What a delight to welcome back students, staff and parents to the 2026 school year. A year that I think will be marked by plenty of exciting activities, community events, new friendships, and learning full of deep hopes and a pointing towards transformation, in Christ. We are excited to be in the business of Christian education and I look forward to what your family brings to the table of community at MECS this year.

I wish to warmly welcome our new families, right across the school and pray that you and your family would settle quickly into our environment. Transition and change takes time and we are praying for you in this. If you do have concerns, don’t hesitate to be in touch with your child’s teacher, team leader or coordinator.

Over the past two years, we have continued to bring the language of Threads into our teaching and learning, decision making and community life. For those that have been around for a while, I imagine you are starting to remember them and you might even find yourself referring to them with your family, when there’s a moment of being Justice Seekers together, or you might have an Awe Dweller moment as you catch a sunrise or hold a newborn baby. Our newsletter team has put in a reminder of the Threads on the following page of this newsletter, I encourage you to talk to your kids about them.

Staff Workbreak

Our staff had a week of preparation ahead of students returning and this time was full of planning, conversations, presentations, mapping curriculum, covering compliance obligations, including First Aid. This time is precious to our team and largely unique to the MECS community. Since the school started, the board has directed that time be set aside for staff to consider their craft carefully and to spend time grappling with what it means to teach and learn from a biblical perspective. This is something we take seriously and seek to honour. We had a great time together and managed to enjoy egg and bacon rolls one morning and a visit from the much appreciated, Mr Whippy! (See, it’s not all hard work!)

Welcome Back Morning Tea

Can I just say how delightful it was to see so many parents join us for our Welcome Back morning tea in the first week of school. This event happens at the beginning of each term and it’s a wonderful way to meet others and build some connections, as well as enjoying some morning tea.

Welcome Week

We are excited that Welcome Week is on the horizon, as an opportunity to engage with what it means to be welcoming advocates here at MECS. The week kicks off with activities and culminates in a whole school assembly on Friday. We of course hope that you will come along to enjoy the celebrations!

Ranges TEC

This year, I will be working from Ranges TEC for a day, every second week. I started this last week and what a joy it was to observe Year 10 'Taster' students making jam from the berries picked from the farm. I’ve seen students make jam before, but never have I seen a bunch of young people wearing High Vis gear and making jam! It was awesome. I also got to see some Year 11s making hamburgers. Ranges TEC continues to be an amazing option for students that are seeking a trade pathway in education.

School at Work Tours

We kicked off this week with our School at Work Tours, which continue to be a great way to introduce interested people to MECS. If you know of someone who is keen to check us out, please direct them to our website to sign up for a School at Work Tour.

School Captains

I had the opportunity to meet with our school captains recently as they shared their hopes for MECS in their final year of schooling. The captains are led by Mrs Allison and will be engaged in many events and activities across the school this year.

CEN Principals gathering

As many of you know, MECS is part of a broader organisation called Christian Education National (CEN). Last week, I had the opportunity to catch up with other Principals of CEN schools, which was very encouraging. This year, CEN has its 60th anniversary of supporting schools in the task of educating students from a biblical perspective. We are grateful for our relationship with CEN.

Prayers for the Smedes family

Over the break, we were deeply saddened to hear of the news of one of our much loved Mums, Julie Smedes. Julie was wife to her husband, Jamin and Mum to Grace (Year 11) and Luka (past student). Please join with me in praying for Jamin, Grace and Luka and the extended family who are also part of our community. Grief is hard, and slow and we lift you all in prayer and seek peace for each of you.

Donation of Laptops

At the end of last year, after everyone had left, it was a great thrill to be able to donate a bunch of our excess laptops, all in excellent working order to SSEC school at Su’u. This is a school where Mr Peter Nelson (a retired principal from CEN schools) and his wife Lyndell, spend time supporting and serving that community. What a joy to be able to bless this school.

Have a great term ahead!

Cheers,

Michelle

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