"Building a firm foundation through Christ-centered education"
Ladies Luncheon
Over 100 Moms and Grandmas were delighted to hear Megan Hutchinson (MCS Mom and Pastor of Adult Ministries at St. Andrews Church) at yesterday's Ladies Luncheon held at Sherman Library and Gardens. Megan shared about the great privilege and sacred responsibility Moms have to set an authentic, present, and joyful tone at home. She encouraged us to set our priorities according to God's Love Letter, the Bible, and spill the love of God onto those we encounter throughout the day. It was a great way to start the first week of Advent.
Thank you to Irene Yonkers and her team for coordinating such a special event.There are still items left to bid on at the following link:
https://e.gesture.com/events/5rj/i/
Annual Fund 2016: Made to Glorify
Thank you to the 70+ families and faculty who have pledged your support to MCS's 2016 Annual Fund to-date. We are beginning to move towards our goal of 100% Participation by December 31!
Each gift allows MCS to expand student opportunities and experiences that would not be possible on tuition alone. Annual Fund giving directly impacts our students' education by:
Your time, talent, and enthusiasm are needed to help make our 2017 MCS Gala a great success and to raise funds for Mariners Christian School. RSVP to Natalie Hill at [email protected] or just show up. Held in the Learning Lab.
Elementary Chapel - Willing Hearts
"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness."
Psalm 115:1
Elementary students in grades 1st - 5th had a visit this week in chapel from Chris McCall, Pastor of Families and Children at Grace Fellowship Church, and former MCS Chapel Worship Director. Using our MCS Glorify theme verse of Psalm 115:1, Chris shared that God is taking his whole family on a new ministry adventure in the next couple years for His Glory!
Chris told the story of using his love of music as a young boy to lead worship in his church growing up. He challenged the students that as believers, we know God's great story of Jesus, and God is looking for willing hearts to tell that story. Chris and his family will be working with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to train missionaries to tell God's story through music as a tool for discipleship, theological training, and outreach. Chris will be in pastoral care over those trained, visiting and helping them as they begin work in varying cultures. The McCalls have sold their home and will be leaving in January.
The students prayed over the McCall Family, for their work with missionaries, and for their new home and community at the YWAM training base in Kona, Hawaii.
MCS Book Fair December 1 - 7, 2016
Volunteers Still Needed
Parents may visit with their child's class or shop anytime between 7:30 and 4:00 p.m. daily through December 7th.
Mrs. Koenig is still in need of volunteers. If you are available to help out, please contact Mrs. Koenig at your earliest convenience at [email protected].
Click here to view the UPDATED VOLUNTEER shifts available. Thank you so much in advance.
DON'T FORGET TO STOP IN DURING THE DONUTS WITH DAD EVENT ON THE 7TH (see below).
Donuts With Dad - Wednesday, December 7th
Calling all Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers, etc., to
SAVE THE DATE of Wednesday, 12/7 from 7:30-8:45! You are invited to join our students on campus for coffee and donuts. This is a donations-only event, with cash and checks welcome.
All proceeds will go directly towards our goal of helping our beloved friends in Gulu build a Chapel/Community Center at Christ the Center Ministries!
We hope to see you Wednesday morning, 12/7!
**Note ~ this date has changed from the original date of 11/30.**
Last Weekend to Prepare Your Shoebox Gifts
During a recent overnight stay with their Grandparents, Catalina and Lauren Carstensen (pictured left) along with their Grandparents prepared 25 shoebox gifts for our Christmas outreach. Thank you to Grandpa Carstensen for coming to the school and dropping off the boxes with your Granddaughters.
Inspired by the Doyle Family and how their giving has grown from packing one shoebox to over 115 annually, Ava and Ivy Banger (pictured right with Mom) worked really hard to put together 70 Christmas shoeboxes over Thanksgiving Break. Thank you Ava and Ivy. Thank you Mrs. Banger for bringing all of the boxes to the school.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this outreach!
