NOVEMBER 2017
Celebration season
PRIZEGIVINGS & DINNERS
FAREWELL TO SOME OF OUR LONG-SERVING STAFF
FINE ART SHOW YIELDS RECORD RESULT
Contents 4-5
From the Headmaster
6-9
Mount Albert Grammar School Alberton Avenue Mount Albert Auckland 1025
Staff farewells
10-13
Community
14-17
Ph 09 846 2044
School News
www.mags.school.nz
18-27
The Lion is the official magazine of Mount Albert Grammar School
Academic News
28-35
Performing Arts
Editorial enquiries to editor Estelle Sarney esarney@mags.school.nz, ph 09 846 2044, x 8236
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International Food & Culture Evening
37-43
Prizegivings
44-57 Sport
58-61
MAGS Foundation
62-66
Corridors – Albertian News
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Key dates
Advertising enquiries to Tim Kay, MAGS Foundation tkay@mags.school.nz, ph 09 846 2044 x 8127 Cover photo: Departing staff who have collectively given 110 years of service to Mount Albert Grammar School, from left, Frank and Chrys Koenen, Paul McKinley, Paul Ferner, David and Chris Long, Chris and Tami Metcalfe.
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Designed printed by ICG
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FROM THE HEADMASTER
YEARS OF SERVING MOUNT ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL ‘It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.’ ALBERT EINSTEIN
It is a pleasure to present the second edition of The Lion for 2017. The end of this year sees the departure of a number of long-serving staff members. Our cover acknowledges this group who have collectively provided 110 years of service to Mount Albert Grammar School. Just how many MAGS students have benefitted over the years from the work of these staff members is impossible to calculate – but the number must be in the tens of thousands. This group of staff represents the breadth of much of what we offer here at MAGS. Their roles encompass many arms of the school - leadership, well-being, property, boarding, sporting and academic. Like so many in our school, these staff have provided outstanding guardianship of our MAGS culture. They have witnessed our transformation into the premier state, co-educational school in the country – a journey that has taken time and hard work. A journey like this could
never simply happen by chance. It has relied on dedicated staff with a vision and belief in our students. Furthermore, the endorsement from the wider parent community throughout this journey affirms the work of our staff. Schools only exist because of students – and it is the achievement of our students that will always be the ultimate measure of our success. But the MAGS people on our front cover provide a timely reminder that the outstanding success of our students is a function of the equally outstanding adults in our
Chris Long with one of her last Mathematics classes at MAGS.
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school – staff with expertise, loyalty and a passion for seeing young people achieve to their potential. At a time when the teaching profession in Auckland is facing much-publicised uncertainty around recruitment and succession, we continue to be blessed at MAGS with a quality of staff second to none. Among our adults we enjoy the right mix of experience and youth, tradition and innovation. Our staff is diverse, yet all work toward the common goal of ensuring the best possible learning for our students. And as this group of longserving staff move on to new challenges and lifestyles, we are confident that the new group of people about to join MAGS will pick up the mantle and lift our school to even greater heights. Thank you to the teaching and nonteaching staff of Mount Albert Grammar School. Each day you create a school like no other – an environment in which our young people can excel. All the best to our departing staff and thank you for your service to MAGS.
Director of Guidance Paul Ferner with the Prefect team of 2017, the last of many he has mentored over the years.
Chris and Tami Metcalfe at School House – they will miss the boys most of all.
Associate Principal Paul McKinley received a standing ovation at his final assembly.
PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA Patrick Drumm
Frank and Chrys Koenen with their trusty Property cart outside their office.
Director of Sport David Long with his team in the Sports Office.
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STAFF FAREWELLS
STAFF
farewells Farewell to DAVID & CHRIS LONG
Director of Sport David Long didn’t intend to return to MAGS in 2008, but as he walked through the school on his way out from a meeting he realised that this was where he wanted to be after all. “I was happy in my job at a school in Christchurch, but there’s something special about MAGS – once you’ve been in this place it doesn’t leave you.” David had previously worked at MAGS from 1980-1987 as a Chemistry teacher, and, having represented New Zealand in hurdles, coached Athletics and Hockey. He helped the Cross Country team to 2nd place at the New Zealand Championship and took the First XI on a tour to Queensland. In 2008 the then Headmaster, Dale Burden, asked him to return to pick up where he left off as a teacher and a coach. In 2010 David was promoted to Director of Sport. In the seven years since he has grown the department from himself and two part-timers to a team of four, and helped with the introduction of a number of new sports, such as Fencing and Rowing. The number of sports offered at MAGS has grown from 28 to 37, with the ability for students to take part from social to premier level. “One of the Sports Director’s KPIs is participation, and I’m proud that we
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have something for every kind of student to take part in if they want,” says David. Coming from a teaching background, David has helped drive the ethos that sport is a way to build the character of students and the school as a whole, and that the disciplines learned through sport can be applied to academic pursuit. “We made the MAGS Way set of values a foundation of our sports programme and are proud that our students represent the school with humility and good sportsmanship.” This culture-based model has also helped MAGS to become one of the most successful sporting schools in the country – David has 18 black pennants hanging in his office representing New Zealand titles won by MAGS teams since 2012. A highlight was seeing the First XV win the national championship in Palmerston North last year, for the first time in six years. David’s wife Chris, also a teacher, returned to MAGS with him in 2008 and spent five years setting up the Advancement Office to reconnect with
alumni. She hosted many lunches at School House, organised reunions in Sydney and Brisbane, and helped oversee the 90th Jubilee celebrations. She also enjoyed being involved in sport, and managed the First XI Boys Hockey team and a number of Athletics teams during that time. Following a break at a job outside school from 2013, Chris returned as a full time Mathematics teacher in 2016, and this season managed the First XI Girls Football team. “I’m a career teacher, and although I’ve held senior management positions in the past my passion is working with students,” says Chris. The couple are moving back to a family property in Feilding, and Chris will continue teaching Mathematics at Feilding High School. David will have a break before deciding what he would like to do next. “We will miss the students, and the people we’ve worked with,” says David. “MAGS has been an important part of our lives, and we’ll be looking out for its sports teams in the future.”
Farewell to Associate Principal
PAUL MCKINLEY
Paul McKinley arrived at Mount Albert Grammar School 11 years ago to a brief that reads quickly on paper – help raise standards across the board. In reality it was a huge undertaking by former Headmaster Dale Burden, who brought in his former colleague to help drive the development of culture and raise academic achievement in a school that was struggling to attract students from its own community. As Paul McKinley prepared to leave MAGS for a new role as Principal of Glenfield College, he looked back with satisfaction that he helped to meet all those challenges, “and bring MAGS back to where it has stood historically – as one of the top academic schools in the country, and the school of choice for our local families.” The foundation of that change was enhancing the school’s culture. “There was always MAGS pride, but now there is self-belief in meeting the high expectations it sets of students.” Systems were introduced to academically track every student, analyse their results and implement plans to help those who struggled or extend those who excelled. Emphasis was placed on hiring the best teachers available, and providing ongoing professional development. “MAGS has always been known as a great sporting school, but I’m very proud that it’s now referred to as a top academic school first and foremost.” One of Mr McKinley’s key roles was overseeing the Junior school, and he was proud of assisting in the move away from ‘archaic’ streaming to a model that still gives the most capable students an environment to challenge them, while offering all students the motivation to reach higher. His farewell speech to the school was an emotional event, as students presented gifts and songs. He was given a standing ovation as he left the stage for the last time. He says his best memories are of the people he’s worked with, both staff and students. “I was humbled by the number of families who contacted me to say congratulations and thank you. It was a privilege to be part of MAGS’ journey.”
