The Lion - November 2015

LION THE

Mount Albert Grammar School November 2015

The Lion is the official magazine of Mount Albert Grammar School Editorial enquiries to editor Estelle Sarney esarney@mags.school.nz, ph 09 846 2044, x 8236 Advertising enquiries to Tim Kay, MAGS Foundation tkay@mags.school.nz, ph 09 846 2044 x 8127 Mount Albert Grammar School Alberton Avenue Mount Albert Auckland 1025

Cover photo: The Golden Lions of 2015, from left, Alysha Vaigalu, Matthew Smith, Samantha Brake, Nathan Rhodes-Hasler and Camille Hay. Golden Lions are students who have attained all four MAGS Lions for Sport, Arts, Service and as Scholars.

Ph 09 846 2044

Designed by Blueriver Creative

Photographed by Photography teacher Mr Peter Rees.

Proudly printed by Webstar www.mags.school.nz

Boys from School House perform a haka to help welcome home the All Blacks at Victoria Park.

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Photo courtesy of New Zealand Herald/ photographer: Jason Oxenham

Head Girl and Premier Netball Captain Holly Fowler led her team to a fourth consecutive national title.

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Photo courtesy of the New Zealand Herald/photographer: Greg Bowker

Contents From the Headmaster

6-22

School News

23-29

Prizegivings

30-37

Performing Arts

38-41

International Student News

42-55

Sport

56-63

MAGS Foundation

64-66

Corridors - Albertian News

67

Key dates

22

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Photo courtesy of Liz Brooker

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From the Headmaster It is very easy for schools to say that they have as their mission to produce wellrounded students, but what do they actually do to make this happen?

At our school, while we recognise that learning is the main purpose for being at school, we also understand that this takes place in many forms and different places. Academic learning that eventually gains credits at a variety of levels towards NCEA is our main priority, but we also appreciate that overall learning is enhanced by students’ contribution to other areas of school life.

In previous Lion magazines I have written about the importance of learning in the Arts and in Sport. For some time now we have been encouraging students to take a more active role in

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their school. For too long the leadership opportunities here were confined to a few students selected as Prefects in their final year.

As time has passed we have expanded these opportunities considerably and now have a leadership pathway that starts in Year 9. The servant leadership model is one that we encourage here, and in shaping that our students focus primarily on activities that serve their fellow school students and the school community.

The importance of service can not be emphasised enough in our young people today. If they can leave school with an understanding of the importance of service and a willingness to serve, then our communities and ultimately our country will be a better place.

At our school we are constantly reminding our students of the importance of giving back. Its importance was highlighted with the award of a Service Lion, first presented in 2012, to add to Lions for achievement in the Arts, Sport and as a Scholar.

On the front cover of this edition of the Lion magazine and in the photos below, are this year’s special group of students who, during their time at MAGS, have attained all four Lions.

They will be the first to receive a new award in recognition of this achievement, called the Golden Lion. Congratulations to Alysha Vaigalu, Matthew Smith, Samantha Brake, Nathan Rhodes-Hasler and Camille Hay. To receive a Lion in all four areas of the school is indeed a great feat, and worthy of another stand alone award. These students are the genuine all rounders, as they are not only achievers in academia, the arts and sport, but also give back to our school in many significant ways. They, like many other students at our school, understand and appreciate the importance of service. I am proud to have launched the Golden Lion award to recognise these wonderful young people as one of my last acts as Headmaster.

As I leave Mount Albert Grammar School after 13 years, 10 as Headmaster, I look back on just how far the school has come and how much has been achieved. I intended when I started this job to make a difference, and try to leave the school better than I found it. This was what my predecessors had done, and is always the number one goal of any leader of an organisation.

The scale of the task of continuous improvement is far too big for any one person to undertake alone. Therefore, credit for the progress of our students and our school over the years lies with the outstanding teachers and staff that we have here. They have established and maintained our culture. Of special mention is the senior leadership team, which has more or less remained intact for my entire decade as Head. They have been fantastic, and without their stability and follow through we would not achieved what we have during the past 10 years.

The strength of this school’s spirit and the depth of its soul will be my greatest memories of MAGS. A school culture that produces students that genuinely care about each other, want to be the best they can be, and are willing to serve others is what marks out a great school from a good one. MAGS is a great school, and I have been privileged and proud to have been its Headmaster.

Dale Burden

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Welcome to new Headmaster Mr Pat Drumm Mr Patrick Drumm, the Principal of Botany Downs Secondary College, and former Principal of Aorere College, will take over as Headmaster of Mount Albert Grammar School from the start of Term 1, 2016.

Mr Drumm grew up in Mt Albert and still lives in the area. His grandfather, Mr Reginald Harrop, was a foundation student when MAGS opened in 1922 and went on to become a Prefect.

“MAGS has always been at the heart of the magnificent community of Mt Albert, and in recent years I have watched its outstanding growth and achievement in academic results, sport, culture and the performing arts. I can’t wait to begin leading the school I believe to be the best in New Zealand,” said Mr Drumm.

Mr Drumm has spent the past year as head of Botany Downs Secondary College. Before that he was Principal of Aorere College for five years, leading year on year improvement in its NCEA results and in the progression of students to tertiary study, the promotion of its First XV rugby team to the Auckland 1A competition, and the development of its cultural and performing arts programmes – alumni Pene and Amitai Pati are members of the Sole Mio modern opera group. Aorere College was named Counties-Manukau Secondary School of the Year at the 2014 Counties-Manukau Sports Awards.

Mr Drumm is the Chairman of the Polyfest Trust Board, a former member of the College Sport Board, the President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Rugby Association, and a qualified rugby referee. He was Head Boy of St Peter’s College and later returned as Associate Principal before becoming head of Aorere.

He and his wife Anna have three children - Georgina, 11, Thomas, 15 and Jessica, 17.

“The great privilege of being involved in secondary education is working with young people, becoming part of their lives and helping them through the steps to becoming good citizens.”

The Chairman of the MAGS Board of Trustees, Mr Greg Moyle, said that following a national and international search, Mr Drumm emerged as the exceptional candidate in an outstanding field.

“Patrick has a great track record of improving the outcomes for students at schools he has led. The Board is confident he will continue Mount Albert Grammar’s ongoing success.”

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, who is leaving MAGS at the end of the year to become Principal of St Peter’s Cambridge, said Mr Drumm was an outstanding choice to become Mount Albert Grammar’s next leader.

“Patrick is a perfect fit for MAGS. He is a high calibre colleague, and being a local resident is a huge asset to the school and community. I’m sure MAGS will continue to build on its success under his leadership.”

Mark Dempster honoured for 25 years of service MAGS' Head of Physical Education Mr Mark Dempster was honoured for 25 years service to the school on Friday, 28 August.

Mr Dempster becomes the 35th teacher to have served Mount Albert Grammar for at least a quarter of a century.

At a ceremony in the staff room attended by Mr Dempster's family, colleagues past and present and former Headmasters Mr Greg Taylor and Mr Maurice Hall, Mr Dempster was presented with his 25 Year Medallion by Headmaster Mr Dale Burden.

Mr Metcalfe, a worked with Mr Dempster as former Head of PE, gave an entertaining and gracious speech about Mr Dempster's time at MAGS so far. Other speakers were Ms Jess Lythe, the Head of Health who was the first woman to join the PE staff when girls students were admitted to the roll in 2000, and Mr Daryl Cartwright, Assistant Head of PE.

Mr Burden spoke of Mr Dempster's experience at the school, and introduced four other members of staff who have also served at the school for more than 25 years - Archivist Mr Brian Murphy, Head of E-Learning Ms Elise Goddard, International Director Mr Evan Gray and Director of School House Mr Chris Metcalfe.

Mr Dempster thanked his colleagues and particularly his family for their support over the years. His father, Mr Doug Dempster, was a teacher at MAGS in the 1960s and still visits each year to help his son with one of Mark's other big tasks - planning the following year's school timetable.

Six of the 35 people who have served MAGS for at least 25 years, from left, Ms Elise Goddard, Mr Maurice Hall, Mr Evan Gray, Mr Mark Dempster, Mr Chris Metcalfe and Mr Brian Murphy.

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Staff farewells When Ms Yevette Williams started work at MAGS in 2001, girls had only been admitted to the roll a year earlier. They numbered about 100 in a school of 1500, and were restricted to one area of the school around E Block, both for lessons and at break times.

“The idea at the time was that there should be a separate Mount Albert Grammar School for Girls, and it was actually called that for a while,” recalls Ms Williams. “But as the girls’ numbers grew, restricting them to one area became impractical.”

As Deputy Principal (Director of Girls) Ms Williams soon found she had a big job on her hands. The school was not prepared for girl students, both physically in terms of facilities such as toilet blocks, or educationally in terms of resources that would interest girls, or the skill of teachers to teach in contexts to which girls could relate.

There weren’t even any sports teams that girls could join.

Discipline was also an issue – the established staff had expected the new girls to behave perfectly “because they were girls”, and had to learn behavior management techniques that were effective with the girls rather than those they were used to implementing with boys.

Ms Williams had come from being Assistant Principal at Wanganui High School, so knew how a co-ed school should operate and set to.

“That first year was also a steep learning curve for me – MAGS was far more multi-cultural than the school I’d come from so I also had to change the way I taught to contextualise lessons for all these students from different backgrounds.”

Staff News

Yevette Williams - Deputy Principal 2001- 2015 By the time she handed over the job of Director of Girls to Ms Te Aroha Keenan two years later, the school was on the road to becoming the balanced co-ed school it is today, where there is mutual respect among students, and teachers know how to get the best out of students of both genders.

Ms Williams became Director of Studies, focusing on the curriculum, assessment, and ensuring the school met Ministry of Education requirements.

Her husband, Mr Dale Burden, joined the school as Associate Principal in 2003 and when he became Headmaster in 2006 the Senior Management team was restructured. Ms Williams became Deputy Principal – Administration, continuing with the responsibilities she had before, and, since their daughter Zoe was born in 2005, has remained in that role, also taking on Novopay and NZQA administration.

She says the school she is leaving is completely different to the MAGS she started work at nearly 15 years ago.

“The facilities, the teaching staff, the atmosphere, the students … everything has changed. My best memories are all of the students – their diversity, not only in their cultures but also in their strengths – they are such a talented group in all aspects. And I’ll remember how, overall, they all care about each other – there is a real sense of the MAGS Way values being put into action every day.”

Zoe has grown up feeling like part of the school and, like her daughter, Yevette is sorry that Zoe won’t attend MAGS and have the opportunities it offers. She is, however, looking forward to a new lifestyle in Cambridge, and new challenges.

“We all love this place and will be sorry to go, and will remember it fondly always.”

Te Aroha Keenan - Deputy Principal 2003 - 2015 Deputy Principal and MAGS’ Head of Netball, Ms Te Aroha Keenan, has taken two years leave to take up a coaching contract in England.

Ms Keenan, a former Silver Fern who, with co-coach Ms Paula Smith, led our Premier Netball team to a record fourth consecutive New Zealand title this season, will be Head Coach of Team Northumbria in the English Super League, and Coach of the University of Northumbria Netball team in the British University Netball Competition. She will be based in Newcastle.

Ms Keenan’s 13 year tenure at MAGS has seen her not only develop the school’s netball programme almost from scratch, but also build Te Puna o Wairaka into a strong whanau unit to support Maori students, has helped foster Pasifika cultural expression, overseen the continued growth of the Arts, and helped develop the co-ed culture of the school.

When Ms Keenan arrived as Deputy Principal (Director of Girls) in 2003, girls had only been allowed entry to MAGS for three years. A qualified PE teacher, she had come from 18 years at Auckland Girls’ Grammar, finishing as Assistant Principal and leading their netball team to four national titles.

“I saw netball as an avenue to help young women, and as a way for girls at MAGS to gain the respect they deserved,” says Ms Keenan.

In 2004 current Silver Fern Maria Tutaia started at the school and was made Captain of the fledgling netball team - they finished fourth in New Zealand in their first season in the A Grade.

Since then MAGS has made the national final eight times, and won five times in the past six years. Our netball programme now boasts the Netball Academy and around 20 teams, with the Year 9, Year 10 and Senior A teams consistently winning their grades in addition to the Premier team, showing the depth of talent and skill Mrs Keenan believes is so important to nurture.

As she predicted, the rising profile of netball in the school through the 2000s helped foster pride among all girl students, and respect from their male peers. In 2008 Ms Keenan’s job changed from Director of Girls to Deputy Principal in charge of Year 12, reflecting a push to blend the boys’ and girls’ programmes into a cohesive co-ed unit.

“There’s a great rapport between the boys and girls of MAGS the boys are wholesome and respectful, the girls are strong and self-assured. They have a lot of pride in everything they do.”

Ms Keenan has always upheld the academic priority of the school, demanding that her netballers complete their school-work and maintain good grades if they are to continue to represent MAGS. Her daughters Te Rina, now 25, and Tuaine, 23 attended MAGS, and her son Turepu is in Year 12, and she is proud of what they achieved here.

Ms Keenan says she is sad to be leaving MAGS, but excited at the opportunity of coaching in a different country.

“I’ll take away lots of good memories of all the players I’ve worked with, and of the students as a whole. There’s something about this school that’s really special.”

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Five achieve Gold in Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Awards The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award programme makes no apologies for being demanding - most students do well to achieve the Bronze and Silver Awards around their high school studies, perhaps going on to complete Gold after they leave school.

But for the first time, not one but three MAGS students have attained the Gold Award while still at school. Harry Duncan, Aakash Dalvi and Michael Soffe were presented with their awards by Headmaster Mr Dale Burden at assembly on Monday, 19 October. They will formally receive them from the Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, with other Auckland recipients at a ceremony next year.

