June 2013 - Mennonite Collegiate Institute

Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
CrossRoads
Volume 23 Issue 2
June 2013
MCI Musical
Fiddler on the Roof
SOAR & Europe
Reports
Fundraising
Banquet
Ted Swartz
New Seasons
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CrossRoads
CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
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Two
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ust
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Worord
It is hard to put into words what lies
on my heart. This is my last editorial
and layout of Crossroads. After eight
years and 24 issues, it is hard to know
what to write.
This column is always the last thing I
do before I send off an issue to Friesens
Fast Print. It is always the item that
is hardest to do because it is always
challenging to translate my thoughts to
paper. And this time is even harder.
The picture to the right and the picture
inserted say more than I can about our
decision to move to Winnipeg this
fall. Our family is a huge reason for
our move. The decision to leave MCI
was not an easy one. MCI has been
an unforgettable experience - to say
anything less would be a travesity.
Without this experience, I wouldn’t
have; seen the Rockies with a bunch of
great MCI singers, spent five years on
SOAR with fantastic and enthusastic
students, toured Minneapolis with
excited grade 12’s, enjoyed musical
after musical and met Ted Swartz,
Brad Johner, Big Daddy Taz, Dean
Jenkinson and so much more! The
chapels that I got to enjoy and to be
part of have impacted me in ways that
cannot truly be expressed. Watching
students become vulnerable in front
of each other - knowing that the
environment they were in was safe was awesome. Watching talent shows
and listening to the applause of students
for each and every performance - the
good and the sometimes not so good
- amazing. The life lessons in these
experiences have been invaluable.
My greatest joy is that my four
children were able to attend MCI
during our working time here. It wasn’t
always marshmallow and daisies, but
it was life-changing. They had to work
through issues; personal, physical and
spiritual. They asked questions and
were challenged to seek answers. They
were pushed to their athletic extremes.
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Musically, they were challenged and
their reward was a confidence that I
could not give them.
The friends that I have made on staff
over the years - what can I say but wow. These are fabulous people with
amazing life stories and people of
faith and passion and strength. I have
laughed in the staff room until I have
cried and I have cried in the staff room
until I laughed. I am going to miss the
staff room and lunch hours. There is
a bond and a family feeling that I can
only hope to find in my next job space.
Seasons change. Winter turns to
spring, spring to summer and summer
to fall. With each of these seasons
come some amazing things and things
that are hard and challenging. My
favourite season is spring. I love
watching the the trees start budding
and the tulips arise out of the ground.
This year spring was challenging; it
was long, cold and wet. But the leaves
still came and the tulips in my backyard
have never looked better. I think that
my tulips are a gift from God this year
- an indication of the beauty that we
received in Gretna and hopefully that
we also leave behind for the next MCI
staff.
My life is changing. My last two
girls graduate this year and move on
to post-secondary education. Our
nest is, as they say, empty. How will
I walk through this season of change
- of loneliness, of excitement, of new
possibilities? Where is God leading
us? Am I listening? How do I hear
him? How will I2 know when He
Ashley Rempel, Rayzanna Rempel (‘13),
Tammy (Warkentin ‘86) Rempel (MCI
Communications Director), Jozanna
Rempel (‘13)
speaks to me? My guess is that we
all ask those questions from time to
time. Especially when the seasons are
changing. Someone passes away, jobs
are lost, people change, life throws you
a curve ball. Where is God and how do
we continue to follow Him?
MCI has reminded me of what
Jesus taught; to have Faith, Hope and
Love. Faith: that students are listening
and that the mustard seeds that are
planted are receiving a firm foundation
in good soil. Hope: that we, as staff,
are helping till the soil and guide our
students through life’s tough issues
and that these students will eventually
accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Love: love like Jesus loved - without
condition, without rewards. Love from
the depths of who we are.
Faith, Hope and Love. Faith that the
gift of the Holy Spirit is real and living
in this world and is guiding us daily.
Hope that Jesus’ grace will set each
and everyone of us free and that Jesus
will return soon. Love so that people
see that we, as Christians, are different.
Love one another - as Jesus has loved
us. It would still be nice if sometimes
God’s voice would be a little louder, or
his instructions just a little clearer - but
to abide in Faith, Hope and Love - that
sets my heart on the right course.
Thanks to all MCI alumni for your
support over the past years. Your kind
words and encouragment has been
powerful. Please continue to pray for
MCI; its students and staff.
Word from
esk
FArom
thethe
DDesk
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
CrossRoads
How vast the sum of them!
“…All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!”
Psalm 139: 16b-17.
We on the Canadian prairies often
think that our understanding of
seasons is particularly insightful.
Given the great changes in our
weather from season to season, we
certainly know variety.
We also know that the seasons of
life are much more gradual than the
seasons of the year. Experiences
across the long arch of a lifetime
reveal a depth of meaning which a
short season simply cannot impart
in mere weeks or months. The
summer of 2013 marks a change of
season at the end of the longest arch
of service in MCI’s community.
