Volume 20, Issue 2 October/November 2009

Upcoming Events

  1. · Oct. 5 Opening Program AGM Meeting
  2. · Oct. 8 Grade 9-12 Service Day
  3. · Oct. 9 Deadline for Math Course Changes
  4. · Oct. 12 Thanksgiving
  5. · Oct. 22 German Night
  6. · Oct. 23 SAG - No Classes
  7. · Oct. 27 Photo Retake Day
  8. · Oct. 28 Staff Meeting 2:30 Dismissal
  9. · Oct. 29 Grandparents Day
  10. · Nov. 2 Fall Band Concert
  11. · Nov. 4 Take Your Kids To Work Day (Gr. 9)
  12. · Nov. 9 PAC Meeting
  13. · Nov. 11 Remembrance Day
  14. · Nov. 20 End of Term 1
  15. · Nov. 25 Staff Meeting Noon Dismissal
  16. · Nov. 27 Report Cards Distributed
  17. · Dec. 3 Parent/Teacher Interviews 6:00-9:00 p.m.
  18. · Dec. 4 Parent/Teacher Interviews 12:00-3:30 p.m.
  19. NO CLASSES
  20. · Dec. 7 Grade 9-12 Christmas Concert
  21. · Dec. 11 Grade 9-12 Christmas Banquet
  22. · Dec. 14 Grade 6-8 Christmas Concert
  23. · Dec. 16 Staff Meeting 2:30 Dismissal
  24. · Dec. 18 Middle School Event (am)
  25. · Dec. 18 Noon Dismissal
  26. · Jan. 4 Classes Resume
  27. · Jan. 6-8 Grad Retreat

From the Principal’s Desk

Our 2009-2010 school year is off to a great start. Students are engaged in learning, friendships are being developed and the regular routines of being back to school are once again established. I am trusting God that as these school routines are carried out, each student at MBCI will receive an education that is Christ focused.

Every year we set goals for MBCI and establish priorities for the school year. Every teacher is asked to complete their Individual Professional Growth Plan and as Administration we look at the year to determine the direction for MBCI.

This past year the MBCI Board developed a strategic plan. Together with administration, parents and teachers the Board looked at “How does MBCI become more excellent?” We concluded that our school has five distinctives: 1) Culture, 2) Academics, 3) Athletics, 4) Music, 5) Performing & Visual Arts. These distinctives define who MBCI is and what areas our school does very well for our students. Then the Board looked at what we could do as a school to become better and these strategies evolved.

1. Enhance the student experience to attract student and increase retention rates so that an enrollment of 600 students is attained and continued.

2. Continue significant ongoing financial investment in MBCI by:

  • Completing the 2001 strategy
  • Allocating investable cash from operations

Extend development efforts beyond current capital focus by:

  • Reflecting MBCI’s inclusivity
  • Actively forging linkages with alumni, parents, supporting churches and non-MB community.

MBCI is a supportive place that wants the best for everyone who attends. I have confidence that God has many exciting things in store for us this year and in the future.

The school continues to be a busy place. Classes are well underway and the teachers and students are working hard at the task of teaching and learning. It is also good to see students learning in other ways. Our Grade 8 students and several teachers have just returned from Red Rock Bible Camp, our annual Outdoor Education Program. The volleyball teams have been practicing hard and games have begun. Our Student Council is busy planning events for the year. The program of learning at MBCI is definitely in full swing.

In this newsletter you will find information that will be useful in keeping you up-to-date about what is happening at school. I trust that together we will continue to work at the challenge of providing a Christian education for everyone in our MBCI community.

Norbert Bargen

Parents of Prayer

We extend a warm welcome to all interested parents to join us for one hour of prayer in the MBCI prayer room beginning at 2:00. Upcoming Meeting Dates:

  • Oct. 13 & Oct. 27
  • Nov. 10 & Nov. 24

Hope to see you there. For more information, please contact Darlene Jackson at 669-4614 or Anne McKenzie at 237-9115.

Athletics

Volleyball

The volleyball season is off to a great start with teams at every level engaged in weekly practices and tournaments, with our junior teams ready to swing into action in a week or so. How fortunate we are to have a group of coaches who are eager and willing to give of their time to make sure that our student athletes get the best possible experience of inter-school sports possible.

  1. Please check late Sunday evening and even Monday at noon to ensure that last minute changes have not been made.

League schedules and results for both KPAC and the RETSD will be posted on the MBCI website.