Joining them will be 2014 Deputy Head Girl Alexandra Chaptynova (left), and 2012 Head Girl Hayley Becht (right).

All three boys, now in Year 13, started their Bronze level in Year 10. Each level requires achievement in four areas - Service, Skill, Physical Activity and Adventurous Journey and the Gold level also requires the undertaking of a Residential Project - voluntary work at a location over several days. Harry and Michael worked for the Department of Conservation on Tiritiri Matangi and Kawau Islands respectively, and Aakash

Harry Duncan, Aakash Dalvi and Michael Soffe with Headmaster Mr Dale Burden after receiving their Gold Awards.

helped carve out a bush track at Cue Haven on the North Shore.

For their adventurous journey, the boys planned and undertook a four-day self-sufficient tramp of the Hillary Trail in the Waitakere Ranges.

The boys say the varied requirements of the programme over the years has helped them develop organisational skills that will translate to other areas of their lives once they leave school. All are heading to Auckland University in 2016.

The teacher in charge of the programme at MAGS, Mr Andy Belson, said it was an outstanding achievement to complete the Gold level while still at secondary school.

“It does give you a real sense of accomplishment,” says Aakash.

MAGS at model Commonwealth meeting Delegates Abbey Lissaman and Jonathan Buckman took MAGS' place at the table for the National Student CHOGM meeting at Parliament Buildings on Monday and Tuesday, 24-25 August.

The crisis session looked at a state of civil unrest, and Colonel Dransfield was able to advise the students on how such conflict might be resolved.

The event replicates the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which is held in a different country each year, where talks are held between nations and resolutions are put to vote.

Another group of students posed as journalists, held press conferences and put out a CHOGM newspaper.

During the two days, the students, from schools all over New Zealand, were addressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Peter Dunne, former Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs Mr Phil Goff, Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills, and had a “crisis session” hosted by Colonel Martin Dransfield of the NZ Defence Force. They also observed MPs during Question Time in the Debating Chamber.

The event was held in the Grand Hall at Parliament Buildings, and the students attended a “State Dinner” at the Beehive.

Abbey and Jonathan chose to represent Malta, partly because Jonathan has been there on holiday. They researched the issues affecting that nation, and formulated resolutions to put to the vote. Both are members of MAGS’ Debating Team, so were well-equipped to state Malta’s concerns regarding its increasing refugee population.

“We formulated a resolution that other encouraged countries with more space to take more refugees, in return for Malta helping with funding,” said Abbey. “We learned how to negotiate with other small nations with similar problems in order to gain their votes.”

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Abbey and Jonathan said the experience opened their eyes to the background workings of international politics and diplomacy, and appreciated the opportunity to take part.

Mount Albert Grammar Maths students have achieved outstanding success in a number of competitions this year.

In the Australian Maths Competition, Year 9 student Logan Allomes and Year 13 students Yixin Ma and Ryan Wang gained High Distinction, placing them in the top 1% of students who participated. Yixin placed in the 100th percentile with a score of 91. A number of other MAGS students gained Distinction.

In the ETON Press NZ Senior Maths Competition, Year 13 students Jessica Chen, Kevin Gao, Riki Guernier, Hamish Jelleyman and Yixin Ma all placed in the top 100 in the country; a very respectable achievement.

School News

Maths competition success The New Zealand Maths Olympiad saw 13 MAGS students from Years 9 to 13 compete. Year 11 student Jason Pruim placed third in New Zealand and was awarded a bronze medal. Yixin came 12th and Year 12 student Wanli Cheng came 22nd.

At the Auckland Mathex competition on 26 August, the Year 9 team of Logan Allomes, Mitchell Shaw-Lewis, Germain Hellreigel-White and Adam Bateman came a close 4th.

Mr Michael Walden, Mathematics teacher

Successful maths competitors, from left, Jason Pruim, Logan Allomes, Ryan Wang, Wanli Cheng and Yixin Ma.

Above is the new Maths Block which opened in August.

Art students receive awards Year 13 Art students Uhila Ngai and Hugo Harvey are recipients of Auckland Art Gallery’s Pat Hanley Art Student Awards for demonstrating outstanding commitment and passion for the visual arts, and community awareness.

MAGS' Head of Visual Art, Ms Daniella Aleh, said Uhila had explored her Tongan heritage in design, painting, sculpture and printmaking, integrating elements from her local community into her work.

Hugo painted sophisticated imagery with flair and commitment, has been an active Arts Prefect and role model for the Arts at Mount Albert Grammar School.

Each student received a gift pack and membership to the Friends of the Art Gallery.

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Shadow a Leader Day Three of MAGS’ top Year 13 students spent a day learning about business first hand on Shadow a Leader Day on 2 July.

The programme is run by AUT in liaison with MAGS' Head of Commerce, Ms Sarah Hayes.

Angela Lei (below right) was partnered with an Audit Partner at Deloitte, Mr Andrew Boivin; Alysha Vaigalu spent the day with Briscoes Chief Operating Officer Mr Pete Burilin; and Head Boy Isaac Ah Kuoi-Atmore shadowed the CEO of logistics firm DTL, Mr Scott Brownlee.

Angela Lei, who plans on studying Accounting and Science at university next year, said the experience offered a fascinating insight into the services and environment of a company like Deloitte.

The students attended a breakfast at AUT where they heard from inspirational speakers, and then spent the rest of the day with their leaders visiting sites and attending meetings with different departments of each business, going to lunch with contacts who could offer advice, and talking about how they could shape their future careers.

"One of the most interesting aspects was hearing about their culture, and how they spend time developing that so that all their employees feel like part of a family. It sounds like a really good place to work."

MAGS poets come second in Auckland competition For the second consecutive year, MAGS' performance poetry team came second in the Auckland competition Word - The Front Line.

The team of Theresa Boyd, Shannon Hoole, Jonathan Buckman, Jahmal Nightingale and Joseph McNamara made it through the semi-final on 2 October to earn a spot in the Grand Slam with five other schools on 24 October.

The competition started with 144 young people in 32 teams.

MAGS was the only school to make top three two years in a row.

Theresa Boyd competing in the semi-final

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Described as an "explosion of youth expression", the poets write original works on issues they feel strongly about, and then hone their performance for a stage show that is more akin to a rock concert.

Mount Albert Grammar School

Joseph McNamara and Jahmal Nightingale

The evening included performances by some of the internationally famous performance poets who judged the competition.

School News The judges with the winning team, What's Next, who designed a travel app to match travellers with locals willing to show them the sights.

Business Challenge The Year 11 Business Studies classes and a group of top Year 10 Business Studies students took part in the BP Business Challenge over the last three days of Term 2.

The BP Business Challenge was a three-day practical business experience that involved students working in teams to form a notional company, research and decide on a product/ service, write a business plan (including a financing, marketing and distribution details) and launch it in an oral presentation competition. As the students were not going to manufacture and sell their product their ideas were not constrained by practicalities.

This year's products included a remote controlled excavator, a travel app that matched travellers with locals who could show them the sights, an all-in-one shampoo, body wash and toothpaste, an interchangeable sports stick for hockey, lacrosse and tennis, a multi-purpose sports ball which inflates to be a soccer, netball, rugby, or volleyball, a device that raises the height of dinner plates and a glove that would charge your cellphone.

On the final day, each team’s business ideas were displayed at a business expo and the students were required to present their product idea and business plan to a panel of judges in a “Dragons Den” style setting. This year's judges included Mr Greg Moyle, Chairman of MAGS' Board of Trustees and Director of 1Plan Financial Planning, Mr Andy Sutherland of Fuji Xerox, Ms Jean Smith of Barfoot & Thompson Mt Albert, Mr Mark Heer of ASB Bank, Mr Bernie Roberts of Webstar, and Ms Natalie Faidley of Chartered Accountants Australia + New Zealand. The course presenters were impressed with the quality of the work the students prepared and the depth of their business knowledge.

MAGS Head of Commerce, Ms Sarah Hayes, commented that she was impressed with the work that the students completed over the three days and the wide range of skills they learned.

The following awards were presented: Innovation: Econos Machine Safety for their remote-controlled excavator; Teamwork: Link for their interchangeable sports stick; Best Display: Winter Wear for their cellphone-charging glove; Product that would earn the most money: What's Next for their travel app; Overall winner: What's Next

Nga Manu Korero Mount Albert Grammar students from Te Puna o Wairaka gained a number of places in the 2015 Nga Manu Korero speech competition, which consists of a reo Maori category and an English category, at both senior and junior level.

Held on 20 June at Unitec, Year 10 student Phoebe Sullivan was the first placed girl and second overall in the Junior English category with her speech titled "Tell me I can't and I will".

In the Senior English category, Year 13 student Rihari Enright came second in the impromptu group and third overall for his speech, "Maori health - together we can improve it".

Tangiwairoa Cook, Year 9, came fourth overall in the Junior Maori category with "What is the greatest gift of Maori", and Year 13 student Te Ao Frandi came fifth in the Senior Maori category, and seventh in the impromptu section, with her speech titled "I am not a flax blowing the wind; I have a contribution to make to the world".

Head of Te Puna o Wairaka, Mr Tahau Thompson, said the students had spent many hours preparing their speeches and rehearsing their delivery.

"Congratulations to all our speakers who produced amazing results and who stood with pride and humility," said Mr Thompson.

MAGS' successful orators, from left, Rihari Enright, Tangiwairoa Cook, Phoebe Sullivan and Te Ao Frandi.

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Agricultural Science trip to Otiwhiti Station Eleven students from the Year 13 Agricultural Science class travelled to Otiwhiti Station for a week of hands on experience, accompanied by teacher Ms Kerryann Daffin and MAGS farm manager Mr Larney Palmer. The 3250 hectare sheep and cattle station is near Hunterville in the Rangitikei District, half way between Taupo and Wellington.

Students rode horses, mustered sheep and cattle, and fenced, among other tasks. As part of the Year 13 Agricultural Science curriculum, students are required to spend a day drenching and vaccinating sheep – our Year 13 students drenched 1500 sheep during their day in the yards.

Otiwhiti staff were impressed with the MAGS students’ work ethic and said they were a delight to have around. It was an enjoyable trip filled with laughter and valuable experiences. On our final day, four students applied for positions as cadets at Otiwhiti, and our fingers are crossed for them.

Ms Kerryann Daffin, Head of Agricultural Science

Our trip to Otiwhiti Station was memorable and educational.

We were split into four groups, each led by a cadet from the station who was learning hill country sheep and cattle skills.

Each day we would get up at 6am, have breakfast and head out to work.

My group’s first job was to trim branches from trees that would later be planted on hills to stop landslides. As the week went on we drafted mobs of around 2000 sheep (most in lamb), rode horses, which wasn't as easy as it looked especially when they started to canter, and watched cadets round up sheep with sheep dogs they were training.

My favourite part of the trip was being in a working farm environment. I also enjoyed getting to know my classmates better, and spending time with other people who want to work in the agriculture industry.

Gabriella Nortier, Year 13

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School News

Orchard extension will benefit community Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Greg Moyle with Head of Horticultural Science Ms Patricia Bevins and students Malayna Kingsley-Smith and Harrison Batty, who are both sitting Scholarship in the subject this year.

The MAGS orchard at the ASB Bank Farm and Horticulture Block is being extended, and its produce will eventually be available to the community.

Chairman of the MAGS Board of Trustees, Mr Greg Moyle, donated 16 fruit and nut trees to the school and helped plant them with Horticultural Science students on Wednesday, 2 September.

"I'm keen on the Horticulture Block becoming more relevant to the students, and getting them interested in growing food," says Mr Moyle, who for the past 12 years has enjoyed tending his own orchard on a block he owns near the Hauraki Plains.

The new trees will bear plums, apples, pears, avocados, almonds, walnuts and macadamia nuts. They have been planted in the paddock on the other side of the shelter belt protecting the original orchard, which includes citrus, apples, plums, feijoas, figs, kiwiberries, nectarines, perismmon, blueberries, yellow quince and a grape vine. The fence separating the two areas will be moved to encompass the orchard extension.

Head of Horticultural Science Ms Patricia Bevins says the extended orchard will enable students to learn from a wider variety of trees and larger specimens.

"They will gain a better understanding of how trees grow, and be involved in all the feeding, spraying and pruning they require."

It will be three to five years before the new trees bear their first fruit, but Ms Bevins says that while some will continue to be given to the school's Food Technology Department, and made available to staff, consideration is already being given to how the produce will be shared with the wider Mount Albert community.

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Languages Language assistants talk the talk Learning a new language in a classroom can be hard work, but a group of young assistants from three languages’ countries of origin have helped bring lessons to life for their students.

Ms Anja Decker from Germany, Ms Wenlian (Lily) Sheng from China and Ms Mathilde Guillaumet from France have been at MAGS all year assisting Mr Warwick Gibbs, Ms Eva Liu and Ms Helen Selaries respectively.

Ms Selaries says the students gain confidence from being able to practice the language they are learning with another young person, in a safe and friendly environment that where they can learn from their mistakes, and gain instant satisfaction when they speak a phrase correctly.

The assistants also help in teaching the culture of the countries they come from.

Each has travelled here on programmes run by their governments to help students around the world learn their languages. They share their time between two or three schools.

They have loved their time in New Zealand, managed to fit in some travel around the country between teaching, and will miss MAGS when they return to their home countries to continue their university studies.

“I wish I could stay longer than one year,” says Ms Decker, “I’m so grateful for all the friendly students and teachers I’ve worked with; I’ll definitely be back.”

French Exchange students spend time with Kiwi buddies A group of 23 students from a Paris high school arrived at Mount Albert Grammar on 15 June to spend a month with their Kiwi buddies.

