H I S
"The earth is [ His]  and everything in it, the world, 
and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1 NIV
All-School 
11.30.18
Table of Contents
  1. Grateful for the MCS Community
  2. 100% for HIS Bright Future
  3. From the Admissions Department
  4. Upcoming Events & Activities 
  5. Elementary Highlights
  6. Happy Birthday and Spirit Rock Fun
  7. Middle School E-Newsletter 
MCS Hero of the Week
 
MCS Hero of the Week
 
Crystal Willis is a HERO! 

She works incredibly hard and often flies under the radar because she is not doing the work for any of her own glory, but because she truly wants to do her best to support her students. She loves each individual as they are and is their biggest cheerleader. She is beyond thoughtful and generous with everyone around her and knows what it means to be a blessing to others. Crystal, the hours and effort you pour into your job do not go unnoticed. You are a key ingredient to the success of all the teachers and students, so we thank you for all you do!
Grateful for the MCS Community
 grateful
Thank You Veterans and Grandparents
It was such a blessing to spend the morning of November 12th with our Grandparents and Veteran Guests for the Salute to Veterans event. They enjoyed a breakfast donated by Rancho Mission Viejo followed by impromptu sharing from the heart. Following the breakfast our guests enjoyed a special assembly with MCS students. We are grateful to our speaker and MCS Dad Lieutenant Colonel Matthew McDonald, USMC, for sharing his heart to serve and lead. It was a beautiful day celebrating God, MCS Veterans, MCS Grandparents, and our Country.  Please enjoy the photo gallery above and, if you have not yet viewed the event via Livestream, click here.
So Grateful for our Salute to Veterans PTF Volunteers



Thank you to our Parent Teacher Fellowship volunteer hospitality team led by Beth Hopkins and Cyndi Gitibin. You did a beautiful job setting up, greeting, and serving our guests. With much appreciation. Your MCS Family

Also a big thank you to Cassie Sherbanee for capturing the day's event in photography. Please enjoy the Veterans event Photo Gallery.
MCS Dads Rock - Thanks for Being Here!


Over 180 Dads attended the lunch and play event this week.  Students were so very excited to see their Dads on campus and show them around the playground and play with them. It was a very festive event and the Gaga Pit was a hit for both Dads and students. It was really just a great blessing from God. Please enjoy the short video clips below and photo gallery.
MCS Dads Rock: Basketball
Basketball
MCS Dads Rock: Foursquare Ball
Foursquare Ball
MCS Dads Rock: Foursquare Ball
Foursquare Ball
MCS Dads Rock: Gaga Pit
Gaga Pit
MCS Dads Rock: Gaga Pit
Gaga Pit

100% for HIS Bright Future
 brightfuture
100% for HIS Bright Future by December 31, 2018
Thank you in advance for your participation! 
From the Admissions Department
 admissions2
Sibling Applications for 2019-2010 OPEN!
Applications are now open for the 2019-2020 school year for siblings of current MCS students! We give priority to our current families applying for new siblings, and space is most limited in TK, Kindergarten, and 7th grade. Apply today! Please contact Ashlee Cowell acowell@marinerscs.org or Gisela Roufs groufs@marinerscs.org in the Admissions Department with any questions.
All-School Toy Drive Collection December 3rd-7th 
& Hope Bear + Bracelet
Please join our MCS Christmas Toy Drive TODAY! These toys will be used to fill BACKPACKS OF HOPE! The goal is to fill 300 backpacks of hope to be given to children in the hospital, in foster care, and children who are experiencing homelessness. We are collecting specific types of toys that can all fit in a small backpack and can be played within smaller spaces (like hospital beds, and shared rooms for foster children). A team of students have designed backpacks that have a space on them for the child to personalize it with their own name. And, they have designed HOPE BEARS - a very huggable teddy bear who wears a red shirt that says "HOPE" on it. The bear comes with a matching red bracelet that the children get to wear as well.

We invite you to JOIN US in this TOY DRIVE in 2 specific ways:

#1: 
Shop for a toy from the "Grade Level Suggested Shopping List" (see below). We will be collecting toys from DECEMBER 3rd-7th (next week)!



#2: 
Purchase (sponsor) a HOPE BEAR & BRACELET for a child in need of HOPE!  ($10)  Click Here to sponsor a HOPE BEAR!   



