Week 4
Friday, 8 August - Years 5 & 6 International Book Battle
Friday, 8 August - Tuakana Team Assembly in our school hall at 1:30 pm

Week 5
Monday, 11 - Friday, 15 August - Book Week!
Wednesday, 13 August - ICAS English, for those children registered
Thursday, 14 August - Year 6 Visit to MBIS
Friday, 15 August - Book Character Parade

Week 6
Monday, 18 August - Teina Team Assembly in our school hall at 2:15 pm
Thursday, 21 August - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium
Friday, 22 August - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium
Friday, 22 August - Tuakana Team Assembly in our school hall at 1:30 pm

Week 7
Chinese Language Week!
Wednesday, 27 August - ICAS-Maths
Wednesday, 27 August - MBIS Info Evening for Year 6 Students - 6 pm
Wednesday, 27 August - Bees in School Assembly - in our school hall at 2 pm
Thursday, 28 August - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium
Thursday, 28 August - Restorative Practice Hui at 2:45 pm
Friday, 29 August - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium
Saturday, 30 August - PTA Quiz Night in our school hall - Doors Open 6 pm

Week 8
Monday, 1 September - Friday, 5 September - Tuakana Dance Curriculum
Monday, 1 September - Teina Team Assembly in our school hall at 2:15 pm
Tuesday, 2 September - Website and Hero Hui in our staffroom at 1:45 pm
Wednesday, 3 September - Teina Team Parent Teacher Interviews 3:20 pm - 6 pm
Wednesday, 3 September - Tuakana Team Student Led Conferences 3:30 pm - 6 pm
Thursday, 4 September - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium
Thursday, 4 September - Teina Team Parent Teacher Interviews 3:30 pm - 5 pm
Thursday, 4 September - Tuakana Team Student Led Conferences 3:30 pm - 5 pm
Friday, 5 September - Years 0 - 2 Swimming Lessons at AUT Millennium

Week 9
Tuesday, 9 - Friday, 12 September - Auckland Museum visiting the Teina Team
Tuesday, 9 September - Cluster Football
Wednesday, 10 September - Board of Trustees Meeting 7 pm
Thursday, 11 September - Māori Hui at 3:30 pm
Friday, 12 September - Korean Day!
Friday, 12 September - Non Uniform Day for St John's. Gold coin donation please!
Friday, 12 September - Whakatau in our school hall at 9:45 am
Friday, 12 September - Tuakana Assembly in our school hall at 1:30 pm
Saturday, 13 September - Marimba Festival

Week 10
Monday, 15 - Friday, 19 September - Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week
Tuesday, 16 September - Tuakana Fashion Show at 1:35 pm
Friday, 19 September - Awards Assembly in our school hall at 9:30 am

Friday, 19 September - Last Day of Term 3 - School Closes at 3 pmMonday, 6 October - Term 4 Starts - School Opens at 8:30 am

Cooper’s Corner – Honouring a Legacy

Kaitiaki garden is coming!

Kia ora e te whānau,

Ko Rangitoto te Maunga

Ko Tikapa te Moana

Ko Te Kawerau ā Maki te Iwi
Ko Te Whenua Roa o Kahu te Roe
Ko Ōmairangi te Whenua
Ko Mairangi Bay taku Kura

Ko ahau te tumuaki o te kura o Mairangi Bay

Ko Janes tōku whānau

Ko Nathan tōku ingoa

Tēnā koutou, tena tēnā koutou katoa

Following on from last weeks newsletter, it is with great pride and aroha that I share a very special update on the progress of our Kaitiaki Garden. We are proud to announce that our Kaitiaki Garden will be named Cooper’s Corner, in loving memory of Siobhan Cooper, a beloved former teacher who began our Garden-to-Table (GTT) programme many years ago. Siobhan’s passion for sustainability, hands-on learning, and community connection planted the first seeds of this incredible journey.

Later this term, we will plant a tree and install a commemorative sign to honour her contribution and legacy.

Signage and Learning Anchors

The first phase of signage has now been installed, supporting both learning and safety in our garden space. This includes:

Our Kaupapa – Our guiding purpose
Our Why – The vision that drives our mahi
Bees Emergency Plan – Health and safety procedures in place

Further signage will be added in 2026, including labels for our chickens, aviary, frogs and various plants.

Our Garden Whānau is Growing

🐦 Aviary: 12 beautiful finches, 2 canaries and 2 quails have made the aviary their new home.
🐝 Bees: We are thrilled to be partnering with Beezthingz, who will install and maintain our hive. Honey production and pollination will soon be part of our ecosystem.

