The Power of Small
Jacob Montgomery is looking forward to starting his senior year at White Bear Lake High School as Student Council President, a four-year member of the golf team and continuing honor roll student. Jacob might not have achieved such success, however, had his parents not made some hard decisions early in his academic career.
“In 2004, we had a parent teacher conference with our son at his school,” said Suzanne Montgomery, Jacob’s mother. “We knew from him that he was having trouble building relationships with his classmates. We discussed our concerns with his teacher and learned from her that his academic performance was also struggling and not at the level where we would want it to be. We asked if it could be possible that he had a learning disability that was creating difficulties for him, but the school did not share this concern. “
In 2004 something else was happening that turned out to be providential in Jacob Montgomery’s life. “A group of us came together with a vision for creating a different kind of educational option for kids in our community,” recalls Steve Turnbull, Senior Pastor of First Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake. “We wanted to create a learning environment centered on Christ where kids could learn and thrive and excel academically. We believed that if we could provide kids 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.”
In 2004, the quiet halls of First Lutheran Church received a spark of life as 16 kids and one teacher started Magnuson Christian School.
Against the recommendation of his teacher, Suzanne and Jeff Montgomery decided that the best thing for their son would be for him to leave his current school the following year, repeat first grade, and become a classmate to the students who were in that very first kindergarten class at Magnuson.
In the fall of 2005, the Montgomery’s sent not only Jacob, but also his younger sister, Rebecca, to Magnuson Christian School.
Said Montgomery, “It wasn’t through frustration, but rather care and concern, that teachers at MCS suggested we may want to have our son tested for ADHD. Once diagnosed, we were all able to better meet his needs so that he did not have to continue ‘trying so hard to sit and focus in class that it seemed painful,’ as his teacher had originally stated. The students at Magnuson know they are loved by God, loved by their teachers, and loved by their classmates. They come to school excited to learn.”
“We started to build relationships with the other families at the school and they became an extended family and support system for us,” said Montgomery. “We talked with everyone we knew about the great things that were going on at Magnuson and how excited we were to watch the school grow.” Since then, the Montgomery’s have sent a total of four children to MCS and, despite all having different learning styles, all are thriving, both at MCS and as they have transitioned into public school.
Magnuson is a non-denominational K-8 Christian school. According to the school’s Director, Sue Spangenberg, “The fabric that makes us Christian is woven into each day’s class schedule and every teacher-child interaction. Each day, students begin and end their school day with prayer. The students and staff meet weekly for chapel. Each month, students participate in missions projects and community outreach.”
Parents are active in the life of the school. Magnuson Christian School believes that students find value in themselves by caring deeply for one another. Says Spangenberg, “Creating a deeply personal experience is at the heart of all we do. We believe that students learn best when they feel safe, known and are confident that they will be heard. “
Today, 12 years later, the school continues to grow as they remain committed to small classroom sizes, affordable tuition, loving teachers, and involved parents. Because of that, more than 300 kids have learned to shine for Jesus and thrive in this world.