MBAS Newsletter, Term 4, Week 1, 18th Oct 2024

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Dear Students, Parents, and Whānau,

Welcome to the final term of the year! I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for the exciting weeks ahead. As we dive into Term 4, there are a few important updates and reminders to share.

For our senior students, the next few weeks are crucial as we approach study leave. With exams just around the corner, it’s essential to stay focused, keep up with revision, and seek support when needed. Remember, your teachers are here to help, so don’t hesitate to ask for guidance.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication you have shown throughout the year, and I encourage you to finish strong as you prepare for this important chapter in your educational journey.

As the weather warms up, we are excited to announce that swimming will be starting again. It’s a great way for our students to stay active, develop water confidence, and have fun. Please ensure your child comes prepared with their swim gear for outdoor sessions if they have swimming this term.

This term will be filled with various events and activities, from the first twilight Gala to sports and academic celebrations. We encourage all students to get involved and make the most of the opportunities available. We extend a warm invitation to you all to come celebrate our students' achievements. 

Let’s work together to ensure a productive and successful end to the school year!

Ngā mihi nui,
Ross Dunn
Principal

Gymnasium Naming Ceremony

On Friday 27 th September our kura held a very special ceremony to name our Gymnasium ‘The John Wright Gymnasium – Te Whare Tapere o John Wright’

John and members of his whānau were welcomed into school with a powhiri where the students, staff and past staff and guests celebrated his time as Principal/Tumuaki at Mercury Bay Area School.

It was a great way to honour the legacy of his leadership in our kura with the words: ‘Inā te mahi he rangatira – By deeds a chief is known’

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School Docs Website

Here are some instructions get to a couple of quick links on the School Docs website for you.

MBAS 2024 Magazine

From TCDC

MBAS Twilight Gala - Save the Date!

MBAS Book Amnesty

If you or an older sibling have a book at home that belongs to kura, maybe from a Novel Study or a Senior Years text. Please bring it back to school - no questions asked! Also, if you have any tired or unwanted books (for readers 1-100) that you would like to donate for our MBAS Gala later this term please drop them off at the collection point at the office. Thank You.

MBAS Cultural/Identity Day

School Flag Competition

School Vacancies

Host Families Required

MBAS is seeking interest from 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); phone Jodie (Homestay Coordinator) on 0272489187.

Uniform Shop

Do you have ONE spare hour a week?

Wanted - volunteers to help at the Uniform Shop. Mondays and Wednesdays hours as below. One day or both days. Contact the school office if you're keen. You don't have to be available every week. Support your Uniform Shop!

Wanted - clean uniform you no longer require - please drop off at the School Office. 
No stock: Canterbury items, hoodies, primary polos age 6 ro 12, fleeces age 4 to 10.
Low stock - skirts.

Payment cash or card.

All items $5 except Canterbury $10, Wool jerseys Free (limited stock - 12, M, L, XL, XXL).

Opening Hours 
Mondays - 2.30pm to 3.30pm 
Wednesdays - 8.30am to 9.30am

Y10 Camp

Year 10 camp last week of term 3. Great week doing a range of activities such as orienteering burma trail, tramping, problem solving skills, spotlight and sport games.

Primary Shared Morning Tea

This morning the Term 3 KAURI Superkids (1 from each of the Primary classes) had a special morning tea with Mr Dunn, Miss Surtees, Mrs Lidgard and Mrs B to celebrate their term 3 achievements. We discussed our holidays, why we were chosen from our class and whether we would like to one day be a student leader. Mr Dunn also asked Laurie what was the one thing she would change if she was principal for the day. She thought we should have a movie for each class. Who will get chosen to be the Term 4 KAURI Superkids??

Room 23 - New Class Member

Introducing Kahu the frog.

We chose Kahu’s name during Maths today. We each contributed a name to the board and voted, using tally marks to count and reduce the list until we all had a favourite.

