MBAS Newsletter, Term 2, Week 3, 16th May 2025

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

Primary Years

"He iti hau marangai, e tū pāhokahoka"
 Just like a rainbow after the storm, success follows failure. 

Kia ora rā e te whānau,

Ko te wāhanga tuarua… Term 2…

Growing Good People

Te Whanganui o Hei - Yr 5-6 Marine Discovery Programme

This slice of paradise that we live in gives our students access to our amazing environment.  Learning to care for our environment is crucial and providing our students with opportunities and access to this learning is another way to grow good people:)  Our year 5-6 classes are involved in a marine discovery programme.  They have had one in class session building on their knowledge about marine reserves which they will then apply when they go out on the Glass Bottom Boats to experience the differences between ‘in the reserve’ and 'outside of the reserve’.  On Monday of this week, Rm30 students were the first class to do the boat trip:)

Kia ū ki te pai - A Force for Good & KAURI:)

As you can see our primary students love being a force for good (dressing up:).  

Students receiving KAURI certificates to celebrate the different ways they show kindness, achievement, unity, respect or unity is one of our deliberate actions for growing good people:)  I wonder how many fridges or notice boards in homes in our community have these certificates posted on them ;)

Growing Good Learners

Mātaiaho - Pāngarau hou - New curriculum maths

Loads of engaging and learning with the new maths curriculum. Our primary years teachers have been working really hard to learn and implement the new mathematics and statistics curriculum.  Our tamariki have also been working really hard to adjust to the new way maths is being taught and the supporting resources.  As expected, some are finding the adjusting easy and others are needing some extra support.  

Growing Good Leaders

Whaea Montana

Building good leaders is not just about our students:)

I would like to acknowledge Whaea Montana for the amazing mahi she is doing in leading elements of kaupapa Māori in the primary years.  From the mahi she does in her own class, to supporting kaiako and students  with te reo Māori learning in all of our primary classes.  Whaea Montana also dedicates time to sharing the narrative that connects our local iwi, Ngāti Hei with Puahape and our kura.

Kua rangatira mātou i a koe!

He aha atu? - What else?

• Parent Info sessions in the library - Wednesday 21st 1pm-2pm & Wednesday 28th 5pm-6pm (both sessions will have the same content) - Friday May 16th 

• Whole School Assembly in the John Wright Gymnasium - Monday 26/5 11:20 am

• Primary Years Assembly in the hall Friday 6th June & 27th June

• Matariki Cohort Assemblies (venue TBC) Thursday 19th June

• Attendance:  Please let our attendance officer know if your child is going to be absent and a brief explanation for the absence i.e. Hira is going to be away as she is sick (has a medical appointment, is going to a tangi/funeral, we have family visiting).  The importance of the explanation is so we can apply the correct Ministry code.  Attendance is a high priority for the Ministry across Aotearoa. 
• Text: 021 0255 6802
• Email: attendance@mbas.ac.nz
• Phone: (07) 866 5916

Ngā mihi,

Hira, Pip & The Primary Team

Attendance Matters!

Running Late?

Being late for school has a negative impact on your child's learning.  Being just 10 minutes late every day adds up to an hour a week of lost learning.  Over a year this adds up to one week of school being missed a year. Being late for class often means important instructions are missed and the class is interrupted.  Your child may feel uncomfortable and on the outer with peers.  Children need to arrive on time ready to settle into their school work. Arriving at least 5 minutes before the bell allows your child to interact with their peers and teacher and get themselves ready for their busy day. Attending school regularly and arriving on time helps prepare children for the real world where it is expected that they turn up every day and on time. (taken from Attendance Matters - A Parent's Guide www.capshauraki.co.nz)

Upcoming Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities – 20–22 May

Next week, a selection of our Year 10-12 students will be participating in the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (CAAs), which are scheduled to take place from Monday 20 May to Wednesday 22 May in the school hall. These assessments are an important part of the NZQA requirements and for students to obtain NCEA Literacy and Numeracy standards.

