Back-to-School Newsletter

From the Principal

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year!  We look forward to this upcoming year with great excitement and anticipation.  We have an outstanding group of new freshmen and transfers joining us, as well as some excellent new teachers and staff.  We’ve added some classes, tweaked some programs, and planned some surprises. 

Of course, what’s really exciting is thinking about what our “senior partner” has in store for this coming year. The mission of CA is to lead, teach, and inspire students to become all that God would have them be — talk about an audacious goal! To actually become all that God would have us be requires nothing less than a miracle. Thanks be to God that in Jesus, we have that miracle!  Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full.   

Our prayer and confident expectation is that God will use everything that happens in this upcoming year, the good as well as the challenging, to lead students to discover who they really are—who God has made them to be, redeemed them to be, and is calling them to be. This is life to the full!  This is what we want for every student.  The fact that our God himself is determined to bring this about gives us every reason to be excited. 

Let’s get this year going!

Pastor Tim Berner
Principal
tim.berner@concordiaacademy.com

Weekly Communication

Each Friday during the school year, the CA Update is emailed to all CA families. That email is your primary source of information about news and events at Concordia Academy. If you supplied your email address during the enrollment or re-enrollment process, you should already receive CA Update emails, including an issue last Friday, July 28.  (Please note that these emails may be in your “Newsletters,” “Promotions,” or “SPAM” folders.) However, if you did not receive a CA Update email on July 28, or you would like CA Update emails sent to an additional email address, click here. Weekly distribution of the CA Update will resume on Friday, August 11.

The Launch of Something New!

We’re honored that you chose Concordia Academy for your child’s high school journey. Whether your teen is just embarking on a new chapter as a freshman or looking forward to the future ahead as a senior, you’re hoping that their experience will make a meaningful impact in their lives.

We deeply value your child’s high school journey, and we want to highlight the intentional, thriving community we’ve built for our students and parents like you. This is why we’re excited to launch our new website: Concordia Academy | Excellence That Inspires.

Our website refresh is a significant change, but it is definitely for the better. You’ll get to preview…

• Our vibrant community that embraces and supports your child. See details about student life, events, athletics, clubs, and other exciting activities.
• Updates on each grade level. From freshmen to sophomores to juniors to seniors, you’ll know what to expect to prepare your child for what’s ahead.
• An online hub for information and support. We want our new website to be a helpful resource if you have questions or concerns or just need a document, handbook, or form. Look for the “CA Families, Alumni, & Supporters” menu in the top left corner of your computer or in the menu at the bottom of your screen on mobile devices.
• Student and family features. Have a great story to share about your teen’s experience as a CA Beacon? We’d love to feature your family!

As you visit the new online face of Concordia Academy, we’d love to hear your thoughts! 

While there’s lots for you to see on our new website, we’ve really designed it for people who are considering CA for their high school home. So we encourage you to share our site with friends and family who might be looking for a high school. It’s a great way for them to see how God is working in our school community through academics, arts, athletics, and student life.

Bottom line: The information for current parents and students is relocated to the menu located on the top left of every page on desktop computers and within the menu at the bottom of the screen on mobile devices.

Finally, there’s lots more to come on our website as the year progresses. Check back often!

New Student & Parent Orientation on August 17

New Student Orientation takes place on Thursday, August 17, 5:30 – 8:30 pm. New freshmen and transfer students, along with parents, should plan to attend this event.

At orientation night, students will:

• Have their pictures taken for student IDs.
• Get locker assignments.
• Go through their class schedule and find where their classes are in the building.
• Learn about high school life and extra-curricular activities.

Parents will:

• Hear about the mission of CA.
• Learn about academic opportunities and student support.
• Get information about life at CA, attendance policies, and more.
• Go through their student’s schedules to meet teachers and learn about classes.

Dinner is not served, so please plan accordingly. An ice cream social will finish the night. New families should have received an email with more information about this important event. 

Back-to-School Night for All Families on August 17 

All parents should plan to attend Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 17, 6:30-8:30 pm. Parents will follow their students’ schedules to meet teachers, pick up course information, and get a preview of the coming year. Even if you’ve been to previous Back-to-School Nights, you’re encouraged to attend again this year. Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you have enough time to pick up materials and avoid being marked tardy in your first class! And stick around at the end for an ice cream social!

