MBAS Newsletter, Term 3, Week 7, 29th August 2025

MBAS Calendar

Kia Ora tātou – Greetings to you all

From the Middle Years

It’s been a colourful and spirited week here in the Middle Years as students have embraced Spirit Week with enthusiasm and creativity. From aspiring doctors and tradies to some very imaginative dream jobs, our careers dress up was a real highlight. This was followed by an array of favourite Characters on Wednesday, and then a relaxed end to the week with cosy pyjamas all round. It’s always a great to see students expressing themselves and having fun with their peers.

Looking ahead,  Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite Assessments will be taking place next week for Year 10 students (and some senior students) who are ready and have been notified via email. The schedule is as follows:

• Literacy – Reading: Tuesday 2nd September, 9:00am

• Literacy – Writing: Wednesday 3rd September, 10:30am

• Numeracy: Thursday 4th September, 9:00am

Please ensure students bring their fully charged devices (and chargers), pens, and for Numeracy, a calculator and ruler.

This week we also say a heartfelt farewell to Jenny Bloom. Jenny stepped down from her Deputy Principal role last year and has since been teaching in our Year 7 and 8 classes. She is now moving on to a new chapter in business ownership. We sincerely thank Jenny for her many years of dedication, leadership, and care. She has made a lasting impact on our school community and will be greatly missed.

As winter bugs continue to make their rounds, we hope everyone stays warm and well. We look forward to a productive final few weeks of the term - it’s a busy but exciting time.

Ngā mihi nui,
Janine and Pete

No Parking Outside St Johns Please

Please don't park on the grass outside St Johns or in their carpark for afterschool pick-ups as it can cause issues if the ambulances need to get in or out quickly. Thank you.

BOT Elections - Voting Now Open!

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Voting is now open! - please vote for the people you want to represent you on our School Board.

We will continue to send out invitations to vote by email. If you have already voted please ignore the email.

If you are yet to vote - Please do so!! If you would like a paper ballot you can come and see me at the school office.

Voting closes on September 10th - SO VOTE NOW FOR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

2026 Y11, 12 and 13 Students Course Selection

Course selection for 2026 are underway with last week's çurriculum open day and careers roadshow kicking things off.  Our 2026 Senior Course Guide was also published on our website last week for students and whānau to explore together and plan for next year's learning programme.

https://mbas.ac.nz/years/senior-years-11-13/courses

Our video that explains NCEA and University Entrance is also worth viewing and can be found in our course guide.
Links to our digital Senior Years Course Selection forms will be emailed out to all current Year 10, 11 and 12 students and whānau next week.

Homestay Families Needed

PhotoLife Sports and Cultural Photos - Updated Schedule

Photolife Sports and Cultural Photos

4th and 5th September, find your team on the updated schedule here

MBAS Photo Challenge

Primary Art Exhibition

We hope you managed to visit the art exhibition over the last few days. The tamariki worked hard and were so proud of their work. It was awesome to see such different exhibits from each class, no class was the same.
$600 was raised ! Ka rawe whanau.

M4 - Museum Visit

We had a super time at the Mercury Bay Museum this morning. Our focus was on “how we got here” and followed on from our earlier session with Becs. We learned about the huge amount of luggage migrants needed to bring on their trip from England to New Zealand and how uncomfortable it was. Everyone was not impressed with the idea of having to do schoolwork on the ship! We discovered many of the street names were named after early settlers and played a chaotic scavenger hunt game for photos of old Whitianga. Tomorrow we will revisit our learning and compare it with what we have learned about Kupe and his journey in Matahourua to New Zealand. Big thanks to Becs from the museum and to Emma Fletcher who helped create our town game.

TVP Cross Country

A great day was had by all who attended the Thames Valley Primary Cross Country in Ngatea.  You can see the full results here.

A special mention of two students... Koby Maxwell and Ryder Hamilton, both from Mercury Bay Area School. During the day they found a phone and handed it in at the finish line. We really appreciate their integrity and so did the owner!! So thanks boys.  

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Y7-8 Technology

Y7-8 FOR technology students working in groups to construct the tallest paper tower that can support a small weight.  Knowledge of geometric construction and structural integrity is key to success.

Y7-8 MCA Technology Students working in groups to build a successful paper roller coaster which must have a hill, loop and corner.  Students need to understand how to increase potential energy and reduce friction.

Y7-8 MCA students working in groups to design the tallest tower capable of holding a small weight.

Sports Results

Football
MBAS Senior Boys (mixed) lost to Fairfield College 2-0
MBAS Junior Boys (mixed) beat HBHS Orange 2-0

Sports Fixtures

Plane Build Weekly Log 27.08.2025

Plane Build Log 27th August 2025 - Roll over Bar, Landing Gear/ Fairings, Fuselage Section. Open the photos below to see the full log.