Each visitor from the school Sainte Croix de Neuilly was paired with a MAGS French language student, and spent the remainder of term attending most classes with them. They stayed at their homes and enjoyed the school holidays with their host family before returning to France.

In December the French students will return the favour, when the New Zealanders travel to Paris to spend four weeks with them, and then a final week touring the country.

Below are some accounts by MAGS students on how they introduced their French buddies to the Kiwi lifestyle:

Jess Middelberg and Elé From when I first met my exchange student Elé to the moment we said goodbye the whole experience was a whirlwind of fun times and exciting new experiences.

The French arrived on a Saturday so we came straight from the airport to my club netball game where Elé was surprised to see a new sport and videoed half the game.

The next day we discovered her best friend was staying close by so we met for breakfast and set off to show the ‘Frenchies’ Auckland. We managed to cover the Sky Tower, Queen Street, Mt Eden and ended by showing them around MAGS where they would be attending school with us for the next three weeks.

The three weeks of school went by quickly and by the end the Frenchies were part of our lives and no one could remember 14

Mount Albert Grammar School

In the second week of the school holidays we took a road trip down to Mt Ruapehu. We went skiing at Whakapapa and Turoa, and stayed in Ohakune for a night to show Elé what a small New Zealand town was like. On the way home through Taupo we visited Huka Falls, swam at AC Baths and went prawn fishing (which was suprisingly enjoyable) with another French exchange student who had just arrived at a different school. We spent our last night in a hotel overlooking Lake Taupo before heading back a day before Elé was due to fly home.

Darsh Shah and Clement

School News

what it had been like without them. They went on school trips during the week to places around Auckland with their French teacher but otherwise they came to most classes with us. They also discovered St Lukes, which was a hit, and they tended to go there together almost every day after school.

I was very excited about taking Clement to a lot of different places and sharing great experiences with him. We went to the Sky Tower observatory and Freddy's Frozen Ice House. When the holidays came we went to Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, and from there to Rotorua for the luge rides and gondola.

I had a lot of fun spending time with Clement; for me this was an experience of a lifetime.

By the end of the five weeks there was no doubt Elé was part of our family and the airport was an emotional place to say the least. I will never forget the time we had a French exchange student when I can safely say I made a friend for life. The whole experience was summed up in the message I received from Elé once she had returned thanking our family for the “best five weeks of her life”.

Jack Soffe and Theophile We had a lovely time hosting Theophile for five weeks. We kept him busy in Auckland with a trip up Rangitoto, ice skating, brunch in the Sky Tower, climbing the dunes at Bethells Beach, and a trip to North Head. We also enjoyed watching the FIFA U20 World Cup games together.

Our holiday in Rotorua started with a brief stop at Waitomo Caves, where we had fun doing Black Water Rafting. We also kayaked on Lake Tarawera, went to a hangi, visited a geothermal park and had races down the Luge.

We then spent time at beaches on the Coromandel. Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach were the best ones.

We had a lot of fun together and now I am looking forward to going to visit Theophile in Paris.

Jonathan Osborn and Antoine My family and our exchange student Antoine were very busy over his five-week stay, trying to ensure that he saw and experienced some of what Auckland and New Zealand had to offer. On his first full day in Auckland we took him up Mt Eden; he was particularly keen on the way our houses were “spread apart from each other”.

Over the next three weeks of term we went into the city, shopped at the malls, played basketball at Potters Park, went to the Viaduct, played Xbox at home and dined out at various cafes and restaurants. He enjoyed trying the Kiwi versions of the fast food restaurants and became a solid KFC Wicked Wings fan.

During the school holidays we went to our bach in Whangamata where we enjoyed relaxing at the beach and walking to Cathedral Cove. We also travelled south to Hobbiton where Antoine, a fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, took lots of photos and really enjoyed seeing the movie sets. We then went on to Rotorua where we managed to fit in lots of activities including luging, the gondolas, adventure go karting, walking in the Redwoods, and visiting the Polynesian Spa and Te Puia. We also visited family friends on a dairy farm near Te Puke where Antoine got to ride a motorbike for the first time, which he loved! Antoine turned out to be a real adrenaline junkie, which culminated in him doing a Sky Jump on his last day in Auckland.

With Antoine we felt like we had gained a new member of our family and overall we had a great time, better then we could’ve possibly imagined!

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Trip to China Over the October school holidays 19 students of Chinese language and/or Commerce went to China, accompanied by four adults.

The temperature on arrival in Shanghai was a pleasant change from the Auckland winter and we were treated to a sunny day to explore the Bund and the city. Highlights of Shanghai included a visit to the Shanghai office of Westpac Bank, a trip up the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Yu Gardens – a haven of peace and tranquility in the heart of a busy city.

From Shanghai we boarded a bus and travelled to Suzhou and Hangzhou – the Venice of the East – where we were treated to even warmer temperatures and more spectacular traditional gardens, as well as cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage West lake with its numerous temples, pagodas, gardens and artificial islands within the lake. The contrast between the peace of the gardens and the busy day to day street life was amazing.

The next stop was Xi’an. Transport from Hangzhou to Xi’an was a 16-hour overnight train – a new adventure for most of us, as we slept in beds in cabins of four which were surprising comfortable. Xi’an was the start of the historical part of the trip which including bike riding (including tandem bikes) on the top of the old city wall, a Chinese calligraphy lesson and, the highlight of the trip for many, a visit to the Terracotta Warriors; a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qi Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, the purpose of which was to protect the Emperor in his afterlife.

A five-hour trip on the bullet train from Xi’an saw us arrive in Beijing. Here we visited the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Imperial College, Llama Temple, the Summer Palace and, the other highlight of the trip, took a walk along the Great Wall. Like the Terracotta Warriors, the size of this structure and the history behind it made us all stop and think about how was it built, how many lives were lost in the process, how many other people of the years had walked where we were now walking, and that the wall and the warriors are older than New Zealand.

Over the two weeks we saw many astonishing things, and felt like we saw almost the whole population of China in some places (travelling during the National Day week-long holiday added to the crowds). We experienced thick smog in Beijing where the visibility was reduced to about 70m, and contributed to the Chinese economy with the many, many purchases made at the markets. The students took every opportunity to practice speaking Chinese and saw first hand the culture and history of China they had studied in class. We also saw and heard about the importance of China as a trading partner of New Zealand, and how New Zealand is doing exceptionally well selling quality products into China.

The students adapted well to the different environment and the high temperatures. They made the most of the opportunities offered on the trip and represented the school in a positive way.

Ms Sarah Hayes, Head of Commerce

Put your faith in us then put your feet up!

RESIDENTIAL SALES • RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Ph O9 846 947O Email sales@anneduncan.co.nz 746 New North Road, Mt Albert, Auckland 1025

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Mount Albert Grammar School

anneduncan.co.nz

During the October holidays a group of 24 Senior German students flew to Germany for the fourth German cultural tour, accompanied by teachers Mr Warwick Gibbs and Ms Kathy Edmonds and parent Mrs Gaynor Eade.

We arrived in Frankfurt, and went for a walk along the river Main to the Old Town - the mediaeval centre of the city. This was where the students could try out their German language skills by buying various goods, and some climbed the many steps of the nearby church to view the city. Some returned here after dinner at the Youth Hostel.

The next day we travelled by Intercity express to Berlin, in company with some Syrian refugees, where we spent several days sightseeing with Mr Gibbs as our guide. Centrally located in a hostel near the main station, we could travel through the city with ease on the excellent train system. A visit to the world-famous Pergamon Museum had been booked two months in advance, and we saw also the nearby cathedral, Alexanderplatz, the Holocaust Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten district, Reichstag and Chancellery. Students could not fail to be impressed by the open spaces, lack of motorways through the central city (there are tunnels instead) and the size of the buildings and parks.

After being shown how the transport system operated, the students could then, on a free day, go in groups to explore areas they were interested in or to shop. Gesa Weidemann,

School News

Trip to Germany who had been an International student member of the class at MAGS, travelled from her home in LĂźbeck to join one group.

Mr Gibbs took a group to the 1936 Olympic Stadium and the Russian War Memorial in Treptow. Henry Russell organised a group to go to the top of the Reichstag dome. Lily Trevallyan and others also cunningly organised a surprise visit to the youth hostel of a friend of Mr Gibbs.

Another ICE to Bonn was followed by a boat trip past the castles on the Rhine and a bus trip to Heidelberg. From here we went via autobahn to our homestays in Roding where the students spent several days with German families, attending a Bavarian evening, visiting a glass-blowing factory and seeing what a German school was like. It was also an experience to hear Bavarian dialect. The accompanying adults were invited by the mayor to sign the Golden Book for VIPs in the Town Hall, an honour to mark our second visit to the area.

Finally we travelled to Munich, which included an excursion to Ludwig II’s fantasy castle of Neuschwanstein. Our visit to Munich included a visit to the huge technological museum as well as free time. Some viewed the Neues Rathaus, others the Allianz Arena, BMW World and the Olympic Grounds.

We travelled home with many students keen to repeat the experience, saying it was one of the best times of their lives.

Mr Warwick Gibbs, Head of German

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The Gateway programme The Gateway programme is designed to strengthen the pathway for students from school to workplace learning. It provides students with structured workplace learning across a range of industries and businesses around New Zealand, while they continue to study at school, delivering hands on, practical learning that leads to nationally recognised qualifications, and may lead to employment.

Amelia’s café job Year 13 student Amelia Eades is gaining valuable work experience thanks to MAGS' Gateway programme and the owners of Crave cafe.

Amelia has Down Syndrome, but she hasn't let that hold her back from immersing herself in school life, taking part in activities ranging from swimming to the Samoan Cultural Group.

Since June Amelia has spent every Tuesday at Crave cafe in Mcdonald St, Morningside, helping in the kitchen and front of house, serving and interacting with customers.

"It's great," says Amelia. "I like serving the customers, meeting new people and seeing them smile."

Crave's co-owner and manager Mr Nigel Cottle says Amelia is a delight to have on staff and "adds to the life of what's going on here."

"There are more smiles as a result of her being in the cafe," says Mr Cottle, who is part of a collective which owns the cafe and donates profits back to the local community.

"Amelia gets involved in any task we ask her to do, and engages with customers in a really lovely way."

Kikorangi makes New Zealand top 3 in auto painting apprenticeship Kikorangi enjoyed working with cars, so when the Gateway programme director, Ms Christine Peters, suggested a weekly placement at Wayne Scott Panelbeaters, Kikorangi was keen to give it a try.

Seven years later he has completed an auto painting apprenticeship and this year made the top three in the apprenticeship’s national Golden Gun Awards.

Kikorangi and his employer couldn’t be happier.

“Bluee is enthusiastic, has good skills, good ethics and works hard,” says Mr Scott, using Kikorangi’s workshop nickname. “As soon as he came in here as a youngster I could tell he listened, was methodical, and had an instant rapport with the other guys.”

Kikorangi, who is also skilled in the panelbeating side of the business, says the Gateway placement was an opportunity make an impression on a potential employer, and a long-term contact.

After gaining NCEA Level 1 Kikorangi Te Hira didn’t know what he wanted to do for a job. His mother encouraged him to return to school and try the Gateway programme.

— Registered Architects and Designers www.warrenandmahoney.com 18

Mount Albert Grammar School

“I had to wait a couple of years to get a job here, but Wayne remembered me. Gateway is a great way for kids to get their foot in the door of a job they’re interested in – they should make the most of the opportunities it gives them.”

School News

Quiz Night raises $2500 for KidsCan MAGS biggest Quiz Night to date raised nearly $2500 for the KidsCan charity that helps under-privileged children.

The FW Gamble Hall was full with 43 teams of students past and present, teachers, parents and members of the community. A team of parents called In It to Win It did as they intended, with a table of former students coming second and a table of current students headed by long time teacher Mr Warwick Gibbs taking third place.

Teacher Mr Pat Barrett did a fine job once again as Quiz Master, while Ms Donna Hobbs and Ms Catherine Horne kept the scores in order.

As well as prizes for the winning teams there were spot prizes and an award for the Best Dressed Team, won by group of pirates.

Prefects auctioned for a good cause The annual Prefect Auction raised more than $3400 for Amnesty International.

Students and teachers packed the hall on 2-3 September to bid for their Prefect of choice out of 41 volunteers - each had to stand on stage during bidding beneath a pithy bio. Teacher Mr Pat Barrett was an exuberant auctioneer, and many students and teachers secured a Prefect to be their "Slave for a Day" on Monday, 7 September. Bids ranged from $40 to $250, with some groups of students putting money together so they could share a Prefect.

Prefects accompanied their owners throughout the school day had to do as commanded, including completing their owner's school work.

The student-led Interact fundraising committee organised the auction, with oversight from teacher Mr Michael Walden, as a way of raising funds and awareness for the work of Amnesty International, particularly its campaign for the Government to raise New Zealand's refugee quota.

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Mufti days Two mufti days raised thousands of dollars for worthy causes. A Red and White day raised $10,144 for the Red Cross Nepal Earthquake Appeal, and a Bright Colours day raised about $3000 for depression.org.nz

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School News

School Ball – A Taste of the Orient The annual School Ball gave Year 12 and 13 students the opportunity to dress up and dance the evening away on 4 July at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland city.

The theme this year was A Taste of the Orient, and the Ball Committee, led by Matthew Smith, did a stunning job of decorating the ballroom with motifs from across Asia.

Teacher in charge Ms Natasha Phyn said the behaviour of

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all students who attended was exemplary, and it was also an enjoyable night for staff.

