Dear Families,

We hope and pray you are enjoying the final days of summer and are excited for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

As you are aware, we will begin the year on the campus of Mariners Church, Irvine. The church will host us from the first day of school, Thursday, September 17th through Friday, October 9th. The following information is provided to ensure preparation for this time.

Reopening Plan and Guidelines @ Mariners Church

• The full reopening plan communicated in August will be implemented while at the church. In addition, we will comply with all church guidelines and requirements.
• Cooperation and support from all members of the MCS community is expected. This includes:

• • Face covering guidelines: strongly recommended for grades Tk-2, required for grades 3-8, required for all staff and all adults when on campus including when visiting the front desk.
  • Adults on the church campus: Only school or church personnel are allowed to be on the church campus. Parents must check in at the MCS front desk area and remain in that area when on campus. Parents may not enter the church campus.

Communication, Front Desk, Health Office @ Mariners Church

• MCS has established a front desk, or reception area, at Mariners Church. This area is located off the upper parking lot in the Kid’s Ministry Building. The carpool video provided indicates this location. Late arrivals, early dismissals, health office check out, supply drop offs are to be conducted at this location.
• Communication can be relayed and staff reached by calling MCS at 714-437-1700. The call will then be forwarded to the MCS front desk line at Mariners Church. The front desk at the church can also be reached directly by calling 949-402-6149. This number has been specifically established for our time at Mariners Church.
• A designated area has also been established for our Health Office. This area will be supported by health office staff and will provide all necessary care. As always, parents will be contacted by the school nurse in the event a child is sick or injured.

Snacks and Water @ Mariners Church

• Mariners Church is a nut free campus and we ask that all families comply with this requirement. Students should bring a midday snack that they can enjoy during morning recess but please ensure the snack is nut free. In addition, students should bring plenty of water each school day as there will not be access to drinking fountains.

Uniforms @ Mariners Church

• Though a different location, uniform guidelines will still be enforced. Students are expected to be in the appropriate school uniform each day.

Morning and Afternoon Carpool @ Mariners Church

• Morning and afternoon carpool procedures have been adjusted for the time at the church. To view a video of these carpool procedures, click here. Detailed written instructions can be found here and maps of both carpool routes can be found here.
• Morning carpool will be held 7:30-7:55 and afternoon beginning at 12:20. Please do not arrive before these carpool times avoiding any standing traffic on the Mariners Church campus. Please abide by all procedures outlined in the instructions and video.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Here’s to a great year together!

For His Name’s Sake,
MCS Administration Team

Important Details for All Families and Students: In-person Learning and Remote Learning

Meet the Teacher Day

Return to Campus Consent Form

Daily At-Home Health Screening

School Hours Thursday, September 17th through Friday, October 9th

School and Classroom Supplies

Important Information for In-Person Learning

Daily Arrival Procedures

Late Arrivals, Early Check Outs, Health Office

After School Enrichment Camps

Important Information for Remote Learners

• Mariners Church will host MCS for the first 3.5 weeks of school until we are back on our campus, in a beautiful new building which is another gift from God.
• Due to specified parameters, the following adjustments will be made for the time period that we will hold school at Mariners Church:
  • Modified Daily Schedule for all Grades: 8:00-12:30, carpool will begin at 7:30
  • Weekly Enrichment Camps: Each grade level will be invited to attend a weekly after school enrichment program on the campus of MCS.
  • Meet the Teacher Day and First Day of School Adjustments: Meet the Teacher Day will now be held on Wednesday, September 16th and the first day of school on Thursday, September 17th. An additional school day has been added to the end of the year to preserve the same number of instructional days. The last day of school is now Thursday, June 17th.

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!