SWIS
Social Worker in School
(Family Works)
Contact:
Kia ora, Malo e Lelei, Talofa Lava, Ni Hao, Namaste, Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Kia orana, Mauri, Greetings.
Wow!
The year is nearly at an end! MCS continues to be busy with activity!
There are several updates and celebrations I am very happy to share with you.
Weather Tightness Reroof & Roof Repairs projects: Administration and Auditorium blocks
The re-roofing work is proceeding to plan. This will continue through the summer holidays.
Both projects are scheduled to be completed ready for the start of the new school year, 2026.
Thank you for your continued patience, particularly at the start of the school day and at 3pm pick up.
Please avoid accessing MCS Admin driveway. This is currently a construction workspace.
No MCS school services operate from this area.
All MCS school enquiries are at the portacom office behind the white gates behind the Cenotaph.
Road Safety & Traffic Update
The AT team and Police continue to closely monitor the Hill Rd/Great South Road lights & around the school on Hill Road and Great South Road.
AT will continue to work closely with MCS in 2026 to ensure safe crossing options for our children and families.
Attendance
Regular attendance has remained a strong focus nationally, and for our school during 2025.
The Board is required to have an Attendance Management Plan in place for January 2026 and this will be available on the school website.
As you will notice from our most recent attendance statistics, we are some way off the government's target of 80% regular attendance and our 2025 school target of 70%.
MCS attendance target for 2026 is 80%.
As a parent and caregiver, you, alongside our school, play a key role in building strong habits of regular school attendance.
All students are legally required to attend school every day and it is a shared responsibility to make sure students attend and engage in learning from when they first start school.
You must let the school know if your child is going to be absent or intends to be absent for a portion of the school term for whatever reason, like a tangi or medical procedure.
Family holidays or taking time off for extracurricular activities (not organised by school) are not acceptable reasons for being absent from school.
Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school can be tricky.
Health guidance to support you to decide is available at knowing if a child is well enough to be at school - Te Whatu Ora.
If you are still unsure, or are struggling at home with getting your child to school, please talk to us.
Our school continues to build a culture that fosters attendance every day by having:
- School staff who have strong relationships with students and family.
- A school culture that recognises your child and your family for who you are, where you come from and what you value.
- A school whānau that takes all practical steps to make sure your child is at school and progressing in their learning.
- A school that is safe and welcoming for everyone in our school community.
If you have any attendance queries and issues, please contact us - we are here to help.
We have many successes to share including:
Curriculum Insights and Progress Study - Supporting ākonga Māori in writing
MCS recently participated in this national study and assessment of writing - Y3 and Y6 students. Our students performed very well and we were one of the few schools to be invited to share the strategies and practices we use in writing due to our strong outcomes for Māori learners. We were strong in all 6 key pou that emerged from the analysis:
- Pou tuakiri: Anchoring writing in identity, connection and cultural authenticity
- Pou whanaungatanga: Building relationships that foster confidence, belonging, and wellbeing
- Pou ako: Teaching with clarity, structure and purpose
- Pou aromatawai: Guiding growth through feedback and reflection
- Pou reo ā-ākonga: Empowering expression through student voice and agency
- Pou tikanga ako: Strengthening writing through leadership, purpose and supportive structures
MPSSA (Manurewa Primary School Sports Association) Years 4-6
What an outstanding year of sport it has been for our tamariki.
Our students have represented MCS with pride, teamwork, and sportsmanship across all MPSSA events.
A special celebration goes to our exceptional swimming team, who powered their way to first place this year.
Street Racket - Facilitated by Brian Burnett Manurewa Squash Club Years 1-5
Our students have so enjoyed their coaching sessions with Brian. Many have demonstrated excellent racket skills and we are excited to continue working with the Manurewa Squash club next year.
Fundamental Movement - Gymnastics - Bruce Pulman Arena - Facilitated by Bruce Pulman Centre sponsored by Counties Manukau Years 1-3
Our JS students have thoroughly enjoyed this programme and faced challenges with excitement and determination in 'giving it a go!' It has been great to see so many of our children try and succeed in these activities and develop new skills.
We look forward to participating in this programme again next year
We hope to welcome you to our end of year prizegiving assemblies to celebrate the end of a wonderful year of learning at MCS.
Ngā manaakitanga
Sandy Griffin
Acting Principal
