Back-to-School Newsletter 2022

A Note from the Principal

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! Our first day of classes is August 23, and we are ready and excited to get this year going. We have an outstanding group of new freshmen and transfers who will greatly bless our community. Our new Campus Pastor, Andrew Asp, is someone our students will quickly come to enjoy, admire, and be inspired by.  We will also be introducing several new programs, including the addition of Cultural Conversations to our already popular program of Cohort Conversations. But, of course, that which we are most excited about is, once again, being together as a community centered in the Gospel of Jesus. 

In our increasingly confused and hurting world, it is so good to be connected by the anchor that holds. As any parent knows all too well, today, the normal angst of teenage years is often super-charged by the seemingly all-pervasive power of social media. Add to this the after-effects of lock-downs, cultural tensions, and vitriolic politics, and it’s no wonder that today’s teens are some of the most lonely and hurting in generations. A core value of CA is that we “live, work, and play in Christian Community.” This is what our teens (and arguably all of us) need more than ever: community anchored in the life-giving Gospel of Jesus. While on this side of heaven, such a community is still far from perfect, it is nevertheless marked by truth, compassion, forgiveness, love, and joy.  This is what we all long for.  This is the heart of CA. Living and pursuing this is what we most look forward to with the start of our new year.  

Welcome again to the 2022-23 school year! 

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 have supplied your email address during the enrollment or re-enrollment process, you should already receive CA Update emails, including an issue on Friday, July 29.  (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 29, or you would like CA Update emails sent to an additional email address, click here.

New Student & Parent Orientation on August 18

New Student Orientation will take place on Thursday, August 18, 5:30 - 8:30 pm. New freshmen and transfer students, along with parents, should plan to attend this event.

• 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.

• 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.

An ice cream social will finish the night outdoors on the front plaza.

New families should have received an email with more information. Dinner is not served, so please plan accordingly.

Back-to-School Night for Returning Families on August 18

All parents should plan to attend Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 18, 6:30-8:30 pm. Parents will be following their student’s 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!

PSEO Orientation on August 18

Students taking college classes this year should attend a mandatory PSEO orientation session on August 18 at 1:00 pm. Parents may also attend. Email kelly.mack@concordiaacademy.com with questions.

Also, please note that students taking college classes at Concordia Academy this year will be required to provide their own laptops for use in their courses.

Athletic Parent Meetings on August 24

A meeting for parents of all fall athletes will take place on Wednesday, August 24, 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

The fall season will soon be here and the coaches and athletes are getting prepared. Here are some important details about fall athletics.
 
In order to participate in Concordia Academy athletics, a student must have a current physical (within 3 years) and be registered for each sport. Fall sports start on August 15, so please schedule your doctor’s appointment soon. 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 2022-2023.

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.
 
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, and give other information. 

• Go to https://concordiaacademy-ar.rschooltoday.com/home.
• For 9-12 graders, click on the icon on the left 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.
  If this is your first time registering, click on “I don’t have an account” located 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 as a reference.)
  

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 that are regularly collected in July. We will continue to work with families facing financial hardship. There are three options to pay the $150 athletic fee.  It can be added to your TADS tuition account, a check can be dropped off in the business office at school, or you can click here to pay fees online.  Please make checks payable to Concordia Academy and include the student’s name and sport in the memo line. If your son or daughter tries out but does not make a team, your payment will be returned to you. Once teams are selected, if there is no check or online payment, it will be added to your TADS tuition account.

If you have questions about a sport, you should first contact the coach listed below.  Any unanswered questions can be directed to Athletic Director Brian Brown (brian.brown@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.

Student Photos & Yearbook Pick-Up for Returning Students

Welcome, New Teachers

CA is thrilled to welcome new teachers for the upcoming school year.
 
Pastor Andrew Asp joins CA as our new Campus Pastor. Andrew is a 2010 CA graduate.  After graduating from college, Andrew worked a few years as a youth director and car salesman before he and his wife Maddie (CA '10) felt called to the seminary.  He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis last spring.  Andrew will teach sophomore Scripture and Life, lead our chapel program and worship teams, and offer pastoral guidance. Welcome, Pastor Asp! 
 
We are also happy to welcome Rachel Gee. Rachel will be teaching CA’s Strings Ensemble class. Rachel recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Masters of Music in Violin Performance. She holds licensure from the Minnesota Department of Education in Instrumental and Classroom Music, K-12. Welcome to CA, Ms. Gee! 

Parking & Student Drop-Off

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

Ordering lunches has never been easier! Concordia Academy has partnered with Boonli to provide a secure, fast, and easy-to-use online ordering system that allows you to view our lunch menu, order, prepay and manage student lunches from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Registration and ordering are now open. Follow these steps:

• 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 let students know on the first day of class what other items they will need. 

Forms & Handbooks

The page on our website to which we most often refer people is the “Forms and Handbooks” page under “Current Students.” It can also be found in our “Quick Links” section in the top right corner of every page of our website. Virtually every student form, parent form, or handbook needed during the year can be found here, in addition to bell schedules, the master schedule, and more. Click here to go to the "Forms and Handbooks" 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 found in the Parent & Student Handbook. Please pay special attention to the revised attendance policy. If you have any 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.

PSAT and Renaissance Star Testing

PSAT: This year’s PSAT test will be administered on October 15. All juniors are encouraged to take this test. Guidance will prepare students for the exam in the fall. 

Renaissance Star Testing: Students in Grades 9 and 10 will be tested quarterly using Renaissance Star testing. This testing will allow teachers to measure growth, target specific areas that need improvement, and help inform curricular decisions to help our students succeed in math and reading.

