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5 May 2024  |
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa, Welcome to term two. It was a busy break for many staff, students and families, with two overseas trips and many other local school events. Mount Maunganui College also played a significant role in local ANZAC Day services. I have received great feedback about our students and their work representing our school locally and further afield. I am always grateful and humbled when our students carry our school values of Mana and Aroha beyond our school gates. Drawing on Mana and Aroha as values gives our school community a framework for doing the right thing. True leadership often doesn’t come with a badge or a title, and students have daily opportunities to live up to these values. The values of a school are revealed through the thousands of small decisions and interactions that occur daily, and that may only be evident to the individual. I sincerely want to commend our students on their excellent start to 2024. There is a sense of calm during break times and purpose in classrooms as students make the most of their time at school. Many students will demonstrate our values while working towards the upcoming numeracy and literacy assessments, crucial components of the new Level One NCEA. These assessments are not just stepping stones for students to achieve this qualification but also serve as a benchmark to ensure they are functionally numerate and literate for life. Our current Year 10s are primarily preparing for these assessments, but students across other year levels may also be undertaking elements of these assessments. Mana and Aroha were on display yesterday at the school Haka Competition. Congratulations to Huia House for their stirring rendition of Maunganui. This competition is an event where many students step out of their comfort zones, so it was great to see enthusiastic performances across all our schoolhouses. Reflecting on the current discourse in response to the cellphone ban, I deeply appreciate the support from our community, the cooperation and compliance from our students, and the strong relationships between staff and students at Mount Maunganui College. Our school's transition over the past couple of years to a complete cellphone ban has been seamless and largely well-supported by families. I extend my gratitude for your continued support in maintaining our high compliance levels and standards. Looking forward to another busy term, please make note of some key dates coming up on the school calendar. Ngā mihi,
Alastair Sinton |
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______________________________________________________________ FIJI TOURThe Fiji tour was a life-changing and eye-opening experience. We had so many amazing cultural experiences that showed us the meaning of happiness, hospitality, and resilience. Visiting the isolated villages helped us realise that we can't take anything for granted and should be happy with what we have, as the Fijian people are always happy and smiling no matter their situation. Experiencing the Fijian culture and dances in person was a surreal experience, and being able to perform a haka or waiata in return connected us to them in new ways, which was truly special. A highlight of the trip was singing our waiata back to a Fijian lady who had cooked us lunch. She cried afterward and said that she had never experienced anything like that before, and it touched her heart. We also played two games, winning one against Lomary High School 52-5 and drawing one against a strong Marist Brothers side 19-19. Building connections with players from a different country through the game that we love was really something that we will never forget. The games themselves were a new experience as the fields, heat, and style of rugby were new to us, but the boys dug deep, and rugby was the winner on the day. A massive thank you to the parents, teachers, and sponsors who made this trip possible. - Lockie Williams |
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CAMBODIA VIETNAM TRIPA group of lucky senior Social Scientists recently embarked on an epic travel adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia. Stopping in seven cities, having nine flights and meeting countless remarkable people, these students were blown away by sites, smells, tastes and sounds in South East Asia. Starting in Ho Chi Minh city, we explored the Mekong Delta before heading to Hanoi, Da Nang Hue, Hanoi and then headed to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia. Highlights included cruising overnight in Hạ Long Bay, crawling through the tunnels of Củ Chi and the mesmerizing Angkor Wat - not to mention some Karaoke! An incredible way to bring their learning from History, Geography and Tourism to life. Currently in Year 10 or 11? Start saving for your opportunity in 2026! |
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______________________________________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS…
Luca Ririnui has been selected to be part of the New Zealand Biology Olympiad team that will travel to Kazakhstan in July to compete in the International Biology Olympiad. Selection for this team involved him participating in an online learning programme, completing three separate entrance exams over a 6 month period and achieving excellent results in each of them. The final exam followed a 10 day long live-in training camp where 22 biology students from around the country worked with some of New Zealand's top scientists doing practical laboratory work, field work and seminars. This was an amazing experience for Luca and being chosen to represent New Zealand on the international stage is a huge accomplishment. |
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SCHOOL BUS SERVICEA reminder to families that the school has a very efficient bus service that will ensure your child arrives at school on time and ready for period 1 classes. While students can use the commercial bus service free during school hours provided they have a BEE card they cannot guarantee that they will arrive ready for an 8.45 am start. Many of these services mean that students are missing up to 30 minutes of learning time each day. Please encourage your child to use the school buses each day. This may mean they need to leave the house earlier but it guarantees they are here ready for the start of schoo. Up-to-date information on the school buses is on the school website https://www.mmc.school.nz/key-info/bus-information The afternoon buses leave the school grounds promptly at 3 pm each day. The 712a buses are now arriving at 3 pm and the later one arrives at approximately 3.10 pm each. |
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SPORTS NEWSLETTER Dan Meade Off-field Sports Uniforms High Achievers |
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If you have any questions please contact me on danm@mmc.school.nz. Social Media Facebook: Mount Maunganui College Sport ______________________________________________________________ |
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______________________________________________________________ UNIFORMThis is a reminder for all families to make sure their child’s uniform meets our guidelines. We would like to remind families that only Mount Maunganui College trousers are to be worn. These can only be purchased from NZ Uniforms. Students can wear a non-regulation waterproof jacket to and from school on wet days. Please ensure your child also adheres to our jewellery standards. No septums or rings are permitted on the face. Our discipline and defiance procedures will deal with ongoing uniform issues if not resolved promptly. |
______________________________________________________________ STUDENT ID PHOTOSAs ID cards are not required for school, students will not receive one this year unless they order it through the Photolife website. Information on how to order will be sent out from Photolife and cards will be sent directly to them. Parent Queries – Please contact Photolife on: enquiries@photolife.co.nz |
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______________________________________________________________ KEY DATES2024 Term Dates (click to view) May 2024 |