Minnehaha Academy Dictionary
A
The Academy – A nickname for Minnehaha Academy as a whole, including all campuses and schools.
Activity Period – Activity period occurs on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week for approximately twenty minutes. During this time, students have an opportunity to meet with a teacher, socialize with friends or attend meetings held by clubs or groups.
Advisor Program – Staff and faculty members serve as advisors for a group of approximately ten same sex students who are also in the same grade. The groups meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays during flex time for approximately fifteen minutes. Each student also meets with their advisor either on an individual basis or a group of two students about once per month during activity period. This program provides a wonderful opportunity for community building and exchange of ideas between staff and students and student to student interaction.
The Alliance – A group of parent volunteers who raise money for the school’s annual fund. They sponsor the Holiday House Tour and the Arena Sale. Most of the parent volunteer service hours available are through these events. Contact the development office for more information.
Amity (i.e. Amity Scholar) – College age students from a foreign country who live with a Minnehaha family and serve as a language and cultural resource to our faculty and students.
Annual Fund – Money raised through the Annual Fund campaign makes up the difference between tuition and the actual cost per student. It provides financial aid to those in need, in addition to providing classroom supplies and equipment, salaries for teachers and staff – many things that improve the quality of education for the entire student body. The Annual Fund goal is met through the financial contributions, as well as proceeds from the Arena Sale, the Auction, the Holiday Festival, Non-Public school Marathon, the Plant Sale and the Phonathon.
The Antler – The Upper school yearbook.
Arena Sale – This annual event is a huge garage sale held in the ice arena at the south campus in the fall. Preparation and work starts in August and continues through the September sale. Volunteers are needed for depot days, pricing and the sale days. The Alliance sponsors this event. The Arena Sale provides 75% of the opportunities for parent service hours. Proceeds benefit the Annual Fund.
The ARROW – A quarterly magazine for the alumni, current families and friends of MA.
Assembly – This is a gathering of the upper school community held on Tuesdays during flex time. Assembly time provides for an opportunity for the upper school to host speakers from school or the greater community for education and school celebration.
Athletic Hotline – The Athletic Hotline is available by phone and updated daily. It provides schedules and information about our athletic events. Directions to other schools where games are to be played can be found on our web site. (612-728-7790)
Auction – The Benefit Auction is an annual fund-raising event, which take place in April. It is a fun evening including dinner, a live and silent auction featuring hundreds of new items donated by area businesses and friends of MA. Students also participate by creating wonderful classroom items that are auctioned off on this evening. The parent volunteer coordinated event benefits financial aid.
B
BC – (Bloomington Campus PreK– grade 5). 10150 Xerxes Ave S. Bloomington MN 55431 952-806-0066.
Benefit Auction – see Auction
Block Scheduling – Tuesday through Friday there is eighty minutes scheduled for each class. This accommodates a range of instructional strategies, which allows for exploring the subject matter in depth. Wednesday and Friday are our "odd" days where 1st, 3rd, 5th, & 7th hour classes meet. Tuesday and Thursday are our "even" days where 2nd, 4th and 6th hour classes meet. Mondays continue to be a traditional seven period day, where the students meet with every class in one day.
C
Campus Room – Upper School student cafeteria.
Capital Campaign – Promise for the Future is a current capital campaign with a goal of $9 million. Money raised through this campaign has built the new gymnasium at the North Campus. The second part of the campaign is a Chapel/Fine Arts center, and is slated for completion in February of 2003.
Chapel – A weekly gathering of the school to worship and learn together during Flex time on Thursdays. Parents are welcome to visit. The chapel may feature speakers from within the school or from the surrounding Christian community. Please contact our chapel coordinator, Jeff Crafton, if you have a suggestion for a speaker or performance group.
Coffee with the President – These are coffees held in homes where parents have a chance to meet with Minnehaha Academy's president in an informal environment.
Commons – Opening in 2003, this will be the main entrance and student gathering area for the upper school.
Covenant Church – The Swedish denomination that founded MA.