Key Dates for Your Calendar

Wednesday 27 August, 2:00pm: Beekeepers from Beezthingz will speak to our students and staff during a special assembly.
Monday 13 October (Term 4): Our bee colony will officially be installed in the garden.
🐸 Frogs & Pond Plants: Samantha, our gardener, will add pond plants in Week 6, and frogs will join us in Week 1 of Term 4.
🐔 Chickens: Six chickens will be introduced to the garden in Term 1, 2026.
Thursday 9 October (Week 1, Term 4) at 12:00pm: We are honoured to welcome Tyler from Te Kawerau ā Maki to bless Cooper’s Corner. Siobhan’s whānau and all stakeholders who have helped bring this project to life will be invited.

From 12:30pm, students will gather for kai to celebrate this milestone together. More details will follow closer to the time.

Student Visits and Learning Opportunities

From Week 2, Term 4, students will be able to visit Cooper’s Corner under adult supervision during class time. A duty roster will be set up for break and lunchtime visits. This space will serve as a living classroom—fostering curiosity, connection to nature, and sustainability.

Health and Safety

All necessary documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures and a First Aid Kit, will be readily available in waterproof containers in the garden. We are committed to ensuring Cooper’s Corner is a safe, enriching place for all.

Harvest Season & Whānau Sharing

Our Garden-to-Table programme aims to teach tamariki about sustainability, nutrition, and the value of growing our own food. Please refrain from taking any produce from our Kaitiaki Garden as the Garden to Table programme relies on the harvest for the students' cooking activities each week. Your cooperation helps ensure the success of the programme. Thank you for your understanding. If there is an abundance of crop, we will notify parents during our harvest season so that whānau may enjoy the fruits of our garden together. Thank you for your understanding.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to Paul, our site manager, whose vision, creativity, and relentless mahi have transformed this idea into a thriving space for learning and connection. Your legacy will continue to grow here for many years to come.

Thank you to Kikumi Hirashita, Mother of ex-student Seira Hirashita, Jing Li, Mother of ex-students Andy and Amy, Amber Zhou & Terry Zhu, Parents of Jamie Zhu, and Mark Ma from Master Travel Limited for their generous donations to assist the construction of our pond.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to our community who participated in the numerous working bees, and who generously donated time, resources, and funds towards the construction of the pond, chicken coop, and Garden-to-Table area. Your support embodies the spirit of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, and ensures our tamariki have a space to learn, connect, and thrive for years to come.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved, please get in touch. Cooper’s Corner is more than a garden. It is a taonga, a gift to our tamariki and our future as we 'Learn together to create a better tomorrow".

He nui ake tō mātou mana i te kura anahe - We are more than just a school

Nathan Janes MEdLM

Tumuaki/ Principal Mairangi Bay Kura

Galaxy Drive Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0630

Tel: 09-478 8424

Web: https://www.mairangibay.school.nz/

Learning together to create a better tomorrow

Ako tahi mō āpōpō kia pai ake - #iLOVEMBS

The Kids Sing Choir Festival

Kia ora e te whānau,

The Kids Sing is a choral festival for primary and intermediate schools across Tāmaki Makaurau. Organised by the New Zealand Choir Federation, this festival provides an opportunity for students to develop their musical talents, build confidence, and connect with other young singers through the joy of performance.

Mairangi Bay School has proudly participated in this event over the last few years. When the APPA Choir Festival concluded in Auckland, we were eager to continue fostering a love of singing in our students and found The Kids Sing to be a wonderful new platform. In recent years, the festival has been held at the beautiful Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, and we are excited that in 2026 the event will move to the iconic Auckland Town Hall.

This year, the Mairangi Bay Singers learned and performed three songs:

The Beat of a Different Drum – embracing individuality and diversity
The Water is Wide – a traditional ballad requiring expressive tone and blend
Everyone Sing – a vibrant celebration of unity and joy through music

Students performed confidently during both the daytime and Gala Evening Concert sessions, showcasing their commitment, discipline, and passion for music.

Participation in The Kids Sing fosters learning across multiple areas. Tamariki develop musical skills such as harmony, tone, rhythm, and stage presence. Just as importantly, they grow in teamwork, perseverance, and empathy, learning to listen to one another, to support each other during rehearsals and performance, and to celebrate collective success. These experiences are a living expression of our school values:

Kindness: supporting peers through rehearsals and performances
Respect: showing appreciation for fellow performers, conductors, and organisers
Resilience: attending regular rehearsals, overcoming nerves, and striving for improvement

We are incredibly proud of our singers for their dedication and enthusiasm. Ka pai to mahi!