PSEO Orientation on August 17

Students taking college classes this year should attend a mandatory PSEO orientation session on August 17 at 1:00 pm. Parents may also attend to listen to the presentation. Email kelly.mack@concordiaacademy.com with questions.

Important note: students taking college classes at Concordia Academy this year are once again expected to procure their own laptops.

Athletic Parent Meetings on August 21 

A meeting for parents of all fall athletes will take place on Monday, August 21, at 6:30 pm. MSHSL and CA rules and procedures for athletes will be discussed, followed by smaller meetings with coaches to share philosophy and expectations for each team.

Fall Sports Information

Fall sports start on August 14, and our coaches and athletes are getting prepared. Here are some important details.

Physicals

In order to participate in Concordia Academy athletics, a student must have a current physical (within three years) and be registered for each sport. If your son’s or daughter’s physical expired last year or will expire this coming school year, they will need a new physical before starting any sport in 2023-2024.

Click here for a copy of the physical form that the doctor will need to sign.  Please keep that form, as you will need to upload page 1 (or the page with the doctor’s signature) when registering for sports.

A few days remain to get a no-cost physical at Twin Cities Orthopedics  (multiple locations). However, you must register in advance; walk-ins are not allowed. These physicals are open to middle school, high school, or collegiate student-athletes with clear medical histories who are required to have a physical prior to participating in athletics. Learn more and register at https://tcomn.com/SportsPhysicals/.

Online Athletic Registration Instructions

Registration for sports is open and is completed through our online registration site. On this site, you will upload physicals, fill out the MN State High School League form, give other information, and pay the athletic fee. 

• Go to https://concordiaacademy-ar.rschooltoday.com/home.
• For 9-12 graders, click on the icon on the left on the home page to begin the process.
• For 7th or 8th graders who have been asked to play on a high school team, use the icon on the right on the home page.
• If this is your first time registering, click “I don’t have an account” in the right corner of the login screen.  Once you’ve done this, please follow all instructions as you work through the process.
• If you are a returning family, please use your existing account to register. Not doing this will create multiple accounts, which then creates issues.
• If you forgot your password, you can click on the “forgot password” link. (See the image below.)
  
  

Note: Once you have created an account and want to add a sibling or new student, use the same login information you created the first time you logged in. DO NOT CREATE A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. You will also use the same login information when registering for additional sports later in the year.

Concordia Academy will assess athletic fees of $150 per athlete per sport, with a limit of $300 in fees for each athlete. The fees, which are used to offset the normal operating expenses of athletics, are assessed outside of tuition and the other regular fees regularly collected in July. We will continue to work with families facing financial hardship.

New This Year: The athletic fee will be collected during the registration process.  Before pressing the submit button, you will enter your payment information in order to finish the process. This is required and you will not be fully registered until this step is completed.  If your son or daughter tries out but does not make a team, your payment will be returned to you. 

If you have questions about a sport, first contact the coach listed below. Direct any unanswered questions to Athletic Director Katie DeWitt (katie.dewitt@concordiaacademy.com) or Connie Voss (connie.voss@concordiaacademy.com).

Pre-School Sports Practice Times

Below are practice times for the first week of school. During these times, coaches will distribute additional information about practices for the remainder of the season.  If you have questions, please email the coach listed for the sport.

CROSS COUNTRY
August 14 -18, 3:00-4:30 pm
Location: Meet in the front lobby at CA
Coach: Jason Acosta, jason.acosta@concordiaacademy.com

FOOTBALL
August 14 — Practice 3:00-7:00 pm (Be at school by 2:30 pm to take care of any equipment needs.)
August 15 — Practice 3:00-7:00 pm
August 16 — Practice 3:00-7:00 pm
August 17 — Practice 2:00-6:00 pm (New students and Student Ambassadors will be released early.)
August 18 — Volunteering at Golf Tournament, 10:45 am – 2:00 pm and 2:00-5:00 pm (There will be a Sign-Up Genius for volunteer slots.)
August 19 — Practice, 8:30-11:00 am
Location: CA
Coach: Bob Wolf, bob.wolf@concordiaacademy.com