Assessment Timetable:

• Literacy – Reading: Tuesday 20 May, starting in Block 1
  
  
• Literacy – Writing: Wednesday 21 May, starting in Block 2
  
  
• Numeracy: Thursday 22 May, starting in Block 1
  
  

What students need to bring:

• A fully charged digital device (as assessments are completed online)
• A pen
• Device charger
• An approved calculator and a ruler for the Numeracy assessment

Students can check their school emails and log into their NZQA account to confirm which assessments they are registered for.

There will be another opportunity to sit the Literacy and Numeracy CAAs in September for those who have not obtained these credits.

Further information has been emailed directly to students and their whānau, of those who are registered for these assessments. 

Students will also need to bring their usual class equipment as they will return to class once the assessment has finished.

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 last week.

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

Financial Education in Schools

Financial education will be embedded as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for Year 1-10 students, set to be available for use from 2026, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. 

“Embedding essential skills into the curriculum will ensure our young people are better prepared to make informed financial decisions in a complex financial world. This will positively impact their lives and the broader economy,” says Minister Stanford. 

For younger students the curriculum will cover key financial skills, such as identifying needs versus wants, having a bank account, earning, spending and saving. Older students will gain the knowledge needed to understand more complex concepts, such as budgeting, investment, interest, taxes, and insurance to help to build lifelong financial skills. We have already included financial maths in the new maths curriculum, which is being delivered this year.   

To support the implementation of financial education in the new curriculum, a variety of tools and resources, developed in collaboration with financial organisations, banks, and charitable trusts, will be available to schools, ensuring they can effectively deliver the curriculum.

A new partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Retirement Commission will map the offerings from financial education providers against the updated curriculum.  The Retirement Commission’s work with providers will ensure consistent curriculum-aligned supports and resources, giving schools confidence in their delivery. 

This resource map will be extended into senior secondary years with guidance and resources for Year 11-13 students, supporting schools to flexibly deliver ongoing financial education to their students. 

“As the Minister responsible for the Retirement Commission, I absolutely believe that strengthening financial education is crucial to our Government’s focus on economic growth. We are all consumers, and financial literacy can set young Kiwis up to be savvy consumers – whether it’s knowing how to invest wisely, choose the best loan at a bank, or even identify a scam,” Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says.  

“We know that New Zealand parents have long called for financial education to be a priority. This curriculum update answers those calls, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge to thrive in both personal and financial aspects of their lives,” says Minister Stanford. 

This initiative marks a significant step forward in New Zealand’s education system, placing a strong emphasis on real-world skills that will empower students to take control of their financial futures. 

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

Pink Shirt Day at MBAS

What a colourful day around MBAS yesterday, it was great to see so many students and staff supporting Pink Shirt Day.

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Room 30 - Glass Bottom Boat

This term the year 5 and 6 syndicate have the opportunity to go out on the glass bottom boat. We are looking at the biodiversity of healthy oceans and the impacts of overfishing and pollution. 

Primary - Bun Making

This Wednesday, Annabelle, Jake, Sean and Jonah used parsley and lettuce from the school garden to help make yummy buns for school lunches.  The students then offered tasters around the primary school. It was a great way to use some of the yummy vegetables that the Busy Bee Gardeners have been growing, and it opened up some taste buds to something new. 

Y7-8 Technology

Year 7 & 8 technology students work through a design process to build the tallest tower that can support a small weight.  Pictured are students going through the testing/modification process before the final competition day.

Year 7&8 technology students' learning involves maximising potential energy while minimising heat and kinetic energies and also friction.  The challenge for students is to build a roller coaster in which a marble must complete one hill, one loop and one corner.

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Y9-13 Cross Country

We held our year 9-13 Cross Country down on Buffalo beach this week.  Students could run competitively for bragging rights on school trophies or enjoy the event with a jog or walk to complete their distances.

All competitors receive house points to help with the big push to see who would be overall house winner for 2025.  Buffalo were the winners for this event keeping them in the lead for now!

Year 9 & 10 Sports Camp

Last week, a group of our Year 9 and 10 students headed off for a huge week of competition at the annual Sports Camp, held at Totara Springs. It was a full-on schedule, with students competing in a wide variety of sports and games including football, basketball, hockey, cross country, table tennis, triathlon, and many more.

