Kia ora whānau,

Well done to all of our Dance students for their performances on Wednesday evening. As an audience member, it felt like a great mix of high-quality performances, assessment pieces and a healthy dose of fun. A big thank you to Mr Cornere for co-ordinating the evening.

Well done to all students who made the most of the derived grade examinations last week. This is a great opportunity for students to gauge where they are in relation to their learning and the NCEA examinations next term. It is also a good time to consider how they can approach their study habits.

Good luck to our girls' and boys’ premier basketball teams heading to the National tournament next week. It has been a massive season for both squads, and being in a position to challenge the very best has taken many hours of hard work and dedication. Thanks to everyone who has supported these young people over the years.

Below is the final sports wrap-up for the term; check out the short update on our Ski and Snowboard team, who returned this week after bagging some awesome results.

Congratulations to the boys from Deffex for representing Mount Maunganui College at the Tangata Beats final in Wellington last week. Deffex were the only junior band to make it through to the final and will have learned a lot from that experience. We have other large groups in Wellington this week representing us at the National Youth Jazz Competition. Thanks to Matua Tia and the music department for everything you do to create these amazing opportunities for our students.

Thanks to Wanda, Izzy and the community council for organising another awesome fundraising event with Shave for a Cure on Thursday. This has become a well-anticipated part of our school calendar and is another example of our students getting behind good causes.

Finally, thanks to all our families for your support this term. Term four will be another busy term for all students, but also a time to reflect and celebrate our young people’s achievements.

Ngā mihi nui,

Alastair Sinton
Principal

Our Year 10 band, Deffex, is coming off a high after last weekend’s performance in Pōneke/Wellington’s Great Hall at Massey University. The boys had an awesome time and learnt a lot competing against tough competition from all over the motu.

Deffex didn’t place in the end, but they should be immensely proud: they were the only full junior band in the national finals, as well as the only Tauranga school to qualify. As a school, we are extra proud because this was our first time entering the competition, and the group has set the bar high for next year!

Watch their performance here

Thirty-eight students are currently down to Pōneke to perform and compete across various events. The MusicWorks Ensemble Festival Aotearoa was the main feature, where our music groups, Voices, Big Band, and Jazz Combo 1, delivered fantastic performances. Students also participated in workshops run by professional musicians and university lecturers.

A massive congratulations also goes to our other outstanding groups and students who were recognised on the national stage:

MMC Voices: Placed in the national finals for the Young Singers in Harmony Barbershop Competition.
MMC Big Band: Named a national finalist in the Young Jazz Bandit Big Band Competition.
Tyler Ormsby: Named a national finalist for Drum Improvisation in the Young Jazz Bandit Competition.
Isaac De Oliveira Ferreira: Named a national finalist for Composition in the Young Jazz Bandit Competition.

As of writing this newsletter, we are still in Wellington so better photos to come. For more up-to-date information and updates, follow us on our socials:

MMC Music Instagram

MMC Music Facebook

Brett Sorrenson
Director of Sport

Kia ora koutou,

Congratulations to all involved in Mount Maunganui College Sport for an outstanding Term 3. It has been a successful term and students have excelled in a number of areas locally, nationally and internationally. It has been a term of high participation and it has been great to see our students embrace all levels of sport week in, week out.

A special mention to our Mount Maunganui College Basketball Premier Boys and Girls teams who take to the court next week in Palmerston North for the NZSS Basketball AA National Champs and we wish them all the best following a very successful season to date.

Save the date, on Wednesday 28 October we have our School Sports Awards and we look forward to celebrating the year that was.

We wish you an enjoyable holiday, all the best to those competing and we look forward to getting into all things sport for Term 4.

Who are our people
We are proud of the community that positively contributes to our programmes – our students, staff, volunteers and supporters. This week we spotlight Year 13 Hoko Horne as he heads away for his last tournament representing Mount Maunganui College.