BOYS SOCCER 
August 14 -18, 3:30-5:00 pm
Location: Central Park soccer fields in Roseville, just north of CA, off of Dale St.
Coach: Braeden Klaus, braeden.klaus@gmail.com

GIRLS SOCCER 
August 14 — Tryouts & Meeting, 3:30-6:00 pm (Meet at the Concordia Academy track; we will go to Central Park for the remainder of the time.) 
August 15 — Tryouts & Meeting 3:30-6:00 pm
August 16 — Tryouts & Meeting 3:30-6:00 pm
August 17 — Practice & Meeting, 8:00-11:00 am (This practice is at Concordia Academy.)
August 18 — Volunteering at Golf Tournament (Oak Glen Course), 2:00-5:30 pm
Location: Central Park soccer fields in Roseville, just north of CA off Dale St.
Coach: Courtney Thompson, courtney.re.thompson@gmail.com

VOLLEYBALL
August 14 — All players (tryouts), 3:30-8:00 pm
August 15 — All players (tryouts), 3:30-6:30 pm
August 16 — All players (tryouts), 4:00-6:00 pm (Teams to be determined.)
August 17 — Varsity 9:00 am-12:00 pm, JV 8:00-10:00 am, C Team 9:00 am-12:00 pm
August 18 — Varsity at Golf Tournament (Oak Glen Course) 10:30 am-2:30 pm shift, JV 8:00-10:00 am, C Team 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: CA
Coach: Kim Duis, kim.duis@concordiaacademy.com

Beacon Athletic Booster Club

If your student is an athlete, we want you to join us in this year’s relaunch of the Beacon Athletic Booster Club! CA is proud of the rich opportunities to cultivate strong character and talent in our athletes. We have incredible support from parents and volunteers and are excited to see the Booster Club lift Beacon athletics to the next level. If you are interested in participating, contact lisa.sell@concordiaacademy.com. 

Student Photos & Yearbook Pick-Up for Returning Students

All returning students will have their school picture taken on August 17 between 1:30 and 3:30 pm; students can come anytime during those hours. Student IDs will be distributed within the first weeks of school. While returning students are at CA for photos, they may pick up yearbooks and purchase parking passes from Mrs. Hexum in the front office. Form and payment must be submitted before receiving a pass. Class schedules will be available online via Educate. New students will have their photos taken at New Student Orientation. Students involved in fall sports should plan to have their pictures taken early so that they can go to practice.

Once again, we will use JostensPIX  for school photos.  Students can preview pictures before buying them, personalize photos with various backgrounds, and take advantage of many other features. Click here to view the flyer and get information regarding the available options. Important note: Students should NOT wear green clothing for their pictures, as green will disappear into the background.  Photos will be available for online ordering a few days after they’re taken. Go to shop.jostenspix.com and use the Event Code FE96923.

Welcome, New Teachers

CA is thrilled to welcome the following new teachers for the upcoming school year.

Madelynn Harre joins CA’s English Department.  Madelynn is a 2019 CA graduate and earned her teaching degree from Northwestern College in Iowa.  She will be teaching Sophomore English and sections of American Literature. 

Kristy Hubbard will be teaching our new French language classes. Kristy formerly taught at Mounds View High School.  

Neil Baumgartner is CA’s new band director.  Neil joins us following the retirement of Bruce Felt. Neil has taught many local bands, including those at North Heights Christian Academy and Gethsemane Lutheran. 

Sam Kelly joins CA to teach Freshmen Seminar, Geography, and College American History. He comes to us from Hope Academy and the University of Northwestern.  

Our new Digital Photography teacher is Alison Geier.  Alison is a professional photographer who also teaches art at North Heights Christian Academy.  

Finally, Julie Lynch will oversee our hot lunch program.  After the retirement of Hollie Sookhai, we are very fortunate to have Julie come on board as our new head chef.  

