Renewal Project

Dear MBCI Parents:

 We, as MBCI’s Board, are excited about recent developments at the school and want to share them with you.

 

Updated plans for MBCI

MBCI’s Board is committed to ensuring the long-term success of
our school.  Over the last year, we have been hard at work on the strategy that will guide MBCI over the next five or so years. That work has provided us with three areas of focus as we continue pursuing our school’s objective of being “dedicated to excellence”.

• Enhancing the student-experience.
• Continuing to reinvest in the facilities, programs
  and resources.
• Strengthening relationships with our
  supporting constituencies – namely, parents,
  alumni and MB churches.
  
  These relationships are essential to
  maintain enrollment levels, acquire
  coaches and other volunteers.  We
  also want to give our students
  opportunities to connect with people
  who have pursued common post-secondary
  aspirations and keep support strong. 

New building … construction beginning soon!

In the short term, the most obvious outcome of the Board’s commitment to these goals is the next phase of MBCI’s campus redevelopment.  The original home of MBCI, the small white 1950’s era building on Talbot Avenue, was demolished April 26.

Demolition of the 1954 Building
April 26

  Rising in its place, will be a two-storey, 10,000 sq. ft. addition.  The construction will occur over the next 10 to 12 months.

This project allows us to achieve several key goals for MBCI’s facilities:

• The installation of an elevator will significantly enhance access to all three levels of our school.
• The second floor of the new building will house a multi-purpose room to address expanding education requirements.
• The office administration will be consolidated on the main floor of the new facility, enabling us to reclaim a classroom area that has previously been converted to administrative offices.  Student services will be centralized into what is currently the high school office. 
• The new building will have a discernable entrance, allowing the school to return to its original “173 Talbot Avenue” address designation.

 Funding our investment

We anticipate that this project will require an investment of $2.8 million.  About one-half of this amount has been raised through the generous pledges made by a small number of long-time MBCI supporters.  Each of these supporters has agreed to give a second, matching donation equal to the gift they provided earlier that assisted in financing the construction of the middle school, library and drama classroom.  We are exceptionally grateful to these donors.  MBCI’s fundraising and development efforts will, in the coming weeks, months and years, focus on inviting others to join in the financial support of this project.

Impact of our plans on Parents and Students

Construction will bring some disruption to the normal flow of traffic for both students and vehicles.  Norbert Bargen, Principal and Ken Opalko, Assistant Principal, have already been in classrooms advising students of what is being planned.  Parents who drive through the “middle school loop” have already received flyers describing what will be required.  Safety of our students is of primary concern as we proceed with the project.  If you are affected by the need to re-route vehicle traffic, we thank you in advance for your patience.

Our focus on the student-experience, on reinvesting in the school and strengthening relationships with the various constituencies is having additional positive impact beyond our ability to start this project.  We anticipate that enrollment will again be increasing in 2010/11, allowing us to continue making progress towards being at full capacity.

Thank you

We appreciate your support, which is seen in so many ways.  It is shown in the encouragement of your children and the teachers who educate them.  As administration and Board, we value your moral support and the prayers said on behalf of MBCI and its team of people.  Please feel free to contact Norbert Bargen, or myself, should you have any comments or questions.

Sincerely,

Richard Olfert

MBCI Board Chairperson

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