Click for flyer with details.
Elementary Bake Sale Hosted by 3rd Grade December 7th
During Student Lunches

MCS students are invited to purchase homemade baked goodies from our 3rd grade students during lunchtime on Friday, December 7th. All proceeds will benefit the homeless in Orange County.

3rd Grade Persuasive Writing Assignment Convinces Elementary Principal
MCS 3rd graders have become quite talented in their writing skills in literary and persuasive essays. T hey were called to write a persuasive speech within the genre of opinion writing and elected to write about the topic of hosting a bake sale using the proceeds to bless the homeless in Orange County or another group in need.  After presenting their claims, reasons, and evidence, Mrs. Biancalani, was convinced! Great job 3rd grade - we look forward to enjoying and supporting your bake sale.
Half Day of School Friday, December 21 (No ASP/TK Care)
Please note that Friday, December 21, is a half day of school and there is no ASP or TK care.
Half Day Dismissal Schedule:
*TK-K: Students dismissed at 11:55 & cars dismissed at 12:10
1st-3rd: Students dismissed at 12:00 & cars dismissed at 12:10
4th-8th: Students dismissed at 12:30 & cars dismissed at 12:40

*No front lot carpool for TK on Early Dismissal days. All carpools dismissed from the field area.
Elementary Highlights
elementaryhighlights
4th Grade Mission Project



Before Thanksgiving break, the fourth grade classes spent a day building models of all 21 California missions.  The students have been researching about individual missions and how they impacted our state history. All students exhibited teamwork, cooperation, creativity and problem solving skills in this hands-on-learning experience.  A special thank you goes out to all the parents who came in to help!  Please take time to admire all their handwork on display in the hallway by KG and 4A
Parents in Prayer Meets Monday Weekly at 8:15AM

-click to view-
All parents are warmly welcome to join Parents in Prayer on Monday weekly at 8:15AM in the ASP Room to pray for our school community. Please contact Kristen Derbyshire at  thederbyshires@gmail.com  if you have questions.
intheknowIn The Know
Choice Lunch

Please remember to order Choice Lunch for your student(s) for December and January. Thanks so much! www.choicelunch.com.
All Lost and Found Items Donated the Last School Day of the Month

Please note that lost and found items will be donated at the end of the school day on Friday, December 21st. Please take a moment to look for your lost items periodically.
Volunteers Needed!

Looking for a great way to volunteer that can  fit your schedule? Lost and found distribution would love your help. There are lots of items wanting to find their owners! Please contact Jen Crowell at jcrowell@marinerscs.org for more information. 
From the Health Office
Fall brings cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and football games. It also means another flu season is upon us. Last year's was rough. The CDC classified 2017-2018 a high severity season with high levels of outpatient clinic and emergency department visits for influenza-like illness, high influenza-related hospitalization rates, and widespread influenza activity across the United States for an extended period. The CDC estimates the flu caused between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually in the U.S. since 2010. While estimates for last season won't be available until later in the fall, it's likely that last season was record-breaking across both of these key indicators used to track severity. It's not possible to predict how severe the upcoming season will be, but we know that the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is a flu vaccine.

Flu viruses infect the nose, throat, and lungs and can cause a wide range of complications. Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu. Pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either flu virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Flu virus infection can also cause serious complications like inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu can also trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to infection. The U.S. experienced high rates of hospitalization and severe disease during the past seven flu seasons.

Flu vaccination can help keep you from getting sick from flu. Protecting yourself from flu also helps protect the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness."- CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/features/flu/index.html 

To find out where you can get a flu shot near you, Click the link below:
happybirthdayHappy Birthday & Spirit Rock Fun!

December

Leilen Shelton 12/8
Christopher Lucas 12/10
Gisela Roufs 12/12
Natasha Lomakin 12/15
Sady Amend 12/28
Crystal Willis 12/30





January

snowflake-cookies.jpg Robin Walker 1/1
Sue Celek 1/2
Keven Kroehler 1/3
Troy Moore 1/5
Vanessa Gentry 1/11
Mirranda Parks 1/11
Jennifer Crowell 1/12
Kristin Knecth 1/12
Dianne McVay 1/16
Melissa Pena 1/18
Lynda Lynch 1/21
Allison Skelly 1/22
Kelly Han 1/24
Trang Nguyen 1/31

This list is provided to you by our Parent Teacher Fellowship.
Spirit Rock - Celebrating the MCS Family


Happy Golden Birthday Abby D. Wishing you everything good and everything God...and everything golden.