Host Family Needed

Each year, CA is blessed to be home to a number of international students, some of whom live with CA families. A host family is needed for a 12th-grade boy. Host families receive a stipend of up to $1000 per month for housing international students during the school year. Please contact Kelsey Cocchiarella at kelsey.cocchiarella@concordiaacademy.com as soon as possible if your family would consider this important service opportunity.

Parking & Student Drop-Off 

All students and staff are required to display a Concordia Academy Parking ID when parking in the lot during the regular school day.  IDs cost $20 each. Students may purchase parking passes from Mrs. Hexum in the front office on August 17.  Form and payment must be submitted prior to receiving a pass.

Overflow parking will again be on Lovell Avenue, in the south lot at King of Kings (look for the marked spaces) and at the Buddhist temple two blocks east of the school on Lovell.  CA vehicles parked on the north side of King of Kings will be towed. Parking is also not allowed on the north side of County Road B2, at Central Park School, or in Concordia Academy’s two lots behind the school.  Cars parked either inappropriately or illegally may be ticketed and/or towed at the student’s expense. 

For a reminder of parking lot drop-off and pick-up procedures, click here.

Hot Lunch Information (Updated 08-14-23)

Welcome to Concordia Academy’s Dining Services 2023-2024

We strive to support CA families by providing healthy nourishment to keep students focused and ready for success.  

Please read this information carefully regarding the lunch program for the upcoming year, as there are some changes from previous years and some actions are required to participate. 

1. Students will not pre-order lunch. Instead, they need to have funds in their Boonli Wallet to purchase a lunch from the Cafeteria Serving Area.  A separate a la carte store will also be available, and students need to have funds in their Boonli Wallet for a la carte purchases, as well.  
2. See instructions below to set up an account for your student in Boonli and add funds to the Wallet to pre-pay for any cafeteria or a la carte purchases.  (Any unused funds will be credited at the end of the school year or may be rolled over to the following year.)
3. Students wishing to purchase lunch will enter the Cafeteria Serving Area and have their student IDs scanned. The lunch cost of $6 will be deducted from the student’s Boonli Wallet, and the student will proceed through the Cafeteria Serving Area to select from:
   • Hot entrée of the day
   • Soup/Salad Bar with bread
   • Variety of pre-made salads, power bowls, sandwiches, or wraps with chips
     
     All meal options include fruit, beverage (water or milk), and dessert. 
4. Supplemental items will be available for purchase at the a la carte store.   This will include items such as fruit cups, nuts, vegetable packs, cheese, yogurt, hummus, sports drinks, dessert items, chips, and more.  All purchases must be pre-funded through the Boonli wallet.  No cash or other forms of payment will be accepted.  
5. Users will receive an email when their wallet balance drops below $20.   Please act promptly to add funds so that lunch service is not interrupted. 
6. The daily cafeteria menu will be available at www.concordiaacademy.com/lunch.  If you have specific dietary requirements, please reach out to Julie Lynch (julie.lynch@concordiaacademy.com) to discuss possible accommodations.  

Instructions for setting up a Boonli account:

• Go to https://concordia.boonli.com. (Please bookmark this page.)
• Click “Create an Account.” The password is “CA1”.
• Enter your information and click “Submit.”
• Enter information for your students by clicking “Add Profile.” Repeat this step for any additional students.
• Click “I’m Done.” You can now sign in.

Thank you for participating in our school lunch program!

Peanut Policy

A number of our students have severe life-threatening peanut allergies, which include airborne exposure to peanut dust. Contact with this allergen (ingested, touched, or inhaled) can result in an anaphylactic reaction (anaphylactic shock). Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. For the safety of these students, we respectfully request the following:  Please avoid sending loose peanuts (peanut in the shell, sleeves of peanuts, dry roasted peanuts) or foods containing loose peanuts (such as trail mix) to school.  Peanut butter/peanut-based products are still allowed in the cafeteria.  Thank you for helping us care for each other. 

Freshmen School Supply List

A school supply list for freshmen is available by clicking here. Pens, paper, folders, etc. will be enough to get the year started for all other grades. Each teacher will tell students what other items they will need on the first day of class. 

