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MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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21 July 2015 Dear Parents The value added to student performance at Macleans College from the start of Year 9 (2013) to the end of Year 10 (2014) The school is very pleased to report the major improvement that students have shown over their first two years at Macleans College. The major core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies have all been tested, analysed and reported on and illustrate that the value added to student performance is exceptionally high and well above the New Zealand average. The tests are set, marked and analysed by the Centre for Education and Monitoring CEM (NZ) attached to the University of Canterbury (NZ) and the parent body is part of the University of Durham (UK). A school-wide programme for writing both essays and paragraphs The contracting of Dr Ian Hunter and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Business School and an expert in how to write essays in proving to be a major success. Dr Ian Hunter has conducted numerous workshops with students and staff so that the lifelong skills necessary are illustrated, practiced and analysed. This programme will continue into next year and probably beyond so all students can benefit from gaining higher marks and grades because of the technique they are learning to write better paragraphs and essays at all levels in almost all subjects. Annual Musical – ‘Into the Woods’ Congratulations to Mr Anton Bentley Producer/Director, Mr Nigel Weeks Musical Director and the talented cast and crew of this year’s musical; ‘Into the Woods’. Good support was followed by very good reviews and once again the exceptionally high standard of the Macleans’ musical was in evidence. Stage Challenge, Aotea Centre The school has participated in this major annual event for over a decade now and the hard work and talent has always seen each production highly rated. This year Macleans won the major award in a quite stunning performance and a number of special category prizes were also presented. Congratulations to the teacher-in-charge Mrs Vicki Norman and other staff involved and particular plaudits to the student producers and choreographers, Dean Elliott, Olivia Martin, Rochelle Fisher, Madi Page, Chelsea Gribble, Paige Cordingley, Kayla Steele and Stephanie Yiu and all of the hard-working and talented performers. Link: Victory for Stage Challenge Gala Concert 2015, 7.00 pm Monday 27 July, Auckland Town Hill This annual concert displaying the best of Macleans’ music, performing arts and dance will be again staged at the Auckland Town Hall. This annual event is now in its 10th year and venues have included the school gymnasium, the Manukau Event Centre, the Parnell Cathedral and now the Auckland Town Hall. The Macleans College Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Choir, Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs and other award winning groups such as the Barbershop Chorus, Stage Challenge and Kapa Haka will be on show. Tickets can be purchased at Macleans or through Ticketmaster
The ‘Turf’ and new cricket oval are open for use The school is very grateful to the expertise and diligence of the various contractors involved in the construction of the new all-weather turf which has been certified for use by the IRB (International Rugby Board) and FIFA (Federation of International Football Association). Play and practice has commenced on the turf and an opening ceremony was conducted in the last week of term. The large quantity of soil that was removed in the construction of the turf was used to create a full-sized cricket oval adjacent to the turf and a new grass-wicket will be installed for this coming summer. During the winter months the oval will be utilised for football.
Construction of a Pavilion Plans are being prepared for the construction of a school-funded pavilion overlooking the new Turf, oval and the existing courts at Oliver Road. The pavilion will have two large changing rooms, showers and toilets and an entertainment area with a large kitchen so multi-use by teams, groups, in-service courses etc are available. The change rooms that are currently onsite will be demolished as the Ministry of Education condemned the building several years ago. The site is large enough to also accommodate a ‘Boat Shed’ for the storing of the rowing boats that belong to the school’s rowing club and storage for the grooming machinery, mowers and rollers that are required for the maintenance of the turf and cricket wicket and oval respectively. Performing Arts Centre/Auditorium Like most of the rest of the school the Colin Prentice Auditorium has been assessed for weather-tightness and failed. This provides the school with an opportunity to enhance the interior of this valuable facility when the work progresses on its reconstruction from the roof down. More information will follow with a confirmed time-line for planning and reconstruction.
Current state of the rebuild of the school We are now well into the seventh year of the reconstruction of the school and with many buildings and other amenities still to rebuild. To date the completed projects (Ministry of Education funded) are:
Still to be rebuilt (Ministry of Education funded):
Projects undertaken during the past 6-7 years (Board of Trustees funded):
Planned (Board of Trustees funded):
The patience of the students and staff over the past years while the rebuilds have been proceeding has been quite outstanding. The movement for months at a time of all staff and students from a House (approximately 330 in number) or a block such as Art and Music to the ‘temporary’ prefab classrooms or X Block on the tennis and netball courts adjacent to Upham House is disruptive and unsettling but they have, to their great credit, got on with it. Purchase by the school of a building in Wellington Street, Howick The school has recently purchased a two storey building in Wellington Street, Howick. The bottom floor is utilised by the Westpac Bank and the top floor will accommodate a variety of courses ranging from English Second Language, subject tuition to the gaining of University Entrance literacy. The school currently enrols 400 international students and Wellington Street will enable us to diversify the range of courses we can offer. School Alumni Association We intend starting an Alumni Association and currently thousands of ex-students and staff members have been entered on our database with the next step being the gathering and collection of contact details. At the same time a steering committee has been formed so that ideas for the activities of an ‘Association’ can be looked at for implementation. The school is now in its 36th year and ready for such an organisation. A ‘Friends of the School’ group as part of the ‘Association’ has certainly been part of the planning as there are a large group of parents and grandparents in the community who had/have children attending Macleans and may be interested in being involved. We would be grateful if all readers of this newsletter who are ex-students, staff members, parents etc and who can provide contact details to please do so. Please send to [email protected] School Roll
Thank you for your ongoing support. Best wishes Byron Bentley |
Information to Note
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Junior milestone reports will be issued at the end of Week 6 (Friday 28 August). |
Senior examinations begin in Week 7 (3 - 10 September) |
Uniform Shop
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The Uniform Shop is open during the term at the following times; |
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