November 2019 1426 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf, IA 52722 563.359.5700•www.morningstaracademy.org Morning News Teaching Truth|Training Disciples|Transforming the Community

Headmaster Notes - Roller Coasters in Our Own Backyards The imagination is a powerful and beautiful gift of being made in the image of God. Because we are made for a relationship with God, one of the primary functions of the spirit, the inner man, is the ability to imagine. This imagination informed by the Word of God enables us to “see” what is true reality, God, who is unseen. We must protect and grow our children’s imaginations by reading to them great stories. We must encourage them to read great books. We must expose them to great music and art. We must hold firm on limiting their time watching what others have imagined (i.e. limit their screen time) in order for them to grow their own imagination.

Dates to Note: I know children have a remarkable capacity to imagine. When my second son, Caleb, was ten- years-old he looked at our backyard and imagined building a roller coaster. It didn’t matter that • Oct. 31st & Nov. 1st- the yard was flat as a pancake. It didn’t matter that he didn’t know how to weld, let alone have Parent/Teacher access to metal rails. It didn’t matter that his dad did not have a mechanical bone in his body to Conferences - No School assist in the design of a roller coaster. All he saw was a backyard roller coaster. He insisted that he could build one despite my attempts to dash his dreams with realities. Even at 25 he hasn’t • Nov. 8th - Picture forgotten, “See, I told you so. You can build a backyard roller coaster” was his text with a link to Retakes - 8:00am the YouTube video, “How This Guy Built a Roller Coaster in His Backyard”.

• Nov. 13th - Spelling Bee The ability to imagine separates us from the rest of creation. We have the astounding ability to for grades 3-8, 8:30am “see” worlds in our mind’s eye, worlds that do not exist today, but might tomorrow . . . roller • Nov. 15th - Senior coasters in our own backyards. Babysitting, 5-9 pm It is with this imagination that I am considering Morning Star’s tomorrow. One of the four • Nov. 15th - Spirit Day major goals that the board has approved for me to tackle this school year is that of setting my mind’s eye towards our future, particularly when it comes to expanding our facilities. It is • Nov. 15h - Used possible this glance towards the future might force us to imagine our world 3, 5, or even 10 Uniform Sale, 3pm-5pm years from now. It is possible we will be wrestling with the questions of: “How large will our enrollment be?” “Where will we be located?” “What keystone programs should we add to • Nov. 22nd - Pastor Day further distinguish our classical, Christian education?” “What current programs ought to be en- • Nov. 27th - 29th - No hanced and how?” “What additional facilities or renovations will we need to support our enroll- School, Thanksgiving ment or our programs?” Vacation As I set myself toward this goal, I will be in conversation with a number of companies who can • Dec. 1st - Iowa assist us -- me and the board -- in imagining. Our goal is to bring to you, the Morning Star Reimbursement Association, by the Annual Meeting (if not sooner) what we imagine might be our future. Transportation Deadline Be in prayer as we seek God’s mind; His imagination for Morning Star Academy, knowing that • Dec. 5th - Christmas He “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” with the aim that He be Concert, 6:30pm glorified “in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever” (Eph. 3:20-21).

We might even have our very own roller coaster. At least we have the hills for it.

Blessings, Rob Spykstra, Headmaster

MORNING STAR ACADEMY NEWS PAGE 2 Back By Popular Demand Beginning Monday, November 4th, the Upper School will have a 40 minute study hall inserted into their schedule. We found that the 8th period study hall was ineffective, inefficient, and underutilized. The new study hall schedule addresses the majority of our concerns.

New study hall schedule highlights:

• Class times will be slightly shorter with an average class time being 45 minutes

• Study hall will be in the middle of the school day, immediately after 4th period and before lunch

• Lunch will be an extra 5 minutes

• Study hall will be located in individual classrooms with teacher oversight

The study hall can be utilized for individual students to get homework completed. Secondly, hall passes will be given to students to receive additional assistance from teachers other than their study hall teacher.

Thank you parents for expressing your concern. Thank you for your patience as we worked out the details of getting the study hall reinstated in such a way that addressed our study hall concerns and worked within the parameters of our “specials” and the Lower School schedule. Spelling Bee Once again, the Rock Island Argus-Dispatch is sponsoring schools in both the Illinois and Iowa Quad-Cities who want to participate in the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. Morning Star’s top two spellers in each grade, third through eighth, will compete on Wednesday, November 13th, at 8:30 a.m. in the Great Hall to determine our school spelling champion. The winner of our school bee will compete at the Regional Bee on Saturday, March 21st, 1:30 p.m., at Augustana’s Centennial Hall. The winner of the Regional Bee earns an all-expense paid trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. which happens the week of Memorial Day. Parents, you are welcome to attend our school bee! Parent Teacher Partnership Upcoming News & Events Uniform Sale

The fall uniform sale will be Friday, November 15, from 3pm-5pm. Donations can be brought to the school starting November 11th. All items are $1 with proceeds going to the school. We need help setting up Friday, November 15, starting at 1pm and tearing down Friday after 5pm. If you can help with the sale, please contact Dawn Hughes at [email protected] or text 563-340-7499.

