Principal's Pānui
Students from Years 9 through 12 have been selecting their options for 2024 this week. A series of special assemblies has provided students with information about courses on offer, as well as informing them of their options at senior level now that they have the flexibility that 6 subjects provides. For many it will mean that they can continue with subjects that they are passionate that may not have had room in their pathway in the past, but now does. Students have a few more days to finalise their subject selections. They have been encouraged to have conversations with staff if they are unsure, and also to discuss their selections with parents and caregivers. In the lead up to this week, their Academic Counselling has been focused on pathways.
Arts Week
Next week is our annual Arts Week. Thanks to our staff in the Arts, and of course to our Arts Leaders in the Prefect team who have been incredibly busy organising events for the week. First up is the Soiree – a showcase of musical talent across a number of genres. It is always an incredible evening. Tickets for the evening can be purchased here.
Tuesday night sees the return of the Moscars (the Massey Oscars), an opportunity for our talented filmmakers to display their wares. The week rounds off with junior and senior Dance Showcase, as with the soiree, these are hugely popular nights, so get in quick if you want to see some incredible dance.
Massey High School Debate Team
Following on from the news last week, our Debating team has marched into the final of the Auckland Debate Championships after defeating ACG Parnell last week. As a result of their outstanding victories thus far, they have earned the right to host the final at Massey High School on Tuesday night. Best of luck to the team (Ada Kim returned to the fold last week having been unavailable due to other commitments) as they face Papatoetoe High School.
Tournament Week
Best of luck as well to our teams competing at Tournament next week. Our boys Basketball are in action early at the Trusts Stadium, Hockey (both Girls and Boys) and Girls Football are all in Whangārei, and our Premier Girls Netball team is in Hamilton. Members of SLT will take time out of the week to support our students, coaches, and managers. As mentioned on social media earlier this week – special thanks to Waddell and Chris Head of Bayleys Northwest – their sponsorship being the final piece in the puzzle that facilitated the girls football team being able to travel.
Principal Award
As mentioned last week, we’d like to take the time to recognise some of the outstanding work that is being produced by our Year 9 students across different learning areas. First up – Social Sciences.
The current Year 9 Social Studies topic is “Our Journey”, which looks at the various waves of migration into New Zealand. In recent weeks, students have been studying the arrival of the first Europeans and investigating what life was like aboard those early ships. This led to the creation of some imaginative diary entries.
9MCW, our Literature Summit class took the writing of diary entries to a whole new level. These had everything, births, deaths, marriages, and countless instances of immoral behaviour. Whilst the activity allowed their creativity and presentation skills to run wild, the diaries also incorporated well-researched facts about these passages to New Zealand.
Emma Perrett (Huapai District School) wrote over 2000 words, producing an incredibly convincing diary that was aged with coffee, sealed with wax, and contains a feather ink pen. The content really reflected the pioneering essence of those first British to make the journey as well as detailing the harsh conditions on-board, with intricate descriptions of the horrendous food options. An artefact that rivals the real thing.
Whilst on the subject of excellence, next week is the second step in the search for our Head Prefects for 2024. With applications submitted, and references being submitted those applicants for Head Prefect will have a meet and greet with members of SLT. This is an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate who they are, and articulate their vision, in an informal setting. It is also the first narrowing of the field. Those who make the cut after this event will then present to the Year 12 cohort. As always, it is an incredibly difficult decision to make as the caliber of applicants is always high – demonstrating the outstanding young adults that we have at Massey High School. For those who don’t move on to the next step in the process, they are still in contention for other 2024 leadership positions.
Ngā Mihi
Alastair Fairley. Principal