Transfer Students

Welcome to UMEI Christian High School – where you are a part of a community that cares, you are taught in a Christian environment that emphasizes whole person growth, and every student gets opportunities for involvement and leadership! Sometimes finding the right fit for your child’s high school education takes making a change, and we warmly welcome students who join us from other high schools. Our commitment to fostering a supportive and caring environment ensures that every transfer student feels valued, empowered, and ready to thrive in their new school community.

UMEI Christian High School accepts transfer students from other high schools into Grades 10 – 12 at the beginning of the school year (within 3 weeks of the start of school) and students in Grades 9 – 11 at the beginning of Semester 2. Since UMEI is an accredited school with the Ministry of Education, all credits will transfer with your student and are applicable toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Not ready to make a decision yet?
Book a tour or attend one of our events.

Ready to take the leap?
Contact our Director of Enrollment & Community Engagement, Chani Wiens, by emailing admissions@umei.ca or texting 1-226-286-0865.

WHY TRANSFER?

Hear stories from current UMEI families who transferred from other schools!

The Thibodeau Family

I chose to transfer to UMEI because I really needed a fresh start. I really wanted to be even closer to Jesus, and I think that UMEI does an amazing job at making sure we learn academic things but also that we feel closer to Jesus. I am so thankful I did move here because it has really been one of the best experiences.

I think the biggest differences are the staff and the moms. When I was at my old school, I never felt close to my teachers, so if there was every anything wrong, I wouldn’t have gone to talk to them. But here at UMEI, you can always talk to someone, and I have formed very good relationships with my teachers. Also, we have the moms who help out so much. We get the chance to have hot meals almost every week!

Some positive changes I have noticed is I am way more involved, I am so much happier, and I have made lots of new friends. I am so grateful that UMEI is a smaller school, because here you don’t get judged – you can just be you.

Lastly, the most important thing I would tell someone who is looking to transfer here is if you want to make a whole bunch of friends and go on lots of trips, while growing your connection to Jesus, you need to come to UMEI.

The Bergen Family

Why did you choose to transfer your child from a different high school to UMEI?

I chose to transfer my son from his current public high school as he wanted a Christian education. As a family we have also decided that our children would do best in a Christian community for schooling. Our son has always struggled with building friendships especially in his previous high school as the majority of the kids had different values then he had and he desperately wanted to find friends who held those same values he did. In his previous school our son felt like just another number and that people didn’t care to much about his success or failures. He also desperately wanted to play sports in his previous school however he was unable due to the large number of students to accommodate and he was unable to get on the team.

What do you find are the biggest differences at UMEI (in comparison to your child’s other high school)?

The biggest differences that I have noticed with UMEI in comparison with my sons previous school is the sense of community. UMEI has a great sense of community, and as a parent there are many opportunities for me to be apart of the school through various fundraising events, family chapel, and sports games. My son also has several opportunities to be involved in different school events with other students, helping with fundraisers to get community hours, play sports, attend field trips and hang out with friends outside of school hours.

The open lines of communication at UMEI are very different then at our previous high school. I know my son’s teachers and can email them if I have any concerns and the response time is very quick. I also LOVE the ‘Week at a Glance” email that comes out every weekend to prepare us for the week ahead. Through these emails I can stay connected to what is happening that week at school including when different clubs meet, sporting events, fundraisers, family chapel and if my sons day schedule is switched. Along with ‘Week at a Glance’ I also love the text messages that come to let me know if its a late start due to weather or if pie or beef orders are due.

UMEI also offers time everyday for students to seek help with work or ask any questions with all teachers.

At UMEI my son no longer feels like just a number at school but instead he feels like an important part to his classes and school community. He feels like his opinions are valued and that he is seen and heard. He enjoys the smaller class sizes and a lot of the hands on learning opportunities. He also loves that at different events all grades are able to participate and therefore he can build relationships with kids in other grades and get to know everyone in the school and not just those in his grade.

At UMEI my son has been able to play sports and attend sporting tournaments. This has been one of his highlights of his time at UMEI and where he has built some friendships.

At UMEI my son has chapel daily and currently this semester has religious study and he loves that he can learn about the bible amongst his peers at school and he says it has encouraged him to do more bible reading at home.

What positive changes have you noticed in your child since they started attending UMEI?

Since starting at UMEI my husband and I have noticed many positive changes with our son. My son has been learning how to balance academic studies, devotions and sporting events through UMEI and maturing more into a young man. He says UMEI has high academic standards and he feels like he is pushed to do his absolute best. He also is learning so many life skills that will benefit his future. My son is coming home happy and looks forward to school each day. UMEI also has a full kitchen for learning and my son is currently taking a hospitality and tourism class which has increased his skills in preparing and cooking food which he has now been doing more at home to practice his skills!

What would you say to another family considering a transfer to UMEI?

I would let another family considering a transfer to UMEI that they should go for it! School life at UMEI is more like a family then just a school. Your child will feel included and accepted in all things. There are many opportunities to make friendships and build connections with the staff for both students and parents. At UMEI you and your child will feel part of a community that has good values and supports others. Smaller class sizes will help your child grow academically and build meaningful connections with other students and staff. Your child will have several opportunities to be in different clubs and/or sports. Learning at UMEI includes lots of hands on options, field trips and extra time to ask questions and get extra help that may be needed. UMEI also has an amazing robotics program that my son loves and is thriving at.

The Wieler Family

We chose to transfer our daughter to UMEI from a French high school after her first semester in grade nine. We were noticing a dramatic decline in her confidence, her self worth and her overall disposition. Gone was the girl that felt ready to tackle each morning, who was excited to learn and who loved school. We knew that this was not something we could allow to continue and that we wanted her to gain back her confidence. This meant looking for a school that would support her as an individual, help her one on one with classes and subjects she struggled with, and would provide a smaller class size to build that important connection between the adults in her life and the goals for her future.

At UMEI our daughter has flourished. She has been exposed to many new learning opportunities through different clubs, sports teams and extra curricular activities. There is constant support for learning, and the teachers really take the time to get to know the students and each one’s learning style. They are encouraged to strive for their best both in the class and outside of school. The atmosphere is friendly, exciting and my child is more than just a student body number. The whole person approach UMEI takes is such a positive change to what we experienced at her previous high school.

We noticed almost immediately that our daughter was once again becoming more confident. Through the supportive environment at UMEI, she made friends quickly and became involved in sports and clubs. These are such a highlight at UMEI. The skills she has learned through teamwork are skills that she carries over into school work and her personal life as well. She is once again the girl who is excited to learn and excited to go to school. At UMEI our daughter has developed a much stronger sense of who she is, who she wants to be, what her goals are and how to achieve them.

Choosing to transfer our daughter to UMEI was not a decision we made in haste. We spent time weighing the choices we had. We visited with school staff, attended open houses and spoke with other parents whose children already attended UMEI. We decided to schedule a meeting to speak with the school principal about what a transfer to UMEI would look like and it also gave us a chance to voice our concerns we had with the current school she was attending. We left that meeting feeling confident about our decision to transfer her. Amirah was nervous, as most people are when stepping into an unfamiliar environment. From the very first day, she was welcomed into the school community, felt supported, made new friends and we knew she was also receiving an excellent education that would prepare her for University, to get closer to the goals she sets for herself. If you are considering a transfer for your child, talk to the staff, join the school on a shadow day or for an open house. UMEI is easily the best choice we have made for our daughters’ education.