22 Mahurangi Matters January 14, 2015 educationfeature

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Students at Mahurangi College have been creating talking robots and turning lawnmowers into souped-up racing machines as part of a new approach to learning aimed at better engaging students.Assistant principal Ann Marinus says the school is trying to develop courses based on what interests students.“We realise we need to offer different opportunities for students,” Ms Marinus says. “We’ve run similar programmes for many years, such as a forensics course and a small business course, but the idea has gathered momentum.“You just need to get them interested then they are away.” The Keen and Curious programme involves students learning outside the classroom, drawing on the experience and knowledge of people in the community.Eight Year 9 and 10 students took part in the “Woe-Kart to Go-Kart” course, where students dismantled ride-on lawnmowers and turned them into go-karts.One hour of class time a week, plus the lunch hour, were spent attending the programme and learning skills in a hands-on environment.The old lawnmowers were donated by Warkworth Stihl Shop and Poland Motors, and the programme was run from garage space at Warkworth

Robots and go-karts engage college students

Engineering.After seeing an article about the course in Mahurangi Matters, Doug Poland volunteered for the programme to help teach the students how to transform the mowers.“It’s been good fun and they’ve learnt a whole range of skills,” Mr Poland says.“We took the engines apart, changed the steering structure and re-welded the mowers to make them lower. One even has a booster lever, which disables the rev-limiter sending the kart flying.”

At the end of the term, the students got to race the karts around the school tennis court, attracting a large crowd and inspiring students to take the course next year.The school has also been running a robotics course and a smart phone app development course.Course coordinator Cath Lewis says getting people from developing industries to work with the kids in a hands-on environment is increasingly important in education.“Contemporary education is moving

away from having set qualifications.“In these rapidly developing high-tech industries there isn’t a curriculum and there are no textbooks, because what was cutting edge a few years ago is now out-of-date. That’s why it’s crucial to for relationships with people from the industry so that the students can learn from people who are working in these fields now.”The school has set up a Facebook page where students can suggest courses they would like to study as part of this year’s programme.

View more photos online

localmatters.co.nz

viewonline localmatters.co.nzWatch the lawnmower go-karts in action.

Mahurangi College students turned ride-on lawnmowers into go-karts as part of an initiative to make learning more engaging for students.

23 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters educationfeature

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Guy van Egmond got the highest mark in New Zealand in an international science exam.

A Matakana School pupil has been judged one of the smartest 11-year-olds in New Zealand after getting the highest mark in the country in an international science exam.Guy van Egmond completed the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) exam in June and was awarded a gold medal at a ceremony at Auckland University last month.The ICAS exams are run in 10 countries and cover English, maths, science and writing.Guy says he doesn’t have a particular love of science, but is spurred on by the joy of learning itself.“I’m just generally interested in facts,” Guy says.“I like all subjects, but science is one of my favourites. I’m also interested in zoology, chemistry and mythology.”His curious nature may have developed when he moved to New Zealand from the Netherlands, aged three. He still speaks Dutch at home and is already planning trips overseas when he is a bit older.“I like to explore other cultures and learn how other people live. South America, Morocco, Turkey and Russia are top of the list.”Guy’s mother, Mariska, says his focus finds its way into all kinds of family activities.“If we go to the zoo, he reads every information board. We will be off looking at the next animal and he will

be still be reading. But he seems to remember it all.”His father, Cees, attributes the success to his Montessori schooling.“It allows children to learn at their own pace, so if a student is excelling at a subject they are able to go on to more advanced material.”Guy will start in Year 7 at Mahurangi College this year.