Teacher & Staff Appreciation

This year we will once again designate the last week of each month as Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. Please take a moment to thank the MSA teachers and staff for all they do for our children. Each month will have a theme which is simply meant to help guide and inspire you. No gesture of appreciation is too big or too small! As you’re thinking about ways to show your appreciation, please don’t forget about music, gym, art, library, and foreign language teachers, as well as, the support staff and administration who help keep MSA running smoothly! November’s theme for teacher & staff appreciation is “We are thankful for all you do”. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Looking Ahead….December’s teacher & staff appreciation theme will be “Merry Christmas”.

MORNING STAR ACADEMY NEWS PAGE 3

Iowa Transportation Reimbursement Deadline For those of you who live in Iowa, the State of Iowa offers some transportation reimbursement for K-12 students. To receive reimbursement for transporting your child(ren) to Morning Star, you will need to file a request with your public school district of residence by December 1.

The appropriate forms are on FACTS SIS under resource documents. Each district has a form that will tell you how and to whom you must submit the form. Some districts will accept emailed forms, others want them to be mailed.

The amount of reimbursement will vary each year, but this past year it was approximately $200/child/semester for a maximum of three children in grades K - 8 and one child in high school per family. It is definitely worth your time to submit the request.

Going forward, you will need to file these reimbursement requests twice each school year - by December 1 and May 1.

According to our contacts at the public school districts, the reimbursement checks will come directly to families sometime in the July-September timeframe. You will file twice each school year but the State only mails the reimbursement checks once each year. Senior Class Sponsored Events  It’s Back - Senior Babysitting Nights at MSA: Friday, November 15. 5pm - 9pm Saturday, December 7, 9am- 2pm Friday, December 13th 5pm - 9pm

CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND POINSETTIAS

MSA Seniors are excited to announce that Christmas wreaths and poinsettias are now available to purchase for the holiday season.

 6.5” Poinsettia Pot  24” Balsam Wreath w/Pinecones and Red Velvet Bow  22” Mixed Evergreen Wreath w/Pinecones and Red Velvet Bow Order forms will be coming home soon on paper and via email. If you have any ques- tions, please contact: [email protected]

SPIRIT DAYS • Friday, November 15th • Friday, December 13th If your child chooses to not participate in Spirit day, they must be dressed in full uniform.

MORNING STAR ACADEMY NEWS PAGE 4 Do You Hate Taxes? This is for You. If you or your business anticipates paying Iowa state taxes, you can redirect 65% of that tax bill towards Morning Star Academy by giving to our Heart of Iowa School Tuition Organization (STO). The Heart of Iowa STO un- derwrites a significant portion of our financial aid.

It is simple.

• Complete a donation form that takes five minutes indicating Morning Star Academy as the recipient school

• Write a check to the Heart of Iowa STO

• Mail it to:

Heart of Iowa STO 13007 Douglas Pkwy. Ste. 100 Urbandale, IA 50323-1702

You will receive from Heart of Iowa STO a donation receipt. Sixty-five percent (65%) of your donation can be used as a tax credit on one of your next three year’s taxes.

For example, if I give $500 as a donation to the Heart of Iowa STO, I will be able to apply $325 (65% of $500) towards my Iowa tax bill. If I don’t owe any state taxes this year, I can wait until next year or the year thereafter.

In giving to the Heart of Iowa STO you are giving to Morning Star families who receiving financial aid, plus you are getting to control how your taxes are being used. Win-win!

Find Heart of Iowa STO donation form on the next page.

Heart of Iowa School Tuition Organization, Inc. Donation Form

Donors will receive an Iowa Tax Credit Certificate for 65% of their donation. This completed form should be included with the donation. Make checks payable to “Heart of Iowa STO”. Donations can be given to one of the STO schools listed below or mailed to:

Heart of Iowa STO 13007 Douglas Pkwy. Ste. 100 Urbandale, IA 50323-1702

Tax Credit Certificates will be mailed in January of the following year. If your employer offers a Matching Gifts Program, your donation may be eligible for a match (credits are not issued on the match).

