MBAS Newsletter, Term 3, Week 7, 1st September 2023

It's Spring!

Spring is finally here, and it was such a lovely day that Stewart Pedley took his guitar class outside under the tree.
Pictured: Stewart Pedley, Hannah Richardson, Jania Hawkins and Shaniya Heydenrych

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Middle Years Update

CAREERS EXPO - WHAT A GREAT DAY! 
Thank you to Sharon Porteous and the TCDC for organising the careers expo this week. At last something for everyone. The free sausages were a hit for our students but there was so much more. Our students were so engaged in all the opportunities available to them and got them really excited about what could lie ahead for them. Yes, we are isolated but there are groups of people out there looking to support and guide our young people and help them find pathways that excite them.

END OF TERM EXHAUSTION – IT'S A THING!

We all know that the last few weeks of term are always a struggle .... it's go go go every day, especially in term three, when even the weekends are packed with sports and the long travels have certainly not helped. Children start to 'throw tantrums' yes even the older ones. Finding various reasons for not wanting to come to school. If we give in, we are creating an even bigger problem. There will always be a 'close to end of term' and we all need to help grow and develop some resilience in our students. 

So what can you do?  
1. Listen to them, validate their feelings - they are real. But set some parameters - earlier to bed - most teens need between nine and nine and a half hours of sleep, but get closer to seven or seven and a half. Lack of sleep affects academic ability and mood, as well as judgment and motor skills. 
2. Unplug electronics an hour before bed - no devices in the bedroom - every time they turn on the computer/phone, it tells their bodies it’s daylight and cues their bodies to stay up longer.
3. Sun light and exercise can get them going and motivated. It helps reset our clocks and lift our mood. Vitamin D is essential - that's why it's often referred to as the "Sunshine" vitamin - it protects against viruses, maintains blood sugar, and lifts the mood - these are only a few of the benefits - get out into the sunshine and fresh air.
4. Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and helps you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to think and get things done. Food helps you to focus and function well. 

Let's help our young people be present and complete the term in a positive way.  

Haere pai atu, Hoki pai mai 
Go well and stay heathy 

Jenny Bloom 
Deputy Principal - Middle Years  

2024 BOT Student Representative

Get on Board!

We are looking for our 2024 Student Representative, if you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know for this year's election.

Nomination forms have been emailed out to all year 9-13 students. Printed copies are also available from the school office.

Please email the completed nomination form and a supporting statement (no longer 400 words) to farrellyk@mbas.ac.nz by 12pm on Monday 4th September.

Primary Calendar Art

Primary children have been working hard creating amazing pieces of art for you to have as a Calendar, diary, mouse pad, sketch pad or even cards for all of 2024. Check the bottom of school bags for the order form or ask your child's teacher. They are due back on Monday 11th September.

Primary Mosaic Art Auction

Want to get your hands on one of the beautiful mosaics created by the Primary children at MBAS? Want to help MBAS Primary continue with more arts inspired learning in 2024? We are selling a select few of the mosaics that were created by children aged 6-10. Decide which one or two you like and place a silent bid. There are 8 for sale. All mosaics do have reserves. Please check the FAQ section of the website for more details on how the process will work. All information is kept confidential. Bids close on Monday 18th September at 3.30.
Silent Auction

Arts Showcase 6th September

The Arts Showcase 2023 is just around the corner! The MBAS Arts department is beyond excited to bring you a night filled with Dance, Drama, Music, Kapa Haka, and even an awesome exhibition by our talented Visual Arts students.

Mark your calendars for next week's Wednesday, the 6th of September, starting at 7 p.m. We're planning for the event to run for about an hour and a half – trust us, it'll be time well spent!

This is not only a chance for our super-talented students to show their hard work, but it's also a fantastic moment for all of us to come together and show our support.

Tickets are free, but we've got a limited stash! Collect yours at the school reception quickly before they're all gone.

Get ready for an evening of creativity, talent, and much fun. See you there!