Name: Hoko Horne
Year: 13

Tell us about yourself:
From a young age I have always been involved in sports and have played in a range throughout my schooling years. Sport has been a big part of my life and a lot of great memories have come from it. Over the years basketball has become my main sport, playing through school, reps, and other teams has given me the opportunity to travel, compete and meet new people around the country. Since Year 11, playing in the Senior Premier team has been a big part of my development as a player. Over the last few years in this team, I have developed fundamentally and also become much more confident in my ability as a player. Looking back at it now, and seeing how much I've grown, and the progress I've made is amazing, but there is still room for more. I really enjoy the competitive side of sport and challenging myself to keep improving, but I think the people, friendships and experiences are what made it so important to me.

Why did you start playing:
I started playing basketball from a young age and was brought up in an environment where basketball was always around me. My family and friends played, coached, and watched the sport, so it naturally became something I was involved in. I have always enjoyed the competitive side of sport and having something to work towards, and basketball gave me that opportunity. During my time at school, I started taking it more seriously and playing at a higher level, but the reason I have continued playing is my genuine love for the game and the people I get to play with. Looking back, I don't think I realised when I first started just how big a part basketball would become in my life.

Aspirations:
My main aspiration is to continue playing basketball at a high level after school and see how far I can take it. I want to keep developing my skills, building my confidence and challenging myself against better competition. Basketball has given me so many opportunities throughout school, and I would like to continue making the most of those opportunities beyond. At the moment, I am also focused on Secondary School nationals, along with enjoying these last few weeks of school and making the most of the time I have left with my mates. I think that is something that is easy to overlook when you are always thinking about what comes next, but I want to enjoy the last bit of school, make some good memories and appreciate the people I have spent the last few years with. I am excited to see what the future holds and where life after school can take me.

What do you enjoy about Mount Maunganui Sport:
I really enjoy the competitive environment at Mount Maunganui College and being able to represent the school. There is a strong sporting culture and I enjoy being around people who are passionate about their sports and want to compete. Sport has also allowed me to meet a lot of people and build friendships that I probably would not have made otherwise. I enjoy the feeling of playing for something bigger than yourself and representing your school alongside your teammates. Some of my best memories at Mount Maunganui College have come through sport, whether that is playing games, travelling with teams or just being around my teammates. Sport has been such a big part of my time at Mount Maunganui College, so with only a few weeks left, I really want to make the most of every opportunity I have, enjoy these last experiences with my mates and finish my time at school with some great memories.

Rhythmic Gymnastics
Molly Tustin has been training really hard all year, and she has had some excellent results to date. Molly has had four competitions this winter and at each competition she was competing in the Division 6 Special O category. Throughout this year Molly has been doing two disciplines (the Ball and the Ribbon).

The 2026 competitions that Molly entered this year were as follows:
- Midlands Championships held in Tauranga.
- Canterbury Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Christchurch.
- NHG Xtreme 2026 Margaret Woolf Memorial Competition held in Auckland.
- Counties Manukau Rhythmic Invitational Competition held in Auckland.

Molly was very well supported at each event by lots of friends and family. She says that she was a mixture of nervous and excited throughout each event. It was noticeable that Molly got better and better at each competition and she is one step closer to achieving her dream of competing at the Special Olympics.

In terms of results, Molly did very well. At each competition, Molly placed:
- Division 6 Special O category for Ribbon - First Place
- Division 6 Special O Category for the Ball - First Place
- Division 6 Special O Category overall - First Place

Molly also made many friends at the competitions, and in particular she struck up a close friendship with Elizabeth from Christchurch who also has Down Syndrome. Molly and Elizabeth were great supporters of each other. Molly would like to make special mention to her coach Nicky who was amazing and supportive throughout. She is also very grateful to her self-named "Mumager" Rita who was tireless doing all the jobs behind the scenes getting Molly prepared for her big days of competition and training.

A massive shoutout to Molly and we are so proud of your progress.

