Mahurangi College Newsletter Issue 1 2018

The new school year has started well with over 1400 Domestic and 40 International students. Mrs Wynne has been appointed as Assistant Principal with Mrs Ruland stepping into her previous position as our Head of English and Languages. We have warmly welcomed 11 new teachers, three from roll growth.

Rupert Power’s scholarship in English was awarded at Outstanding level being just one mark off the top scholar nationally in this subject. All four of our Head and Deputy Head prefects for 2018 were amongst those who gained academic blues this year. These students are modelling our PRIDE values.

Environmental Sustainability is a new position this year arising directly from our consultation last year around the new strategic plan for the school.

Parents and students were very keen to see this introduced as a new subject within our curriculum, spanning both Science and Social Sciences, but also to see it taught and promoted across the curriculum in all subject areas.

Our students achieved well in the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) last year. Students have until the end of February to complete the previous year’s standards, so the final results will not be published until then, but our initial results look very pleasing with a 96.3% pass rate at Level 1, 94.5% at Level 2, 84.8% at Level 3 and 72.9% at UE (compared to a 59.9% national pass rate).

Our new Strategic Plan can be viewed on our website, with our new Vision, Values and Goals and, under each of the goals, a series of Projects we will be working on over the next 3-5 years. Six of these Projects comprise our Annual Plan for 2018, which is also on our website. Both documents can be found in the Board section, under Our College.

The new Vision and Values are being introduced this term through whānau classes and assemblies. Our intention is to see them actively lived out throughout the college by both students and staff.

We were delighted with our Excellence Endorsements. To gain an excellence endorsement students must gain at least 50 credits in one year at excellence level.

This has become hugely motivational for our students with almost a quarter of our senior students successfully gaining course endorsements for excellence in their NCEA last year (see chart below).

These students were all awarded Blues at our Academic Blues evening held on Thursday 15th February, along with the 10 students who between them gained 12 Subject Scholarships last year:

Matthew Torckler Zane Illingworth Sam Cadwallader Jasmine Eriksen Ella Martin Wanghua Yang Jack Yarndley Hannah Dunn Hannah Dunn Alisha McLennan Rupert Power Rupert Power

Issue 01 2018

Biology History Biology Media Studies Fashion Technology Geography Physics Biology Media Studies English Physics English (outstanding)

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

Congratulations to all of our students. I am greatly looking forward to the busy and exciting year ahead as we work together on our six new projects, and on cascading our new Vision and Values. Our Board and Friends of Mahu are planning a community event to celebrate both Our Place and Our People. I also look forward to sharing in that celebration with you.

The tail end of cyclone Fehi meant our annual Year 13 camp on Great Barrier were forced to stay an extra day on the island. Despite this unexpected twist, our 91 students, 13 parents and 7 staff had a ball starting the school year in such a unique and beautiful environment. Each day involved a 5-9 hour tramp from campsite to campsite. A welcome swim at the end helped exhausted bodies recover and spirits perk up. Each group enjoyed a rest day for peer support training, which helped them to bond as a group, and provide skills which will put into practice with our Year 7 students. At the realisation of the physical and mental challenges they had overcome, all came away with a new respect for themselves, each other and this untamed wilderness located right on our back doorstep.

DAVID MACLEOD PRINCIPAL

RUSSELL STIRLING TIC YEAR 13 CAMP

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

LEVEL 1

27

29

32

39

48

LEVEL 2

20

19

25

29

41

LEVEL 3

9

12

13

12

20

TOTALS

56

60

70

80

109

MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE

MAHURANGI.SCHOOL.NZ

STUDENTS HELP BUILD A KITCHEN IN INDIA

During the summer holidays a group of nine students headed to India with Dr Zhang for a unique outside the classroom learning adventure. The experience included a week of charity work finishing a school kitchen, a week trekking and time experiencing the colours, culture and food that is India.

CATHERINE WYNNE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mahurangi College is thrilled to introduce our new Assistant Principal, Mrs Catherine Wynne. When Catherine started here at Mahurangi College back in 2004 she was Catherine Hutton and mad about English.

Over the years she has had a number of roles including academic dean, specialist classroom teacher, assistant head of faculty, head of faculty and now, an assistant principal. When asking Catherine about what drives her in this profession, she is immediately voluble about connecting with students, helping them find their spark and supporting them in keeping it alive. She says while

we have them here, and for most students that is a considerable period (7 years), we are developing the whole child. Mahu’s vision for ‘our place’ is for our students and teachers to be challenged, to excel and to draw on a firm sense of belonging.

Catherine says it is an exciting vision for the school and she is keen to dive in.

“When we are excited about what we are doing, we are walking the talk. What we want for our students is what we want for ourselves.” Catherine has two sons who are senior students at Mahurangi College developing into fine young men.

She says one of the best aspects of being in this community is the schooling.

The area features several primary and one secondary school where a student

can rub shoulders with people from all walks of life. This is a rich opportunity which makes our young better people; it creates an understanding of others’ lives. The schools are at the heart of the community and lay deep bonds for our students which will always be a part of who they are. She is pleased her sons have been offered so many opportunities at Mahurangi; educational, sports and cultural. She wants everyone’s sons and daughters in this community to have the same chance to develop into strong and compassionate youth wanting to make the most of, and to contribute to, the world around them. Get to know all our management team better via our website: mahurangi.school.nz/our college/staff.

LIANA SYKES ACHIEVER OF THE MONTH 2018 HEAD GIRL Academic Blue NCEA Level 2 Excellence Endorsement Academic Blue NCEA Level 1 Excellence Endorsement Member of Academic Academy Netball Senior 1 2017 Sport Blue 2017 Pictured with Walter Braidwood Mitre 10 Warkworth Team Leader

Proudly Supporting Mahurangi College

Cnr Woodcocks Rd & Mansel Drive WARKWORTH Phone 425 8119

MAHUHUKITERANGI CHALLENGING. EXCELLING. BELONGING. OUR PLACE

MAHURANGI.SCHOOL.NZ