December 2023

Newsletter

After 26 years of service at UMEI, Principal Sonya Bedal has announced her retirement at the end of this school year. The board, staff, and the countless students that have passed through the school during her tenure know the impact she has made on the school. 

Mrs. Bedal, class of 1987, began her teaching career teaching English and other courses in 1997. In her early years, she most enjoyed teaching Grade 9 English; exposing students to literature and exploring Shakespeare through Romeo & Juliet. After she transitioned to Principal in 2010, she loved teaching Philosophy, and seeing senior students challenge themselves and each other to think differently about the world. 

Mrs. Bedal has always modeled true servant leadership, and her time coaching is no exception. She has coached junior boys’ and girls’ volleyball, senior girls’ volleyball and girls’ softball, leaving a lasting impact on her players. Her passion and energy for Lightning Athletics as a coach and a fan is unmatched! In addition to coaching, she has also served as Student Parliament advisor, and helped to lead the Agriculture Club. 

Mrs. Bedal’s best memories include anytime the wider community comes together for an event, and the overwhelming support, financially and otherwise, that the school receives. She was instrumental in helping the Enriched Robotics program come to fruition, paving the way for other new Enriched programs. Mrs. Bedal will most miss the close-knit community, especially chapel time as a student body and singing together. 

As Principal, Mrs. Bedal will be most remembered for her tireless support of students and staff. No matter what problem needs to be solved, she approaches it with warmth, compassion, and a positive can-do attitude. She models Christ's love through her kindness and humble work ethic, often behind the scenes working happily until a task is complete. Each day, her voice on the announcements sets the tone for all students and staff to "make it a great day" at UMEI!

At the annual general meeting in November, Mrs. Bedal shared some reflections of her time at UMEI: 

"Time and time again I bring everything back to community when I speak about UMEI and what it means to be a part of this school. From the alumni, to parents, students, supporters, donors, volunteers it all comes back to a community who believes and works tirelessly for the mission of the school." (Read the entire reflection here)

The UMEI community is beyond grateful for all the dedication, hard work and tireless commitment Mrs. Bedal has shown to the school. Countless students' lives are changed for the better because of her passion for student success in all areas of their lives. We wish you all the best in your retirement!

My name is Joshua Isley and I proudly graduated from UMEI in 2017. Currently, I am in my second year as a Dual Juris Doctorate Candidate, studying Canadian and American law at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.  

Reflecting on my time at UMEI reminds me that this place laid the foundational skills that were instrumental in navigating life’s most unique and interesting challenges. The magnitude of UMEI’s impact on my future was incomprehensible when I decided to attend in the eighth grade. When I told my friends that I was considering UMEI, they were upset and naturally pressured me to attend the high school they were going to because they were worried that we would not be as close as we were in grade school. This made the decision-making process difficult, which I am grateful for because it forced me to spend much time considering the relevant information. Ultimately, I am glad I trusted my gut and attended UMEI. It became the cornerstone of my future, which transformed my life for the better.

Read Josh's full reflection and see more photos here.

At UMEI, the Grade 11 play is a tradition that spans decades. New families to the school are sometimes surprised that Grade 11 drama is a required course, but graduates often say it was one of their most impactful memories from their time at UMEI. As this year's Grade 11 class gears up for their play this coming weekend, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose, we asked three alumni to reflect on their experiences.

The Cookie War - Class of 1991

The Grade 11 play was always a much anticipated time during our years at UMEI. Our class performed a play called “The Cookie War”. Being a smaller class, many of us found ourselves performing on stage for the very first time. Acting, as well as set design and creation, brought out hidden talents that allowed each of us to shine in our own ways. Our play brought us closer together as a class and we often joked that we spent more time with our Grade 11 “family” than we did with our own families during this time!

-John Krueger (class of ‘91)

David & Lisa - Class of 2002

The grade 11 play was a very memorable UMEI experience. We performed David and Lisa (1962). It was an utterly fascinating story of two disturbed adolescents. I decided to sign up for the lead role of David. This challenged my abilities and also allowed me to overcome some stage fright. It was a really fun experience performing with my class mates and also led to personal growth. My wife Amanda (Dyck) played Lisa, the other lead role. We were not dating at the time so performing together perhaps help lead to great things in the future! 

-Greg Tiessen (Class of '02)

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge - Class of 2016

Participating in the grade 11 play encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone in a safe and fun environment. I was able to try out all kinds of new things - doing set design and acting on stage - all while becoming closer with my classmates. During the many practices, both in school and after school, our class shared many laughs, stresses and pizza dinners! This experience promoted lots of growth in me personally, and is one of the many memorable moments of my time at UMEI.

-Olivia Toews (class of '16)

See more photos here!

Thank you 2023-2024 corporate sponsors! We want a UMEI Christian education to be accessible for any family who desires it - so, in order to keep tuition as affordable as possible, we rely on the community to support. Thank you for choosing to support UMEI.

Our students thank you for making a difference in their lives so they can go out and make a difference in the world!

UMEI Christian High School | 519-326-7448 | office@umei.ca | www.umei.ca