537:'s recognition of Academic Excellence in the province. The school's stated commitment is "the assurance that all MEI graduates are qualified for admission into universities, colleges, technical, and Bible schools." Over 50% of MEI's students complete their year on the school's Honour Roll, which requires an average of 80% and higher, and more than 2/3 of graduates move on to post-secondary institutions. The Fraser Institute's 2014 report card on school performance gave the secondary school 8.1 out of 10 and ranked it 30th out of 289 schools. When its elementary school is compared to other local public elementary schools it ranks 3 out of 8 when students with learning disabilities are factored out.
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operation, the "Friend" contributed exclusively to the school's operational budget. But discussions about moving the school to a new campus burgeoned, and in 1976, the
Society resolved to begin actively searching for a possible new site. It was the vision and drive of the Friend of the MEI that provided the impetus for relocation to the present site at the corner of Clearbrook and Downes Road; the school moved in 1980. In keeping with the "tradition" of continual expansion, the new school building has already seen two additions: one at the east end in 1988, and another at the west end in 1992. These additions give the secondary school a total floor area of over 70,000 square feet (6,500 m).
382:. Initially founded in the first-half of the 20th century as an independent high school by a group of churches belonging to the Mennonite community, the MEI schools now welcomes students from a wide-range of religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. While weekly chapel services are still held, students are welcome to come from any faith or background. MEI has a strong tradition of both academic, musical, and athletic performance with graduating students going on to attend top universities across Canada, the US, and UK. The MEI Eagles, the school's official sporting teams, have competed in a wide range of national and international competitions.
457:, could not be obtained due to war shortages, volunteer labour (which was needed to keep the costs down) was not always readily available, and money from churches to support the project was slow coming in. Several large bank loans were necessary and anxiety about the school's future ran high. However, despite setbacks and difficulties, the building was occupied in December 1946, and grew steadily over most of the next 34 years, both in physical size and in student enrollment.
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troubled VCS released the school so that it could become part of the MEI Society. MEI Chilliwack offered
Kindergarten to Grade 9; students of high school age who wished to continue their education at MEI were compelled to travel to the main campus in Abbotsford. On July 1, 2010, the Chilliwack school became independent once again, under the name of Cascade Christian School.
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However, at a second meeting on June 5, 1944, representatives from nine churches voiced their support; this group of supporters became the MEI Society churches. At this meeting, Mr. C. Toews, Mr. G. Sukkau and Mr. A. Bauman were elected to go to
Victoria to present the plan to the provincial government.
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MEI Chilliwack, established in July, 2001, helped the
Society address one of their goals for the next ten years — to build a satellite campus in that area. The Chilliwack campus was founded in 1990 and operated under the authority of Valley Christian School. In 2001, the Parent Society of financially
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In May 1944, representatives of fourteen churches in
British Columbia were invited to a meeting to discuss starting a Mennonite-focused high school. Support for this concept grew very slowly. Only seven churches were represented at the first meeting, and one of these was strongly opposed to the idea.
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The new middle school had 370 students enrolled, with space available for approximately another 100 students. This addition also meant that the portable classrooms could finally be removed. With the Grade 8 classes moved into the middle school, the secondary school's enrollment has been lowered to a
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for students of
Mennonite origin. Eventually, however, he stated that the government had no objection to the establishment of an independent school, if three conditions were met: there would be no financial support from the government, qualified teachers must be hired, and the English language must
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After adding basketball to its academic offerings in 1946, the school has attained excellence in a number of sports, hanging BC Provincial
Championship Banners on the gym wall in basketball in 1963 and volleyball in 2013. Individual MEI athletes have, in the past, also won gold at the high school
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A 26'x46' addition was hurriedly built onto the Bible School at a cost of $ 1,500. Churches which had pledged support were levied a $ 1 per member fee, thereby raising $ 2,300 to cover the costs of building and outfitting the school with desks, blackboards, and basic library and lab equipment.
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In order to help the fledgling school get on its feet, all three teachers accepted salaries at 50-70% of those paid in the local school district. The 44 remaining students generated only $ 3,520 of the $ 4,200 required for their salaries that year. Despite such a meager beginning, the project
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In April 1973 several concerned businessmen in the community formed a new society called "Friend of the MEI", with the goal of providing financial assistance to the school in order to expand its program offerings and to renovate or relocate the school building. For the first several years of
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Interest in MEI that first year exceeded expectations, with sixty students wishing to enroll. Since some Grade 11 students also wished to attend, a third teacher, Mr. H. Nikkel, was hired. However, the war intruded again, and several of the young men who had begun attending received their
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In 2003, construction began on a middle school on Downes Road, next to the secondary school building. In the fall of 2004, the doors to this latest addition were opened, reducing the number of students in the elementary school to 450 by limiting it to Grades K - 5.