Documents & Links

The page on our website to which we most often refer people is the “Documents & Links” page under “CA Families, Alumni, & Supporters.” Important student forms, parent forms, and handbooks needed during the year can be found here, in addition to bell schedules, the master schedule, and more. Click here to go to the “Documents & Links” page, then bookmark it or add it to your favorites!

Parents and students will want to give particular attention to the Academic Handbook and Course Catalog and Parent & Student Handbook, containing information on attendance, dress code, etc.  Parents and students are responsible for being aware of all information in the Parent & Student Handbook. If you have questions about CA’s policies and expectations, please contact Pastor Berner at tim.berner@concordiaacademy.com.

Naviance College & Career Planning

We continue to utilize Naviance as a platform to aid students in self-assessments, career planning, goal setting, resume documenting, college and scholarship searches, and college applications. Returning families can utilize the same login information as last year; new families can expect their information via email in September. The guidance office will continue to train students in using this platform to assist in their current and future plans. If you have any questions, please email kelly.mack@concordiaacademy.com.

East-Metro Transportation

CA will once again offer transportation to CA from Hudson and the east metro this year. Transportation is only available in the mornings. Cost is $750 per year (approximately $4.15 per day). For more information or to sign up, please contact Bob Wolf at bob.wolf@concordiaaccademy.com.

Reporting Attendance

Please report absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals to the school by 8:00 am. All absences must be reported to the school office by a parent or guardian, not by a student (even if the student is 18). This can be done by going to www.concordiaacademy.com/attendance or emailing attendance@concordiaacademy.com. Please include the following information:

• the reason for the absence.
• the time the student is arriving and/or leaving, and whether the student will return to school (if the absence is only for a part of the day).

A student needing to leave during the school day will be issued a pass from the front office, allowing them to leave class at the time designated by the parent.

For more information about CA’s attendance policy, please see the Parent/Student Handbook, starting on page 8.

Golf Tournament

The 20th Annual Beacon Cup will be played on Friday, August 18, at the beautiful Oak Glen golf course in Stillwater. Register online at www.ConcordiaAcademy.com/golf. If you’re interested in being a sponsor or have questions, please contact Katie DeWitt at katie.dewitt@concordiaacademy.com or 651-796-2681.

Homecoming Week

Homecoming Week will be October 2-7! Early each year, this favorite event lets us gather together as a community, cheer on our Beacon athletes, and connect with past students and teachers. There will be Homecoming athletic games all week, ending with our big Homecoming football game, carnival, and alumni event on Friday, October 6. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy a Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 7. Be on the lookout for details after the start of the new school year.

There are many parent volunteer positions to be filled for Homecoming events on Friday, October 6. For details, contact Lisa Sell (lisa.sell@concordiaacademy.com) or Kristin Rucks (kristin.rucks@concordiaacademy.com).

Parent Service Hours

Concordia Academy works hard to offer excellent programs while keeping our tuition one of the lowest in the state. We can do this because of generous donors, disciplined stewardship practices, and the many volunteers who are generous with their time and talent. 

As parents of CA students, you are an invaluable part of our family. We need you and the unique gifts you can provide; your time, talent, or treasure are invaluable in our community. We ask that all CA parents commit to a minimum of four hours of service per family per year. 

Service opportunities and sign-up links will be shared in the weekly CA Update email, so keep your eyes open. Some of the volunteer opportunities include the following:

• Homecoming (October 6)
• Vision4Life (February 28-29, March 1)
• Annual Dinner Auction (April 13)
• Parent-Sponsored Post-Prom Party (May 4 & 5)
• Skilled Laborers/Grounds Workers (Ongoing)
• Clerical (Ongoing)
• Tutoring (Ongoing)

Pay In Place of Work
Parent volunteer hours help reduce CA’s overall expenses. Nevertheless, we understand why some families would rather pay a little extra than give up their time. Therefore, if families would rather pay, we ask for a contribution of $100. This money can be paid by check or online here. Select the “Annual Giving & General Donations” option. Be sure to indicate “Volunteer Donations” in the dropdown at the top of the page.

