Menzies College Newsletter

Kia ora koutou katoa

We welcome the news that as of today, New Zealand has moved into the Orange Covid Alert Level. This allows us to welcome parents back on site, run assemblies and plan for events like the ball with more confidence. The only real difference students will notice day to day is the wearing of masks indoors is now optional. Masks are still compulsory on buses for students aged 12 and over. Many staff and students are likely to continue wearing masks indoors to protect themselves or vulnerable family members. Ventilation of classrooms, good hygiene and staying at home remain the corner stones of reducing the spread of the virus.

Although Term 1 has been far from ‘normal’, we have plenty to be grateful for. The Peer Support programme run by our Year 13s to help welcome Year 7 students has been very successful. Staff have worked hard to maintain a focus on learning, providing work in the Google Classroom, as well as personally teaching classes. Camps for Year 7, Year 12, Year 13 and the Adventure Experience Wanaka camp for Year 12 and 13 classes all went ahead as planned. Athletic Sports, Cross Country, Tennis, Cricket and Volleyball competitions were all able to proceed as scheduled. Today we had the finals of a year level swing ball competition run by our Head Students: Jake Kiernan, Arin Read, Summer Edwards and Lisa Yorke.

Many thanks to Mrs Karen Clark and Deniz te Lindert from the Well Being Committee for organising the Easter raffle and to those who supported it by providing items or buying tickets. Over $800 has been raised for Ethan Kitto-Smith, an ex-student who has been fighting leukemia for the past few years.

Thank you to Mrs Hayley Adams and Kailey Yeoman for organising yesterday’s Cross Country event. Students had the option of entering the competitive or non-competitive category to gain house points. The results are available later in the newsletter.

Finally, congratulations to:

· Naidene Wilson-Hemara who has won a place in the prestigious MacDiarmid Institute Discovery Camp for 2022. Details of when this camp will take place are not yet available.

Nga mihi nui

Kath Luoni

April

• 14 - Last day of Term 1
  
• 15 - Good Friday (school closed)

May

• 2 - First day Term 2
• 2-6 Green week
• 13-16 Group 1 Deep Cove Camp -Year 8
• 16-19 Group 2 Deep Cove Camp -Year 8

What lies beneath? - Year 8 are currently studying a Geology unit about the structure of Earth, focusing on the ‘Rock Cycle’. We have learnt about the structure and types of volcanoes and the students are finishing a model based on a New Zealand volcano of their choice.

Forensics Science - Year 9 are currently collecting evidence to discover who stole 'Grip the Raven’ Charles Dicken’s pet, from 'The rare book department', of the Free Library. The handwriting analysis of the ransom note was inconclusive, but we were able to identify which pen was used to write the note. Unfortunately it was a very common brand. We are currently studying how to lift a latent fingerprint from the display case before we can match it to the prints collected from the suspects. Can you work out which pen was used looking at the chromatography picture? Next term Year 9 will try to solve who stole the racehorse Shergar from his stable.

Gas Exchange - Year 12 Biology students recently got an opportunity to dissect fish gills as part of an anatomy study. They are required to relate their structure to their function which enables fish to obtain the dissolved oxygen from water. They will also study the tracheal system of insects and will dissect a mammals respiratory system at a later date.

Hi All,

Just a bit of BCITO news - here we are pouring concrete in the sun and loving life! The students were superb, taking a rolling lunch break to keep the mixers turning, just brilliant. They couldn’t really have done better :)

Simon Pearce

BCITO Teacher

Last week, both Senior Outdoor classes travelled to Wanaka for our annual Outdoor camp. Once we arrived at Zula Lodge, the camp leaders ran a great afternoon of activities for students and cooked an amazing dinner .

Throughout Wednesday and Thursday the weather was perfect. Students took part in Kayaking down the Outlet section of the Clutha river, finishing up near our accommodation in Albert Town. Plenty of students challenged themselves in small rapids and practiced tipping over and waiting to be flipped up again.

It was great to have ex student Matt Sparrow on board as our instructor this year. Other activities included climbing natural Hospital Flat , also being instructed by ex Menzies student Luke Humphries. The encouragement and guidance students gave their peers was outstanding.

Deans Bank mountain bike trails near Albert Town proved to be a good challenge for some, with some students unexpectedly providing some Nitro Circus-worthy aerial spectacles.

A walk up Mt Iron rounded off the activities for everyone.

A massive thank you to staff Hayley Clarke, Pete Holden, Instructors Matt Sparrow & Luke Humphries and adult helpers Cody Read, Josh Barnfather & Cindy Dean.

Tim Landreth

Outdoor Ed Teacher

It was a long day for the Mana Māori Committee as well as the kapa haka students on Friday (April 1st) as they prepared, cooked and sold hāngī as a fundraiser for new uniforms for kapa haka performances. Students and teachers were on site preparing kai in the foods room from 6am and were still working away at 8:00pm. Overall the experience was hugely positive, with hundreds of hāngi and steamed puddings sold. The Mana Māori committee would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the volunteers who gifted us their time and knowledge. We are now well on our way to having new uniforms for our Nga Awa e Toru kapa haka group. Nga mihi Nui.

Thank you again for all your support with this fundraiser; whether you donated goods to raffle or purchased some tickets.

In the end we had 5 food raffles and an Easter Chocolate raffle to boot.