Susie Friesen will close a season
of 45 years of service at MCI at the
end of the summer. Words of thanks
only begin to express appreciation
for Susie’s many seasons at MCI.
By her own description, Susie
intended only, perhaps, to work
here for one year when Mr. Gerhard
Ens invited her to introduce typing
and help with secretarial duties
in 1968. Those who know Susie
well will best understand that there
was truth in that intent. In fact, it
remained true 45 times that Susie
dedicated herself to one more year
at MCI. Each year was an answer to
a renewed call to serve God in this
learning community; a step by step
confirmation of path of service.
Paul Kroeker (principal 19982005) remembers his arrival at MCI,
“…It was clear that I was a Stookie
Darryl Loewen (‘85)
MCI Principal
rookie…how little I knew about the
place when I started. But Susie was
very willing to mentor me, the new
guy, into the MCI story - for the
sake of the school. As our mutual
respect grew, she became a life
line of information and experience,
giving me a deep appreciation
for this remarkable treasure. She
helped me to see the past in order to
understand the present and in doing
so, helped to unlock our future.”
Every organization has someone
who holds the collective corporate
memory at the fingertip of one’s
mind. For MCI that person is Susie.
She is a human data base, immune
to the viruses of computer data
bases, but skilled to use them. She
remembers event procedures across
many years; and what she doesn’t
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precisely remember she has noted
in a file at her fingertips. She has
a spirit of gift-giving, expressed
in tray after tray of baking, too
numerous to count, marking the
birthdays of every colleague in the
staff room. Susie knows no such
thing as ‘overtime,’ only the time
necessary to complete the task ‘on
time.’
Ken Loewen (principal 19761985) remembers, “Susie is an
administrative assistant totally
dedicated to the MCI mission, its
parents, students, churches and
staff. Imagine being able to ask
for any required information and
receive it quicker than striking the
key on a computer today! Telephone
numbers, siblings, grades, family
concerns, or just ‘something you
should consider...’ were always
readily available.”
Susie, you have been true to the
calling accepted from Mr. Ens
and the MCI. You have served
MCI far beyond expectations and
reimbursement. God knew the all
the days ordained for you at MCI
before one of them came to be,
and he blessed you and us in them.
Thank you for the many tasks
beyond the call of duty you always
offered. May God grant you health,
peace, long meaningful retirement
and joy. Thank you.
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CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
ission Heartland
SMoar
How
was
my
SOAR
Heartland experience? In one
word...’different’.
It was different because I’ve
always been a participant, or a
volunteer. I ‘led’ a team of staff kids
the year after I graduated but this
was completely different (except
that one of the staff kids was actually
on my team this year as well!). This
year, I was one of the leaders and I
had to worry and care for the nine
students on my team; make sure we
got to places on time and that all the
little things were taken care of. I’m
so thankful I had two amazing coleaders that worked with me or I’m
not sure I could have done it all!
Being a group leader is a
challenging job. I was: forced to
start the conversations, forced to
focus our team times, forced into
counting how many people were
in our van at all times. I led the
prayers, talked to the ministry if
something was wrong, and was the
springboard of the ideas of our team;
a person that you could bounce new
ideas off and I could help work on
them. And what sucks is I have no
idea how I really did! I could have
been horrible and the grace of my
team allowed me to continue on.
Know what was awesome though?
As the week went on, I really started
to get part of what being a leader
is. Leadership was talked about
before SOAR started (with SOAR
leadership), and rang true during
SOAR. I wasn’t leading a bunch
of kids who had no idea what they
were doing. I was leading leaders.
I was leading people who wanted
to be there, and wanted to help. I
was leading men and women who
can (and probably will) change the
world in ways I only wish I can. My
team was AMAZING (I can’t stress
that enough!)
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Every one of those crazy
students was a leader in their
own way. Whether it was starting
conversations with kids that I
couldn’t, or helping people when I
hadn’t even noticed that opportunity,
or praying for someone with their
words truly coming from God. By
the end of the week, I had really just
turned into the driver; only because
I was really the only one old enough
to have gotten their class 4 license.
Leading doesn’t not mean taking
over, and I’m slowly learning that.
Leading really just means being
there as a support, the person you
lean on when you’re tired and
gaining your strength back. Leading
means surrendering absolutely
everything you’ve ever known,
and learning it again through God’s
eyes. Leading means following
God’s instructions, because really,
He’s the ultimate leader.
- Judson Rempel (‘09)
Top two pics: Walls of Freedom Team
Youth for Christ SOAR Team plus Paul
Peters (Take Flight Team member)
MCI females stayed in the basement
classroom at McIvor MB
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Youth For Christ climbing wall. Liam
Evans (gr. 11) and Judson Rempel (‘09)
with Brendan Enns (gr. 10) in the back.