Farewell to Director of Guidance
PAUL FERNER
Director of Guidance Mr Paul Ferner retired at the end of Term 3 after 14 years at MAGS, and a 44-year teaching career. He said he felt privileged to have been in a position of trust among students, and would miss them and his colleagues the most. “Students talk to a counsellor in a way they don’t talk to anyone else, including their friends or their parents. It’s a privileged role, and rewarding to be able to help so many over the years.” Mentoring the school’s Prefect group each year was among the extra responsibilities he enjoyed. “The talent and commitment among the Prefects each year astounded me.” Mr Ferner said one of the achievements he was most proud of was helping the overall school culture change for the better. “When I arrived at Mount Albert Grammar in 2003, girls had only been admitted to the school for three years. It was still very much a boys’ school and work had to be done to increase their respect toward girls.” The MAGS Way set of values was introduced, and a “top down” culture programme fostered that saw Senior students take responsibility for helping Junior students. This led to the current Peer Support and Peer Mediation initiatives. “Our students are now amazing at how respectfully they interact with each other and the school. Social media has made them more sophisticated, and in tune with their friends and the community because they are so much more connected.” Helping students deal with the problems that social media can present has been an area that has risen in prominence, although he says that students come to the Guidance Centre with the same issues they have always had relating to their peers, family or school. “It’s just that social media gives some young people a different tool to create the same kind of problems.” Mr Ferner said when people ask him if the future of New Zealand was in good hands, the answer was yes. “It’s been an honour and a joy to meet so many wonderful young people.” THE LION
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STAFF FAREWELLS
Farewell to School House Managers CHRIS & TAMI METCALFE Chris Metcalfe’s 30-year career at MAGS has spanned many roles, but the one of which he is most proud is as Director of School House, the boys’ boarding hostel, with his wife Tami. Their commitment to boarding development across New Zealand was recognised this year when Chris was awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the NZ Boarding Association. Chris and his wife Tami managed School House from 2000-2002, and then returned in 2009. Over the past eight years they have transformed it into a true “home away from home” for the 107 boys and staff who live there during term time. “We came in with a five-year plan to provide the best living environment for boys - refurbish all the buildings and further improve the culture of School House,” says Chris. “We’re unusual among school hostels in that we have boys of all year levels in each of the dorms, managed and led by House Prefects, and there are no exclusive areas. This makes it more like a family home of siblings, and fosters a sense of brotherhood.” Chris dispensed with an office, and he and Tami interview boys for places at School House together, at their house next door to the hostel’s main building. “This also reinforces that the boys are coming to another family,” says Tami. “Over five years they spend more time with us than they do at home, and we often have two or three siblings come through one after the other. A number of parents have become friends for life, and we have no shortage of offers of places to stay around New Zealand.” Chris started at MAGS in 1987 as a PE teacher, going on to become Head of PE, Head of Outdoor Education and Director of Sport, among other roles such as a Careers Advisor, Dean of Year 9 Boys and Deputy Principal in charge of Junior Boys. Chris is proud of his School achievements while a Deputy Principal, especially the introduction of the KAMAR management system, overseeing timetable development and developing Dean systems and procedures. His involvement in sport at MAGS has been another important part of his career – starting with Auckland Championship wins in Volleyball he progressed to Rugby, where he was coach and manager of the First XV, winning back to back Auckland Championships in 1990 and 1991, won 7 Auckland Rugby Championships and won the Under 8
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15 Rugby National title in 2008. In summer he coached and managed Under-15 and First X1 Cricket teams. His fondest memories in sport are the tours he organised and managed – an unbeaten Under 15 Rugby tour to Australia, two Rugby tours to Rarotonga and the five week Cricket tour of England and Europe. Chris has carried his passion for sport into his work at School House, seeing it as a way to help the boys bond and give them disciplines that can be transferred to their schoolwork. There are numerous dorm competitions, and
respected and appreciated. The couple are now ready for a change, and are ‘swapping boys for sheep’ on their lifestyle block in Kumeu. Tami won’t miss her many trips to medical clinics which have been part of her job as House mother, and they are looking forward to being able to take holidays outside of school holidays, but they will miss the boys. “We’ll miss the banter, and watching them grow and develop. They come in as hesitant Year 9s, and leave as well rounded, mature young men. You do form a parental-type of bond with them.”
Farewell to Property Managers FRANK & CHRYS KOENEN Fighting a fire in the Technology block during the October school holidays was not the send-off Frank and Chrys Koenen had planned for their departure from the Property Department after 13 years.
the House is a busy place on Saturday mornings as boys head out to represent the school with various teams. The couple’s son Jayden was three weeks old when he went to his first MAGS rugby match; he later played in the First XV, was named Best All-Round Boy five years in a row and was Head Boy in 2011. He is now a police officer. Chris says he and Tami are also proud of upgrading the study framework at the House, supporting parents’ expectations that their boys will excel academically during their time at MAGS. They pay credit to the many School House staff and Housemasters they have worked with over the years – each brought their own skills and way of contributing to School House life that Chris and Tami
Some of their hardest days have been attending funerals for boys lost to accidents and illness, the most recent just last year when Liam Cradock died in a car accident on his way home to Taupo. The couple’s memories of these boys hold a special place in their hearts. For Chris, it will take some adjustment to not be at MAGS each working day. “MAGS has been my life for 30 years. I haven’t had to move because I’ve had new challenges in the different roles I’ve been offered.” He says he feels fortunate to have been given the opportunities to achieve what he has. “Our work at MAGS and School House has been a privilege.”
But when the alarm went off around 5pm on a Tuesday they responded immediately – Frank dousing the start of what could have been a disastrous blaze with fire extinguishers and a hose, while Chrys called the Fire Service and set other systems in train. By the time firemen arrived they had only to deal with the smoking source of the fire, the cause of which was not suspicious. Thanks to the Koenens’ quick response the block was repaired and ready for teaching again at the start of Term 4. Such can-do efficiency has become a hallmark of the couple’s service to the school during their tenure. Between managing the day to day maintenance of the school and its grounds, Frank has overseen the completion of three major projects – the new gym, the rebuilding of E Block and the construction of the new wing of D Block, renamed the Maurice Hall Building “Seeing the brass plaques unveiled on each of those buildings at their
official openings was very satisfying,” says Frank. He’s also proud to have strengthened the school’s security to make it safe for staff and students, and protect its buildings 24/7. “I know every building inside out – I’ve been through them, under them, in the ceiling space of each. We live next door and the school has become like an extension of our home – we take its care very seriously and personally.” When Frank, who came from a background in home renovations, was promoted from Assistant Property Manger to the top job six years ago, Chrys came on board to help with administration. Being married and working together could be a challenge for some couples, but Frank and Chrys say it works for them because they appreciate each other’s complementary skills. “I accept that Frank’s the boss when we’re at work, even if I don’t agree
with some of his decisions,” smiles Chrys, who jokes that it’s occasionally been handy having a door to flick shut between their offices. “We try to keep work and home separate,” adds Frank, “but also accept that when an alarm goes off we’re ready to respond.” The couple’s children, Andrea and Michael, both attended MAGS, and Frank and Chrys are now moving to Te Anau be closer to Andrea, who farms with her partner in Southland. They’ve bought a lifestyle block with mountain views, adopted a dog, and are looking forward to the next phase in their lives. “We’ve been touched by the farewell emails we’ve received from people who say we’re like ‘the captains of a ship’,” says Frank, “We’ve set up a lot of systems to hand on, and gathered a trusted group of contractors who respect the school and prioritise their work for us. We’ll make sure we leave MAGS in good hands.” THE LION
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COMMUNITY
MUFTI DA Fundraiser MAGS’ classrooms, halls and courtyards were a sea of yellow, pink and blue for a fundraising Mufti Day on 7 September.
QUIZ NIGHT 2017
Collections of gold coin donations raised about $3100 for the Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, with the money being split between the two organisations. The colours that students chose to wear represented the charities: pink for breast cancer, yellow for the Cancer Society, and blue for prostate cancer.
More than 300 competitors filled 40 tables in the FW Gamble Hall on 23 June to compete in the annual MAGS Quiz Night, raising more than $4000 for the charity Shine, which helps victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse. The event was organised by the student-led Academic Council, with Quizmaster Mr Pat Barrett marshalling teams of students, teachers, parents and community supporters, while Ms Donna Hobbs and Ms Catherine Horne did an admirable job of keeping score. Fancy dress outfits included superheroes, hippies, angels and a Euro team. The winning costume team was Ghostbusters, who arrived in a cardboard cutout of the famous car. Two tables of Science teachers claimed 1st and 2nd places in the quiz. MAGS thanks the many local companies who donated prizes of vouchers and products.
Italian Restaurant & Bar
Dine in - Dine out - Function room Open 7 Days Monday to Sunday 3pm until late Academic Council members Shakti Singh and Beatrice Santos with Headmaster Patrick Drumm hand over a cheque for $4015 to Shine in School educators Kieran Simmons and Shelley Hirst.
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Restaurant & Function room available to be booked anytime for Conferences/Breakfast/Lunch or Dinner Function
1a Alberton Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland - 09 845 5331- salrose@ihug.co.nz - www.salrose.co.nz THE LION
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FUNDRAISING
COMMUNITY
Queen’s Guide Award
MAKING FRIENDS THOUGH
Year 13 students Hannah Quince (left) and Shannon Hoole were presented with the prestigious Queen’s Guide Award by the Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy, at a ceremony in Auckland on July 9.
Year 13 student Rosie Petersen raised about $1000 for Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand through a bake sale and gold coin collection in Form Classes.
The award is the culmination of a range of tasks the girls have completed in the fields of service, skills and leadership since they joined Rangers in Year 9. Among their efforts have been organising expeditions, helping other Girl Guide units, learning about other cultures and attending training camps. Hannah has served on an advisory group focusing on the organisation’s future strategy. Hannah was also selected to give a speech thanking Dame Patsy on behalf of all Guides and Rangers receiving awards. The girls aim to continue with the Girl Guides’ Connect programme for tertiary-age students next year.
Rosie (pictured with Rachel Eliott of Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand (left) and Rachel’s sister-in-law Lisa) has volunteered for the charity since Year 10. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition that children are born with, affecting their lungs, pancreas and other organs, requiring intensive ongoing treatment. Through her volunteer work Rosie befriended Ms Eliott and her 10-year-old son Luke, who has the condition. Rosie wanted to help raise awareness of the disease during her final year at MAGS.
