Mairangi Notes #16 — 2026.07.24

MHJ

my mairangi

Issue

#16

2026.07.24

Yussi's Note

Back to the routine

The lazy mornings of the school holidays are over, and term-time routine is back. I'm setting early alarms again, packing three lunchboxes in a kitchen still cold with winter air. The kids drag themselves out of warm duvets and into their uniforms. Stepping out into the still-chilly morning, we pass clusters of children in the same uniform, heading the same way. Ours find familiar faces among them, call out a greeting, and fall into step together. Term three is packed with events, and the kids' excitement is already racing ahead of the term itself.

Main Story

Little 15 Mins · 2026.07.24.

100 Days of Schhol

Pyjamas, a favourite bunny, and pizza for lunch — how Jin's Year 1 class marked 100 days of school, one sticker at a time.

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Lunch Box

MON

Bagel sandwich & Chicken chipees

Today's lunch for Min was a bagel sandwich and chicken chipees. The sandwich had bacon, sliced cheese, and thinly sliced tomato, with the leftover tomato tucked in as a morning tea snack alongside the chipees — the kids' pick over nuggets any day. Nuggets tend to go soggy by lunchtime, but chipees, baked and cooled after draining off the extra oil, stay crisp in the box.

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Campus Notes

TUE

One more step ahead

While looking into placement options, I reached out to a small child welfare organisation not far from home. They responded warmly and set up a time to talk. Last Wednesday morning, an early online call, more a conversation than a formal interview, centred on why I wanted to place with them, and whether they could offer the depth and hours of training I needed. What strikes me every time I meet these NGOs is how ready they are to encourage and support one another, connected or not, as though everyone fighting for a better world were comrades in the same cause. Placement volume for the programme is huge, so results aren't in yet. Fingers crossed for the next step.

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English with Jin

This Week's Expression

“Hold hands?”

One morning, on the way to school, Jin ran into a friend and the two of them set off holding hands tightly, buzzing with excitement. Then another friend appeared, and Jin called out, "Catch hands!" Her own charming mix-up. I didn't want to correct her outright, so the next day I simply held out my hand and asked, "Hold hands?" instead. No lesson, no correction. Just the right words, offered gently, for her to pick up whenever she's ready.

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Local Guide

🪎

Winter Activity

Cornwall Park Winter Scavenger Hunt

Sat 25 July - Fri 21 Aug 10am - 4pm
Pick up a winter scavenger hunt at Huia Lodge, or print one at home. Follow the clues around the park's accessible trails — bring a pen and go at your own pace, solo or racing whānau to the finish. Open 7 days, 10am–4pm (Wednesdays 12–4pm).
📍 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland 1051

🚲

Night Ride

Moonlight Ride

Sat 1 Aug 5 - 8pm
Puketāpapa's Moonlight Ride returns for its 3rd year — a free full-moon night ride with live music, kids' activities, face painting, and food stalls. Decorate your bikes and bring the whole whānau; kids must be supervised at all times, and it's cash-only for dinner from the local food vendors.
📍740 Sandringham Road Ext, Wesley, Auckland 1041

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From the Archive

Home Learning

[Y7] Understanding Year 7

Min starts intermediate in three weeks. My husband and I are navigating the NZ schooling system from scratch — this is our journey to understand Year 7.

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www.mhj.nz · Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand

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