I hope you all had a relaxing and fun summer break. We are really looking forward to having all students back to the 2025 school year on Monday 3rd February 2025.

New members of our MGC whānau will be welcomed to our school on Friday 31st January. Thank you to our Manutaki and Star Mentors who will be supporting our new students on their first day.

We are really proud of our welcoming and inclusive school culture and thank everyone for being kind and supportive to our new students and staff during our first few weeks and first term of school. We are also very proud of your great learning and achievements throughout last year, and look forward to supporting you to learn and thrive again in 2025. 

Here are a few reminders about school life that will support your return to school in the next week and support your learning and belonging at MGC.

• Attendance is super important, as is being on time, every day. Classes start at 8.45am. Please be in by 8.40am on our first day and every day in Term 1. On Thursdays, classes start at 9.40am. Please be at school by 9.35am at the latest.

• We have a new school uniform for all Year 9s. Other students may choose to wear the new uniform if they wish. Please make sure you wear either your old uniform or the full new uniform - not a mix of the two. If you are waiting for items of the new uniform to arrive, please wear your old uniform until the new items arrive. You will need to wear full school uniform on your first day of school.

• On your first day back at school you’ll need  pens, pencils, some stationery and your device (charged up and ready to go!). Stationery lists can be found through our website https://www.myschool.co.nz/mgc.  

• Whānau class photos will be taken on Monday 3rd February throughout the day.

• Our school canteen will be open and buses will be operating from Friday 31 January.  For bus times, please see our website  https://www.mgc.school.nz/school-bus-information/

• A gentle reminder about our current cell phone rules.  They are to be out of sight from 8.30am to 3.15pm every day unless your teacher says you may use them for a class activity.  Here’s a link to our cellphone use guidelines https://www.mgc.school.nz/our-policies/

• We know that summer really kicks in once we start back at school, so please do wear a hat and bring sunscreen with you everyday while the weather is hot.

On Monday 3rd February, students will spend the morning reconnecting with their whānau class and will take part in House activities in the afternoon.  For the afternoon, students are very welcome to bring a top in their House colour and shorts or similar to change into at lunchtime, along with a hat and sunscreen.  

Timetabled classes will begin on Tuesday 4th February, and timetables for 2025 can be accessed via Schoolbridge.  Waitangi Day is on Thursday 6th February - school will be closed to observe this important celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand, and usual classes will resume on Friday 7th February.

We are all looking forward to a great year at MGC and reconnecting with students and their whānau.  

Ngā mihi nui

Mary-Jeanne Lynch

Principal | Tumuaki