Deadline to Drop Off Your Shoebox Gift Wednesday (12/7)
Volunteer Packers and Drivers Needed at 3PM 12/7
-click for flyer-
The deadline to drop off you shoebox is December 7th. We will be packing and transporting the shoeboxes to the OCC Distribution Center on the corner of Jamboree and Michelson at 3PM on December 7th. If you would like to help pack and deliver them, please email Natalie English at
[email protected].
All MCS families are invited to celebrate The Light of the World with our 2nd and 3rd grade singers
under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Moore. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate Jesus' birth!
Gulu: Giving By Grade Challenge December 1-15
This week we launched our
All-School Gulu: Giving By Grade Challenge! Students have from
December 1 through December 15 to bring in change for their homeroom class jar. This is a grade level competition so all of the homerooms will be cooperating with other homerooms in their same grade level. (TK will participate with the Kindergarten classes.) Students are being encouraged to get creative with raising money to contribute (lemonade stands, recycling, selling water at games, hot cocoa stands, etc.). We can't wait to see how God stirs up compassion in the heart of our students!
The GRADE LEVEL in Elementary and the GRADE LEVEL in Middle School who raise the most money for GULU will earn a Free Dress Day on Wednesday, 12/21!
As an added incentive any homeroom class that raises more than $250 will be treated to a sweet treat (donut holes) on 12/21!
We have to give a shout out to 2H who kicked off day one of the competition with a full jar! Way to set a great example, 2H!
What is "success" and how do we help our children develop into "successful people"?
Take this time to intentionally consider how our parenting today impacts our children for the rest of their lives. Moms & Dads - you do not want to miss this powerful morning!
All MCS Moms & Dads are invited to join us for our first Legacy Morning of the 2016-17 school year. Join us for a panel discussion and Q & A with alumni students and parents, and current parents who are in the trenches working with youth in education, high school administration, youth ministry and marriage & family therapy. Panel participants will include: current and alumni parents David O'Neil, Tim Bahadoor, Tami Thurston; alumni students Sarah (Mull) Parsons, Trevor Lawrence, and Robbie Boyer. We will also be welcoming back Matt Heim, from the Center for Individual and Family Therapy (CIFT).
RSVP on or before Monday, December 12th, by
clicking here.
MCS Legacy Events seek to provide the space for conversations and connection between alumni parents & students and current MCS parents. We recognize that one of our greatest strengths is our alumni parent community that has the gift of being one step ahead of where our current families are in the process of raising their children. It is an absolute gift to be able to hear from alumni parents whose children are now in high school, college, or even beyond the college years. Their insight and perspective is rich and offers courage to parents in the trenches of the elementary and middle school years. These events promote connection, authenticity, transparency and provide morsels of wisdom.
All MCS families are invited to the Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 15th at 6:30 PM
The concert will feature our Elementary and Middle School Bands and Orchestras in collaboration with Tech Arts III directed by Mr. Christopher Lucas, Mrs. Lynelle Harding, and Mr. Pax Pulido.
Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
MCS Spirit Wear & Uniform Guidelines
MCS Spirit Sweatshirts: May be worn with the uniform on any school day
MCS Spirit T-Shirts: May be worn on T-Shirt Tuesday only
MCS Spirit Hats: May be worn outdoors only. Hats should never be worn in chapel and will be taken away if worn in the classroom.
MCS Spirit Headbands and bows (girls only): May be worn with the uniform on any school day
MCS Spirit Wristbands: May be worn on any school day
Spirit Wear will be sold in the front parking lot on Mondays from 7:30-8:30AM.
Attached you will find the Spirit Wear Guidelines as well as the Order Form for future purchases. If you have any further questions, please contact our Spirit Wear Coordinator Irene Yonkers at [email protected].