Tuition Fundraising Group

Are you interested in earning extra funds to help pay for tuition? Concordia Academy has a non-profit group made up of parents just like you who are committed to their children’s education. They work at concession stands at Target Field, US Bank Stadium, and others. The environment is fun, and workers earn a percentage of sales (tax-free) which can be directed to pay the school, church, or other non-profit of your choice. Required training is provided. If you are interested in joining this group or have questions about how it works and how much you can earn, please contact Doneta Johnston at LDDONETA@hotmail.com. She has worked at the venues and would happily share her experience with you. This opportunity is truly a blessing for many parents who are trying to pay tuition! 

Senior Yearbook Photos

Please carefully read the following information regarding the submission of senior portraits for the CA yearbook. The yearbook deadline for submitting senior portraits is November 15. 

Guidelines for 2024 senior portraits are as follows:

• Portrait/vertical format (do not submit horizontal or full body photos)
• Full-color (no sepia or black and white)
• Submit in digital format : JPEG, with a minimum of 300 dpi
• Preferred file naming: lastname_firstname.jpeg

Photos should be submitted to yearbook@concordiaacademy.com. If photos are not submitted by the deadline, a simple portrait will be taken at school in December. Questions? Send an email to Rebecca Hed, CA’s yearbook adviser, at rebecca.hed@concordiaacademy.com.

Calendar

The calendar page of our website features our full calendar, which is always the most up-to-date version available. You’ll also find a link to download a one-page academic calendar for 2023-2024.

Student Success Teams

The Student Success Team is composed of school professionals who meet regularly to respond to referrals of students who may be struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or spiritually. The team strives to partner with families to respond in a way that will help a student have the best possible chance for success. Parents, coaches, teachers, and peers are encouraged to let us know if a student needs our support. Reach out to the team by emailing kelly.mack@concordiaacademy.com.

We are blessed to have a significant number of international students. However, unique challenges such as learning in a second language, cultural differences, as well as being far from family can impact success and growth.  CA’s commitment to encourage and support our international students led to the creation of the International Student Success Team. Parents or host parents of international students who are experiencing social, physical, emotional, academic, or spiritual difficulties are encouraged to contact Mrs. Becky Berner, the Guidance Office representative on the International Student Success Team, at becky.berner@concordiaacademy.com.

Holiday Craft Fair on November 11 

The popular CA Holiday Craft Fair returns on November 11. Registration is now open for crafters and vendors, so if you have a small business, we’d love to have you participate. This event always fills up quickly, so mark your calendars and register as soon as possible if you’d like to join. Simply click here for more information. Alumni receive a special vendor discount.

Spring Auction on April 13

It’s not even fall yet, but we want you to start thinking about CA’s annual spring dinner auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year. Mark your calendars for April 13. The auction is held at CA and includes dinner, silent and live auctions, and, of course, lots of fun! We are always collecting donations, so if you come across something that you think would be great for the auction, pick it up and drop it off at CA at any time. Our goal every year is to have 100% participation from our families through donations, monetary gifts, volunteering, or attendance. 

We are in the process of assembling a committee of willing volunteers to help assist us in the planning and execution of this major event. If you are interested in more information, please email  auction@concordiaacademy.com.

Beacon Connection 

Partner with us in ministry! You have a gift, a resource, or a talent that can help CA in a way that is unique to you. Or maybe you know someone from your church extended family who would like to engage with CA but doesn’t know how. The Beacon Connection is a great way to connect with CA in a number of different ways. No matter who you are, you can play a part in advancing the light. You can take action in a way that fits you best. You can Pray, Give, Share CA, and Volunteer. Learn more and let us know how you’d like to partner with us by going to www.concordiaacademy.com/beaconconnection.

Make an Impact with Thrivent

Are you a Thrivent member? If so, you can help Concordia in big ways through Thrivent Choice Dollars and Thrivent Community Impact Cards. It’s easy and produces an immediate impact. Want to learn more? Contact Rose Hexum at rose.hexum@concordiaacademy.com.

