12 August 2024

We are rapidly approaching the time of year where students start looking ahead to the next year – whether that be subject choices, or options for life after school. Linked to this is their performance in their assessments, how well they are preparing to gain the qualifications and experience they need to take the next steps on their academic journey. Much of our communication at this time is centered on the importance of submitting work on time and ensuring that their best effort is submitted – failure will occur for some from time-to-time, but it is the lessons learned from failure that will go a long way to ensuring future success. Choosing not to submit an assessment through fear of failure is not the Massey Way. 

Our recent Parent Teacher Meeting evening was an opportunity for parents and caregivers to talk openly with their child, and teachers about progress to date, and what steps need to be taken in order to reach goals that have been set. We ask that whānau continue to engage regularly with the school, and of course with their children, to keep abreast of progress and what’s next. Our regular fortnightly Massey Way reports are the ideal vehicle for informing these conversations.

Our Year 10 cohort have just received the results of the first round of the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Tasks. Congratulations to those who were successful. For those who weren’t (this time), remember, we enter all of our students in these assessments as the best preparation is the actual experience of sitting the tasks. Understanding the nature of the questions, utilising the techniques of carefully reading (and following) instructions, and reviewing answers before finishing are all important elements that will be utilised time and again during their time at Massey High School.

We also encourage students to use their devices as much as possible (a Chromebook, or laptop – not their phones) so that using the device becomes second nature. For many of our students who didn’t experience success this time around, it wasn’t a lack of literacy or numeracy, rather the lack of real experience on their device that tripped them up. Spend time typing aiming for accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar. If you need to learn how to type, try www.typing.com. Log on to Education Perfect and complete the work that your teachers have set for you. Focus on each task and try to complete it as if you are in an exam, avoid distractions, stay on task and complete each task thoroughly. Read widely, remember that the exam focusses on non-fiction texts. Read newspapers and magazine articles and think about who the intended audience is and what is the purpose of the text.

Property

Work continues on the redevelopment of our Admin Block, and of B Block – these works are now scheduled to be completed in mid-October this year. Following on from this will be works on C-Block (scheduled to start in the summer break).

Many would have seen the transformation that has taken place at the front of the school, with the construction of a new fence. I’d like to acknowledge the generosity of Craig Walker. Craig has organised the labour and materials and provided us with a wonderful new fence – supported by the Massey High School Foundation and the Rotary Club.

Events

I’d like to thank the organisers of our recent Korean Night, a sold-out event that showcased culture and food. On the back of that evening we welcomed home a former student – Yu Jung Heo – home on holiday after completing her first year at Harvard University in the United States. Yu Jung hosted a seminar for those students who have an interest in attending US Universities.

We have had a large number of International students in our school, with more on the way (indeed this week we welcomed another group of 35 students from China). I’d like to thank our International Department of course, but particularly thank our students who serve as buddies for our visitors – often cementing firm friendships in the process. These visits are of enormous benefit for both our visitors and for our students and the growth in this area is exciting to see.

We currently have a number of existing (and future) leaders at our Puawai Bati Leadership Camp – Puawai Bati is a multi-cultural leadership group that works together to promote all cultures within the school. They also start programmes to mentor our younger students.

We had students involved in Academic competition over the weekend, it was great to pop in and catch up with our 5 teams competing in the NZ Engineering Science Competition – a problem solving event for teams of Secondary School students (Years 12 and 13) organized by the University of Auckland’s Department of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.  To have 5 teams enter is outstanding, my thanks to Roopa Ashok and Najin Brock for making this happen. The question for the teams was “How many airships would be needed to replace the Cook Strait Ferries?”.

Sports

Winter sport is entering its final few weeks, as always it has been great to get out regularly to see our students competing – although it can be difficult to get around everyone. Highlights have been our Girls Rugby Team – still undefeated – and still winning with style and humility, our Year 9 Football Team – they’ve made the final of their division, to be held at home, our Girls Football Team – an example of young people loving the sport they are playing, and supporting each other constantly while ensuring they get the results on the field, and our Under 14 (both Auckland and Harbour) and Under 15s Teams who have all grown as players and team mates as the season has progressed.

Whilst I didn’t get to see them play, a huge congratulations to our Badminton Teams who excelled in their competition this year.

I’m looking forward to seeing catching up with our netball and basketball teams at Winter Tournament in a few weeks' time.

As always, I’d like to thank all of our coaches, managers, and parents who have provided support through the season and enabled our students to participate – without your support this would not be possible, and you provide so much to enhance the development of our young people.