Legacy Christian Academy's Annual Report for the 2024-25 school year!
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
LETTER FROM LEGACY'S HEAD OF SCHOOL
Legacy Christian Academy exists to equip the mind and disciple the heart of each student for Christ-like living. Legacy Christian Academy fulfills its mission through:
Dear Legacy Community,
Time moves quickly year after year here at Legacy, but we are thankful for God’s blessings through it all.
OUR FOUNDATION: CHRIST-CENTERED AND STUDENT FOCUSED
OUR PATH: TRANSFORMATION BY KNOWING, DISCIPLING, AND PREPARING
OUR PURSUIT: EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH RADICAL SERVANTHOOD
We started the 2024-25 school year by opening the 5 th - 12 th grade Engineering Lab, new high school wing, and many expanded elementary classrooms—each a final project in conjunction with the New Academic Building that opened the previous school year. Even now, it’s hard to imagine our learning spaces without these specifically designed classrooms! The 2024-25 school year was also marked by many academic and programmatic milestones. We implemented the Standard Response Protocol to strengthen our crisis management readiness and to better align with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and we completed ACSI re-accreditation. Our staff and teachers engaged in significant biblical worldview training, further equipping them to disciple students. We expanded onsite college credit offerings and added American Sign Language to our high school curriculum. Middle school students gained more elective options, while elementary students benefited from an updated math curriculum and a biblically grounded relationships curriculum. At the 2025 Celebrate Legacy Gala, we revealed one of our most impactful strategic initiatives: purchasing the buildings and 24 acres of the Meadow Creek Church property, and our community gave in overwhelming generosity toward the $9.25M purchase. As we look to the future, this ownership will allow us to live out our core values with even greater intentionality. It’s hard to believe our 5-Year Strategic Plan, Courageous Faith: Magnifying God’s Sovereignty has almost come to a close, and we now turn our attention to planning our next Strategic Plan. Through all of this, who we are remains the same: Legacy Christian Academy exists to equip the mind and disciple the heart of each student for Christ-like living. Our foundation is Christ and our students. Our path is transformation by knowing, discipling, and preparing. Our pursuit is exceptional experiences through radical servanthood. This is our commitment, and we will not change.
LEGACY'S LEADERSHIP
BACK ROW: MR. DENNIS ZWIRCHITZ Advancement Director MRS. SARAH KLAWITER Director of Operations MRS. LYNDA DOMINO Admissions & Family Relations Director MR. NATHAN BELLEFEUILLE Athletic Director
FRONT ROW: MR. JOEL NYDAM PreK-4 Principal MRS. LIBBY MANION 5-8 Principal MR. JAKE MULVIHILL Head of School MR. ROBERT LYNN ATKINSON 9-12 Principal
AT A GLANCE 2025-26 TEACHERS & STAFF
52 % Full-Time Teachers with Master’s Degree
13:1 Student to Teacher Ratio (Full-Time & Part-Time)
15 Average Years of Instructional Experience
88 Full-Time Teachers & Staff
27 Part-Time Teachers & Staff
1103 Total Years of Instructional Experience
SERVICE AWARD: 25 YEARS | Lorie Niessen
JAKE MULVIHILL | Head of School
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NUMBERS by the 2024-25 By the Numbers KNOWN 905 Students invested in and prayed for by name 1,058 Parents intentionally partnered with 38 Cities represented 89 Churches represented 11,000+ Visitors signed in during the school year
ENGAGED BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 39 High school activities | 73% Participation 18 Middle school activities | 78% Participation 14 Co-op activities 43 Performances (Theater & Music) per year 3,012 Audience members in attendance for theater performances 121 Costumes designed INVESTED COMMUNITY $2,975,213 Total Giving $10.5M Ascending Together campaign completed December 31, 2024 598 2025 Gala Attendees 184 2025 Spring Golf Scramble Participants 31 Legacy Business Sponsors
DISCIPLED 62% High school students in optional discipleship groups 74% Middle school students in optional discipleship groups 21 Senior discipleship leaders 103 Parents on average attend elementary chapel 40 Hours of biblical immersion PD training and biblical worldview formation for staff and teachers 100% Of classes and extracurricular activities immersed in a biblical worldview PREPARED 240 Students received academic support and enrichment through Student Support Services 1,182 College credits earned by juniors and seniors 27 Average ACT Score for top 25% 1-2 Grade levels above national norms in student math and reading performance
LEGACY Over the Years
2025-26 By the Numbers
ATHLETICS 99 Conference Championships 36 MSHSL State Tournament Appearances 6 MSHSL Team State Championships 83 All State Athletes ARTS 15 Band & Choir All-State Awards 54 Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Awards PREPARED FOR WHAT’S NEXT 160 Different colleges Legacy grads have attended 87% College | 13% Missions, Military, Work, Gap Year