Surf Lifesavers
WIN AWARDS
Two students involved in surf lifesaving in their spare time won awards this year. Year 12 student Xavier Murphy won a New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Award for Coromandel Rescue of the Year, and Year 10 student Josh Baker won Rookie Lifeguard of the Year at the Northern Region Surf Lifesaving awards.
Refugee students visit MAGS A group of teenagers who have been accepted into New Zealand as refugees visited Mount Albert Grammar School to learn what life will be like in a Kiwi high school.
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The 24 young people, aged 13-19, were buddied with MAGS students and spent an afternoon in classes and looking around the school. The teenagers have come from a variety of countries with their families, including Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar. They spend six weeks at the Refugee Resettlement Centre in Mangere before being placed around
New Zealand, and enrolled at their local high school. MAGS’ Head of English Language, Ms Pauline Godber, says MAGS hosts a group once a year. “The visit is beneficial for the refugee students and also our own - the MAGS students get to meet young people from countries very different to New Zealand, and hear a little of what their lives were like there.”
On January 22 Xavier and another school-age lifeguard, Jamie Lock, saved five teenagers from rough surf at Pauanui Beach, and then pulled a jet-ski rider to safety after he flipped on the Pauanui bar. Xavier, a qualified Senior Lifeguard and Patrol Captain, was off-duty after hours at his home club of Pauanui when a phone call came through asking for help for the teenagers. No sooner had he and Jamie pulled them to safety in an IRB boat than they were called to the opposite end of the beach to rescue the jet-ski rider. The jetskier had to be rushed to Thames Hospital but made a full recovery – if Xavier and Jamie had not done such a good job the outcome could have been much worse.
Josh Baker (right) and Xavier Murphy (inset above)
Xavier has been a surf-lifesaver for three years and is on the Pauanui Club committee as the IRB officer. He is now paid to patrol Coromandel beaches during summer. Josh Baker represents the Waipu Cove Surf Lifesaving Club. On a non-patrol day, while kneeboard training, he saw a young boy on a boogie board being taken out by a strong tide. He alerted the Club President, paddled out, and assisted the boy back to shore, under the watchful eye of the President. Josh also competed and was a finalist in the Northern Region Twilight series, Ruakaka and Northern Region Champs, and a semi-finalist at the Oceans event.
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SCHOOL NEWS
ASB MAGS FARM LAUNCHES A NEW ERA
Jacinda Ardern visits MAGS
The former Minister of Primary Industries Mr Nathan Guy helped begin a new chapter in the development of the ASB MAGS Farm. To celebrate the granting of resource consent for the teaching facility and experience centre, the Minister officially turned the first soil at the farm for the development in a ceremony on September 8. The world-class teaching facility and experience centre will demonstrate the innovation, science and environmental best practices used on farms across New Zealand. It will be a driver to substantially increase the number of students studying agriculture, and attract young people to work in primary industries. Mr Guy said the sector faced a challenge to attract 50,000 more
employees over the next 10 years, and he saw the Experience Centre as a “game changer” to reach that target. “This centre will help showcase the most innovative developments in primary industries to students from across Auckland, and help close the divide between urban students and awareness of the exciting careers open to them in the primary sector.” A number of industry representatives and local MPs attended, including the Director General of the Ministry of Primary Industries Mr Martyn Dunne, KPMG’s Global Head of AgriBusiness Mr Ian Proudfoot, and ASB’s General Manager Rural Mr Richard Hegan.
Chairman of the MAGS Foundation Mr Peter Thorp explained what the centre would contain and its design. Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm said MAGS’ students were at the centre of the story, with the centre lifting teaching capacity in Agricultural and Horticultural Science and AgriBusiness from 160 currently, to 500. “We see the Experience Centre as a new chapter in the history of the ASB MAGS Farm, which was established in 1932 with the same purpose - to set urban students on a path to careers in the primary sector and to help support this key pillar of New Zealand’s economy.”
STUDENT ELECTED TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES Year 11 student Takunda Muzondiwa has been elected by her peers to be their representative on the school’s Board of Trustees for 2018.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited MAGS during the election campaign to speak to Year 13 students. She joined members of the MAGS Feminist Club to discuss her views on modern feminism. Students had the opportunity to ask questions one-on-one, focusing on Labour’s plan to improve health care for women and how parity might be achieved in the workforce. Ms Ardern highlighted her plan to increase women’s presence in parliament to a 50/50 split as well as encouraging the group to think of feminism as equality for men and women. Ms Ardern then addressed the Year 13 cohort in a formal assembly, emphasising the importance of young people enrolling to vote. The audience reacted warmly to the announcement that Labour would commit to the first year of tertiary study being free from 2018.
Takunda was the Girls’ Year Level Representative in both Year 9 and Year 10, and was named Best All-Round Girl at the Year 11 Prizegiving this year. At MAGS she is a top academic, plays the flute in the orchestra and flute group, acts in drama productions, sings in the Headmaster’s Choir and plays lacrosse. “I saw this role as a way to give back to the school, which has done so much for me,” says Takunda. She is looking forward to attending Board meetings to gain greater insight into the school’s management. “I’m also excited to engage with more students so I can represent them the best I can.”
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SCHOOL NEWS
Peace
WEEK
MAGS students joined a national expression of peace during Peace Week from August 7-11, a programme run in secondary schools throughout New Zealand. Strings of paper cranes were made and hung in the Maurice Hall Atrium beside a peace sign made of postit notes bearing messages. Paper doves were handed out for students and staff to write anonymous notes of appreciation to each other, and a chalk-drawing competition was held in the Albertian Quad on Friday. Guidance Counsellor Ms Marianne Wilson said the paper cranes are a Japanese symbol of peace and longevity, and relate to the fact the Peace Week always occurs around
the anniversary of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 8. On August 25 10 Year 13 students represented MAGS at the Annual Secondary Schools’ Peace Symposium at Western Springs. Run by the Peace Foundation, the event was attended by students from high schools throughout the Auckland region. The theme for the symposium, and for the many activities that MAGS highlighted in our Peace Week, was ‘NZ 30 Years Nuclear-Free’.
LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY DAY
Eight Year 12 students were exposed to a range of cultures and opinions during a Leadership Diversity Day at Mt Albert Unitec Campus Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae on August 16. Organised by the Auckland Interfaith Council, the event hosted students from a wide range of schools who enjoyed a positive experience of Auckland’s cultural/religious diversity. Students were introduced to the wharenui, and to Maori spirituality. There were student-led presentations on different religions, and discussions about the challenges of being “neighbours versus strangers”. They also talked about whether “freedom of speech meant no boundaries” and the possible implications. Finally, they were challenged to become leaders in diversity in their schools as they entered Year 13. Students Hannah Houghton, Shehnaz Karim, Raniya Rahman, Nena-Rose Lennane, Tara Pickering, Anton Aish, Vincent Cudmore and Sam Kamu attended the event with Year 12 Dean Gordon Smith.
The Great Gatsby’ was the theme of the 2017 Mount Albert Grammar School Ball, held at The Pullman Hotel in Auckland city on July 6. The ball committee worked tirelessly to prepare for the evening and decorate the venue. Attendees walked down a black carpeted hallway, decorated with flapper and gangster silhouettes, lights, balloons and feathers. A big part of the social side of the evening was the three photo booths and live Facebook feeds that were viewed by family and friends as the ball continued through the evening. N.Z.D.J Kieran provided dancefloor entertainment, which featured music, the latest lighting effects, smoke machines, confetti cannons and CO2 guns. The school band The Ball Boys performed a live set that created the atmosphere of a concert. The awards ceremony saw Zach Helm and Paris Shum crowned King and Queen of the Ball. Maia Watson and Jenna Ackerman won the Sisterhood prize, while the Bromance award went to Jack Briden and Billy McColl. The Cutest Couple award went to Liam Briggs and Lucy Harding. Kate Gribben was voted best dressed female and Oliver Mathiesen best dressed male. The dancing award went to Seli Fuimaono. A fantastic night was had by all, including the staff who attended. A big thank you to the committee for all of their hard work. Ms Natasha Phyn, Teacher in Charge
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Sophia Wen 1ST YEAR 10
Eloise Muir 2ND YEAR 10
Mount Albert Grammar School’s mathematics students won a number of prizes in competitions in Terms 2 and 3.
MAGS’ German language students once again claimed a number of top placings in the annual Goethe Society Examinations, with our Year 10 entrants winning the top 3 spots in their year group. Sophia Wen came 1st in Year 10, Eloise Muir came 2nd, and Luca Eastwood 3rd. In Year 9, Kitty Mu came 1st, with German speakers Atia Leonhartsberger and Mena Ren-Fritzke coming 1st and 2nd respectively in the Advantaged Speaker category. In Year 11, Jack Cavanagh came
Luca Eastwood 3RD YEAR 10
Kitty Mu 1ST YEAR 9
Atia Leonhartsberger 1ST (ADVANTAGED SPEAKER)
2nd and Adam Bateman 3rd. A number of other students received prizes and diplomas. More than 500 students enter the competition from across Auckland. MAGS’ Head of German, Mr Warwick Gibbs, commended the students and their teachers on their work in preparing for the exams.
