A very warm welcome to all our new students and their families to Mahurangi College. Our school roll has continued to grow as we start 2019 with a total of 1518 students; 1472 domestic and 46 international. During our Year 7 pōwhiri ceremony we also welcomed 15 new team
members to our teaching staff, which now totals 101. The year ahead promises to be busy and productive with three major focus areas and six resulting projects already identified and well underway. As a result, students began their year with the new PCT replacing SSR.
The six projects that will be the focus of our 2019 Annual Plan originate from one of three target areas; Academic Achievement, Healthy Living and Connecting Well. Our Academic Achievement projects this year will be Timetable Design and Integrated Learning. Our Healthy Living projects continue to centre on Health and Wellbeing and Healthy Environment. As a school we will also be giving attention to Connecting Well with Our Future School Model and with Our Community. We will be updating our families and community on our progress regularly throughout the year. I am looking forward to seeing the results of these projects and the positive impact they will have on our place and our people. Our 2019 Annual Plan can be viewed on our website.
recipient of the University of Auckland Alumni Scholarship Award. Since then, she has continued her studies at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Science Degree in 2017, and now beginning her third year of study in the Medical School programme. She shared her challenges and successes; her initial disappointment at missing out on selection; her determination to study even harder; and the resulting offers from both Auckland and Otago Medical School. I greatly look forward to following the future successes of our 2018 Year 13 students. All the very best as they begin their new chosen pathways this year.
afternoons each week, replacing the historic SSR. All of our Year 13 students undertook training in PCT leadership during their Great Barrier Island camp in order to support their whānau.
Our PRIDE values will continue to be role modeled and cascaded throughout our school this year, including during our new Pastoral Care Time (PCT). PCT takes place in whānau classes three
Our Academic Blues evening took place on Wednesday 13th February. A total of 101 students were awarded Blues for Academic Excellence after gaining 50 credits or more in NCEA at Excellence level during 2018; 45 of our Year 11 students, 38 of our Year 12 students (below left) and 18 of our Year 13 students. Junior Dux was awarded to Katie O’Higgins-Thomass. The Thirlestane Award for the Highest Aggregate in Year 13 was awarded to Christian Poland. Congratulations also to our Subject Scholarship Award winners; Alex Medland (Drama), Sabrina Yarndley (Chemistry) and Christian Poland (Calculus and History). Our guest speaker, Rose Gannaway, (below right with Year 13 Dean Mrs Johnston) was our 2014 Deputy Head Girl and the
Issue 01 2019
MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE
We were delighted with our overall 2018 NCEA results, which were well above the average for other decile 7 schools at all 3 levels, and for University Entrance, including for both boys and girls. This year has got off to a great start for our Year 7’s most of who have just returned from camp at a new location in Ruakaka.
Outdoor education will be a highlight for many students this year, alongside our annual camps and class trips, students have the opportunity to experience 20 days in China during the October holidays with Dr Qing Zhang and Antipodean personal development specialists and travel experts. Next July students will have the same opportunity to explore Borneo. Our Year 13 Design Technology students are already planning to compete at the 2019 EVolocity Nationals in Christchurch being held at the end of the year; and a trip to America in 2020 is being planned for our Dance students, where they are hoping to perform at Disney World in Orlando, representing Our Place on the international stage. I look forward to formally introducing our 2019 Head Prefects in our next newsletter and updating our community on progress regarding our ongoing forest restoration project and our new trade academy. David Macleod PRINCIPAL
MAHURANGI.SCHOOL.NZ
YEAR 13 STUDENTS EXPERIENCE GREAT BARRIER
It’s just on dusk and the Kawau Kat is mid channel between ‘Man O War Passage’ Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. The vessel glides to a slow idle as a huge pod of dolphins surrounds us.
These graceful creatures are jumping and cavorting all around the boat, dancing in around its wake. Everyone aboard is at the railings taking in the fantastic spectacle. The captain reckons it’s the most dolphins he’s ever seen in one place. What a fitting climax to our Year 13’s week away, tramping and camping around the northern reaches of Great Barrier Island. Five groups of 20 students, parents and staff had set out from Sandspit five days earlier, to arrive early
dawn at Port Fitzroy. From there, each set out for a different location to begin the hikes along the Kiwiriki, Mt Hobson, Haratoanga and the Tramline trails. The tramps are tough, strenuous uphill and down again battles in the blazing heat of the day. But the party conquered all as the numerous blisters, cuts, scrapes and aching muscles can attest. Each group had their own special moment; whether fighting off the sharks at Haratoanga Beach; feasting on the eels at The Green;
swimming lazily around Busch’s Beach; or taking the terrifying mattress drop at Okiwi School. Unfortunately another great camp came to an end; our students coming away with a new found respect for their endurance and many great new friendships and experiences to remember for a lifetime. For the record, Mr King’s Baker Company took top honors in the ‘Great Barrier Island Idol Variety Show’ with a very tuneful and heartfelt rendition of their version of ‘The Cup Song’.
YEAR 7 COMPUTATIONAL THINKING A TASTY SUCCESS! One aspect of computational thinking is being able to write instructions that others can follow. Students in 7HEA were asked to record clear and detailed instructions for making a simple ham and cheese toasted sandwich. The other students in their group then had to follow their instructions. It was a very engaging (and tasty) exercise in clarity of instructions!
George D’Urban-Burgess ACHIEVER OF THE MONTH HEAD BOY Academic Blue Excellence L1 & L2 Sports Blue for 2018 Member of Sports Academy Member of Senior Mixed Nationals Touch Team Athletic Champion Member of 1XV Rugby With Marius Muller, Operations Manager Mitre 10 Mega Warkworth
Proudly Supporting Mahurangi College
Cnr Woodcocks Rd & Mansel Drive WARKWORTH Phone 425 8119
MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE
MAHURANGI.SCHOOL.NZ