Grebel alumnus Jared Baribeau works on tech related to the manufacture of zero-waste textiles. (Conrad Grebel University College photo)
Like many Conrad Grebel University College alumni, Dale Brubacher-Cressman considers it important to make an impact on the causes he stands for.
This poster by Eugena Lee won a national Remembrance Day contest. (Photo courtesy of MCI)
Menno Simons Christian School is proud of alumna Eugena Lee (‘20) who won first-place in the National Remembrance Day Poster contest held by the Legion National Foundation. After studying the Korean War in her high school social class, she became inspired to learn more about her grandparents’ experiences during the Korean war. Then artistic inspiration took hold.
Ian Funk (Photo by Peter Ringenberg)
Ian Funk, pastor of Langley (B.C.) Mennonite Fellowship, anticipates graduating in 2023 from the Connect program of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) with a Master of Divinity degree. Students can complete the distance-friendly program online with weeklong visits to the seminary’s Elkhart, Indiana, campus once or twice a year.
Before and after. Rockway has been able to repurpose 103 broken umbrellas. (Photo by Jen Hoffman-Bailey)
These weather-proof backpacks were sewn from Rockway’s repurposed umbrellas. (Photo by Sara Wahl)
What do you do with 103 broken umbrellas? You make something new, of course!
Vlad Malezhyk is enjoying school at RJC High School. (RJC High School photo)
When Linda Rudachyk brought Vlad Malezhyk for his first tour of RJC High School, she teased him on the walk to the front door. “Vlad, you’re gonna sing. Do you sing?” she asked. He was certain the answer was no.
MCI student Rhea Letkeman designs a Christmas card. (MCI photo)
Tucked away in the small town of Gretna, in the most southern part of Manitoba, Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) can feel like its own little world for those who study and teach there.
Friendships are an important part of school. (WMEMS photo)
Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary & Middle Schools (WMEMS) has created a safe and nurturing place for my child to learn and grow.
Rockway’s administrative team, pictured from left to right, front row: Stacey VanderMeer, director of admissions; and Elaine Ranney, principal; and back row: Josh Hill, vice-principal; Chris Ainsworth, director of advancement; and Steven Reesor Rempel, director of finance and human resources. (Photo by Michlynn Schweitzer)
Joyful!
Marvin Grasmeyer, the director of athletics at Mennonite Simons Christian School, challenges students to be ‘peacemakers’ even in sports. (Photo by Ann Pam)
Marvin Grasmeyer has a passion for the students, which is evident in everything that he does at Menno.
As director of the athletic program, he has ensured that Menno keeps an all-inclusive approach because he sees the value in every student having the opportunity to be a part of a team.
Keeley and Natalya relax outdoors during MCI’s get acquainted social. (Photo by Kayla Giesbrecht)
We want our children to be set up for success. As we look at life after high school, one way we see success is being able to live independently. As I step into my ninth year of working with dormitory programs, I believe that a good dormitory program can provide this opportunity to live independently.
Grebel’s yearly faculty/staff/student volleyball game resulted in a triumphant win by the students. Orientation Week activities at Grebel are designed to build community and inspire interaction between students, faculty, and staff. (Photo by Margaret Gissing)
The air was buzzing at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo on Sept. 3, as new students moved into the residence, accompanied by their parents and welcomed by enthusiastic upper-year students.
Adela Friesen Wedler
Adela Friesen Wedler of Edmonton had recently retired from teaching when an ad in the church news caught her eye.
“The ad said that students could take two courses at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) before applying for admission to a program,” she said. “Having recently retired, this intrigued me.”
Aliya Penner, left, and Lia Campbell-Enns co-founded Westgate’s BIPOC Alliance group as Grade 12 students last year. (Photo by Olivia Lu)
Westgate Mennonite Collegiate students can now participate in a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) Alliance, thanks to Lia Campbell-Enns and Aliya Penner.
They founded the group as seniors last year to address the racism they were encountering at school as Chinese students. They figured their peers and teachers did not understand their comments were racist.