England
M
usic, France, Italy
During Spring Break 2013, 25
students, 4 staff and 7 parents went on
a 10 day trip to Europe. Destinations
on the tour included London, Paris,
Florence, Assisi and Rome. The purpose
of visiting all these destinations in ten
days was to experience, learn about and
interact with their history and culture.
We were joined by a teacher and 10 of
her students from Hamiota School for
the tour as well. With our tour guide,
our group of 48 would move as one
cohesive unit through 3 European
countries on trains, planes and …
buses.
The students on the trip quickly
learned that this was not going to be
the typical vacation like atmosphere
they may have been accustomed to.
We battled through a damp, cold and
snowy London and a cool, breezy Paris.
In both cities, the students showed
off their proud Canadian heritage by
toughing out the weather to experience
the sites and take photos with the
famous landmarks. The group was able
to finally shed the toques, mitts and
heavy attire during our tour through
Italy where the sun and warmer air gave
us the feeling that we were no longer
sharing the same miserable weather as
back home.
The tour gave students a taste of what
each country is all about. In London,
Paris and Rome we were able to get to
see all the classic tourist sites one might
expect to see. While touring around
many of these cities we also were
learning about the history of the city,
country, buildings, government and
culture. The great teachable moments
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
seemed to come more often than I
would have predicted prior to the trip.
Students were surprisingly curious to
know more when I’d thought they had
heard enough information. Observing
students make connections to what
they were seeing and learning to what
they’ve studied in class was priceless
on the trip. As a history teacher I knew
of the many connections that could
have been made to where we were but
I heeded to student interests and only
suggested a few.
There were also times where brains
would shut off due to information
overload. Instead of cramming more
facts into the brain you could just
enjoy being in these magnificent
places with the people around you. The
camaraderie and relationships amongst
the group was extraordinary. Through
the challenging time when our group
was stranded in a Paris train station
at night due to an overbooking issue.
During the evening of uncertainty
with nothing to protect us from the
cold, our students banded together
with the parents and staff to make the
best of the unfortunate situation. The
inconvenience of the train station fiasco
would pave the way for our group to
drive through the French Alps by bus.
Besides learning historical facts,
students also learned how to navigate
subway systems, museums, and cities
with each other and even helping out
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chaperones with maps. The students
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showed
patience,
perseverance
and
kindness. I could not
have been prouder
of the way the MCI
students
conducted
themselves through the
good, the great, the bad
and the tough. In every
instance of the trip if
we weren’t having a
great time, we made the
best to make sure we
made it a great time.
MCI Europe Trip
is an adventure - a
safe,
well-planned,
fun adventure. Far
from usual vacation
destinations during spring break like
the beaches of Mexico or hotels of
Grand Forks or Fargo, MCI students,
staff and parents take on ten days where
the goal is experiencing and learning
something out of the ordinary together.
The opportunity to travel as an MCI
group to any destination is a memory
that never seems to fade. MCI Europe
Trip is grand in its destinations and
epic through its recollection of stories.
- Toby Wiens (‘00, MCI Teacher)
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CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
usical
FMiddler
on the Roof
This year’s musical was the
classic, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
It ran three nights to a sold out
theatre. Well over half the student
body was involved on stage with
even more students involved behind
the scenes with hair, make-up, set
painting, tech and more. Staff were
involved in directing, set building,
costumes, hair and make-up and
more.
It was a fantastic experience for
students, staff, parents and audience
members. Instead of trying to put
it into words, we have photographic
glimpses into this past spring’s
musical.
left: Annika Enns-Dyck (gr.11), Sophie Schlegel
(‘13), and Sydney Gerbrandt (gr.11) above: Lots
of work goes on behind the scenes as Carianne
Peters (Teacher) makes-up Katrina Schulz (‘13).
left: Luke Klassen (gr. 10) tries to stop Albert
Vogt (‘13) from destroying candlesticks. Lynette
Ens (‘13) played an eccentric old neighbour lady.
Nick Kehler (‘13) did a fabulous job of
playing the lead role, Tevye. His singing
and acting created a character that was
believable as a father, husband and
neighbourhood friend.
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left: Riley Dyck (gr.11) manages to balance a
bottle on his head during the wedding celebration.
above: Madelyn Mierau-Friesen (gr.8) sits
patiently as her hair is braided for the show.
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Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
usical Supper
FMiddler
on the Roof
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Events Hall
BMCI
uhler
MCI Saengerfest
June 9
10:30am & 2:00pm
MCI Academic Awards Day
Grade 9-11
June 14
MCI Grad Trip
June 14-20
MCI 2013 Grad
Winkler Bergthlaer
June 23
2:30pm
Musical supper is always a fun event that happens on closing night. The
dining hall is brought to life with themed decor and the food is amazing.
This year a small Jewish village was created with small shops at each table.
Food included potato latkes and chicken marbella.
