MBAS Newsletter, Term 1, Week 7, 21st Mar 2025

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

From the Middle Years

Kia Ora Mercury Bay Area School Whānau!

We’re already at the end of Week 7 of the term, and time is flying by! As the days get shorter and the seasons shift, it is great to reflect on the wonderful experiences our students have had.

Noho ora mai.

Year 7 and 8 Migration Unit: The Incredible Journey of the Godwit
This term, our Year 7 and 8 students have been exploring the world of migration, with a special focus on the Godwit, a remarkable bird known for its long, non-stop journey from New Zealand to the Arctic. To bring their learning to life, students recently visited the Pūkorokoro Shorebird Centre in Miranda.

We are all looking forward to seeing our Year 7 and 8 participate in their triathlon next week.

Students Embrace Exciting Learning Opportunities
Our students are being presented with exciting opportunities to learn new skills this term, from hands-on experiences in the classroom to contributing to community projects.

In the Year 10 Outdoor Education class they have started a Skills and Survival Unit. This includes learning to tie a range of useful knots. 

At Bay Bling Academy, we have been exploring the art of creating and decorating jewellery. In our initial lesson, we were introduced to the academy and discovered a range of new ideas. We viewed videos that showcased the diverse styles of jewellery. This week, our focus has been on crafting loop pin earrings, allowing us to experiment with beads. Next week, we are looking forward to a visit from Pippi, the owner of Pippi's Crystal Shop, who will be teaching us how to make cotton friendship bracelets. Hailegh and Harlem 

Theatre study students have been working on lighting, sound as well as prop and set design.

Immunisation – Year 7 and 8
The Public Health Nurse has been in to speak to our students and consent forms have gone home. Please return these consent forms to classroom teachers by the 28 th of March.

Bring Your Own Device
A reminder that all students are required to bring a charged device to school. There are loan devices, Chromebooks, available at school that are lent out for each term. Forms are available to obtain a loan device from the school office.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Janine and Peter

Attendance Matters!

Attendance percentages end of Week 7, Term 1

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 - Mindfulness

Each day, we do a mindfulness body exercise from our programme 'Pause, Breathe Smile' (there is an app for this you may wish to download). Today we learned that when we practice mindfulness it helps us be in our "green zone" our regulated brain. We brainstormed our green and red zone feelings today and discussed how our bodies feel when we are in both of these zones.

M9 - Good Choices

We are learning to make good choices and to stay focused until we have finished. When we finish our mahi we can choose. This week we were reading, constructing, puzzling and getting creative with lego.

Y 7-8 Migration Unit

The trip to the Miranda Pūkorokoro Shorebird Centre on the 18th of March was part of our migration unit this term. 

Keith Woodley, who is an expert on migrating birds, talked to us. He talked about the different kinds of birds that come to Miranda. We also heard about what they eat and their migrations.

Provided with the necessary information, we set off to the hide with our guide Pete. The view from the hide was perfect for watching the various birds gathered at the shore - Godwits, Red Knots, Stilts, Wrybills and more. We all looked through binoculars and telescopes and admired the flocks. 

At the hide, there was a lady called Tansy that managed one of the telescopes. She guided us in identifying the differences between male and females. During the time we were watching the birds, any people with phones or cameras were allowed to take photos. 

When everyone had had enough time watching the birds, we walked back to the cars for our trip home. We had fun.

By Yuna Kim a year 8 student in Hei 7

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Y 7-8 Boat Design

Why are thousands of desperate people fleeing their homeland in small boats to seek refuge in European countries?  What can we do to improve boat design to help these people?  How can we test and compare our boat designs in a real world environment?  These are some of the questions posed to year 7&8 students.  Students begin by researching boat designs to which they test.  They only get a small window to achieve this before the paper is waterlogged. Once a suitable design is established students then build their boats from aluminium cans.  Testing is key to comparing their design with their peers.  Boats are laden with washers to represent the human cargo.  Once floated a golf ball is dropped from 600mm to create waves.  Structural integrity and stability are essential for a successful design.

