NEWS

We recently sent two teams from Year 7/8 to represent Maungaraki School at the Hutt Student STEMM Competition. The students had to answer questions based around science, technology and maths. They also participated in practical tasks which tested their understanding of STEM concepts. There were 35 teams from across the Hutt Valley participating. Both teams did exceptionally well. The team of Eric Zhang, Xavier Knox, Adam Guo and Edmund Kuah achieved third equal place. The team consisting of Daniel Brown, Ethan Le Roux, Minh Huynh and Millie Agent won first place. Congratulations to all of the students who participated, an awesome effort!

We also sent two year 5/6 teams to compete at the Primary Hutt Science STEMM competition. This competition features science, technology and mathematical questions with two practical questions that teams need to work together to solve. This year the practical questions were based on recycling and measurement, testing the problem-solving skills and cooperation of the teams. A big congratulations to Ben Ferguson, Ali Guo, Daniel Le Roux, Harry Faulkner, Leo Dittmer, Evelyn Webb, Angad Singh and Izaäk Ton placing 8th and 29th. Also a big thank you to the parents who supported the teams at the competition, and to Hutt Science for running the annual event.

ENVIRO UPDATE

Our trapping team has been busy setting up a trap line around the school and checking it daily. We have caught three big rats in one trap along with a mouse, and with bait going missing, we know that there are other rodents out there. Last week we registered our trap line with Predator Free Maungaraki, with the coordinator Emily Mossman helping us log our catches. Families that are interested in having their own trap tunnels and victor traps to take part in backyard trapping can contact https://www.facebook.com/groups/predatorfreemaungaraki or PFMaungaraki@gmail.com.

They also have traps and tunnels available for $25. There is also an opportunity to help with the main trap lines for those who are keen to help out, and can be coordinated through Predator Free Maungaraki. 

We are lucky to have Wendy from the Maungaraki Community gardeners coming in each Wednesday at lunchtime to help us with our community garden. We are working at putting in some winter vegetables, and learning how to put the seedlings in and care for them correctly. There is always plenty of weeding, watering and looking at the bugs that have made our garden their home. 

Our next job is to create some signs for the worm farm, as well as for the flower garden for our bees and butterflies.