Mena Ren-Fritzke 2ND
Jack Cavanagh 2ND YEAR 11
Logan Allomes
Sahil Bhatiani
Arique Chowdhury
Miriam Leonhardt
Richard Li
Joshua Norman
Lucas Peterson
James You
Selina Zhang
Adam Bateman 3RD YEAR 11
(ADVANTAGED SPEAKER)
German Year 12 student Hugh Malcolm has been selected to compete at the German Language Olympiad in Freiburg for two weeks in July 2018.
Hugh is one of only two Year 12 students chosen to represent New Zealand. He was initially interviewed at school by German adviser Heike Papenthin, and was then was flown to Wellington for further interviews with others from around the country. Year 13 student Isobel WelsfordAckroyd returned from two weeks in Germany in July after winning a similar scholarship last year.
Hugh Malcom
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Te Reo Māori
Four students represented MAGS at the Auckland finals of the Nga Manu Korero speech competition, held at Orakei marae on June 16. Year 10 student Niua Pomare-Khanna came 3rd in the Junior Māori Rawhiti Ihaka category with his 12 minute speech on the importance of Māori retaining their language and cultural values. Another Year 10 student, Tayla Bamber, won the Junior English Sir Turi Carroll Award for her five minute speech titled “Education Opens Many Doors”. Tayla’s win qualified her for the National Nga Manu Korero competition in Taranaki in Term 3, where she performed extremely well.
Year 11 student Richard Mann and Year 13 student Uenuku Malesala also did extremely well in their competitive categories that included speakers from Māori immersion schools. Head of Te Puna o Wairaka Ms Wairmirirangi Paul said the MAGS speakers were outstanding. “They presented compelling prepared and impromptu speeches in te reo Māori and English. They and the students who attended the hui in support were great representatives of the school.”
ACADEMIC NEWS
Mathematics
Goethe Society Examinations
In the Australian Maths Competition, which thousands of students enter from all over the world, Logan Allomes and Selina Zhang were Prizewinners for coming in the top 0.5%. High Distinction Awards were given to Angus Edwards, Victor Kong, Lucas Peterson, Xander Pritchard, Nikita Privalov and Matthew Somerville. In the national Casio Senior Maths Competition, five students placed in the top 100 – Sahil Bhatiani, Arique Chowdhury, Miriam Leonhardt, Richard Li and Joshua Norman. In the Auckland Maths Olympiad in May Richard Li came 4th overall in the competitive Senior Division. Organisers of the inaugural Calcex Competition, which was intended for schools in East Auckland, may have regretted allowing MAGS to enter after we won the trophy. Our team of Logan Allomes, Richard Li, Lucas Peterson and James You managed to sneak past St Kentigern College, Pakuranga College and Macleans College in the last minute to come first. MAGS sent two Year 9 and two Year 10 teams to the Mathex competition in Auckland in August. The Year 9 A team scored 95 points while the B team achieved a perfect score of 100. However, the competition was slightly easier than previous years, and other schools reached 100 quicker. Mathematics teacher Mr Michael Walden said the Junior students thoroughly enjoyed themselves at Mathex, “and special mention must go to the runners, who clocked up a fair number of kilometres over the 30 minute period”.
Geography
Defending champions MAGS were victorious once again at the annual Year 12 and Year 13 and the Year 11 Auckland Geography competitions. The Year 12 and 13 event saw 20 teams from schools across Auckland displaying their knowledge in current events, NZ geography, Where in the World, and 3D process modelling. Our Year 13 team of Julia Robinson, Vogel Bishop, Reiko Yoshida-Wildash and Joshua Norman (pictured right) scored top marks in two of the rounds, giving them the overall win. MAGS’ Year 12 team of Hugh Malcolm, James Inkson and Harrison Zheng were there for the experience and practice for next year, and finished a credible 5th, just one point away from the top four. The following week, two Year 11 teams competed against 25 others. Our A team of Jamila Chen, Miranda Graham and Luke Owen took first place, beating another strong side by four points. Our B team of Thomas Brendolise, Charlie Bioletti and Gio Aguilar finished a commendable fifth place with the only perfect score in the modelling.
Jamila Chen
Miranda Graham
Luke Owen
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English Melissa Barnes
Eloise Muir
Ella Vuetilovoni
Six Junior MAGS students made it into the top 200 of the national Spelling Bee competition, with Eloise Muir going on to compete with the top 36 in the final in Wellington in October.
For the first round, the students had to learn 200 words from an official list and were tested on 100 of them, plus 50 they had not previously been shown, including Māori words. For the semifinal they had to learn another 100 words for written and oral testing. MAGS’ Head of English Ms Aubrey Mason said the students attended lunchtime tutorials, including lessons on Māori spellings and pronunciation. “They spent a lot of time at home reading the dictionary, and lots of books.”
Commerce
A concept for a social media platform to help students study won the 2017 BP Business Challenge, run over three days from August 2-4. The Commerce Department hosts the Challenge each year. Run by the Young Enterprise Trust, a small but focused group of Year 10 and Year 11 Commerce students are put through an experiential learning programme, where they develop skills to create and articulate a business plan. Charged with creating a unique product to solve a potential market problem, this year’s student ideas were expansive and forward thinking. Among the other concepts presented were clothing that charged the wearer’s cellphone using static energy, an expandable LED screen for smartphones and tablets, and clothing that heated itself to keep the wearer warm. On the final day the students delivered their ideas to judges from the local community, detailing expected customers, prices, strengths and weaknesses. Each group also delivered a short, yet potentially viral video to advertise their product. 20
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The judges were impressed with the quality of work from all the groups. Their choice for winner was Branch Learning, who delivered a comprehensive presentation of their student-led social media platform for studying. Congratulations to Isla Thompson, Abby Irwin, Quinn Cooper,
ACADEMIC NEWS
French
A group of 17 students from a Paris high school spent five weeks experiencing school and holidays in New Zealand with their MAGS buddies. Frances Belt
Kike Ogundipe
Benjamin Merlini
Honey Jama, Noah Thompson and Jasmine Deans for their excellent work. The judges finished with special mention for Matthew Fan, Marketing Director for Static Charge, for his excellent promotional pitch. The Commerce Department would like to thank the judges: Hamish Jones and Meagan Hughes from BP, Ian Proudfoot – Director of Agribusiness KPMG, Jane Brice – Head of Rural Business ASB, and Mark McLeay – Director mADNZ, for their time and effort in judging our students’ work.
Each visitor from the school Sainte Croix de Neuilly was paired with a MAGS French student, and spent the last three weeks of Term 2 attending most classes with them. They stayed at their homes and enjoyed the school holidays with their host family before returning to France. The students had many interesting comparisons about life at MAGS versus their school back home – here they had to wear uniforms, had shorter school days, brought their own lunch to school, and enjoyed the variety of subjects available such as Media Studies, Drama, Dance, and Agricultural Science, which they don’t have access to in Paris, and the very welcoming teachers. Then it was holiday time - from walking windswept Muriwai beach to swimming at the Parakai hot pools, from the Sky Tower to Rotorua, from Rangitoto to Hobbiton, the French students got to see and do so much of what New Zealand has to offer. In December they will return the favour, when the New Zealanders travel to France to spend five weeks visiting Paris, attending their buddies’ school, and touring the country.
The winning ‘company’ Branch Learning with the judges. BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Students Noah Thompson, Quinn Cooper, Mr Hamish Jones, Ms Jane Brice, Mr Ian Proudfoot and Ms Meagan Hughes FRONT ROW: Mr Mark McLeay, Jasmine Deans, Isla Thompson, Honey Jama and Abby Irwin.
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Science
Matariki at Owairaka Year 9 students contributed to an art installation in Owairaka Domain to mark Matariki 2017. A series of hand-made ceramic tiles were hung as groups of three from tree branches near the entrance to the Domain, and left to spin the breeze. Around them were artworks by other local schools. Head of Visual Art Mr Bryn Corkery said MAGS was asked to contribute by the Albert-Eden Local Board. Local designer Ron Crummer put the installation together. The images on the 90 tiles reflected New Zealand symbols such as birds,
Māori patterns, the sky and stars. Matariki celebrates the coming of the Māori New Year, represented by a cluster of stars seen only in mid-winter called the pleiades. Mr Corkery said that as Mount Albert Grammar played a large part in the local community, it was important that it take part in the installation. “The aim is for the event to grow in the future, and become a highlight of the Mt Albert calendar.” He credited the student leaders of the Matariki Sculpture Group, Arien Okan and Gia man Tran Quai, who developed a good understanding of the processes involved with the school kiln.