A special thank you to our talented pianist Julie Jang, whose support and musicianship helped bring the music to life.

Ngā mihi nui

Congratulations everyone!

Kia ora e te whānau,

Here are the sports reports from our after school programme this week:

Basketball News

Congratulations to the following basketball teams for their mahi this week:

Mairangi Bay Taipa- Y1 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Hawks - Y1/2 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Heat - Y3 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Warriors - Y3 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Mavericks - Y4 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Bulls - Y4 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Falcons - Y5/6 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Nuggets - Y5/6 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Phoenix - Y5/6 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Thunder - Y5/6 Basketball Team
Mairangi Bay Raptors - Y5/6 Basketball Team

Netball News

Mairangi Bay Tui - Y2 Netball Team

Last Saturday Year 2 Netball 'Team Tui' burst out of the starting blocks and never stopped! Their relentless attacking and excellent defense put them in the lead from the first minute, and they never looked back, beating Campbells Bay School Magic 14-1. Big congratulations to Emily and Ivy who received Player Of The Day and Sportswoman Of The Day!

Mairangi Bay Bellbirds - Y3 Netball Team

On Saturday, I had a netball game with my team. The score was 3-3 and we were very close to getting another point but didnt. I played Centre and loved it! I got Player of the Day for the second time in a row, and Devanshi my team mate got Player of the Day as well. I thought the opponent was very fast she made me run lots. Im proud of my team, we played really well. Go Mairangi Bay Bellbirds!

By Kaia Duff (Yr 3 Student)

Mairangi Bay Kiwis - Y4 Netball Team

On Saturday, Year 4 Netball team Kiwis won 11-0. It was an amazing team effort, playing steady to the end.

"I did awesome intercepts and defending" - Lucia Fodon
"I loved playing GA and trying my best to run faster than my partner and pass the ball well - and shoot well" - Maiya Lough

Congratulations Kiwis - We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to the following netball teams for also training hard this week:

Mairangi Bay Fantails - Y4 Netball Team
Mairangi Bay Huia - Y5/6 Netball Team
Mairangi Bay Kea - Y5/6 Netball Team

Hockey News

Mairangi Bay White - Y1/2 Hockey Team

Things have really come together for the year 1/2 hockey team this term going from strength to strength. Another game with lots of great shots at goal, especially from Sophie who was player of the day. There was solid defense to keep out all goals resulting in a 0-0 draw. Two games left of the season - Go Team :)

Mairangi Bay White - Y3/4 Hockey Team

Another great victory for Mairangi Bay White, winning against Torbay Red Sticks 5-0. This now puts Mairangi Bay on the top of the leader board in pole position. A quick game of paper, scissors , rock between Alfie and James to see which of them would play for the other team as they were short showed great sportsmanship. With Alfie turning his shirt inside out, and showing true team spirit to help Torbay.

Player of the day went to Oliver Benli, scoring a hat-trick. Wilson and Inuthi contributed with 1 goal each but as always, a great team play.

With only 3 games to go, let's see if Mairangi can hold their top position. Go MBS!

Congratulations to the following hockey team for also training hard this week:

Mairangi Bay Blue - Y5/6 Hockey Team

Water polo News

Mairangi Bay Sharks - Y3 Water polo Team

Our team is the Mairangi Bay Sharks and we played against the Long Bay Sprats. We magnificently won our game, the score was 5 to 1. The player of the day was Fred because it was his first game with us and he did very well in goal and saved lots and lots of shots. Our coach Emily said we did really well on our passes. This team is currently undefeated for the term and improving every week.

Mairangi Bay Marlins - Y4 Water polo Team

This week we played Campbell's Bay and we won 8-0 and the goals were scored by me, Zara, and Hayden. Everyone played brilliantly and every time the other team had the ball we got it back off them, especially Wylie who got player of the day and he also did good swimming.

By Lucia Foden (Yr 4 Student)

Mairangi Bay Orcas - Y6 Water polo Team

On Sunday we played against Milford Marlins who we had beaten last term but they had finished two places higher than us in A Grade.

In the first half we were losing 2-3 after goals to Benji and Tom. There was some great defending. Just after half time Flynn scored a great rebound goal. The game was tied at 3-3. There was some good passing around the team setting Benji up for the final goal to draw the game 4-4. We were happy with that, it was a tough battle.

By Benji Wilson (Yr 6 Student)

Congratulations to the following water polo team for also training hard this week: