Principal Message
Dear Families,
As we embrace a new term, I'd like to extend a heartfelt welcome to all our new families joining us. We are delighted to have you as part of our vibrant school community and look forward to an exciting journey ahead. Your young people have made significant and positive contributions to their learning and classroom dynamics already! 💛
We are also thrilled to introduce our new and amazing administrator, Rhianne. Her dedication and expertise are already making a positive impact, and we are fortunate to have her on board.
A quick reminder to all families: please complete the digital camp expression of interest form that was recently sent out to your email imbox. This camp promises to be a fantastic experience for our students, and we want everyone in Year 6-13 to have the opportunity to participate. ⛺️
I would like to express my deep gratitude to our exceptional teachers and leaders. Their continuous effort and commitment to excellence ensure that every student has the best possible educational experience.
Finally, a gentle reminder about the importance of balance in life. As young people with dreams and academic commitments, it's crucial to maintain a healthy balance between study, hobbies, social activities, and rest. Taking care of your well-being now sets the foundation for a successful and fulfilling future.
Wishing you all a wonderful term ahead!
Yours in service,
~ Saira Boyle, Principal
MHA Term 3 Wellington Camp September 25-27th for Y6-13 Teacher- Led Students
MHA is in the process of planning out Term 3 camp. Following the hugely successful 2022 Wellington Camp, we would like to invite our Year 6-13 students to join us for our next adventure.
North Island students are welcome to meet at Auckland Airport to fly to Wellington together on the 25th, in the morning. The students and staff will then be transported to the Marion Hostel (flights and accommodation to be confirmed depending on numbers), where we would be staying for the two nights. To see the accommodation details please visit this website: The Marion Hostel
While in Wellington, we are planning to visit:
- Te Papa,
- Parliament
- Weta Workshop,
- The National Library to see the Treaty of Waitangi and Women’s Suffrage Petition
We would also like to visit the Botanic gardens, enjoy a cable car ride, and soak up the Wellington scenery. Year 11-13 will have the opportunity to visit Victoria University and receive both a study and learning skills session.
The cost of the camp is estimated to be around $400 per student, not including airline tickets/transportation. We will be able to finalise the exact cost, once we are aware of the number of students that can join us.
Please let us know if your child would like to attend this camp by completing this form by Friday 9th of August, to enable planning to commence.
Year 1 - 5
Welcome to Term 3! 🤩
We welcomed Mustafa to our junior classroom last week, and we are enjoying his energy and enthusiasm to learn new things. We have begun project 3 and will spend this term focusing on and learning about The Animal Kingdom. We are also learning how to create PowerPoints as part of our progression toward independent project studies. We received our animal gifts from MHA with joy and appreciation over the school holidays, and we also got a box of animal biscuits to share with our families.
Explore Musical Rhythms through Animals
We have started exploring various basic rhythmic values in our music class and over the past couple of weeks the students have been focusing on learning the different rhythmic values by attaching them to the syllabic attributes of each animal.
Through the use of games, challenges and rhythmic composition, the students will develop their understanding of Western European rhythmic notation.
Year 6 - 8
Math Tessellations
For math, we are focusing our attention on creating tessellations, as well as learning about the Fibonacci numbering sequence and its correlation with architecture and nature, in the world around us. We have also been looking at transformations of shapes and various objects which all align nicely with our project learning about an artist, or era of art.
Here are five examples of tessellating patterns that we have created so far.
Explore Degenerate Music
Although the term of Degenerate Art may be better known in history, music was as much of a target during the Nazi’s WWII regime.
Degenerate music, a term coined by the Nazi regime, refers to modernist and avant-garde music that the Nazis deemed morally corrupt and opposed to their ideals. Emerging in the early 20th century, modernist music broke away from traditional forms and structures, leading to its condemnation by conservative and nationalist factions. Under Nazi rule, composers such as Arnold Schoenberg and Kurt Weill were labelled as degenerate, and their works were publicly denounced and suppressed. The Nazis organized exhibitions and propaganda campaigns to discredit these composers and their innovations. After World War II, the label "degenerate music" was reevaluated, leading to a reassessment and eventual appreciation of the once-condemned composers and their contributions to music.
The students will be exploring the music of some of those degenerate-labelled artists over the next couple of weeks and take part in discussions about the importance of artistic expression and freedom.