Get Social with CA

Concordia Academy is active every day on social media. Be sure that you “like” or “follow” us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter). As more people officially follow our accounts, we become more visible. In addition to recaps of events, our social media channels are also used to make important school announcements, including school closings, late starts, etc. Important notices are also posted at ConcordiaAcademy.com and are emailed to families.

School Store

Concordia Academy, in partnership with BSN, is excited to offer new designs in our online store. The new designs will be available for purchase online from August 16-30, with size samples available at Orientation and Back-to-School Night. 

Our current online clothing store will continue to be available. Throughout the year, watch the CA weekly update email for seasonal team stores and special sales.

BEAMS Middle School Athletics

Do you have a middle-school student looking to build athletic skills and connect with the CA community? Then check out our BEAMS (Beacon Elementary and Middle School) Athletics program. We will offer football in the fall for 6th-8th grade boys. Boys and girls basketball are offered in the winter. The year wraps up with track and field for boys and girls in the spring. BEAMS Athletics is designed to offer opportunities for athletic growth and competition that will complement…not replace…the sports offerings at students’ current schools. 

Click here to get more details and register for BEAMS.

Beacon Buddies Elementary Athletics 

Beacon Buddies offers athletic camp options on Saturday mornings for future Beacons in 1st-4th grade. Opportunities include boys and girls soccer in the fall and boys and girls basketball in the winter. CA coaches and student-athletes lead Beacon Buddies. These Christian coaches and mentors help participants develop athletic interests, improve fundamental athletic skills, make friends, and build community. More information and registration for Beacon Buddies is available at www.concordiaacademy.com/beaconbuddies.

The Fine Print

Admissions Policy

Concordia Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate in the administration of its policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic or other administered programs.

2023-2024 School Year Asbestos Notification

As a result of recent federal legislation (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act – AHERA), each primary and secondary school in the nation is required to complete a stringent new inspection for asbestos and to develop a plan of management for all asbestos-containing building materials.  

Concordia Academy has a goal to be in full compliance with this law and is following the spirit, as well as the letter of the law.  As a matter of policy, Concordia Academy shall continue to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community’s youth and employees.

In keeping with this legislation, all buildings (including portables and support buildings) owned or leased by the school district were inspected by EPA-accredited inspectors, and samples were analyzed by an independent laboratory.  Based on the inspection, the district prepared and the state approved a comprehensive management plan for handling the asbestos located within its buildings safely and responsibly.

Furthermore, Concordia Academy has completed its AHERA 3-year re-inspection requirement. Concordia Academy buildings where asbestos-containing materials were found, is under repair, removal, and Operations and Maintenance.

This past year, Concordia Academy conducted the following with respect to its asbestos-containing building materials: Implemented our Operations and Maintenance Program.

Federal law requires a periodic walk-through (called “surveillance”) every six months of each area containing asbestos.  Also, the law requires that all buildings be reinspected three years after a management plan is in effect.  This will be accomplished under contract by MacNeil Environmental, Inc.

Short-term workers (outside contractors— i.e. telephone repair workers, electricians, and exterminators) must be provided information regarding the location of asbestos in which they may come into contact. All short-term workers shall contact the lead maintenance person before commencing work to be given this information.

Concordia Academy has a list of the location(s), type(s) of asbestos-containing materials found in that school building, and a description and timetable for their proper management.  A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is available for review in the school office.  Copies are available at 25 cents per page.  Questions related to the plan should be directed to the district office, which will establish contact with our Account Manager under contract with MacNeil Environmental, Inc.  To reach MacNeil Environmental, Inc. to discuss the management of our asbestos materials or with any questions, MEI is available at 218-245-2440.

Use of Pest and Weed Control Materials

Concordia Academy personnel may apply pest/weed control materials inside or on school grounds as needed.  The school also utilizes a licensed, professional lawn service for the prevention and control of weeds on the school grounds.

These control materials are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are selected and applied according to label directions.  The long-term health effects on children from the application of such pest/weed control materials or the class of materials to which they belong may not be fully understood.

An estimated schedule of herbicide/pesticide applications is available for review or copying in the school office.  Parents of students may request to receive, at their expense, prior notification of any application of a pest/weed control material, should such an application be deemed necessary on a day different from the days specified in the schedule.