New Student Orientation Days
June 27th & 28th, 2013
9am - 3pm
Check out
www.mciblues.net - for up to date school activities
and
www.buhlerhall.com - for concert and event updates
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CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
year is 1945 - A Season in Time
EThextras
The year is 1945. The grade 12
class has been studying to prepare
for final exams. At the same time,
they have been looking forward to
graduation. The girls have been
designing the dress, high neckline,
long sleeves, white. They would be
wearing a corsage; three red roses.
Our motto was “Folge du mir nach.”
They also realized that they would
be leaving MCI and their friends.
After grad, their suitcases were
packed, good-byes said, and they
scattered to Ontario, Alberta,
Saskatchewan, B.C., Winnipeg and
to villages and farms. They took
with them a multitude of memories.
For me, the memories of dorm
life stand out. Seventeen teenaged
girls living in a two story house.
No adults in sight, except for the
cook. No chores, no cow to milk,
no newspaper, no radio, no phone.
It was a disciplined life. Study
hours were from 7-9pm. There
was much free time to socialize; to
laugh. We resolved difficult math
problems together, took long walks
in beautiful Gretna, even as far as
the border. On weekends we slept
on the balcony, or all together in
one room (one in the closet). We
played tricks on each other, had
water fights, we talked and laughed.
In the morning we walked to
school together in our navy uniforms
with the high necklines and long
sleeves and six white buttons.
We gathered in chapel for
Morgenandacht and sang hymns.
How beautiful the singing was.
Boys and girls singing with heart
and soul.
MCI was very Bible based. It was
bilingual. The German language
was very important as was music.
Besides the required subjects
we studied, Deutsche Literatur,
Glauhenslehre, Grammatik and
Mennoniten Geschichte.
Our principal, Gerhard Peters,
brought his radio to the chapel one
Saturday and we all heard the opera
Aida.
Some evenings he played his
classical records to us on his
gramophone.
The whole school performed the
melodrama, “Columbus.”
That
was exciting - there was a boy in
our midst with a beautiful baritone
voice. He became our superstar,
William Goertzen.
We memorized “Schillers Lied
Von der Glocke,” and can still recite
portions of it.
Grade 12’s are introduced to the book, “Tuesdays
with Morrie” and then asked to do an assignment
based on what they learned.
Jozanna (‘13) & Rayzanna Rempel (‘13) decided to
create a grade 12 memory in the gym staircase. “The
idea behind the tree was to show that ‘love goes on.’
This is a quote from “Tuesdays with Morrie.” The
tree and leaf show that the class is leaving their mark
and ‘we’ will be loved even as we go off into the
world.” - Jozanna Rempel
In the picture you can see the class taking turns
stamping leaves onto the tree and then, after the
leaves dried, they put their names on their leaf.
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8
As time passed by, many of the
class of ‘45 had settled in Winnipeg.
Margaret Bergen planned a
breakfast. It was well attended Abe Riediger came all the way from
Morden. We invited the students
who were before us and after us
to also come to the breakfast - and
they did.
We celebrated our 20th, 30th, 40th
and 50th anniversaries. The 50th
was very special. Our classmates
came from far and wide, even
John Neufeld and Lena from New
Mexico.
A chartered Fehrway bus took us
to MCI. We spent half an hour with
the student body, toured the school,
saw our grad pictures on the wall.
Then on to Altona to tour Friesens
Books. It was an exceptional day.
It is now 2013. We are all well
into our 80’s. Seven of our 32
classmates are no longer with us.
We expect to have another breakfast
in summer when Dr. John Neufeld
comes to visit Winnipeg and Abe
Riediger will come again - all the
way from Morden!
- Susan (Martens ‘45) Froese, Wpg, MB
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
Class
of 1942 - WC
here
Are You? Child
O
peration
hristmas
Back in June 2002, I became
involved in a project that eventually
resulted in my sending out 48 and
receiving 50 e-mails, mailing 60
letters and parcels and receiving 32.
There were also plenty of phone calls.
The result was the 60th Anniversary
Journal for the Graduating Class of
1942. Whew!
Another decade has passed.
Should it be memorialized? I sent
out enquiries to as many 1942
grads whose addresses I could find,
receiving six responses. Here is a
condensed report:
Susie (Peters) Harms, Abbotsford
BC Dec 27, 2012 - 70 years ago
– how much time God has granted
us since that wonderful June day in
1942! What a wonderful life it has
been! Today Peter and I look back –
NO – only I look back, because Peter
has lost his capacity to remember. He
has been at Menno Home since Sept.
1, 2012, suffering dementia.
We
have served God as well as we knew
how, in various ways. Today we have
become very quiet, striving only to
become completely content, be filled
with peace and be ever thankful for
the situation we are in, knowing full
well Our God makes No mistakes.