TCDC Careers Expo

This week MBAS hosted the TCDC Careers Expo, which was well received by all our Yr9-13 ākonga, kaiako me te hapori whānui.

There were a number of Exhibitors there to open the minds to future pathways for our rangitahi, that were well received and enjoyed by all. (The sausage sizzle was also a hit, thanks NZ Police!)

Congratulations to our winners Talia Lovegrove who won a voucher and Cerys Green who won the door prize (pictured).

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

Charity Concert

Last week, a long-awaited Charity Concert, organized by the MBAS Music department, took centre stage in the school hall. Our talented music students truly shined, delivering an astounding performance over two sold-out nights!

The stage came alive with a mix of original compositions and covers showcasing our musicians' remarkable diversity. From tapping feet to the rhythm of Billie Eilish and Nirvana to embracing the sounds of The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Metallica, and Megadeth – the audience experienced a musical journey that transcended genres.

A big round of applause goes to our exceptional students and our dedicated head of music, Dave Mulholland, for orchestrating such a remarkable event. Not only did their talents shine, but the heart behind this concert was even brighter.

The ticket proceeds from the concert were dedicated to a noble cause – supporting the Mercury Bay Cancer Trust. Through their attendance, the community came together to appreciate music and make a meaningful impact.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

M4 - Measuring

A spot of sunshine and a morning of measuring the perimeter of our court. Here we are comparing our estimates with our measurement. Great collaboration this week by M4.

Primary Garden - M8 and M6

This week M8 and some volunteers from M6, had an industrious time in the garden, weeding then planting strawberries, lavender, a red currant bush, and a Chilean guava. After that they wrote stories about their experiences.

Room 32 - Writing

Rm 32 have been writing using their senses and adding detail to paint a picture for the reader. This week we wrote poetry on a topic of our choice. You can see all of the writing here.

International Homestays Required for 2024

Are you interested in hosting an International Student for MBAS in 2024?

Host families are required for Terms 1 & 2 next year.

We require host families for 6 Female and 5 male students from Germany and Switzerland, aged 17-18 years.

We ask our Homestay Carers to provide a safe, comfortable and caring home, where they are welcomed as part of the family.

Excellect remuneration and Support, the new 2024 remuneration is $315 per week.

To abide by the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, members of the family 18 years or over will be required to be Police Vetted.

For further information, please feel free to contact our Homestay Director/Manager Marie on 022 613 4049.

Tertiary Tidbits

OPEN DAYS

MASSEY
Aviation Open Day - Saturday 9th September

CANTERBURY
Friday 8th September

As school does not provide transport to these, it is up to the individual student to organise this themselves.  Further information, please get in touch with Sharon Porteous.

Nurses Notes

Hi Everyone,

School nurse Shaz here, hope everyone is doing well and getting back to some normality after the last crazy few years.

Sadly, due to covid lots of routine important health stuff got missed. One of these things was general immunisations that are usually given in Year 7 and 8. Many students may have missed out.

We are seeing outbreaks of some of these serious diseases which are preventable through immunisation.

All Year 7 and 8 students should have had -

x1 Boostrix (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping cough)

X2 MMR  (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)

X2 HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)

If you would like me to check if your young person has had these please send me an email sharon.iseli@pinnacle.health.nz or nurse@mbas.ac.nz or contact me on 027 327 3945 if you have any questions.

These are all FREE as catch-up doses at your medical practice. The public health nurse will also be visiting later this year and may be able to offer catch-up immunisations. PLEASE NOTE – ALL IMMUNISATIONS GIVEN AT SCHOOL BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS COMPLETED.

Ngā mihi, with kind regards 

Community Notices

Coromandel Songwriting Camp - Teens 13-18 (free)

Check out our free youth Songwriting Camp, to be held in Whitianga the first week of the next holidays, you need to submit your interest by Sept 10th.  It's an amazing opportunity. Check out the full details at the link below:
https://www.beatfairy.com/coromandel-songwriting-camp