OUR STUDENTS 80 PreK 341 Elementary 253 Middle school 228 High school AVG CLASS SIZE 10 PreK 20 Elementary 18 Middle school 19 High school 32 College credits offered on campus 64 High school courses offered 50 Middle and high school electives offered
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Connecting Senior Leaders and Young Disciples An astounding 21 seniors stepped up as discipleship leaders for the 2024-25 school year. With so many co-leaders, the 79 students in grades 5-7 who opted in for discipleship had the opportunity to be mentored by a senior. Each week, these 10 groups spread out across campus and opened God’s Word together, creating a space where younger students felt seen, supported, and known. For senior Rachel Stromberg ’25, the chance to lead alongside her friend, Jenna Kane ’25, was an answered prayer. “We had talked about what would be a good opportunity in our senior year to share our faith more,” she explains. “I was nervous at first, but the girls loved us. We had a really small group—5 th grade—and it was great to walk through a book of the Bible with them.” The middle school students were eager to connect, and their senior leaders loved getting to know them as individuals. Rachel and Jenna came prepared with sticky notes, pens, and Bible tabs to help their group dig deeper. “We studied Galatians, worked through big Christian words like sanctification, and gave them verse challenges. It definitely made me take initiative.” Rachel says. The experience allowed Rachel to grow in confidence as a leader while helping younger students feel seen, known, and equipped in their faith.
The Legacy Difference The 2024-25 school year welcomed 11 new teachers to the Legacy community. Half of these teachers came from public education, and as they acclimated, assimilated, and grew within Legacy’s culture and community, many teachers shared sentiments about the tangible Legacy difference. Sarah Zillmann, a new 1 st grade teacher, was so moved by the difference that she felt compelled to share her gratitude in her own words. “I have been trying to put into words, just truly how different Legacy is, than any other school I have taught at… The kids are different here. The kids know Truth and are learning the truth of the Bible, who Jesus is, and how to live like Jesus. The kids here care about one another. The kids here are known by all their teachers. The parents are different here. The parents here want to be invested in their child’s education. They want to talk with me as their teacher, connect, hear how school is going, and how they can be a part of it. My colleagues are different here. My colleagues want to be here! I have never been in a place where everyone around me wants to come to work and actually enjoys it. My colleagues care about me. Every staff member has their eyes fixed on Jesus and cares deeply about the mission of this school. My own children are different here. They come home singing worship songs and repeating Bible stories they talked about in class. Their hearts are different and their character is growing more Christ-like, and that is the greatest gift I have ever been given. …I am so incredibly grateful. This place has changed my life, my kids' lives, and my family's life.”
Every student, every day
Leading a discipleship group was a really great step in learning how to communicate my faith. It was an opportunity for me to share my faith with a group of very forgiving people while also learning how to guide them toward Christ.
RACHEL STROMBERG ’25
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Every student, every day
Legacy Theater Honored at the State Level for Community Engagement At Legacy, discipleship doesn’t stop at the classroom door —it extends into every part of student life, including the arts. This year, Legacy Theater was honored with the Spotlight Education 2025 Community Engagement Award for its ongoing partnership with the local nonprofit Stories Foundation, an organization fighting human trafficking by educating communities and empowering survivors. Through the partnership, theater students assembled care packages for women and children stepping out of trafficking, contributed to demolition and remodeling work at Storyteller Cafe in Blaine—where 100% of profits support survivors—and tithed 10% of proceeds from last year’s shows, totaling $4,081. For students, these projects were a way to put their faith into practice. “We were all working together for one cause,” says freshman Isaac Buchman ’29. Fellow student Mason Damm ’28 reflects, “High school students are the target when it comes to human trafficking, so it’s very important that we are gaining knowledge and wisdom on this local issue.” Opportunities like these move students beyond simply learning about faith—they become biblical practitioners, living out their training and values in ways that reveal Christ through how they serve and engage with the world.
