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24 July 2026  |
Kia ora whānau, A warm welcome back to all of our students, staff, and whānau as we kick off term 3 at Mount Maunganui College. Walking around the school grounds this week, there has been a fantastic energy. It is always a highlight to see our students reconnecting with friends and teachers. I hope the mid-year break provided students with a chance to refresh, connect, and recharge. Term 3 is the 'engine room' of the academic year. For our senior students, this term is critical for consolidating NCEA internal assessment credits, completing major portfolio milestones, and preparing for upcoming derived grade examinations. For our junior students, it is a period of vital skill development and building strong academic foundations that prepare them for the years ahead. We want every student at Mount Maunganui College to achieve their personal best. Academic success rarely happens by accident; it is built on consistent daily habits, active classroom engagement, and strong support networks both at school and at home. We strongly encourage families to take time this week to sit down with their teenagers and discuss their academic targets for 2026. Whānau can support academic success this term by establishing daily routines by setting aside dedicated, distraction-free study time each evening. It is also important to log into the student portal regularly to check credit updates. Most importantly, communicate early. If your child is feeling overwhelmed or falling behind, please reach out immediately to their teacher, dean, or subject leader. Early support makes all the difference! As part of our commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring our school direction reflects the aspirations of our community, we will be launching our Online Strategic Consultation in a week or two. This consultation will provide an important opportunity for parents, caregivers, students, and community members to share their insights and help shape the future priorities of Mount Maunganui College. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Details and direct links to the consultation survey will be emailed to all whānau shortly. We strongly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to engage and have your say in our collective future. We have several exciting upcoming events and opportunities for our school community to mark in their calendars. On Wednesday, 5 August, we will host our Career Pathways Evening, which is an essential event for senior students and whānau exploring tertiary study, apprenticeships, trades, and future career options. Looking further ahead, we will be welcoming prospective 2027 students and their families to experience our campus, meet our faculty, and discover life at Mount Maunganui College during our Open Evening on Thursday, 6 August. Finally, on Friday, 31 July, our Music Bonanza will offer an incredible night showcasing our talented student bands, vocal ensembles, instrumentalists, and musical guest acts. While there were many successes over the break, I want to acknowledge Shamar and Charis Broughton for their contribution to the New Zealand U17 Basketball team’s all-time highest ranking at the World Cup in Czechia with a 5th placing. Mila Piatek holds the rare title of ‘World Champion’ after her phenomenal performance in speed climbing in Italy, Cara Hicks also broke the New Zealand U19 speed record at the same competition. Nathan Appleton returns from Uzbekistan having represented New Zealand with distinction at the Chemistry Olympiad. Congratulations to you all. Nāku noa, nā, Alastair Sinton |
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______________________________________________________________ Congratulations ……Unistart : University Papers
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Term 3 is looking to be a big and exciting term for MMC Music! Rockquest / Tangata BeatsOur three regional finalist bands have officially wrapped up their submission videos for the national finals. Following weeks of rehearsals and preparation, the final results are impressive. You can view their hard work via the links below: Spud’s national final submission video Breadfruit’s national final submission video Deffex’s national final submission video The results for national selection are expected on July 31st. We will be sure to share any updates as they arrive! |
Young Jazz Band-it National FinalistsMassive congratulations are in order for our Big Band, Isaac De Oliveira Ferreira, and Tyler Ormsby, who have all been named as national finalists for this year’s Young Jazz Band-it competition! The MMC Big Band will be representing us in the Big Band category, while Isaac has earned a spot in the Jazz Composition category performing with the Jazz Combo. Furthermore, Tyler has been selected to showcase his skills in the Drum Improvisation category. The national finals are set to take place in Wellington on September 23rd. We wish the very best of luck to everyone involved! |
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Music Bonanza Fundraiser ConcertA reminder that our first-ever Music Bonanza concert is on Friday, 31st July, featuring a headline appearance from L.A.B frontman Joel Shadbolt. The one-night-only showcase will see Shadbolt perform a solo set as well as taking the stage alongside the college’s student ensembles. The lineup spans a massive range of genres, featuring performances from Spud, Breadfruit, Deffex, Big Band, Street Band, Jazz Combo, Voices, String Ensemble, and the Guitar Group. All proceeds from the evening will directly fund national touring and competition costs later this year. The Bonanza is open to the public, with parents, whānau, and music lovers from across the region encouraged to attend. In addition to the live performances, the evening will feature food and drink stalls, raffles, and live auctions with prize packages up for grabs. Some of the auctions on offer will be:
Plus much more The raffle prizes include massage vouchers, tattoo vouchers, yoga vouchers and much more. We are looking for local businesses or individuals who want to support through event sponsorship, or by donating items for our raffles and auctions. Email music@mmc.school.nz if you can help or for more info on sponsorship packages. Tickets are selling fast so make sure to get yours now here https://events.humanitix.com/mmc-music-bonanza-2026 |
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Brett Sorrenson Kia ora koutou, |
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Open Seminar by Dr Stacy Sims |
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Who are our people |
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What’s been happening? Watch Here: Oceania record ⏱️ World Champion 🌏 Get involved with Team NZ Speed 🇳🇿 |
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New Zealand U19 Record |
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Black Fins Selection |
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Swimming National Selection |
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What’s coming up?