Your children really appreciate your support at their athletic events so why not come out and support them. MBCI is known as being a school which really supports its extracurricular program and we are very proud of that reputation. Of course we want to remind all of our fans to be positive in their cheering and show respect for the officials and the opposition at all times.

Worth Noting: Both our varsity girls’ and varsity boys’ volleyball teams are among the top in the province. Why not make plans to see them in action sometime in the near future. -- Brian Plett, Athletic Director

Students will receive their report cards on Friday, Nov. 27. Parents have the opportunity to schedule a 10 minute interview with two teachers for each child at MBCI.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thursday, December 3 – 6-9 p.m. & Friday, December 4 – 12-3:00 p.m.

Requests for appointments will be accepted from Monday, Nov. 30 to Wednesday, Dec. 2 between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Appointments can be made by:

  • Emailing djackson@mbci.mb.ca or
  • Calling 654-5788 and leaving a voice message

Please include the following information in your email or voice message:

  • Your name
  • Your student’s name and grade
  • The two teachers you would like to meet
  • The date and preferred time for the meetings
  • Call back telephone number for telephone requests

You will receive an email or telephone message with your appointment times.

Additional appointments may be made on the day of interviews by signing up on the form at each teacher’s location. Teacher locations are shown on the back of the report card.

Please Note: Noon Dismissal - November 25 and No Classes - December 4

Opening Program

Come celebrate the start of another school year

as we dedicate the year to God.

October 5 - 7:30 pm

For more information please check the MBCI website

Music Notes

All Gr. 6 and 7 students should already have their music uniforms: tuxedo shirts, red bow ties, and red cummerbunds. The students will keep these for the school year and return them in June. Music students in Grades 8-12 have been sized, and will receive uniforms soon. Please make sure that you have your own black pants, black socks, and black dress shoes.

Students may start fundraising for various music trips (Circle Square Ranch for Gr. 8’s and 9’s in choir and band; Brandon Jazz Festival for jazz groups; Music Tour 2010). A letter detailing fundraising opportunities was sent to every home in August. For more specifics check the daily announcements.

The Concert Choir and the Concert Band will be traveling to Ontario and Boston for MBCI’s Music Tour 2010. Information will be sent home via email throughout the year. The first payment of $300 is due Friday, October 30.

MBCI’s Opening Program on Monday October 5 will feature the Concert Band, the Gr. 7 Choir, the Concert Choir, and a massed choir of all choral students from Grades 6-12! Students involved in those ensembles are asked to arrive at 7:00 p.m.

The Junior Vocal Group (JVG) is an auditioned group of singers from Grades 6-9 which goes to the Brandon Jazz Festival March 18-20. An information meeting for students wishing to audition will be held at lunch on Wednesday, October 1 in the choir room.

Junior Jazz Band (JJB) auditions are currently in progress for those who submit their Commitment Contracts by October 5. Senior Jazz Band (SJB) Commitment Contracts are due October 6, with auditions to follow. The first rehearsals of the JJB and SJB will be October 9 and 13 respectively.

The Gr. 7 Band will perform at Grandparents’ Day on Thursday, October 29.

MBCI’s Fall Band Concert in Jubilee Place on Monday, November 2 will involve every band in the school. There will be opportunity at 7:00 p.m. to take pictures of all students in each instrumental section on stage. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

A complete schedule of events listing performers, dates, times, and performance locations can be found on our website.

Tim Taves, Music Director

MODERN LANGUAGES

This year, the Modern Languages Department is offering students an opportunity to participate in a French Club. This is for any and all students of Basic and Advanced French as well as those not currently in a French class.

The purpose of the French Club is for students to participate in school, divisional and provincial French speaking competitions. This is an excellent opportunity for students to develop and improve their French speaking skill and also to showcase this skill in a competition. The provincial competition is called Le Concours d’art oratoire. It takes place at Saint-Boniface College on May 1, 2010.

Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30th. If you would like more information, please contact Mme Hodder or Mme Daly by phone or through the MBCI website.

Outdoor Ed 2009

The entire Grade 8 class, some MBCI staff, and parent volunteers spent three days from September 16 – 18 at Red Rock Bible Camp in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park for the annual Outdoor Education experience. By including the outdoor and social aspects of the resident camp experience in the school year, the curriculum and classroom atmosphere are enhanced.