From Essays to Impact Legacy’s biblically immersed curriculum is designed to shape students’ heads, hearts, and habits —not just their academic skills. A recent elementary project brought that vision to life in a powerful way. “Can you imagine not having clean water or food?” Ingrid Larson ’33 began her 4 th grade persuasive essay with that simple but compelling question. But the project wasn’t just about writing. As elementary principal Joel Nydam explains, “We knew that the project would resonate with students. The cool part was looking at how we could use assignments to maximize touching kids’ hearts—helping their minds change through an experience rather than just completing a project.” Students were first asked to imagine spending $500 on themselves—an exercise that revealed how easy it is to focus inward. They dug through online shopping catalogs and focused on staying on budget. Then they were challenged to consider how they might give that same amount to others through Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog gifts such as providing clean water, feeding a baby, or sending baby chicks to a family in need. The biggest surprise came when Joel Nydam and Jake Mulvihill arrived at the fourth grade classes with two real $500 checks, one for each 4 th grade class. A student’s essay was drawn at random, and their suggested gifts for Samaritan’s Purse became a reality. Reflecting on the outcome, Joel Nydam said, “Students realized that while spending on themselves was fun, the greatest impact came from giving to others. Putting themselves in another’s shoes helped them see how God has blessed them—and how they can give back.”
As Christians, Jesus wants us to treat others like we would want to be treated. I feel like this experience helped me think more about others than myself. In the Bible Jesus talks about not being selfish but to give to others .
BROOKE HANSON ’33
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Prepared to Innovate When eighth grade student Kaila Kurien ’29 set out to design her science fair project for Legacy middle school’s first ever science fair, she didn’t choose something simple. Instead, she built and programmed a self-driving car robot, using ultrasound sensors to navigate a PVC- pipe track under simulated weather conditions like floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Her persistence paid off. After presenting at Legacy’s science fair, Kaila advanced to Regionals, then State, where she received the Science Museum of Minnesota’s STEM Communication Award and a special invitation from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. At Coolest Projects USA, she earned the Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award— the highest honor of the event. She also presented her work at 3M, sharing alongside professional scientists and engineers. Her teacher, Rebecca Fields, says Kaila’s determination stood out: “She had already earned her grade, but she kept working for months because she was self-driven and wanted to do something bigger.” Fields notes that the process prepared Kaila not just in coding and engineering, but in perseverance, problem-solving, and public speaking. For Kaila, the experience sparked curiosity and confidence: “At first I was nervous just giving the facts, but as I practiced, I grew more comfortable. I learned I could share my project as a real conversation.” Prepared with passion and skill, Kaila exemplifies what it means to be ready for the opportunities ahead.
Students Gain Industry- Standard Experience
Legacy Christian Academy and Becker High School teamed up to take first place in the second annual PACK Challenge competition, sponsored by PepsiCo and held at PACK EXPO International in Chicago. The coalition earned the $9,000 top prize and was named Overall Best in Show for its innovative packaging solution. The PACK Challenge gave students the opportunity to design and build a functional denesting and orientating cup machine, while also creating a fictitious company complete with branding, marketing, and a mission statement. Students gained real-world exposure to industry standards and the chance to collaborate with professionals. For Gabe Horrisberger ’25, the experience was eye-opening. “It was really cool to come up with something from scratch and then build it,” he says. “When we were presenting, I enjoyed talking through the benefits of our machine—it showed me a valid career option I hadn’t seen before.” Students also developed skills beyond engineering. Jenni Bjorn ’27 valued the chance to grow in her communication skills while presenting the marketing plan, while Maverick Werth ’27 deepened his technical knowledge alongside industry mentors. The PACK Challenge proved to be a hands-on bridge between classroom learning and professional application.
Every student, every day
I saw a lot of growth in my scientific presentation skills from the Legacy science fair to presenting my project at professional companies like Raspberry Pi and 3M. You have no idea opportunities like this even exist until you try.
THE STORY EVEN GRABBED THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL KARE11 NEWS!