Rugby
Congratulations to the following students who have been playing in the Bay of Plenty U16 and U18 teams.
BOP U16
- Caelan Baty
- Kai Atkins
BOP U18
- Cooper Purdie
- Hudson Orr
- Aiden Grey
- Harley Rolleston

Wrestling
Keoni Netzler and Kurei Harawira recently competed in the New Zealand Club Champs in Wellington and both came away with first place in their divisions.
Individual highlights:
- Keoni Netzler - 75kg U15 - First Place
- Kurei Harawira - 92kg U20 - First Place

Snowsport
Mount Maunganui College had six athletes enter the North Island Secondary Schools Skiing and Snowboarding Competition at Turoa. The team had a very successful competition with a number of podium finishes.

Team highlights:
- Snowboard Slopestyle: Mount Maunganui College Team - Ashton Mitford-Burgess and Emerson Mitford-Burgess - 3rd Place
- Giant Slalom Snowboard: Mount Maunganui College Team - Talia Crowe, Ashton Mitford-Burgess and Emerson Mitford-Burgess - 3rd Place
Individual highlights:
- Giant Slalom Ski Junior Boys: Zack Robinson - 3rd Place
- Giant Slalom Snowboard Senior Girls: Talia Crowe - 3rd Place
- Giant Slalom Snowboard Junior Boys: Ashton Mitford-Burgess - 2nd Place

100 Premier Games
A massive congratulations to Year 12s Stella Coffey and Riley Ramshaw, who have both hit a significant milestone: 100 games for the Mount Maunganui College 1st XI Girls Hockey team.

Starting out in Year 9, both Stella and Riley have been instrumental in putting Mount Maunganui College Hockey on the national map - and with another full season ahead of them, their impact will continue.

"Starting as year 9s in the 1st 11 Stella and I didn't really know what would come of it but now 100 games later, we have, and still are, building a legacy for girls hockey at the school and we couldn't be happier to be a part of it. As much of a reward as reaching 100 official games for the Mount Maunganui College Girls 1st 11 Hockey Team, Stella and I are lucky to be part of such an amazing team that allows us to do what we love with such cool people. Reaching 100 caps isn't so much a testament to our dedication but rather a reflection of the hockey programme we have built with the help of amazing teammates, coaches, and managers that keeps us coming back year after year, where we feel so lucky to get to play and represent our school."

A couple of outstanding role model students and we can't wait to see what is next.

What’s coming up?
NZSS Basketball AA National Champs - Monday 28 September - Saturday 3 October
NZSS Clay Target Championships - Saturday 26 September - Monday 28 September
NZSS Artistic Swimming Champs - Saturday 26 September - Wednesday 30 September
NZ Scholastic Surfing Championships - Monday 28 September - Friday 2 October
NZSS Mountain Biking Championships - Sunday 4 October - Friday 9 October

Mount Maunganui College Sport Sponsorship
At Mount Maunganui College Sport, we believe that investing in young people is investing in the future of our community. Our sports programme provides an environment for our students to grow, connect, and become their best selves. We are currently supported by a number of incredible community businesses and would love more to jump on board as official Mount Maunganui College Sport Sponsors.

If you or your business would be interested to discuss further, please visit our Sponsorship Handbook and get in touch to discuss how we can champion our community together.

Social Media
To ensure you are keeping up to date with all things sport make sure you follow us on social media, this platform is used to highlight “our people” - Mount Maunganui College Sport and Mount Maunganui College Sport

Wellbeing Opportunity
Mount Maunganui College Sport partners with P3 Recovery to aid with holistic support. 20% off memberships for students and teachers are available and 10% off memberships for extended family.
The P3 Essential Membership includes the following:
- Unlimited Ice Bath
- Unlimited Contrast Therapy
- Unlimited Infrared Sauna
- Unlimited Compression Therapy
To sign up:
- Download the app (P3 Recovery)
- Create account
- Sign up to essential membership and use PROMO code: MOUNTCOLLEGE20 (students / teachers) or MOUNTCOLLEGE10 (extended family)

Strength and conditioning
The Mount Maunganui College Strength and Conditioning Programme continues to run before and after school. Students of all abilities wanting to improve their athletic performance are encouraged to sign up and embrace this opportunity to aid in their long-term development. We have the Term 4 membership open which costs $80.

