Holistic Reporting Consultation

Mission Heights Junior College will be implementing a Holistic Student Report in 2019. Please find below a link that will take you to an annotated example of the ‘proposed’ MHJC Holistic Student Report.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J17GYnBru7d1r1WHqntentRvktZ8R5aB5nBSr00KEZw/edit?usp=sharing

The intention of this new report is to:

  1. Provide an easy to understand summary of the information about a student’s progress and achievement across the curriculum – the ‘whole person’.
  2. Provide information in ‘real time’ by way of a live report that can be viewed online 24/7.
  3. Provide a printed take-home copy of the Holistic Student Report at the end of each year.

We invite all families/parents/caregivers to participate in this consultation process be filling out the short survey on the link below;

https://goo.gl/forms/mMfKSi7qkfkO4HqA2

If you have further questions or queries, feel free to contact Kate Lambert, Leader of Learning.
An appointment can also be organised – 09 2777881/ klambert@mhjc.school.nz

Back to the 80’s

Once again Ms Shields and her team have produced a musical of outstanding quality. I am sure you have read publicity surrounding the event but I wanted to encourage you all to take a trip down memory lane and join us next week to celebrate the wonderful singing, dancing and acting students of our talented students (and staff!)

Here is the You Tube link for the show:

https://youtu.be/g83xlfnX8m0

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Awards

Please be advised of some changes to Prize Giving 2018 which will give more formal recognition of participation, improvement and our values but continue to acknowledge academic excellence:

Academic improvement

2 awards per year level per whānau (8 per Year Level).

Qualities and values (Kia Mana Ake Award)

 One extra award per year level per whānau (total 8 per Year Level)

Participation – 4 cornerstones

The top 10 students in every year level based on e-badges (across all four cornerstones)

In order to keep the Prize Giving to a reasonable time the Academic Achievement Awards (excellence in individual subjects) will be presented at whānau assemblies however Academic Excellence (the top 10%) will still be recognised at Prize Givings.

As can be seen the Prize Givings will provide a more balanced and holistic forum for recognition.

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Back to the 80s Hit Musical comes to MHJC!

Bright costumes, big hair and even bigger music …here’s the show to bring the audience BACK TO THE 80S! Over 100 students from Mission Heights Junior College – cast, crew, choir, band and backstage ­– have worked tirelessly in Term 2 and during the holiday break to bring one of the most popular Broadway Shows to the stage. The musical, written by Neil Gooding, opens in the early 2000’s with 30-something Corey Senior finding a photo from his High School Prom in 1989. Corey has a flashback to his senior year and we follow the trials and tribulations of being a teenager in the 80s, all set around the top musical hits from that decade.

After watching this light-hearted, energetic production, packed with witty one-liners and nostalgia, you’ll find yourself breaking out your 80s moves while singing those 80s tunes for days after!

Performances at MHJC Theatre: 
Tuesday 7 August, Wednesday 8 August, Thursday 9 August, Friday 10 August and Saturday 11 August, at 7pm.

To book and Pay: Direct Debit to ASB 12-3233-0051320-00 Ensure your name appears as reference. Once completed send an email to finance@mhjc.school.nz with  surname, number of tickets, night attending and phone contact. You will receive a booking confirmation and tickets will be available for pick up from reception beforehand or to collect at the theatre on the night.

Sunsafe

During term 3 students will be learning about the risks and benefits associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV radiation). In New Zealand the peak summer ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) levels are 40% higher compared with corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere (eg. Southern Europe, mid USA). Excessive exposure to UV radiation from the sun can cause sunburn, skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancers are the most common cancers in New Zealand, and there is evidence they are increasing in incidence. With these sobering facts we feel it is important that our students are both protected and well informed about this danger. The threat is made more difficult because UV radiation is invisible and the impact on a person’s health relatively slow to manifest.

 

We are working within guidelines recommended by the SunSmart Schools Accreditation Programme which is run by the Cancer Society of New Zealand and our intention is to become an accredited school which has developed and implemented a sun protection policy for Terms 1 and 4. The policy must meet minimum criteria that ensure students and teachers are protected in a sun-safe environment.

 

I wish to signal that we have started working with staff and students, and Mission Heights Primary School. The Board of Trustees supports this important initiative as one of its responsibilities to maintain and promote a culture of health and safety. Some progress has been made already:

 

  • Students have given feedback about the hats or caps they would like to wear which will be available at John Russell the official uniform stockist. It must be noted that while caps are not ideal they are a step in the right direction and students will  be required to wear either caps or hats in term 1 or 4 during any outdoor activity starting in term 4 this year;
  • Sunblock stations have been placed in whanau for students to use if they do not bring their own to school;
  • The provision of shade is being included in the school’s long term property plan.

