As we close the school gates at Mana College for another year, it’s a great time to acknowledge our school community for the successful year that was 2023.

2023 will be remembered as the year we returned to school without the interruptions of lockdowns and school closures over the last three years due to the global pandemic. While the effects of this crisis are still strong, as a school we felt inspired getting back into the swing of camps, sports, productions and the important events that make school memorable.

There were a number of victories in 2023 including the hosting of Polyfest; our Kapa Haka’s achievements in regionals; the major production of ‘Moana’ which hosted a collective audience of over a thousand for three nights; various successes in the sports field and courts including our Netball tour to Tonga; the development of our local curriculum which culminated in our junior projects at the end of the year and much much more!

These victories remind us that Mana College students rock! Mana College students displayed that they make a significant contribution to our community and perform on a local, national and international stage with pride and mana.

Junior Projects covered multiple curriculum areas and developed multiple 21st Century skills like critical thinking, leadership and creativity. The options included physical activity, technology, design, building, cooking/catering, mural painting, whakairo, Matauranga Māori and much more. For example our very own "Mana DIY Marae" took place, murals depicting purakau of Ngāti Toa iwi were created, a coffee cart was established and two media teams covered all the action.

These were aimed at promoting positive "Mana" culture, based around the strengths and passions of both staff and students. It was a trial for some cross curricular planning and work that is intended to improve engagement, attendance & authentic place based learning.

Our Junior Prizegiving last week was testimony to the high achievement of our Year 9 and 10 students and was a magnificent way to finish off the 2023 academic year. It was fantastic to see so many families attend and celebrate the success of their daughter and son that day.

 A list of major prizes are included below:

• Overall Top Year 9 Student - Caitlin MacLeod

• Overall Top Year 10 Student - Cam Culver-Dickens and Louis Gregory
• Top Junior TWA Student - Cooper Matheson
• Billie Mauga Trophy(Excellence in Te Reo Maori) - Te Maiohi Tua
• Rangatahi Award (Leadership & commitment in Kapa Haka) - Amiria Crawford
• Risale Cup - Madison Lee
• Services Award (Service to Kaupapa Maori) - Jullius Matthews Pulman & Tane Mill
• Pasifika Thrive Award - Resilience - Ayrianna Potoae, Ngakau - Mokotupu Taae
• Services Award (Leadership Performing Arts) - Apitata Hokianga-Rowlands
• Year 9 Dean’s Award - Tane Mill and Max Ellis
• Year 10 Dean’s Award - Charlee Zimmerman-Tehau

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our school community including our Board of Trustees, our teachers, our administration and property staff, our kaimahi, our parents and of course our amazing students who all contribute to making Mana College a great place to learn and belong.

Our charter sets out an ambitious pathway for learning and achievement in the spirit of Flourishing. Secondary school is about strengthening and sharpening young people’s skills and talents and preparing your unique pathway in life, and our vision ‘towards flourishing’ is one where ākonga become the ‘best version of themselves’ and shine through their potential in many different ways.

This year we have nine teachers and six support staff leaving Mana College. Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge our teacher aides who are an amazing group of kaiawhina. Roy Smith, Cindy Philander, Renee Ikurere, Tiringa Ikiua-Mere, Rikihana Love and Kai Williams-Bragg are all leaving to take on new roles next year and we would like to wish them the best of luck.

I would like to thank Amber Bell, Shayna Doyle, Laura Loach, Jacqueline Nordon, Jenny Collett, Kaylene Riley, Awhi Love, and Barry Clarkson for their mahi at Mana College who have collectively served the college for over 90 years between them.

I would particularly like to acknowledge three staff who have served Mana College for over 67 years. Kaylene Riley, Awhi Love and Barry Clarkson who have given 19 and 20 and 28 years respectively to this school.

Kaylene Riley arrived at Mana College in 2005, and has served the school for 19 years. I met Kaylene when she was the Staff Rep on the Board of Trustees which she served for 6 years. This was a difficult time for the school under statutory management and I saw first hand how committed and dedicated Kaylene was to the school.

Kaylene has been everything. A Year level dean, and Learning area head of Social science, A teacher of business studies, life skills, social studies, been the careers advisor and been a member of the senior leadership team.

She is one who ‘bleeds green’ and gives everything for the school and I am very excited to hear that she is going to give something back to herself next year and study in the educational leadership and management space.

Whaea Awhi leaves after 20 years at Mana College. Awhi arrived at Mana College in 2003 as a teacher of te reo māori. In the spirit of her name, she has for the last 20 years, committed passionately to the mārae, to students and staff.

Finally, Barry Clarkson, arrived at Mana College as the assistant Head of Maths in 1996. Barry started his teaching career in Christchurch and following a seven year stint in the Cook Islands settled in Porirua with his family.

Unlike Kaylene he has settled in two main areas of the college. One in Mathematics and the other in the house system. Barry led both the mighty Manuka (1997) and Totara (2003) whānau at the college.

Barry was appointed to the Head of Maths in 1998, and for a short stint was Deputy Principal in 2005, has been the head of Maths for 22 years. Recently Barry has gifted his teaching to Te Whare Ako and the Mathematics department.

Barry (koro, papa barry, Bazza) will be missed at Mana. Many students have repeated over the years that ‘they may not love math, but they love you’.

All staff were acknowledged at a special celebratory evening last week and a poroporoaki last Monday.

Cell phones

The expectation of our new coalition Government is that the school is ready to implement a cell phone policy that has cell phones ‘away for the day’ from Term 1 2024.

Both international and local evidence shows that cellphones can be a distraction from learning during class time, as well as reducing important face to face interaction during school breaks. A research report published in July describes the move towards cell phones being away for the school day as supporting addressing issues of classroom disruption, improving learning and helping protect children from cyberbullying.

At the beginning of 2024 we will put out guidelines around our cell phone policy and will consult with our school community at the beginning of the school year regarding the school rules. Consultation will most likely relate to such areas as:

• storage and how to keep phones safe

• school response to breaches of rules

• managing exemptions

• Information relating to updating and reviewing rules.

Getting ready for 2024

Most of our year 8 interviews have now taken place and we have now planned for the start of 2023 including our orientation week and school camp for year 9 and Tuakana.

Thursday 25 January - School office opens

Tuesday 30th January - Senior Course Selection

Wednesday 1 February - Year 9 and new students Powhiri

Thursday 2 February - Year 9 Orientation Day

Monday 5 February - Whole school in attendance

Tuesday 6 February - Waitangi Day

Wednesday 7 February - Whole school in attendance

Have a safe and merry xmas