Some of the 2015 prize winners were: King: Alex Hunt; Queen: Grace Drummond; Best Dressed Boy: Matt Paton; Best Dressed Girl: Alex McShane; Best Boy Dancer: Jake Porter; Best Girl Dancer: Moana Te Hei; Cutest Couple: Charles Napa'a and Semira Van Der Made

The Service Lions for 2015 were awarded at a special Service Assembly on Friday, 23 October. This year's guest speaker was Ms Elise Goddard, speaking on behalf of Mount Albert Grammar School staff who have served the school for more than 25 years.

Ms Goddard spoke about the wide range of roles filled by the staff members over their many years of service, and that they had remained so long simply because they loved the school and the students they worked with year by year.

Prizegivings

Service Lion Assembly

"As Robert Baden-Powell said,'The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others'," said Ms Goddard.

"You are the heart of the school. You have chosen to put happiness into the lives of others."

Ms Goddard and other long-serving staff members then took turns presenting the 58 students with their Service Lion badges.

Students were awarded the Lions for services to the performing arts, the library, technology, Maori students, Pasifika, International students and the wider school community.

Year 11 Prizegiving

Mr Burden with the top Year 11 Prizewinners from left, Eleanor Fletcher, Oliver Mathiesen, Jaimee McLaughlan and Kenneth Zhu.

Oliver Mathiesen and Jaimee McLaughlan received the top awards at the Year 11 Prizegiving in the FW Gamble Hall on 30 October.

They were named the Best All-round Boy and Girl. Eleanor Fletcher received the Jo Williams Cup for Diligence, and Kenneth Zhu was awarded the Robert Willmott Memorial Prize for Quality of Effort.

Oliver won the Warwick Gibbs Cup for his outstanding academic achievements to date, his participation in Drama, Dance, Orienteering, the Students Against Dangerous Driving Committee, Interact fundraising group and his service to the library.

Jaimee won the Brian Murphy Cup for her outstanding academic achievements, her involvement in Dance, Interact, the Arts Committee and the Hockey First XI.

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mber NZ Netball squad me award for the n wo son Maia Wil ent in Girls’ Outstanding Achievem secutive year.

Sport for the second con Head of GS MA h wit d ture pic is She nan.

Netball Ms Te Aroha Kee

NZ Softball re p Cole Evans won the awar d for Outstand ing Achievement in Boys’ Spor t for the second ye ar in a row.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden and guest speaker Mr Rob Nichol with Victrix Ludorum Caitlin Pritchard and Victor Ludorum Niven Longopoa.

Sports Awards Caitlin Pritchard and Niven Longopoa received Mount Albert Grammar School’s top sports awards at the annual Prizegiving Dinner on 20 October at Alexandra Park.

This is the second year in a row Caitlin has been named Victrix Ludorum for her outstanding achievements in football, touch and swimming. Not only has she helped win New Zealand titles for the school, but also been part of winning Auckland and New Zealand Secondary School teams.

The Premier Netball team were joint winners in the Girls category of Team of the Year

Victor Ludorum Niven Longopoa has excelled in rugby and athletics, being part of a number of winning MAGS, regional and age group rugby teams, and in athletics winning Auckland and North Island titles and representing Tonga at the World Youth Athletics Games in Columbia earlier this year.

The Headmaster's Cup for Team of the Year was won by the Premier Boys Softball team, which has won the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship three years in a row, and in the Girls category was jointly shared by the Premier Netball team and First XI Girls' Football team, both of which made a clean sweep of their regional and national tournaments with Netball winning the New Zealand title for the fourth year in a row and Football for the third.

The Boys' and Girls' awards for Outstanding Achievement Sport were once again won by Cole Evans and Maia Wilson for the second year in a row. Cole is Captain of MAGS' Premier Boys Softball team, and in June was selected for the New Zealand Black Sox, helping them win the Silver medal at the World Championships in Canada.

Maia was this year selected for the New Zealand A Netball squad, one step away from the Silver Ferns.

The Premier Boys Softball team won the Boys category of Team of the Year

The guest speaker at the Prizegiving was Mr Rob Nichol, CEO of the NZ Rugby Players Association, who talked to the students about the importance of continuing to develop as well-rounded young people, about making good decisions in social situations and on social media to preserve their reputation, and to not hesitate in seeking advice and guidance to make the most of their careers.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

The First XI Girls' Football team were joint winners in the Girls category of Team of the Year

Prizegivings

Arts Awards Mackensie Clayton and James Donaldson, pictured with Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, were named the Boy and Girl Duces Artium of 2015 at the MAGS Arts Dinner on 28 October.

Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the evening was a glittering occasion that included performances by the award-winning MAGS Jazz Band, our top dancers, and singer Moana Te Hei. Actor Matthew Butler performed an excerpt from the play The End of the Golden Weather, and a music video made by Year 12 Media Studies students Keira Bright and Franziska Robinson was screened.

Arts Co-ordinator Ms Jacqui Cesan said in announcing the Duces Artium that James and Mackensie had achieved all round excellence in Music, Media Studies and Drama, and had given invaluable service to the Arts Department and other areas of the school requiring arts input. James played one of the lead roles in this year’s school production Four out of Five, for which Mackensie wrote the original musical score. Both have won filmmaking and editing awards in Media Studies, shared the Most Innovative Composer music award, James was the co-winner of the Rock Star Vocals award and Mackensie was among the production team of Four out of Five awarded the Bruce Taylor Cup for Dedication to the Arts.

Mr Burden spoke about how far the Arts had come at MAGS since he began work at the school 13 years ago. “A mark of that was seeing more students attend the Friday night performance of the school production than turned up to watch sports games the next day,” said Mr Burden. “It was a sign that the Arts have come of age at MAGS.” The Jazz Band, led by Albertian Mr Ben Sinclair (top), won the KBB Music Cup.

Isabella Kerridge-Temm and Matthew Butler were named Best Female and Male Actor.

Hugo Harvey won Excellence in Painting, Shanika Tuinder and Matthew Smith were co-winners of Excellence in Design, and Lewis MacKinnon won the Jazz Award.

The Chamber Strings Group, with Ms Zjajic-Moon, won the Orchestra Award

Winners of the Debating and Public Speaking Awards, from left, Jonathan Buckman, Eva Ashmore and Abbey Lissaman.

Winners of the awards for Pasifika Cultural Leadership, Uhila Nai and Albert Taru.

Our top dancers performed with the Jazz Band.

Moana Te Hei, who received the HineTe-Rehia Award as the girl leader of the Te Puna o Wairaka Kapa Haka group, sang beautifully.

Angela Lei won Photography awards for Distinguished Service and Leadership, and the prize for Excellence in Cultural Leadership. James Moore won the Photographic Emerging Artist Award.

Harrison Batty, winner of the Foster Cup for Academic Excellence in Music, with parents Sharon and Michael.

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Pasifika Celebration Dinner The top Year 12 students were Leilani Ioelu and Luke Fitzpatrick; top Year 11s were ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Heremilla Mauava.

The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Services to the Performing Arts went to Janet Stewart and Uhila Nai for their achievement and service in Music, Drama and Visual Art. The award was particularly meaningful to the girls as both were taught by Mr Su’a, who passed away last year.

The Pasifika Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards went to the two students who are also the school’s Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum for 2015, Niven Longopoa and Caitlin Pritchard.

Head Boy Isaac Ah-Kuoi Atmore and Alysha Vaigalu, pictured with Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, won the Year 13 Pasifika Student Awards for All Round Excellence.

MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged, and Headmaster Mr Dale Burden given a special farewell, at the annual Pasifika Celebration Dinner on 29 October.

Head Boy Isaac Ah-Kuoi Atmore and Alysha Vaigalu won the Year 13 Awards for All Round Excellence. Both have excelled academically, in sport and contributed enormously to the school in service.

For Mr Burden, a visual presentation displayed his commitment to Pasifika students during his 13 years at MAGS. On behalf of Pasifika families, Ms Katerina Solomona of the Pasifika Parents Network presented him with a beautifully carved tanoa (kava bowl), explaining its significance as a symbol of community, strength and the cycle of success through support.

“You have been our silent partner, creating a framework with Pasifika parents to support out students’ continual improvement through culture, sport and academia. What a vision you had for us, and you have remained faithful to it. Faafetai tele lava thank you.”

Te Puna o Wairaka Dinner and Prizegiving Whanau, teachers and students came together for the Te Puna o Wairaka Dinner and Prizegiving on 6 November, at Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier.

Among the awards presented on the night were the Top Junior Academic Award, made to Sheye Semple, while Richard Enright received the Top Senior Academic Award.

Performances were given by the Junior Kapa Haka group, Senior Kapa Haka and singer Moana Te Hei. Moana and fellow Year 13 student Richard Enright spoke on behalf of the Leavers, and Maia Wilson made a speech paying tribute to Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, thanking him for his support of Te Puna’s development during his 10 years as Headmaster.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden with the winner of the Te Puna Top Junior Academic Award, Sheye Semple.

Te Puna Top Senior Academic Award winner was Richard Enright.

The 2015 Te Puna Leavers with teachers Mr Tahau Thompson, Ms Natalie Absolum (back row) and Ms Waimirirangi Paul.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

Prizegivings

Year 13 students farewelled at Leavers’ Dinner The Year 13 students of 2015 had one last chance to dress up and celebrate together at the annual Leavers’ Dinner, held at the Alexandra Park function centre on 2 November.

It was a happy, relaxed evening, full of humour and a few tears as students prepared to go their separate ways.

Head Prefects Holly Fowler and Isaac Ah Kuoi-Atmore gave their final speeches, their words tailored for their fellow students.

Year 13 Deans Ms Sarah Drew and Mr Kerry Baker also each gave speeches, in which they looked back on their years as Deans of this group with affection and humour, saying it had been a privilege to get to know the students.

Mr Burden with his Head Prefects of 2015.

Each student received a Graduation certificate, and Form classes came together with their Form teachers one last time for a photo.

A highlight of the evening was the screening of the MAGS Leavers’ Video, created by Media Studies Trophy winner Gilbert Patten-Elliott and friends.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden wished the students’ well for the future, assuring them the school had prepared them well for life beyond MAGS.

Head Boy and Girl Isaac Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Holly Fowler were honoured with a haka by members of Te Puna o Wairaka.

The departing Year 13 International students, with International Dean Mr Ian Cole.

Head Girl Holly Fowler and her Deputy Lisa McLaughlan.

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Senior Prizegiving The Mount Albert Grammar School Girl Dux and Boy Dux for 2015 are Jessica Chen and Riki Guernier. They are pictured (right) with Headmaster Mr Dale Burden.

The school’s top academic students were named at MAGS’ Senior Prizegiving ceremony in the FW Gamble Hall on Monday, 2 November. It was attended by parents, staff, members of the Board of Trustees, representatives of tertiary study providers, and the MP for Mt Albert, Mr David Shearer.

Headmaster Dale Burden presented an annual report on the progress of the school and students, Head Prefects Isaac Ah Kuio-Atmore and Holly Fowler gave speeches about their time at the school and what they have gained from their time here, and performances were given by the MAGS’ contemporary musicians and the Gospel Choir.

Mr Eldon Roberts of the Board of Trustees gave a speech paying tribute to Mr Burden’s achievements for the school during his 10 years as Headmaster, and presented Mr Burden and his wife Ms Yevette Williams with a farewell gift.

Also announced at the Prizegiving were the Head Boy and Head Girl for 2016, Tom Butler and Leilani Ioelu. Both are top academics, and Tom is the Boys’ Rowing Captain. Leilani will be the student representative on the Board of Trustees next year, and was earlier awarded the Linda Fraser Cup for Best All-Round Girl in Year 12.

Mr Eldon Roberts of the Board of Trustees greeted guests and later gave a speech paying tribute to Headmaster Mr Dale Burden.

The Gospel Choir performed twice during the assembly.

Recipients of the CP Liddell Scholarships for excellence in teaching, Mr Michael Waldon, Ms Alex Green and Mr Anzar Chida. Absent is Ms Sarnia Slabbert.

Golden Lions The 2015 Senior Prizegiving saw the presentation of a new, special award – the Golden Lion, for students who had achieved the commendable feat of attaining all four MAGS Lions as Scholars, and for Sports, Arts and Service.

Only five students had achieved this benchmark by the end of 2015 – Samantha Brake, Camille Hay, Nathan Rhodes-Hasler, Matthew Smith and Alysha Vaigalu. They are pictured on the cover of this magazine.

All the students achieved Scholar Lions by gaining Excellence in NCEA Levels 1 and/or 2.

Samantha was awarded an Arts Lion for her work in the production team for the school plays for the past two years, a Sports Lion for playing in the First XI Girls’ Cricket team, and a Service Lion for speaking at the ANZAC Assembly, leading the Junior Council and helping to organise a mufti day to fundraise for Nepal.

Camille was awarded an Arts Lion for her outstanding work in Dance, film-making and Art, a Sports Lion as a member of the First XI Girls’ Hockey team, and a Service Lion for leading the SADD Committee, membership of the Ball Committee, helping to run the dance concerts, and teaching Year 9 Dance students after school.

Nathan gained his Arts Lion for his many performances as a guitarist with various school bands, a Sports Lion as a member 28

Mount Albert Grammar School

of the Premier Squash team, and a Service Lion for performing at school functions, working as a sound technician and as a member of the Junior Council.

Matthew’s Arts Lion was awarded for his success in Design and Photography, his Sports Lion was for making the top crew in Rowing, and his Service Lion was for work as leader of the Ball Committee and helping the Visual Art Department with Board Shows and portfolio collation.

