Building our Community

Preparing your child for Year 7 

On 15 August, we held our ‘Welcome to Secondary’ Evening in the MECS gym. This was a night for the 2025 Year 7 students and their parents to receive information about the new season which they are about to embark on at MECS Secondary. 

Presentations were made by members of the school leadership, faculty leaders, wellbeing team and some of our current Year 7 students. Students and families heard about our ‘deep hope’ for their time here at MECS, our desire that this will be a community where they will find a place to belong, unpack their gifts and be equipped to actively live for God in His world. 

During supper, there was an opportunity to meet with other parents, students, teachers and leadership, while visiting the displays that showcased many of our great programs here at MECS. This was a rich time of community building and fellowship. 

As parents and students begin to think about preparing for the transition to Secondary School, here are some tips that may be helpful:

1. Engage with your secondary school: go to the information events, read the information that is sent to you and mark the important dates on your calendars.
2. Maintain healthy habits that will positively impact your child’s health and wellbeing. E.g. regular exercise, good sleeping habits, eating nutritious food, balanced screen time choices.
3. Establish and maintain positive ‘mentor/support’ relationships outside of school. Be intentional about providing opportunities for your child to develop relationships that will be beneficial to them as they progress through the teenage years. E.g. grandparents, youth group leaders, family members, close friends
4. Extra-curricular activities: encourage your child to join a sports team or group where they can develop friendships and skills outside of school. It’s usually best not to fill every afternoon with extra activities but having at least one extra-curricular activity can be beneficial.
5. Foster Independence and Self-Advocacy. Year 7 is a time when students start to take more responsibility for their learning. Encourage your child to become more independent by allowing them to make decisions. They could make plans with their friends, setting a date, time, choosing an activity to do with them. Or perhaps they could prepare a meal for the family or do some baking. Teach them how to advocate for themselves by seeking help when needed and communicating with adults. 

To all Year 6 students, may your final semester in Primary School be filled with wonderful celebrations and joyful reflections as you finish this chapter of your lives. And as you prepare to join Year 7 at MECS, may you look forward to 2025 with great hope and anticipation for this new season and the opportunities it holds for you.

Carolyn Nyhouse

Year 7 Coordinator & Secondary Teacher