Our forest restoration project, a joint initiative between the Auckland Council and Mahurangi College, includes a monitoring and trapping programme to eradicate invasive pests from the native forest around our school and in the reserve across the river.
It was a very proud moment when, during the first week of Term 4, our trapping team placed the first 3 of 8 monitoring stations. Students have worked hard every Friday lunchtime for the past few months to get to this point. Once monitoring is complete trapping of pests will begin.
As you may be aware, during Term 3 I was granted a 10 week sabbatical. My wife and I took the opportunity to spend five incredible, but also very challenging, weeks with our eldest son and his wife and family who are doing medical work in South Sudan. We then spent a week hiking in Spain, followed by five weeks in Canada. While in Canada I met with Principals and Superintendents of schools in New Brunswick and Ontario and enjoyed touring some of their schools.
for a future in one of the building related trades (below right). They are able to achieve their secondary qualifications through working fulltime on real life construction projects under the direction of their teacher, Don Clubine. In 2019 we will be opening a similar academy at Mahurangi College for students in Years 12 and 13.
project with a neighbouring reserve within which we are also planning to build a similar “living classroom”, hopefully in the very near future. Our trapping team is just 1 of 5 teams currently making fantastic progress on this exciting project.
Prior to entering South Sudan, we visited an international school in Kenya which has been involved in a 40 hectare forest restoration project. Within the regenerating forest they have built a living classroom, which according to their principal, Timo Lehmann, “is used every day used by students in all subject areas across the curriculum”. We are well underway in working towards a similar
In Canada, I particularly enjoyed visiting several sustainability projects. An hour north of Toronto, in Peterborough, I was able to participate in a course for senior high school students in which they gain credits for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (very similar to NCEA) in Math; English; Environment and Resource Management; Sustainable Development; World Issues and Contemporary Aboriginal Voice. Students are taught in a tepee and in a large variety of on-site locations across the district (below left). Another highlight was a visit to a Construction Academy at Bowmanville High School. Here students can prepare
Issue 07 2018
MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our senior management team for stepping in while I was away. It was a great reassurance for me to know that our place was under such capable and caring leadership during my absence. I also enjoyed being able to follow the successes of our students while travelling. Congratulations to Leah Jones and Jordan Thomas, regular umpires for North Harbour Hockey, who were selected to umpire at National level. This is a massive achievement!
During the holidays Mahurangi College was represented by two teams at the Northern Region Teams Sailing Regatta held in Parua Bay. Mahurangi Yellow placed second while Mahurangi Black were able to develop techniques in preparation for upcoming events. Our students took home three silver and two bronze medals at the recent Surf Lifesaving NZ Pool Nationals. Claudia Stevenson and Liana Sykes gained bronze in the Line Throw Rescue and, alongside team member Kimberley Allen, silver in the Rescue Medley relay. Our senior students are on study leave this week, after our Senior Prize Giving Evening on Thursday beginning at 7pm. I’d like to wish all our seniors the very best for their upcoming NCEA exams. DAVID MACLEOD, PRINCIPAL
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