Our Student Trustee elections are in full swing and voting will take place on Wednesday 23 September. We have had a very good response to calling for nominees and we congratulate all the nominees for putting themselves forward. 

Eva Bishop

My name is Eva Bishop and I am a year 10 student looking to share my student voice in Mana College. I have very strong point of view and would love to share them to help improve our school. I also think it would be beneficial for the school to have a year 11 student in the trustees. I will be year 11 next year meaning I am able to connect with the year 9 and 10 as well as the year 12 and 13 students. 

Jack Chapman

Kia ora, ko Jack toku ingoa. Tekau ma ono oku tau.

Why pick me for the student board of trustees representative?

Do you want a variation in classes, with more being based around projects, not NCEA standards, that are focused on learning skills instead of learning to the test? I will make a difference for us. I am passionate about improving our school, our future and our success. I’m not afraid to challenge those above us. You speak and I’ll amplify your voice. You're not just picking me, you're coming with me on this journey. Let's improve our school together.

Hapaitia te ara tika pumau ai te rangatira mo nga uri whakatipu

Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations.

Kyna Decruy

I’d like to introduce myself;

My name is Kyna Decruy. I am 15 and would like to apply for the student trustee role. I would like to be part of this opportunity to be able to work with other people to make the school better for everyone. I think this will make me more confident. 

Azaria Iti

Kia ora koutou, 

My name is Azaria and I am a year 11. I would like to represent the students of Mana college on BOT because although there are many amazing aspects of this school there are most definitely aspects that could be enhanced. One area that I would like to touch on is credits and other learning opportunities. I strongly feel that we as a kohu deserve to obtain credits from extracurricular eg sports such as netball, basketball, badminton, volley, hockey, soccer, etc. Everyone that plays a sport puts dedication and commitment into playing, training, and being apart of a team. It's not like the credits would just be handed to you as you’ve worked hard to earn them. 

I have also noticed the subjects at Mana College in some areas are quite limited, I feel we as students deserve to learn what we want to learn. No one wants to come to school and sit in classes they don't enjoy or can't engage in, which is why I would absolutely love to take suggestions from everyone and anyone to find ways to get your ideal learning, to help you succeed in school. 

Moving away from the education side of my statement I want to talk about the safety of students at Mana college, making sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable in their learning environment, for the females at Mana College, I'd like to offer better access to the female necessities in girls bathrooms so we can come to school feeling confident and f r e s h. My goal for the students of Mana College is to make school an engaging and safe environment for everyone, meaning you WANT to come to school and you WANT to do the best you can. I believe highly in “practice what you preach” so you can trust me to fight for everyone one of these points to ensure a better future for the students of Mana college, for YOU!. I mean if you’re gonna spend five years here might as well make them enjoyable. 

Simotu Judkins

I’d like to introduce myself;

Hi my name is Simotu Judkins (AKA Honey) I am a Samoan, African American, year 11 student running for B.O.T rep. During my three years here at Mana, I’ve always been inspired to make better and greater changes to keep our school spirit alive. I think I would be a great student rep because I can make a difference within Mana College. For example, having more school activities such as more cultural days to celebrate the diversity within Mana College, which will help us students stay motivated to attend school.

“You’re good, I’m good and together we’re great” - Nicola

Logan Louez

Hello, my name is Logan Louez, I am a year 11 student here at Mana. I am a New Zealand European student running for student Board of Trustees. I think that I am a strong minded person and a very great candidate for the upcoming election. I think as a year 12 I could be a great student on the board of trustees. My aim as the student representative is for all the voices of our student body in the school to be heard and recognized.

Melerita Malaulau

Talofa Lava, my name is Melerita Angellisa McGaughey Malaulau.

I have taken a whole lot of thought about why I think I am eligible and why I applied for the role of Board of Trustees Student Representative. First, I should probably introduce myself, if you haven't seen or met me around the school being my loud, energetic and expressive self. My name is as it says at the beginning, or you can just call me Mele or Rita. I am 15 years old and one of the youngest year 11s students. I am an Afakasi, half Samoan and half NZ European with a little sprinkle of Chinese descent. I love a bit of everything in my school life, one of those things is hearing the voices and experiences of others. I always love hearing what others need to say and learning from others. I always say what's on my mind and try to follow through with what I say. When I’m doing something I love, I try to give it my 110% best and don’t give up. I think I am eligible for the role because of my loud and outspoken voice and personality, and my ability to relate and listen to others.

I am running for B.O.T Student Representative because I want to not only be the voice of the students but also the embodiment of what a student at Mana College looks like, sounds like, and acts like. To actually have the voices, concerns and ideas of students to be heard by the B.O.T and/or senior management of the school. I, myself have some things I would like to add and improve in our school especially our school vibe. I would like to implement more community based opportunities, where our school can not only connect with our communities that contribute to our school cluster but also create a strong bond between school and families. I would also like to implement more cultural aspects to our school because to be very honest, our school feels very bland and kind of disconnected from our pacific cultures. I feel as if there is more room for improvement in terms of school life and bridging our cultural and community aspects. We should be encouraging our school as a whole to celebrate and acknowledge the cultural identities of our school and community. Another thing that is huge for improvement is Language weeks. I think we could hype the celebration of our language weeks a whole lot more, actually have students at our school looking forward to

Another thing I would like to do as B.O.T is to normalize the subject of Mental Health and Suicide awareness. The discussion and idea of Suicide and Mental Health seems to be quite a taboo thing at Mana College, helping to normalize and make it more outspoken can help the school environment more safer and accepting. Helping students to speak out about their problems and mental (health) battles. Encouraging the idea that people like Jackie (Guidance Counselors) and Social workers aren't just for people with serious and bad problems, but someone to talk to when you're just not feeling it 👌🏼, even talking to your mates, someone you can trust or teachers (Because you're problems are as important). Bringing in out of school organizations and influences would be good in doing this too.

Some other ideas I had but dimed down:

• Marketing/advertising more opportunities, events, out and in school based courses. Not just to the students that seem like they'd enjoy it but to all students. You'd be surprised by how many students wanted to join or do certain activities at school, but felt discouraged by the crowd that surrounded that subject or felt as if it weren't meant for them.

• Encouraging the Mana goes Green and the care for our school environment. Making it essential and more included in our school life, instead of it being seen as a "white" and boring. It helps to make our school campus look nice and tidy, while also doing our part in helping the environment.

• Encouraging more leadership and student involvement/action in school.

(Sorry, I don't have any cool and inspirational quotes except lyrics from that one Frank Ocean song, 'Pink Matter'.)

"What do you think my mind is made of? Is it just a container for the mind. This great grey matter"

• Frank Ocean

So, if we all put our great grey matters together we can all make this school into our own imagery what we want the school to look like. Thank you for reading my statement and I hope that you would consider me as an elective for the B.O.T Student Representative.