family lunch account

• Login into your FACTS family portal (district code MCA-MN)
• Click on the financial tab to load money into the lunch account. Funds deposited will show up immediately. There is no waiting period.
• Lunch accounts are family accounts so all enrolled children in a family will share the funds. 
• Lunch accounts are not automatically replenished. Parents must authorize additional funds by logging back into your portal. When lunch accounts go below $10, you will receive reminder emails to load additional funds. 
• Parents are able to view what has been purchased each day in their account.

Junior/Senior Lunch 

Juniors and Seniors may eat lunch in the Coffee House. Lunch items may be purchased from the Coffee House if they choose. The Coffee House is not linked to student's lunch accounts and require payment by cash or credit card. 

As part of MCA’s continuous enrollment process, returning students entering Grades K, 7, 10, and 12 must provide an updated Health or Sports Physical and Immunization form.

For more information on physicals, immunizations, and medications, please visit our health section.

One of the most common questions asked is "When will we find out our teacher (PK-4th) or get a copy of our class schedule (5th-12th).

• Teacher and Class Assignments for Lower School are sent by mid-August. Please do not email principals requesting teachers or class assignments. Our staff has a process to be sure that all classrooms are balanced according to need. Requests are not guaranteed or given priority above the overall class needs. 
• Class schedules (Grades 5-12) are provided at Back to School night. If you have questions about your schedule, selecting classes, or drop/add, please contact Deborah Meiners in the Academic and College Counseling office. 

Academic Handbooks:

Middle School Handbook

High School Handbook

BYOD Device Guide (Grades 5-12)

Academic, College, and Career Planning

Maranatha’s College and Career Counseling Department assists students in discovering God’s call on their lives through a greater understanding of their identity in Christ, strengths, giftings, and exploration of classes, careers, and career paths.

Each MCA student is assigned a counselor to guide them in all aspects of student life, ultimately to bridge from high school into their future – whether it’s college, missions, the military, or directly into a career.

Click here for more information. 

At Maranatha, we believe in rest and rejuvenation during the summer, but we also believe in keeping the mind active. Many grades have Summer Reading Requirements. Please visit our summer reading schedule for details.