Curiosity motivates scholar

24 Mahurangi Matters January 14, 2015 educationfeature

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A local dive initiative is giving high school students the opportunity to contribute to important marine research.New Zealand Diving, in Warkworth, has teamed up with Mahurangi and Rangitoto Colleges to assist researchers at the University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory and the Department of Conservation.The Leigh laboratory has monitored life on local rocky reefs since the mid-1970s and their data has revealed major changes within the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve, at Goat Island. Virtually all of the urchin barrens have converted to kelp forest and there has been a marked change in the abundance and size of species such as snapper and red rock lobster.New Zealand Diving, with the assistance of volunteer divers, is contributing to a monitoring programme by surveying permanent transect lines inside and outside the marine reserves at Goat Island and Tawharanui.The surveys are being done at least annually using video cameras.NZ Diving owner Neil Bennett says it is likely that the archived footage will be valuable in detecting changes in habitats and individual species, which may be as a result of factors such as invasive species, climate change, sedimentation and fishing.“This collaboration is a first in NZ and will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about the local marine environment while improving diving skills such as navigation and videography,” Neil says.“A large number of reef areas will be marked out for the students. These will run from the shoreline down to a safe depth where the kelp joins the sandy bottom. Divers will be provided with a camera to film the areas and their data will then be handed

over to the research team at Leigh.”Students will also be able to host their images on the internet so they can view the changes taking place over a period of time and see the videos they created.The scheme will be developed over many years and other colleges are expected to become involved.“It’s never too late for students to join in as courses run throughout the year.”Students who would like to participate must hold a minimum level of Open Water certification. This is available through New Zealand Diving and the colleges.Info: Neil@nzdiving.co.nz or phone 422 3599.

Student divers join marine research

Photo, Nick Shears.

Rock a challengerRunners, walkers and mountain bikers will take to the countryside around Kaiwaka next month for the fifth annual multi-sport event, Top of the Rock.The event caters for both recreational and competitive participants, with a range of race options from 5km and 10km walk and run circuits, to the 10km run and 15km mountain bike ride, and the 30km mountain bike ride.The event is organised by the Kaiwaka Sports Association and the routes travel through some of Kaiwaka’s most scenic countryside including bush, lakes and farmland. Association manager Cheryl Anderson says one of the highlights for many is the opportunity to climb the iconic Baldrock Mountain, which she says is easier than the daunting view from the road suggests.“There is a well-formed track which spirals around the mountain. People don’t need to be concerned about their fitness level as there is no time limit on completing the events. We also have marshalls in utes following the tailenders to give anyone who needs it, a ride back to the clubhouse.”There were more than 300 participants last year.Cheryl says participants of all ages are welcome, from pre-schoolers upwards.“Last year, the $50 prize for the oldest participant went to an 83-year-old.”TV3’s Brendon ‘Money Man’ Johnson will host the prizegiving with prizes for placegetters as well as plenty of spot prizes, including a mountain bike sponsored by My Bike in Whangarei. A raffle will also be drawn for a lawnmower, donated by Kaiwaka Motorcycles. Top of the Rock will be held on Sunday, February 8. Entry forms can be downloaded fromkaiwakasports.co.nz or can collected from Jaques Four Square, Kaiwaka.Info: Phone Cheryl Anderson on 431 2051, 027 3462702 or kaiwakasports@gmail.com

25 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters educationfeature

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The opportunity to choose the type of education children receive is an impor-tant freedom we have in NZ, and Rodney is fortunate to have quality integrated and private schools which are not zoned and therefore allow parents choice.

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“I think you are all doing a great job, and MCS is a wonderful school. It has lovely atmosphere which is loving and kind and not rigid. I love that there is a large cross section of the community at the school. All the teaching staff are wonderful. I especially love how the kids are being taught in Room 3, and my daughter loves the challenge and the new ideas she has to think about.”

“Every child is different and our school believes that there are many different ways for children to recognise and demonstrate their learning potential,” says principal Helen Pearson. “Our National Standards achievement is now well above average due to caring teachers who are responsive to individual needs. But what we are most pleased about is the great improvement we have seen in children’s achievement during the last year.”

This small and growing Christian school is open for enquiries via their website www.mahu.school.nz, and visits to the school and times for enrolment interviews can be made any time from Tuesday 27th January onwards.

