Menzies College Newsletter

Kia ora koutou katoa

The fresh start this morning reminds us all that winter is almost here. It is a good time for students to switch to tights and the winter kilt if they have not already done so. We also need to be mindful of winter driving conditions and the potential for roads to be affected by snow and ice. If there are any buses unable to run there will be a notice on Hokonui Radio either side of 7am and a message sent on the School App.

The theme at assembly this week was ‘Sportsmanship’. This focused on the reasons for being involved in competitive activities and the need to see the benefits that go beyond success and failure. These include growing: self-esteem, confidence, social skills, belonging, respect and resilience. It also gives students the opportunity to be influenced by positive role models in the tradition of, ‘it takes a whole village to raise a child’.

Learning how to win and lose graciously is an important part of maturing into a young adult. When things go well there is a need for humility, acknowledging the contribution of others and the hard work that resulted in success. It is okay to be pleased, but respect for the opposition is vital. When things don’t work out well students need to show respect for themselves and others by not: blame out, back chatting or using bad language. Students need to be conscious that their actions reflect on themselves, their families and the school and they need to act in ways that enhance their reputation.

One of the more challenging goals that is in this year’s Annual Plan (available on the school website) is to explore the idea of building a wharenui in the next three years. The desire for a wharenui stems from the recognition that students who are learning about Matauranga Māori (language, culture, world view) deserve to learn in a specialist room in the same way students learning music deserve to do learn in a specialist room. It is intended that a wharenui could serve many purposes.

Repurposing an existing space is not practical as there is considerable pressure on space with the school roll being at its highest level in 15 years. At that time prefab classes were available but these moved to Christchurch after the earthquakes. We have a community meeting planned for Wednesday June 8th at 7pm in the school library that we would like as many people as possible to attend. The meeting will focus on the tikanga (use) and design of the wharenui and will be seeking to form a steering committee.

Finally, congratulations to:

· Our canteen staff who won the Subway shout for the week.

· Anna McMullen and Daisy Stewart who were placed fourth in the recent Southland Secondary Schools Indoor Bowling Championships.

Nga mihi nui

Kath Luoni

Principal

• 3 Vision Testing (Year 7)
• 6 Queen's Birthday observance - school closed
• 8 Tikanga (use) and design of the wharenui 7 pm school library
  
• 13-17 Green week (no outside appointments to be made)
• 15 GRIP Leadership, Gore (Seniors)
• 22 GRIP Leadership, Gore (Seniors)
• 22 Parent Teacher meetings
• 24 Matariki observance - school closed

July

• 8 Last day Term 2
• 25 First day Term 3
• 29 School Ball

Congratulations to the following students and staff members:

Week ending 20 May

Seniors: Hayley Porteous, Savannah Costello, Allianz Tuhao, Alexis Tahana-Payne and Ms Louise Youngson.

Week ending 27 May

Juniors: Hayden Emsden, Molly McConachie, Hunter Miller, Lachlan Dale and Mrs Barbara Williams.

Your canteen vouchers can be collected from the office.

Year 7 and 8 Homeroom Conferences

These conferences are being held in the Library from Monday 27 June to Wednesday 29 June between 1pm-5:30pm. Each conference will have 15 minutes allocated to it.

Monday 27 June - Lachie Hayes

Tuesday 28 June - Samantha Johnstone, Carl Lambert

Wednesday 29 June - Bailey Soper, Lesley Lee

To book a conference with your child's subject teacher(s) please follow the link below. You will need to fill in a form for each subject teacher you would like to see:

http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/q5cuw

If you have any questions please let me know.

Year 9-13 Subject Teacher Conferences

These conferences are being held in the school hall on Wednesday 22 June between 3.45pm-7:30pm. Each conference will have 5 minutes allocated to it.

To book a conference with your child's subject teacher(s) please follow the link below. You will need to fill in a form for each subject teacher you would like to see.

http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/b24fg

If you have any questions please let me know.

Nga mihi

Dean Ritani

Deputy Principal

Today our canteen ladies were treated to the Subway Shout for the week supplied by Subway via Hokonui Radio. Luke Howden from Hokonui Radio delivered the delicious sandwiches to our ladies who were most appreciative. They certainly deserve this after making hundreds of lunches for our students daily. It is a treat to have their lunch made for them for a change. Thanks to Hokonui Radio and Subway for making this possible.

Photo below from left to right:

Luke Howden, Rachel Durry (Canteen Manager), Kylie Manson, Toni Moir, Krista Gilchrist and

Cindy Miller

The Well Being/Hauora Committee would like to thank everyone who got involved in the Menzies College Pink Shirt Day last Thursday. We raised $325.30 for the foundation. Well done and congratulations everyone.

Karen Clark

Teacher in Charge

Year 12 & 13 Hospitality

On Tuesday 10 May, the Year 12 and 13 Hospitality class were visited by Tom and Nicole Peake, local food truck owners in Papatowai. The class was impressed by Tom's knife skills and learnt various culinary cuts using a chef's knife and paring knife. They also learnt to sharpen a knife using a stone and what role a steel plays in this process. Their knives were then put to the test cutting carrots into the different culinary cuts before finally making a basic salsa recipe.

The students would like to thank Tom and Nicole for sharing their decades worth of experience in the industry with them. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will certainly take those skills with them into the future.

Sarah Ennor

Teacher

Photo below L to R:

Sarah Ennor (Teacher), Victor Waters, Ralph Raluto, Ollie Gutsell, Ethan Gillespie

The Vision/Hearing technicians from Population Health team, Southern District Health will be visiting our school to screen all Year seven students for distance vision on Friday 3 June, 2022.

Distance Vision (Amblyopia & Hyperopia)

This determines how well your child is able to see at a distance. It involves reading an eye chart.

(This free vision check is not required if a student wears glasses and/or is currently under care of an optometrist or eye specialist).

If you do not wish your child to be screened please fill out an opt-out slip which are available from the school office.

Southland Secondary School Indoor Bowls

Yesterday Thursday 26 May, Daisy Stewart and Anna McMullen attended the Southland Secondary School Indoor Bowls Championships in Invercargill. They had a great day, represented the school fantastically and worked hard to be in the top section of the competition. The team placed 4th overall. Well done girls! They missed out on the bronze medal by only 2 points.

Hayley Adam

Sports Co-ordinator

Photo below Daisy Stewart (left) and Anna McMullen

The Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to join our Supportive Care Team in Southland supporting those affected by cancer and their whānau/families in Tokanui, Edendale and Wyndham areas.

Our Supportive Care Volunteers support with one or more of the following:

• Client visits providing companionship, running occasional errands with our clients such as posting mail. Time commitment is around 1-2 hours per week when you are matched with a client.
• Client drivers support our clients to get to and from their appointments and/or support groups, helping to ensure that their needs are met. Time commitment is occasional.

You will need to have a COVID-19 vaccine pass and booster to volunteer with us.

Find out more by contacting Caroline Carter on 021 279 7797 or email at volunteer@cansoc.org.nz

The Wyndham Pioneer Lions collect many things that raise money for the underprivileged and disadvantaged but we can do more with your help.

Bread tags raise funds for wheelchairs (if they are colour coded before they are handed in that would be great).

Tear tabs from aluminium cans and wine bottle tops raise funds for ‘Kidney Kids’.

Glasses (both reading and sunglasses) and hearing aids are distributed in places like the Pacific Islands, improving the quality of lives who cannot afford such ‘extravagances’.

Aluminium cans and cardboard are collected by The Pakeke Lions in Gore.

If you can help it would be appreciated if you could take them to Menzies College or contact

Mrs C Garthwaite on (03) 206 6223.

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