Volunteers Needed: We are looking for volunteers to help on Mondays from 7:20-8:45 a.m. selling Spirit Wear and on Fridays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. to help fill and deliver Spirit Wear orders to the classrooms. Please contact our Spirit Wear Coordinator, Irene Yonkers if you'd like to help at [email protected].
Parents in Prayer Meets Weekly on Monday
All Parents Are Invited to Pray
-click flyer to view-
Please contact Carrie Olson at
[email protected] if you have questions.
Family CommUNITY Connection Newsletter
Happy December, MCS Families!
This month our Family CommUNITY Connection newsletter is centered around
"Preparing Him Room." There are so many "good things" to be enjoyed and celebrated over this holiday season. But, the saying "good is the enemy of best" might be most true for the month of December as all of these good things can leave very little space for the very best thing our souls need.
This list is provided to you by our Parent Teacher Fellowship.
Attention Moms of Kindergarten Girls
If you are interested in co-leading a future Kindergarten Girl Scout troop, please contact Mrs. Barnhill at [email protected] or call/text her at 949.400.6428.
Middle School E-Newsletter
December 2, 2016
Beautiful young women of God. We're so proud of our Middle Schoolers!
6th & 7th Grade Girls' Basketball and 6th & 7th Grade Boys' Football Sports Awards - Tuesday, December 6, 6:30PM
Families are invited to come out and celebrate their MCS Fall Athletes on Tuesday, December 6th, at 6:30PM. Please look for a sign in the lobby for location.
GO MCS LIONS!
Donuts With Dad - Wednesday, December 7th
Calling all Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers, etc., to
SAVE THE DATE of Wednesday, 12/7 from 7:30-8:45! You are invited to join our students on campus for coffee and donuts. This is a donations-only event, with cash and checks welcome.
All proceeds will go directly towards our goal of helping our beloved friends in Gulu build a Chapel/Community Center at Christ the Center Ministries!
We hope to see you Wednesday morning, 12/7!
*
*Note ~ this date has changed from the original date of 11/30.**
For the first time ever, MCS is hosting the Middle School Christmas party off campus. We are excited to share that we have reserved Fountain Valley Skate Center, which has so generously agreed to donate a portion of our entrance fees to benefit Gulu! We understand if your child has prior obligations and must arrive late or leave early, but we hope that every middle school student can join us for some Christmas fun on wheels!
The afternoon will be full of games, competitions, fellowship, and laughter, and we don't want your student to miss out. The cost is $10 per student and attire for the day is "Tacky Christmas Attire" (continued from our Dollar Dress Day theme that day at school; MCS Dress Code guidelines apply)
Other Details:
The FVSC Snack Bar will be available (food items ranging from $1-$5)
Parents may drop off any time after 4:00 pm and pick-up promptly by 6:00 pm
MCS Staff will chaperone
Light refreshments provided
Must bring socks for rented skates, or students may bring their own skates
No need to RSVP, students just show up!
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact Paulette Seaman at
[email protected].
*The Fountain Valley Skate Center is located at: 9105 Recreation Cir, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Middle School $ Dress Day - Monday, December 12
Our December $ Dress Day coincides with our Christmas Skate Party! On Monday, 12/12, participating students can bring in at least $1 and wear Tacky Christmas attire! We hope to see everything from tacky Christmas sweaters to reindeer antler hats, and everything in between! This is not to be confused with red/green dress day on 12/22/16, when students simply wear a red or green t-shirt and jeans.
Students participating in Tacky Christmas Dress Day should be decked out in Christmas attire and accessories, very clearly participating in the theme.
Students will wear that same Tacky Christmas attire to our Middle School Christmas Party at Fountain Valley Skate Center later that afternoon to continue to festivities!
Let's see which homeroom will have the most participation this month, and take the trophy from our reigning champion, Miss Green's class?
