Dempsey's Digest

We are here! The home stretch to the end of term and what a term it’s been! 

This week is Finding Nemo week, so make sure you grab a ticket and come along to see our students SHINE!

Make sure you take advantage of the candy store and merchandise. In particular, I recommend the handmade polymer Nemo earrings that are so intricate and detailed. These have been made by Katie F in Senior Primary.

We are so proud of our students and the hard work that goes into making this production come together! I’m equally proud of our staff who work tirelessly to ensure that the show is the best it can be. Thanks team!

Here’s a few updates from me…

CEN Conference

I had the privilege of attending recent meetings and conference in Hobart with other Christian Education National schools. The input and opportunity to network with others was wonderful and very enriching. I always come away from these events with three common things. New ideas, biblical perspective that is sharpened and a deep assurance that what we are doing at MECS is reflective of who we are and who God has called us to be.

Kinder Father’s Day Events

I was able to pop in on the K3’s Father’s Day evening which was just delightful! The children were not holding off on insisting their Dads have a go at everything! The potting of the 'Hairy Harrys' looked particularly engaging and fun. Thanks Dads, for coming along and being a part of the evening. We hope you felt blessed.

Year 9’s Being Stretched

If you’d been around school on Thursday afternoon, you would have seen some very tired Year 9 students in post camp exhaustion mode. Yes, it was a camp that stretched them and challenged them to the core, but what a joy to hear the stories of successfully overcoming fears and stepping outside of comfort areas. I love that we are able to challenge our teenagers to trust God, themselves and others as they take these steps towards personal growth.

Parent Seminar B

We had a great turnout to our second and last parent seminar for 2026. Yes, this is a ‘compulsory’ event for our new parents, but really, it’s a lovely gathering and a good laugh as well. This year, we have done these over a simple but yummy meal and a bonus of chocolate. Yep, we do it tough here at MECS! Thanks to all those that made an effort, not just in attending, but also in your contributions. It was very much appreciated.

Principals’ Meetings

Once a term I have the privilege of heading to meetings with other Principals which I find very helpful. It’s always good to hear from someone else how they might manage something. At our last meeting, I had the privilege of listening to Graeme Stanton from Ridley College who was sharing about the role of Christian schools which is different to the role of the church. This was a great reminder of some of our founding values as a school which clearly values the wonderful roles that both the church and the Christian school play in our society.

Over the break, I am going to be heading to Canada with a bunch of Principals to learn more about the approaches that Canadians take to Christian education. I will be visiting 3 schools, participating in masterclasses of leadership and attending a leadership conference. I am very much looking forward to this experience, with Christian Education National.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are a great opportunity to catch up with your child’s teacher(s) and get some insights into their strengths and challenges. It’s always lovely to hear of the strengths and fairly sobering to hear of the challenges, but great that we are able to have the easy and tough conversations as we seek transformation for your child. Believe me, it’s hard for staff to share the tough stuff, I’m just grateful that we are a part of a loving community that is willing to do this.

Working Bee

What a vibrant working bee that was held on Saturday as the rain held off enough to get a whole range of jobs done. The Kinder received some attention as did the gardens and driveway. The gym was a hive of activity as the stage was set up for Finding Nemo and the chairs placed in anticipation of encouraging crowds. It was all hands on deck, for sure.

Digital Compass Webinar for Parents

Increasingly, we are being made more aware of our need to parent more assertively when it comes to online engagement. Our friends at Independent Schools Victoria have shared a link to a free webinar. 

The Parent’s Digital Compass: Protecting Teens Online

“The Parent’s Digital Compass is a 60-minute webinar for parents and carers who want to better protect teens from online grooming, scams, identity theft and social media risks. Delivered as part of Adult Learners Week, this practical session helps adults recognise red flags, talk with teens about online safety, respond to harmful contact and understand Australian reporting options such as eSafety, ReportCyber and police pathways.”

To me that sounds like an hour of life, well spent.

Have a great week ahead and may the upcoming term break bring refreshment and joy to you and your home.

Cheers, 

Michelle