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and Grade 1. A complete elementary school opened its doors in 1997 on the
Abbotsford campus, the site of a former soccer field for the secondary school, and offered Kindergarten to Grade 7. By 2003, this school had 608 students enrolled.
415:, allowing Grades 9 and 10 to be offered in the fall. Mr. Isaak J. Dyck of Winkler, Manitoba was hired to teach at a salary of $ 1,500 per year. Mr. F.C. Thiessen taught as well, and served as principal for the first year.
533:. Students in Grades 4, 7 and 10 met public and private school average results in standardized Math & Academics Reading test and in 2012, MEI graduating students were recognized as a finalist in the
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It was assumed right from the beginning that the Bible school annex was a temporary solution, and discussions about whether the school should be located in
Abbotsford or
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The committee met with Dr. Samuel John Willis, British
Columbia's long-serving Deputy Minister of Education, who pointed out the advantages of integration into the
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MEI has maintained a tradition of academic rigor throughout its 60-year history, consistently ranking 78 of 529 secondary schools in BC for student performance on
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continued. Eventually, 2 acres (8,100 m) were purchased at the corner of Clearbrook and Old Yale Roads, and blueprints were drawn for a six-room school.
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could be obtained to erect a new building. On July 3, 1944, representatives from ten churches met to discuss this. It was decided to enlarge South Abbotsford
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It was decided that for 1946–47, South Abbotsford Bible School would move to property which had been purchased north of Clearbrook, on the present
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site, allowing the high school to expand into the entire Bible School building until the new facility was ready for occupancy.
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MEI expanded its program offerings beyond the secondary grades for the first time in 1993, with the introduction of
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be used. In addition, Grade 12 students would be required to write departmental examinations.
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The building period appears to have been very difficult. Some materials, such as kiln-dried
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668:"MEI Connections Newsletter (Spring 2021) Pages 1-28 - Flip PDF Download | FlipHTML5"
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However, further obstacles surfaced. Due to wartime restrictions, no
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665 (Secondary), 398 (Middle), 469 (Elementary), (2006/7 figures)
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654:"Applications & Tuition - MEI Schools in Abbotsford, BC"
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Independent school in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
367:(MEI) is an independent country day school located in
682:"Overview of Independent Schools in British Columbia"
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from the Ministry of Education. The school receives
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546:swimming, golf and track and field championships.
619:"Staff Directory | MEI Schools in Abbotsford, BC"
716:"Provincial Required Examinations - 2015/2016"
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839:High schools in Abbotsford, British Columbia
824:Educational institutions established in 1944
570:, former lead singer of the pop-rock band
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775:"School Report Cards by Fraser Institute"
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106:Learn how and when to remove this message
505:Independent school status and governance
844:1944 establishments in British Columbia
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519:no government funding for capital costs
233:Equipping students for life and forever
42:Please improve this article by adding
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814:Private schools in British Columbia
640:"Fraser Institute - School Ranking"
419:Student tuitions were set at $ 80.
374:, approximately 70 kilometres from
819:Middle schools in British Columbia
427:notices and were forced to leave.
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55:"Mennonite Educational Institute"
687:. Bced.gov.bc.ca. Archived from
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365:Mennonite Educational Institute
124:Mennonite Educational Institute
515:’s per student operating grant
501:more manageable 635 students.
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271:Shawn Burkinshaw (Elementary)
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829:Mennonite schools in Canada
431:continued to move forward.
267:Mark Thiessen (Secondary),
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574:and convicted sex offender
513:Abbotsford School District
283:Andrea Penner (Elementary)
199:49.0762833°N 122.3469694°W
279:Marc Bergen (Secondary),
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269:Sean LaForest (Middle),
238:Religious affiliation(s)
204:49.0762833; -122.3469694
750:"Programs - Academics"
448:Columbia Bible College
318:Clearbrook, Abbotsford
281:Sandra Fehr (Middle),
31:relies excessively on
777:. Fraserinstitute.org
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621:. MEI Schools
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476:Kindergarten
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259:Vijay Manuel
187:49°4′34.62″N
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96:October 2012
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556:Anita Bathe
511:50% of the
353:.meischools
224:Independent
220:School type
215:Information
202: /
177:Coordinates
808:Categories
781:2012-10-02
760:2012-10-02
698:2012-10-02
625:2020-07-09
600:References
578:James Lepp
564:, musician
442:New Campus
391:Beginnings
369:Abbotsford
298:Enrollment
264:Principals
153:Abbotsford
66:newspapers
33:references
541:Athletics
525:Academics
376:Vancouver
338:Team name
324:Colour(s)
242:Mennonite
734:Archived
586:, writer
580:, golfer
306:Language
386:History
346:Website
309:English
248:Founded
165:V4X 2M8
138:Address
80:scholar
572:Hedley
455:lumber
436:Yarrow
341:Eagles
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289:Grades
170:Canada
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685:(PDF)
230:Motto
87:JSTOR
73:books
363:The
355:.com
314:Area
293:K-12
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351:www
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