Dear Mercury Bay Area School Community

You may recall much discussion in the media regarding season one of the TV show 13 Reasons Why. We have now been advised that season two will be released on Friday 18th of May, 2018.

The Ministry of Education have provided this information below, and we feel it is important to pass this onto you.

 13 Reasons Why

 Season two of the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why is due for release worldwide Friday 18 May.

 This show was widely watched by teenagers last year. The themes of suicide, sexual assault, bullying and other issues led to many viewers feeling distressed and in need of support. It is expected that similar and equally confronting themes will be present in this upcoming season.

In the lead-up to watching the second season, you should be aware that some young people may re-watch the first season, or watch it for the first time. Feedback from young people is that it accurately represented the issues they face in their lives. Banning, or recommending a ban on viewing it can be more harmful than helpful as young people will still watch it but feel they have to hide that from adults.

 The issues raised in the series are significant, and the series offers a good opportunity to talk to our young people about these difficult life events, but it is important that those conversations are safe ones. Where a young person is already in a vulnerable space, it may be wise to delay watching the series or watching with an adult which allows for ongoing shared conversation around the topic.  It is also highly recommended that young people NOT ‘binge’ watch either season as this can lead to them over identifying with the characters and becoming less sensitive to the graphic nature of the themes.

 We are working with other Government agencies and mental health providers to ensure specific information is available to support any discussions with young people or their parents after they view this new series. This is being developed as agencies are able to view the series, so is not yet complete. However, this will be available to you before the series is released. There will be information on the Mental Health Foundation website.

In the interim, this article from the Mental Health Foundation is a good start. The Foundation also has information on its website.

13 Reasons Why is certainly not the only challenging series young people are watching, but it is one of the most talked about. The Chief Censor has released a guide for parents: Talking with young people about what they’re watching. The guide is available on the Office of Film and Literature Classification’s website. We encourage you to share this guide with your parent and whanau community.

Netflix has provided information to Government agencies and services and created a website to assist viewers, their parents and caregivers.

 If you, or parents or whanau, are concerned about a young person in crisis now, get help. The Mental Health Foundation have a list of contacts, or phone your local District Health Board’s Mental Health Crisis Team (CATT Team). Support is also available from a trained counsellor anytime by calling or texting 1737,  or contacting Lifeline 24/7 on 0800 54 33 54.

 At this point the school has not been given further information. As this becomes available to us we will share it with you.

A reminder that our student health centre counselling services are also available to our community. If you do have any concerns around your young people please email Carolyn Gibbs on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Alternatively I am available, and can be contacted on 021 383865 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kind regards

 John Wright - Principal

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The government is currently inviting children, young people, parents, teachers, employers, iwi, families and whānau – to have a conversation about the sort of education system we want for the future.

The on-line survey (https://conversation.education.govt.nz/education/korero-matauranga/) consists of 4 questions and closes at the end of May.

The questions in the survey are:

If you were the boss of education in New Zealand, what would you do first?
What does a successful student of the future look like to you?
What will they need to know and be able to do?
What things need to be in place to make sure every learner is successful?

We will be holding community conversations about these questions and what you think they mean for our school on Wednesday 23rd May.

We are intending to host two conversations - one from 1pm to 2pm and another from 6pm to 7pm.

If you are able to come please let us know which session works for you by completing the form here

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On Wednesday the 9th May (week 2, term 2) Middle Years teachers will be holding parent/ student/teacher goal setting conversations based on our Middle Years vision. We invite you to fill in your impressions of your child, in relation to the MY profile (https://mbas.ac.nz/document-resources/years/middle-years-7-10/648-parents-my-profile-march-2018/file) before you come to the meeting. Your Child and their learning coach/ home room teacher will also be filling in the profile from their perspectives. The point of the meeting is for all three parties (student, parent, teacher) to talk together about their different perspectives and to identify important learning goals for your child, for the rest of the year in relation to the Middle Years profile.

We would like to give significant time to these three way conversations and have decided that there will be no classes for Middle Years students on Wednesday 9th May so that the Learning Coaches are free during the day for these conversations. We are encouraging you to keep them at home on Wednesday 9th and to just bring them to school with you for your scheduled meeting.

We realise that for some families this may not be practical and we are organising a special learning programme for the day for those students who need to be at school. To enable us to plan this programme we need to know how many Y7-10 students will be at school that day. We also need to know how many parents will be taking up this opportunity for the three way goal setting conversations between the student, parent/caregiver, and the Learning Coach.

Please book your meeting time as soon as possible using the on-line booking system ( https://parentinterviews.co.nz/ booking code E6GDT7MA) Also, please return hard copy of the attached form to school as soon as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<First Name> <Last Name> <Class>

---- My child will not be attending school on Wednesday 9th May

---- My child will be attending school on Wednesday 9th May

---- I have booked a meeting time.

