Parenting is probably the most important job in a person’s lifetime. The ‘job description’ is ever changing, individualistic and never-ending. Last

month we discussed the overall goals as a parent. This month I would like you to consider the ‘Prime Objective’ of parenting. The Prime Objective is simple but is all consuming and affects every part of you. Your number one job is making sure your child “gets into heaven”. Think about it! The Father put you here on this earth because He knew He needed you and He knew He needed your child. The Father has a reason, a purpose and a plan. You, as a parent, are part of the plan of God in your child’s life to fit into what God wants in their life. Maranatha is supportive and instructive of that plan and preparation—for life, for college, for where God will take them. Maranatha’s commitment is to help prepare to reach that Prime Objective in each child as we help students to interact with the world as Christians.

But what does it entail to “get your child into heaven”? It takes a daily commitment on the part of the parent to stay strong in their relationship with Jesus. It takes you, modeling your faith in front of your children. It takes you doing as Deuteronomy 4 says, “Give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and grandchildren.” As a parent, make your relationship with Jesus Christ a common topic to talk about. Let them see you trusting Jesus. Let them see the good days and the hard times and that you are trusting Jesus through it all. Make a point of talking to your student about Jesus every day—in some way. Make it a point to pray with your child every day. Your parenting is vital to your child as they see you trusting Christ.

THE SAGASECONDARY NEWS FROM MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

VOLUME VI ISSUE III November 2012

The Principal’s Principles

Boyd Beck

Check out Josh McDowell’s Youth Devotions on the

free YouVersion App on your iPhone, iPad, iPod. These are great

devotionals for teens for you to talk about as a family at dinner, in the

car or whenever!

NHS TutoringThe National Honor Society offers tutoring to any students after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:00 in room 240.

Excellent Gifting ResourceAnniversaries, Birthdays, Baby

Showers, Wedding Showers, Christmas Gifts, Gas Cards, and your everyday

needs.... there is a SCRIP card for it!

Easy Gift-Giving and it supports the school at no additional cost to you.

That’s a WIN-WIN for all!

Easy ordering - Go to shopthescrip.com, create an account, use code E793AFCF23173, and follow the

directions. Or stop into the secondary office and grab a few pre-filled cards! Easily help yourself and your school!

Remember to Vote! November 6th!Advance Voting Available at Ten Quivira Plaza - Shawnee

12156 Shawnee Mission Parkway (one block west of Quivira Rd)

Jeremy Ediger is a 9th-12th grade Science teacher at Maranatha. He thoroughly enjoys working with students and teaching science from a Biblical perspective. He has been at Maranatha for three years and holds a B.S. in Secondary Education Science from Kansas State University.

Mr. Ediger has shown his flexibility by teaching in both the physical sciences and life sciences and technology. He currently teaches Biology and Anatomy/Physiology. He has also coached the Junior High boys basketball team and was a sponsor of the Class of 2012.

Mr. Ediger attends the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood and takes part in many of their programs there. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife of two years, Madison; reading science fiction; playing sports, especially basketball; and watching his Cats go on to victory.

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By Dave KeenerAthleticsAlley

As we wind up the fall sports seasons it is a great time to reflect. I look back on lessons learned and character shown as that

is the focus of our school and athletic program. I can see growth in the soccer team as far as effort and attitude in a great way. Team finished competing hard and with good attitudes. Football team experienced difficult situations but learned how to compete in a God honoring way until the final whistle. The volleyball team showed incredible improvement throughout the season and with a young team there is great optimism for the future. Tennis team had a great season with first year coach Lesli Bailey. She was able to motivate the girls to work hard on their skills and also work through the individual and team aspects of the season. Cross Country had an amazing year with the girls team again winning conference and regionals and the boys team enduring injuries and eligibility issues to finish 2nd at regionals and qualify for state. The Girls Cross Country team won 3rd place at State. The exciting part of the fall was also looking at our JH sports. The girls volleyball team goes into post season tournament play as the #1 seed in the A division after going 11-1 through the regular season, the B team had a very successful season as well and looks forward to their tournament coming up. JH Soccer finished the season 4-2-1 and go into post season as the #4 seed but are playing some of their best soccer currently. With an A and B team in soccer, it is encouraging to look at the talent coming up in that sport as well. I am thankful for the efforts of our great coaching staff and the way that they pour Christ into the lives of our athletes. They are making a difference for the kingdom of God.

Senior Amy Siemers qualified for state tennis championships this year after placing 4th at

regionals. She is seen here practicing with Coach Bailey. Amy had a memorable senior season.

Congratulations, Amy, on your great year!

Jeremy Ediger

Teacher In-ServicesWhile students took a few days off Maranatha

teachers attended in-services to further study the current academic theme of “Multiple Intelligences/Differentiated Learning”.

Education, Special Education and Brain Specialist professors from John Brown University came to instruct and demonstrate the latest theories and practice of teaching students in all areas of the learning styles.

Dr. Margo Turner and Brian Hyde (JBU) actively participated and gave activities as your Maranatha teachers continued to further comprehend the details of the brain and how individual students learn according to the 9 learning styles. Maranatha is committed to engaging your students in a professionally academic setting as well as approaching students from a Biblical worldview.

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I am in my eleventh year of teaching and my 4th year of teaching here at MCA. The Lord led me to Maranatha as a teacher after I began coaching the Men’s and Women’s soccer teams in 2008. I teach 7th and 8th grade Pre-Algebra, 9th grade Algebra and boys PE. I graduated from Baker University with degrees in Education and Mathematics.