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

• 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, revised for 2022-2023, please see the Parent/Student Handbook.

Golf Tournament

This year, the 19th Annual Beacon Cup will be played on Friday, August 19, 2022, 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 Kim Duis at kim.duis@concordiaacademy.com or 651-796-2678.

Homecoming Week

Homecoming Week will be September 19-24! This favorite beginning-of-the-year 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, September 23. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy a Saturday night Homecoming Dance on Saturday, September 24. Be on the lookout for more exciting details after the start of the new school year.

There are many parent volunteer positions to be filled for Homecoming events on Friday, September 23. For details, contact Kelsey or Ria at admissions@concordiaacademy.com.

Addresses Needed for Grandparents Day

Students can show off CA to their grandparents at Grandparents Day on October 13, but we need the address(es) of your child’s grandparents so we can send them an official invitation. Fill out the address form at www.concordiaacademy.com/grandparents.

Important Note: If you do not provide us with an address, your child’s grandparent(s) will not receive an invitation, even if you have given us their addresses in the past. 

Parent Service

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 parent volunteers who help keep CA humming.

We ask that all CA parents commit to a minimum of four hours of service per family. Email addresses are included below to allow you to contact the person in charge of an area where you would like to volunteer. Volunteer opportunities (including many of those listed below) are also often shared in the weekly CA Update email. Specific details and choices regarding each service need are communicated nearer the date of the event or when ongoing needs arise.

Volunteer needs for the upcoming school year include:

Homecoming (September 23)
We need help with setup, cleanup, carnival games, and other activities. Please let us know if you have a special talent, connection, or idea that can help us enhance our carnival atmosphere. Contact  admissions@concordiaacademy.com.

Vision4Life (March 1-3)
Vision4Life is CA’s award-winning program that includes two days devoted to building Godly character in our young men and women. Parents are needed on these days to drive, work alongside students, and help coordinate and find service locations throughout the metro area. These days are powerful, often life-changing, experiences for both our students and parent volunteers. Contact rebecca.fritz@concordiaacademy.com.

Annual Dinner Auction (April 22)
The annual Dinner Auction is CA’s major fundraising event of the year. Money raised goes towards financial aid and technology. Parent help is needed in a variety of ways, including set up, take down, and auction logistics. Contact lisa.sell@concordiaacademy.com.

Parent-Sponsored Post-Prom Party (May 6 & 7)
Years ago, CA parents began a tradition that is a tremendous blessing to our students and families. After prom, our junior and senior parents, along with a scattering of sophomore parents, host an all-night after-prom party for our students. This party is a safe and God-pleasing alternative to what happens after many proms in our culture. This tradition is loved and appreciated by our students and creates many wonderful memories for them. Key leadership positions, as well as a significant amount of volunteers, are needed. Contact admissions@concordiaacademy.com.

Skilled Laborers/Grounds Workers (Ongoing)
Concordia Academy is blessed with a beautiful campus. Skilled laborers, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, etc., are always needed. While we contract for grass mowing, volunteer groundskeepers are still needed for other outdoor projects and landscaping. Contact tim.berner@concordiaacademy.com.

Clerical (Ongoing)
Volunteers are often needed to assist with mailings, prepare gift bags, enter data, research specific topics, and organize spaces. Contact rose.hexum@concordiaacademy.com.

Tutoring (Ongoing)
Tutors at all levels and in every subject are a tremendous blessing. We can be very flexible in working to match our students’ needs with parent availability. Parent volunteers are also specifically needed near our two final exam weeks. Contact kelly.mack@concordiaacademy.com.

“Contact me; I have another way to help.”
If you have a unique skill, idea, or corporate connection that might bless CA, let us know! Contact kristin.rucks@concordiaacademy.com.

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 at ConcordiaAcademy.com/giving.

Click on “Online Payments & Donations,” and then 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

Did you know that a non-profit group made up of parents from Concordia Academy, King of Kings, North Heights Christian Academy, and other Twin Cities private schools exists to help you earn tax-free tuition funds for your children? Funds earned can be applied toward any private school tuition or college tuition. Funds can also be donated to any non-profit or charity.

Our group runs concession stands at Target Field, US Bank Stadium, Allianz Field, and TCF Bank Stadium. Training is provided, you can work as few or as many games/events during the year as you like, and many of the parents carpool to the events. Training (offered several times during the year) is required before you can work.

If you are interested in joining this group or just have questions about how it all works and how much you can earn, please contact Barb Engh at BJJELF87@gmail.com. She has worked at all the venues and would be happy to share her experience with you.

This opportunity is truly a blessing for many parents who are trying to pay tuition!

Senior Yearbook Photos

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 Kim Dunn, CA’s yearbook adviser, at kim.dunn@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 2022-2023.

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 12

The CA Holiday Craft fair is coming back! 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 22

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 22. 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.

Shop Amazon and Support CA

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to CA whenever you shop on AmazonSmile, which offers the same products, same prices, and same service as the main Amazon site.  Support Concordia Academy by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Grandparents, alumni, friends, and neighbors are all welcome to participate.  The more people we involve, the harder the program works for our school.  If you’re already participating, thank you!

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 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

As you begin the school year, check out our online clothing store. Click here and begin your shopping! Throughout the year, watch the CA Update weekly email for 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. Fall sports include football and dance. 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.

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.

2022-2023 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-Roseville 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-Roseville 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-Roseville 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-Roseville 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-Roseville 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-Roseville 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.