The winners are as follows:

Sarah White

Johanna Olive

Oliver McKelvie

Michelle Hamlin

Zhivanna Michels

Chocolate Hamper winner was Tina McMullen

Hopefully the winners have already been notified and are enjoying their winnings.

In total we raised $844.00 for Ethan; our thoughts and prayers are with him and his whanau.

This year, the Wellbeing Committee decided to run an Easter Raffle Fundraiser, in honour of Ethan Kitto-Smith. A champion runner and a proud member of Totara house. Ethan came to Menzies College as a year 7, leaving in 2015 to continue his studies at Otago Polytechnic. In 2017, he was unfortunately diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the blood. At the time, the school rallied around him and his family, quiz nights were held, crazy hair days were had, and heads were shaved, all in support of Ethan. In 2020, Ethan went into remission and the road ahead looked clear. At the start of 2021, he moved to Dunedin to continue school and the rest of his life. He had faced leukemia and he had come out on top. However, after a casual check-up in early June of 2021, it was confirmed the cancer had returned. He was flown out to Christchurch and underwent intense chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. But alas, nothing has worked. Ethan now only has a few months left to live.

Deniz te Lindert

Student Head of Hauora Wellbeing

Congratulations to the following students and staff members:

Week ending 8 April

Senior: Deniz te Lindert, Alex Burgess, James Abella, Sophie Ferguson and Mrs K Clark

Week ending 14 April

Junior: Emily Crump, Dominique Theedom, Bronson McKay, Alia Muntz and Miss S Johnstone

Your Canteen vouchers are waiting at the office.

With the weather becoming cooler students may wish to start wearing their winter kilts anytime. These must be worn with black tights .

Menzies Netball once again will have eight teams entered in the Eastern Netball competition. If anyone is interested in coaching a team please contact Pam Yorke (027 2255654) or Mrs Luoni at school.

On Wednesday the 13th of April we held the annual school cross country. After some nerves about the weather forecast, Southland put on a perfect afternoon of sunshine for a run. We have excellent participation rates and a big thank you to all the staff, students, and whanau who helped or supported the students in the event.

Congratulations to the following students for placing in their respective age groups.

U13 Girls 3000m

1st place Zoe Muir 14.00 min

2nd Place Kadence Hunter 17.22 min

3rd Place Hollie Kennedy 18.29 min

U13 Boys 3000m

1st Place Hudson Roy 12.10 min

2nd Place Beau Pemberton 13.23 min

3rd Place Danyon Ashman 13.44 min

U14 Girls 3000m

1st Place Daisy Stewart 16.32 min

2nd Place Jessica Dodds 18.10 min

3rd Place Anna McMullen 20.19 min

U14 Boys 3000m

1st Place Leo Lenssen 12.59 min

2nd Place Cooper Kennedy 13.35 min

3rd Place Joshua Leitch 14.08 min

U16 Girls 3000m

1st Place Sophie Ferguson 14.11 min

2nd Place Asha Dickson 16.45 min

3rd Place Olivia Perriam 17.05 min

U16 Boys 4000m

1st Place Hunter Richards 16.39 min

2nd Place Rueben Constantine 17.33 min

3rd Place Ethan Stewart 18.18 min

O16 Girls 4000m

1st Place Josie McLellan 24.44 min

2nd Place Naidene Wilson-Hemara 25.29 min

3rd Place Abby van der Straaten 26.03 min

O16 Boys 5000m

1st Place Josiah Ashman 20.48 min

2nd Place Max Bryson 22.20 min

3rd Place Braden Poyntz-Roberts 23.05 min

Hayley Adam

Sports Co-ordinator

After a surprise fire drill at 2pm all students were happy to be out in the sunshine having a friendly swingball game with their peers.

WYNDHAM COMMUNITY POOL will close for the season at 7 pm on Thursday 14th April. All keys will be deactivated at this time. Please feel free to keep your key for next season, when it will be reactivated on payment of the appropriate subscription. If you no longer require your key or have one from previous seasons please return it to Lee's Dairy for a bond refund before the beginning of May. A very big thank you for your support of this wonderful facility.

Pool Committee

Shift Hui 2022 will take place online from Tues 19th April – Sun 24th April via Zoom and Discord

Shift is a gathering for rangatahi aged 15 to 20 based anywhere in Aotearoa and who identify with minority sexualities, genders, or sex characteristics. It is a fabulous and formative opportunity for young people to make connections, learn about different issues facing the rainbow community, and take part in exciting workshops and activities.

If you have any questions or want to know more, please email shift@insideout.org.nz.

We are also hosting an instagram live discussion and Q&A about Shift Hui this Sunday April 10th at 4pm on our instagram account @insideoutkoaro

Kia ora koutou,

We are just contacting schools to let them know that Plunket’s Babysitting Course is online and ready at any time for your students.

This online babysitting course is perfect for teenagers these holidays before they go out child minding. The certificate they receive upon completion can be shown to employers and noted on their CV.

Noho ora mai,

Maire

Maire Perrott | National Coordinator Education in Schools

DD: 04 470 4984 M: 027 687 8335

Lvl 3 Simpl House | 40 Mercer St | Wellington 6011

Plunket | PO Box 5474 | Wellington 6140

Email: admin@menzies.school.nz
Website: https://www.menzies.school.nz
Location: Alma Street, Wyndham 9831, Southland, New Zealand
Phone: 03 206 4979