Helen Pearson – Principal, Mahurangi Christian School

Maths, strategy and concentration may not sound like the ingredients for an entertaining night out, but members of the Warkworth Bridge Club would disagree.The club meets on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings, in the clubroom in Alnwick Street.As well as weekly club competitions, members play in regional tournaments and further afield.“You can be as competitive as you like or you can just come along to the club and enjoy the social interaction,” club captain Jenny Robinson says.Starting next month, the club is offering weekly Bridge lessons.Although the lessons are targeted at new players, anyone who hasn’t played for a while will find them useful as a refresher.The 10-week course covers the basics of the game with the idea that the new players will eventually feed in to the regular club nights.“While there is no doubt that the

game is mentally challenging, it is also fun,” Jenny says.“And new members soon discover that it can become addictive.”Overseas studies have also found that there could be some unforeseen health benefits.As well as keeping a person’s memory active and their brain alert, a study by Berkeley University has found that playing bridge boosts the immune system by keeping the brain active and stimulated.Professor Marian Diamond enlisted the help of 12 women in their 70s and 80s. He took blood samples and then asked them to play Bridge for an hour-and-a-half. Their blood was then tested again. A staggering two-thirds of the women had increased levels of T cells in their bodies – the cells used to fight infection.The Bridge lessons start on Tuesday February 24 at 7.15pm. Info: Jenny on 425 8909 or Nadine on 425 8205, or email jengarry@clear.net.nz

Jenny Robinson with graduates from last year’s Bridge course.

Bridge keeps brains healthy

26 Mahurangi Matters January 14, 2015 educationfeature

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Courses for Term oNe 2015 – WarkWorThMum’s Post-Natal Support Group Thurs 15 Jan • 10.30am-12.30pm • 12 wks • FREECome along for a cuppa and a chat with this friendly group. Meet other mums, make friends and gain strength every week. Facilitated by Danielle StapletonYoung Mum’s Educational Programme Wed 21 Jan • 10am-12.30pm • 11wks • FREEFor young mothers up to 25 years to encourage positive parenting, behaviour management skills & strategies for raising healthy and happy children. Runs weekly. Facilitated by Maria CollinsPersonal Development Tues 3 Feb • 10am-12.30pm • 9 wks • FREEA weekly support group for women that encourages learning, sharing and inner-growth in a confidential and caring environment. Facilitated by Heidi DowneyCareer Development & Job SearchTues 17 Feb • 10am-12pm • 6wks • FREEA course for women returning to work or changing career, including creating a career plan and a CV, job search, interviews, assistance with clothing and much more. Tutor: Fiona Brading, People ArchitectsIntroduction To Mosaics This course is run over 3 days in March • Cost $32 & materials Mon 2nd 5pm-6pm; Sat 7th 9am-3pm; Sat 14th 9am-12pmLearn the process of making a mosaic and create your own piece. Supported by Creative Communities Tutor: Paddy Sullivan

Flax-Weaving/HarakekeSat 21 March • 9.30am-3.30pm • Cost $32If you have basic flax-weaving skills, come along to this workshop and make a waikawa/basket. You will also make and hand-dye flax embellishments to add to your waikawa. Supported by Creative Communities. Tutor: Cathy Stevenson‘It’s All About Me’: Two Day Self-Awareness Workshops Holiday Programme • For 11 to 13 Year Old GirlsThurs 29 & Fri 30 Jan • 9am-3pm • Cost $30Artwork, fun games and hands-on activities for girls, while discovering personal boundaries and learning about self-identity, body image, assertiveness and self-defence. Facilitated by Rana MoirHoliday Programme • For 14 to 16 Year Old GirlsThurs 16 & Fri 17 April • 9am to 3pm • Cost $30Artwork, fun games and hands-on activities for girls, while discovering personal boundaries and learning about self-identity, body image, assertiveness and self-defence. Facilitated by Rana MoirCounselling: Low Cost Sessions Available by appointment. Conditions apply. Please contact the Women’s CentreMassage for Women: $45 for 1 hour Available on Tuesday afternoons by appointment. Please contact the Women’s Centre.