KAILA KURIEN ’29
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JOURNEY Your Legacy
Finances come to life when students learn to budget expenses that come with being an adult at the all-day hands-on experience—Junior
Students in the Entrepreneurship elective develop a new venture business from concept to business proposal presented to a panel of judges— Shark Tank style.
In a variety of electives and core classes, students hear from guest speakers aimed at introducing them to different careers .
FINANCIAL LITERACY Legacy focuses on forming lifelong stewards through financial literacy.
The elementary capstone financial literacy experience is a trip to BizTown where students run their own business for a day.
Achievement’s Finance Park .
H
K - 1 s t
Students hear from
Middle school is working to launch a school store where they’ll budget , track inventory, sales, and profit margins, and market products to peers.
From learning to recognize
Students learn the foundations of personal finance with Dave Ramsey’s Foundations of Personal Finance as the elective curriculum.
professionals to understand real- life applications to careers and
coins in PreK to understanding the basics of stewardship in K-1 st , the foundation of biblical financial literacy—as stewardship of God’s gifts —is formed in students.
Key concepts like exchanging money for goods and services and taxes are introduced in 2 nd grade.
concepts in the Business Investment elective.
3 rd Grade learns to manage their money and the importance of economic exchange within a city.
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
We know spiritual formation isn’t a one-time event, so we’ve immersed every element of the Legacy experience in a biblical worldview. Here are just a few tangible examples of how we accomplish this at every grade level.
100% Of 8 th grade students are equipped to lead middle school chapel in every facet including greeting, worship, and tech.
Middle school advisory not only builds community through the year, but also directly addresses biblically-grounded relationship skills.
Seniors culminate their Legacy journey by serving others in the Dominican
The acronym ROAR helps Kindergarten (and all of PreK-4 th ) understand and practice Christ- like character qualities— respectful, obedient, accountable, and responsible.
In tandem with a distinct focus on fellowship, 2 nd grade spends
The 4 th grade Bible curriculum emphasizes servanthood and what this looks like as the oldest in elementary.
Republic in partnership with Student International.
time in their BGR special
learning how to have biblically- grounded relationships with others and with God.
7 t h
Camp Shamineau is an annual experience for 7 th and intentionally designed to deeply impact students’ faith . 8 th grade students,
2 n d
Theology Capstone Projects challenge students to identify
High school athletics
Camp Forest Springs is an experience where students connect with classmates in a distinctly biblically- centered environmental camp.
implements Coaching for Transformation to extend
an authentic community
From writing a biography about a contemporary
Students learn the foundational Truth of being uniquely created in God’s image .
Students apply truth learned in apologetics to interview and engage with a non-Christian for a Biblical Worldview assignment.
Even during Number Corner time, students are pointed to biblical truth : just as the dots on dice never change, so too is the constancy of our God!
need and design and implement a meaningful solution.
Christian in culture, to sending out Flat Stanley with a desire to hear God stories, 3 rd grade focuses their writing on learning about and honoring God .
discipleship beyond the school day.
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LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Developing leadership is an intentional journey from PreK through high school that grows students from small classroom roles to authentic opportunities in service, mentorship, and community impact.
High school students step up for Student Council , student director roles, and athletic captain responsibilities.
6 th -12 th Grade are big buddies to a younger student, allowing for authentic mentorship and relationship building across the entire student body.
Middle school Student Council plans events like Game Night, Christmas Week, Homecoming fun, a Talent Show, a Twins Game outing, and more.
Middle school launches a new elective where students are responsible for
Early elementary encourages leadership not only in the classroom but also in chapel where students are pledge, worship, and prayer leaders .
creating the middle school yearbook — from photography and interviews to designing and editing, students do it all.
e K &
Juniors and Seniors are Camp Shamineau counselors during Winterim.
d l
e S
3 rd Grade students partner with Chick- fil-A to prepare for, step up, and serve 4 th grade families during 4 th grade graduation.
Leadership opportunities are embedded into daily activities in PreK like being line leader, leading a song, or participating in class demonstrations to name a few.
All high school students join Leadership Affinity Groups so they can participate in leadership and service opportunities within the Legacy community.
Seniors co-lead middle school discipleship groups .
