MBAS Newsletter, Term 1, Week 6, 14th Mar 2025

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Events:
This term has been packed with sporting events, particularly in swimming. From our various swimming competitions to the Across the River Swim, our students have been actively engaged in aquatic challenges. Looking ahead, we have a range of upcoming Thames Valley events where our students will be competing. We eagerly anticipate hearing their results and celebrating their achievements.

Full School Assembly:
We had our first full school assembly of the year on the third of March where we acknowledged the student leaders in all areas of the school. Students were presented with badges, and our senior leaders showcased the very smart-looking new blazers for our senior leaders to wear at such special occasions. Going forward, I would like to extend a warm invite to parents and whānau to attend these assemblies. We have these every five weeks, with the next being on April 7th at 10 AM in the school gymnasium. This will be led by the Middle school leaders. 

Staffing Updates:
We appreciate our community’s understanding regarding some long-term staff leave situations that have been beyond our control. Our priority has been to minimise the impact on student learning, and we continue to work hard to ensure a smooth and supportive educational experience for all.

Property Developments:
Thanks to successful fundraising efforts, we have reinstated our Junior Shade Sails and are in the process of developing another. Additionally, new outdoor furniture for the school is currently being crafted by our senior wood technology students. A big thank you to the Placemakers team for their generous support in providing resources for this project and Dean Spyve for leading our students through this process.

We are not far from opening up the four refurbished spaces in the junior school. These will be our new entrants' spaces, designed to create a warm and welcoming environment for our youngest students as they transition into our school. Our middle and senior students have been enjoying the newly refurbished spaces in Room 15 and Room 16, which now include heat pumps to provide a more conducive learning environment. 

Special Project – Yacht Build:
We are still on the lookout for a suitable space to facilitate our 40-foot yacht project, which will provide an incredible hands-on learning opportunity for students. If you have any ideas or potential spaces available, please contact the front office.

Curriculum Updates:
Our staff are working diligently to implement the latest government initiatives around literacy and numeracy. Primary and Middle Years teachers participated in Professional Development before the school year commenced and continue to engage in further training to ensure a successful rollout of the new curriculum. 

Please find below our NCEA academic outcomes for 2024. Of note are our NCEA results at level one which bucked the national trend with the National average pass rate of 44% where we sat at 54.8%. 

Thank you for your ongoing support. As we continue through the term, we remain focused on fostering a positive learning environment and ensuring our students have every opportunity to thrive. Let’s keep up the great momentum and make the most of the weeks ahead!

Ross Dunn
Principal

Attendance Matters!

The percentage of students attending regularly is very low in New Zealand compared to many other countries. Lifting school attendance is crucial for future success.

The STAR:

• sets the direction so that no student will be left to accumulate absences without an appropriate response to return them to regular attendance
• will help us achieve the Government’s target of 80% of students present for 90% of the term by 2030
• tells us what should happen when students do not attend school.

Below is our percentages for weeks 1- 6 Term 1 2025

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)

Kindo - Now Live for all School Payments

M3 - Kaiawhina

Each morning in M3 two children have the turn to be our Kaiawhina. Our kaiawhina leaders take us through reading M3s promises, taking our daily roll, and then ask 4 questions to the class in Te Reo, where we all have a chance to respond practicing our Te reo Māori. We ask how do you feel ? What is the day today? What is the month today? And what is the season and weather today?

M5 - Maths

Year 4 maths learning this week.

We have a problem, then solve it in groups, then discuss how we each solved it.

M7 & M8 - Water Safety

Over the last two days M8 and M7 have joined together to learn about water safety. They learned and practiced floating on their back, survival backstroke and how to use an everyday object to help them float.

They learned about life jackets- when and how to put them on, and how to form a huddle to keep each other warm. (Please note, these are buoyancy vests, not proper life jackets) we did look online at correct, modern ones.

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Room 32 - KAURI Display

Our K.A.U.R.I display is finally up. Students have been working collaboratively to get this piece complete for our judges.

I have seen many highs and lows making this piece complete. We will add a few things here and there but seeing our students vision come alive has been awesome. We have selected colours from each house and a value for each panel of our Whare.

Let’s hope our judges love it as much as we do.

Hockey Big Day Out

On Monday a group of Year 5-8 students went to Ngatea for the Hockey Big Day Out. We showed KAURI in all we did on and off the turf, and we were great sports people. 

A special thank you to Leisa for organising this event and driving us to Ngatea along with Mrs B and our parent helpers.

Y7 & 8 Technology Classes

MBAS years 7 and 8 Technology students construct marble roller coasters as part of their learning involving potential and kinetic energies. There was a considerable variation in routes and structures with all roller coasters requiring modifications, some extensive, to achieve success.

TVSS Swimming Champs

Our swimming squad headed over for the TVSS Swimming champs on Wednesday.

Huge thanks to Hewa, Erica and Selena for your help with transport, timing and management on the day.

Outstanding results in top 4 by the following swimmers.

50m Backstroke - Paige Morgan 3rd
50m  Breaststroke - Paige Morgan 3rd
100m Breaststroke - Paige Morgan 2nd 

100m IM - Madison Morgan 4th
100m Freestyle - Madison Morgan 3rd

100m Freestyle - Lorenz Muller 1st
100m Backstroke - Lorenz Muller 1st

50m Fly - Joshua Thompson 3rd

50m Freestyle - Neela Sacault 3rd

TVSS 3v3 Basketball

4 Senior teams travelled over to Te Aroha for the TVSS 3v3 Basketball on Thursday.

Two of the boys teams made it to the quarter finals and the other boys team made it to the semi finals.

