MBAS Newsletter, Term 2, Week 2, 9th May 2025

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Senior Student Leaders

Students Against Dangerous Driving

We just had an incredible Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) Week at school, focused on raising awareness about the dangers of reckless and impaired driving. On Tuesday, local Police visited to do fun activities with students, running a hands-on obstacle course using beer goggles to show the effects of impairment. On Thursday, the Cooks Beach and Whitianga volunteer fire brigades delivered a live car cutting demonstration, led in part by one of our own students who is a trained fire brigade member. The week was an eye-opening experience that left a strong impression on students and staff alike, encouraging everyone to make safer choices on and around the road.

Pink Shirt Day  - 15th May 

Everyone is to wear something pink with mufti. 

There will be chalk bombing during lunch with a prize for the best art piece, as well as a game of Tapu ae on the field.

Attendance Matters!

In April 2024 the Government announced a regular attendance target of 80% of students to be present for more than 90% of the term by 2030.Our latest data shows that we are on the increase to achieve this goal.Keep up the great work in encouraging our students to attend school regularly.

Photolife - Photo's Are Ready For Ordering Now

Photolife photos are now ready to order.  Check your emails/Spam as the access key codes were sent out yesterday.

FREE DELIVERY BACK TO SCHOOL ends at midnight on SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025

New Announcement from the Ministry of Education

As part of our focus on lifting student achievement we have introduced new, knowledge—rich and internationally—comparable curriculum this year for Maths in Years 0—8 and English in Years 0—6, and Te Reo Rangatira Years 0-6 and Pängarau Years 0-8 wähanga ako.

This means we are currently changing from the old to the new curriculum. We want to acknowledge that schools and kura will only have been using the new curricula from the start of 2025, which includes new teaching and assessment methods and content.

Because of this you could see a change in your child's progress or achievement compared to previous years which may be the result of changes in the curriculum expectations for your child's year level. If you have concerns or questions about your child's achievement, we strongly suggest you talk with your child's teacher or kaiako. They will also have used their own observations, classroom tasks and other tests to report on the progress your child is making.

Year 9-13 Cross Country

Year 9-13 Cross Country

Monday 12th May pp 20th May

Students are to come to school in uniform and will get changed into PE gear and house
colours before we head to the Beach.

The event will be held on Buffalo Beach and low tide is 12.57pm.

First Race approx 1pm.

Year 9: Athletes must be in Year 9 and under 15

Junior: Under 16 as at 31 December 2025

Senior: Under 20 as at 31 December 2025

Second Hand Ball Dress/Suit Sale!

This year we have set up a second hand Ball dress and menswear sale, an opportunity for students to sell previous Ball items and also to buy them.

Some of these items are brand-new. If you are interested in selling an item bring it to Mrs Reader in the room 16 office. You will then be asked to fill out a form that you can put alongside your item and the cost. 

If you are interested in purchasing an item you can come and see me on Wednesday morning, lunchtime and after school or by arrangement. Sales will be cash.

Photo: For reference only

Year 3 and 4 Visit to Puahape

On Wednesday at 1pm all the year 3's and 4's went to learn about the Puahape and the actions to Ko te Kura.

We learned that the structures' Ranginui and Papatuanuku, Earth Mother and Sky Father, and Tangaroa God of the 
sea.

We learned about the titi bird and maui stone, the waka and sea creatures. All the sea creatures are sting rays,
snapper, hammer head sharks and all types of fish.

I love learning about the Puahape.

Report by Penelope Graves, Year 4

M5 - Week 2 Happennings

This week we had the pleasure of visiting our very own Puahape. We learned about the respect, kindness and love we feel when we enter. We practiced our school song “ko te kura”. In maths we have worked very hard, learning about multiplication and division. Happy week 2. 

M10 - Tuakana Visit

M10 had their tuakana visit from Mrs Reader's class in the senior school. We shared our phonics learning, reading sentences. Then we chose one of the sentences, wrote it and drew a picture to match it. Our buddies helped us and wrote a comment in our books. 

Room 30 - Matariki Learning

Room 30 began our learning of Matariki this week by learning about the Maramataka (Lunar Calendar). We learned about the significance of the changing seasons and what that meant to prepare for the year ahead. Today we planted seedlings for the winter crops. 

Y9 and 10 Forest Guardians Academy

Every Thursday the Forest Guardians Academy spend a lesson in the classroom learning about NZ's native fauna and flora and why there is such an important focus on protecting these taonga. After lunch we head out to the Whitianga Bike Park or the Robinson Rd trapline to clear and re-set the traps established by Teresa Shepherd and her classes over the years. Mr Maskery's Y7/8 class is also servicing these trap lines and alternate with us so that these traps are being tended to every week.

Last term our academy class completed 3 trips to the bike park and 2 rounds of Robinson Rd with a total of 9 rats, 2 possums and 1 hedgehog trapped. This term we are off to a great start with 1 stoat and 1 rat caught. 

We are lucky to have the support of whānau who help transport students to the bike park and accompany them around the trap lines. Students who came into the year as expert trappers are imparting their knowledge onto others and we now have a number of students becoming confident with setting and clearing tracks. A fantastic legacy to pass on.

Mrs Seigmeier

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Bay Bling Academy

On Thursday in Bay Bling Academy, we were lucky enough to have Carmen Taylor from Rainbow Life Warrior. Students made Crystal necklaces, key rings or pendulums! 

Thanks Carmen for coming in and sharing your knowledge with the students.

Current Plane Build Log

7th May 2025. Flaperons, Wing Lighting, Mid Fuselage Section. Open photos below to see full write up.

Sports

Mercury Bay Football Club/Mercury Bay Area School Football Fixtures

Tertiary Tidbits

Upcoming Tertiary In-Person Visits - Term 2

Week 3 - Wintec - Tuesday 13th May - Puahape (Block 2)

Yr 13’s ONLY
Week 5 - Waikato University (Scholarship/Accommodation Info) - Thurs 29th May (Block 2)

Scholarship information

Moneyhub produces a complete list of all scholarships available to 2025 students who intend to study at university in 2026, including tips and must-know facts. You can find out more here

The Ultimate Checklist for Anyone Finishing High School at the End of 2025

You can find out more here

NZ Defence Force Virtual Info Evening

NZDF have scheduled a virtual Force Information Evening for Tuesday, 20th May at 6:00pm. Hopefully, this time works well for any interested parents. The session will run on Teams, with two recruiters who will help answer questions live throughout the presentation. Visitors can register using the link below.

Virtual Force Information Evening | Defence Careers

The registration is on the website under the events tab then online events.

Careers Corner

Don't forget to register!

Join us for our NZIS National Open Day!

It's not too late to register and remember that you can bring your friends and whānau too.

Register Now!

Nurses Notes

Community Notices

Children's Free Ear Clinic - Whitianga

The T2 Ear Service schedule can be found at the link below:

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

Mercury Bay Library - Term 2

Smedley Station Open Days

MB Performing Arts - Aladdin Production

Whitianga Run Fest - MBAS Students Run Free

Thank You to our Skool Loop Supporters

Skool Loop - One Stop School Information App