Principal's Report
Kia ora koutou e te whānau
It’s been a great start to Term 3, with students focused on their learning and actively involved in extra-curricular activities. Classes have felt settled and purposeful—it's fantastic to see our young people so engaged.
As the winter sports season winds down, I want to acknowledge the pride and energy our teams have shown while representing the school. Ka mau te wehi! With summer sport sign-ups just around the corner, now’s the perfect time for students to get involved. Participation in sport not only supports their wellbeing, but also helps strengthen their connection to the kura.
Our Careers Expo was a standout event. A range of providers shared exciting pathways and options with students, and the feedback from our community has been overwhelmingly positive. A special thank you to Sarah Hamilton for her outstanding organisation—he tino pai tō mahi!
Regular school attendance remains one of the most important factors in your child’s success. Being present not only supports student achievement, but also builds strong friendships and belonging. If your child is experiencing challenges with attendance, please get in touch with your child’s whānau teacher. We’re here to work alongside you.
I’m always happy to kōrero with our whānau. If you'd like a time to talk, please book a meeting through our front office.
Ngā mihi nui
Jim Hay-Mackenzie
Tumuaki | Principal
Year 12 & 13 Ball
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Upcoming School Ball – Saturday, 2 August
We are excited for our first MKT Senior School Ball that will be held on Saturday, 2 August, from 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm. This special evening gives our Year 12 and 13 students the opportunity to celebrate together in a formal setting, with dinner, dessert, music, and dancing. |
Pre Employment Workshop Year 10s |
Thank you to the amazing Sarah Hamilton for arranging this Pre Employment Skills workshop for Year 10s. The kids found it engaging and informative.
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Matua Ron
A huge congratulations to our very own Matua Ron Lee, who recently stepped into the ring for a Muay Thai competitive event and won his match with ease!
Matua Ron also runs kickboxing classes for our students, helping build confidence, discipline, and fitness in a fun and supportive way. Ka mau te wehi, Matua Ron - we're lucky to have a champ in our corner!
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 English Department
In the holidays, our English Department travelled to Auckland for the official English Teachers’ Conference. This was a fantastic opportunity to connect with educators from across the country. We came back buzzing with fresh ideas and practical strategies to make English even more engaging and meaningful for our students.
A major highlight was meeting Markus Zusak, New York Times bestselling author of The Book Thief as well as incredible local writers Michael Bennett and Steph Maketu, who shared powerful insights into storytelling, identity, and writing for impact. We’re feeling inspired and ready to bring that energy into the classroom!
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Sport
Summer Sports Sign Ups
Sign-ups for Waka Ama, Touch, Futsal (Year 9&10 students only), and Volleyball will open up again next week.. Please ensure students are present in class to sign up. The Final close date for sign-ups is Friday of week 3.
Don’t miss the chance to get involved.
Winter Sports Team Reminders
As our winter sports season continues, it's awesome to see so many of our students representing our school with pride, passion, and teamwork. We're proud of your commitment and love seeing you out there competing and enjoying sport!
Just a quick reminder for everyone—players, coaches, and supporters:
On-Field Behaviour
Let’s keep it respectful, focused, and sportsmanlike at all times. How we carry ourselves on the court/field reflects our school values.
Side-line Behaviour
Supporters—your energy and encouragement mean a lot! Please remember to cheer positively, respect referees, and set a great example for our athletes.
Term 3: Sports wrap up from last week
Basketball
The Junior Boys basketball team pushed Ngā Taiatea to the brink in a thrilling contest that went to double overtime. In a game full of momentum swings and clutch moments, the boys matched their opponents play-for-play before narrowly falling in a gutsy loss.
Meanwhile, the Senior Boys faced a red-hot Fraser Premier Reserve side, falling 80–66. Despite being short-handed, the team showed heart, with younger bench players stepping up in key stretches and proving their potential on the big stage.
Netball
The Year 8A netball team got their reward, securing a gritty win. Their persistence has been a hallmark of their campaign, and it was great to see them break through.
The Senior Girls rebounded from a midweek loss with a dominant Saturday performance, despite having no substitutes. Their energy, discipline, and focus kept them in control throughout as they continued their charge toward the finals.
Volleyball
Social volleyball got off to a strong start, with five teams from Mangakōtukutuku College entering the competition. The event has provided a valuable platform for skill development ahead of the Waikato Secondary School season, with juniors looking ahead to Term 4 and seniors preparing for Term 1, 2026.
Football
In football, The Senior Boys showed real composure after conceding early, rallying in the second half to level the score at 1–1. A determined stretch of pressure followed, with multiple chances to win it, but the match finished in a hard-earned draw.
Badminton
Students took part in the Werder Rackets Junior Non-Rep Tournament across several age divisions. It was fantastic to see our badminton programme continuing to grow, with students gaining valuable experience and proudly representing the school in a competitive environment.
Reminders
Thank you to all students who have signed up for summer sports! Registrations are now closed for the following codes: Futsal (Year 9 & 10 only), Touch, Waka Ama, Volleyball, and Badminton. Students must be in class to sign up for sports. We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead—more details will be shared with teams shortly!
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Term 3 Upcoming Events
Week 6
Monday 18th August Teacher Only Day
Thursday 21st August (4pm - 6pm)- Open Evening
Week 7
All Week Senior Practice Exams
Week 8
All week CAA Exams
Week 9
All Week CAA Exams |
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