Principal’s Newsletter • Feb. 2026
Dear CA Families,
Many blessings to everyone as we wrap up an exciting and joy-filled Sno Daze week at CA! It has been wonderful to see our school community come alive with energy, laughter, and a shared sense of pride. School spirit has been exceptionally high, with students and staff alike embracing the themed days, friendly competitions, and opportunities to celebrate together. The hallways have been filled with enthusiasm, creativity, and encouragement, reminding us how special it is to be part of a community that knows how to work hard while also making time for fun. Look below for more details.
Academics Updates
We are proud to offer numerous elective options for our students this semester (with more to come next year). Students are figuring out how the Nike logo relates to Revelation in our Revelation elective, stepping into the wardrobe to the magical world of Narnia in our C.S. Lewis course, learning camera angles in video production, taking abstract photos in digital photography, learning how to switch from singing a Shaker tune to a spiritual in choir, building and painting replacement seats for lunch tables in Intro to the Trades, and so much more.
If you pass by our business teacher’s classroom, you’ll get a chance to see how your stocks are doing with a brand new stock ticker tape installed for a live, scrolling feed of the stock market.
Our second-semester college courses are underway, and we are blessed to have many of Concordia University, St. Paul’s long-term experienced professors joining us, as well as several new faces who have quickly found the joy of working with CA students! Don’t forget that students can take the maximum number of college credits the state allows right here on CA’s campus. Courses include finance, writing, computer programming, sociology, kinesiology, ceramics, and more! Our PSEO On Campus program lets students maximize their college head start without sacrificing their high school experience, including cocurriculars, chapel, Family Life Groups, Homecoming, Sno Daze, and more.
Fine Arts Updates
Earlier this month, our choir students had their most successful Songs and Sweets concert to date, which serves as a major fundraiser for their annual tour.
Several CA choir students recently had the opportunity to participate in the CSP Twin Cities Honor Choir, an ensemble of more than 70 students representing 13 high schools. This select, audition-based group spent the day on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul, rehearsing alongside Dr. Paul von Kampen and members of the CSP Chamber Choir. The experience concluded with a special concert featuring the Honor Choir together with CSP’s collegiate choirs. One of the highlights of the day was the chance for our students to perform alongside CA alumni who are now singing in the CSP choirs. It was a meaningful and memorable experience filled with musical growth, collaboration, and the joy of making beautiful music together.
Next month, CA will have the exciting opportunity to be among the first schools in the state to bring Frozen to life on stage. Based on the Academy Award–winning Disney animated film, this beloved story has captured the hearts of audiences with its themes of courage, friendship, and the power of love. The stage production features all of the memorable songs audiences know and love, along with additional music created especially for the stage version, bringing new depth and excitement to the story. Our students and directors have been working hard to create a production filled with outstanding music, creative staging, and engaging storytelling. From the vibrant ensemble numbers to the touching moments between characters, this promises to be a performance that showcases the incredible talent, dedication, and teamwork of our CA fine arts community. We are excited to welcome families, friends, and community members to experience this magical production together. Performances are March 13-15 and 20-22, 2026. Click here for tickets.
Athletics Updates
We are excited to kick off our spring sports season, with first practice dates quickly approaching. See below for exact dates by sport.
- Softball: March 9
- Track: March 9
- Baseball: March 9
- Golf: March 16
- Boys Lacrosse: March 30
For a complete list of upcoming game times and locations, please visit our calendar here.
Robotics
CA’s VEX Robotics team, X-Factor (Josh Heyne, Elizabeth O’Brien, Lukas Skinner, and Ethan Unseth), has enjoyed an outstanding season and is advancing to two major upcoming competitions. The team has qualified for the Minnesota State Championship, which will take place March 5–6 in St. Cloud, and will also compete at the Create U.S. Open Championship in Council Bluffs on March 16–18. These achievements reflect the team’s hard work, creativity, and dedication throughout the season. Strong performances at either event could earn the team an invitation to the VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis this April, an exciting opportunity that brings together top teams from around the world. Following the competition season, students will continue applying their skills in class through additional engineering challenges and hands-on projects. These experiences may even include designing and testing “flying robots” and rockets, giving students the chance to further explore innovation, problem-solving, and real-world engineering concepts in creative and engaging ways.