Year 9 - 10
Art that captures emotions
Last term for project 4 our students had the opportunity to create emotive art based on the project topic of reactions.
Both Molly and Jess focused their attention on mental health themes and produced mesmorising and powerful pieces, capturing the pain and experiences of hopelessness that can be associated with anxiety and depression.
Molly wrote this reflection…
"People were created to be loved. Things were made to be used. The reason why the world is in Chaos is THINGS are being LOVED and PEOPLE are being USED"
The black cloud for me represents the negative thoughts people think about themselves and how terrible those thoughts can be. That kind of negative perspective takes a huge toll on our bodies and mindset making it harder for us to believe in ourselves.
For this piece I did a pencil drawing that has then been water colored, I have used glitter to create depth in the black cloud of thought and I have used layering to highlight the words for impact in my piece. My inspiration for the figure crouched over is, desperation was the feeling of sharing yourself with someone in friendship and never being seen and valued for who you actually are.
Zoe captured joy, happiness and fond memories exceptionally well, by creating a college of Rich – one of the guides and staff members at Lakewood Lodge where many of our students attended school camp last term. Rich was a favourite for many of our students and he certainly made an excellent DJ at our concert finale. He provided fun and laughter many times throughout our three days together.
Madison turned her attention toward a focus on the use of horses during World War 1. She used this piece of art (right) to encapsulate the horrors of war from the perspective of horses and horse owners, including the fact that 8 million horses died in battle and other missions. Madison wrote…Horses were essential for pulling heavy guns, transporting weapons and to carry the wounded and dying to hospital, and to mount cavalry charges. In the first year of the war, the countryside was emptied of shire horses and riding ponies, a heartbreaking prospect for farming families who saw their finest and most beloved horses requisitioned by the government. Even New Zealand sent over 10,000 horses but only four returned. Most horses were destroyed due to a lack of available transport to bring them home, the fear of disease being carried across countries and the lack of quarantine facilities. Tragically, horse owners and riders were ordered to kill their own horses. Well done Madison for educating us, and for providing awareness surrounding the care and protection of animals. You have encapsulated the significance and love many people have for animals and the horrific sacrifices many people have made over the years caring for these beautiful creatures. Emotions run high, reading about your poignant art submission. Well done.
Art demonstrates a visual reaction
Our year 9 and 10 students also had the opportunity to produce ‘explosive art’ using a method of their choice to splatter and apply paint to paper, canvas or cloth. Brena produced this beautiful and vivid result by using plastic syringes to squirt paint on her canvas, after painting the background black.
Jeremy filled up water balloons with paint then used his air rifle to shoot the ballons. As each one popped the watery colourful liquid ran down the page for a colourful background effect. He finished his work by applying a silhouette of the seedlings and bird to his paper.
Delve into Avatar's Society
We have thoroughly enjoyed immersing ourselves in the world of Pandora and exploring the ways of the Na’Vi’s Omatikaya clan over the last couple of weeks. This fictional society was developed to mirror the Indigenous Native American clans, their societal structure, everyday existence and harmony with nature.
As in history, Avatar also explored the impact of the colonisers on this society and mirrors the devastation of their environment, ignorance of their spirituality, and their traditions.
In Music, we have been exploring the power of movie soundtracks, through examples of good and not so great soundtracks, while in English the students have been tasked to develop a plot outline for a movie/ novel demonstrating their ability to create a character whose growth is developed through the journey of facing their fears.
We look forward to reading their creative and imaginative stories!
Year 11 - 13
Term 3 is a super busy term in the senior school with the academic focus ramping up towards the end of year examinations as well as our Level 1 students finalising their external digital submission assessments. There are a few important points and dates to take note of:
- T3 Week 7/8: Benchmark/Derived Grade exams are scheduled for Wednesday of week 7 (4 Sep) through to Tuesday of week 8 (10 Sep). Year 11 – 13 online, timetable to be confirmed.
- T3 Week 8/9: The second assessment opportunity for the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (LitNum CAAs) are held during week 8 and week 9 (9 Sept – 20 Sept).
- T3 Week 10: Wellington Camp 25-27 Sep. To be confirmed, based on student numbers.
