UMEI Christian High School

08/27/2026

MYTH vs. REALITY 👀

❌ MYTH: “Private school is only for wealthy families.”

✅ REALITY: We work with every family to find an affordable option.

We know tuition is one of the biggest questions families have—and we never want cost to stop someone from exploring whether UMEI is the right fit.

That’s why we work with each family individually to make a UMEI education as accessible as possible through:
💙 Financial assistance
🎓 Entrance scholarships
🤝 Fundraising opportunities
📅 Flexible payment plans

Every family’s situation is different, and we’ll take the time to explore the options that work best for yours.

If you’ve ever thought, “UMEI sounds amazing, but we could never afford it,” don’t make that decision before talking with us.

Let’s have a conversation. You might be surprised by what’s possible.

08/26/2026

💙 Meet Your UMEI Team!

Math and science are about more than getting the right answer. They’re about curiosity, problem-solving, perseverance—and learning to look at the world a little differently.

Today, we’re featuring two teachers who help our students do just that!

🔬 Mr. Luke Froese teaches Science and Math and is also involved with Student Parliament and Science Club. He loves sharing subjects he’s genuinely passionate about and sparking students’ curiosity about how the world works—and how they can make it better. Mr. Froese brings that enthusiasm into the classroom every day, encouraging students to ask questions, explore ideas, and get excited about learning.

➗ Mrs. Sarah Wiens teaches Math, Coding and Accounting and is involved in Robotics, Soccer, and Curling. She loves those moments when something challenging finally clicks for a student—the “I get it!” moments that build confidence and remind students what they’re capable of. With a caring and flexible approach, Mrs. Wiens works to meet students where they are and help them reach their individual goals.

One of the advantages of learning math and science at UMEI is that students don’t have to figure it all out alone. Small classes and strong relationships mean teachers can know their students, notice when they’re struggling, challenge them when they’re ready for more, and celebrate those breakthrough moments alongside them.

We’re grateful for teachers like Mr. Froese and Mrs. Wiens who bring curiosity, encouragement, and a genuine love of learning into their classrooms every day. 💙⚡

08/25/2026

https://umei.ca/communityplayers/

Casting call remains open! Auditions are Sept 19, and open to all ages and all experience levels! For the kids choir, visit musicmoveskids.com for more info!

https://umei.ca/communityplayers/

08/24/2026

MYTH vs. REALITY 👀

❌ MYTH: “UMEI is only for students who struggle in public school.”

✅ REALITY: UMEI is for students with all kinds of strengths, goals, and learning styles.

Some students come because they’re looking for a smaller, more supportive environment.

Others come because they’re looking for academic challenge, leadership opportunities, robotics, athletics, music, or a Christ-centred education.

At UMEI, you’ll find students who are:
📚 University-bound, college-bound or preparing for thr workforce
🤖 Exploring robotics
🎭 Passionate about the arts, athletics, and leadership
🌱 Growing academically, personally, and spiritually

There isn’t one “type” of UMEI student.

There are students with different gifts, different dreams, and different stories, all learning together in a community that helps them become who God created them to be. And with our small class sizes and strong teacher-student relationships, we ensure EACH student is challenged to grow in a way that’s suitable for them, not just according to government standards.

08/23/2026

💙 Meet Your UMEI Team: The Arts and Languages at UMEI 🎭🎶🎨

The arts at UMEI are about so much more than putting on a concert, creating a piece of art, or stepping onto a stage. They’re about creativity, confidence, collaboration, and discovering gifts students may not even know they have.

Today we’re featuring three of the people who help make the arts and languages come alive at UMEI!

🎨 Mrs. Jill Suta teaches Visual Art and Drama and leads Yearbook and Art Club. She loves watching students grow in confidence and creativity, challenging them to step outside their comfort zones, develop new skills, and sometimes discover talents they didn’t know they had.

🎶 Mrs. Erin Armstrong leads UMEI’s Choir and Music program, bringing more than two decades of musical experience and a passion for helping students discover their voices. She loves seeing great vocal technique unlock confidence—and creating unique opportunities for students to experience the joy of performing and making music together.

🇫🇷 Ms. Alyssa Epp is teaching French this year, but her talents extend well beyond the classroom! She continues to support UMEI’s music program in many ways and is an important part of the creative community at our school.

And their involvement doesn’t stop when the school day ends. All three are also part of UMEI Community Players, helping bring our annual community musical to life. Behind the scenes, Mr. Nicholas Driedger serves as Technical Director, bringing his expertise to the lights, sound, sets, and technology that help make the magic happen. 🎭

That’s one of the things we love about the arts at UMEI: students don’t just learn about the arts—they get to make them. They create, perform, take risks, work alongside experienced mentors, and become part of something bigger than themselves.

We’re so grateful for the people who create those opportunities for our students. 💙⚡

08/21/2026

MYTH vs. REALITY 👀

❌ MYTH: “I should go where my friends are going.”

✅ REALITY: The best school for you isn’t always the school your friends choose.

We get it.

Choosing a high school is exciting—but it’s also scary. When your friends are all heading in one direction, it can feel impossible to choose a different path.