Our girls enjoyed getting out there and playing basketball again and had a win.

Thanks to Gary Hinds who helped out with transport to Te Aroha.

Y 7-8 Triathlon

Latest Plane Build Log 12.03.25

Wing, Rudder/Brake Pedal, Horizontal Stabiliser. Open the photos to read the full log.

Coastguard Cadetship 2025

Y10 Automotive Class Request

The year 10 Automotive class is on the lookout for donations of old 2 and 4 stroke engines to pull apart and reassemble. If you have an engine lying around that is going or not going and you no longer need it, get in touch with George Fletcher  fletcherg@mbas.ac.nz These could be anything from lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, outboard motors, generators. If in doubt, let me know what you have got!

Tertiary Tidbits

University & Wintec In-Person Visits

Otago Tuesday 25th March 9am-10am

Waikato Tuesday 8th April 10am-11am

Victoria Wednesday 30th April 9am-10am

Massey Thursday 1st May 9am-10am

Wintec Tuesday 13th May 10am-11am

LAW - Secondary Schools Mooting Competition starts March. Mooting Competition Details.

SCIENCE - One day interactive campus tours - 15, 16 or 17 April - Year12-13 https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/schools-career-advisors/resources-for-schools/science/science-experience-events/

ENGINEERING - One day interactive hands-on event - 15 April, 1 July - Yr10-13 https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/faculties-schools/engineering/future-engineering-students/experience-engineering

Attached are the three flyers for ALPSS (Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Science) upcoming events.

Please note that Experience Science (Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Crime Science) is full, but Experience Psychology, Forensic Psychology, and Crime Science is not. 

On-Campus Experience Scholarship - Maori descent - Sunday 29th June - Thursday 3rd July
https://www.otago.ac.nz/future-students/oce

Nurses Notes

School Health Service – Registered Nurse Clinic

Nurse available Monday to Thursday

For appointment just pop into the Rangimarie Centre

Or email nurse@mbas.ac.nz or text to 0273273945 for an appointment time.

Look forward to seeing you if you have any health needs or questions.

Community Notices

MB Football Club - Mini Kickers & 8th Grade Muster

MBAS Netball 2025 Courses and Events

Uniform day at the netball courts

Wednesday 19th March at 4pm - 5pm

This is for all years 5-13 except Te Puritanga o Hei as they have their own uniform. 

• Sunday 23rd March - Furture Ferns have a go day. Years 1-4
• Sunday 30th March - Year 7 & 8 Tournament at MBNC Netball courts
• Saturday 12th April - Umpire training -Theory and Practical.
• Sunday 13th April -  Umpire training - Theory and Practical.
• Tuesday 22nd April - Year 7 & 8 PDP
• Wednesday 23rd April -  Year 7 & 8 PDP
• Saturday 26th April - U14 & U16 Reps Trials
• Sunday 27th April - Intro to Coaching Course. Ideal for younger coaches up to year 10.
• Wednesday 30th April - FIRST GAME OF NETBALL FOR THE SEASON
• Sunday 25th May - Intro to Coaching Course. Ideal for adults & coaches over year 10.
• Monday 12th May - Interschool Netball Tournament Years 3-6 (not MBNC run).
• Wednesday 30th July - Last game for Years 1-6
• Sunday 3rd August - Years 3-4 End of Season Festival

Mercury Bay Netball Centre - 'Have a Go Day' Y1-4

This is for all Years 1-4 children who would like to play netball.  

Mercury Bay Netball Club 'Have a Go' Day
Sunday 23rd March
10am-12pm Come and have a go! 
Whether you have played netball before or not this will be a fun morning for all! 
Bring a friend too.
No need to register - just come along.
Our season starts on the 30th of April. 
Years 1-2 and 3-4 play @ 4pm.

For more information please feel free to email us at mbnetballcentre@gmail.com.

MBAS's own, Prisoners of War band are opening for a Japanese Rock Band!

The school's own, Prisoners of War band are opening for a Japanese Rock Band - Guitar Wolf and it is an ALL AGES SHOW.

$10 tickets for Under 18s, here: https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/94781/Guitar-Wolf-NZ-Tour-2025---Jett-Rock--Roll-From-Tokyo-Japan.utr

Mercury Bay Day Camp 15 -17th April 2025

Now we are in need of registered Teen Leaders aged 14 - 17 yrs. These awesome young people receive leadership training on Monday 14th April, and then get to practically outwork the learning and teamwork over the days of Camp. We adults and the Campers love the Teen Leaders, for their energy, fun and care. Super citizens!! Best Team Cup and $$$ Leadership Sponsorship up for challenge for those who shine the brightest. 

We are also in need of registered Adult Helpers - we are grateful for 1, 2 or the ultimate 3 days of Camp. We appreciate each one as they join our pop up community on a hill and shine.

There is no charge for Teens and Adults. 

All info can be found at http://www.daycamp.co.nz 

Whitianga Run Fest - MBAS Students Run Free

Football Registrations 2025

Mercury Bay Library Stem Lab

April Holiday Programme - Hockey

Skool Loop - One Stop School Information App