MCS Hires New Director; Positions Itself for Growth
Positioning itself for a new season of growth, Magnuson Christian School, located in White Bear Lake, welcomes new visionary director, Cheri Buelow. She has 15 years of teaching experience along with 15 years in full time ministry. Her previous leadership roles have prepared her to lead Magnuson Christian School with God’s guidance and direction.
Magnuson Christian School was established in 2004 as an academic alternative for White Bear Lake and it’s surrounding communities where academic excellence and faith-based learning could combine to encourage children to reach their full potential.
According to Steve Turnbull, Sr. Pastor at Community of Grace Lutheran Church, “A group of us came together with a vision for creating a different kind of education option for children in our community. We wanted to create a learning environment centered on Christ where children could learn and thrive and excel academically. We believed that if we could provide children with a biblical viewpoint from which they could approach their lives, we would be giving them a firm foundation on which they could build the rest of their lives.”
“Like a tree firmly planted, MCS has created a culture where education is rooted in the gospel and students are bearing fruit through their learning and serving,” reflected new School Director, Cheri Buelow. “Because our roots are 13 years deep, we feel God is leveraging the school right now for a new season of growth. In the next three years, Magnuson will forge an even stronger partnership with parents that enhances our positive school climate, develop a community presence that attracts new families and facilitates growth, implement additional technology to support innovative learning, and continue to hire and support skilled faculty and staff to instill excellence.”
The three core values at Magnuson Christian School are Faith, Family and Excellence. Magnuson Christian School is non-denominational. During the week, students attend weekly chapel services, daily Bible time and faith is discussed across all academic areas. Says Buelow, “We incorporate Jesus as our model for the way we should live, love, and serve others.”
“It’s these personal interactions between teachers and students, students and students, teachers and families, and the Magnuson community as a whole that create a unique family feel. “
According to Buelow, “At Magnuson, we are small by design. Our skilled faculty uses a variety of instructional methods to accommodate the learning styles of their students. In a small environment, you can get through curriculum more quickly, and take students deeper into subjects with more creativity. Our small size enables us to think outside the box and teach in ways that you just can’t do in a large classroom setting. Teachers are encouraged to take field trips, engage in hands-on S.T.E.M. projects, and further enhance individual learning with classroom Chrome Books.”
“I take the call to excellence seriously,” say Buelow. “The Kindergarten through 8th grade years are critical in the formation of a child’s identity. During this time, children are establishing within themselves who they are and what they think they are capable of. We’re laying the foundation for their future. Because children excel in different areas, I believe this call to excellence extends beyond the core subjects. In addition to our already talented classroom teachers, we have added a gifted specialist in art, re-imagined our K-8 Spanish curriculum and continued our partnership with the Vadnais Sports Center to provide an excellent physical education environment to our students during the winter months.”
Within the Magnuson community, students are known, not only by their own grade level teachers, but by the entire staff. “We encourage student interaction across grade levels. Older students benefit by developing leadership skills and servant hearts. Younger students benefit from the mentors and friendships they receive from their older classmates.”
Students at Magnuson are prayed for and cared for by their teachers and the students pray for and care for each other. “Relationships are key to learning,” says Buelow. “Students feel safe here and we believe that when students feel safe, higher level learning takes place…amidst grace and love.”
“And that’s what we hope to achieve here,” says Buelow. “We want to exceed the traditional definition of school. We want our students to reach their full, God-given potential.”
Magnuson Christian School is located at 4000 Linden Street in White Bear Lake.