MBAS Newsletter, Term 2, Week 1, 3rd May 2024

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Welcome back to Mercury Bay Area School for Term 2, 2024! I extend a warm welcome to the new members of our school community

We have a busy term ahead of us in all facets of Academic, co-curricular and community life.

For a range of our Year 10 to 12 students, we have the upcoming Co-requisite exams. Otherwise known as the Common Assessment Activities (CAA). These are coming up in Week 4. This can put a bit of pressure on our Students but we do support them through this process along the way. The great thing about this form of assessment is that they have multiple opportunities to achieve these standards.

We have our Cross Country on the 9th of May which is a fantastic day out at the beach. Our senior leaders have some plans in the works which will make for an interesting day. Keep an eye on the calendar and I invite you to come along and support where you can.

We are breathing life back into some of our old school traditions. One of these is the good old  “working bee”. I hope some of you will be able to join us to make some tangible physical improvements to our school. Further details will be provided soon.

On the property front, the land that was left after the buildings were removed over the Christmas holidays is starting to take shape. The pathways are being used and over the last holidays the topsoil was put in and grass seed planted. This will be a very pleasant space once this comes through. 

I would like to reiterate the need for parental support by ensuring that our students are in the right uniform when they leave home.  We have a great uniform shop and offer other support if needed to ensure your child is warm and comfortable. 

I cannot stress enough that I am contactable and you are welcome to make time to sit down and have a discussion. 

Ngā mihi,

Ross Dunn
Principal
Mercury Bay Area School 

MBAS Enrolment Scheme

The Board of Mercury Bay Area School wishes to advise that it is abandoning its enrolment scheme. The enrolment scheme was implemented on 28 January 2019 to manage overcrowding at the school, which is no longer an issue.

The enrolment scheme will end on 12th April 2024. Following this date, any student who wishes to do so will be entitled to enrol at Mercury Bay Area School. Any questions can be directed to Karin Farrelly, PA to the Principal  farrellyk@mbas.ac.nz.

Stationery Plea

This is a plea to our parents and caregivers.

A significant number of our students are coming to school unprepared for learning. Stationery lists are all on the website or can be picked up from the front office if a paper copy is easier.

Paper Plus also has the lists available.

A minimum of a pen and some refill is required every day at the very least.

Kauri Assembly

Today we held our Term One whole school Kauri assembly (postponed at the end of term 1 due to weather ) where we celebrated the achievements of our incredible students across the Kura. Here are a few photos from our celebration. 

Y9-13 Cross Country

Thursday 9th May

Buffalo Beach

First race approx 1pm

Year 9: Athletes must be in Year 9 and under 15 as at 31 December 2024 

Junior: Under 16 as at 31 December 2024

Senior: Under 20 as at 31 December 2024

Start time approx. 1pm

Year 9 Girls Start 1pm, Year 9 Boys 1pm, Junior girls (U16) start 1.15pm - 3km

U16 Jnr & Snr girls Junior Boys (U16) start 1.30pm & Senior Girls (U19) start 1.45pm - 4km

U19 Snr Senior Boys start 2pm - 6km

(These times are approximates and the event organiser reserves the right to move event times to suit tide and  conditions)

Interest in Homestay Hosting

MBAS is seeking interest from volunteer families to host International High School Students (Years 11-13) in your home. 
 
Hosting provides your family opportunities to learn more about other cultures and enable your children to develop as global citizens through international connections.  Your family provides hosted students exposure to the wonders of New Zealand.

If you want to know more, please email (international@mbas.ac.nz); or phone Jodie (Homestay Coordinator) on 0272489187 or pop in and see the International Team at Mercury Bay Area School.

Room 22 - Skipping

Awesome mahi with the skipping this week Room 22.
We discovered that crocs, sneakers or flat shoes are great for learning to skip .

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M10 - Maze Work

M10 continued on with our maze mahi. Giving directions using, mua - forward, muri - backward, mauī - left, matau- right. Well done M10!