Nick and Irene, Vancouver Jan
09, 2013 - Irene and I have changed,
and so have our circumstances. I
no longer drive a car. We sold our
condo and moved into a “Seniors
Independent Living Retirement
Residence” in Vancouver. Our whole
family: children, grandchildren
& greatgrandkids live within the
Greater Vancouver area, so we get
hugs whenever we need them. Our
son Dave, is high school principal
at Mennonite Educational Institute
in Abbotsford, and is occasionally
in contact professionally with MCI
faculty. I can practise my Plautdietsch
with new friends at our residence. We
try to make one annual pilgrimage
to Manitoba for a family “Neufeld
Fest,” and look in at our Alma Mater
in Gretna if we can arrange it. In
our daily prayer, we give thanks to
our Heavenly Father for keeping us
healthy and relatively independent.
MCI has had a profound influence
on our lives. For this we are grateful.
Neil Rempel, January 17, 2013,
Beloit WI USA - My wife Hilda and
I are in reasonable health for which
we thank God daily. We miss and
think often about the friends we
made in Gretna. Unfortunately, our
work has separated us all. We still
live in our home in Beloit and have
five children. Four are adopted.
Gaylene, a microbiologist, has 2
daughters and lives in St. Louis.
Susan, a school teacher, lives in
Beloit 2 miles from our home.
She has 3 daughters, 2 are in
college. They help us with snow
plowing and other work. Kathryn,
a homemaker, lives in Ohio and
has 3 grandchildren. Mark, our
oldest son, is a pastor in Chandler,
Arizona. He has 3 children, 2 in
college. John, our youngest, is
an engineer and lives in northern
Wisconsin. My cardiologist made
my next appointment for 6 months
from now so she must think I will
live that long. I still drive a car and
my driver’s license is good for 4
more years.
Helen Wiebe, Jake Wiebe’s
wife Winnipeg, Nov 30, 2012 We are very thankful for Bethel
Place, where we have resided since
Aug 31, 1997 – 15 years now. We
have Bible School friends, College
friends and even cousins here! This
makes for warm fellowship. As a
result of a fall, Jake experienced a
crushed vertebra and pneumonia.
He was in hospital for a few months.
After learning to walk again, he
came home. He will be receiving
more personal care in a home called
Pembina Place. We are trusting in
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the Lord for future leading.
Agatha Neufeld, Leamington ON
Dec 10, 2012 - How time flies! It is
hard to believe that it’s seventy years
since we graduated. I still live in my
condominium, however I have my
name in at the Retirement Residence. I
have a cleaning lady coming in once a
month; and a lady to get my groceries
every week. Because I use a walker
I can’t handle them. I still have my
car,.however I think I’ll sell it next
year. I visit a friend in the Retirement
Residence twice a week; read a lot of
books; and do 2 crossword puzzles a
day. I manage to keep busy.
Irvine Striemer, Winnipeg
Dec
11, 2012 - I’m pleased to hear that
someone has taken on the job of
compiling an anniversary journal.
My wife Inez and I are still fairly
healthy. Every day, except Sunday,
I take a fifteen minute walk to
McDonalds, where I have coffee with
some friends. Our daughter, retired,
lives in Chatham, Ontario. Our son,
in Winnipeg, teaches high school
physics. Last spring he mentored
students, interested in space, to
launch a high-altitude balloon. A
camera in the balloon took pictures of
the curvature of the earth and it also
contained scientific gear to collect
data from the upper atmosphere of
the earth. The Manitoba Minister of
Education recognized this work with
a certificate of teaching excellence
and lunch at the legislative building.
Our son was also flown to Ottawa
where he received an award from
Stephen Harper as well as a certificate
from the Canadian Space Agency.
Our grandchildren are growing up
and we have three greatgrandchildren
as well as one great, great grandchild.
In winter we have been able to take
holidays in Mexico and Maui, but the
traveling is becoming too tiring.
- Nick Neufeld (‘42)
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CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
and Ted Swartz
LMCI
aughter
is Sacred Space
When, as a teenager, I first saw a to show him waiting, unsure if he’ll
performance by Ted Swartz and Lee be accepted with his blank resume?
Eshelman (or Ted & Lee, as they And what if God waves him over
were formally called), I had never anyway to complete the scene, and,
imagined that I could laugh so deeply in fact, to complete all of creation?
with God and Scripture. I also
never imagined that someday Ted Swartz acting out one of his skits in chapel.
I would be a drama teacher,
and that I would find myself
directing one of those sketches
alongside Ted. But as MCI’s
home fundraising performance
began, there I was, sitting
nervously and hopefully in the
front row, ready to watch Ted
and my students perform one
of Ted’s pieces, “Applications,”
for our honoured guests.
One of my favourite moments
in our rehearsals happened
like this: The various students,
playing comical caricatures
of our various body parts—
stomach, adrenal gland, left
AND right brain, etc.—are
seated stage right. They have
just finished their interviews
with God (played by Ted).
