Dear Parents, 

Blessings to you and your families! Today, I am praying Ephesians 1:16-23 over our school community which beautifully says,  

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that God, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His inheritance, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at His right hand, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name not only in the present but in the age to come. For God placed all things under his feet!” Praying for wisdom, hope and a filling of His great power in you. Amen! 

Preparations for the upcoming school year continue and the Fall 2020 Reopening Plan is now complete. The reopening plan was established in collaboration with members of the “Fall 2020 Reopening Committee”, consultation with health and legal counsel, guidance from CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Stronger Together, and in full compliance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). 

With the established goal of returning to in-school learning, it is important to understand we will do anything and everything necessary to: 

• Obtain waiver approval which requires strict adherence to requirements set forth by the CDPH. 
• Reopen for in-person learning on the first day of school and remain open avoiding any form of closure as much as possible.
• Mitigate risk for all community members. Decisions not only consider the health and well-being of students but that of our staff. We understand the reduced risks for younger children. However, it is our responsibility and priority to mitigate the risks for staff so they can safely and confidently return to in-person work. 
• Remain as fluid and flexible as possible understanding that, as the situation changes, we will adjust our practices and protocols as necessary.  

Understandably, the reopening plan will prompt many questions. Over the next several weeks, we will communicate more specifically on several of the topics within the reopening plan including, but not limited to: face coverings, cohort groupings, hygiene practices, physical distancing, and arrival/dismissal protocols. We recognize it will be helpful to understand how this plan will be implemented and applied throughout the school day and further communication on individual topics will provide this clarity. The MCS Fall 2020 Reopening Plan can be found on our website

In His great wisdom, hope, and power, 

Heather Harrison 

Head of School 

• Understand all guidelines and requirements for a safe re-opening
• Monitor OC health statistics and facts and collect data from both staff and parents to inform decisions
• Consultation with legal counsel, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (MCS’s accreditation body), and school insurance agents
• Collaboration with a consortium of Christian and independent private schools
• Consultation with medical experts
• Complete multiple trainings: health, safe practices, workplace and employee protections
• Establishment of a “Fall Reopening Planning Committee” with 17+ individuals representing all MCS stakeholders
• Order necessary safety-related supplies and equipment
• Completion of the school re-opening waiver released 8/3/2020. Important Note: though the waiver only applies to TK-6th grade, 7th and 8th grade parents, do not lose heart! We are working to provide in-person learning for all of our students. Additional details regarding the waiver approval and in-person learning opportunities for all students will be provided as possible over the next couple of weeks.

• Prayer and seeking God’s wisdom and will above all
• Fulfilling the school’s mission to “build a firm foundation through Christ-centered education” and our core values of a Love for Christ, Exemplary Academics, Whole Child Focus, Culture of Innovation, and Connected Community
• Returning to in-school learning
• Seeking the best interest of our students to meet spiritual, academic, emotional, social, and physical needs while also considering the best interest of families
• Seeking the best interest of our staff as we understand and prioritize their health and safety needs, assumed risks, comfort levels, as well as the best interest of their families. MCS staff interests are vital and will be prioritized as we open the school. It is vital families recognize the importance of our staff’s well-being.
• Protecting the long term stability and sustainability of MCS. This is temporary. Our current situation related to COVID-19 will pass, therefore we will make decisions that meet current needs while balancing the long-term interests of the school. Current decisions can not and will not jeopardize or negatively impact the future of our school.
• Opening safely AND remaining open which will provide the most stability, best meet needs, and ensure the greatest success for all.

• We humbly ask for your faithful commitment to praying with us and for us. There is power in a praying community and we fully recognize our need for prayer. It is vital to each of us and it binds us together in unity. And, with great confidence we trust that God answers prayers! So we ask that you, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” Ephesians 6:18.
• We ask for your continued understanding, grace, kindness, patience, and trust. Rest assured we are working diligently on your behalf and no stone is left unturned. We fully recognize the need for clarity, information, and, as much as possible, certainty about the year ahead. It is vital that families understand our complete efforts and investment in providing information that is needed. In addition, we ask that parents know we will do everything and anything necessary to ensure our students can return to campus. With sincere hearts we ask, just as Peter did of the church, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, and humble” 1 Peter 3:8.
• We thank you for your commitment. Just as MCS will not make temporary decisions that could potentially have a negative impact on our long term future, we ask parents to prayerfully consider all decisions and remain committed to MCS. Our admissions team is busier than ever as we continue to enroll new students. We currently have waitlists in several grades with other grades very close to full capacity. We will continue to enroll students according to our enrollment and operating plan. As always, current families have  priority for 2021-2022 reenrollment. Given the extreme interest we have experienced in the past several years to attend MCS, we cannot guarantee future enrollment unless you are currently enrolled for this school year. Please understand and trust, this is only shared to ensure families can take all information into consideration as decisions are made for the upcoming school year and beyond. We love our community and our genuine hope is that we remain together through this storm and we will be stronger for it!