Student art in the Fine Art Show The creative students of Mount Albert Grammar school produced a range of paintings, drawings, digital art pieces and photographs for exhibition and sale at the Fine Art Show in August. Their works were judged by Mr John Gow of Gow Langsford Gallery. STUDENT PRIZEWINNERS
Twenty seven students travelled to Huntsville, Alabama to take part in a NASA Space Camp during the July holidays, accompanied by former Associate Principal Mr Paul McKinley and teachers Ms Sarnia Slabbert and Mr Matthew Huang. Student Miriam Leonhardt wrote this report:
ACADEMIC NEWS
Visual Art
“We spent five days at Space Camp taking part in simulators and lessons that resembled the training of astronauts. We were placed into teams of about 16, made up of students from all over the world who shared an interest in science. Our time was packed full of exciting activities such as engineering challenges, missions, team building activities and presentations. We challenged ourselves at the high ropes course, learned about some of the physics involved in designing rockets and heat proof materials, experienced space walking simulations and scuba diving to feel the effect of reduced gravity in space, learned how to deal with different types of anomalies in spacecraft, including medical and technical anomalies, and improved our team work, all in preparation for the main simulated mission to Mars. My personal highlight was the missions as I enjoyed the experience of trying out different jobs as an astronaut and in mission control. We were lucky to be able to attend a presentation by a former astronaut, Dorothy MetcalfLindenburger, who talked about her experiences in space, including some of the more difficult aspects of transferring normal day-to-day life into an environment with microgravity, and the training that the astronauts have to do. To us, listening to her presentation was special as she attended Space Camp when she was our age.”
Photography
1st: Jesse Pilcher; 2nd: Oliver Mathiesen; 3rd: Kendall Elson Painting
1st: Shannon Hoole; 2nd: Leanne Burton; 3rd: Arien Okan Design
1st: Grace Popplewell; 2nd: Jason Li; 3rd: Maddeline Schnell Highly Commended
Aidan Birch, Jessica Gurnsey, Chantelle Boxall, Evangaline Tasong, Tyla Love, Ben Jeffrey Teacher Awards
Tyla Love, Leanne Burton, Elize Furze Teacher Recommendations
Jessica Gurnsey, Kaveesha Ranmutha, Porcia Meredith People’s Choice Student Award
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Art Award winners Year 13 students Vaimoana Va’ai and Shannon Hoole were honoured with the Pat Hanly Award at Auckland Art Gallery for Excellence in the field of Visual Art. Both students take Scholarship level painting at MAGS and were selected from a large number of applications from schools across Auckland. It is unusual for a school to have two students receive this award. Head of Visual Art Mr Bryn Corkery said Vaimoana and Shannon are gifted emerging artists and will continue their studies next year at the Elam School of Fine Arts. THE LION
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ACADEMIC NEWS
A G R I C U LT U R A L
SCIENCE TRIP TO OTIWHITI STATION
Seven Agricultural Science students gained hands-on farming experience on a four-day trip to the Otiwhiti Sheep and Beef Station in Hunterville in the Manawatu. Year 13 students Oliver Holst, Mackenzie Garrett-Dalton, Jeremiah Halaapiapi, Sawbira Harker and Kaveesha Ranmuthu, and Year 11 students Thys Dekker and Harrison Boswell, were accompanied by Head of Agricultural Science Ms Esther Hancock and teacher Mr Richard Fullerton. Otiwhiti is one of three agriculture cadet farms in North Island where students learn skills such as shearing, horseriding, mustering cattle and sheep, docking, drenching, quadbike riding and tree planting. MAGS students tried their hand at each of these activities, and visited a sales yard and a meat works. Station owner Mr Charlie Duncan also took the group clay pigeon shooting and fishing. Ms Hancock said the trip helped set a real world context for the Year 13 students, and helped the Year 11 students see a future in farming. They could also use what they learned as evidence for unit standards. The students agreed it was a great experience and the Year 11 students said they would love to go again. Next year the trip will run at the end of Term 1.
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GEOGRAPHY TRIP
If you want to learn about tourism, there’s no better place to go than Rotorua. Year 13 Geography students spent three days there in August to study tourism development. Among the places the students visited were the Rotorua Museum, the Agrodome, and Skyline, best known for its gondolas and luge rides. Speakers at the operations gave students insights into how the ventures began and how they have been developed over the years to attract more tourists.
FIELDAYS 2017 Fifty seven students of Agricultural Science and AgriBusiness visited Fieldays at Mystery Creek on 15 June. Head of Agricultural Science, Ms Esther Hancock, said the students had different topics to research for their various internal assessments, including pasture seed, agricultural machinery, effluent management and dairy profitability. “They also spent an absorbing hour in the careers and education hub, completing a competition on their smartphones to learn more about careers in agriculture,” said Ms Hancock. “I think the students’ eyes were opened to the huge importance of agriculture to the New Zealand economy, and how each of them might find a career within the primary industries.”
Digital Technology came to life for Year 12 students when they took part in a Level 2 standard at Unitec’s Mt Albert Campus, learning how to build a smart home device that is operated via the Internet using another smart device. They also built a mobile robot that could avoid obstacles with the help of ultrasonic sensors.
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ACADEMIC NEWS
Outdoor
EDUCATION Outdoor Education students got out into the bush, into whitewater and on their bikes through Terms 2 and 3. Year 10 students made a day trip to the Waitakere Ranges to walk the 8km Montana Heritage Trail, Year 11 completed a three-day tramp from Piha to Whatipu and up to the Mt Donald McLean summit, Year 12 completed a 3-day Rogaine in the northern part of the Waitakere Ranges, using maps to navigate between checkpoints, and also went on a camp to the Blue Mountain Adventure Centre in Raurimu where they went whitewater rafting, caving and mountain biking. Year 13 students took on a four-day Rogaine Tramp in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park near Te Aroha, competed in the 12-hour Day Night Thriller mountain bike race at Cougar Park in Tokoroa, and completed the 48 Hour Solo Experience at a rural property near Auckland. Solo is intended to further develop an individual’s
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self-awareness, self-esteem, self-confidence, responsibility and motivation. Students are given a designated area to remain within, establish a shelter and spend 48 hours in solitude. They each receive a workbook consisting of individual reading, writing and reflection tasks. It is both mentally and emotionally testing, and should help each student further consider their own values and provide them with a time to set their goals, which displaying environmentally responsible and sustainable practices. Head of Outdoor Education Mr Darren Whitehead says the various trips help students put into practice what they learn in the classroom regarding preparation, safety management and factors influencing participation, while building the students’ confidence and skills.
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PERFORMING ARTS
Junior Bytes and Arts Alive Award-winning performances by singers, dancers and actors made the annual Junior Bytes and Arts Alive concerts highlights of the school year. Many of the items chosen for the showcase had won prizes at Auckland and New Zealand competitions earlier in 2017, including Year 9 Drama student Ollie Blyth’s performance in a scene from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the Jazz Band’s rendition of Folau A Sii Tamai Ofa, and the Mega Crew’s original hip hop dance. Junior students presented their show on 26 September and Seniors the following evening, both at the Centennial Theatre in Epsom. Each was a showcase of the best performances of the year from subject assessments and public offerings. They included singer-songwriter Jenna Ackerman, who won the People’s Choice Award in the Auckland Smokefree Rockquest, and was named among the top 10 in New Zealand; the Moon Stars Chamber Group, which won a national award for an original composition; and a modern-day interpretation of a scene from Shakespeare’s King Lear, for which Arien Okan won Best Student Director and Best Set Design at the Auckland Sheilah Winn Festival. The ever-popular Prefects’ Dance added a fun element to Arts Alive. Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm presented our top Performing Arts students with Junior Arts Badges and the Senior Arts Lions at the conclusion of each show.
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PERFORMING ARTS
MUSIC CONCERT
“A Night of Classics” was the theme of the MAGS’ Music Concert of 2017, and an appreciative audience was treated to traditional and original pieces in a variety of genres that spanned several centuries. Held at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre on 4 July, Head of Music Ms Milica Zjajic-Moon and Music teacher Ms Loata Mahe conducted the Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra respectively through works by composers including Vivaldi, Mozart and Quincy Jones. Performances by the Headmaster’s Choir Ad Augusta and Pasifika group Lost Groovement were interspersed with songs by the MAGS Jazz Band, singer-songwriter Jenna Ackerman, and the award-winning chamber music group the Moon Stars. One of the surprises of the night was a performance by Tyran Talamaivao of the Russian song Black Eyes, his rich bass voice projecting the song perfectly. A number of teachers and Albertians performed with the students, and Albertians also attended the concert to revisit their musical roots. The evening finished on an upbeat note with a performance of the contemporary classic Never Gonna Give you Up by the Concert Orchestra, accompanied by vocalists Billy McColl, Salote Fiuloi, Cyprus Taumaoe, Vaimoana Va’ai and Aysha Blanchard. Ms Zjajic-Moon commended the artists of all 25 items for their dedication to rehearsal and performance, and she in turn was applauded for staging another impressive concert.