- Term 3 ends: Friday 27 Sep.
- Term 4 begins: Monday 14 Oct.
- T4 Week 2: External Digital Submissions (Level 1 only): finalised submissions ready to upload.
- T4 Week 3: Last day of classes for seniors, Friday 1 Nov.
- NCEA External Examinations: week 4 – 7, Monday 4 Nov – Friday 29 Nov. Year 11-13 in a physical school.
- T4 Week 8: End of Year Celebrations! Prizegiving Thursday 5 Dec, Community picnic Friday 6 Dec.
Benchmark/Derived Grade Exams 📏
NZQA require schools to hold practice exams in the lead up to the external examination period at the end of the year. These exams will aid in creating a derived grade for students, in the case of an emergency or unexpected event that has a student unable to attend and sit the end of year external exam. These exams must be completed in conditions resembling the actual external exams, as best we can. Alternate names for these exams are Benchmark Exams (BME), Mock Exams, Derived Grade Exams or Practice Exams.
To facilitate our requirements of authenticity and security of the exam papers, we will be running our BME via the site Exam.net, using the Safe Exam Browser. Students have been asked to install the Safe Exam Browser so that they are able to become familiar with the site over the next couple of weeks, prior to their Benchmark Exams. It would be great if you would aid your child if they need assistance with this or to troubleshoot any issues. Our partnership between home and school and having your support in running these exams, is much appreciated. This page has the download options for different devices: download SEB (Safe Exam Browser). Please let me know if your student is working on a Chromebook.
External Digital Submissions 💻
These assessments are unique to Level 1 students with the new NCEA Level 1 standards. Again, we shall be using Exam.net for these assessments and require the Safe Exam Browser on student devices. This page has the download options for different devices: download SEB (Safe Exam Browser).
End of year examinations – Host School 🏫
Thank you to many of you who have responded to the survey asking about the location for the end-of-year examinations. If you have not done so yet, if you would please respond so planning may continue. 2024 EOY External Exams in Nov. Takapuna Auckland or a Host School?
You may find the NZQA timetable for the external examinations here.
Literacy & Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (LitNum CAAs) Level 1 students. 📖
The LitNum Assessment Opportunity 1 (AO1) results are now available both on the NZQA website and in Edge. Students who were not successful or have not sat these assessments, will be able to complete these in the second opportunity (AO2). This is being held during week 8 and 9 of this term. Please reply promptly to the LitNum Host School survey so we have time to arrange attendance at a local school if it is not convenient to attend our exam centre at the Middle School West Auckland in Henderson. 2024 LitNum CAA Assessment Opportunity 2
I have had parent enquiries about resources to go through at home. Please see the following pages:
- READING: US32403 Assessment Resources
- WRITING: US 32405 Assessment resources
- NUMERACY: US 32406 Assessment resources
Term 3 Camp ⛺️
Attending camp is a wonderful opportunity to connect in person with fellow students and teachers, strengthening relationships and having a whole lot of fun! We are planning to be heading to Wellington in the final week of the term from the 25th to the 27th of September. If you have not responded by completing the camp survey, it would be appreciated if you would do so by Friday 9 August. MHA Wellington Camp Term 3 Y6-13
Please touch base with me if you have any questions on the above information: a.gonscak@mthobson.school.nz
~ Alison
Parent-Led
Hi Everyone,
How is it Term 3 already?!
We've had a few families join our parent-led programme this term & it's great to hear about the difference learning at home has made for families already.
I will be getting in touch next week to schedule a time to catchup with each family individually & discuss learning needs & goals. I love hearing about the amazing things our students are doing & it's so cool to hear that some students are loving the projects so much they are sharing facts with their families each day. I was thinking that this could be a great idea to implement to help your child feel like you're interested in their learning & model being a life-long learner yourself; each day you could share a fact or interesting tidbit about their project theme with each other.
Erica
AUCKLAND GUITAR LESSONS 🎵
Our lessons focus on learning good technique, while having fun and enjoying the experience.
Lessons are one on one and individually adapted to each student. There is a long list of songs to choose from and the student is also welcome to suggest songs they would like to learn. We cover most styles and all levels. Our tutor is a very experienced professional musician, who has taught private lessons for twenty years and has taught guitar at Auckland University. Get in touch to find out more.