What we offer
Something for everyone
STEAM
STEAM is a vehicle that promotes the integration between 2 or more subjects to solve real-world problems. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics are important components of our Curriculum at Macandrew Bay School and by combining these subjects through STEAM we are promoting and encouraging future focussed skills through hands-on learning activities and creative design.
Students who participate in STEAM learning:
- think outside the box
- feel safe to express innovative and creative ideas
- feel comfortable doing hands-on learning
- take ownership over their learning
- work collaboratively with others
- understand the ways that science, maths, the arts, and technology work together
- become increasingly curious about the world around them and feel empowered to change it for the better.
We have been part of the Otakou STEAM Cluster for the past 4 years. As part of this professional development we have been exposed to a range of digital tools to support the integration of STEAM into our classrooms.
All teachers have participated in workshops to increase their own knowledge and understanding of STEAM and Digital Technologies.
Our School has participated in the Dunedin STEAM exhibition for the past 3 years at the Otago Polytechnic. We showcased our STEAM projects focussed on the topics: Infrastructure, Mission to Mars and How can we be Kaitiaki of Ourselves, Others and the Planet?
STEAM is also integrated weekly into our school through Whakarangatira and Ka Hikitia. During these sessions the children are exposed to a variety of real life contexts and problems that require critical thinking and problem solving skills.Our Senior students are encouraged to show leadership through running STEAM workshops to enrich younger students.
Sport
With a fabulous range of sporting venues in Dunedin, Macandrew Bay School offers the following sports to students.
Terms 1 and 4
Futsal: An eight week competition runs at the Edgar Centre on Wednesdays in both terms 1 and 4, and all Year 1 - 6 students can participate.
Rippa Rugby: Available for students in Years 3 - 6, games are played on Mondays after school at the Edgar Centre.
Athletics: Peninsula Schools Athletics Day is held in term 4 at the Caledonian Ground, and senior students can qualify to compete at the South Zone Athletics.
Swimming: We are lucky enough to have our own school pool, which we make the most of at the beginning and end of the school year. Those who qualify can compete at the Otago Primary School Championships.
Touch Rugby: Touch is played on Thursdays at The Oval in Dunedin. It is open to students of all ages.
Terms 2 and 3
Netball: Matches are played at the Edgar Centre, Mondays for Year 1 - 3 students and Tuesdays for Year 4 - 6 students.
Hockey: Matches are played at the McMillan Turf in Dunedin between 3:30 and 6:10pm. Students aged 5 - 6 can participate in Fun Sticks.
Cross Country: Due to our unique and special semi-rural location, our school cross country is held on a farm up the back of the school in term 4. Year 5 - 6 students can also be selected to participate in the Ariki Cup, the Interschool Cross Country championship held at Kettle Park.
Kapa Haka
Every Tuesday in Term 2 and 3 the whole school are involved with learning Kapa Haka.
In Term 3, Mel and the Junior team prepared the Juniors (Teina) for Polyfest with help from Alofa Lale. Nic Brown helped to support our Senior School (Tuakana) rōpū along with our kaiako.
It was wonderful to have the whole school perform at Polyfest this year. The tamariki were AMAZING! Pakipaki to all our staff who have put in lots of hard mahi and effort.
We were very lucky to have Mr Jimmy McInally who stepped in to play the guitar for our groups at Polyfest.
Art & Music
At Macandrew Bay we aim to foster a love of The Arts! Every second year we hold The Macandrew Bay School Art Auction which is our major biennial fundraiser. This was first started by our former principal, Bernadette Newlands, who is passionate about the Arts. Bernadette had a vision to be able to offer our tamariki rich and engaging arts programmes by bringing in local artists to work with them.
The Art Auction features local artists who generously contribute their work for us to raise money for our arts programmes, visiting artists who come in and work with the children, and drama and musical performances for the children to enjoy. The proceeds from this fundraiser enrich the children's experiences and learning opportunities at our school and help build a love of the arts amongst our tamariki. Joy Chilcott teaches Music to our Year 1-4 tamariki as well as taking our Senior students for choir and Uke group.
Our Library
The library is a special place in our school. Our team of librarians keep it welcoming and open during lunchtimes. Classes visit every week and the catalogue is available online.
Children can log into their own accounts and reserve books both from school and home. The web page is updated every term with new purchases and we try to provide all the hot items as they are released. Clicking this link here will take you straight to our library catalogue; http://library.macandrewbay.school.nz:2000
Nau mai, haere mai
We are welcoming new enrolments
Come and find out what makes our school so special.