Mahuhukiterangi; our PRIDE focus for Term 4 is Pursuing Excellence in preparing for the challenges and celebrations ahead. Tonight we will host our 2019 Cultural Blues Awards and Showcase. We’d like to take this opportunity to invite our community to join us for an evening of entertainment as we
celebrate the arts and culture at Mahurangi College. A showcase of art, dance, drama, music and culture; Wednesday 23 October 7pm in our Auditorium. Entry is free and all are welcome. Tomorrow night we will host our Sports Blues Awards, and next week our Senior Prizegiving Evening.
Our seniors will begin their exam leave next Thursday 31 October, with school finishing early for all students in preparation for our Senior Prizegiving evening at 7pm. We’d like to warmly invite all parents and caregivers of our senior students to join us. NCEA exams begin Friday 8 November. I greatly look forward to seeing our seniors reach the goals that have worked so hard to achieve, and celebrating their successes with them.
Our Year 9 students recently visited the Auckland Zoo to examine the question “Are Zoo’s Good or Bad?” Along with observing enclosures and animal enrichment opportunities, students had educational sessions with zoo staff. During the Veterinarian session, students were able to observe a sick Takahē being fed. It is estimated only 300 Takahē exist in the wild.
chocolate for Fair Trade, Palm Oil free and other commitments to the environment. Our Year 7 class also spent an afternoon identifying, counting and documenting bird life beside our river (below). Our Year 7-9’s are now investigating Climate Change, the Carbon Cycle, renewable energy resources and learning to make decisions on how to reduce their own carbon footprint.
Our Year 10 Sustainability students are successfully growing their own edible garden. From seeds to garden planting and care, students have owned and led all processes. They have also started their weekly water monitoring program of the Mahurangi River, testing for pH, clarity, dissolved oxygen and phosphorous. Our Year 7-9 Sustainability students have been investigating Fair Trade within the Clothing and Chocolate industries; looking at the processes from bean to the bar, including what different groups are paid. They learnt how to examine supermarket
As part of their ‘Consumerism’ inquiry our Junior Faculty have been investigating various aspects, including recycling and upcycling, problem solving environmental waste and successfully making ‘milk plastic’ - a bioplastic from heated milk and vinegar. They also directed and filmed their own episodes of the TV series ‘Reality Trip’. They held a Trade Fair and shared their learning in a variety of ways. It is very interesting to see where their inquiry is taking them. Well done!
Over the holidays Pasifika student rep Kotua Kotua, attended the Pacific Student Future Leaders Programme in Rarotonga. Kotua was selected as 1 of only 20 students from throughout NZ to attend the week long programme. Many thanks to Warkworth Lions and Warkworth Rotary for supporting Kotua.
kayaking the Able Tasman, parachuting in Queenstown and Whale Watching in Kaikoura. 80 of our Year 7 and 8 students participated in the AIMS Games held in Tauranga. We had great results from our individual athletes: rock climber Esme Greenwood, finishing just out of medal contention in 4th; Multisport athlete Max Matthews finishing 9th; Joe Kuwano finishing 14th in Breaststroke. Our teams all finished in commendable places; the inaugural mixed Quick Rip team finishing an outstanding 9th overall, winning their final game with an exciting try from Matai Young. It was very encouraging to hear how our juniors put our PRIDE values in action. Many thanks to all involved, especially our coaches.
Our German international students have just returned from a two week tour of the South Island; experiencing some of the best scenery and activities NZ has to offer including
Congratulations also to our debating students who enjoyed success at the Auckland Schools Debating Awards; Samuel Chitty placing 3rd in Advanced Open; Robbie Ennis and Alex Bindon placing 10th equal in Senior Open.
Issue 07 2019
MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE
David Macleod PRINCIPAL
MAHURANGI.SCHOOL.NZ