Kahu has opened up lots of great discussions and we’ve formed some questions to answer over the next while:

Is Kahu is a boy or a girl?
Why does Kahu have round toes?
What will we need to feed Kahu? And how will we source this Kai?
How can we show kindness to Kahu and what does he need to survive in its environment in class?
Why is Kahu green and gold?
Who can help us learn more about frogs?

Lots to learn about our new class member!

M1 - Save Your Teddy

M1 took part in the Save Your Teddy day as part of World Restart a Heart Day.  We brought in our teddies and other soft toys and watched the video from Hato Hone St John.  We learned what CPR looks like and how to phone for an ambulance.  M1 practiced CPR on our teddies - it was very tiring!

M5 - Science Day

We had a busy day in M5 learning about chemical reactions. We learned that raisins can dance, bottles can fly and we made some helicopter's. 

Mrs Berry was not quite fast enough with placing the lid on our rocket. Fun day had by all. 

2025 Y9 - Information Evening

This week our year 8's and their parents were invited to come and see what lies ahead for them in 2025. There are loads of courses for them to choose from and they will need to do some thinking and chatting with teachers and parents before making their decision on which course to select for next year. It's an exciting time and we want you all to take some time to consider your options carefully. Parents/Caregivers who were unable to attend the information evening and would like more information are very welcome to ring the school office to book an appointment to come and see us. For more information on year 9 courses for 2025, go to our Mercury Bay Area School Website - https://mbas.ac.nz/ - go to 'Years' and 'Middle Years 7-10' - and click on 'course guide'. Read through the information and scroll down to the Yr 9 course boxes. Click on each one to give you a detailed description of each course on offer. Please take the time to consider your choices, this is about you being engaged in your learning and not about who is in the class and who might be teaching it. In the coming weeks students (including our contributing school students) will receive an email with a link to go to to make your choices. You will be informed when this goes out. 
Here are some photos of our Yr 8's engaging in conversation with teachers about what is on offer. 

Weekly Plane Build Log

Open gallery to see the full weekly Plane Build Log.

Weekly Sports Update

Annual General Meeting for MBAS Secondary School Rugby

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting for MBAS Secondary School Rugby will be held

At: Mercury Bay Area School Library, 20 South Highway, Whitianga

On: Tuesday 19 November 6pm. 

All Parents, Caregivers, Volunteers welcome.

Looking for volunteers on the Secondary School Rugby Committee.Meeting once a month during the season.

Expressions of interest for coaching and managing Grades- Youth Grade Year 9/10, Girls 1st XV, Boys 1st XV.
Enquiries to: Secretary - Samantha Toworai
mbassrugbyclub@gmail.com

Nurses Notes

This is a reminder that Mercury Bay Area School has an agreement with Pinnacle Midlands Health Network and Te Whatu Ora Waikato to provide free nursing services on site.

Earlier this year a letter was sent to parents / caregivers outlining the comprehensive wellbeing review for all consenting year 9 students. These assessments are carried out over the year as part of our nursing service, with the aim of improving the health of our students so that they can come to school well and able to learn.

Your student / rangatahi may or may not yet have had their wellbeing review completed by this stage, as they are seen throughout the year.

If you have previously opted off, this will not be applicable to your young person – this will already be on record. If you have questions or you would like to choose to opt off, please contact your school nurse via email nurse@mbas.ac.nz or text to 027 327 3945

Kind regards,

RN Shaz Iseli / MBAS nurse | Waikato School Nurse | Pinnacle Midlands Health Network 

Email: sharon.iseli@pinnacle.health.nz | www.pinnacle.co.nz

Hearing and Vision Testing Next Week

Community Notices

Mercury Bay Athletics Club

Want to learn new skills, get outdoors, and have fun? The skills you learn in athletics are the perfect foundation for almost any sport.

Every student can give athletics a go. Our local athletics club Mercury Bay Athletics Club is welcoming new members now and we encourage students to get involved and get active.

Contact details for all athletics clubs nationwide are available here and become a member.

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