Dempsey's Digest

Purposeful Learners!

How exciting is it to get back into the swing of a new year? I have to say, the vibe and settled start across the school is exciting!

As we dive into our main thread for 2025, being Purposeful Learners, I pray that your child would experience what it means to be a purposeful learner! It’s not limited to learning stuff that we can regurgitate, it’s about finding meaning in what we are learning and being able to apply it in real and tangible ways! It’s also about applying ourselves, giving things a go, using our gifts to glorify God! We are pretty pumped about this! This year we will take opportunities to celebrate when we see a student exemplify being a purposeful learner. It might be that they produce some beautiful work, they might have a fabulous attitude, they might be super creative, they might be putting in extra effort…all of these things are worth celebrating, so let’s do it!

*If you’re not sure what a ‘thread’ is, stay tuned!

Staff 'Work-break'

Work-break is a time when staff get together before students commence, to start the year focussing on the distinctives of being a Christian school. This includes an opportunity to learn, worship through song and devotions and spend time planning and preparing curriculum. During this time, there are also staff who complete studies with the National Institute for Christian Education as part of their employment contract. It’s great to see our staff engaged in extending their skills and gifts during work-break.

Of course, there’s also time for catching up and being social, so it was great to see Primary, Secondary and Ranges TEC volleyball teams go head to head in a lunchtime tournament. Ranges TEC triumphed and took home the inaugural title of Work-break volleyball champions!

Information Evenings

It’s been great to see parents engaged in our information evenings that have been held over the past few weeks. If you are unsure about anything, be sure to check in with your child’s class teacher, pastoral care teacher (secondary) or with the office.

News about Jo Miller

Following decades of service to MECS, Jo Miller has submitted her resignation. Although we are of course sad about this, Jo has been such a vibrant and passionate staff member through all different seasons of service, we understand her desire to focus on one place of employment and not to travel so far. Jo will be continuing in her role at Village High School in Ryanston which is much closer to her home in Tarwin Lower. Although we don’t have an actual date for Jo to be finishing, it will be by the end of Term 2. Please pray for Jo in this transition and for us to find someone to fill this role. We wish Jo all the best and we will take time to farewell her appropriately.

CEN Principals and Teaching and Learning Leaders visit MECS!

It was a real pleasure last Friday to host the Victorian Christian Education National Principals and Teaching and Learning leaders. I was just so proud of the way that our Senior Primary Leaders welcomed our visitors and showed them to where the meeting was held. A number of our visitors commented on just how polite, interested, warm and caring our students were. Well done Senior Primaries!