Bay Bling Academy

This week in Bay Bling we had Pippi from Pippi's accessories come into the class to teach the students how to braid friendship bracelets. The students loved having a professional in and walked away with some amazing pieces! Her website coming soon! Pippi.co.nz  

Soccer Academy

Soccer academy gives students with a passion for soccer the opportunity to work on their ball skills and fitness in a competitive fun environment.  Students have engaged with health and nutrition studies and will be looking at the importance of warm up routines, stretching and injuries.

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Y12 OED Kayaking Trip

Our year 12 Outdoor Education classes have recently been away sea kayaking in the Coromandel Harbour. We had great weather and had a great time. Our classes have been focusing on their kayaking skills and their contributions to group activities. A huge thankyou to Miss Mcknight, Miss Mclean, Brad Osullivan and Mrs Hutt for assisting us on the trips. Another huge thank you to Mike at Cathedral Cove Kayaks for providing us with a trailer at the last minute to save the day. 

TVSS Athletics - Paeroa

TVSS Athletics started not so well with a tree down blocking the road but luckily for us some local tradies got their chainsaws on the job so we were able to clear the road and get on our merry way.  The students competed against 13 other Thames Valley schools for Athletics day.

Many thanks to the Parents who assisted with transport and team management.

Full results are attached but top placings for Mercury Bay were as follows:

Lucas McDonald - 3000m Junior Boy 1st
Noah Palmer - 3000m Intermediate Boy 4th
Neela Sacault - 100m Junior Girl 3rd
Neela Sacault - 200m Junior Girl 1st
Alison Brunton - 800m Senior Girl 2nd
Alison Brunton - 200m Senior Girl 1st
Alison Brunton - 400m Senior Girl 1st
Chanel Clothier - 400m Intermediate 4th
Tom Lamason - Discus Senior Boy 4th
Kiani Van der Putten - High jump Senior Boy 1st

The Full Days results can be found here.

Pictured below Liam Balfour - Photo credit Valley Profile/Alice Parminter

Pegasus Cup

The Equestrian Team sent 4 riders to compete in The Pegasus Cup at Takapoto Estate. One of the biggest Show jumping events on the school calendar with over 180 riders across 51 schools.

Takapoto Estate is an amazing venue and adds another level to the competition. All our riders gave it their best, achieved some personal goals and should be proud of their accomplishments.

Tahlia Osborne and her pony Sweet Soul Kalani placed 3rd in the 80cm SJ round consisting of 2 phases and 3rd in the 80-90 Accumulator class. Scoring a total of 44 points in just 33.94 seconds.

Lexi Ford and her horse FE Goodness Gracious had a clear 90-1m Accumulator round with a score of 44 points.

Sarah-Kate Lusby and her horse Bendermerry went double clear in the 80cm 2 phase show jumping and clear in the 80cm equitation class. They scored 32 points in their 80-90cm Accumulator class.

Ella Simpson and her pony Pinto Dude went double clear in the 80cm 2 phase Show Jumping.

Big thank you to all the sponsors and the parents for making this possible, and to our support person Meredith Lee for coming along and helping out.

Community Thank Yous

A massive thanks goes out to Peninsula Roofing and Scaffolding for the seating put up to cater for all of our Swimming Sports Events for year 1-13.We truly appreciate your ongoing support with our school sports events.

Thank You from our Wood Tech Department

A big thank you from the Mercury Bay Area School Wood Technology department to all of the community members who kindly donated wood this year. The students and myself really appreciate it. I look forward to showing off some of their outcomes.

Y 7-8 Triathlon

Latest Plane Build Log 12.03.25

Rudder Pedals, Horizontal Stabiliser, Wing Light. Open the photos to read the full log.

Coastguard Cadetship 2025

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

Womans Rugby Workshop Y9 Upwards

MB Football Club - Mini Kickers & 8th Grade Muster

MBAS Netball 2025 Courses and Events

• 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.

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