Welcome to our April 2017 e-newsletter. 
Firstly, I would like to thank Mrs Tracey Martin for her 8 years as Board Chair at Mahurangi College, during which time she has given excellent leadership to our Board and worked tirelessly on our behalf. Mrs Martin is still on our Board of Trustees but has stepped down from being Chairperson in order to focus more on her role as a NZ First MP, particularly in the lead up to the General Election being held in September this year. Mr Dean Iversen, Managing Director of Iversen Publishing, has taken over as our Board Chair.

We have had an excellent start to the new school year with a calm, settled atmosphere throughout the school and high levels of enthusiasm and energy from our students towards their learning. As I write this our Year 9 English students are all heading out on their community work day. During Terms 1 and 2 this year our Year 9 students are exploring the concepts of identity and belonging. This project day in English brings these two concepts together, asking them to think about themselves and the role they play in contributing to our community. Some of these student initiated and organised activities include hosting a thankyou luncheon for local community volunteers; visiting retirement homes; assisting in kindergarten and daycare centres; cleanups of local beaches, parks and walk-ways; volunteering at the SPCA, the local Kauri museum and at Goat Island. These are assessed tasks and an opportunity for students to use their literacy skills (including reading, writing, researching, form filling for risk analysis, speaking) and key competencies (eg. managing self, thinking, participating) in the “real world” and in the classroom. 

Our annual Year 8 camp to Tawharanui coincided with a weather bomb, causing an evacuation of four classes, and a cancellation for the rest of our Year 8 students. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, parents and community for the smooth and efficient camp pack up and for ensuring all our students arrived back at school safe and sound. Despite the dramatic end, our Year 8’s had a great time, with the wet weather seemingly adding to their enjoyment. Photos can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Last, but not least, our congratulations to Sports Prefect Heather Niccolls, who won the NZ Open Women’s 8km NZ Paddleboarding Championship against a very tough eld of both NZ and international competitors. Well done! 

It's been a busy and very productive first term, we hope all our students enjoy their well deserved holidays. The last day of the Term is Thursday 13 April - Term 2 begins Monday 1 May.

D. Macleod Principal