Happy Birthday Ellie.  We hope you had an incredible day. Blessings on your year!

Happy Birthday Dawson! Wishing you God's blessings on your special day!


There are still a few spots open for those of you who want to celebrate something special on the PTF Spirit Rock:  https://tinyurl.com/PTFSpiritRock

If you would like to share your special rock design and person in E-News, please forward your photo to  nenglish@marinerscs.org .
middleschoolenewsMiddle School E-Newsletter

  H I S
"The earth is [ His]  and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1 NIV
11.30.18
Chapel Review


We were honored to have Daniel Orduรฑa and Scott Williams from Narrative Church co-preach at our middle school Chapel on Monday!  They spoke about what it means to be a human, created in HIS image, the pinnacle of HIS Creation! They walked us through Colossians 3:5-17, and explained that once we make that decision to accept Jesus into our hearts, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  By that power, we begin to shed those things that mar the image of God that He created us with. HIS image is restored in us as we shed the "old" things and replace them with things He originally intended us to bare.  Things like: joy, kindness, peace, patience, and love.  Things that allow us to operate as the children of God we were created to be!  They asked us to consider what needs to be shed in our life, so that we can ask God to replace it with the things that reflect His image.  We are thankful to Daniel and Scott for sharing this impactful message with us, and are humbled at the ways we see God working in our students. 
Toy Drive Collection December 3rd-7th 
& Hope Bear + Bracelet
Please join our MCS Christmas Toy Drive TODAY! These toys will be used to fill BACKPACKS OF HOPE! The goal is to fill 300 backpacks of hope to be given to children in the hospital, in foster care, and children who are experiencing homelessness. We are collecting specific types of toys that can all fit in a small backpack and can be played within smaller spaces (like hospital beds, and shared rooms for foster children). A team of students have designed backpacks that have a space on them for the child to personalize it with their own name. And, they have designed HOPE BEARS - a very huggable teddy bear who wears a red shirt that says "HOPE" on it. The bear comes with a matching red bracelet that the children get to wear as well.

We invite you to JOIN US in this TOY DRIVE in 2 specific ways:

#1: 
Shop for a toy from the "Grade Level Suggested Shopping List" (see below). We will be collecting toys from DECEMBER 3rd-7th (next week)!



#2: 
Purchase (sponsor) a HOPE BEAR & BRACELET for a child in need of HOPE!  ($10)  Click Here to sponsor a HOPE BEAR!   



Click for flyer with details.
Middle School Share2Wear December 10th Tacky Sweater
Our December Share2Wear combines two things that are near and dear to our hearts...bringing joy to children in difficult circumstances and Christmas!!! For our Share 2 Wear this month, MCS will host a week-long Toy Drive. This Toy Drive is all-school, but middle schoolers are being asked to donate card games of any kind (see the Toy Drive details above) Monday, December 3rd, through Friday, December 7th.

If they share an item anytime throughout the week, they will be able to participate in wearing Tacky Christmas attire on Monday, 12/10. We want to fully embrace the Christmas cheer by wearing tacky Christmas sweaters, reindeer antlers, elf hats, other tacky Christmas accessories, and all things red and green! Please remember that in order to participate in the dress day, the students must bring a deck of cards or card game for the Toy Drive the week before (or at the very latest Monday morning, 12/10). They will also be able to wear their tacky Christmas attire straight to the Middle School Christmas Skate Party later that afternoon. (see details below)
MCS Middle School Christmas Party December 10th

Date/Time:
Monday, December 10, 2018, 4:00-6:00PM (please account for Monday afternoon traffic in your commute from MCS or home)

Location:
Fountain Valley Skate Center 9105 Recreation Cir, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
 
Cost:
 $10 per student

Attire:
 Tacky Christmas Attire (MCS Dress Code guidelines apply)
**All students should already be wearing their Tacky Christmas attire from our Share2Wear day at school that day! This includes Christmas Sweaters, Christmas accessories, Santa hats, reindeer antlers, red and green attire, etc

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 is promptly at 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!
HSPT Private School Entrance Exam Review Sessions
We are offering four review sessions to help our MCS students prepare for private school entrance exams, specifically the High School Placement Test (HSPT) and the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Math and English will be reviewed in each session. All four sessions will be different, so we recommend you attend all four. Students are encouraged to purchase the HSPT or ISEE test books available at Barnes and Nobel or online. Any version of the HSPT or ISEE test book is fine. Please have your child bring the book to each session.