D
Depot Days – (Donation drop-off days) Time set aside when people can drop off donation items at the ice arena for the Arena Sale. Parent volunteers are available to help unload and receive donations.
Development Office – The Development Office is responsible for the Annual Fund campaign, capital campaign, endowment program, planned giving, parent service policy management and special event management. Alumni relations and reunions are also handled by the development office staff, as well as marketing for the school and the ARROW.
E
Engman Golf Classic – A golf tournament organized and run by the MA class of 1961 in honor of their classmate, Bruce Engman. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Engman endowment fund. Each year, money from this fund is awarded to the athletic department for use within their programs. All are welcome to participate.
F
Fellowship Dinner – An annual dinner thanking friends for their financial contributions of $150 or more to the Annual Fund. The evening includes performances given by the arts ensembles from all our schools.
Flex Period – This is a period that occurs between the 2nd and 4th period on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday’s flex period starts with a school assembly, followed by advisory groups and then activity period. Thursday’s flex period starts with an upper school chapel, followed by advisory groups and then activity period.
Founders’ Week – A week where MA’s history is recognized during chapel with speakers typically drawn from our alumni.
G
Grandpeople Day – A time for grandparents or otherwise grand folks in the lives of students to come experience a bit of a school day. A special coffee and chapel are offered.
H
Hawk Calls – Published in the fall, this is a directory of pictures, phone numbers and addresses of students at MA. This resource is provided only for the private use of Minnehaha families.
Holiday Festival – This event sponsored by the Alliance, a parent volunteer committee, is held in December. Homes are available for tour, a luncheon is held, poinsettias, craft and gift items and homemade cookies are for sale. Proceeds benefit the Annual Fund.
Homecoming – A traditional weekend celebration, which includes a football, volleyball and soccer game, and a homecoming court. The cross-country team sponsors the Red Hawk run/walk on Saturday. All are welcome to attend. On Saturday evening a dance is held - dates are not necessary and the dress is casual. Activities are planned for alumni.
I
Ice Arena – The dome shaped building at the south campus. This facility is used by our hockey teams and is also the location of the Arena Sale.
J K L
Link – "The Link" is the hallway linking the athletic center with the fine arts center/chapel.
LS – Lower School. Grades PreK – 5 at the South Campus in Minneapolis and grades PreK- 5 at the Bloomington Campus in Bloomington.
M
MA – Minnehaha Academy
Madrigal Dinner – The Minnehaha Academy Madrigal Singers host the annual Madrigal Dinner in February. Our gym is transformed into a medieval castle where an Elizabethan feast is served and people are entertained by music performed by the Madrigal Singers and other Minnehaha musicians.
Minnehaha Academy – Our school. A private Christian academy founded in 1913 by the Evangelical Covenant Church of America.
Minnehaha Academy Sunday – One Sunday in the late fall when Evangelical Covenant Churches in the twin cities recognize MA’s mission within their conference by giving a MA representative an opportunity to share information about our school.
Marathon – The non public school marathon designed as a citywide fund raiser for non public schools that is held in the fall on River Road. Students at the lower school are encouraged to collect pledges. Proceeds benefit the Annual Fund and the lower school campuses.
Moms in Touch – A group of moms who meet weekly to pray for the students, faculty and friends of MA.
MORP – Prom in reverse for freshman and sophomores held the night before Prom. Dress is wacky – no dates.
MS – Middle School. Grades 6 – 8 located on the South Campus.
N
NC – North Campus. This is the location of the upper school, the president’s office, admissions and the development office. 3100 West River Parkway Mpls, MN 55406 612-729-8321.
Ninth Grade Retreat – A get-away for incoming 9th graders for the purpose of bonding as a class and adjusting to high school.
NCA – North Central Association. The organization by which MA is accredited.
Northwest Conference – Minnehaha Academy is owned and operated by the Northwest Conference. The Northwest Conference is an association of the local Evangelical Covenant Churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota. Their office is located at 3107 47th Ave South Minneapolis, 55406.