Bookings essential: Contact us on 09 425 7261 or 0800 2DROPIN (0800 237674)Email: info@womenscentrerodney.org.nz • www.womenscentrerodney.org.nz

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A programme aimed at motivating students by offering phone credits has been hailed a success after its first year at Mahurangi College.The Credit for Credits initiative is the first of its kind in the country and was developed by Springboard Future Works in partnership with Vodafone last year.About 60 Year 11, 12 and 13 students took part in the programme, where Vodafone phone credits were offered as an incentive for getting NCEA credits.Future Works programme manager Mark Gatt says the programme became much more than an incentive scheme and allowed the organisation to help a wider range of youth. “It captured the interest of students. We could then direct that attention towards the broader benefits of education,” Mr Gatt says.“But the biggest success was being able to build relationships and deliver our services to more youth in need. “A year ago we would usually only get in touch with youth after they had been removed from school and were already in a bad place. But through working in the school, we have much wider contact with youth so we get to know the ones that are struggling and can address the challenges they face before things get to a crisis point.“For example, last year we launched an initiative called Learning Hub which helps youth who aren’t at school to get NCEA credits through Open

Polytechnic and NorthTec.“We were hoping to work with three or four youth, but ended up with 20 students in the programme because of relationships we had developed through Credit for Credits.”Mahurangi College careers advisor Marilyn Newlove says the results from the programme are still being analysed, but students found it rewarding.“Having mentors from Future Works was really positive. Hopefully, once students gain the incentive to pass their internal assessments it will give them the boost to work harder to pass their end of year exams.”Over $2000 worth of phone credit and six cellphones were given to students, and one stand out student, Kaelib Newey, won a $5000 Outward Bound scholarship thanks to the support from the John Stevenson Memorial Fund.When Kaelib started Year 13 last year he hadn’t completed NCEA Level 1 or 2, but he has now completed both.“I struggled in Year 11 and 12. I couldn’t focus,” Kaelib says.“But having a direct reward to work towards helped motivate me. At the start of the programme we talked about setting goals and looking at possible career paths, and I started to see where I could be heading and decided I really wanted to work for it.”Mr Gatt says the programme will be offered again this year, but to a more targeted group of about 40 students.“We had a few hiccups with the

Future Works incentive scheme motivates students

delivery of phone credits at first and probably took on too many students for our first trial. But with the addition of another staff member and

a more efficient process in place, we are looking forward to continuing with the programme and extending to the Wellsford area more this year.”

Barbara Solomon studies to gain NCEA credits as part of the Learning Hub programme run at Springboard.

Future Works programme manager Mark Gatt (right) and scholarship recipient Kaelib Newey.

27 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters educationfeature

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As most people know, training doesn’t stop with a school or university qualification.In many professions, such as real estate, up-skilling is an ongoing process.Two Mahurangi property managers, Melissa Cox and Nicole Banks, have recently become the first in Warkworth to complete the NZ Certificate in Residential Property Management (Property Manager – Level 4).It is the highest qualification that is specific to property management and covers topics such as professionally managing a residential property rental roll, forming agreements with landlords, marketing residential properties, on-going management and communication for tenancies, tenancy disputes, land ownership and transfer law.The course, which has only been available for the past two years, is offered extramurally through The Skills Organisation.“Property management is a pretty complex environment where

regulations are being updated all the time,” Nicole says.“You have to keep abreast of them if you are to give owners the confidence that their property is in good hands. Keeping rent records, deciding who pays the various water charges, bonds and access to the property are just a few of the many issues ripe for dispute if an owner doesn’t understand their legal rights and responsibilities.”Both Nicole and Melissa said they found the course gave them practical ideas on how to work smarter.Ray White manages more than 200 properties in Warkworth and Orewa area.Recent surveys indicate that between 20 to 30 percent of residential property owners use property managers to find tenants and to manage their property, which equates to about 60,000 to 75,000 residential properties nationwide. Each year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment receives about 49,000 applications to the Tenancy Tribunal.