Delaney Dault, Meghan Recker, Vivienne Fittler, Emma Brown and Elyse Couto are pictured at UMEI’s all-school retreat. (UMEI photo)
UMEI seeks to educate the whole person in order to make young people “doers of the Word.” We believe deeply in our mission and see the wonderful things that our graduates are doing around the world as servant leaders. So, in periods of low enrolment, we ask ourselves, “Why is this happening?”
Eli Bergman, left, a first-year student at Mennonite Collegiate Institute, gets a hug from his mother Julia, a 2002 MCI graduate. (Photo courtesy of Julia Bergman)
Being a graduate of Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) remains a precious part of my life’s memory bank.
Menno Simons Christian School was blessed to appoint George Graffunder as its vice-principal this school year.
Menno Simons Christian School was blessed to appoint George Graffunder as its vice-principal this school year.
Hella (Dahl) Harder, front row centre
Jacob Harder
For his Grade 12 year, Jacob Harder (1946) was determined to go to Rosthern Junior College (RJC). But he had two big problems. One was that he didn’t have any money to pay for tuition. And the second was that his father believed any education past Grade 9 was a waste of time.
As the pandemic lingers, and students persevere in challenging times, students in the master of theological studies (MTS) program at Conrad Grebel University College created pods. These small groups, made up of students with a mix of experiences, met virtually or in person to offer mutual support, encouragement and advice throughout the term.
Pictured here are several high school students who participated in the Lower Voices Ensemble, directed by Jeff Enns. (Photo by Xingyi (Jessica) Li)
Musicians come from all walks of life, with varying degrees of passion for what they do, but most are quite resilient to begin with. Add a global pandemic for two years, with assorted lockdowns and restrictions, and the desire to make music together with others increases exponentially. Rockway Mennonite Collegiate musicians are no different.
Grade Two students build cardboard cars together. (WMEMS photo)
When I reflect on my years at Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary and Middle Schools (WMEMS), the thing that stands out to me the most is the community.
Thiessen
Westgate Mennonite Collegiate’s varsity boys volleyball team won this year’s AAAA Provincial Volleyball Championship, ending the season with a 30-0 record. Team setter Sammy Ludwig was chosen tournament MVP. (Westgate Mennonite Collegiate photo)
I first heard of Westgate Mennonite Collegiate in the fall of my final bachelor of education program year. It was 1978, and this very small school surprised the local sports scene by capturing the Manitoba Provincial “A” Volleyball Championship by defeating teams with several-fold larger school populations.
A grade 11 chemistry class meets in Rockway’s courtyard, as students return to in-person learning. (Photo courtesy of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate)
UMEI students take part in community-building activities at the beginning of the new school year. (Photo courtesy of UMEI Christian High School)
Rockway student council members drum up some school spirit for the start of the new school year. (Photo courtesy of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate)
UMEI students participate in a community building exercise. (Photo courtesy of UMEI Christian High School)
Faculty, staff and students are excited to be back in person at Mennonite schools in Ontario. To allow for a safe return to campus, they are committed to following local and provincial health guidelines while they prioritize finding ways to create a sense of community and connection.
Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont.
Lucas Epp, Braden Martens-Funk and Tyreese Hildebrandt, Grade 10 sudents at RJC High School, enjoy their retreat activities. (Photo by Hugo Malan)
There is much to be grateful for as a new year begins at RJC High School. With faithful constituent support, two consecutive years of increased enrolment, and the return of inter-collegiate athletics and choral programs, the energy among students and staff is high.
Dayle Vienneau, a former teacher at Menno Simons Christian School in Calgary, has returned to take the position of principal. (Menno Simons Christian School photo)
For Dayle Vienneau, who has been appointed principal for Menno Simons Christian School in Calgary, the road back to the school has not been a straight path, but definitely a God-led one. She began her journey to Menno Simons in June 2005, to fill a French and language arts maternity leave, and she stayed for 10 years.