For further information and for the 2026 timetable please visit the Strength and Conditioning page via the Mount Maunganui College website: Mount Maunganui College Strength and Conditioning

Sign up:
- To sign up please complete the Strength and Conditioning registration via Kindo.

Physio
Mount Maunganui College partners with Body in Motion. All Mount Maunganui College students have free access to an onsite physio during the week. Please ring 07 927 3330 to make a booking.

Daily Notices
The best place to get all information regarding key sporting dates is the daily notices. Students, parents and caregivers can access these at: Daily Notices - subscribe to have Daily Notices directly to your inbox: Daily Notices - Subscribe

Sports Uniforms
All students who represent the school in sport must wear Mount Maunganui College sports uniform when at sports events. ‘Off Court’ uniforms can be purchased online at NZ Uniform - Mount Maunganui College or at the NZ Uniforms Store at 94 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga.

2026 Sport Registrations
Kindo - Mount Maunganui College Sport

Mount Maunganui College Sports Website
Mount Maunganui College Sport Website

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Social Media
Please follow us on;

Facebook: Mount Maunganui College Sport
Instagram: Mount Maunganui College Sport

‘Bay Conservation Alliance founded by community for community’.

After being founded in 2017, Bay Conservation Alliance has grown to now support conservation member groups across the Bay of Plenty. Given rapid growth, we reviewed our Strategic Plan in 2021. Our new plan defines our role in driving collaboration, so the natural ecosystems and indigenous biodiversity of the Bay of Plenty are restored.

The link below takes you to the events calendar. If you would like to attend any of the events, please contact Bay Conservation Alliance.

Bay Conservation Alliance

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STUDENT SIGNING IN / OUT PROCEDURE

To 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)
If a student arrives at school after the bell has rung, the process depends on the time of arrival:

Before the end of Period 1: Students should go straight to their classroom. Please provide your student with a handwritten note to give directly to their classroom teacher. If the student does not have a note, the classroom teacher will issue an interval detention.
After the end of Period 1: Students must report to the Front Office to sign in. A signed note from a parent or caregiver is required at the time of signing in. Office staff will amend your child’s attendance for the periods they missed.

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)
If a student needs to leave the school grounds during the day for an appointment or other personal reasons, please use one of the following methods:

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.

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ATTENDANCE

You 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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UNIFORM

Thanks 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:

Uniform guidelines.
As per the Board-approved uniform, the school skirt is not to be modified in length (eg, shortened).
If sandals are worn, they must be black and have a back strap.
If shoes are worn, they must be completely black and polishable.
Please ensure your child also adheres to our jewellery standards. No septums or rings are permitted on the face.
Eyelash extensions are not permitted.
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.
Discipline and defiance procedures will be used to deal with ongoing uniform issues if not resolved promptly.

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SCHOOL BUS SERVICE

This 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.

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HONOURS BOARDS

Mount 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.

HONOURS BOARD LINK

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ALUMNI

Mount 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:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582402786664

https://www.instagram.com/mmc_official_alumni_page/

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KEY DATES

2026 Term Dates (click to view)
2027 Term Dates (click to view)

October 2026
12         First Day Term 4
20         Arts Awards
22         Year 11 RYDA Programme
26         Labour Day (School Closed)
28         Sports Awards
31         Pasifika Festival in the Bay

November 2026
5          Senior Prizegiving
9          Teacher Only Day (School Closed)
10         NZQA Exams Start
10-11    Year 12 Leadership Camp
30         Year 13 Graduation

December 2026
4          NZQA Exams Finish
4          Year 9 / Year 10 Dean's Prizegiving
7-9        Year 10 Camps
7-9        Year 9 Activities
10         Junior Prizegiving
11         Teacher Only Day (School Closed)

STAFF CARPARK

STUDENT SIGNING IN / OUT PROCEDURE

ATTENDANCE

CONTACT DETAILS

UNIFORM

SCHOOL BUS SERVICE

STUDENT ID PHOTOS

HONOURS BOARDS

ALUMNI

KEY DATES