They’ve applied to be included
in his new creation: a person (it’s
God’s 6th work day, after all).
Enter the heart, who sits at God’s
desk and simply plays a humble but
I loved this new touch, in part,
solid heartbeat on her modest drum. because it captured my second
Slowly, each of the body parts favourite thing about theatre: the
rise and join one another around thrill of finding something brand
the heart. And lo and behold, the new in an old script. In our very
body, with all its eccentric parts in own school and in our very own
their places, becomes a miraculous drama class, we had discovered a
whole. God’s human creation is joke that Ted had never used before.
complete.
Awesome.
As we rehearse, though, it occurs
Even better, however, was the
to us that there’s one last joke we fact that this also captured my
can get in. What if Albert Vogt, favourite part of theatre: when you
who is playing the totally useless find something new in a script and it
and completely desperate applicant communicates a deep Truth. Right
“Appendix,” hangs back a bit? here, in this brief new nonverbal
What if we take an extra moment exchange between God and Albert
CrossRoads
10
the Appendix, the audience is
reminded that God’s invitation is for
all of us, and that God’s ways can be
surprising.
Ted’s entire visit, in fact, was full
of reminders about God’s surprises.
If you read his blog entry on the
experience, you’ll know that he
found much to be surprised about
in such a small, snowy town. If
you saw the show, you’ll have
encountered
God’s
surprising
presence in life’s harshest tragedies.
And if you joined us at these recent
fundraising banquets, or support the
school in other ways too, then you
surely know that Ted’s visit isn’t
an isolated incident either. It’s just
one of the many holy
surprises that continue to
draw us together.
- Peter Epp (‘98, MCI
Teacher)
http://www.tedandcompany.
com/where-theater-is-aliveand-well/
Joseph Wolff (‘13), Ted Swartz and
Rick Heppner-Mueller (MCI Music
Director) pose for a picture following
the show.
Reunions
RMCI
eminisce
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
CrossRoads
Rick Heppner Mueller (MCI
Music Director) and Korey Peters
(‘01) co-directed the Westman
Youth Choir this past fall.
The
conducting duo rehearsed with
the choir of 50 high school aged
singers from Western Manitoba
over two weekends in September
in preparation of a four day tour of
the Westman region that included 9
performances. The two are pictured
before their final concert at Central
United Church in Brandon on
October 16th where they received
a standing ovation at the end of
the concert from the 750 people in
attendance.
Please check out www.mciblues.
net under alumni/reunions for more
details.
Class of 1993
JULY 20, 2013
12pm – 4pm at the Gretna Hot Spot
Festival and MCI Tours
in Gretna park, Gretna, MB
find us at the Class of 1993 banner
8pm - late is a Child-free party in
Winnipeg at Darryl & Ila’s home.
More Details online
Class of 1983
Saturday June 1st, 2013 at
Place: Nicolino Resturant, 4-2077
Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg
Time: doors open at 6:00
Cost: $40.00 per person
More Details online
Class of 1963
Sunday, August 18, 2013 at MCI in
Gretna, MB
Rudy Friesen & Don Engbrecht
P.O. Box 697
Boissevain, MB
R0K 0E0
204-534-2567
Class of 1953
Letters with information will be
mailed out in June 2013.
Still time to plan a 2003, 1973, and
1943 reunion. Call the school to find
out how!
Transitions
N
ew Seasons
Each season brings change and
that is no different in a school.
Teachers
change,
curriculm
changes, sport teams change and
office staff change. This coming
year will bring some changes to the
office and teaching staff.
Susie Friesen (‘61, Business
Administrator Assistant), will be
leaving MCI after 45 amazing
years. Susie has transitioned well
with the changing seasons; staff,
administration, technology and
more. Susie’s amazing memory will
be missed, along with her fabulous
baking skills! Staff meetings were
always just a little easier to traverse
when Susie brought a tray of
goodies! AND every staff birthday
was recognized with baking from
Susie!
11
Bernie Rempel (‘84, Business
Administrator/Donor Development)
and Tammy Rempel (‘86, MCI
Communications Director) will be
leaving MCI at the end of August.
Their future plans include moving
to Winnipeg to be closer to family.
They have been at MCI for eight
years and have loved every one of
them. They will miss their MCI
family very much. Their prayers
will continue to be with the school
and staff and hope to visit often!
Also leaving are Claire Neufeld
and Bernie Loeppky (MCI Interim
teachers). Thank you for the great
job you have done at MCI. We
enjoyed getting to know you and
appreciated all your hard work.
Coming back to teach at MCI are
Alice Harms and Tim Wiebe. We
welcome them back to MCI for the
2013-2014 year.