 

I trust that the conversation about sun safety is reinforced at home and thank our community in advance for their support. The following web site can give you more information:

https://www.sunsmart.org.nz/

 

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

 

The right way to compete and looking ahead to term 3

With the start of another exciting term I wish to reflect on one of many outstanding achievements last term. At our Champions’ Assembly we acknowledged the remarkable achievement of our athletes who attended a Sports Camp in Matamata. For the first time in the history of the camp one school received unanimous votes for the Sportsmanship Trophy. That school was MHJC and we bask in the reflected honour the trophy brings to us. Credit to the students, their parents, coaches and managers who have shown the right reasons for playing sport – to develop resilience, win with grace, lose with dignity, compete with all we have got to give and enjoy the game.

 

I am sure the athletes competing at AIMS Games later this term will bring similar honour to the school and we look forward to their achievements as have the many winter sports teams who have represented the school so well.

 

We are also very excited to present the musical “Back to the 80’s” in week 3 this term. Cast, crew and staff have been working hard since the start of the year to produce a polished and professional performance which will showcase the acting, singing and dancing talents of our students.

 

Inter Whanau Cross Country, Mathex and the first MHJC School Haka Performance (by each whanau) plus many other activities along with engaging learning contexts will all make for a busy term.

 

Growing greatness – Kia mana ake!

Futsal Winning Team Impressive!

Breaking news! MHJC’s SEZ Futsal team impressed with outstanding teamwork, application of feedback and tactical play today, beating Farm Cove Intermediate 5-1 in the final, at Sancta Maria College.

Congratualtions to Mr Nutt and our boys for their tournament win. The team was: Brenan Naidu 8M1, Xiao Rui Lin 8M1, Lucas Sue 7M2, Lachlan Hendry 8C2, Luke Jefta 7W2, Daivik Naidu 8M1, Ishveer Singh 7C2.

Talking About Living Through the War

Yr 10 History students host World War veterans from The Bruce McLaren Retirement Village.

The students have been learning about the origins of World War I & II. Today they hosted Milton and Bill from Bruce McLaren and both gentlemen shared their experiences and memories, from when they were 14 years old during WWII – in Auckland and in England. The stories were a mix of sad and funny and the students came away with a deeper understanding of living through those times. We thank both men for taking the time out to enlighten our young people.

Working Hard During Time Off Pays Off!

Congratulations to our winners of the 2018 Chinese Bridge Speech Competition Auckland region! Nikhilesh Prasad (9W2) won the second prize and Arushi Suneel (10C1) won third prize.

This is the best result for our school in this prestigious annual competition. We had previously won merit prizes.

Although these two students are not currently studying Mandarin, they used their holidays to draft their speeches and used their spare time to practise strenuously. All their hard work has paid off!

Singapore Young Leaders Convention

Earlier this month, 12 Year 10 students from Mission Heights Junior College, flew to Singapore to participate in the Hwa Chong Institute’s 24th Young Leaders Convention. This year’s theme, Media – Connecting the Dots, investigated the role various aspects of the media play in our digitalised world. The annual convention also aims to forge strong bonds across international borders between future leaders.

Held in Singapore – the site of the heads of Government G8 Summit a week later – many of the students said the experience enabled them to discover new cultures, grasp new concepts, ideas, values and practices and learn how to put these into action.

Probably the most significant personal achievement for the group was the ability to exercise their leadership skills in a foreign and challenging environment. The convention allowed them to share their knowledge and experiences among their international peers as well as identify relevant issues occurring in the digitalised world.

The MHJC team were asked how this convention has affected or changed how they will conduct future group planning and mentoring. All agreed it has enriched the notion of “think global and act local” and they are excited about their own upcoming MHJC Student Leaders’ Convention in September. They now have a solid foundation and a framework to build on.

The students were able to forge strong friendships with other delegates and intend to stay connected. All came away from the convention with a myriad of new ideas and concepts to integrate at Mission Heights Junior College as well as fond memories of their visit to Singapore’s tourist attractions.

The MHJC team were asked how this convention has affected or changed how they will conduct future group planning and mentoring. All agreed it has enriched the notion of “think global and act local” and they are excited about their own upcoming MHJC Student Leaders’ Convention in September. They now have a solid foundation and a framework to build on.

The students were able to forge strong friendships with other delegates and intend to stay connected. All came away from the convention with a myriad of new ideas and concepts to integrate at Mission Heights Junior College as well as fond memories of their visit to Singapore’s tourist attractions.

For one MHJC student the week was even more memorable after receiving a very special award out of the 400 attendees:

“MHJC was honoured to receive the accolade of one of its students, Harjot Singh Dharni being voted the Best Delegate of the conference. The award is presented to one student who has best displayed qualities of enthusiasm, teamwork and passion for all the activities and contributed to the spirit of unity and collaboration. – MHJC Principal, Ian Morrison.

Caption: Harjot Singh Dharni receives his Best Delegate 2018 Certificate

 

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