Middle School Students Shalimar Visit
Friday, December 9th
Our first Shalimar visit was a huge blessing mutually for the MCS students and the students at Shalimar. The bond that was made in just one short visit is something that takes place through Jesus Christ alone! The MCS students were begging for more time with their new friends! If your middle school student is interested in attending our next trip to Shalimar on Friday, 12/9, from 3:15-5:00, please have him or her stop by my office and pick up a permission slip, or you may
print the attached copy at home. We are taking students on a first come, first serve basis.
Permission slips are due by Tuesday (12/6).
We are in need of parent drivers! Please indicate on the form if you are able to help drive to and from Shalimar. For more details on Shalimar, please click the link:
http://www.mikacdc.org/mika101/
If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Pena at
[email protected].
Announcing Winter Sports Tryouts!!
Girls Volleyball (6th,7th & 8th graders)
December 13th, 14th, 15th (Tues-Thur) 3:00-4:30 in the gym
Boys Basketball (6th, 7th & 8th graders)
December 19th, 20th, 21st (Mon-Wed) 3:00-4:30 in the gym
Please attend all 3 days of tryouts. If you did not play a fall sport, a signed player health form (attached) must be turned in to the PE office..
GO MCS LIONS!
Middle School Photography Club
Meets Thursdays During Lunch in Mrs. Thurston's Room
Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who are interested in being part of this club must attend the meeting.
Students do not need to be a member of the photography elective to join.
Please contact Mrs. Thurston at
[email protected] if you have questions.
Student Success Center
Did you know the middle school has a Student Success Center? The goal of SSC is to support students in achieving academic goals by providing homework help and strengthening skills in organization, time management, and test preparation. We want to teach students strategies that will help them achieve success in both their academic careers and for the rest of their lives beyond MCS. Students who want to take advantage of this tremendous resource can stop by the SSC located upstairs next to the administration office to meet Mrs. Willis, receive more information, and sign up for the after school help. The SSC is open to students during the following times:
Monday: 3:00-3:30
Tuesday: 3:00-3:30
Thursday-3:00-3:30
To provide the best support, it is imperative students sign up prior to attending. We are excited to provide this great resource to our students and are thrilled to work with students throughout the year!
Middle School Auditions - January 31, 2017
Auditions will be held January 31st, 2017. Ms. Katelyn Spurgin will provided information to interested parties when they sign up with Mrs. Harding in the Music Wing (Room 308).
2017 Middle School Musical Announcement from Ms. Spurgin.
NHHS & CDM Information
Newport Harbor High School will host 8th Grade/Parent Tours on December 14, 2016 at 10AM and January 19, 2017 at 10AM. Questions, please contact Diana Long at 949.646.1556, ext. 1.
Corona del Mar Middle/High School will be having a Prospective Parent Night on Monday, December 12, at 6:30pm in the School Lecture Hall.
300 Fischer Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone 714.437.1700 & Fax 714.437.7976
Copyright 2016, Mariners Christian School. All rights reserved.
Thank you to the 70+ families and faculty who have pledged your support to MCS's 2016 Annual Fund to-date. We are beginning to move towards our goal of 100% Participation by December 31! 
Parents may visit with their child's class or shop anytime between 7:30 and 4:00 p.m. daily through December 7th.
Mrs. Koenig is still in need of volunteers. If you are available to help out, please contact Mrs. Koenig at your earliest convenience at 
This week we launched our
All-School Gulu: Giving By Grade Challenge! Students have from
Record your minutes to earn fabulous prizes!
Our first Shalimar visit was a huge blessing mutually for the MCS students and the students at Shalimar. The bond that was made in just one short visit is something that takes place through Jesus Christ alone! The MCS students were begging for more time with their new friends! If your middle school student is interested in attending our next trip to Shalimar on Friday, 12/9, from 3:15-5:00, please have him or her stop by my office and pick up a permission slip, or you may
Auditions will be held January 31st, 2017. Ms. Katelyn Spurgin will provided information to interested parties when they sign up with Mrs. Harding in the Music Wing (Room 308).