CrossRoads
CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
Poetry
A
lumni Poetry
by Betty (Paetkau ‘62) Krahn
BEAUTY of LIFE
Weaving streets of water in waves edged white,
Serenading young men in gondola of black and gold;
Wide bridge spans o’er unique road from side to side,
Impressive domed columns overwhelm everywhere;
Beautiful portrait and scenery fallen from artist hand,
Timeless in prestige of essence so great.
Chiseled marble to unveil a dream of delight,
Which gradually comes alive in form and mold;
Rolling landscape of climbing vine exuding pride,
Bountiful clusters of plump purple grapes deliciously rare;
Which will grace elegantly set tables in the land,
Wine’s richest flavour in highest ladder of rate.
Encircling wall of stone solidly tight,
Which roaring oceanic anger must hold;
Intricate network of canal for graceful swan to glide,
Sea of pink tulip in elegant heavenly flair;
Weeping willow in pocket of sand,
Ornately curved black wrought iron gate.
Marketplace in square a bursting colourful sight,
Cheese, apples, yogurt and a host of veggies are sold;
Red cheeked women milling against the churning tide,
Quaint shops sport glass where folk stop and stare;
Showing an assortment of timepieces and diamond bands,
In another window fragrance of flaky pastry to date.
Lightly lilting melodic strains drifting in dauntless flight,
Tap on ivory floating in endearing tales untold;
Swinging pretty gowns in waltzing charming confide,
Enchantment of youth swirling in blushing pair;
Flickering wax candle by whirling silk faintly fanned,
Gilded hall whispering wafting echoes of late.
CrossRoads
12
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
Junior
High7Projects
G
rade
& 8 Ideas
The grade 7 & 8 classes have been
busy with some fantastic projects.
Erin Funk-Wieler (MCI Gr 7 & 8
Teacher) tells us all about it!
The Trash’n Show will be in the
foyer of Buhler Hall at MCI. The
items spread a variety of price
ranges, so far items are $1-20. As
a math activity, we are currently
learning how companies mark up
their product for profit. Therefore,
we are doing the same. We are taking
the cost of production and marking
the item up by 200%. The students
themselves are investing their own
money, and will be reimbursed their
start-up costs if and when their item
sells.
We have set up our classroom
as a business, with Marketing
Directors, Design Coordinators,
Financial Officers, and Corporate
Philanthropists who are currently
researching local environmental
organizations who could benefit
from our contributions.
Our
company name is “Earth Heroes”
and the project is almost entirely
student led, my job being to facilitate
and guide students in the process.
The big picture goal of all of this
is educating ourselves and others
on how our consumer choices have
a major impact on the earth and its
people. “Low Impact Day” was
one day of this month long project.
This problem can sometimes seem
like one too big to tackle, or one
that is spinning out of control. In
the middle of this unit students
expressed feeling enraged, sad, and
helpless in how to help this situation.
We then felt that it was important to
focus on what we CAN do instead
of what we CAN’T. We decided
that we CAN bring about change by
truly focusing on the 3R’s (Reducing
CrossRoads
AND reusing, not just recycling).
The more we reduce and reuse the
less stuff we have, which means less
waste, which means less greenhouse
gases emitted into the atmosphere
through production, transportation,
and landfill emissions. We often
think that materialism is negative,
however true materialism means to
truly value our materials. This is our
goal. To value what we buy, how
it’s made, and have it last. Instead of
throwing it out for the next newest
thing, or because it’s convenient.
Our Trash’n Show is about raising
money, but more than that it’s about
showing people how much stuff can
be reused and to make people think
about their “stuff.” Where it comes
from, how it’s made, and where it
ends up.
13
CrossRoads
CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
What
are They Up to Now?
M
ilestones
Weddings
Vance Smith (’03) and
Kevin (’94) and Laurie
Schroeder, Texas adopted Natasha Heinz; Gretna ; a
Alisa Wiebe (Gr 11 ’00),
daughter, Chandra Shelby daughter of Bob (’72) and
Verna (Heinrichs ’72)
Births
Wiebe, Winnipeg; and
David Driedger, on July
14, 2012.
Karsten Mueller (’08)
and Abigail Erlandson on
Zachary (6), Matthew (3)
November 24, 2012.
and Caitlyn (19 months)
Stacy
Falk
(’08),
on December 17, 2012.
daughter of John (’79) and
Chris (’92) and Candace
James (‘98) and Vanessa
Funk Unger, Winkler; Voth, Surrey, BC –
a son, Caelan Lucas on daughters, Cheyenne on
September 18, 2012. A
sibling for Clarissa, Curtis
and Carter.
Smith on July 24, 2012
Matt (’93) and Rie
to. She was 5 lb and 18 in
Goerzen twins, son Lucas
long.
Amy (Bergman, ‘03) and
Mark Loewen; Altona;
All Items posted occurred
in the current year unless
otherwise noted.
Taisei and daughter,
Ayanna
Emily
on
February 7.
Jeff & Stepfanie (Funk
‘93) Giesbrecht and big
sister Natalie welcome; a
daughter, Kara Stepfanie
was born March 26,
weighing 8 lbs 5oz.