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Mount Maunganui College Sport Sponsorship If you or your business would be interested in discussing further, please visit our Sponsorship Handbook and get in touch to discuss how we can champion our community together. Social Media Facebook: Mount Maunganui College Sport |
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Kia ora koutou Scabies is a very itchy skin rash that’s caused by a reaction to a tiny mite that gets under your skin.
If you or your child think you may be infected, treatment can be accessed from the Pharmacy, GP, or School Nurse. Rangitahi can only return to school after they have had the first treatment. For further information, please click here. |
______________________________________________________________ STAFF CARPARKThe car park off Maunganui Road by the swimming pool is an allocated staff parking area and entry through the barrier arm requires a swipe card. Some concerns have been raised about cars following staff through the barrier arm, which has caused minor accidents in some cases. Students can be dropped off safely on the surrounding streets. Thank you for your understanding. |
______________________________________________________________ STUDENT SIGNING IN / OUT PROCEDURETo ensure the safety of our students and maintain accurate records in accordance with Ministry of Education requirements, Mount Maunganui College operates a formal signing in and out process. Following these procedures helps our school run smoothly and ensures every student is accounted for. SIGNING IN (LATE ARRIVALS)
Rationale: When a student signs in without a handwritten note, it creates a significant administrative burden. Our busy office team is obligated to phone home to verify every unexplained arrival. Providing a note immediately saves time and ensures our attendance data remains precise. SIGNING OUT (EARLY DEPARTURES) Email: Send the details of the departure (time and reason) to attendance@mmc.school.nz, the day before or before school on the day you intend to sign out. Handwritten Note: Have the student bring a signed note to the Front Office to receive a sign-out pass. The sign out pass should be carried by the student as proof they’ve followed the correct sign out procedure. |
______________________________________________________________ ATTENDANCEYou may be aware of the nationwide focus on school attendance. As part of this initiative, we will advise parents and whanau when students move between the STAR thresholds as outlined below. These emails indicate days out of school and may include justified absences such as medical absences, family holidays, sporting, cultural, and other commitments. For many students, these absences are justified and require no further action. If there are absences beyond those considered justified, please contact the school and the attendance team can provide support. |
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______________________________________________________________ CONTACT DETAILSA reminder to caregivers to check that your contact details are up to date and correct. If you have moved or changed contact numbers, please click here to update your details. |
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______________________________________________________________ UNIFORMThanks to all our families who ensure our students head off to school in the correct school uniform. We know you have high expectations of how our students present themselves, so we appreciate your support. Occasionally, students present to school in incorrect uniforms, and it can be disappointing for staff to have to start the day by having a negative conversation with a student about uniforms. Here are some reminders to help ensure your child has a positive start to the day:
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______________________________________________________________ SCHOOL BUS SERVICEThis is a reminder to families that the school has a very efficient bus service. This service will ensure your child arrives at school on time and is 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 ready for the start of school. 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 3pm each day. The 712a buses are now arriving at 3 pm and the later one arrives at approximately 3.10pm. Since the beginning of the 2025 academic year, we have seen an increase in the number of students travelling on some school bus services without a Bee Card. While all school buses remain free to use, certain services require students to tag on and off with a registered Bee Card. This is important for monitoring usage and supporting ongoing planning. To check whether a student’s school bus service requires a Bee Card, please visit our website: www.baybus.co.nz/plan-your-trip/school-bus-services/ We kindly ask all parents, caregivers, and schools to ensure that students travelling on these services carry and use their registered Bee Card. Please note that students without a registered Bee Card may be unable to travel. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe, reliable, and efficient school bus system. |
______________________________________________________________ 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 at: enquiries@photolife.co.nz |
______________________________________________________________ HONOURS BOARDSMount Maunganui College is looking to display our past achievements. If you are a former student or know of someone who represented New Zealand or earned a national title while attending Mount Maunganui College and would like your name displayed, please complete the Google form. We are also interested in former students who have represented New Zealand or earned a national title as adults. While all information is appreciated, we are particularly interested in information from the 1960s to 2000. All submissions must include any verification possible to ensure the information is correct. Achievements can be in Sports, Arts, Culture or Academia. |
______________________________________________________________ ALUMNIMount Maunganui College is developing a database of former students who are interested in keeping up to date with the college's past, present and future. Please click the link below to register your interest and/or share with others. Access to the link can also be found on the college website. MOUNT MAUNGANUI COLLEGE ALUMNI Links for social media pages: |
______________________________________________________________ KEY DATES 2026 Term Dates (click to view) |