Alysha was awarded an Arts Lion for her work as a lighting technician for the 2014 and 2015 productions, a Sports Lion as a member of the Premier Volleyball team from Years 11-13 and Captain for the past two years, and a Service Lion for her sound technician work for many school functions and performances, for initiating Senior Social Volleyball, as co-ordinator, manager and coach of Junior Volleyball, as a member of committees for the Ball, Leavers, Interact, Pasifika, Student Action and Leader of Amnesty International.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden said the students were true all rounders who exemplified the MAGS philosophy of producing young people who would contribute to society in a variety of ways.

“They are great role models for their peers and younger students, and should feel very proud to have completed their school careers as Golden Lions,” said Mr Burden.

Prizegivings Recipients of the CP Liddell Scholarships for all-round achievement, Rebekah Van Dort and Aakash Rajay

The Girl Proxime Accessit award was shared by Grace Drummond and Hannah Dowsett; the Boy Proxime Accessit was Hamish Jelleyman.

Matthew Smith and Tessa Cochrane received the prize for students who Best Typify the Spirit of Mount Albert Grammar School.

Elliot Paton-Simpson and Leilani Ioelu were named Year 12 Best All-Round Boy and Girl.

Year 12 students Christopher Lim and Theresa Boyd Received the Hanson Cup for Progress and Endeavour and the Yevette Williams Cup for Effort respectively.

Mengyan (Monica) Xia and Masayoshi Sasaki were named Best All-Round International Girl and Boy.

Top Service award winners Alysha Vaigalu, Hamish Jelleyman and Aakash Rajay.

Grace Drummond and James Donaldson were named Year 13 Best All-Round Girl and Boy.

Angela Lei was awarded the Sylvia Lamb Benevolence Cup.

Moana Te Hei and Richard Enright received the Te Puna o Wairaka Award for Best AllRound Maori Students.

Mr Burden with the recipient of the Herb Towers Travel Prize for professional development, Head of History Ms Shameen Hayat.

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Music Concert a blend of old and new "Something Old, Something New" was the theme of the MAGS' Music Concert of 2015, and students showed they were adept at a variety of music styles that spanned the generations.

Held at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre on Friday, 3 July, Head of Music Ms Milica Zjajic-Moon conducted the orchestra through a variety of works ranging from Quincy Jones' Soul Bossa Nova to Neil Diamond's I'm a Believer.

Year 12 student Kauri May, who came first in New Zealand in the Trinity College Grade 8 Violin exam, performed Czardas

by Vittorio Monti. James Donaldson performed the original song

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with which he won the FIFA U20 World Cup song competition, Colours, and Jenna Ackerman performed her original song Rumours, which won her second place in the Auckland Smokefree Rockquest this year.

A highlight was the Year 13 flamenco group, whose energetic and expressive guitars fired up the audience and garnered huge applause.

Ms Zjajic-Moon commended the artists of all 21 items for their dedication to rehearsal and performance, and she in turn was applauded for staging another impressive concert.

Performing Arts

10/10 for student production Four/Five The student-led production of a play written by Year 13 student Emma McShane was so successful that several participants were approached by professional theatre companies.

Emma's play, Four out of Five, was staged at the Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre from 30 July-1 August. Emma's twin sister Alex produced the show and fellow Year 13 student Mackensie Clayton wrote songs for it. They pulled together a team of actors and production crew. While teachers oversaw the play's development, the students worked and rehearsed independently to bring to life Emma's story, which follows a group of teenagers who fall out after a disaster. It mirrored the sense of loss and uncertainty that comes with the move from high school out into the world.

A total of 550 tickets were bought by people wanting to see the show across its four performances. Among them were representatives from the Auckland Theatre Company,

who offered free singing lessons to Year 11 student Aysha Blanchard, Bullet Heart Productions, who have invited the team to a meeting to go through their script, and the Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre, which has asked Emma to direct a play.

Emma, who is studying Scholarship Drama but led this project purely for enjoyment, says she was delighted with how well the production came together. "The cast was amazing, the crew was fantastic, and the audiences were great. I was really happy."

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KBB Festival awards for MAGS musicians The MAGS Jazz Band won arguably the top award at this year's KBB Music Festival - the Chairperson's Command Performance Award for their rendition of You Are My Sunshine

by Ray Charles.

Although the band won Bronze in competition for their five-piece repertoire, their performance so impressed Festival Chairman Dr Trevor Thwaites that he chose them as his favourite group of the week-long event.

To top off our success, the MAGS Chamber Strings group claimed a Silver medal in only their first outing in this prestigious competition.

The KBB Music Festival showcases the best in secondary school orchestras, concert bands and stage bands from across the Auckland region. More than 135 groups take part from more than 50 schools.

The Jazz Band, directed by Albertian Ben Sinclair, won Silver last year, and this year played pieces by Duke Ellington and Henry Mancini, among others. For You Are My Sunshine the 20-member band was joined by vocalists Siosiua Atuekaho, Janet Stewart, Sarah Alatimu, Cyprus Taumaoe and Esther Ji. The 12-member MAGS Chamber Strings group includes nine members who are still only in Years 9 and 10. Directed

by Loata Mahe, also a former student of MAGS’ Head of Music Ms Milica Zjajic-Moon, they played four pieces and were congratulated by the judges on their lively and polished performance.

The MAGS Concert Band, directed by Ms Zjajic-Moon, played a six-piece set in the non-competitive festival performance section, and also received glowing praise.

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We Listen. We Create. You Grow.

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Performing Arts

MAGS dancers are World Champions

A men's hip-hop group including current and former MAGS students won the Gold Medal at the 2015 World Hip Hop Championships in San Diego.

The Bradas includes Year 13 students Gabriel Sutton and Jackson Tuarae and Albertians Riley Bourne and Nathan Kara; the group is managed by Albertian Josh Cesan, son of MAGS' Head of Dance, Ms Jacqui Cesan.

The Bradas is part of ID Co, whose groups won Silver in 2013 and 2014. This year they claimed Gold ahead of 80 crews from all over the world.

MAGS band in NZ final of Smokefree Rockquest A band made up almost entirely of MAGS students contested the New Zealand final of the Smokefree Rockquest against nine other acts on 11 September at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom.

The band Joe Says No is made up of Denzel Kelemete, Jin Yun, Joe Curtis, his brother Oliver and a friend from another school, Ethan Broughton. They won the bands category of the Auckland final ahead of 12 other groups, with two of their original songs which Joe describes as "alternative rock or garage punk - we have a lot of energy and are really loud!"

Denzel also won the Auckland award for Best Lyrics for his song Maybe.

Joe Says No (the name was settled on after band members suggested various titles and Joe said no to them all) then had to compile a 15 minute video of their music to gain selection for the national final.

The boys formed their band about 18 months ago. They write all their own songs, practice at Joe and Oliver's house, and have become a popular act at youth gigs and events.

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Junior Bytes and Arts Alive The annual Junior Bytes and Arts Alive concerts were stunning showcases of the rich and varied talents among MAGS students.

The Junior concert by Year 9 and 10 students was held on Tuesday, 22 September, with the Senior concert held the following evening, both at the Centennial Theatre at Auckland Grammar School.

Each show combined Dance, Drama and Music performances across a range of genres and themes. Junior Bytes included Musical Theatre, jazz and classical music, and drama excerpts from Shakespearean plays. It concluded with the presentation of the inaugural Junior Arts Awards, by Arts Co-ordinator Ms Jacqui Cesan and Headmaster Mr Dale Burden.

Arts Alive this year included a contemporary Pasifika dance which has been selected for performance in the Tempo dance festival in October, an excerpt from the original play Four Out of Five that students produced earlier this term, and a piece by the MAGS Strings Group which won a silver medal at the KBB Music Festival.

The 2015 Arts Lions were also presented.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

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Performing Arts

Unity Concert More than 100 students celebrated the cultural diversity of Mount Albert Grammar School at the 2015 Unity Concert, held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre on Friday, 24 July.

For the first time Korean and Japanese students were represented when groups performing their traditional dances in traditional costume took the stage.

An audience of more than 600 also enjoyed displays by Tongan, Indian, Chinese, Samoan and Cook Island groups. MAGS' Kapa Haka group performed the collection they presented at this year's Polyfest, which the other cultural groups may attend every second year.

Deputy Principal Ms Te Aroha Keenan said the Unity Concert is held in alternate years to MAGS' wider participation in Polyfest to encourage all our cultural groups to prepare well for the biggest high school Polynesian festival in the world.

"They have to earn the right to attend Polyfest by showing though the Unity Concert that they are organised and can perform to a high standard," says Ms Keenan. "Unity is partly about inspiring students who will be here next year to go on to Polyfest, and also to celebrate the wonderful range of cultures among the young people at MAGS."

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Performing Arts

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NEWS Food & Culture Evening An annual highlight on the MAGS' International student calendar, the 2015 Food & Culture Evening held in the FW Gamble Hall on 23 June was enjoyed by students, staff and homestay families.

Many of MAGS' 120 International students representing 20 countries took part, bringing dishes of their national cuisine for the shared dinner, and performing on stage. Performances included cultural and contemporary songs and dance, piano recitations and a closing song by the International Choir.

The evening included a screening of a video made about the International Camp held earlier this year, and the announcement of the winners of the International Art Competition.

Artistic talent on display International students have been able to display their artistic talent at two events in the past six months.

The annual International Students' Art Competition in June was the biggest ever this year, with 36 entries across the categories of Design, Drawing, Painting and Photography.

Marina Ueno

Minseong Kang

International Prefect Mengyan (Monica) Xia from China won the Painting category for the third year in a row. The other winners were Yiqian (Richard) Huang (China) - Photography; Marina Ueno (Japan) - Design and Minseong Kang (Korea) - Drawing.

The students’ prizes of Westfield shopping vouchers were presented to them by the Chairman of the MAGS Board of Trustees, Mr Greg Moyle, at the Food & Culture Evening on 23 June.

Mengyan (Monica) Xi

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Yiqian (Richard) Huang

Mount Albert Grammar School

At the MAGS Fine Art Show in August, Monica, Marina and Richard along with Ziqi (Bailey) Li of China joined Kiwi Art students in exhibiting new works.

The student art display was part of the show which exhibits and sells artwork by some of New Zealand's top artists as a fundraiser for the school.

Ten Japanese students from areas affected by that country’s 2011 earthquake spent a week experiencing life at a New Zealand school when they stayed with their MAGS buddies from 3-7 August.

to be future leaders, so they can take the experiences and ideas gathered from their travels back home to share with others. So far 94 students have visited New Zealand, with the programme due to run for another five years.

This is the fifth year MAGS has been involved in the Japanese Support Our Kids programme, which gives students who went through the earthquake, tsunami or nuclear plant meltdown of 2011 the opportunity to travel to see what life has to offer.

Those who come to New Zealand also visit Christchurch to share experiences with students who went through the earthquake of the same year.

“When the students return to Japan they are much changed they can see their path forward,” says Mr Iso. “They keep in touch and form strong networks that we think will help to rebuild the damaged areas, and the bond they feel with New Zealand is very strong. They share all this with many other young people around them.”

Chaperones Mr Kazuki Iso and Mr Kenji Shimamura say the programme selects young Japanese people who show potential

Best Painting: Mengyan (Monica) Xi

Mengyan (Monica) Xia

Best Photo: Yiqian (Richard) Huang

Yiqian (Richard) Huang

Mr Shimamura says the students talk about reciprocating Kiwi hospitality when the 2020 Olympics are held in Tokyo, hoping to host as many New Zealanders as possible.

Best Design: Marina Ueno

Marina Ueno

Best Drawing: Minseong Kang

Ziqi (Bailey) Li

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International student news

Japanese earthquake survivors visit MAGS buddies

Sports competitions The annual football match between International students at MAGS and Auckland Grammar School rounded off a successful series of sports contests for MAGS students through Term 3.

MAGS hosted the game against Auckland Grammar this year, on Monday, 7 September, and although we lost 1-2 it was a competitive and hard fought match.

The MAGS team was made up of players from five countries Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and China. Captain Da (Tom) Jing of China scored the MAGS goal.

Thanks went to Year 13 Sports Coaching students Clark Quinn and Ben Saveasoi for their help in preparing the MAGS team.

A week earlier the MAGS football team travelled to Western Springs College for a friendly game, which MAGS won 4-0. All the goals were scored by International Prefect Masayoshi Sasaki from Japan.

International Dean Mr Ian Cole said Western Springs' students and staff were very welcoming, with their International Director and Principal attending the game and the teams being treated to afternoon tea afterwards.

"It was a very positive experience and we may look to enjoy other extra-curricular activities with Western Springs' International students in the future," said Mr Cole.

MAGS International students also got involved in a series of sports competitions between each other, organised by Masayoshi, fellow International Prefect Mengyan (Monica) Xia and Kiwi Prefects on the International Committee, Milan Bonkovich and Lavinia Lousi.

More than 30 students turned out for a Table-Tennis tournament, won by Chinese pair Guiting (Lucy) Lu and Yu (Caroline) Zhang.

Lucy is a New Zealand champion, and even when she was asked to play with her left hand to make the game more even for her less experienced opponents, Lucy still won.

A Badminton tournament saw about 24 students take part, and was won by Chinese doubles pair Jianhui Zhang and Gongbao Huang (pictured).

A 6-aside football tournament saw six teams compete, and was won by a group of Chinese and Vietnamese students.

Mr Cole says the sports tournaments are a good way to bring International students together and meet those from other nationalities. Many are also encouraged to join MAGS' mainstream sports teams, in which they are welcomed by Kiwi students.

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International student news

International students get involved in school life The annual MAGS Music Concert and the School Ball were two occasions that gave our International students the opportunity to take part in the wider life of the school.

Japanese students Chisato Maemura (below left) and Misa Watanuki both play instruments in the School Orchestra. Chisato, who is in Year 13, plays the tuba, and Misa, Year 12, plays the euphonium. Both girls have been learning the instruments for the past three years, have continued their lessons since arriving at MAGS a year ago.