Every 4 th grade student leads at chapel in roles like leading pledges, prayer, announcements, greeters, worship, tech, and clean-up.
Students have the opportunity to apply for lunch leads, Student
Students write resumes, interviews, and work at Pizza Ranch for a day to gain hands- on, professional experience.
Council, and chapel team.
ACADEMIC GROWTH
Whether assessing MAP testing scores or Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) one-on-one assessment reading test scores, our stats from the 2024-25 school year show strong learning continues throughout the academic career of Legacy students.
Our juniors scored an average of 12 points higher than the national average on MAP math growth testing.
Our 5 th grade students began the year reading an average of 112 words per minute and ended the year averaging 141 words per minute.
Our 7 th grade students scored an average of 5 points higher
An average of 84% of our 3 rd grade students met or exceeded their projected MAP test score during spring testing.
Our 1 st grade students began the year reading an average of 46 words per minute and ended the year averaging 88 words per minute.
than the national average on MAP reading growth and language usage testing.
63% Of seniors demonstrated both high achievement and high growth on the spring reading MAP test.
5 th
t h
77% Of sophomores scored at or above national norms in the area of math during spring MAP testing.
80% Of our freshmen scored at or above the average grade- level MAP test score in language usage during spring testing.
94% Of 4 th grade students scored at or above grade level standards in the area of math during spring MAP testing.
74% Of our students were on track to meet college-level SAT reading proficiency standards by the end of their 8 th grade year.
88% Of 6 th grade students scored at or above the average grade- level MAP test score in math during spring testing.
2 nd Grade finishes the year in math and reading at a full grade level above the national MAP test average.
Our Kindergarten students scored an average of 5 points higher than the national average on MAP math growth testing.
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FINANCIAL RECAP Legacy Purchases the Meadow Creek Church Property
The 2024-25 School Year Begins with Larger Elementary Classrooms, an Added High School Wing, and Engineering Lab In the spring of 2024, Legacy celebrated the grand opening of the middle school wing in the New Academic Building. That summer, Legacy set to expand 10 elementary classrooms, allowing for significantly larger learning spaces and grade specific hallways. In addition, the 2024-25 school year started with six added high school classrooms in the lower level of the New Academic Building and a completely
Stepping Stones for the Future
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In 1976, Meadow Creek Church established Legacy Christian Academy, then Meadow Creek Christian School, and for the last 49 years, we have had such a fruitful relationship with the church through every season of our partnership—from one organization to separate 501C3s and eventually separate named entities. However, Legacy has never owned its own buildings or had full autonomy over the space it leased. In August of 2023, Legacy embarked on one of its most impactful strategic initiatives when it initiated discussions to buy Meadow Creek’s current buildings and most of its current acreage. In March of 2025, Meadow Creek Church members approved Legacy’s $9M offer for 24 acres and all the current buildings. This allows the church to keep 5 acres in the SW
furnished Engineering Lab with state-of-the-art equipment.
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FOUNDATION FOR MASTER SITE PLAN
These construction projects have been transformative for our student experiences from more room to wiggle to new common spaces and places to learn!
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3
IMMEDIATE IMPACT– ADDITIONAL 17,700 SQ. FT.
2
ACQUIRE A VALUABLE ASSET WORTH $16M
145,000 SQ. FT OF EDUCATION SPACE
24 ACRE CAMPUS
1
FINANCIAL RECAP: Because of you, Legacy has far surpassed our 2024-25 giving goals. Your gifts elevated, expanded, and enhanced student experiences far beyond what tuition alone can provide. Thank you for impacting the lives of so many children and advancing the mission of Legacy Christian Academy.
OWNERSHIP
Meadow Creek Church is set to break ground on their property fall of 2025 allowing Legacy to occupy Meadow Creek’s current space in the winter of 2026! We are truly amazed at the generous faithfulness of our giving community and the significant impact this purchase will have on the future of Legacy and its students.
corner of the current campus and build their own 28,000 square foot church. Although we made plans, God established each step. Just a few months earlier—through only God’s intervention—Legacy purchased a residential house on the SW corner of the property adding a necessary 1.65 acres to split the property.
ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS, FOOD SERVICE, AFTER CARE: $874,048
BUILDING UPGRADES: $465,670
DESIGNATED FUNDS: $54,179
STRATEGIC: $48,733
THE LEGACY FUND: $429,967
SALARIES & BENEFITS: $7,189,855
OFFICE, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,
MISC. INCOME: $208,737
ENDOW- MENT: $800
TUITION & FEES: $9,482,973
SECURE THE FUTURE: $2,058,700
CLASSROOM, EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES: $305,771
TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCEMENT: $729,539
ASCENDING TOGETHER CAMPAIGN: $431,567
FIXED ASSETS $2,309,122
FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE: $965,291
GIVING $2,975,213
EXPENSES $10,214,485
REVENUE $10,565,758
ACADEMIC & STUDENT LIFE $1,281,067
DEPRECIATION: $779,815
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS: $757,866
$9.25M PURCHASE
$4M LOAN, PAYMENTS EQUIVALENT TO OUR CURRENT RENT, THUS
2024-25 Purchases:
ENSURING A CASH NEUTRAL POSITION FOR OUR BUDGET
a Trained American Sign
a Installed new sound system in Sports Center a Remodeled and expanded 10 elementary classrooms a Established new student sensory room a Furnished the Engineering Lab with new lathe, drill press, bandsaw, and grinders a Funded teacher biblical worldview training a Granted 16 teacher-requested curriculum enhancements
Language teacher to expand high school world language class options a Outfitted fields with track high jump pads and timing system a Provided softball dugouts and pitching machine a Equipped fields with batting cage a Purchased treadmill and elliptical cardio machines for weightroom a Supplied high school student-led elementary science experiments
$900K DESIGNATED FROM LEGACY RESERVES
$4.3M PLEDGED OR GIVEN BY THE LEGACY COMMUNITY
a Upgraded PreK classroom furniture a Expanded wifi enhancements a Made a Legacy education possible for others through scholarships and financial aid
Meadow Creek Church location
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Look Where We’ve Been…
Legacy launched an ambitious 5-year Strategic Plan, Courageous Faith: Magnifying God’s Sovereignty in 2021. The accomplishments in the six areas of priority have been and will continue to be essential in our efforts to push our organization forward in “Courageous Faith” for the glory of God. A few achievements include:
ACADEMIC ROOTS
Expanded Legacy’s Innovation program to include all K-12 th grade Expanded the academic student support services by adding a K-8 th Math Learning Specialist, a K-8 th Reading Learning Specialist, 5 th -12 th Learning Specialists, and a Student Support and Services Director Identified Essential Learning Standards for all grade levels to increase vertical alignment Expanded onsite college credit PSEO options and added American Sign Language
MASTER SITE PLAN
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Opened the new playground
Raised $10.5M in the Ascending Together Campaign and $4.3M for Secure the Future Campaign Opened the New Academic Building for middle school students and added five high school classrooms and an engineering lab Remodeled and expanded twelve elementary classrooms Purchased buildings and 24 acres from Meadow Creek Church
Hired Student Life Coordinators in every division to oversee
MIDDLE SCHOOL IDENTITY
spiritual formation and leadership development
WISE STEWARDSHIP
Hired Middle School Principal
Established high school Leadership Affinity Groups, an advisory program in middle school, and a biblically grounded relationships curriculum in elementary Launched the senior mission trip to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic Developed Legacy’s spiritual formation model focused on the transformation of the head, heart, and habits Established the Coaching for Transformation athletic model
Designed and built new middle school wing
Launched the Legacy Mobile App
Updated math and writing curriculums
MISSIONAL STABILITY
Implemented a Professional Growth, Conversation, and Compensation model to guide teachers and staff in their professional growth journey and student impact Partnered with Anoka County Sheriff’s Office to have a deputy onsite during school hours Completed ACSI re-accreditation during the 2024-25 school year Transitioned Legacy from the MCAA to the Skyline Conference and from 1A to 2A sports
Developed Legacy's philosophy, vision, and schedule specifically designed for middle school students Launched senior-led discipleship groups for 5 th and 6 th grade students Expanded Strength and Conditioning program to middle school and seasonal sport teams Significantly expanded middle school elective options
Removed student cell phones from the academic school day
Opened the LCA Café
Grew enrollment incrementally from 647 to 901 students by adding four sections in K-1 st and three sections in 2 nd -12 th Initiated Family Relations role within Admissions Department to serve our growing parent population as it relates to support and building community
Follow Us Where We’re Going Next… Reflecting on all we’ve accomplished in the last Strategic Plan makes us so excited to finalize the goals for the next five years. Pray with us as we seek God’s will for Legacy and solidify the plan in the coming months.