---- I have not booked a meeting time because I am unavailable on Wednesday 9th.

---- I do not wish to meet.

Signature ____________________________________________

pdf Parents MY Profile March 2018 (68 KB)

The Coromandel rescue helicopter base in Whitianga is a very important part of our community. Due to a government restructure of air ambulances across New Zealand, the base is earmarked to be closed. The Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust (the owner of the base) is organising a public meeting at the base (at the end of Abrahamson Drive) on Saturday 5 May at 3:30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to show the community’s opposition to the closure of the base.

I would like to urge all Mercury Bay Area School staff and families (parents, caregivers, children and grandparents) and their friends to attend the meeting. For us on the Coromandel, all that will happen if we lose the base is that it will take a rescue helicopter from Hamilton or Auckland much longer to get to an emergency on the Peninsula.

Walter Russell, the chairman of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust said, “Strength is in numbers.” As many people as possible need to attend the meeting so that a very strong message can be sent to the government that the base need to stay open.

I hope to see everyone at the meeting.

Cara Bosman

Last newsletter for term 1 here.

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Kia ora all! Our weekly newsletter can be found here.

To register for this season please visit webiste - Mercurybayfootballclub

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We have three positions that we are looking to fill in our support staff team - could you be the right person?

Please see below - we need your help!

TSUNAMI EVACUATION TRIAL is CANCELLED today due to the weather. We will advise at a later date if this will be rescheduled.

Good morning, catch up on the Athletics, Spirit of Adventure trip, Snorkeling at Gemstone Bay, Info on the Tsunami Evacuation Trial and much more!

All here!

Last Thursday we had the 9-13 athletics day. Once again the student leaders showed up to help Mrs McCleery and Miss Oram set up marquees- which were much needed as the rain came through! Students dressed up in their house colours and didn’t let the rain stop them from trying their hardest. The day started with 1500m- 4 and ¾  laps, which really set the fun and competitive tone for the day. 

Although there were a few rain showers throughout the day, it did not dampen the mood! Students still ran their races and participated fully, which was wonderful to see. Unfortunately, because of the rain, we could not have the high-jump running for safety reasons, but students will still be able to do that event throughout the coming week. 

The annual house versus teachers relay was definitely entertaining! While the teachers crossed the line first, they, unfortunately, did not win as one of their members, Mr Mulholland, dropped the baton mid-way through the race. Better luck next time! (The teachers would like to point out that they were the first across the line..!)

During lunchtime, we had the 3000m, which is 7 ½ laps! It was great to see students enjoying themselves and putting in the effort for their houses! Other fun events included the 1 lap walk, where everyone in the houses participate, gaining a lot more house points.

Matahaorua was winning the house competition because of swimming sports, but Tainui has now taken over in points and is now in the lead! Go Tainui! 

Our weekly school newsletter for week 3 is ready and can be viewed here.

Our latest newsletter has just been sent.

An update from Jonathan Kline of Mercury Bay Boating Club

Our Term 1 Mercury Bay Mentors kicked off their first session yesterday.  The Mercury Bay Mentor program is designed for junior sailors aged 7 to 11 and teaches kids the fun and thrill of sailing, while they gain confidence and shipshape habits.  Children will learn the basic concepts of seamanship and the sport of sailing.  In addition, they will be taught to become ambassadors for the sport and coastal stewards of our unique environment.  The primary objective is to introduce sailing as a fun, safe activity and prepare these young sailors to progress to the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s Level One learn to sail program.

The day opened with low cloud, drizzle, and a perfect 10 knot north-easterly breeze.  These junior sailors did not let the grey day dampen their enthusiasm and needed little prompting when the order was given to suit up and get ready to sail.  Our volunteer parents and coaches were also invigorated by the warm showers, steel-grey sea, and enchanting views of our offshore islands, emerging and disappearing from behind frequent curtains of rain.   

We began our session at the Boating Club with lessons on proper dress, safety, and club rules.  We then moved outside to orient the kids with the points of the compass and how they relate to the main geographical features of the bay. 

For more information about the Mercury Bay Youth Sailing please contact Tara Corley or Jonathan Kline at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Facebook – Mercury Bay Youth Sailing.

Mercury Bay Youth Sailing promotes sailing, seamanship, ocean and coastal stewardship, and marine awareness among our town's youth and adults so that they become ambassadors for the sport and champions of our unique and precious environment.

Jonathan Kline

+64 27 392 7280

Many thanks to Linda Bird for the excellent photos. 

School Community Officer, Catherine Sell has shared some information on bike safety. Feel free to check out these links.

http://onyabike.nz/

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