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Kia ora tātou e te whānau, Thank you to all families who could attend our school interviews this week. While regular reports provide an excellent snapshot of your child’s progress, meeting their teachers face to face helps deepen the communication channels we need to ensure student success. I also appreciate that not everyone can attend these meetings, so I encourage you to contact any of your child’s teachers if you need further information. The latest Mount Maunganui College student report lists each teacher's email. Academically, Term One is a crucial time of the year. A lot of the groundwork for success is shaped during this term, so students and their families must keep communicating with each other and the college to ensure students manage workload requirements. Typically, the end of term is when assessments can begin to pile up for students in junior and senior school, so good study habits and time management strategies need to be supported and encouraged early. In addition to the academic pressures facing students this term, our co-curricular programme is in full swing. Our arts programme is moving ahead full steam with the development of school productions, DanceNZMade, music groups, and school events beginning to fill the calendar. Equally, summer sports are in full swing, and pre-season winter sport training and musters are underway. Summer Tournament Week is on next week, so good luck to every student participating in this event. I have been lucky enough to witness the development of many teams over the past few weeks, and I know each student will play their part and represent us with pride. Our co-curricular programme is possible because of the tremendous support we receive from our community. I want to acknowledge every parent and helper who helps shape the memorable experiences for our students. I sincerely thank our sponsors, coaches, managers, and chauffeurs. Lastly, thanks to everyone who has made an effort to attend any of our many recent events that have welcomed families into the college to understand more about learning at Mount Maunganui College. Too often, families step back as young people move into secondary school. While ensuring your child takes increasing responsibility and ownership of their lives and learning, we all continue to play an essential role. At Mount Maunganui College, we want to foster the child/family/school relationship for as long as possible, so please feel welcome to contact us. The team and I appreciate your involvement. Ngā mihi,  |
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______________________________________________________________ INTRODUCING OUR STUDENT LEADERS |
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Performing Arts LeadersHi, my name is Jenna Adlington, and I’m super excited to share my love of the performing arts with everybody at Mount Maunganui College this year. I especially love drama, but I also danced and sang for a long time. This year, I’ll be part of the school’s Shakespeare team, and I’ve attended four regional and two national festivals so far. Aside from the arts, I’m also involved in other things across the school, like debating and being a career ambassador, and I also co-lead the school's writing group. So don’t be afraid to say hello, and I hope to see you all at the performing arts events this year. Hey everyone, my name is David Fourie, and I'm super stoked to be one of Mount Maunganui College's performing arts leaders for 2024. I have been involved in the performing arts since primary school; it is my main passion. Since year 10, I have been a part of the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival and have been fortunate enough to go down to Wellington three times for the national competition and compete with MMC. I also attend weekly drama classes at Detour Theatre at the Historic Village and have performed in three productions over the years. In June of this year, I am hoping to reprise my role at Detour Theatre as Constable Thompkins in the third instalment of the “Murdered to Death” series. My hope for this year is to be a role model that all year levels can look up to and respect and hopefully show how thrilling taking part in the performing arts at Mount Maunganui College is. ______________________________________________________________ |
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Community LeadersKia ora, our names are Sean Collins and Amber Peck, and we are thrilled to serve as your community leaders for 2024. This year, we are super excited to be running various events such as the 40-hour famine, the blood drive, and the head shave. We are also looking at doing other community initiatives throughout the year, such as clean-ups, charity drives, and fundraising. In doing this, we want to create a positive community environment by keeping ourselves and other students involved in activities and contributing to our local area. Throughout our time at Mount Maunganui College, we’ve had countless opportunities to help shape ourselves and the community around us. We invite all students to join us in making a difference and impacting our community. We cannot wait to see you guys all get involved! ______________________________________________________________ |
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Cultural LeadersKia ora, I’m Isabella Scott, a cultural leader at Mount Maunganui College for 2024, alongside Miles Benjamin. I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and I moved to New Zealand when I was 5 years old. I speak fluent Portuguese, and I have grown up around a mix of Brazilian and New Zealand music, food and cultures. I appreciate and embrace all of the diversity we have here at Mount Maunganui College. My aim for the Cultural Council this year is to get more people involved and enthusiastic about helping organise and plan events. These exciting events include Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, Easter and an International food night. Mount Maunganui College has offered me many opportunities throughout my time here, and I am grateful to be representing the school as one of your student leaders for 2024. I can't wait to see what this year will bring! I’m Miles Benjiman, one of the school's cultural council leaders. I’m a Tauranga local, being born and raised in Merivale. Much of my work outside of the school revolves around community service and activism. My main goal for this year is to create a safe welcoming, inviting environment within the school and the council where other students can strive to reach their full potential, learn more about other cultures, and learn what culture means. |
______________________________________________________________ NEW VANSTwo welcome additions to our school vehicle fleet are now available for use. ‘Hauora’ and ‘Ako’ join ‘Mana’ and ‘Aroha’ in time for summer tournament week. These vans include great safety features and luggage storage and will be primarily used for overnight trips. Staff have been trained to ensure they are driven carefully and safely. Community members supporting our trips will need to undergo a short assessment before being able to drive these vans. Please get in touch with the staff member attached to a trip if you think you may need to drive one of our school vans. |
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______________________________________________________________ ENVIRONMENT GROUPOver 20 members of the Environment Group took time out of their Sunday to help at the Historic Village. An area at the back of the Historic Village is used as a sensory food garden for Neuro-diverse groups as well as the local community who can take the food for free. However, Convolvulus has taken over the area and is depriving the fruit trees of nutrients and water. So the group took to the slopes and ripped out a section around the peach trees and surrounding area. There is still so much work to do, so a follow up session early next term is planned. Keep an eye out in the newsletter for the date, as everyone is welcome to come and help out. |
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______________________________________________________________ UNIFORMThis a reminder to all families to make sure their child’s uniform meets our guidelines. We are noticing an increase in students wearing non-polishable shoes, incorrect socks and hoodies. Students can wear a non-regulation waterproof jacket to and from school on wet days. Please ensure your child is also adhering to our jewellery standards. No septums or rings are permitted on the face. Our discipline and defiance procedures will deal with ongoing uniform issues if not resolved promptly. |
______________________________________________________________ STUDENT ID PHOTOSAs ID cards are not required for school, students will not receive one this year unless they order it through the Photolife website. Information on how to order will be sent out from Photolife and cards will be sent directly to them. Parent Queries – Please contact Photolife on: enquiries@photolife.co.nz |
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SPORTS NEWSLETTER Dan Meade Off-field Sports Uniforms
Waikato / BOP Athletics |
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If you have any questions please contact me on danm@mmc.school.nz. Social Media Facebook: Mount Maunganui College Sport ______________________________________________________________ |
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______________________________________________________________ KEY DATES
2024 Term Dates (click to view) March 2024 |