MCS Mission Prevails through COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 12, MCS announced a proactive school closure in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In the weeks leading up to this decision, teachers and students were being prepared and trained to transition our TK-8th grade students to a full-scale remote learning program, which put us in a strong position for the closure. Within 72 hours, our administration, teachers, and IT team successfully launched the plan. Rooted in our Core Values, our remote learning program allows all MCS students to continue progressing through the 2019-20 school year in spite of present circumstances, connecting our MCS Community in Spirit and purpose as we walk this unprecedented journey together.

The MCS Mission is now more important than ever.  Whether remote or in person, our staff is “building a firm foundation through Christ-centered education” in the hearts and minds of students.  We are harnessing the power of Next Generation technology to ensure that each child’s academic and spiritual growth continues uninterrupted during this season.

Parent Preparation Key for Remote Learning

Preparation of MCS parents was paramount to a successful transition to home learning. Through a dedicated webpage, we provided parents with a central place to locate all necessary resources, including Daily Schedules, Community Updates, Enrichment Class Board, and 14 Helpful Tips for Supporting Remote Learning.  Our parents have expressed their gratitude for the level of prayerful, intentional care provided by our staff during this sudden shift to home learning.

Foundation of Next Generation Technology is Springboard

Because of our historically strong integration of technology within academic programming, the vast majority of our students were well-equipped to make the transition.  Middle School in particular had a solid foundation of student-ownership in learning via Schoology and a 1:1 iPad program, allowing for the switch from on campus to off to transition more smoothly.  We quickly integrated the Zoom video-conferencing platform to support our instructional needs in all grades, while elementary teachers walked students through the process with loads of patience and TLC.

Continuation of MCS Exemplary Academic Program

To-date, every student has been equipped with the necessary technology and resources to continue learning pathways in all subjects, including enrichment classes for Whole Child instruction. Our specialist teachers created a phenomenal Enrichment Learning Board with videos, lessons, and options for students to supplement their core curriculum each day.

Students have been provided with daily schedules that require them to login to a video conferencing platform for lectures, group discussions/activities, and more.  Their daily school schedule is supported by teachers who are dedicated to building relationships with each student, including 1:1 facetime and small group instruction with students who need extra support.  In fact, our Student Support Program, which provides vital academic support for many students, is in full swing with study sessions and individual check-ins scheduled throughout the school day.  

Parent feedback to our Remote Learning Program has been tremendously positive!  Social media comments, emails, and texts have poured in with supportive feedback on the homefront.  Passionate about their students, our teachers have been burning the midnight oil to build a program that is engaging and comprehensive as well as fluid and responsive to the present quarantine.

Prioritizing Spiritual Enrichment

MCS teachers and administrators have gone above and beyond to partner with parents and ensure students are including time to pray, worship, and study God’s word. 

Our Bible teachers are producing a video curriculum for TK – 5th grade, as well as teaching two interactive middle school Bible classes every week. In addition to studying God’s word in the classroom, teachers are continuing to start each class with prayer, and incorporating times of worship when possible. 

Daily Devotionals are being offered to students and parents.  Each day, a new morning devotional is posted so that families can begin their day with encouragement and teaching from God’s Word.

Maintaining Connection as an MCS Community

MCS will not be deterred in our efforts to build community during this challenging time.  In addition to providing daily devotionals, we’re leveraging our social media to maintain a connected community. We recently launched MCS Community Challenges which encourage families to share short videos of themselves participating in challenges like sharing something they’re thankful for or showing off their best dance moves. To read up and join the challenge, click here. 

Even our Parents in Prayer committee has embraced the remote concept, and they are continuing to meet online weekly, lifting up prayer needs within our school community as well as requests for our nation and our world. 

Coming soon will be “Acts of Service,” an opportunity for MCS students to be the hands and feet of Jesus, salt and light, to the hurting community around us.  Our staff will provide practical ways for them to serve and encourage their neighbors and the world, even while social distancing.

Without question, this has been the biggest global crisis of the Century — yet as a Christian community, in all communications, we encourage each other to continue looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.  We may not know what will happen next, but we know that HE knows, and we can find comfort and peace in that simple yet irrefutable fact.