This year they joined the orchestra, and at the Concert on 3 July played six pieces, saying they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The School Ball on 4 July at the Pullman Hotel was a chance for a number of International students to dress up and join their Kiwi friends for a night of dancing. International Prefects Masayoshi Sasaki and Mengyan (Monica) Xia were among them, pictured above with friends. Masa and his friend chose traditional Japanese dress for the occasion.

"We don't have school balls in Japan, and the MAGS evening was one of my best memories of my time in New Zealand, and one of the best nights of my life," said Masa.

Visit by Chinese sister school Seventeen students from MAGS' sister school in China spent the week attending classes with New Zealand buddies, and touring Auckland's sights.

The students, aged from 12-14, and four of their teachers travelled from the Yinzhou Experimental Middle School in Ningbo, south of Shanghai. The students were paired with those at MAGS in Years 9 and 10, attended their classes with them and stayed with homestay families arranged by MAGS' International Office.

Teachers Ms Peiqin Tong and Ms Lingwei Chen said their students enjoyed the variety of subjects offered by MAGS, and making friends with their Kiwi buddies and homestays. They were particularly impressed with the ASB Bank MAGS Farm and the range of our sports fields and facilities.

"As teachers we were very impressed with your curriculum and teaching methods," said Ms Chen. "Your students learn how to be independent and make the most of their abilities."

This is the third visit by students from Yinzhou School since the sister relationship was established five years ago.

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Sport

Lydiard Challenge winners for 3rd consecutive year

Mountain-biking U20 Boys: Auckland Champion

Football Girls First XI: New Zealand Champions for the 3rd consecutive year

Underwater Hockey: Senior Open Northern Region Champions

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Basketball Senior Open Boys: Greater Auckland Champions

Sport Lacrosse Premier Boys: Auckland Champions

Basketball Junior Girls: Upper North Island Champions

Photo courtesy of Liz Brooker

Canoe Polo: Auckland Champions for 6th consecutive year

Snowboarding Girls: North Island Champions

Swimming: Auckland Champions

Premier Netball: New Zealand Champions for 4th consecutive year

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Basketball Senior Open Boys Basketball The Senior Open Boys basketball team went from strength to strength this year. The hallmark of the team was a fast-paced aggressive style, combined with cohesive, unselfish play from a team that has been together for a long time.

The team seemed misplaced in the Open Grade so total domination of all opposition was expected and demanded.

The other teams were unable to match the blistering pace or the clinical execution of the MAGS team and large winning scores were posted. The team was rarely challenged and finally won the Central Zone competition, a title which has proven elusive for MAGS in the past.

The domination continued when the team took on the top Open Grade teams in the Greater Auckland Basketball Tournament.

MAGS adapted well to changes in timekeeping and the rigours of tournament play and soundly beat Macleans College in the final. This saw MAGS go undefeated after 16 games in the Open Grade this year.

The Regional tournament was expected to be a step up, but also a chance for the team to demonstrate their skill against the top basketball teams in Auckland. MAGS improved in performance as the tournament went on. The team proved their skill and character by scoring upset wins over Liston and Rosmini which both play in the Premier Grade. The quarter-final win over Rosmini was a tour de force and earned MAGS entry to the National Championships for the second year in a row.

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The National Championships in Palmerston North showcases the best secondary school teams from across the country.

MAGS started well by winning their first three games, including wins against the much fancied Onehunga and Napier Boys teams. A crucial loss to Hastings Boys saw the team miss out on qualifying in the top 8, eventually having to settle for 14th place.

The squad improved in leaps and bounds this season and with the vast majority of the players returning, the team is set to take flight next year.

Sport

Boys Football First XI The 2015 season was another transitional year for the First XI Boys, which saw the blooding of a significant number of young players - of the 17 players who saw action for the season, only eight were Year 13s; there were also two Year 12s, six Year 11s and one Year 10. One of the few survivors from last year, Thomas Kirkland, was Captain.

Coach Paul Marshall employed a strategy combining a focus on fitness and instilling a sense of self-belief to overcome the lack of experience in his young squad. To a large extent, he was successful. Although for some there is no doubt a lingering sense of ‘what might have been’, the 4th place finishes both in the Auckland League and in the National Tournament can be looked upon with some satisfaction and an indication that the team punched above its weight.

Although it never really found its rhythm for full 90 minute matches, the team generally achieved its aim of eschewing the direct long ball in favour of a ball to feet possession game. The 32 goals for were scored by 12 different players. Haylen West top scored in all competitions with nine goals. Keeper Corey Walters was the only player to have played in every competitive game, starting 22 games.

The season had its share of highlights, and the team came to the end of it with the distinction of being the only team to beat champions Sacred Heart in the league. This was played out on home soil in a fabulous game where the team had to show real character. They had to play like the lions adorning their shirts to come back from a 2-0 deficit to eventually defeat their illustrious opponents 3-2. A highly fancied Westlake were clinically dispatched 3-0 in the first round, but disappointingly this was balanced with a 4-5 loss in the return fixture.

Apart from finishing four places higher up the table than the previous year, the highlight of the Nelson tournament was the ousting of traditional rivals Auckland Grammar in the Quarter Finals on penalties. With tournament coach David White displaying masterful tactical planning, the game, played in challenging conditions, was another that was testimony to the team’s character, grit and fighting spirit. There was drama and emotion as players battled through injuries and sickness, with Auckland Grammar at one stage ahead 3-1. But the MAGS players held their nerve to secure a 6-5 victory in the penalty shoot-out.

All in all this was a season with a lot of positives and an excellent foundation for a competitive challenge for the title next year.

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New Zealand Champions

Girls Football First XI Mount Albert Grammar's First XI Girls' Football team has become the first girls' team to win three consecutive New Zealand Championships after beating St Peter's Cambridge 2-0 in the final in Taupo on 4 September.

This once again secured a triple crown for the MAGS team, having also won the Auckland league and Auckland KnockOut Cup, as they did in 2014. On 1 July they beat Takapuna Grammar School 2-1 to win the Auckland League for the 7th year in a row, and on 19 August played a sublime game against Saint Kentigern College to take out the Auckland KnockOut Cup 7-0.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden was in Taupo to watch the girls do battle in the New Zealand final against the Cambridge school for the second year in a row, and again emerge victorious.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team - they are magnificent ambassadors for MAGS both on and off the field," said Mr Burden.

The result was a great send-off for coach Mr Paul Marshall, who has taken up a new role in Singapore, and for six Year 13 team members - Captain Rebekah van Dort, Madeleine Cooper, Deven Jackson, Bella Kingi, Nicole Lawrence and Jade Parris.

"The team were simply magnificent, and saved their best for last," said Mr Mashall, completing a second unbeaten season.

To cap off the season, Deven Jackson, Leah Mettam, Jade Parris, Caitlin Pritchard and Rebekah Van Dort were selected for the NZSS team, Jade and Grace Jale were picked for the NZ U20 Women’s team, and Grace was selected for the Football Ferns’ tour of Brazil later this year.

Auckland Champions

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Sport Auckland Knock Out Cup Champions 47

Canoe Polo MAGS’ Senior Canoe Polo team won the Auckland Championship for the 6th year in a row when they beat Long Bay College 3-2 in the final on Wednesday, 2 September.

Teacher in charge Mr Henry Ludlam said the team remained calm under pressure, and although they went into the final in second place on paper, "they played like champions".

The team, made up of Year 11-13 students, is, from left, is Captain Ravid Aharon, Madison McGregor, Fergus Lees, Nicholas Martin, Seth Gordon and Joseph McNamara.

Mr Ludlam thanked the team's coach Mr Andrew Candy, and New Zealand representative Ms Jess Nugteren of the women's Black Paddles team who assisted.

Lydiard Challenge MAGS once again dominated the Arthur Lydiard Challenge Cup long distance race, held in West Auckland on 12 September.

The Senior Boys also won their Team trophy after Andrew Battley came 2nd, Martin Lyon 3rd, Aidan Deakin 5th and James Stacey 7th.

For the third consecutive year we won both the Boys' and Girls' Team trophies after our runners took most of the top placings in the 10km races. The event, a fundraiser for the Legend Charitable Trust, has special significance for MAGS as Arthur Lydiard is an old boy of the school, and went on to train fellow Albertian Peter Snell, helping him achieve his Olympic gold medals.

Impressive running in the Junior division saw Holly Bannister, Holly Chaafe and Milly Bayfield follow each other home with Holly Bannister taking an excellent 2nd place. Junior boy Ben Gregory also came 2nd in his division.

The Senior Girls team took out the Girls Team title after Rebekah van Dort, Jen Blakely, Alex Thompson and Abbey Lissaman claimed the first four places respectively. Rebekah also won the Girls' Individual title.

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The races were run over part of the Waitakeres course on which Arthur Lydiard trained his gold medal winning athletes.

MAGS runners, from left, Andrew Battley, Rebekah van Dort, James Stacey, Martin Lyon, Aidan Deakin, Jen Blakeley, Holly Chaafe, Milly Bayfield and Alex Thompson.

Lacrosse Sport

MAGS’ Lacrosse programme continued to go from strength to strength in 2015, with the Premier Boys' Lacrosse team winning the Auckland Championship, the girls coming second in Auckland and fourth in New Zealand, and a number of players being selected for New Zealand age group teams.

On 25 September the boys beat Westlake Boys High School 9-5 to take out the Auckland title. Earlier in the season the girls came runnerup 3-4 in their hard-fought final against Epsom Girls Grammar.

Girls’ Captain Georgia Carter travelled to the U19 Women's World Lacrosse Championships in Scotland, where she helped raise the New Zealand team's ranking from 11th to 5th. This is the best result a New Zealand team has achieved at a world tournament.

Following the NZSS Championships, four girls were selected for the NZ U15 squad - Nerida Elson, Reese Jacques, Georgia Houston and Taimane Roberts. Reese was Co-Captain of the Auckland U15 team which won the New Zealand U15 Championships in Auckland on 12-13 September.

To cap off the season, no fewer than nine of our Premier Boys were selected for the NZ U18 squad – Saul Aubertin, Alec Caldwell, Joseph Curtis, Atif Hakim, William McMaster, Zak Naidu, Rohit Patel, Laurence Rhodes and James Stacey.

Rowing Boys' Rowing Captain and Head Boy for 2016, Tom Butler, won 3 Gold medals as part of the Auckland team competing at the Queensland Schools Rowing Championships in Rockhampton during the October holidays.

Tom was selected for the Auckland Light Blues squad to compete in the Pair, Four and Eight - all of which won their races by a significant margin.

In August Fergus McSwiney and Jonathan Winter were selected for the NZ Rowing Juniors squad, and travelled to the 2016 Olympic course in Rio de Janiero to compete at the World Rowing Junior Championships.

In the MAGS U18 Pair Jonathan and Fergus won Gold in the Auckland and North Island Championships this season, and Silver at the Maadi Cup National Championships. They were then invited to trial for the Juniors squad, a direct pathway to eventually be considered for selection for the top New Zealand rowing crews.

At the World Junior Championships Jonathan and Fergus formed half of the New Zealand Four which came sixth - MAGS was the only school to have more than one rower selected for the U18 Junior crews.

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New Zealand and College Netball Champions

Netball

MAGS' Premier Netball team made it four in a row when they beat Saint Kentigern College 41-35 in the final of the NZSS Championships in Ashburton on 9 October.

No other school has won the national title more than two consecutive times. The win tops a season which saw the team also take out the National College Netball Championship, and the Auckland and Upper North Island titles.

Co-coach Ms Te Aroha Keenan said the game was "intense", with the team two goals down after the first quarter, and the score 16-16 at half time.

"But the girls believed in each other and pulled through. Our theme for the week was the legacy we wanted to leave behind, and the girls lived up to that."

The MAGS team was unbeaten through the four day NZSS competition, winning against Baradene 43-10, Roncalli 58-11, Manukura 53-24, Epsom Girls Grammar 48-9, Wellington Girls 50-22 and in the semi-final against Wellington East Girls, 44-27.

Named in the Tournament Team were Captain Holly Fowler, Maia Wilson, Caitlin Dowden and Elle Temu.

Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, who spent the week in Ashburton supporting the team, said four national titles in a row was testament to the outstanding coaching programme at MAGS.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

The New Zealand title completed a clean sweep of the team’s competitions for the season – they also won the College Netball Championship for the 4th consecutive year, reclaimed the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship, and won the Upper North Island Championship for the 9th consecutive year.

On 1 June MAGS maintained its unbeaten record in the national College Netball Championship for the fourth year in a row after defeating Saint Kentigern College 43-32 in the final at Trusts Arena.

In the AKSS final on 19 August, MAGS turned the tables on Saint Kentigern College which won the title from them in 2014.

This year MAGS came out the victors, winning 40-34.

Two weeks later, on 4 September, they faced Saint Kentigern again in the final of the Upper North Island Championships in Hamilton. The scoreline once again ended in MAGS' favour 42-32.

The winning season was a great send off for Ms Keenan, who is heading to England to take up a two-year contract as Head Coach of Team Northumbria in the English Super League, and Coach of the University of Northumbria Netball team in the British University Netball Competition.

Holly will begin a contract with the Northern Mystics after completing her Level 3 studies at MAGS. Goal shoot Maia Wilson will head to Wellington and a contract with the Pulse.

Sport Upper North Island Champions

Auckland Champions

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Rugby A tour of the Cook Islands by the Rugby Development Team during the October school holidays was a positive end to what had been a successful season for MAGS rugby, albeit tinged with frustration.

The season started well with Mount Albert Grammar School winning the inaugural Blues 10s rugby tournament at North Harbour Stadium on 7 March, defeating Kings College 31-0 in the final.