Unity Concert
More than 200 students celebrated the cultural diversity of Mount Albert Grammar School at the 2017 Unity Concert, held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre on 27 July. An audience of more than 700 enjoyed performances by groups representing the cultures of Tonga, India, China, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Korea and Japan. MAGS’ Kapa Haka group performed a selection of the pieces they presented at this year’s Polyfest, which the other cultural groups may attend every second year. 30
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Arts Co-ordinator Ms Jacqui Cesan said the Unity Concert is held in alternate years to MAGS’ wider participation in Polyfest to encourage all our cultural groups to prepare for the biggest high school Polynesian festival in the world. “They have to earn the right to attend Polyfest by showing the Unity Concert that they are organised and
can perform to a high standard,” says Ms Cesan. “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. It was a joy to see the pride with which students displayed our varied cultures to the wider community.” THE LION
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PERFORMING ARTS
Smokefree Rockquest finalist Year 13 singer-songwriter Jenna Ackerman was one of 10 solo/duo performers selected for the final of the 2017 New Zealand Smokefree Rockquest.
Symphony Orchestra leaders Anton Aish and Anvilly Huang, who both play cello, and Jazz Band leader Billy McColl, who plays piano/keyboard and timpani, with their groups’ certificates.
In June, Jenna won the People’s Choice Award in the Auckland division of the competition with an original song performed using only a loop pedal. She then had to prepare a 20 minute video of original songs for possible selection for the New Zealand finals. In past years Jenna has won the Auckland Women’s Musicianship prize, the Apra Lyric Award, and come 2nd and 3rd and the solo/duo category.
Theatresports Award
KBB MUSIC
FESTIVAL
Zoe Holden and Dan Bell were named Theatresports Student Leaders of the Year at the Auckland Theatresports Youth Programme Festival on 22 September. This is the second year in a row that MAGS students have won the award, as voted by TYP tutors and mentors. MAGS’ Head of Drama, Mr Gerald Urquhart, said the tutors remarked on the culture of Theatresports at MAGS and the respectful and welcoming leadership style of Zoe and Dan.
MAGS’ musicians did the school proud at the KBB Music Festival, with the Jazz Band winning Silver and best performance of a New Zealand work, the Symphony Orchestra winning Bronze, and Chamber Orchestra also scoring a Bronze. The Jazz Band’s New Zealand performance piece was written and performed by Salote Fiuloi, Lavinia Fiuloi and Tuiaki Fiuloi, who are current students at MAGS. The Symphony Orchestra was put together only in February this year and grew to 48 students within six months. To win Bronze at their first outing at KBB is impressive. The Chamber Orchestra won Bronze award for their performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, Emma Moon’s NZ composition Serbian Dance, Saint Saens’
Danse Bacchanale and Mozart’s Piano Concerto K414, with Gary He, in Year 12, the piano soloist. Symphony Orchestra conductor Ms Loata Mahe said, “All the students made our school proud - the magic moments we shared together on stage were priceless.” Since 1983, the KBB Music Festival has been showcasing the best in secondary school orchestras, concert bands and stage bands in Auckland. More than 135 groups take part from more than 50 schools across the Auckland region.
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Mt Albert 871 New North Road 09 846 9197
Dan Bell and Zoe Holden with other members of the MAGS Theatresports group. FROM LEFT: Seamus Stalker, Ella Brislen and Logan Allomes.
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PERFORMING ARTS
YEAR 12
Shakespeare Season Year 12 Drama classes staged a Shakespeare Season of two plays over four nights from 26-29 June. The Tempest and A Comedy of Errors were performed in the Drama Room before a live audience. Former Head of Drama Dr Lilicherie McGregor said the themes of The Tempest still resonate in today’s world – dictators plotting to depose family members who threaten their power, colonisation, and magic. Three plots of power takeovers were played as tragedy, parody and comedy. In A Comedy of Errors Shakespeare combined adventure, the comedy of human folly, romance, and suspense in a play that was both clever and original and still popular today. It moved at a furious pace, with the comedy revolving around the constant mistaken identity engendered by having two sets of identical twins in the same place at the same time. Dr McGregor and Drama teacher Ms Jessica Rigold praised the students involved in the performance and behind the scenes.
YEAR 10 & 11 AT
ALBERTON
Year 10 and 11 drama students used historic Alberton and the stories of the family who lived there to devise scenes for performances for a Level 1 assessment. Former Head of Drama Dr Lilicherie McGregor says groups of students chose characters from the family tree of the Kerr Taylor family, who lived at Alberton for 109 years. The students then devised scenes suited to their chosen room in the house, with a theme relevant to the period. Stories included a son eloping with a servant, the family’s involvement in the suffrage movement and a sister’s memories of working as a nurse in the war. A volunteer from Alberton visited the students during rehearsals to tell them about attitudes and etiquette during that time in history. Period costumes were hired from the Playhouse Theatre in Glen Eden, and the scenes performed before a live audience which moved between rooms with the actors. Dr McGregor was pleased with the “high standard of consistency between the groups’ performances.” She extended the school’s thanks to Alberton for hosting the programme.
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PRIZEGIVINGS
INTERNATIONAL FOOD & Culture Evening An annual highlight on the MAGS’ International student calendar, the 2017 Food & Culture Evening was held in the FW Gamble Hall on 7 August, and was enjoyed by students, homestay families and staff, including Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm. Many of MAGS’ 170 International students took part, bringing dishes of their national cuisine for the shared dinner, and performing on stage. Dishes included those from Thailand, Vietnam, China and India. Performances included dances by Chinese and Japanese groups, and a solo effort by Chinese student Yuanmeng (Angel) Zhang. International Director Ms Jude Lydia said the evening was a wonderful celebration of Mount Albert Grammar’s International student body.
Service Lions Ceremony The Service Lions of 2017 were awarded at a special Service Assembly on October 20. This year’s guest speaker was Mr Pio Terei, the actor, comedian and public speaker who has been awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Entertainment. Mr Terei, pictured with Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, Head Boy Denzel Robertson and Head Girl Jaimee McLaughlan, talked to students about how giving service could be
rewarding in itself. He spoke of working at the Parenting Place after the loss of his son, 17-year-old Teina, to leukaemia last year, and how being around the love and kindness of others had helped his family cope with their grief. “If you can help other people you gain a richness that can’t be measured in money,” said Mr Terei. Students were awarded the Lions for services to the performing arts, visual arts, the library, technology, Pasifika, School House and the wider school community.
YEAR 11 PRIZEGIVING Adam Bateman and Takunda Muzondiwa received the top awards at the Year 11 Prizegiving in the FW Gamble Hall on October 28. They were named the Best All-round Boy and Girl. Karla Akeli received the Jo Williams Cup for Diligence, and Eli Margison was awarded the Robert Willmott Memorial Prize for Quality of Effort. Adam won the Warwick Gibbs Cup for having already achieved NCEA Level 1 with Excellence, gaining a Sports Lion for Orienteering, in which he represented New Zealand at the World Schools Championships in Italy, also playing Football, performing with three school orchestras as a cellist, being a member of Students Against Dangerous Driving and completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award at Silver level. Takunda won the Brian Murphy Cup for having already achieved NCEA
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Mr Patrick Drumm with the winners of the Best All Round Girl and Boy, Takunda Muzondiwa and Adam Bateman (right). At left is Eli Margison who won the cup for Quality of Effort, and Karla Akeli, who won the prize for Diligence.
Level 1 with Excellence, being involved in a number of Arts and Service groups including the Headmaster’s Choir and the Interact fundraising group, becoming the student representative on the Board of Trustees, playing Lacrosse for the school and completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award at Silver level.
The prizegiving ceremony, attended by prizewinners’ parents, also honoured students who had come first in a subject. It included a speech by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, a performance by Year 11 classical guitarist Sophie Rippon, and a tribute to departing Year 11 Boys Dean Mr Gareth Hodges. THE LION
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PRIZEGIVINGS Victor Ludorum Isaac Munro and Victrix Ludorum Maddy Gordon with Headmaster Patrick Drumm and Guests of Honour Taylah Hodson-Tomokino, Kyle Harris, Karl Te Nana and Isaiah Papali’i.
