>> MEI Head of Schools (@headofschools)

So are you a wash the car or vacuum the car person?  My wife and I see this one differently.  She would wash the car first and view that as the priority whereas I would clean the inside first.  Certainly both tasks have their importance... I just believe my view is more important than hers, of course.  :) As we head into 2017, let me ask you, "Are you a wash or vacuum person?" In life, we are usually very good at presenting a well-planned outward persona; we work hard to appear well to others.  But, what is the state of your inner being?  The wise King Solomon warns us to the importance of guarding our hearts above all else because everything we do will flow from them... it all starts with our hearts (Prov. 4:23). Let us all take time to evaluate the state of our hearts. This coming year approaches with much promise, but be alert to what is going on inside of you; for everything you do will flow from the health or lack of it therein. My prayer ...

The time has come to celebrate the birth of our King and our Saviour. Let's give a gift to Jesus this Christmas!   In Matthew 25:31-46 , Jesus paints the picture of His return.  We see Jesus and all His glory sitting on His glorious throne with all the angels around Him.  All the nations are gathered in front of Him. He then calls those on His right to claim their inheritance, 'the kingdom prepared for [them] since the creation of the world'.   It becomes clear that the mission that these faithful ones have successfully fulfilled was to help those in need around them and in doing so, to help and show love to Jesus himself... it was all for Jesus. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36) Let us all find a way to ble...

I am pleased to present the vision document for the coming few years at MEI.  The creation of this plan was led by and primarily created by our Senior Leadership Team (Head of Schools, Principals) and involved MEI Schools Department Leaders, Vice Principals and a representation of Teachers and Support Staff. The document was presented at the MEI Staff Kick Off on Wednesday, August 31st, 2016.  In attendance were MEI Staff and the following dignitaries:  MEI Board members Marilyn Edwards and Wendie Nickel, Abbotsford Board of Education Chair & Vice Chair Rhonda Pauls and Cindy Schafer, City Councillor Dave Loewen, MLA Simon Gibson, MP Ed Fast, and Canadian Senator Yonah Martin. This document is intended to be a fluid statement of direction which will be revisited multiple times over the next few years. >  Strategic Plan 2016 - 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESS RELEASE From the office of Vijay Manuel, Head of Schools Please direct any inquiries to Lorraine Wind ( lwind@meischools.com ) On behalf of MEI SCHOOLS Society, I am pleased to announce the hiring of MARK THIESSEN as the MEI Secondary School Principal effective fall of 2016. Mark was the unanimous recommendation of the Secondary Principal Search Committee and affirmed, also unanimously, by the MEI Board of Directors. Education Mark was awarded a Master of Education degree from the University of British Columbia in 2004 with a focus on Educational Administration and Leadership.  He also holds a Bachelor of Education degree also from UBC, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity Western University, and a diploma in Church Ministries from Columbia Bible College. Church Involvement, Ministry, and Family Mark has grown up in and currently attends Cariboo Bethel MB Church in Williams Lake where he has served as a Sunday Sc...

In case you haven't heard, Dave Neufeld, Principal of MEI Secondary has made the decision to move into a new direction in his career effective  July 31st, 2016 . I want to thank Mr. Neufeld for his 12 years of service at MEI Secondary as Principal.   He has led the school through a variety of exciting and challenging times over the years while developing strong and lasting relationships with students, parents and staff.  May God bless and guide you, Mr. Neufeld, into the next season! I would also like to ask the MEI community to pray as we seek the next leader for our high school.   Although it is a huge loss to see Dave move on, I and the board have full confidence that God will provide exactly what we need and will operate in faith as we seek candidates who are passionate about putting kids first and bringing glory to God . Thanks, Vijay

There is always a strong temptation to see the world exclusively through one's own lens. This will likely be our reality until we choose to fight past what is perhaps innate and train ourselves to see things from another or broader perspective. Is it possible for us Eagles to become completely insular in our thinking and forget that there is a world at our doorsteps? Certainly this is the reality for Hawks, Panthers and Cheetahs as well, unless one chooses to be very intentional in looking up, looking around, and seeing the world beyond our own walls. Exemplified I was encouraged and inspired by the work that our elementary students, parents, and staff are doing to support the Heart 2 Heart Haiti ministry. Last year $50,000 was raised to benefit children in the impoverished country. Even more importantly than the money raised within this particular initiative is what our youngest students are learning, namely to lift up their eyes  and pay attention to the nee...

Perhaps the greatest skill we can develop within our children is the ability to learn.  Employers are seeking and will be increasingly seeking young women and men who know how to learn quickly, learn well, apply their learning and adjust on the go. We don't know and can't even imagine what specific skills will be needed for the yet-not-invented jobs of the future which our graduates will pursue. Which of the following aspects of being an effective learner are most important in your opinion and experience? • Attitude • Talent • Work Ethic Vote and comment here .

I have learned the power of this mindset throughout my career.  It doesn't matter where you've come from, what you look like, what your last name is, how you dress... once you're an eagle, you are one of us, an equal member! Our organization will be stronger if we view every individual as.... us .  So, the only them is a non-Eagle.  This builds confidence in every child, parent, family and staff member.  We are all Eagles.  You belong.  We need you to contribute.  Your ideas need to be heard.  Say hello to other parents because they are... yes, eagles.  Pick a new partner to do a school project with because they are... yes, eagles.  Walk the halls with confidence because you are... yes, an eagle!  Instead of focusing on what separates us, we choose to focus on what unites us! So, my question to you is this: What does it mean to be an eagle? What does it mean to belong to this school community? What values do we stand on? I'd...

Our family moved to a new home a little over a year ago.  I'm the guy that slows down while packing or unpacking because of a fascinating folder that is begging for me to read through it.  I happened to stumble across my PDP (Professional Development Program) folder from Simon Fraser University.  Within it I found my ' Philosophy of Education ' statement.  I was actually a bit... surprised?... to see how bold I had been about my Christian faith having included scriptural references in the document.  The philosophy statement still rings true to me 20 years later: An organization is filled with many different roles.  Regardless of where the role is listed on the company's Org Chart, each role has value and importance in order for the organization to be as strong as it possibly could be and ought to be heard and treated with respect Take the human body as a picture of how this works.  Imagine the head saying to the neck, "I don't need you beca...

MEI Guard, Vijay Manuel, 1991 It's been quite a journey since this photo was taken sometime during the 1990/1991 basketball season at MEI. I was the school president, played basketball & volleyball, sang in the choir, played lead trumpet in the jazz & concert bands and finished with honours.  High school was filled with opportunities and I am thankful for the many that I was able learn from and grow to be who I am! The twelve months following graduation had some new challenges School didn't come quite as easy, relationships were challenging and it became very clear that I wasn't all that and was in need of someone to help me.  I had asked Jesus into my heart when I was 5 or so.  My dad was (and is) a pastor and my parents prayed with me on a very special night in Three Hills, Alberta.  Along the journey, there were more commitments to live for Christ including one in grade 9 during Spiritual Emphasis Week and another in grade 11 when I was given a pr...

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