Property managers up-skill

Melissa Cox (left) and Nicole Banks have achieved the highest qualification possible for property managers.

28 Mahurangi Matters January 14, 2015 educationfeature

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It is 40 years since Mahurangi College translated to a Forms 1 to 7 school or, in more modern language, Years 7 to 13. The notion of such changes in small rural schools began with the Currie Commission, a Government Report of some 500 pages.“The Currie Commission on Education in its report (1962) recommended that secondary education for all pupils begin in Form I at the average age of 11 plus, and suggested ways in which parts of the system could be reorganised to achieve this aim. Chief among these proposals were those for setting up, in suitable rural areas, high schools catering for pupils of Forms 1 to 6 and for reconstituting intermediate schools as two-year junior high schools.”The year 1962 was also the foundation date for Mahurangi College, and late

in the decade the then first principal Mr C T Brooking, was promoting the idea that Mahurangi should join Te Karaka (out of Gisborne) and Geraldine in South Canterbury as a Form one to seven school. When I began as Principal in 1970 the Board of Governors, as a condition of my appointment asked me to promote this policy for the school. The roll at that time was just under 300 students and a very gradual slow growth was predicted.When I began, the college lacked many amenities that both secondary and intermediate schools in cities took for granted. In most small

rural schools that was the case and the Currie Report, as interpreted by the Education Department at that time, was to provide a quality of education that was equivalent to city intermediate schools, as well as high schools.  Backsides on seats were just as important in those days as it is now for gaining educational funding for individual schools. A school of 300 received considerably less money than one of 600.Mahurangi College in 1970 did not have the following facilities. There was no music room, no purpose built library (the library was in a classroom), no engineering room, no art room,

no technical drawing room, only two somewhat obsolete laboratories for three sciences, no gymnasium or swimming pool, but three tennis courts.My task was to persuade the community that there were significant educational advantages for all students by translating to a Form 1 to 7 school. That meant many meetings with the five contributing primary schools, their school committees, PTA’s and staff. There were political problems with the Primary Teachers’ Union, because of the possible loss of staff and with the Principals of each school,

continued next page

Forty years on and afar and asunder

Parted are those who are singing today,

When you look back, and forgetfully wonder

What you were like in your work and your play,……

Harrow School Anthem

By Alon Shawformer Mahurangi College principal

Mahurangi College 40 years

A staff photo taken around the time that

the college incorporated

Forms 1 and 2.

29 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters educationfeature

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continued next page

from previous page

as it could mean a loss of income for the school and individual staff. The college parents too had to be in favour of the change. Many of these meetings were quite daunting as there was significant opposition and concern strongly expressed by parents and staff of the contributing schools to the college as well as the NZEI (the political arm of primary teachers).Eventually the majority of parents agreed to the change and signatures of the chairmen of the school committees from each of the contributing schools – Warkworth, Matakana, Leigh, Kaipara Flats and Ahuroa – were obtained. The next stage was to persuade the Department of Education, and the Ministers of Education on behalf of the Government of the day.By 1972, Herbert Pickering, the National Party Minister for Education, asked the Hon George Gair to meet with Dr John Andrew, the then Chairman of the Board of Governors of the college, and me at a tea rooms in Orewa. The file of the applications the school had made, and the arguments forwarded to Prime Ministers, Ministers of Education,

local MP and the Department of Education, was now about a third of a metre high. This was presented to Mr Gair who raised his hands in horror and after some discussion said that he would ask Mr Pickering to write a letter of approval to the Board of Governors. This was duly received just prior to the change in government when the third Labour Government was elected under Norman Kirk.It took another year to persuade the Department of Education to recommend to the new Minister, Phil Amos, to sign a letter that disestablished the Form 1 and 2 sections of each of the contributing primary schools from the end of 1973. Ahuroa was an exception, and that school and contributing parents retained the choice as to whether or not their children would attend Mahurangi College or stay on for Form 1 and/or Form 2 at their local school.An architectural plan was produced by Gerald Ellot employed by the Department of Education and work began after a contract was let to Ellis Wyatt builders. The plan included the building of a music room, an art