Students may attend any or all of the following sessions:

Wednesday, December 5th (3:00-4:30pm)
Wednesday, December 12th (3:00-4:30pm)
Wednesday, December 19th (3:00-4:30pm)
Wednesday, January 9th (3:00-4:30pm)

Location: Meet in Mrs. Thurston's room at the start of each session

The sessions are long, but are designed to allow review of both Math and English. We will also provide a short snack break. These sessions should provide a good stretching of our students' "test endurance." Generally, entrance exam testing periods are three to fours hours in length. Most middle school students are not used to sitting and testing for so long!

All four sessions are included in the $40 fee. Your FACTS account will be billed after the first session you attend.

Please RSVP to tthurston@marinerscs.org if your child will be attending any sessions.

***Please let us know if you'd like to donate snack items for these review sessions. It would be much appreciated by the hungry students.

U-Group Activity


For our U-Group meeting this month, the students ate lunch within their groups, discussing their 1st Quarter "Highs, Lows, and Buffalos"; buffalos being something that was silly or stood out to them.  Following lunch, we played one massive and intense game of Hot Potato, where students cheered for their own U-Group members to win!  Congratulations to our final winner, Aspen Carney, who won Starbucks for her entire group!
November Share2Wear
Our Share2Wear last month took us back in time as we saw classic looks from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's!  Our students showed up dressed as everything from pink ladies, to hippies, to greasers, to 80's and 90's prodigies.  MCS took "Way Back Wednesday" to a whole new level!!!  Enjoy the photos from Decades Day.

Middle School Shalimar Connections Club
Next Lunch Club Meetings: December 6th and 13th

We have launched a "Shalimar Connections Club" where middle school students have the opportunity to plan the games, devotionals, and activities that they then get to lead at the Shalimar Learning Center. We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with the children in the Shalimar community to also include a partnership with Think Together, the organization that runs the after school program at The Shalimar Learning Center.

In October, 24 middle school students jumped into building relationships with children at The Shalimar Learning Center through the language that all kids speak - PLAY! They played ice breaker games, taught the students a special dance to "Together" (High School Musical) that was choreographed by our Theatre Arts students, and 8th grader (Delara Gitibin) led the students in a devotional that focused on their unique gifts and talents and identity in Jesus! We finished our time in the community with free play at the park in the center of the neighborhood which provided an opportunity for our students to play and connect with the kids who live there. We are ALL looking forward to our next visit in December! We are grateful for the opportunity to build these relationships and connections.

There is still plenty of opportunity for our middle school students to get involved! Any students interested in getting plugged into the Shalimar Connections Club should attend the next lunch club meetings on December 6th and  13th to plan for the December 14th Shalimar visit!
High School Information

Corona del Mar High School: Prospective Parent Night for parents who are looking for an option for the 2019-20 school year. Held on Tuesday, December 11, at 6:00PM in the CDM Learning Resource Center. If you have questions, please contact Julie Rahmatulla at 949.515.6037.

Newport Harbor High School: Tours of NHHS will be held on Wednesday, December 12th, 12:00-11:30AM, and on Thursday, January 17th, 10:00-11:30AM. All 8th graders and parents are welcome! No reservation necessary. Questions? Please contact Diana Long at dlong@nmusd.us or 949.646.1556, ext. 1

Pacifica Christian High School: Contact Sarah Parsons, Director of Admissions, with questions at sparsons@pacificaoc.org.

Orange Lutheran High School: Click here for important Admissions Dates including Prospective Student Open House on October 24th. Mariners Shadow Day click.

JSerra Catholic High School: Athletic Open House on Monday, November 5th, from 6:30-8:00PM. Questions, please contact Chris Harrington at charrington@jserra.org.

Crean Lutheran High School  - UPCOMING EVENTS December and January:  Prospective students and families are cordially invited to attend these upcoming December and January events.Questions, please contact Mrs. Tara Mathis at mathis@clshs.org .



300 Fischer Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone 714.437.1700 ยท Fax 714.437.7976
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