SPORTS AWARDS Maddy Gordon was named Victrix Ludorum and Isaac Munro, Victor Ludorum, at the 2017 Sports Prizegiving Dinner at Alexandra Park on October 25. The Team of the Year was Premier Boys Softball, and the boys’ and girls’ awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sport were presented to Orienteer Mitchell Cooper and Swimmer Brearna Crawford. Maddy received her award for excellence in Athletics, Netball, Swimming, Volleyball and CrossCountry. She was also the joint winner of Senior Girls Athletics Champion with Grace Jale. Isaac Munro was named Victor Ludorum for his success with the Premier Boys Softball Team, winning the top Skiing award, and excellence in Swimming, Waterpolo and Rugby. The Premier Boys Softball team won the NZSS title for the fifth consecutive year this year. Mitchell Cooper represented New Zealand at the World Orienteering Championships in Italy and came 6th. Brearna Crawford, still only in Year 10, has won multiple Gold medals in a number of Swimming competitions in New Zealand and Australia, while setting new Auckland and New Zealand records. Guests of honour were Albertians Kyle Harrris, Taylah Hodson-Tomokino and Isaiah Papali’i, who were interviewed as a panel on stage by Commonwealth Games gold medallist and MAGS parent Karl Te Nana. Kyle Harris is a Premier Rugby referee, was named Auckland Sevens Referee of the Year this year and in November will officiate at the Dubai Sevens. 38
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Taylah is a BMX champion, has represented Samoa on the World Rugby 7s Series circuit, and works part time for Sky Sport between university study. Isaiah went straight from Year 13 last year to a contract with the Warriors, having won the award for New Zealand First XV Player of the Year after helping MAGS win the 2016 New Zealand championship. Former NZ Rugby Sevens player Karl Te Nana won a Gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, is now known as a commentator for Sky Sport, and has a daughter in Year 10 at MAGS. The group shared memories of their time at MAGS, and how the school has prepared them for success in their careers. Their comments followed on from those in the speech by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, who said the school’s primary focus was in “growing good people.” “Sport provides us with the opportunity to set a broad values base to build character, discipline and other skills that can be transferred to the classroom. We expect our students to
Headmaster Patrick Drumm with Boy and Girl Dux Artium Oliver Mathiesen and Jenna Ackerman.
use their success in the sporting arena to fuel their academic endeavour.” Departing Director of Sport Mr David Long was farewelled in a speech by former Associate Principal Mr Paul McKinley, who returned from his new role as Principal of Glenfield College to pay tribute to his long-time colleague. Mr Long, who has been Director for a combined total of 17 years, and his wife Chris, who has worked at MAGS for six years in the Advancement Office and as a Mathematics teacher, were praised for their dedication to serving the school, and the lengths they have gone to in helping students reach their potential. Blue Caps were presented to 47 students who had won Premier Auckland or New Zealand titles, and 32 Black Caps to students selected to represent New Zealand. Following the awards to the top members of each sport, there was acknowledgement of four students who had played at Premier level for all of their five years at MAGS – Swimmers Katherine Grozev and Flynn Oberdries, Footballer ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Athlete Paige Witehira.
Orienteer Mitchell Cooper and Swimmer Brearna Crawford won the awards for Outstanding Achievement for their international success.
Members of the winning Moon Stars Chamber Group, Anton Aish, Emma Moon and Hannah Houghton.
Arts Awards Oliver Mathiesen and Jenna Ackerman were named the Boy and Girl Dux Artium of 2017 at the MAGS Arts Dinner on November 3. Drama student Arien Okan performed a scene from The Tempest.
Pasifika dancer and prizewinner Lausapai Nikoro
Oliver Mathiesen with Drama teacher Ms Jessica Rigold, who was given a farewell gift as she moves on to a new role.
Grace Popplewell won the Senior Art Cup and a prize for Excellence in Design
Held at Sorrento in the Park, the evening included performances by Jenna, singing one of her original songs, actor Arien Okan, who performed a scene from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Pasifika dancer Lausapai Nikoro, a video compilation of dance performances from throughout the year, and a stunning music video made by Year 12 Media Studies students Billy McColl and Jacob Reynolds-Muir. Director of Arts Ms Jacqui Cesan said in announcing the Duces Artium that both students had impressed from Year 9 with the breadth of their abilities across the arts, and their commitment to supporting the department and their fellow students. Oliver excels in Dance as both a performer and choreographer, and has received received awards both inside and outside of school. He also received awards this year for Drama and Photography, and last year was a joint winner of the Most Talented Film Maker Award in Media Studies. Jenna has received numerous school and external awards as a singer-songwriter, reaching the top 10 in the national finals of the Smokefree Rockquest this year. She received MAGS Best Female Actor Award this year, and also excels in Media Studies. Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm spoke about how the Arts formed the soul of the school, providing a means of expression for performers and engagement for their student audiences at assemblies and school events. He thanked staff for their dedication in helping MAGS’ talented Arts students to reach their potential. THE LION
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PRIZEGIVINGS
Year 13 students farewelled at
Leavers’ Dinner Pasifika Celebration Dinner MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged and celebrated at the annual Pasifika Celebration Dinner on October 26. Vaimoana Va’ai won the Year 13 Award for Academic Excellence, and William Sharkey was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Boy. Vaimoana, Fia Jones and Head Boy Denzel Robertson were announced as having won University Scholarships for 2018. The Year 12 Academic Excellence award went to Roselynne Va’ai, who was also named Best All-Round Year 12 Student, and Excellence Awards were made to Tara Pickering and Rosarina Pillissi. Elijah Manu was named Top Year 12 Pasifika Boy. The Year 11 Academic Excellence Award went to Hannah Jones with Excellence Awards to Theresa Anisi, Kalyah Atai and Siana Vagana. The Top 11 Pasifika Boy was Nathan Su’a Chang; the Best All-Round Students in Year 11 were Maraea Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Aka Bloomfield. The Best All-Round Pasifika Students for 2017 were Deputy Head Girl ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Aaron Fa’asalafa. The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for Services to the Performing Arts went to Liam Akeli and Vaimoana Va’ai for their achievement and service in Music, Drama and Dance. The Pasifika Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards were Javvier Pitovao for Rugby League and ‘Alosi Bloomfield for Football.
Year 13 Dean Ms Katie McColl with the Top Year 13 Academics, Vaimoana Va’ai and William Sharkey.
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The evening included speeches by Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm, guest speaker Inspector Fata Willie Fa’anene of the Waitakere Police, and Head Boy Denzel Robertson. There were performances by the Samoan Girls’ Cultural Group and Cook Islands dancer Lausapai Nikoro, and the Year 13 Taualuga. A special tribute was paid to Mrs Siutu Ah Kuoi, who has been involved with MAGS for 47 years through her children and grandchildren.
The Year 13 students of 2017 had one last chance to dress up and celebrate together at the annual Leavers’ Dinner, held at the Alexandra Park function centre on October 30. It was a happy, relaxed evening, full of humour and a few tears as students prepared to go their separate ways. Head Prefects Jaimee McLaughlan and Denzel Robertson gave their final speeches, their words tailored for their fellow students. Year 13 Deans Ms Katie McColl 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. Ms McColl’s speech had an added touch of poignancy as she is leaving Mount Albert Grammar to take up a position at another school. Jaimee and Denzel gave her a gift as a special farewell. Each student received a Graduation certificate and was welcomed as an Albertian by Mr Dale Griffiths of the Albertians’ Association, and Form classes came together with their Form teachers one last time for a photo. Headmaster Patrick Drumm wished the students’ well for the future, assuring them the school had prepared them well for life beyond MAGS.
Mr Drumm with the Best All-Round Pasifika Students, Aaron Fa’asalafa and ‘Alosi Bloomfield.
Mrs Ah Kuoi with her family, which includes four former Head Boys of MAGS.
Year 12 Academic winners from left, Roselynne Va’ai, Elijah Manu, Rosarina Pillissi and Tara Pickering.
Year 13 Girls’ Dean Ms Katie McColl and Boys’ Dean Mr Kerry Baker were warmly farewelled by the students they had accompanied through the students’ five years’ at MAGS.
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PRIZEGIVINGS
SENIOR
Prizegiving The Mount Albert Grammar School Girl Dux and Boy Dux of 2017 are Harshita Nayyar and Lucas Peterson. They are pictured at left with Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm.
The Proxime Accessit awards went to Yusi Gao and Eamon Campbell.
The school’s top academic students were named at MAGS’ Senior Prizegiving ceremony in the FW Gamble Hall on October 30. It was attended by parents, staff, members of the Board of Trustees, representatives of tertiary scholarship providers, and former Headmasters Mr Greg Taylor and Mr Maurice Hall. Mr Drumm presented an annual report on the progress of the school and students, Head Prefects Jaimee McLaughlan and Denzel Robertson gave speeches about their time at the school and what they have gained from their time here, and performances were given by the Headmaster’s Choir, Ad Augusta, and singer Jenna Ackerman. Among the tertiary scholarships awarded were two by Albertian Mr Chris Liddell, a former executive of Microsoft, General Motors and Xero and now an advisor at the White House. The Chris Liddell Scholarships are each worth $5000 per year for three years and are granted to students who show strong academic potential and are also good all-rounders. This year’s recipients were Aidan Cullen and Jaimee McLaughlan. The top teaching awards were also presented. Pasifika Initiatives Co-ordinator and English and Music teacher Ms Va Anisi received the Herb Towers Travel Prize for a professional development trip overseas. Mr Liddell also awards Teacher Scholarships worth $5000 each for excellence in teaching and contribution to the school, and these went to Mr Bryn Corkery (Acting Head of Visual Art), Ms Henrieta Kajanova (Mathematics teacher), Ms Shelley Mackinlay-Milne (Dean of Year 11 Girls and Social Sciences teacher), and Ms Robina Nisha (Science and Biology teacher).
The Best All-Round International Students were Qiyue (Rita) Cai and Taiki Ando.
Nadine Hidalgo won the Yevette Williams Cup for Effort for Year 12 Girls.