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room, library, two geography rooms, an engineering room, a technical drawing room and a drama room.At the same time the college was raising funds for a gymnasium and a swimming pool. At a fully attended meeting in the college hall in 1971 parents met to discuss fundraising for a gymnasium. At the meeting, it seemed that half the parents preferred a swimming pool. Dr Andrew had a hurried consultation with Board members outside the hall, and then resumed the meeting stating that the college would have both. The term “Swim/gym” was coined for the community and the school. Apart from scrap metal, glass bottles, plastic milk bottles and the sale of mushrooms in season, the main thrust was to ask all households in the community to contribute $50. This was significant money at the time, but the generous community came to the fore. With the assistance of grants from the ASB and the Education Department the building of both these amenities began in the same year as the translated school began.The front of the school resembled a scrap metal yard with tractors and farm implements, engines, pipes, wire and other metal products. A similar dump was established at the Kaipara Flats railhead. Eventually several rail wagons of scrap were transported to Pacific Steel. Some farm families raised cattle for sale on behalf of the college. There were sufficient funds to begin building.1974 was labelled the “Year of the Mud”. It was an exceptionally wet

winter when building began, a hole was dug for the pool to demonstrate the honesty of the Board’s intentions to provide both amenities. Rain water filled the depression very quickly! (Vern Little dug the hole for a very generous $600.) The cost of the gymnasium was about $180,000 and the swimming pool eventually opened for about $25,000 as an open air pool. The enclosure was added in 1993.As the additional rooms would not be ready for well over a year, eight pre-built classrooms had arrived, perched above the present tennis courts in January 1974. The school roll increased from just under 400 to 650 and some 16 additional teachers were employed, several from the local primary schools. Form 1 and 2 started the year with school camps at Camp Bentzon with their home room teachers and a number of parents. Worrying about bullying was largely overcome by allowing the juniors to utilise the whole school grounds but seniors were banned from the upper field.The building programme led to totally

muddy surrounds as the back road was not sealed and was a sea of mud for virtually all winter as the builders trucks moved in and out. It was about this time too that additional land was purchased for the college. Lack of playing fields relative to other rural schools had often been highlighted. The land to the east, owned by the Buckton family, some eight acres, became available. After lengthy discussions with the Department of Education officials, it was deemed that the land should be purchased and four school flats be built there, instead of purchasing additional land for school houses in Warkworth. These flats have now been demolished. A plan was also drawn to place a full-sized rugby field in an amphitheatre close to the river on the newly acquired land. However this unfortunately, has never eventuated.Some of the advantages of the ‘new’ school was the appointment of specialist teachers that Form 1 and 2 students would benefit from, as could those beyond that age group. For the first time the college employed

fulltime art, music, physical education and engineering teachers, as well as teachers who specialised in teaching at the Form 1 and 2 level. At prize giving in 1974, the first school orchestra played several items with newly purchased instruments and some on loan from residents and parents. The beginnings of a strong music tradition had begun. Trevor Campbell, who had recently retired from the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, a man who could play many instruments was employed part-time as an instrumental tutor.The gymnasium opened in 1975 and the pool a year later. The greatest disappointment was that the senior students of the college who had undertaken so much fundraising never attained the opportunity to use the facilities as students. However, the community has made considerable use of both as the years have rolled on.It is perhaps ironic that I began campaigning for a four-term year at this time, and that it was finally implemented in the year after I retired. It would have been a significant initiative had it been achieved 40 years ago.Perhaps the goal that the Board of Governors set in 1970 has ensured a better educational opportunity for all students who have attended the college. The creation of a Form 1 to 7 school (years 7 to 13) was not without its critics at the time, but over the succeeding years it is doubtful that anyone would wish to turn back the clock. 1974 is a date to be remembered in the history of Mahurangi College. It was a privilege for me to be part of that history for 24 years and just as pleasant to see the school still going from strength-to-strength in all fields of endeavour.

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Board chair Margaret Cross

at the lectern.