The famous Walt Disney who, along with his brother Roy founded the Disney Company (which celebrates its centenary next year) was one of the world’s foremost creatives, establishing a legacy of entertainment that continues to thrive. When asked about his philosophy, Walt was recorded to have stated: “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” It is a great lesson for all of us. Here at Mahurangi College, creativity and entrepreneurship are qualities we value highly. We enjoy the advantages of being based in a vibrant and creative community, with dozens of successful start-ups as well as many well-established businesses. College staff are always keen to promote opportunities for students to develop their creative and business nous. We know these qualities are highly valued by employers. We live in a world that requires constant upgrading of knowledge and skills. To cope with the challenges of the future, students need to adapt relevant skills-set to cope up with the complexities and challenges of future workplaces. An entrepreneurial mindset is an important 21st-century skill for school students as an early development of these skills enables them to turn their ideas into action. At Mahurangi College this starts early, with students learning innovation and business-focused skills in their STEAM classes.
Issue 02 2022
As students move through the school there are many opportunities to showcase design thinking, product development, sales and customer feedback. Here’s a taste of some current student initiatives... A group of Year 13 Business students have designed an allergen free, organic, and environmentally friendly dog soap, which they have tested by offering a free dog wash at Charlie’s Gelato, collecting valuable feedback from the public. Follow their venture on instagram @bubblebarknz. Level 3 Hospitality students have been mastering the espresso machine to make a range of hot and iced beverages, learning to select the correct cup, add the right amount of each base ingredient, perfectly aerate the milk and use variations such as decaf coffee and plant based milks. We know these skills are highly sought after by local business owners. Many of our students are bringing a social justice dimension to their products and services. For example, a team of Year 12 students has started UFC - a sports Uniforms For the Community enterprise whereby used sports uniforms can be distributed to others. We wish all these students the very best in their creative endeavours.
Tony Giles - PRINCIPAL