This page contains important information about the start of the school year. Should you have any queries please contact the MRGS office ph 621 0050.
Important Information for Year 9 Students
Starting Date:
- Friday 5 February (9.45am – 3.00pm) This day will involve a Powhiri (Welcome), orientation and a programme with Year 13 students. Your child must report to the main field in front of the school Hall in the correct uniform at 9.45am. New students will be dismissed at 3.00pm.
- Monday 8 February (8.40am – 3.10pm) Full school day. Students are to wear the correct school uniform and meet in their Form Class room for roll check at 8.40am. Your son/daughter must have pens, paper and exercise books ready to begin lessons. On Wednesdays school starts at 9.20am.
Prospectus:
Please keep your copy of the Prospectus as it contains important information about the School. Please contact the MRGS Office (ph. 621 0050) if you have not received one. A copy can be downloaded below.
Stationery:
Stationery is available at special prices from the Stationery Room (next to the library) from Tuesday 12 January to Friday 13 February (9:00am to 4:00pm). After this the Stationery Room will be open to students before school and during breaks. We strongly suggest you purchase the Year 9 pack from the MRGS Uniform Shop at a cost of $40.00.
Lockers:
Some lockers have been reserved for Year 9 and new students. The cost for the year is $10:00. Lockers will be allocated on a first come, first served basis on Tuesday 2 February from 9:00am – 2.00pm in G Block (Gym). Lockers may also be purchased when students buy their stationery at the school stationery shop.
Uniform:
Year 9 uniform can only be purchased from the MRGS Uniform Shop in Somerset Road. More information about the uniform shop (including hours) and uniform requirements can be found here.
If you move:
Please let the School Office know (phone 621 0050 or fax 621 0055) if your child will not be attending in 2010, or if you have moved house since submitting your application.
Starting School
Starting at a new school can be both a scary and an exciting experience, especially one as big as Mount Roskill Grammar. Here are a few questions other new students have asked and hopefully these will answer any questions you have.
Where will I go on the first day?
On the first day of school you will come to an orientation day. You need to go to the big field by Mount Roskill Intermediate. You will find your name on a board and the name of the house you are in. Line up with the other students from your house and you will all go into the hall together for an official welcome to MRGS (Powhiri). From there you will have someone tell you where to go and what to do every step of the way. You will be met by some Year 13s for Peer Support and they will take you with the rest of your group around the school, as well as other fun activities which will help you to get to know some people before you even come to school on your first day. They will also tell you where your form class is, which is where you go on your first day of classes.
How will I know where to go for my classes for the rest of the week?
When you go to your form class on the first day of school you will be given a timetable with the rooms for all your classes. I know it is different having a different teacher for each class but ‘variety is the spice of life’ they say and it does mean you get some exercise and a change of scenery between classes.
How will I find my way around?
Check out the map on this website to start to become familiar with the school. You will be given a map on the orientation day and shown around the school. And best of all there are 2000 people quite happy to give you directions if you are lost! They were lost once themselves, too, so they know what it feels like and will point you in the right direction. If you are lost when they are all in class there is Mrs Wills at the reception desk to help you (she will even print out your timetable if you have lost that too – don’t forget to ask nicely) and Mrs Pace at the Hall end of the school at Student Services who will do the same for you. You might go into the wrong class a couple of times but teachers are used to that and most of the students did that too when they first came so don’t worry about it. A message from students who have been in your position: “I was sacred but then everyone was really cool and even if you are lost they help you.” “I was kind of lost the first week – that was the hardest but then I got used to it and made some great new friends.”
How will I find my friends?
Arrange a meeting place that will be easy to find such as at the school canteen, in the main quad or by the hall.
Do we have to carry our books everywhere or can we get lockers?
Good question! You can get a locker but be quick. You will get a letter towards the end of the year detailing when you can get a locker so make a note of it and make sure you are one of the first. With 5 subjects every day the books mount up so you don’t want to be carrying all of them around all of the time if you can help it.
Is there much homework?
The homework in year 9 shouldn’t be much more than 20 minutes per subject a day. You won’t have homework from every subject every day. The best advice is get it done as soon as you get it and do it well so you don’t have to do it again! You will find if you start off being so well organised with your homework you will be organised when you are in Year 11, 12 and 13 working towards NCEA examinations. (It goes without saying that this way you also avoid the consequences for not doing homework such as detention.)
Are there class trips?
Too numerous to mention all of them. There are so many things to see and do in Auckland related to just about every subject that it is highly likely you will be going on at least one class trip in Year 9 if not several every term. Theatres, films, sporting events, museums, exhibitions – the list goes on. At the end of the year you will have three days of Wider Education where you will be going on a trip every day. There are a range of trips to choose from such as Art Experience, Fun in the Sun, Girls Day Out, Golf, Going Bush, amongst others. In Year 10 you will have the opportunity to go on a camp for the three days.
Are classes streamed?
Classes are banded not streamed. We have an A, B and C band and students are of mixed ability within those bands. There is also an enhanced class for the top 30 year 9 students.
How many students are there at MRGS?
There are about 2000 who are year 10–13 and about 400 year 9s. You will be in a core class of about 28–30 students and a form class of 24 so you will get to know those students very quickly.
What subjects are taught at year 9?
You will be doing the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Social Science, Physical Education, Languages (one of French/Japanese/Maori). You will do these every term. You will do two option subjects every term to get an idea of which ones you want to specialise in during year 10. These are: music, art, graphics, technology, information technology, business studies, health and food technology.
What do we study in class?
You will be building on the work that you have done at your intermediate school. Some of it might be a little more challenging but you will feel great when you’ve mastered something really tough. You might even find a new appreciation for maths or discover a passion for literature. If you ever find your work too overwhelming there are homework centres to help you. You do have more independence at senior school so make sure you take advantage of all the help that is out there. (If you are a parent asking this question check out the New Zealand Curriculum website to get some idea of what your child will be doing and don’t forget to come along to the Parents’ Evenings to find out more.)
What sports and clubs are there?
Make sure you take advantage of these too! Almost too numerous to mention them all but here are some that might interest you: rugby, volleyball, netball, cricket, tennis, dragon boating, squash, table tennis, chess, debating, interact club, orchestra, rock bands, softball, unicycle, badminton, water polo, lawn bowls, fencing, future problem solving, rock climbing to name a few!
What are the teachers like?
You have different teachers for each subject so you will find a wide range of teachers but they are all committed to their work and to helping you to be the best you can be.
What is the new uniform like?
You are the lucky one to be the first in this new uniform – smart and stylish! Click here to find out more.
A Final Word
You are about to enter into an important and unforgettable time of your life – MAKE THE MOST OF IT!