Welcome to the Maranatha Christian Academy community. We are excited that you have decided to have your student here at MCA. MCA utilizes multiple mediums for communicating with families: email, social media, phone messaging systems, announcements, fliers, just to name a few. However, the primary tool utilized is the family and student email addresses that are supplied to you within the Office 365 platform. Hopefully, this page, with subsequent instructions and videos will help get you connected to these tools. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are having difficulties, or if you simply have questions. Again, we are truly glad that you have become a part of the Maranatha Christian Academy community.
Parent/Guardian Tools
Parent/Guardian accounts are different than student accounts. While some appear the same (i.e. Office 365,) licensing and permissions are governed by the software providers. Additionally, the permission and information is different based on account type. Please be sure you have confirmed you are signed up for your tools as well as your student.
MCA Family Email
Did you bypass setting your timezone or, set the wrong one by mistake? Follow these instructions to do it again at anytime.
Parent/Guardian Email
Set up your family email
All official and regular email from MCA staff and faculty is mailed to the school-provided email account. In addition, this email account and its Microsoft credentials are used to provide parent/guardian access to many other school resources. Setting up this account is your most important first step as an MCA parent/guardian.
To set up, please browse to Outlook on Office 365, preferably from a desktop device, and use the login credentials you were provided by the school. You will have a few set up items, including:
- your self-serve password reset questions
- resetting your temporary password
- your time zone
Once these are set up, you should see your inbox! This is a normal email that can be added to the device(s) of your preference. Parents/Guardians should share this inbox to be sure they receive all school emails.
Mobile/Text Messaging Service
Opt in to to receive important mobile notifications
MCA utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages, straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more.
It’s important to receive these time-sensitive notifications. We encourage students that have mobile phones and family members to opt-in for these notifications.
You can participate in this service just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587.
You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”.
SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy PledgeTM, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.
PowerSchool Unified Classroom
Parent/guardian gradebook and more!
MCA is proud to announce all our family accounts in PowerSchool are Single Sign-On with their Microsoft Office 365 Credentials.* Using the same user name and password as their family email account (see your “Regular Contact” tab) parents/guardians will be able to access the newest tools in PowerSchool to help them keep track of student grades, attendance and much more. If you have a school-provided email you can log in to PowerSchool right now from Parent/Guardian Tab of the “Resources Menu.” Sign in by clicking PowerSchool UC and then click on “Sign in with Microsoft.”
*Please note that you sign into the PowerSchool Mobile App using the same credentials. if you are prompted for our District Code it is: NPCJ.
PowerSchool Unified Classroom Intro
Source: WSESU
School Resources
Find what you need
MCA has a quite a list of helpful resources that are available for our families. It is important to know that the best place to find these is on our website. The good news is that these resources are available from the menu on any page under “Resources.” This item appears in the upper left hand side of the menu on a wide screen-device and in the drop down menu on smaller-screen devices.
If you are looking for Documents and Forms, click the button below titled “Forms, Files & Links”. You may access these again by clicking on the Resource menu in the future!
Are you looking for something you cannot find in our Resources menu? Send us your feedback!
Smart Tuition Account
Access your Tuition and Fees
Establishing your Smart Tuition account is an important part of enrollment at MCA. All tuition and fees are collected through this convenient tool and a great deal of custom preferences are available to the enrolled family’s financially responsible party.
It is important to notice that while some fees are added automatically (sports fees, activities fees, etc.) some fees are optional and are selected by the financially responsible party and payable immediately in Smart Tuition. Familiarizing yourself with these tools are helpful to be sure your student(s) and your family do not miss out on opportunities.
It is also very convenient to use the Smart Phone app to gain access to your Smart Tuition account, make payments and more. Optional Fees cannot be paid via the Smart App. Some products (drama tickets, donations, etc.) may be made available to the public but they are not a part of a family’s account.
Please note that Smart Tuition Accounts are set up and managed by the enrolled family’s financially responsible party. All accounts with Smart Tuition are managed directly through Smart Tuition and that party. MCA does not have access to these accounts.
How to Pay Optional Fees
Here is a short video that shows how to gain access to your Smart Tuition account and pay any sort of optional fee.
New & Events
Find out what's happening at MCA
In addition to our family resources, MCA has a useful gathering of important news and events. It is important to know that the best place to find these is on our website. The good news is that these resources are available from the menu on any page under “News & Events.” This item appears in the upper right hand side of the menu on a wide screen-device and in the drop down menu on smaller-screen devices. (See images)
- From the website menu, (1) choose “News and Events.” (2) You will find not only Events (school calendars, menus and more) but (3) news too!
- If the Filters are closed, click “Show Filters” to find ways to narrow your calendar search
- Clicking (1) “Collapse Filters” returns the calendar to a full screen view; (2) there are many filters you can find, the more you know what you are looking for the better (there is a search bar at the top of every calendar too!)
If you are looking for our School Calendar or different School News you may access these again by clicking on the Resource menu in the future!
Do you have news we should share? Can’t find something on our calendar that should be there? Let us know!
Appy Hours
MCA has special “Appy Hours” that are available for our new and existing families to help them become familiar with our Tech Tools. You are invited to come and we would be happy to help you set up your school accounts on your phone, laptop, etc. Or, just show you how to find the things you need online. This is your invitation. We look forward to seeing you there
HelpDesk
Get help on all sorts of MCA stuff!
Knowing that MCA is ready to help you and your family with the tools we use is something we want you to be confident in. To that end, MCA has its own online HelpDesk available 24×7.
Access to the HelpDesk uses the same credentials you set up from your Office 365 credentials. Sign in and and gain access to all sorts of helps including the ability for you to raise a ticket directly with the IT Department.
Access MCA’s Exclusive HelpDesk
Don’t miss that you can search hundreds of articles, videos and other helps not only on the MCA HelpDesk, but directly from our web page; right now! Click on the “Help” button in the lower left hand corner of any of our webpage to search for help.
Please note you cannot raise tickets with the help button on the web site. Please sign in and submit your requests via the HelpDesk– it is the fastest way to get help with school tech! (See above image.)
Welcome to our Schools!
Joining our Family?
MCA is a preschool, an elementary and secondary school. No matter what part of our family you are joining, we are glad you are with us! Be sure you look into our news regularly to find out what is going on in any of our programs!
New Elementary Parents
Student Tools
Student accounts are different than parent/guardian accounts. However, Microsoft Student Account IDs may be set up before they attend class where many of the tools the students use will be introduced as a part of their first day(s) in class. If you are a new student you are encouraged to use the form below to request your student account information. If you are having trouble viewing the form please use this link.
MCA Students are introduced formally to additional class resources within the first few weeks of school. If a family would like to look at the available tools for their students they are able to locate these in the same “Resource Menu” referenced above.