The First XV progressed through the 1A competition with a number of wins, and even though they won their last crucial game against King’s College 1910, they could not secure the bonus point they needed to make the play-offs.

They finished third equal with King’s and Sacred Heart College at the end of section play.

At National Tournament in Dunedin, the U15 Rugby Colts had an outstanding run, but had to settle for the runner-up spot for the second year in a row when the final score against Wesley College finished at 13-18 in favour of the opposition. This was a great achievement from this group who grew during the week and achieved above expectation.

The squad put the results down to experience and celebrated the selection of seven First XV players to the Auckland Under 18 Secondary Schools team, which went on to win 40-10 over Wellington during the October holidays.

MAGS player Chris Lu’au was named Captain of the Auckland team, and Mateialona Halaholo scored two tries. It was the first time in 15 years that an Auckland-Wellington clash had been held.

The other MAGS selections were Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Charles Napa’a, Sayln Tonu’u, Paul Roache and Niven Longopoa.

First XV players Caleb Clarke and Samuel Slade were selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby team, which won 32-3 over Australia in Brisbane.

On October 23 the MAGS’ Boys Sevens team won their fifth Auckland title in seven years when they beat Kelston Boys High School 27-7 in thefinal at Marist Rugby Club. The win qualified them for the Condor Sevens National Championship in December. They will be joined by the Under 15 Boys team, which also won their competition.

Our girls team came runners up to Otahuhu College in their final, 10-15. All teams were undefeated on their way to the finals, and a number of players were selected for the Auckland Under 18 Boys and Girls Seven teams – Paul Roache, Niven Longopoa, Caleb Clarke and Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa; and Alanis Toia-Tigafua, Shannon Muru, Abigail Roache and Ceylonese Taumaoe.

The Boys’ Development Squad set off to Rarotonga in good heart. The team played three games and were undefeated. The highlight was a 45-5 win over the Cook Islands Under 17 team, seeing MAGS retain the William Kati Heather Memorial Trophy They were accompanied on the tour by 20 parents and 5 grandparents.

Between rugby games the boys were able to engage with the local community, learn about Cook Islands culture and enjoy the many experiences offered on Rarotonga.

Two of our departing First XV leaders, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa and Isaiah Papali’i, also came on the tour to pass on the team culture and make sure the younger players were aware of the expectations of being a MAGS First XV player.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

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Sport

Rugby League The First XIII was exceptional both on and off the field in 2015 and but for a couple of small errors we could easily have made the finals and probably won both the Auckland and National competitions.

Instead we came third in each after two heartbreaking ‘must win’ games that denied us a place the finals – in the Auckland competition we missed out by one point when the score ended at 12-13 to Kelston Boys after extra time, and at NZSS we lost the semi-final 12-16 to St Paul’s after a close game that could have gone either way.

But the boys should take heart from the quality of their play during the season and their sportsmanship. Our spirits were lifted when Bostyn Hakaraia, Auzzie Tuwhangai and Isaiah Papali’i, were selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, with Bostyn named as Captain. The team went on to beat the visiting New South Wales Combined High Schools 30-22 at Massey Park, Papakura.

At the Sports Awards Dinner on the 20 October, Auzzie, Bostyn and Isaiah were nominated for the Outstanding Achievement in Sport award. Auzzie has also been nominated for the ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year Award. These nominations reflect the skill and dedication of these players and the team as a whole.

Sailing Year 13 student Chelsea Rees (pictured at left) will represent New Zealand at the ISAF Youth Worlds Sailing Championships in Malaysia in December.

Regarded as the "Olympics" of Under 19 sailing, Chelsea and her sailing partner Kerensa Jennings will compete in the 420 class. They will prepare through a heavy training schedule run

by Yachting New Zealand, which includes taking part in the ISAF Sail Melbourne Regatta in November.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

Earlier this year the pair travelled to Japan for the 420 Worlds Regatta, and recently won the 420 girls' section of both Yachting New Zealand's Youth World Trials and the Winter Champs Regatta held off the North Shore over the October holidays.

Sport

Snowboarding The MAGS Girls Snowboarding team won Gold at the NISS Snowboarding Championships at Turoa from 21-23 September.

The team is made up of Holly Curran, Maddison Hargreaves, Bridget Hartley and Olivia Stewart.

Holly also won Gold in the Dual Slalom.

Swimming In September Mount Albert Grammar School launched a new Sports Academy, the MAGS Aquatic Academy, to be run out of the refurbished Mt Albert Aquatic Centre on the school grounds.

Directed by former Olympic and World Champion swimmer Mr Paul Kent, the Academy will provide training to competitive swimmers through its associated MAGS Swimming Club, and aquatic fitness sessions to complement training for students involved in Triathlon, Water Polo, Canoe Polo, Surf Lifesaving and other aquatic based sports. Both the club and fitness training are open not only to MAGS students, but also the wider community.

As with the MAGS other Sports Academies in Rugby, Rowing, Netball, Cricket, Football and Basketball, the Aquatic Academy will provide a pathway for students to prepare for competition at Premier level. Headmaster Mr Dale Burden says the new Academy will provide an aquatic programme unparalleled among Auckland schools.

"This programme will set the standard for secondary school aquatic training in Auckland, and New Zealand. With our School House boarding facility next door, we are already fielding enquiries from throughout the country and overseas from parents of talented swimmers wishing to have their child attend a top school with a dedicated Aquatic Academy."

Aquatic Academy members Jamie Dennett and Rebecca Cole with, from left, Director of MAGS Sports Academies Mr Geoff Moon, Olympic Albertian swimmer Mr Orinoco Faamausili-Banse-Prince, and Aquatic Academy Director Mr Paul Kent.

Mount Albert Grammar School dominated this year's Auckland Secondary Schools Individual Swimming Championships in July, and was named as the top school at the meet with a total haul of 24 medals.

Sinead Kelly, Katherine Grozev and Caitlin Pritchard all claimed wins in multiple events.

Northern Region win for Underwater Hockey team MAGS' Senior Open Underwater Hockey team won Gold at the Northern Regional Championships, held at Westwave in Henderson from 12-14 June.

The team of Year 12 and 13 students had to win every game in the ninematch round robin to earn a spot in the final. They won against teams from all over the top half of the North Island, and competed against Mahurangi College for Gold. MAGS won 4-3 in extra time.

The team is made up of Nathan Browne, Leo Enright-Meiklejohn, Finn Hollingworth, Olivia Houston, Tyler Jerrom, William Moore, Liam Quinlan, James Rutledge and Angus Scahill. All were selected for the Auckland squad, as well as fellow MAGS students Lewis Macdonald, Aidan Cullen, Nicholas Sykes, Rebecca Cole and Natasha Baxendale.

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MAGS Foundation announces Centennial Centre Project MAGS will be 100 years old in 2022. To mark the occasion, the MAGS Foundation asked what it could do for the school that the school could not otherwise do for itself.

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Modernising the Hall will provide it with up-to-date facilities for performances, events and functions.

The answer – expand, enhance and modernise the FW Gamble Memorial Hall. Our magnificent hall, with its splendid heritage features, has served the school well, but the time has come for it to accommodate better the needs of a school that greatly values its history but, since the hall was built, has grown to include girls and is now the second largest secondary school in New Zealand.

Leading architects Warren & Mahoney have conceived a design concept that provides a spacious light-filled entry through the Alberton Avenue/West side of the Hall into an auditorium that will change its orientation from North/South to East/West and expand well beyond the present East wall. The Centre will be able to be rearranged to the present North/South orientation for appropriate occasions requiring more traditional formality. It will be available for both school and community use.

Expanding the Hall will mean replacing the present wooden forms with comfortable seating that will enable more than 1600 people to have a good view of the stage.

In short, we will create a modern Centre with an impressive heritage quality. It will be what we at MAGS are about – tradition and change.

Enhancing the Hall will mean enhancing and preserving the heritage features, particularly its Honours Boards. It is intended to retain all the existing Honours Boards, including those behind the present stage, and to provide for more. It is intended to retain all the existing wooden buttresses along the ceiling.

Fundraising for the estimated $10 million cost is planned over the next five years in time to complete the Centre for the Centenary in 2022. It is a big ask for a big project for a big time for a big school. Maximum effort will be required from MAGS families and the wider community, but the result will be of enormous benefit to both.

Mount Albert Grammar School

MAGS Foundation If you would like more information or to contribute to this exciting project please contact: Tim Kay, Director of Advancement Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation Email: tkay@mags.school.nz Ph 09 815 4034

Fine Art Show reaches new milestone MAGS' second Fine Art Show exceeded the fundraising total of its first year, lifting profit from $47,000 in 2014 to around $65,000 this year.

The funds will be used by the MAGS Foundation for projects to benefit students. This year projects will include an artist in residence programme in the Visual Art Department.

Director of Advancement Mr Tim Kay said the show was not only an outstanding fundraising event for the school, but also brought people together from the local and wider Auckland community, reunited former students, and showcased the culture of MAGS. "The students who helped throughout the weekend, led by Arts Prefect Tessa Cochrane, were outstanding - a credit to the school," said Mr Kay. More than 450 guests attended the Gala Opening Evening on Friday, 21 August, up from 350 last year. The evening included an auction, run by Ms Marian Tolich of Barfoot & Thompson, of six donated works by photographer Emma Bass, the Gow

Langsford Gallery, the Greg Moyle art collection and artist Peter Collis. In total the works raised $10,000.

This year the student art exhibits were judged and the winners named at the Gala. First place went to Uhila Nai, second was Hugo Harvey and third was Jeremy Porteous.

Hundreds of people visited the show on the free admission days of Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the 750 pieces of art by 150 established and emerging artists. Works included paintings, photography, sculpture and objects. The artists donated 40% of each sale to the school.

"The Friends of MAGS parents committee is to be hugely congratulated for organising such a wonderful show," said Mr Kay. "The committee members are all volunteers and have other commitments but they devoted a great deal of time over the last six months to stage a great event. One of New Zealand’s most prominent art benefactors said the MAGS Fine Art Show was the best school art show he had been to.�

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Greg Moyle and Deputy Principal Yevette Williams.

Head of Visual Art Daniella Aleh with the work she created for the show.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

Paul Warner of Fuji Xerox and his wife Annie.

Student art competition winners, from left, Jeremy Porteous, Hugo Harvey and Uhila Nai with John Gow of Gow Langsford Gallery.

MAGS Foundation

Friends of MAGS Committee members Alison Twaddle, Desley Cotton and Janine Jensen.

MAGS musicians James Donaldson and Nathan Rhodes-Hasler performed for guests

Auctioneer Marian Tolich

The team from Barfoot & Thompson Mt Albert, from left, Manager Jean Smith, Jack Smith, Jen Baird, Lisa Courtney, Craig Smith.

Photographer Emma Bass donated a piece for the auction.

Emma Bass signing her work after its auction.

From the Chair of Friends of MAGS Our children’s high school years can seem to pass by very quickly, and your child’s new found independence can lull you into the sense that you are no longer needed in their lives.

The truth is, your teenager needs you more now than ever before. Yes, they can be harder to connect with and yes, their needs can be hard to work out, let alone find a solution for. Nonetheless, at a time when so much in their lives is changing, your constant presence and support through to adulthood makes all the difference.

For me personally, this thinking led me to join the MAGS parent group, Friends of MAGS. I had never been part of a school parent group before – to be honest, the very idea freaked me out! But I have to say, my involvement with the parents at MAGS over the past two years has been some of the most rewarding times of my child’s education. The school is no longer just a place I drop her off for the day. I have found a place here at MAGS too. I have found some amazing friends in the other parents, and I have gained a great understanding of how the school works and how I can best support my child’s short time here. Joining the parent group and supporting MAGS in a way that works for me has allowed my daughter to see that we are “in this together” – we’re all invested!

The parent group (FOMS) is currently feeling flush from the success of our annual Fine Art Show held in August. On behalf of the group, I want to warmly thank those of you who supported the event through your attendance and particularly those parents who put their hands up to pop by and help out over the weekend. It was amazingly successful, and highlights what a diverse and talented group of parents we have at the MAGS. The FOMS group meet at the school once a month and we plan to increase the number of events we hold over the year.

These events have two purposes. The first is so parents like you can meet other parents, make new friends and create a warm and caring school community. The second opportunity is to help raise funds for the improvement of the school for the benefit of your children.

If you are looking for ways to make deeper and stronger connections with your teen, then I encourage you to consider joining the Friends of MAGS. Get in touch and find out more as we head into another exciting year.

Nealie Barker To find out more about Friends of MAGS, email Tim Kay at the MAGS Foundation, tkay@mags.school.nz or phone 09 815 4034.

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Olympic Gold medallist Mahe Drysdale with, left, World Champion Zoe Stephenson and Olympic Bronze medallist Juliette Drysdale (nee Haigh).

Olympic stars gather for A Golden Night of Rowing

Mark Watson interviewing members of the 1972 Oly mpic Gold medal winning Eight, from left, Lindsay Wilson, Tony Hurt and Wybo Veldman.

A Golden Night of Rowing on 25 September was a star studded affair, as Olympic and Albertian rowers gathered from New Zealand and overseas to help launch a new scholarship fund.

Olympic Gold medallist Mahe Drysdale and Albertian Shane O'Brien, who won Gold at the 1984 Olympics, were guests of honour at the launch of the Kerry Ashby Rowing Endowment Fund, named in honour of the late MAGS rower, national champion, Empire Games Silver medallist, coach and patron. Mr Ashby was instrumental in restarting rowing at MAGS six years ago, and the fund will benefit students who have the talent but not the financial circumstances to take up the sport.