CrossRoads
June 17, 2009 and Vienna
on July 19, 2012.
Laurie (’02) and Amanda
Redpath, Winnipeg; a
son Alastair George on
February 19.
Jen (Friesen ’03) and
Ryan Fast, Altona; a
daughter, Tessa Claire on
March 9.
Joanna (Friesen ’03)
and Noah Ginter, Gretna;
a daughter Claire Lily on
November 14, 2012. A
sister for Esme.
Kaylee
(Friesen
‘
03 ) and Matt Friesen,
Winnipeg;
a
son,
Bramwell Matthaeus Von
on February 6. A grandson
for Ray and Bev (Siemens
’79) Friesen, Winkler.
Esther Falk, Gretna; and
Ryan Hamm on February
23.
Rachel Wiebe (’10),
Gretna; daughter of Joel
(’78) and Brenda Tiessen
Wiebe, Gretna; and Tim
Loewen on May 4, 2013.
Jonathan Patrick Enns
(‘08) married Brya Nicole
welcomed their son, Jude
Warren George Loewen,
born on December 12th,
2012.
Kyle (’05) and Renee
(Pauls
’05)
Peters,
Morden; a daughter,
Lauren Claire on March
6. A granddaughter for Penner on April 28, 2012.
Ben (’80) and Diane They reside in Altona.
(Hoeppner ’80) Peters ,
Morden.
14
Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
Deaths
John Thiessen (’43),
Winnipeg; on November
25, 2012.
Neil
Toews
(’57),
Niagara on the Lake,
on February 22. He is
survived by his wife,
Susan Hall to whom he
was the light of her life
and his seven sisters
Helen, Mary, Cathy, Elly,
Freda, Eve and Bertha.
Sons Jason, Nelson and
David, stepson Adam and
stepdaughter Victoria and
their families. We will all
miss him terribly.
Born
in
Altona,
Manitoba he graduated in
medicine in 1964 from the
University of Manitoba in
Winnipeg. He became a
respected endocrinologist
and
internationally
known researcher with
a Ph.D from Queen’s
University,
residency
at McGill and finally a
research scholarship at
Harvard
University’s,
Joslin Institute headed by
the renowned Diabetes
researcher
the
late
Professor George Cahill.
He returned to Canada
in 1970 as Chair of
Nutrition at McMaster
University in Hamilton.
He continued as a
researcher; was a member
of the Canadian Medical
Research Council Grants
Committee, a valued
teacher and clinician
eventually to become
Chief of Endocrinology
and director of the
Diabetes
Centre
at
McMaster
University
Medical Centre.
After his retirement
from the University he
practiced in St. Catharines
and turned the local
Diabetes
Education
Centre into a modern state
of the art unit providing
excellent care for diabetic
patients in the Niagara
region. He was greatly
loved by staff and patients
alike.
CrossRoads
News
Updates
&&NUpdates
ews
Lisa Marie Smirl (Gr.
11 ‘92), Leeds, UK; on
February 21. She went
to Mennonite Collegiate
Institute for grades 10 and
11. She graduated from
grade 12 at the University
of Winnipeg Collegiate.
Lisa completed a BA
Hons (1st class); Political
Studies in 1997. She won
the Rhodes Scholarship to
Oxford and London School
of Economics (1997 to
2000). She worked at the
UN as advisor 2001 to
2006 in Slovakia and in
Rwanda. She received
her PhD in 2010. Lisa
was working at Sussex
University as Lecturer
when she became sick.
She fought cancer with all
the energy she brought to
everything she undertook
and with courage and
grace. Lisa and Arran got
married on December 29,
2011 in Leeds. Lisa loved
her husband, her home,
family, her cats, and her
many, many friends.
Where are you at? What are you doing?
What experiences would you like to share
with MCI Alumni & Friends of the school?
Email:
alumni@mciblues.net
Crossroads is printed in Canada by FRIESENS FAST
PRINT, Altona
Managing Editor: Tamara Rempel (Warkentin ‘86)
MCI
Box 250
Gretna, MB
R0G 0V0
Phone: 204-327-5891
Email: mci@mciblues.net
Web: www.mciblues.net
On the Cover:
Europe Trip
Paige Mierau-Friesen
(Gr.11) poses in front
of the Tower Bridge in
London.
15
CrossRoads
CrossRoads Connecting MCI’s Past & Present
MCI is accepting grade 7 - 12 applications for the
2013-2014 school year.
MCI is a great place to receive a fabulous education,
an amazing sense of community and athletic, arts
and music opportunies galore!
Apply now by calling the school or going online to
www.mciblues.net!
Crossroads Goes Global
Crossroads is read in countries all over the
world and on the internet!
Toll-free number in Manitoba:
1-877-MCI-BLUE (1-877-624-2583)
CrossRoads
16