Sno Daze
Throughout Sno Daze, our students have enjoyed games, activities, and moments that brought people together across grade levels, strengthening friendships and creating lasting memories. Events like this celebrate the unique personality and spirit that make CA such a joyful place to learn and grow. Thank you to everyone who helped plan, participate, and cheer one another on. Much of the planning for this week was done by students in our Foundations of Leadership class. Special thanks to all of them for their great work and (of course) leadership!
We kicked off Sno Daze festivities with an entertaining and inspiring juggling performance by Luke Winger, who used his unique gifts to captivate our students while sharing a meaningful message of faith and encouragement. It was entertaining and a great reminder of how creativity and talent can point others toward Christ.
The excitement continued the next day with one of our most anticipated traditions of the week, our annual Beacon Bobsled Race. Students brought energy and imagination to the event, forming teams to either creatively decorate sleds or push one of our three pastors (Berner, Asp, and Fofana) in a decorated sled during the race. It provided plenty of memorable moments, friendly competition, and shared laughter, highlighting the teamwork and camaraderie that make events like this so special.
Congratulations to Andrew Johnstone and Sawyer Nelson, who brought the annual Sno Daze Medallion Hunt to a quick conclusion. By mid-week, they had used their sleuthing skills to track down the medallion. Thanks to Mr. Fritz for once again writing clues that kept students on the run throughout our campus.
On Feb. 21, we’ll close out the week with a trip to Wild Mountain for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. It will be a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate with fun, fellowship, and lasting memories.
Counseling & College Planning Updates
The scholarships are rolling in! We have several seniors who have earned full-ride scholarships to competitive colleges, and many are seeing the hard work pay off as financial aid packages roll in. We love celebrating with every student as they share these wins!
Many of our students have completed the ACT for college admissions this year. Did you know our student average is a full five points above the Minnesota average?
Our youth always have a lot on their minds, including managing course loads, cocurriculars, family responsibilities, and social dynamics. Add to those stressors events of the last few months in the Twin Cities, and it’s not surprising that emotions might bubble to the surface, including anger. This Counseling Corner provides links to resources to help students manage this normal emotion healthily.
Parent Pulse Survey
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our fall/winter survey. Your feedback, perspectives, and thoughtful suggestions are incredibly valuable and play an important role in shaping the work we do at CA. We are committed to ongoing growth and improvement, and regularly seeking input from our community helps ensure that we are serving our students and families as faithfully and effectively as possible. Below you will find a summary of our most recent survey results, along with a comparison to the survey conducted in May 2025. While surveys provide helpful insight, please know that you are always welcome to reach out directly if there is something you would like to share. A strong partnership with our families is deeply important to me and central to my work as an educator.
Net Promoter Score: Our most recent survey showed a Net Promoter Score of 57, which sits right next to the ParentPulse benchmark of 58. This benchmark represents the average all-time score among the 369 schools that utilize ParentPulse as their survey platform. In May 2025, our Net Promoter Score was 46, so we are encouraged to see this positive movement. At the same time, we recognize that there is always more work to be done, and we remain committed to continued growth and improvement across our ministry.
Survey Questions and Results: The graphic below provides a look at each survey question, the corresponding results, and how those results compare to our spring 2025 survey. We are grateful to see progress in most areas, and we will continue striving to exceed benchmarks as we seek to provide the very best experience for our students and families.
I remain deeply grateful for the families, teachers, staff, and community members who so faithfully support and uplift our school. Your encouragement, prayers, and willingness to invest in this work provide daily strength and remind us that we are part of something much greater than ourselves. Through your involvement and care, our students are supported not only in their academic growth but also in their spiritual journey as they continue to grow in faith and character. The time, energy, and love you pour into their lives leaves an impact that extends well beyond their experiences at CA.
The way faith and education are woven together in the CA community creates an environment marked by kindness, unity, and a genuine commitment to one another. It is a privilege to serve among people who share a common purpose and a Christ-centered vision for our students. Thank you for your continued partnership, your confidence in our work, and your dedication to the mission we share. May we keep trusting in the Lord’s guidance, giving thanks for His provision, and seeking His wisdom as we move forward together.
In Christ’s Love,
Mrs. Jasmine Anderson, M.Ed, ATC
Principal
Back Issues
Click here to view the January Principal’s Newsletter.
Click here to view the December Principal’s Newsletter.
Click here to view the November Principal’s Newsletter.
Click here to view the October Principal’s Newsletter.