October / November 2011
Our 2011-2012 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.
As the principal of MBCI, our goals for the 2011/2012 school year are taken from our mission statement “Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute is a Christian Middle School and Secondary School committed to educational excellence where students learn in an environment nurturing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.” We want to continue to offer a solid academic program that prepares our students for further education beyond High School. We want to offer a safe and a disciplined learning environment so our students can achieve to the best of their abilities. We want to nurture the whole child. This means that a Christian atmosphere will be evident throughout the school. Together, we as teachers, staff and students want to grow in our love for God. As we develop the whole person with a commitment to providing a relevant educational experience I hope that each one will find fulfilment.
MBCI has been built on a firm foundation: Jesus Christ. As we enter a new school year I trust that the solid academic program, the safe learning environment and the Christian atmosphere at MBCI will help each of you to reach your goals.
Our MBCI school goals for 2011/2012 are the following:
1) The safety of students and staff is always a priority. It will receive special emphasis in this school year with a focus on fire drills and lockdown procedures.
2) The High School curricular and co-curricular activities will be reviewed. The goal is to ensure that expectations are reasonable for students to be prepared for post-secondary education.
3) Department Heads will review how research skills are developed from Grade 6 - 12 with the goal of ensuring a coordinated approach.
4) Review the Biblical Studies Curriculum and the spiritual formation activities of the school including chapels and devotionals. 5) A review of how technology is used and the development of a written three year plan.
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