Updated and enhanced the admissions process Implemented continuous enrollment
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School BOARD
ALUMNI Highlight
BACK ROW: TRENT MORRELL School Board Member STEVE LARSON School Board Member ALAN PUE School Board Member JAKE MULVIHILL Head of School EVAN SCHIEBOUT School Board Member
FRONT ROW: JEN NISKA S chool Board Chair
PEGGY SCOTT School Board Vice Chair LYNNE RAATZ S chool Board Secretary
Designing Hope When RHONDA MORGAN ’05 graduated from Meadow Creek (Legacy Christian Academy), she envisioned a career that blended creativity with mission. What she couldn’t foresee was how God would use graphic design, strategic thinking, and courageous steps of faith to lead her across the world to Kisumu, Kenya. Morgan’s affinity for graphic design began as an extra credit project in Dan Nelson’s classroom—redesigning his slide decks to be more visually appealing for his classes. Her skillset launched Morgan into a career as a graphic designer for CBS/WCCO-TV, where she created news graphics and branding for community events. During her time at the station, she received two individual Emmy Awards for her design contributions. While on a study tour in Israel, Morgan was struck by Jesus’ example of leading His disciples with a flexible agenda—a lesson that reshaped her outlook. “I came back changed by that concept and felt like God was preparing me for a change,” she says. That perspective shift led to Waco, Texas, where Morgan launched EverJoy Creative, her own brand strategy business, while completing a discipleship course at Antioch Church. She eventually contracted with 1MillionHome, an organization working to restore children from orphanages to safe, healthy families. In 2021, she moved to Kenya full time. Morgan fell in love with the mission of 1MillionHome—a nonprofit focused on transforming orphanages away from housing children indefinitely and toward rehabilitating and reuniting families in Kenya. “God created family as the core of His image, and I believe God’s design is for children to grow up in families,” she says. “So that’s my heart: I want to see children and families reunited, and communities empowered. Initially, Morgan committed to contracting for three months. That three months has now turned into four years. Today, Morgan is the Director of Design & Innovation for 1MillionHome. “We develop tools and resources that empower our consultants to support orphanages transitioning to family-based care,” she says. Part of Morgan’s work is out in the field, visiting orphanage partners to deeply understand the challenges they face. Her team then works methodically to develop solutions and design training materials to tackle these challenges. Looking back, Morgan credits her years at Meadow Creek for giving her both a strong academic foundation and a spiritual greenhouse to grow her faith. Teachers instilled integrity, generosity, and perseverance—qualities that continue to guide her life abroad. “I thought I’d have to work nine months a year to support myself while serving overseas for three,” Morgan reflects. “But God had bigger dreams. Now I get to live that calling full time.”
