Community Feedback Survey

My thanks to the almost 200 parents who have responded so far to my invitation to complete the survey. I also appreciate the many positive comments and constructive suggestions you have shared.

 

Owing to initial problems with connecting to the link I will keep it open for another few days – closing Wednesday 7th November – lets see if we can hit 300!

Growing greatness/Kia mana ake!

United Nations Day

Last Wednesday, 24 October was United Nations Day. I wish to highlight the day as many of our learning contexts this year have been linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which were designed by the United Nations. The 17 goals range from eliminating poverty to climate action and provide our students with a strong focus or direction for their learning.

We believe at MHJC that learning should be authentic. This means it has purpose and be relevant to the student. Developing a strong community conscience and desire to make a difference within students are goals we hold dear hence my desire to bring the SDG’s to the attention of the community.

Global citizens – our travellers return

We extend a warm welcome to our international travellers. Our first group of students returned from a very enjoyable trip to China where they experienced a wonderful cultural experience at Xian Lin Intermediate School in Nanjing. We wish this new connection to grow and perhaps host students from this school next year. The opportunity to meet students from another country, visit important cultural and historic places and see another school system provides our students with valuable personal insights. We thank Mrs Dada and Mrs Gao who planned, arranged and supervised the trip for their time and efforts.

 

Our second group was the national Tournament of Minds winners who competed in the international competition in Darwin. To the group’s disappointment they did not place however they emerged with great credit and we are proud of their achievement in this the first time MHJC has entered the event. Thanks to Mrs Lal who entered the school in the competition and supported the team to achieve and achieve an amazing result. We also extend our appreciation to everyone who supported the trip as the last minute fund-raising efforts (which reached the goal of covering all costs) was as much a success as any other!

 

In both cases our students have grown and learnt valuable life lessons.

 

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) at MHJC

One of the responsibilities of a Board of Trustees is to provide for the special needs of gifted and talented students. Recently I asked two members of our senior leadership team, Mrs Lal and Mrs Kilpatrick to attend a conference which provided new perspectives on this important area of our curriculum. As a result we will be reviewing our existing programmes in 2019 and introducing some modifications which will be trialled early next year.

 

The review will include:

  1. A shared definition and understanding of the phrase “gifted and talented”;
  2. A clear and comprehensive identification process of gifted and talented students;
  3. The modification of curriculum opportunities for gifted and talented students.

 

It is pleasing to note that we already have a well established programme for GATE students which include the accelerate class in year 9 and 10, a large number of extra curricular activities (4 Cornerstones) and a number of Extension courses within the DEEP programme which give students the opportunity to develop their gifts and talent in a number of areas.

 

I wish to signal a trial for Year 8 students next year. Current Year 7 students who will be identified as gifted or talented by teachers, themselves and parents will remain in their whānau in 2019 but come together for inquiry learning in 2 hour sessions with specially selected teachers. We wish to see the benefits of this model compared to our traditional model of moving identified students into one class within a whānau in Year 9 and 10.

 

Invitations to be considered for the 2019 Year 9 accelerate class have been sent to parents and this class will proceed as before. The class is rotated around the school and it will be Forest Whānau’s turn to accommodate the class next year. The Year 10 class will continue as before in Water Whānau.

 

Our gifted and talented students already enjoy a great deal of support and success at the school in a variety of ways ranging from Academic Competitions, STEM related challenges, cultural performances, sporting activities and leadership forums. Our intention is to broaden these opportunities so that even more students are able to experience this level of performance and involvement.

 

Growing greatness/Kia mana ake!

 

The MHJC Haka: Kia mana ake

A very special moment took place on the eve of Maori Language week – the first public performance to an audience of parents and friends – the Mission Heights Junior College very own Haka: Kia mana ake.

Created by Jason Tuhaka Senior, as a gift to the school, Jason has collaborated with Māori and Pasifika Coordinator Matua Brent Dunn, to bring this performance to life.

Performed by all our learners and teachers the video shows Kia mana ake was fully embraced and passionately performed by all 4 of the Whanau groups at the school – Water, Coast, Mountains and Forest. Amazing footage and inspired performance!

For the full video click here

https://youtu.be/AgoZwAxsUhk

NIWA Regional Science Fair Accolades:

NIWA Regional Science Fair Accolades:
MHJC had another outstanding year taking out top awards at the NIWA South and East Auckland Regional Science and Technology Fair! We had a range of projects entered from Years 7-10.

Congratulations to all our place winners, highly commended and special prizes – the following prizes were earned:
YEAR 7 : Saniya Lal — Highly Commended (Years 7 and 8 Consumer Science)
YEAR 8: Keiran Hicks and Jack Grant — Highly Commended (Years 7-10 Technology and Innovation); Katrina Pham and Risha Prasad — Third Place (Years 7-10 Technology and Innovation); Jessica Kang — First Place (Years 7-10 Technology and Innovation), Best Use of Electronics (Special Prize) and IET Engineering Junior Award (Special Prize)
YEAR 9: Faatima Nisa, Harshitha Surendran and Jahnavi Shah — Highly Commended (Years 9 and 10 Environmental Science)
Cong Yao Ma, Saniya Sajwan and Bhavjeet Kaur — Highly Commended (Years 9-13 Consumer Science)
Ricky Bassano — First Place (Years 9&10 Physical and Material World) and Overall Top Year 9 Project in the Fair (Special Prize)
YEAR10:
Paul Chan, Ethan Kidd and Harjot Singh Dharni — Third Place (Years 9 and 10 Living World)
Pahul Kumar, Kashvi Vij and Tania Kumar — First Place (Years 9 and 10 Living World)
Annie Man, Helen Man and Kathleen Tieu — Auckland Transport Award (Special Prize)

School haka – Kia mana ake

We are very excited about an important event at the school which will take place on Friday, 7 September at 2 o’clock on the tennis courts. For several weeks staff and students have been learning the school haka – Kia Mana Ake and it will be performed by each whānau and as a whole school on that day.