OP
Parent Fair – This event is held in conjunction with the Parent Open House. Parents are invited to meet representatives from clubs, service organizations, sports and other activities that are available to our students.
Parent Mentors – The mentors are parent volunteers who are a resource to the new families, providing information about the school and events by contacting them on a regular basis.
Parent Open House – The open house is held early in the fall where parents are given the chance to follow their student’s schedule and meet their teachers, find out expectations and have questions answered. The Parent Fair immediately precedes the Open House.
Parent Service Hours – The parent service policy was put into place to assist in closing the gap between what tuition covers and the actual cost of an education at Minnehaha Academy. Tuition covers approximately 92% of the education costs. Ensuring that all parents take part, this policy fairly distributes the weight of this financial need. Each two-parent family is required to volunteer 8 hours and 4 hours for each single-parent family. For those individuals who can not give of their time, Minnehaha Academy offers the option of a financial contribution in lieu of these hours. The suggested donation is a minimum of $12/ service hour. Parent service policy events include the Arena Sale, Auction, Holiday Festival, Non-public school Marathon, Phonathon and spring clean up.
Parent / Teacher Conferences – Conferences are held in October and April.
Phonathon – Alumni, parents and friends of Minnehaha are called during March and April to donate money to the Annual Fund.
President’s Associates Dinner – A thank you dinner for those who have contributed in excess of $1000 to Minnehaha Academy’s Annual Fund. The evening includes a musical or theatrical performance by MA students.
Prom – A formal dance held in May on a Friday night that is planned and prepared by juniors for seniors. Attendance is limited to juniors and seniors only. It features a grand promenade for the viewing pleasure of parents and friends, followed by dinner and a dance. Dates are not necessary.
Promise for the Future – see Capital Campaign.
QR
Redhawks – MA’s team name for athletics and other extra-curricular activities.
S
Sadie Hawkins – A square dance held at a "ranch."
SC – South Campus. Our Middle
School and Minneapolis Lower School are located here.
4200 West River Parkway Mpls, MN 55406. 612-721-3359.
Service Hours – See parent service hours.
Service Learning – Community service that is channeled into the required curriculum at each grade level – 9th Health, 10th Biology, 11th English, 12th Economics.
SnoDaze Week – A week of fun activities to break the monotony of Minnesota winters which includes zany antics and events, including intramural sports, faculty vs. student basketball games, goofy garb and concludes with a formal dance.
SnoDaze Dance – A formal dance that is the final event for SnoDaze Week
Spirit (i.e. Spirit Magazine) – The Upper School fine arts magazine published in the spring produced by the publications class.
Student Showcase – A mid-winter weekend extravaganza, featuring student art displays and several one act plays, which are student directed, performed, and written.
Super Soccer Saturday – A day in the fall filled with soccer games which concludes with a back to- school dance.
Staff Appreciation Luncheon – Each year in May, a luncheon is held for the upper school faculty and staff in the teacher’s lounge. An upper school parent group sponsors this luncheon with the help of donations of food from the parent community.
T
Talon – Upper School newspaper written by students, published six times per year. Copies are distributed to the students. Parents can order a subscription, which will be mailed to your home, for $10 per year.
Tri-metro Conference – The athletic and extracurricular conference consisting of MA and other private schools in the area.
UVWXYZ
US – Upper School – grades 9 through 12 – located at the North Campus.
Upper School email broadcast – Weekly communication from the principal to the parents via email. This communication updates current events such as school closings and schedule changes. Helpful information about current activities at MA is also included.
Upper School Newsletter – The newsletter is published throughout the school year and is mailed to the parents of the upper school students. Each newsletter includes a calendar of upcoming events, letters from the principal and the school president, newsworthy articles and the lunch menu.
Web site – www.MinnehahaAcademy.net – The school’s web site where you can find school calendars, sports calendars, highlights of recent events, directions to sporting events, listing of the curriculum, staff email and voice mail listings, a parent connect link and more.