Each day kicked off with an 8:30am draw and didn’t wind down until well after 10pm, making for some very long, challenging days. Despite the intensity, our students showed incredible resilience and perseverance throughout the week—an effort that did not go unnoticed.

There were several standout performances: the mixed softball team battled their way to the quarterfinals, the mixed longball team made it all the way to the semifinals, and Slade Harper and Charlotte Allen narrowly missed out on taking the Petanque title in a closely contested final.

One of the highlights of the week was the emphasis on sportsmanship. Totara Springs staff, along with school staff from all participating schools, were asked to vote on examples of outstanding sportsmanship throughout the camp. We are proud to share that Mercury Bay Area School was awarded the overall Sportsmanship Award—an incredible achievement that speaks to the character and integrity of our students.

A massive well done to all who took part—you should be extremely proud of your efforts and achievements. We’re already looking forward to next year’s camp!

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Sports Results

Saturday sports results:

MB U15 36 v Hauraki Plains  26
Best Back ONeal Fenton
Best Forward Le Rome McKinnon
POD Raymond Collier
Hauraki pick of the day Liam Clothier

MB 1st XV 15 v Te Aroha 40
Player of the day Reo McQueen

Sports Fixtures

Football
The Mercury Bay Senior Boys (mixed) beat Paeroa Senior Boys in the first grading game of the season 12-1. 

Current Plane Build Log

14th May 2025. Flaperon, Wing Construction, Mid Fuselage Section. Open photos below to see full write up.

Tertiary Tidbits

Upcoming Tertiary In-Person Visits - Term 2

Waikato University (Scholarship/Accommodation Info) - Thurs 29th May, 10am-11am - Room 10 For yr12’s and yr13’s wanting more information about what is available and how to apply.

Scholarships Opening Soon

Lincoln University scholarships will be opening for applications from May 30th.

We have a wide variety of scholarships available for your students. These vary from financial support to fully inclusive support and training programmes. 

 Here’s some of the options we have available:

• Future Leader Scholarship
• Sports Scholarships: Basketball, Netball, Rowing, Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Elite
• Tihi Kahuraki Scholarship
• Pasifika Excellence Scholarship
• Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for Excellence
• All Māori and Pasifika Scholarships

 Please pass these fantastic opportunities along to your students and encourage them to apply. Applications close August 15th.

Lincoln Virtual Tour

Can’t visit Lincoln University in person? Take a Virtual Tour instead!

https://lincoln.youtour.nz/

VET INFO WEBINAR

Please find the recording of our recent Vet Info Webinar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_NABtYfz7k

• Navigate Ki Aoraki: Māori and Pasifika Student Day 2025
• Date: Wednesday 4^th June 2025
• Time: 10am-1pm
• Location: Waikato Innovation Park (3 Melody Lane, Ruakura, Hamilton East)
• You will need to have your own transport to attend and you must contact Sharon Porteous, Gateway Co-ordinator; email porteouss@mbas.ac.nz or text 027 311 6054 to register for this event.

• Waikato Information Evening
• Date: Thursday 5^th June 2025
• Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm
• Location: Waikato Innovation Park (3 Melody Lane, Ruakura, Hamilton East)
• Registration Link: Waikato Information Evening 2025
• Note:  This event is open to parents and guardians to attend.

Careers Corner

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.

The magazine is now available to read online:  www.oliverlee.co.nz/leavingschool-issue32 and can be easily downloaded onto PC’s, iPads, Smartphones and other devices.

The 32-page magazine is packed full of information that will be helpful to your students in Years 12–13 as they plan for their futures after finishing high school.

Included in this issue are profiles on seventeen young people making successful careers for themselves in a variety of jobs, including: Accounting, Agribusiness, Aquaculture, Construction, Engineering, Dairy Farming, Geographic Information Science (GIS), Law, Quarrying, Primary Industries,Plumbing, Science and Teaching. 

We also include details on the Tahatū Careers Expos which take place in May and June, the Polytechnic and University Open Days taking place from May to September 2025. Also included in the magazine are tips on the skills employers look for in new employees, good CV Preparation, Preparing for your first job and a feature on financial secrets for new adults.

Nurses Notes

Community Notices

Mercury Bay Library - Term 2

Smedley Station Open Days

Skool Loop - One Stop School Information App