Name of Donor or Corporation (if Corp. include type): Social Security # or EIN (Required):

Address: City, State, Zip:

Email Address: Phone #:

Donation Type: Undesignated $______

Designated - Select one or more schools. Ames Christian School $______Ankeny Christian Academy $______Cedar Valley Christian School $______Des Moines Christian School $______Grand View Christian School $______Heartland Christian School $______Isaac Newton Christian Academy $______Marshalltown Christian School $______Morning Star Academy $______Mt. Olive Lutheran School $______Pella Christian Grade School $______Waterloo Christian School $______Total Donation $______

For Office Use:

Donation Received By:______Date:______

MORNING STAR ACADEMY NEWS PAGE 6 First Quarter Honor Roll High Honor Roll High Honor Roll Cont. Grade Student GPA Grade Student GPA 1 Jovie Bakken 4.00 5 Abigail Brewer 4.00 1 Everett Carrington 4.00 5 Truman Brooks 4.00 1 Nate Carter 4.00 5 Micah Rohde 4.00 1 Elyse Coffman 4.00 5 Morgan Tipsword 4.00 1 Piper Dean 4.00 5 Sara Hartman 3.90 1 Emery Flockhart 4.00 5 Austin Mappin 3.90 1 Maddie Foss 4.00 5 Matthew Sievers 3.90 1 Brady Girskis 4.00 6 Creighton Arguello 4.00 1 Peyson Hanley 4.00 6 Amelia Duncan 4.00 1 Parker Hoover 4.00 6 Evie Filbeck 4.00 1 Lyza Hovey 4.00 6 Angelina Kobernat 4.00 1 Oakly Mack 4.00 6 Selah Lorentzen 4.00 1 Jason Pautsch 4.00 6 Brogdon Lundgren 4.00 1 Peyton Peterson 4.00 6 Sadie Voigt 4.00 1 Josiah Schaefer 4.00 7 Josh Brady 4.00 1 Carsten Sievers 4.00 7 Connor Brooks 4.00 1 Liam Tooley 4.00 7 Campbell Dopler 4.00 1 Gracie Viall 4.00 7 Katelyn Jacob 4.00 1 Henry Walsh 4.00 7 Elsie McClure 4.00 2 Sophie Anderson 4.00 7 Emily McClure 4.00 2 Ben Carter 4.00 7 Jude Rennie 4.00 2 Taylor Jacob 4.00 7 Annabella VonMuenster 4.00 2 Henry Jewell 4.00 8 Camila Crespo 4.00 2 Ashton Mack 4.00 8 Ava Duncan 4.00 2 Kenley Mappin 4.00 8 Rebekah Hartsuch 4.00 2 Kam Sowards 4.00 8 Eli Hughes 4.00 2 Gage Stecker 4.00 8 Noah Shook 4.00 3 Micah Arguello 4.00 8 Natalie Weyrick 4.00 3 Rosalie Brooks 4.00 9 Steel Anderson 4.00 3 Jeremiah Harrington 4.00 9 Luke Bohonek 4.00 3 Eden Kobernat 4.00 9 Mark Brooks 4.00 3 Ozias Mack 4.00 9 Vallarie Fendley 4.00 3 Sophia Miller 4.00 9 Lucas Fulton 4.00 3 Zaley Rohde 4.00 9 Norah Giza 4.00 3 Owen Sievers 4.00 9 Ella Hansen 4.00 4 Kaitlyn 4.00 9 Maddy Murphy 4.00 4 Aubrie Bailey 4.00 4 Cooper Bush 4.00 4 Jon Carter 4.00 4 Jillian Hovey 4.00 4 Elise Jacob 4.00

4 Job Shook 4.00 4 Reagan Tipsword 4.00

MORNING STAR ACADEMY NEWS PAGE 7 High Honor Roll Cont. Honor Roll Grade Student GPA Grade Student GPA 10 Juliet Brewer 4.00 2 Ava Bortner 3.86 10 Kara Hughes 4.00 2 Eli Emde 3.86 10 Rilee Martin 4.00 2 Eli Leverenz 3.86 10 Carolyn Raymon 4.00 2 Alex Miller 3.86 10 Caleb Schroeder 4.00 3 Bella Bartz 3.89 10 Samuel Schroeder 4.00 3 Gabriel Duncan 3.89 10 Emily Spykstra 4.00 3 Rylee Peterson 3.89 10 Anna Stivers 4.00 3 Emery Schaefer 3.89 10 Gabrielle Wallace 4.00 3 Keith Krenzelok 3.78 11 Eli Brady 4.00 3 Aidan Mack 3.78 11 Eliana Parks 4.00 4 Sydney Coffman 3.89 12 Sarah Schroeder 4.00 4 Luke Leverenz 3.89 12 Abby Stivers 4.00 5 Caxton Van der Hart 3.80 12 Madison Trotter 4.00 5 Halle Zimmerman 3.80 12 Maddy Wilson 4.00 6 Emmaline VonMuenster 3.88 6 Tanner Fulton 3.82 8 Rachel Ellingson 3.85 8 Madelyn Lee 3.85 8 Ethan Raeside 3.85 8 Gavin Trotter 3.85 11 Achaia Cooper 3.85 11 Jackson Trotter 3.85 11 Cole Walters 3.85 2 Jen Boggs 3.83 12 Elizabeth Gibson 3.83 12 Reid Hansen 3.83 12 Rachel Rossi 3.83 12 Titus Beeler 3.83