I have been delighted with the energy and enthusiasm the school has shown during the learning process. It was emphasised that the performances would not be a competition but a celebration and the spirit of the haka has shone through as a result. I have also been impressed by the leadership shown by our Māori students who have led the learning of the haka within their whānau.

It will be a most enjoyable and heart-warming celebration of Ti Kanga Māori; whānau and school unity and an excellent way to reinforce our commitment to and promotion of our bi-cultural heritage.

My thanks goes to Mr Jason Tuhaka, author of the school haka who has, along with his whānau, done so much to promote both Māori language and culture at our school and to our new Te Reo Māori teacher, Mr Brent Dunn who has worked tirelessly to teach the haka to our students.

For your interest the words and English translation appear below:

Kaea Kia rite, Kia rite, Kia mau Get ready!
Katoa Hi!
Kaea Torona Titaha Arms ready!
Katoa Titaha!
Kaea Ko wai e tū ake nei? Who is standing here?
Katoa Ngā taonga o tātou tipuna

E tū ana tātou i raro i te maru o Puke Ariki

Me te mana o Ngāi Tai e!

The treasures of our ancestors

We are standing under the protection/shelter of Puke Ariki and

The prestige of the people and land of the Ngāi Tai iwi!

Kaea Toia mai! Pull!
Katoa I Te waka The waka!
Kaea Toia mai! Pull!
Katoa I Te waka!

He waka takohanga

He waka matauranga e

He waka eke noa aue hi!

The waka!

A waka of responsibility

A waka of education

We are all in this together

Kaea Me takatū tātou So let us ready ourselves!
Katoa Me takatū tātou kia puāwai kia whakapakiri e

He waka kore hoe he tangata kore huarahi

Let us ready ourselves to blossom and mature

A waka without a paddle is like a person without purpose

Kaea Aue Kia kaha! Be strong
Katoa Hi!
Kaea Aue Kia māia! Be brave
Katoa Ha!

Aue Kia manawanui

I tēnei ao hurihuri

Ahakoa ngā tūātea, ngā paraawa

Koinei te ope haere ki Tawhiti

We will be courageous

In this ever changing world

No matter the challenges we face

We will go above and beyond

Kaea Kia mana ake Growing greatness
Katoa Aue hi!

 

Introducing Mr Smith

Mr. Jeremy Smith is the newest appointment to our teaching staff. Mr. Smith has joined Coast /Te Whānau o Takutai replacing Ms. Morris who relocated to Canada last term.

Mr. Smith is a Master of Teaching (Secondary) graduate from the University of Auckland specialising in culturally responsive pedagogy. Before his post graduate degree, Jeremy completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

In his spare time Mr. Smith enjoys the outdoors and staying fit. He also has a passion for conservation, volunteering with the Department of Conservation in pest control programmes.

Mr. Smith is particularly passionate about how he can improve the literacy of students at Mission Heights Junior College. Recognising the fundamental role which literacy has for student life outcomes has made this a focus of his practice.

I wish him an enjoyable and fulfilling teaching experience at MHJC as he starts his career with us.

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake

Taking on the Challenge – go MHJC!

The Vector EPro8 Challenge is a nationwide competition for Years 7/8 and 9/10. Using science, maths, technology and engineering skills the students have 3 hours to solve set problems. This is the second year MHJC has taken part in the event.
Earlier this term, four of our Years 9/10 teams took part in the first round heats with all 4 teams going through to the semifinal, held in the MHJC theatre last week. Congratulations goes to all competitors through to the semi finals, and a huge accolade to our ‘Misfits’ team for proceeding to the Grand Final, to be held on the 3 September in the MHJC theatre.
Two Year 7/8 teams also took part in the first round heats at Opaheke Primary earlier this month. Our very own ‘MHJC Legends’ were placed third at this event and will also proceed to their semi finals at the end of the month.

More EPro8 news to come – watch this space!Years 9/10 – Team 1: Night Night

Harjot Singh Dharni; Ethan Kidd; Paul Chan; James Zeng.

Team 2: The Jokers

Ronak Lal; Amanda Lee; Kyle Anderson; Sunny Lau.

Team 3: The Professionals

Dallas Barrett-Thomson; Rohan Mathur; Radesh Muhunthan; Ally Lin.

Team 4: The Misfits

Jasper Carpenter; Sam Martin; Ricky Bassano; Mustafer Kamish.

Year 7/8

Team 1: MHJC Legends

Eric Pan; Arvinth Satthay; Ashvin Satthay; Rayaan Cheema.

Team 2: Power Puff girls

Irene Wu; Rachana Rajeev; Alexis Davies; Sharon Ng.

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