School opens for our Year 9s

After a slightly delayed start, due to the Auckland state of emergency, we opened the gates on Friday, 3rd February, to start the 2023 school year.

Students new to Takapuna Grammar were welcomed into Te Poho (school hall) with a po - whiri led by our TuTangata students who performed waiata and the school haka Te Karanga Pakanga, with pride. Principal Mary Nixon addressed the cohort as did head prefects Liam Arthur Hunt and Lily Murphy, who gave them a warm welcome. We wish all these students all the very best for the coming year and look forward to embracing them into the TGS wha - nau and culture and watching them grow and develop into confident seniors over their time at TGS.

Year 10 Sports Institute camp

Prior to the start of the school year, the Year 10 Sports Institute cohort of 2022 set off to the Hillary Outdoors Education Centre in Tongariro. Here they spent the week doing a range of outdoor activities that would challenge their comfort zones, engage their strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, create environments where teamwork is essential. These activities included: scaling Mt Tongariro, rock climbing and abseiling on Mt Ruapehu, an 8m waterfall jump at Tawhai Falls, ziplining, caving, high-ropes challenges and an overnight expedition planned and led by the students themselves. It was amazing to see our students thrive in such high-pressure situations, particularly how supportive they were of one another. Many students surprised themselves with what they were able to accomplish, memories they are sure to hold onto for a long time to come.

TGS Cricket on the international stage

Takapuna Grammar cricketers, past and present, have had success over the Christmas break. Anna Browning (class of ‘21) competed for New Zealand at the U19 Cricket World Cup, held last month in South Africa. Anna now continues her season with the Auckland Hearts, then returns to her studies at Otago University.

Year 12 student Rishika Jaswal represented Auckland at the New Zealand U19 regional tournament, where she was the top wicket-taker. Rishika has also played in Auckland A games over the summer. Year 13, Izzy Fox, was selected for the Auckland U17 team and Christian Scott, who is also year 13, was selected as a non-travelling reserve for the Auckland U19 team. Alumni (class of ‘21) Max Clarke and Jack Clough also secured representative honours at U19 level. Max is attending Lincoln University on a cricket scholarship, with Canterbury, and Jack, is studying medicine at Otago University, with Otago.

The school season starts on 11 February and there has been a record number of junior boys signed up to play this year. Along with the 50 junior boys, we will have senior boys and girls competing across six boys teams and two girls teams this term. TGS prides itself on having a team for every student who wants to play the sport. At the premier level, both the Boys and Girls 1st XIs compete in Auckland’s premier grades.

Another fantastic addition to the school’s cricket programme is the junior academy, RaionaTaiohi, which develops well-rounded athletes and helps them on their pathway to success throughout their years at TGS.