Mr Drysdale and Mr O'Brien were joined by a number of other Olympic and New Zealand rowers, and Albertians from rowing's heyday at the school in the 1950s and 1960s reunited in the FW Gamble Hall.

Radio Sport host and Albertian Mr Mark Watson was MC, and interviewed the Olympic rowers on stage throughout the evening.

Headmaster Dale Burden with 1984 Olympic Gold medallist, Albertian Shane O’Brien, who travelled from his home in Dubai especially for the event.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

MAGS Director of Rowing Will Maling with three of the foundation rowers of MAGSROW’s modern era, Grayson Dauphin, Sane-Va Ginnen and Sam Perry.

New Zealand rower Lynette Skelton with wife of the late Kerry Ashby, Winkie, herself an Empire Games Silver medallist in swimming.

MAGSROW President Dave Dodds with wife Beth and MAGSROW Secretary Sarah Butler.

MAGS Foundation

Albertian Maadi Cup winners Professor Wayne Edwards, Colin Cordes and Barry Ashby.

Olympic Bronze medallists Eric Verdonk and Nikki Mills (nee Payne).

Shane O’Brien was joined on stage by other Olympians, from left, Barrie Mabbott, Kevin Lawton and 1984 crew-mate Conrad Robertson.

Roger McGarry, Ted Ashby and Max Weston, NZ champion and Albertian Maadi Cup winner.

Headmaster Dale Burden with Boys’ Rowing Captain Tom Butler.

Mark Watson interviews Olympic Gold medallist Mahe Drysdale.

Auctioneer Marian Tolich from Barfoot & Thompson led the bidding for a variety of prizes.

MAGSROW Chairman Dan Ashby launches the Kerry Ashby Rowing Endowment Fund, named in honour of his late father, who was instrumental in restarting rowing at MAGS six years ago.

Event organisers and MAGSROW Committee members Howard Perry, Dan Ashby, Estelle Sarney, Roger McGarry and John Spence.

Paul Butler with Chairman of MAGS’ Board of Trustees Greg Moyle.

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Te Papa CEO is Albertian of the Year Mr Rick Ellis, the CEO of Te Papa, was named Albertian of the Year at the annual Albertians Reunion Dinner at The Northern Club in Auckland on July 1.

Mr Ellis, who attended Mount Albert Grammar from 1967-1971, took over as the CEO of Te Papa in November last year. He was previously Group Executive at Telstra in Sydney, and CEO of TVNZ from 2006-2011 and from 1998-2002. He also held CEO roles with Ansett NZ and EDS NZ, and a number Directorships for companies, crown entities and not-for-profit organisations.

His father, Jim Ellis, also attended Mount Albert Grammar during World War II, and in accepting his award Mr Ellis said his father would have been proud.

"Boarding and schooling at MAGS prepared me for a long and successful life and career," said Mr Ellis. "The quality of the teachers I was privileged to have been taught by was quite extraordinary they instilled in me a desire for continuous learning."

In addition to many Albertians, the dinner function was attended

by Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, who gave an update on the school's progress, the President of the Albertians Association Mr Ben Stallworthy, the Chairman of the MAGS Foundation Mr Peter Thorp, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr Greg Moyle and board members, staff and parents.

Aftab Moosa of the Albertians Association was the MC for the evening.

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Headmaster Mr Dale Burden gave an update on the school’s progress.

Mount Albert Grammar School

Albertians Association President Mr Ben Stallworthy, MAGS Foundation Chairman Mr Peter Thorp, Mr Ellis and Headmaster Mr Dale Burden.

Chairman of MAGS Board of Trustees Mr Greg Moyle with MAGS Foundation Chairman Mr Peter Thorp and family.

MAGS Foundation

Exciting plans for the ASB bank MAGS farm The ASB Bank MAGS Farm, comprising 8.1 hectares of land adjacent to the southern boundary of the school, has been linked to Mount Albert Grammar since 1932. As indicated by its name, the land is owned by ASB Bank and leased to MAGS. Formerly part of the large Alberton Estate owned by the KerrTaylor family, the surviving members of which were keen to provide for MAGS and to preserve their outlook from their house, Alberton, the land was sold to the then charitable Auckland Savings Bank for substantially less than its full value for the purpose of agricultural courses at MAGS. The land has been leased to MAGS ever since, long-term for nominal rent and under the authority of the necessary 1932 empowering legislation. ASB Bank has since 1988 been a commercial bank following the removal then of its charitable activities into the ASB Charitable Trust, now Foundation North.

Following the completion of negotiations for the present 99-year lease in 2012, ASB Bank and the MAGS Foundation have been working together on plans to upgrade and develop the farm.

The MAGS Board has delegated the management and development of the farm to the MAGS Foundation. A Charter has been agreed that enshrines the objectives of providing for agricultural and associated courses and activities for MAGS and other schools and educational institutions, as well as promoting greater awareness in the urban community of available career options in the agricultural sector, and enabling industry participants to assist by donating and displaying products and services for the farm.

Industry participants and the Government are enthusiastic about the idea of improving the farm to provide an up-to-date

model farm and horticultural facility in the middle of Auckland. Funding is being sought from them both to up-grade the present farm and horticultural facilities and to provide an Experience Centre able to display the latest farm technology, for use by students and industry participants alike.

Architects have been briefed and initial concepts developed.

The proposal is to locate the Experience Centre adjacent to the horticultural block in the lowest part of the farm at its northern boundary, so as best to preserve the present rural outlook of the farm for both the school and the surrounding residential neighbourhood. The optimum stock levels and range of agricultural and horticultural facilities are being worked through with the assistance of a working group comprising industry representatives in addition to ASB Bank and the MAGS Foundation.

The MAGS Foundation is particularly grateful for the significant ongoing effort being invested into the project by ASB Bank.

Together we are determined to ensure that the farm becomes both a superb educational facility as well as an industry showcase of the latest technology and good practice from which both MAGS and the community will benefit.

If you require any further information on this exciting development please contact: Tim Kay, Director of Advancement Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation Email tkay@mags.school.nz Ph 09 815 4034

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Corridors – Albertian News CK Stead is New Zealand's new Poet Laureate New Zealand's new Poet Laureate, Professor C K Stead, says his love of writing was ignited during his years at Mount Albert Grammar School.

The distinguished writer, who has won numerous awards for his fiction and poetry, attended MAGS from 19461950.

"I really discovered poetry there - the library was very important to me," says Professor Stead. "My sixth form English teacher, Butch Brown, was unconventional but had a heart of gold, and steered us toward writing that we wouldn't have otherwise discovered, particularly modern poetry."

At MAGS Professor Stead was also encountered the works of classic poets such as Rupert Brooke, John Keats, William Wordsworth and William Shakespeare, which inspired him to begin writing while still at high school.

"Butch Brown also compiled anthologies, and before long I had appeared in one," recalls Professor Stead.

He went on to become Professor of English at Auckland University for much of his career, and since 1986 has written full time. In 2007 he received the highest honour that New Zealand can bestow, admission to the Order of New Zealand, membership of which is limited to 20 living New Zealanders.

As Poet Laureate for 2015-2017, Professor Stead will represent New Zealand's poets, promote and advocate for poetry and publish a new work during the two-year tenure. He takes over from Vincent O'Sullivan. Previous laureates include Bill Manhire, Hone Tuwhare and Jenny Bornholdt.

Mr Chris Szekely, chief librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library, which administers the award, said Professor Stead's international presence as a poet, teacher, editor, literary critic and novelist was central to his appointment.

"Karl Stead has been a constant contributor to New Zealand's literary landscape across a range of disciplines for over 60 years," said Mr Szekely.

Professor Stead, who was made a member of MAGS' Hall of Distinction in 2008, says he remains fond of the school, not only for helping him find the path he wanted to follow in life, but also for many other experiences he had during his time here. He was a striker for the First XI Football team, and competed in high jump and discus in the Senior Athletics team with school mate Mr Les Mills. He also sang in the school choir.

Now aged 82 Professor Stead says he feels rather old to be receiving such an honour as the country's Poet Laureate, "but I can't pretend I'm not pleased."

University Blues Awards for Albertians Six Albertians received University of Auckland Blues Awards at a ceremony on 25 September.

Joshua Cesan, son of MAGS' Head of Dance Ms Jacqui Cesan, also received the top award in the Arts category for the Most Meritorious Performance, recognising his achievements in Dance. Joshua is pictured with the university's Vice-Chancellor, Mr Stuart McCutcheon.

Blues Awards are presented annually to University of Auckland students who are not only achieving at a high standard academically, but have also achieved in the Arts, Sports or in Service and Leadership.

Sporting Blues were awarded to: Danyon Kemp (Faculties of Arts and Science) for representing New Zealand in Underwater Hockey Reid McGowan (Faculty of Business) for representing New Zealand in Gymnastics Callum Phillips (Faculties of Science and Business) who represented New Zealand in Gymnastics Liam Robertson (Faculty of Arts) for representing New Zealand in Underwater Hockey Molly Swanson (Faculty of Science) for representing New Zealand in the ITU Triathlon Championships 64

Mount Albert Grammar School

Arts Blues were awarded to: Lucy Harrison (Faculties of Law and Arts) for international achievement in Debating Joshua Cesan (Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries) for awardwinning hip hop dance performances and choreography with two consecutive Silver medals at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, and for his leadership as Head-Choreographer, Company Director and Dancer in both Identity Dance Crew and its umbrella company IDCO.

Corridor - Albertian News

Albertians' Lunch Albertians gathered for a reunion luncheon at School House on Wednesday, 23 September, where they heard from Headmaster Mr Dale Burden, and Chairman of the MAGS Foundation, Mr Peter Thorp, who spoke about the farm redevelopment plans and Centennial Centre Project outlined in these pages.

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Te Rina Keenan at World Athletics Championships Te Rina Keenan, who attended MAGS from 2005-2007 and was named Victrix Ludorum for each year, was selected for the 15-strong New Zealand team to compete at the Athletics World Championships in Beijing from 22-30 August.

Te Rina now specialises in the Discus and Shot Put events.

In Discus she threw a personal best distance of 60.78m this year and competed in that event in Beijing. In New Zealand her results are second only to Beatrice Faumuina in Discus and Valerie Adams in Shot Put.

At MAGS she was involved in Athletics, Premier Netball and Premier Basketball. She gained a sports scholarship to the University of Hawaii and spent four years there, gaining a degree in Communications.

Cooper Hutchinson invited to US baseball tournament Cooper was in the MAGS Premier Softball team when it won the New Zealand Championship for the second year in a row, and is now working for Baseball NZ coaching at primary schools. He attended a camp in the Netherlands, where a coach invited him to play in the Arizona Diamond Backs team in this year's Fall Classic, from 8-11 October.

Cooper Hutchinson (front row, third from right) in the NZ Champion MAGS Softball team of 2014.

Cooper (David) Hutchinson, who completed Year 13 at MAGS in 2014, was invited to play in the Arizona Fall Classic Baseball Tournament in front of university scouts from all over the United States.

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Mount Albert Grammar School

The tournament is designed to showcase the best young players in America and from around the world in front American university scouts. Cooper says it is his dream to gain an American university scholarship, and from there a contract to become a professional baseball player.

2015 Prizewinners

Key Dates TERM 1, 2016 SMT Meeting

4

Thursday

26

Tuesday

HOF’s/HOD’s/Deans Meeting Senior Re-enrolment

Year 9 Girls Inter Form Class Activities

8

Monday

Waitangi Day (observance)

27

Wednesday Powhiri for new Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm Staff Administration Day New Staff Induction Senior Re-enrolment (pm) Peer Support Training Year 9 Academic Testing catch-up

9

Tuesday

Year 9 Parents’ Evening

12

Friday

Senior Leadership Assembly

February

Monday

January

25

Prefects’ Camp

16

Tuesday

School Swimming Sports

19

Friday

Class/ID Photos

20-21 Sat - Sun

World Challenge Expedition Training

Thursday

Staff Administration Day Peer Support Training

22

Monday

Scholars’ Assembly

29

Friday

Staff Administration Day Departmental Meetings

25

Tuesday

NCEA Information Evening

27

Saturday

First XI UK Cricket Tour Fundraising Quiz Night - F.W. Gamble Hall

2

Wednesday

School Athletics Day - Mt Smart Stadium

Monday

Auckland Anniversary Day

2

Tuesday

Year 9 Students only commence school Year 13 Peer Support Leaders Year 9 Academic Testing catch-up

3

Wednesday Full School Attendance

4

Thursday

Year 9 Boys Inter Form Class Activities

April

1

March

28

Powhiri for Headmaster Dale Burden at St Peter’s School, Cambridge

February

13-15 Sat - Mon

22-23

Tues - Wed

Parent/Teacher Interview Evenings

25

Friday

Good Friday

28

Monday

Easter Monday

1

Friday

Summer Sports Photos

4-8

Mon - Fri

Summer Tournament Week

12

Tuesday

Dance Concert

15

Friday

END OF TERM 1

2016 Term Dates

2016 Public Holidays Auckland Anniversary Day

Monday 1 February

Waitangi Day (observance)

Monday 8 February

Good Friday

Friday 25 March

Easter Monday

Monday 28 March

Anzac Day

Monday 25 April

Queen’s Birthday

Monday 6 June

Labour Day

Monday 24 October

TERM 1

Tuesday 2 February

Year 9 only

Wednesday 3 February

Full school in

to Friday 15 April

TERM 2

Monday 2 May

to Friday 8 July

TERM 3

Monday 25 July

to Friday 23 September

TERM 4

Monday 10 October

to Tuesday 6 December - for students Wednesday 7 December - for staff

Please refer to our website www.mags.school.nz for a detailed calendar, including sporting events.

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