During this time students participated in various activities – mountain biking, orienteering, team building, wall climbing, canoeing, archery, and sand sculpting. Evenings were filled with cooperative or wide games, and chapel sessions. MBCI’s Pastor Adrian led us in singing and worship. He challenged us to see God in the wonder of creation.

Harold Kroeker

Middle Years Provincial Assessment

As part of the Middle Years Assessment, MBCI will report to parents on the achievement levels of their Grade 7 and 8 children in certain key competencies. The results will be distributed to parents and reported to the provincial government in February 2010. For more details, Grade 7 and 8 parents should read the brochure included in this newsletter.

Fred Pauls, Assistant Principal

Annual Meeting of Members

MBCI Inc. welcomes you to its third

Annual Meeting of Members

to be held in the MBCI Drama Facility prior to the Opening Program on

Oct. 5th at 6 pm

All are welcome to attend!

Notice for Parents: Information about H1N1 Influenza

The following websites have up-to-date information for parents/guardians about pandemic H1N1 flu and the activities taking place across the province to keep Manitobans healthy.

  • For information on H1N1 flu and Manitoba’s H1N1 flu prevention efforts, please visit www.manitoba.ca/flu
  • For information on H1N1 flu, flu prevention in schools and information for children and youth www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/flu.
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada at www.fightflu.ca

These websites provide immediate access to valuable information regarding H1N1 flu and how to protect yourself and your family. For personal health care advice, or if you are concerned that your child may need care, please contact your health care provider or phone Health Links at 204-788-8200 or toll-free 1888-315-9257.

This year, we welcome ten new students, who come from Germany (1), Hong Kong (2), Korea (4), Africa (3), and India (1). With the three returning students and several volunteers, we have a lively and friendly group that meets every Thursday after school.

In 2009, we were privileged to graduate our first two international students since the program began in 2006: Aina Ishida (Japan) and Hyun Ji Lee (Korea). We wish them God’s best as they attend universities in their home countries.

We are always on the lookout for potential homestay families. Please contact Darryl Peters at 667-8210 ext. 3002 or dpeters@mbci.mb.ca if you are interested.

Parent Advisory Council

All interested parents are invited to join us to discuss issues related to school life. Parent Advisory Council meetings take place in the MBCI Staff Room at 7:00 pm.

The meeting dates are as follows:
November 9 March 8
January 11 May 10

German Night!

Come with the entire family and enjoy an amazing teutonic dramatic experience!

-- Leona Rew

MBCI Golf Tournament 2009

Thanks to all Sponsors, Golfers and Volunteers who helped to make the tournament on August 28th at Larters a successful fundraiser. Funds raised (over $35,000) this year went toward the purchase of an electronic sign on Henderson Hwy.

Were you not able to take part in the Golf Tournament? Then we invite you to partner with us by making a donation toward this project. We look forward to hearing from many of you.

Call 667-8210 Ex. 3104 to register for the August 27, 2010 tournament at Larters.

Mary Unruh – Special Events/Alumni Coordinator

Henry E Plett Award

In June the Genealogy Committee of the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society was pleased to announce the winners of this year's Henry E. Plett Memorial Award for writing a family history. The winners were both Grade 11 students from Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) in Winnipeg. First prize was awarded to Meaghan Giesbrecht (right), for her family history paper which focused on her paternal grandmother's Martens family who left Landskrone, Molotschna, South Russia for Canada in 1926.

Second prize was awarded to Holly Goossen (left), for her paper which investigated what happened to her paternal grandfather when his personal commitment to Christ interfered with his loyalty to Canada and found himself imprisoned for wanting to claim status as a conscientious objector to war in 1942.

This annual essay contest, open to any Manitoba high school student, aims to promote and encourage research and writing in family history. Students are encouraged to interview grandparents or older relatives, find original family sources such as old family Bibles, diaries and letters; and to visit specialized Mennonite libraries and archives.

MBCI teacher Paul Doerksen introduced this year's winners to the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, where they learned about archival resources and had the opportunity to examine some family documents.

Volunteers Needed: Many hands make light work so we want to hear from you if you will be able to lighten our load by assisting with a new library project. If you can devote between 15 and 40 hours this fall to this project, please phone Sylvia Mason, 667-8210, ext 6100 or email her at swiebe@mbci.mb.ca

Home → Community → Newsletter → Volume 20, Issue 2 October/November 2009
Homepage | Teacher Pages