Welcoming New Faces: MGCNLCA Community Spotlights New Families
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as over 56 new families were greeted with warm smiles and a hearty breakfast buffet at MGC New Life Christian Academy’s (MGCNLCA) Auditorium last September 6 for the annual Welcoming New Families event, held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Approximately 122 new parents and their children were present at the event. Among the new students, 43 were from the Early Years department, eight were from the Lower Primary Years to the Upper Primary Years departments, and five were from the Junior High School and Senior High School departments.
The event kicked off with interactive games of modeling and human bingo, followed by a heartfelt testimony from Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jimmy Yaokasin. He recounted the unwavering support and prayers he received from the MGCNLCA community when he was battling liver cancer a few months ago, and the school’s accommodation of his family following the devastating aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Yaokasin’s testimony praised the school’s dedication to its community and the role its Christian foundation of education played in molding its students, including his three children who have all graduated from MGCNLCA.
School Director Helen Villanueva concluded the testimonies by reflecting on how MGCNLCA has become her extended family. She emphasized that education goes beyond academic content and stressed the school’s commitment to ensuring that every student and family feels truly at home.
One parent noted that the event gave her a clearer picture of how MGCNLCA supports students’ social and emotional needs. She appreciated directly hearing the testimonials from experienced co-parents which provided her with a broader view of the school’s support system, beyond the usual insights shared by school personnel.
To further foster a welcoming environment, the new families went to the breakout session for a get-to-know-each-other activity, where participants verbalized their concerns or sought guidance from other parents. As parent and breakout facilitator Virgie Lim stated, “I’m very inspired by the event organizers. I can see their heart of wanting to connect with the families of MGCNLCA, to make them feel that we are a community that’s like a family, and their heart to want to share the Gospel and to advance the kingdom of God.”
New student Samantha Cheung from Berea B expressed how joining this event made her feel welcomed and quickly integrated into the MGCNLCA community, despite only enrolling this school year. “I especially liked the simple but inclusive games for the kids and their parents since the events created a lively atmosphere and helped me understand [MGCNLCA’s] community. ... It was such a fun experience to be able to get a feeling of what it’s like to be a student in [MGCNLCA],” said Cheung.