Guest Speaker in Hei 7

On Monday 29th April Hei 7 had the privilege of a visit from Dr Michelle Kelly from NIWA. Dr Kelly is a marine biologist and works as a taxonomist, a person who names animals so she gets to name sponges. Hei 7 got to see and hold a variety of sponges.

Hei 7 already knew sponges were animals because Mrs Fotheringham had told them but this is what Hei 7 learnt from the visit:

• There are soft sponges, very hard sponges and glass sponges. 
• Sponges soak up a lot of water.
• Some sponges can live up to 200 years.
• Sponges are found in shallow and deep water. 
• New Zealand has a lot of different sponges, more than other countries. 
• Sponges have been harvested since the 1800’s.
• Sponges are being studied for their anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. 
• Sponges have been used to put into abdomen injuries to soak up the blood and save soldiers' lives.
• Some sponges are carnivorous.
• If sponges break into smaller pieces each piece becomes its own animal.
• We need to keep our oceans free of pollution by keeping the land free of pollution.
• Universities do not teach people how to be taxonomists any more.

Dr Kelly encouraged us all to stay at school and learn as much as we can so we too can be scientists.

Written by Hei 7 and Robyn Fotheringham

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Authenticity in NCEA Internal Assessment

Please watch the accompanying video, which explains our kura's approach to verifying that work students submit for NCEA assessment is their own authentic work. You can read more information about NCEA and internal assessment in our Student NCEA Handbook - https://sites.google.com/mbas.ac.nz/mbas-ncea-handbook
 
If you have any questions about the authenticity verification process, please contact Principal's Nominee Ms J. Evans (evansj@mbas.ac.nz) or Deputy Principal Mr. M. Wilkinson (wilkinsonm@mbas.ac.nz).

Here's the video link: https://youtu.be/s19Jf8j8i_A 

Tinca Samson Otago Uni On Campus Experience

Otago University are delighted to advise that Tinca Samson has been successful in applying for the May University of Otago (week long) On Campus Experience. 

Successful applicants have been selected based on their all-round academic ability, their attitude to learning, a character reference from the school, and an essay highlighting their involvement in their school and Māori community, as well as their aspirations to attend the University of Otago.

The OCE covers all costs for:

•       Travel
•       Accommodation
•       Meals
•       Activities

Congratulations to Tinca and we hope she has a wonderful experience, which will support her for the next step in her learning journey.

Flying in a Tiger Moth

Rita Robinson and Siobhan Cox were winners of our plane build tool box comp, their prize was a flight in a 1943 Tiger Moth. They flew around the local area soaking up the sights from above the smiles on their faces were huge! 

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Plane Build 2 May 2024

Mid Fuselage Section, Vertical Stabiliser, Parts Prep.

Open the photos below to read the full log.

Wellbeing Whispers

Nurses Notes

The Waikids Free Children’s Ear Service will be in Whitianga on:

Monday 20^th May 2024 from 3pm-430pm (this is a drop in clinic only)

Tuesday 21^st May 2024 730am-5pm (this is an appointment/and drop in clinic)

Wednesday 22^nd May 2024 730am-1030am (appointment/and drop in clinic.)

Any parents who would like a booked appointment for the 21^st or 22^nd May clinics can contact 07 838 3565 to book.

The Ear Bus will be parked up across from the cinema (Lee St) in the carpark.

Free ear clinic service for children.

All children must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian, otherwise a consent form must be completed.

For enquiries regarding this service or to book an appointment please contact The Children’s Ear Clinic on 07 838 3565.

The Ear Nurse can provide advice on: glue ear assessment and management, wax/foreign body removal, grommet checks, treatment of discharging ears

Please note clinics may be cancelled without notice due to unforeseen circumstances. Clinic will be closed for staff breaks. These will be noted on clinic door.