This past year has had many significant moments—some of celebration and some that require us to lean into as a Board. With everything, our Board submits decisions, guidance, and strategic focus to our Lord for His ultimate sovereign direction. I am honored to serve Legacy with a great group of Board members who have the school's best interest in mind at all times and are going to God’s Word and prayer before any decision is made. We started last year by celebrating Legacy’s re-accreditation through ACSI. The ACSI review board was impressed with Legacy, Mr. Mulvihill, the school leadership, teachers, and staff. We are so thankful for all the work the Legacy ACSI committee put into assisting with the positive review and the re-accreditation. The purchase of Meadow Creek Church is a significant milestone and celebration for Legacy Christian Academy. We have a rich history and partnership with Meadow Creek, and this new phase in our relationship and partnership will undoubtedly be a blessing to both Meadow Creek and Legacy. As a Board, we have some significant areas we will focus on with Mr. Mulvihill in the coming months and years. The shifting culture continues to be an area of focus. We must stay aware and on top of the federal and state policies that threaten our religious freedoms and our ability to fulfill Legacy’s mission—our commitment to equip the mind and disciple the heart of each student for Christ-like living . We will not compromise on our mission. School safety is another area we will continue to support and invest in. I am grateful we have invested in Deputy Anderson and other significant security measures. I have a significant level of confidence in Deputy Anderson, Mr. Mulvihill, and our school’s security plans; however, we will continue to assess our safety and security and invest where needed. We have a unique and special community and school, and as we move into another planning season and develop our next five-year Strategic Plan, we will have much more to celebrate. God has given oversight of Legacy to incredible leaders, teachers, and staff, and our kids and families are the beneficiaries of it.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
—SINCE 2022— CREATED 70 RESOURCES TAKEN TO 28 COMMUNITIES LANDING IN THE HANDS OF 1000s OF LEADERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND COUNSELORS WORKING TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE FOR CHILDREN LEADING TO OVER 6000 CHILDREN BEING RESTORED TO FAMILIES—AND OVER 7000 FAMILIES RECEIVING STRENGTHENING SERVICES
DR. JEN NISKA | Board Chair
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2025 76 Graduates 86% Served on mission trips 6,000+ hours serving or mentoring 1,490 College credits earned through PSEO 52 Graduated with honors (GPA of 3.5+) 35 Different college and university acceptances $4.5 Million offered in post-graduation scholarships 1 National Merit Scholar 37 National Honors Society members 97% Extracurricular participation 5 All-State Athletes 13 State Tournament appearances 22 All Conference/All Conference Honorable Mention awards 14 Conference Championships 1 All-State Choir member 5 Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Awards 2 Wallsworth’s Gallery of Excellence Yearbook Awards Class of
1. Legacy rolls out the orange carpet for Day 1! 2. 717 racers compete at Legacy’s largest community event of the year, the Mane Event. 3. Several Legacy Concert Choir students were selected into the second annual Dordt University Honor Choir. 4. Elementary students welcome 670 grandparents onto campus for Grandparents & Special Guest Day! 5. Legacy Theater celebrates the 10th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast. 6. The senior class heads to Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, for the annual senior mission trip. 7. Parents and students travel to Turkey and Greece for a biblical tour of the life of Paul and John. 8. Discovery Week in middle school is a hit—students build a mini golf course, plan a road trip, and write a book in a week. 9. High school students tackle classes from candle making and Cricut designs to forgery detection, photography, video editing, and more during Winterim. 10. There’s Homecoming cheer across the entire campus for Homecoming week! 11. Middle school students in the American Sports elective meet Annabelle Hasselbeck, a podcaster with the Christian sports non-profit, Sports Spectrum, and head to the Viking Training Center for immersive classroom experiences. 12. Elementary students read 357,111 minutes for “I Love to Read” month, sending Mr. Mulvihill and Mr. Nydam into the dunk tank. 13. Legacy hosts their second Christian College Fair as a resource for current families and the surrounding community. 14. A Legacy crew heads to Whitefish, Montana, for the bi-annual spring break ski trip. 15. Senior Elijah Wade is recognized as a National Merit Scholar, an honor earned by less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide. 16. The yearbook staff receives the Wallsworth’s Gallery of Excellence Award on the national level for the second year in a row. 17. Bri Brandt is nominated as a 2025 finalist of top female high school senior golfers in Minnesota as a Ms. Minnesota Golf nominee. 18. Baseball, Boys and Girls Golf, Track & Field, and Trap Shooting represent Legacy in State competitions.
MANE Moments
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The Class of 2025 is full of servant- leaders who I know will go out and make a difference in this world.
—A LEGACY SENIOR PARENT
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NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT #4190
3037 bunker lake blvd. nw andover, mn 55304 763.427.4595 www.lcamn.org
Intellectually prepared, accomplished learners
Biblically grounded, disciples of Christ
Faithful and courageous,
servant leaders
Morally disciplined, students of character
God- glorifying, Spirit-led worshippers
Profile of a Legacy Graduate Our Profile of a Legacy Graduate explains our desired student outcomes and as a result impacts the way we teach our classes, invest in our students, and make decisions. Legacy recognizes that achieving these outcomes in the lives of Legacy students is impossible without the commitment of the students and the help of the Holy Spirit. Legacy will partner with parents; create an academically excellent, Christ-centered environment; provide opportunities for growth; and plant the seeds for God to transform and work in the lives of our students.
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