Tertiary Tidbits

Calling all property & construction future leaders
- there is only one week left to get your scholarship applications in!

https://keystonetrust.org.nz/scholarships/scholarships-for-school-leavers/

https://studyspy.ac.nz/

Psychology at Otago University

Careers Corner

https://www.seek.co.nz/career-advice/article/interview-mistakes-that-could-cost-you-the-job

Here is a  quick link to each learning area, as well as guides for choosing NCEA subjects, what is NCEA and planning for life after school.

https://tahatu.govt.nz/school-and-ncea/explore-ncea-subjects

Duke of Edinburgh Award

We are super excited to announce that we will be offering students in Year 10 - 13 the opportunity to be a part of the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Award starting next year here at MBAS.

There are three levels to the Award - Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level has four specific sections that participants need to complete activities in (plus a fifth one at Gold level). These activities take place outside of school time and get verified by coaches/members of the community then checked off at school by the Award Leader. We will support students and help them to navigate the sections and assist with the Adventurous Journey.

• The total cost of completing an Award will differ depending on the activities and Adventurous Journey you select.
• Registration Fee - Bronze $95, Silver $95, Gold $125. You can not complete Gold until Silver is completed.
  
• If cost is a barrier to you, speak to your Award Leader (Mrs Reader) about our participant assistance fund which can help with registration fee and Adventurous Journey.

Registrations for this opportunity will be announced and available before the end of Term 3 and payment due in Term 4. We will begin the Award in March 2026.
More information can be accessed on the website https://dofehillary.org.nz or by emailing readerd@mbas.ac.nz. 

Wellbeing Whispers

When Your Child Thinks Gaming Is Homework

If you’ve ever tried calling your young person for dinner while they’re mid-boss fight, you’ll know that gaming is no small side hobby. It’s a huge part of many kids’ social and leisure lives. Like most things our kids love (sugar, TikTok, staying up way too late), gaming comes with both brilliant upsides and some sneaky pitfalls.

 The Good Stuff

Gaming isn’t just staring blankly at a screen. Many modern games require strategy, problem-solving, and lightning-fast decision-making. Think of it as a brain workout… with more dragons. Multiplayer games often rely on teamwork, leadership, and communication—valuable skills that spill over into real-world group projects (yes, even the dreaded school science fair).

One of the biggest positives? Gaming provides a safe space for risk-taking. In a game, young people can experiment, fail, reset, and try again—all without broken bones, blown budgets, or burned dinners. That sense of “fail and try again” builds resilience, adaptability, and confidence. For more cautious kids, it’s a chance to push limits in a safe environment. And for the naturally bold? Well, better to test that risky move in Fortnite than on a skateboard without a helmet.

Gaming is also a social connector. For many young people, games are where friendships are formed, laughter is shared, and teamwork is tested. For kids who might struggle with face-to-face interaction, gaming can be a confidence-builder that opens the door to belonging.

 The Watch Outs

Of course, gaming has its shadow side. Games are designed to keep players hooked—flashing rewards, constant upgrades, and that sneaky “just one more level” pull. Hours can fly by without notice, eating into sleep, exercise, homework, and family time.

There’s also the content factor. Not every game is age-appropriate, and online platforms can expose kids to strong language, toxic behavior, or unwanted contact. It’s not all bad, but it’s definitely not all good either. And let’s be honest—most of us as adults know the guilty pull of scrolling “just a bit longer”… so we can sympathize with how hard it is for our kids to switch off.

 Parent Power-Ups

So what can parents do to keep gaming positive without World War III breaking out every time you mention “bedtime”?

• Set reasonable limits. Agree on daily or weekly screen time and stick with it.

• Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight. Sleep wins every time.

• Encourage balance. Gaming should be one slice of the pie, not the whole pizza. Sports, creative hobbies, and downtime matter too.

• Take an interest. Ask your child to explain their game, maybe even give it a go. Warning: you will lose, and your child will enjoy that.

• Model good screen habits. Kids notice if you’re scrolling Instagram at 1 a.m. while telling them to switch off at 9.

 The Takeaway

Gaming is here to stay—it’s woven into modern childhood. With balance, curiosity, and a bit of structure, gaming can be a powerful tool for growth, creativity, social connection, and safe risk-taking. The goal isn’t to press quit—it’s to make sure gaming stays a healthy part of your child’s world, not the whole world itself.

So next time your child insists that “gaming is good for me,” they may actually have a point. Just maybe not at midnight on a school night.

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 Resource Recovery Centre Open Day

Mercury Bay Clean Up

Game Vault - Holiday Programme

MB Pickleball Club - Youth Academy

Mercury Bay Pickleball Club are excited to introduce a next generation of young stars to the fastest growing sport of Pickleball.

We are holding a free "give it a go" session on Sunday 21 September 3-4pm, come try it out!

The program is a 4 week block of hour long sessions on Sundays 3pm to 4pm. Starting Sunday 5 October and ending 26 October. We will also have the option to extend for a further month if popular.

Bring A Kid To Bowls

New Saturday Morning Group at the MB Library

Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp

TV Badminton Jnr Champs

Mercury Bay Library

Oscar Explorers - After School Care

Skool Loop - One Stop School Information App