The T2 ear bus schedule can be found at the link below:

Children's ear clinic » Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Waikato (waikatodhb.health.nz)

Tertiary Tidbits

Term 2 School Presentations for any Yr12 or Yr13 interested in attending

Waikato University
Thursday 7th May 9am-10am (block 1) Room E9
We can use block 2 if needed as well.

Please come straight to the room above and your attendance will be taken there.

Upcoming University Open Days - Term 2 & Term 3

Open Days - Term 2
Waikato - Hamilton Campus      - Friday 24th May
Waikato - Tauranga Campus      - Friday 21st June
Otago                                         - Friday 26th and Saturday 27th May

Open Days - Term 3
Lincoln                                        - Friday19th July
Massey - Palmerston North        - Wednesday 7th August
Massey - Auckland                     - Friday 16th August
Massey - Wellington                  - Friday 23rd August
Victoria                                       - Friday 23rd August
Auckland                                    - Saturday 24th August
AUT                                            - Saturday 24th August
Canterbury                                 - Friday 30th August
Wintec                                        - September - date TBA
Massey - Distance online           - Thursday 5th September

Te Wananga o Aotearoa             - Contact them directly for an appointment
Toi Ohomai                                 - Contact them directly for an appointment

Whitianga Lions Club Art Competition

All Senior students have been sent an email with information about an Art Competition run by the Whitianga Lions Club.

There are three fantastic cash prizes to be won: 1st prize $500, 2nd prize $250, and 3rd prize $100.

The artworks will be on show and available for sale (if the student wishes) at the Art Expo in Whitianga Town Hall over King's Birthday Weekend (May 31 - June 3).

If you have not received the email and are interested in participating, please email Leo at magril@mbas.ac.nz.

Thanks!

Coast Guard Cadetship

Y7-13 School Holidays Photo Competition

The Arts Department invites all aspiring photographers at Mercury Bay Area School to embrace the beauty of autumn in our exciting photo competition! Students from Years 7 to 13 are encouraged to capture a memorable moment from their school holidays with the theme of Autumn. This is your chance to shine and win a soon-to-be-announced amazing prize! So grab your camera, leave those cellphones behind (but keep them handy for snapping photos!), and submit your best shot to magril@mbas.ac.nz by May 7th.

Community Notices

Fitness Program for 15-18 year olds at Whitianga Cross WOD

CoroCine Film Festival

We are hosting our inaugural film festival this year on the weekend of September 6th, 7th, 8th. We already have several items committed but are looking for more!

The only criteria is that the artist/filmmaker either lives on the Coromandel Peninsula OR that their work features the Coromandel Peninsula. It doesn't have to be "new" work and we're looking for various lengths and genres. This can be any presentation we could show on our big screen. Got a gallery of your visual artworks set to music or with a voice-over? Got some claymation/lego-mation videos? What about videos of your original music? Work needs to be with us by August 1st so you still have time to create something. 

Please register your interest and we will be in touch. 
https://forms.gle/9Jc6C6XoGYs6cYFz8

Upcoming at the Mercury Bay Library

Badminton Junior Development Day - Thames

Our first Badminton Junior Development Day was held in Waihi at the start of April. It was a really successful day and the kids loved it! We are holding our second session in Thames on the 26th May.

Key information:
• Where: Thames High School, Jack McLean Recreation Centre, Rolleston Street, Thames.
• When: Sunday 26th May, 9am-12pm
• What: Coaching with Thames Valley coaches (9am-10.30am, and games from 10.30am-12pm)
• Who can attend: School age children under 18 years of age
• What to bring: Please bring your own drink bottle, non-marking court shoes if you have them, bare feet is ok.
• Cost: Just $5 to be paid on arrival

I have attached a flyer with a QR code that can be used to register. This QR code will link to the next upcoming session, so you only need to print it once. I have also attached another flyer with the key info for the Thames session, which is also on the registration form. Alternatively, players can register using the link below;
https://forms.gle/Aj5yH36SPHu8n2zJ7

Registrations close Friday 24th May

Thanks for your support,
Melissa MiersBadminton Thames Valley Secretary