But here’s what we hear from students who took that leap:

💙 “I made friends faster than I expected.”
😊 “Everyone was so welcoming.”
🙌 “I found people who shared my interests.”
🌱 “Choosing UMEI was one of the best decisions I made.”

The friends you have today matter.

But the friends you’ll make over the next four years will shape who you become.

Choose the school that’s the best fit for your future, not just the one your friends are attending. And they can still be your friends!

Sometimes the bravest decision leads to the best outcomes.

08/20/2026

💙 Meet Your UMEI Team!

Learning doesn’t always happen sitting at a desk. Sometimes it happens while building a robot, competing on the court, solving a real-world problem, or figuring something out through trial and error.

Today, we’re featuring two teachers who give students plenty of opportunities to learn by doing.

⚡ Mr. Derek Bedal is UMEI’s Athletics Director, teaches Phys Ed and Technology courses and coaches several Lightning teams. He loves that every day with students brings something new—new lessons, new stories, new relationships, and new opportunities to grow. Mr. Bedal is passionate about creating a positive, supportive environment where students can take risks, build confidence, and discover what they’re capable of.

🤖 Mr. Nicholas Driedger leads UMEI’s Robotics program, teaching both Junior and Senior Robotics and mentoring Team 8081. He also coaches Junior Boys Volleyball and assists with Badminton. Mr. Driedger loves watching students grow across all areas of their education—and especially those moments when a student discovers something they’re passionate about and begins to imagine where it could take them.

Whether it’s through athletics, robotics, teamwork, leadership, or hands-on problem solving, both Mr. Bedal and Mr. Driedger help students develop skills that reach far beyond the classroom.

At UMEI, we want students to have opportunities to try things, figure things out, discover what they’re good at, and grow in confidence along the way. 💙⚡

Robotics

08/17/2026

MYTH vs. REALITY 👀

❌ MYTH: “Because UMEI is a small school, there aren’t as many opportunities.”

✅ REALITY: At UMEI, being smaller often means more opportunities—not fewer.

Our students don’t spend four years waiting for their turn. They step onto the stage, onto the court, into leadership roles, onto robotics teams, into worship bands, and onto mission trips.

At UMEI, students have opportunities to:
🏀 Play sports
🎭 Perform in musicals and concerts
🤖 Join our award-winning robotics team
🌍 Travel on educational and service trips
🎓 Develop leadership skills through clubs, chapel, and student leadership

Because we’re smaller, students are encouraged to try new things, discover hidden talents, and become leaders earlier than they might at a much larger school. More students make the sports teams and we still WIN. If there’s a club you want to start, there is a teacher to support you.

Small school doesn’t mean fewer opportunities.

It means more chances to participate, grow, and make an impact.

Have you seen this firsthand? We’d love to hear your story in the comments! ❤️

08/16/2026

💙 Meet Your UMEI Team 💙

At UMEI, Religious Studies is about more than learning Bible stories. It’s about asking meaningful questions, exploring faith, and discovering how God is at work in our lives and in the world around us. Our leaders work to ensure Religious Studies courses are enriching and rewarding for all students, regardless of church background.

Today, we’re introducing two teachers who lead students on that journey in unique and inspiring ways.

⚡ Mrs. Tina Avila teaches Grade 9 and 10 Religious Studies, coordinates chapel, and leads student Bible studies. She is passionate about helping students discover just how incredible the Bible, and how good the God of the Bible is too. Whether faith feels familiar or brand new, Mrs. Avila creates a classroom where students are welcomed, encouraged to ask questions, and invited into a story bigger than themselves.

⚡ Mr. Joel Warkentin teaches Church History, English, Geography, and Hospitality & Tourism, while also coaching Senior Boys Volleyball and serving behind the scenes in our theatre productions. He loves sparking curiosity and challenging students to think deeply about faith, history, and the world around them. After more than two decades at UMEI, he continues to invest wholeheartedly in the lives of students and is passionate about building a community where every student is known and supported.

At UMEI, we believe faith isn’t something that’s confined to one class period. It’s woven into every part of school life, helping students grow in wisdom, character, and purpose.

We’re grateful for teachers like Mrs. Avila and Mr. Warkentin, who faithfully invest in the next generation every day.

LifeAtUMEI KnownAndLovedI

08/15/2026

MYTH vs. REALITY 👀

❌ MYTH: “UMEI is just for Mennonites.”

✅ REALITY: UMEI was founded by Mennonite churches, but we’ve always welcomed students from many different backgrounds.

For more than 80 years, our three supporting churches have faithfully guided UMEI, and our Anabaptist perspective continues to shape who we are. We value community, service, peace, generosity, and following Jesus in everyday life.

At the same time, our students come from many different church traditions, and some have no church background at all. Our current student body represents 24 different churches!

What brings us together isn’t belonging to one denomination. It’s a shared desire for:
💙 A caring community
✝️ A desire to grow in your faith
📚 Academic excellence
🙌 Opportunities to discover God-given gifts
🌱 A place where students are known, challenged, and encouraged to grow.

You don’t have to be Mennonite to belong at UMEI. You simply need to be looking for a Christ-centred education where every student is welcomed and valued.

Know someone who still believes this myth? Share this post with them. ❤️