We are right into the swing of Term 2 now as the weather begins to get colder and those gorgeous Autumn colours fall from the trees. It’s a beautiful time of year to walk through our grounds and appreciate our gardens and natural environment.

Here’s what’s been happening around the traps…

Enrolment Interviews

It’s that time of the year when enrolment interviews for the coming years are being had almost daily. It’s such a privilege to interview potential families and understand what they are looking for in a school for their child or children and to determine what partnership might look like. If you know someone who is still keen to enrol their child for 2027, now is the time to give them a prompt!

Board Meeting

It’s good to give a shout out to our Board, a great group of people, who meet faithfully, every month. Our Board is made up of volunteers who serve our school well, as representative of our Association that underpins them. Please keep our Board in your prayers as they make decisions for our community.

Big Kid’s Table

A group of us had the privilege of attending the 5th birthday celebrations of an organisation called Big Kid’s Table. This group does some fabulous work online, in schools and with churches, providing safe spaces, from a Christian perspective, for kids to talk all things sexuality. It’s worth checking them out! https://bkt.org.au/

Founder's Morning Tea

This was definitely a highlight of the past few weeks! Seeing our founders and their families, as well as some long serving staff come and celebrate MECS was a great privilege. Check out the photos in the newsletter this week and capture the love that was in that room!

Kinder Mother’s Day Celebration

How lovely to see our Kinder Mums gather to be pampered and to play with their little ones as the Kindergarten celebrated Mother’s Day.

Independent Schools Victora (ISV)

One of the organisations that MECS is a member of is Independent Schools Victoria (ISV). ISV offers plenty of support and advice to MECS on many aspects of school life and we appreciate them. On Monday, Rob Lichtendonk and I were able to join in a

session with ISV at Caulfield Grammar as they continue to refine their services and keep member schools informed.

NICE Graduation

We are delighted to announce that three of our staff have completed their Masters of Education, through the National Institute for Education. Congratulations to Ric Thorpe, Karena Dashwood and Daniel Bradbury. Daniel and his family made it up to Sydney to be present for the formal graduation ceremony. In addition to this, we also wish to congratulate Leesa Woods and Sarah Venz on the completion of their Graduate Certificates in Christian Education. As you might already know, MECS teaching staff are contracted to complete two units of study with the National Institute for Christian Education and some go on to complete a Graduate Certificate or a full Masters Degree.

Farewell to Karissa

Last newsletter I mentioned about Karissa Esselbrugge’s news of moving to NSW to take on a new role at the Dynamic Learning Campus as part of the Cessnock campus of St Phillips Christian College in Newcastle. This is after 22 years of deep commitment to MECS. Karissa has served tirelessly, given herself and her heart to MECS in the way that she has cared so deeply for students, parents and staff. Her faith has always been the strength that has carried her through some very tough seasons. We will miss her! It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who has been a part of the furniture for so long and it’s easy to take them for granted. Whilst we are sad to say goodbye, we are also excited for the adventure she is about to embark on.

These two weeks have flown as Karissa has been literally packing up things and preparing to say goodbye. For those that missed the farewell event on Monday afternoon, it’s not too late to drop a note into the office for us to include in the special goodbye album full of photos and messages that was lovingly prepared for Karissa.

Cheers,

Michelle

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