September 2009

I am once again very excited about our new school year and what the Lord has in store for us. I hope that each of you had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to another rewarding time in our new 2009/10 school year.

In preparation for this school year various sections of the school have received a fresh coat of paint. Our Math classrooms have been renovated and painted and our Grade 8 area washrooms have been remodeled. New computers have been purchased and the school has once again received its summer cleaning.

We have been truly blessed with an outstanding group of teachers at MBCI. Our new staff members will definitely complement this group and add to their enthusiasm and positive energy. We will be welcoming several new teachers to MBCI this fall. Heather Boersma will be teaching Grade 10 English and Bible and also teach Grade 11 English. Laura Hall joins our Science Department and will teach Biology in Grade 11 and 12 along with other Science courses in Grade 9 and 12. Matthew Opalko will be teaching Grade 10, 11 and 12 P.E. and Grade 11 Geography. Laura Dowbenko joins our Music department and will teach both Band and Music in our Middle School. Andrea Neufeld will be teaching Grade 9 and 10 Science and Grade 11 and 12 Math. Adrian Enns joins our staff as our new Campus Pastor. I am looking forward to working with these new staff members and introducing them to you at our Opening Program on October 5.

I sense that we will have another excellent year and look forward to working together with our students, parents and churches. This year our theme verse is found in Colossians 1:10. It reads:

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

My hope is that this year we will “live a life worthy of our God.” God asks us to be Christ-like and put others before ourselves. As teachers, staff and administrators, we are committed to following Jesus’ example in every aspect of school life. As models of Christian living our goal is to continue to offer the best so that each student will receive the Christian education that MBCI offers.

As we begin a new school year, let us set high standards and let us challenge each other to maintain them. We have a wonderful opportunity over the next ten months to work in a partnership of home - school - church to “grow in the knowledge of God.” Our hope is that each student will advance in their spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual development as we move through the school year.

I look forward to meeting many of you as the year progresses. Together, let’s commit MBCI to the Lord and trust Him in all aspects of our school.

-- Norbert Bargen, Principal