I was raised in a Christian home and have been active in church most of my life; but it was when I was in my 20s that I totally gave my life to the Lord and then began a relationship with Jesus. I fully realized His grace for me and I had a purpose in his Kingdom. I now attend Kingdom Living Church in Merriam and have been there for about 2 years. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:4-9. It talks about living a life of rejoicing and prayer and keeping one’s focus on what is noble and good, like the Lord’s truth and His faithfulness.

On Thursday, October 4 Maranatha hosted the Shawnee Chamber of

Commerce breakfast showcasing the academic, Godly Character and Biblical

Worldview programs of the school. The breakfast was attended by many in

the Shawnee Business community.

Collegeonnect

on

Letters of Recommendation take time to write. Give your recommenders two weeks to respond!

Four scholarships available with November deadlines. See mca-eagles.

Kansas State University-NOV 1 http://www.k-state.edu

University of Kansas-NOV 1http://www.scholarships.ku.edu

Wichita State University-NOV 1 http://www.wichita.edu

Fort Hays State University-NOV 15 http://www.fhsu.edu

i Don’t forget the Personal Data Sheet (pp 37-40), “Preparing for College Handbook”, MCA website.

By Susan Hanson

Nov. 2register for

ACT!!!

Thank you parents. It was a cold evening, but thank you to the 50% of Maranatha parents who braved the rain and the cold to talk to teachers. Each teacher was able to sit and discuss student progress and encourage parents about their student’s continued success.

Keith Nelson

November 30th is the last day to order MCA Yearbooks at only $35! December 1st, the cost

rises to $50.

Maranatha productions will present “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Nov. 8th-9th at 7pm. The Oscar Wilde classic British comedy is a story

of mistaken identity, romance and entanglement. Whenever Jack Worthing (Cole Mowerer) slips

away to London from his Hertfordshire estate he says he is going to see his fictitious wayward brother Ernest. Once there he keeps his privacy by calling himself Ernest - luckily so, as his beloved Gwendoline (Natalie Marmon) declares she could only love an Ernest. Gwendoline’s mother, Lady

Bracknell (Helen Isaac), does not approve of Jack even before she knows of his alter ego. Gwendoline’s cousin, and Jack’s friend Algy (Michael Poleleyev), is the one person who knows Jack’s secret and deceptively travels down to Jack’s estate, announcing himself to Jack’s ward Cecily(Brooklyn Kroening) as bad brother Ernest. Cecily is much taken with him and with his name. Algy returns his affection. On Jack’s return home and Gwendoine’s unexpected arrival, it becomes clear there are both too many and too few Ernests earnestly courting. The comedy keeps rolling with the affections of Cecily’s tutor Miss Prism (Morgan Grote) with the celibate pastor Dr. Chasuble (Nick Hoduski), and the servant help of Miss Lane (Brooke Bowlin) and Miriam (Brenda Galan/Brooke Bowlin). Lest you assume a typical “happily-ever-after” ending, plan to attend and discover not-so-typical conclusion.

Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. The production will be held on the North Gym Stage and will be dedicated to 2009 Maranatha graduate and thespian Alexis Brownlee, who passed away last summer.We look forward to seeing you!

Seniors and the “Junior High No Date Dance”The weather was cloudy and dreary, but the class of

2013 did not let a little rain spoil the atmosphere and mood of their last MCA class retreat! The day was filled with incredible opportunities for spiritual renewal, for fun and fellowship, and for eating almost non-stop!! Even the bus ride home was loud with enthusiasm and sounded more like a pep rally as they planned and prepared for ways to launch many of the ideas generated throughout the day.

The day began with a sweet time worship in the chapel at the Youthfront South campground, in LaCygne, Kansas, and was followed by a powerful message from youth pastor, Mr. Jake Edwards, from Central Church of the Nazarene. Following the spiritual challenges posed by Jake, the students were privileged to once again work with Mr. Dave McCalley. Dave led the class of 2013 in creating a vision statement for their senior year at MCA. He helped them to take it one step further in leading them to put that vision into action. The day was a huge success, and we as a school are already seeing the fruits from that day of seed planting and cultivating.

One part of the vision statement for the class of 2013 was “…to pass on a legacy” and “to start a fire for God for years to come.” The class has united to make this begin to happen by investing time and energy into building relationships with underclassmen. On the night of Thursday, October 18th, they hosted a Hoedown themed No-Date Dance for the Jr. High. They worked hard to prepare a song list that would include many of the Jr. High favorites. They taught them how to Two-Step and Swing Dance, and they encouraged them throughout the night. Mrs. Rachel Raydo prepared her famous pulled pork sandwiches which were delicious!! It was a great night of fun for everyone! It is exciting to see our school come together as one family, bringing honor to our glorious God!

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MCA Class of 2016

MCA united!!

Freshmen Class Hayride and Bon Fire

The evening began with a great meal. Sierra Hoehn, Alana Bishop, CJ Shiner and Joseph Moon enjoy the ‘spread’.

Students gathered around the camp fire, praising God in song.

...laughs among friends.

Tools for Parents:

www.focusonthefamily.org offers great information on parenting teens.

www.parentingtodaysteens.org offers good insights for parents.

Calling all men and kids over 14! November 3rd, 6:30 AM start, the Shiner family is hosting

an open fire breakfast served off the fire. Take time out to experience God’s nature and the stillness of His creation. There will be a time of prayer and reflection. Continuing with a day’s fun of target shooting.

All men and kids over 14 are invited regardless of experience or even if you just prefer to watch. This is a time of prayer and fellowship, so please come on out.

You can Google for directions to the Shiners place – 16866 Hollingsworth Rd, Basehor, KS 66007. The Shiners do live out a ways for you “in town” people, so carpooling might be a good idea.

Buckshot Prayer Breakfast- NoV 3