Kenneth Zhu and Julia Robinson won the awards for Service to the School and for Best Typifying the Spirit of Mount Albert Grammar.
Anton Aish and Hannah Houghton were the Best All-Round Year 12 Boy and Girl.
Liam Thompson won the Hanson Cup for Senior Progress and Endeavour.
PREFECTS OF 2018 The week after Prizegiving, the list of Prefects for 2018 was released. The Head Prefects and their Deputies will be named at a later date. Congratulations to the 33 students listed below: Jaimee McLaughlan and Oliver Mathiesen were named Year 13’s Best All-Round Girl and Boy.
Mr Drumm with Ms Va Anisi (right) who won the Herb Towers Award for a professional development trip overseas, and the four winning teachers of the Chris Liddell Scholarships for Excellence in Teaching, from left, Mr Bryn Corkery, Ms Henrieta Kajanova, Ms Shelley Mackinlay-Milne and Ms Robina Nisha.
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Clarke Aiono, Anton Aish, Liam Akeli, Max Brooke-Cowden, Catherine Butler, Vincent Cudmore, Liam Grozev, Allie Hawksworth, Gary He, Nadine Hidalgo, Hamish Holst, Hannah Houghton, Fatima Imran, Amelia Jack, Waiana Jones, Holly Kara, Janelle Kara, Denzel Kelemete, Eric Lee, Billy McColl, Victoria Marsh, Isaac Munro, Arian Okan, Terrell Peita, Rosarina Pillissi, Abigail Roache, Connor Roulston, Shalin Shah, Maisy Simpson, Phoebe Sullivan, Liam Thompson, Roselyne Va’ai, Lucy Zhang.
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Winter
TOURNAMENT WEEK
Gold, Silver and Bronze for MAGS Fencing: Coach Mr Kyle Macdonald with MAGS’ Mixed Epee teams, who claimed all three spots on the podium at the NZSS Championships in Wellington.
More than 200 students in 15 teams across 10 codes represented Mount Albert Grammar School at events throughout the North Island during the 2017 Winter Tournament Week from September 4-10.
Highlights from the results were a clean sweep of medals for our Mixed Fencing teams, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze at NZSS in Wellington. James Butler also won Silver in the Individual Boys’ Epee, and Matthew Valkenburg won Bronze. International student Sam Scaglioni from Italy won Bronze in the Boys’ Foil. Delighted Coach Mr Kyle Macdonald said MAGS was called ‘an epee factory’ by others at the championships, and he was extremely proud of his team. In Trampolining, Year 10 student James Dougal won Gold in the Junior Boys Elite division and was selected to represent New Zealand at the World Championships in Bulgaria in November. Jack Jones won Bronze in the same category (both pictured below). Our Girls’ Football team made the NZ final for the 5th year in a row, having won the previous four, and this year narrowly lost to St Kentigern College in a penalty shoot-out after drawing 4-4. Our Netball team also narrowly lost their North Island final 38-39 to the same school.
Basketball MAGS’ Premier Boys’ Basketball team played beyond expectation to win Bronze at the 2017 NZSS Championships in Palmerston North on October 7.
MAGS congratulates all our athletes who represented the school with commitment and pride. Results are as follows:
Basketball Premier Girls (Regionals): 3rd • Basketball Premier Boys (Regionals): 5th • Fencing (NZSS): Mixed Teams: Gold, Silver and Bronze • Men’s Individual: Silver and Bronze • Men’s Foil: Bronze • Football Boys (NZSS): 22nd • Football Girls (NZSS): 2nd v St Kent’s (6-7 on penalty shoot-out after 4-4 draw) • Hockey Boys (NZSS): 31st • Hockey Girls (NZSS): 6th • Lacrosse Girls (NZSS): 5th • Lacrosse Boys Team 1 (Ak tournament): 2nd v Rosmini • Netball (NISS): 2nd v St Kent’s (38-39) • Rugby League (NZSS): 7th • Rugby U15 Colts (NZSS): 12th • Trampolining (NZSS): Gold for James Dougal and Bronze for Jack Jones in the Junior Boys Elite division. James has been selected to represent NZ at the World Champs in Bulgaria in November • Underwater Hockey (NZSS): 10th. Long-time manager Sandra Kemp was awarded a trophy for outstanding service to the sport by NZUWH. 46
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On the way to their medal the team caused an upset win against multi-title winning Westlake Boys, and was the only team in the Top 8 to have no New Zealand representative players. They won Bronze after beating Christ’s College 72-62 in the playoff. Captain Mandela Baledrokadroka was named in the prestigious Tournament Team, marking him as one of the best players in the country. Team manager, Mr Elliot Moka, said the team’s self-belief never flagged, and despite going into the top games as underdogs, MAGS played with spirit, confidence and character under pressure. “Without any big names, the players relied on team work and heart where all members contributed positively to the end result,” said Mr Moka. “The team exceeded all expectations and can be justifiably proud of their third-place finish.”
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Duathlon and Road Running MAGS’ Under 14 Girls Duathlon team won Gold at the NZSS Championships, held at Pukekohe Motorsport Park on August 6, while our Under 16 Girls took out Silver and Bronze. Pictured with their medals are, from left, Holly Bannister (Bronze), Lili Tse (Silver), and the Gold team of Chloe Innes and Venetia Wilson. The Under 14 Girls’ race comprised a 2.25km run, 11km bike ride and another 2.5km run; the Under 16 Girls’ completed a 2.25km run, 14km ride and another 2.25km run. In June two Senior Boys teams won Silver and Bronze at the AKSS Duathlon Championships at Pukekohe Racetrack. The event required the teams to run 4.5km, bike 17km and then run again for 2.25km. Connor Roulston and Liam Thompson (far left and second from left) won Silver, while Harry Thurman and Nicholas Sykes took Bronze. At the AKSS Road Running Championships, held at Bruce Pulman Park in Takinini on 19 September, Hannah Houghton won Silver in the 4km Under-16 Girls race. Luke Clements finished 6th in the Under-14 Boys race, also held over 4km, and Ella Speight finished 11th in the same race as Hannah. More than 250 runners from across Auckland entered the competition’s various age events.
FREE dentistry for MAGS Students until their 18th Birthday
We welcome all MAGS family members. Receive 10% off the first consultation! Book online: thompsondental.co.nz/book-online or call us 09 6208066. 377 Mt Albert Road.
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Football Seven MAGS footballers helped the NZ Women’s Under 20 squad qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in France by winning the Oceania Championship held in Auckland during the July holidays. Year 13 students Grace Jale, ‘Alosi Bloomfield and Nicole Mettam reunited with former team-mates Jacqui Hand, Deven Jackson, Malia Steinmetz and Samantha Tawharu to help the Kiwi team to a clean sweep of high-scoring victories against Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Caledonia. At the NZSS Championships in Taupo, the First XI Girls had an epic battle against St Kentigern in the final, eventually losing by one penalty kick, 7-8, after drawing 4-4 after extra time. MAGS was pleased to make the NZSS final for the fifth year in a row, having won the previous four.
The key difference between the teams in the final this year was experience – St Kent’s had six Year 13 students doing the traditional walk out onto the field prior to playing their last game for their school, while our squad only had three: Maisy Dewell, Grace Jale and Lily Taitimu. Sadly, ‘Alosi Bloomfield’s surgery prior to tournament prevented her from playing. It was a match between a very young MAGS side and the experienced squad of St Kent’s, who had already won the Auckland League and Auckland Knock-Out Cup this season. The game was played at high intensity with the score see-sawing through the match. The MAGS girls never gave up, and it’s a credit to these young players that they came so close to taking the championship for a 5th consecutive year. They can be confident that they will be back in 2018 to once again fight for the New Zealand title. THE LION
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Hockey The First XI girls battled hard all season, and the injection of some young talent gave the team a boost when it needed it. Finishing 8th in the Auckland grading competition gave MAGS entry to Supercity Tier 2 for the second year in a row, giving them the opportunity to play the top Auckland and North Harbour schools. MAGS grew in confidence with each game, and made the final against St Mary’s. Although MAGS went down 0-1, their 2nd placing was their best yet. They also achieved their best ever result at the NZSS Championships in Whangarei, coming 6th. The First XI Boys team had a tough season as only three players returned and the majority of the team had to step up from the Under 15s. After competing in the top Supercity grade last year and winning their tournament, this year they had to battle through and then travel to Hamilton to play in the Rankin Cup tournament against the top schools in the country. Again, this was a big learning experience. MAGS played some good hockey to achieve a win over St Patrick’s College. The Second XI had their best season in a number of years, going undefeated through the round robin and qualifying 1st for the playoff. They faced a strong Western Springs College, and a hard-fought 3-3 draw was a fitting result for two evenly matched teams. Final result: 1st equal in the Auckland C-Grade Championship. The Under 15 Boys team marched into the final of their A grade competition, but couldn’t defend the title they won last year, going down to King’s College 1-3. It was a great effort considering most of last year’s team had stepped up to the First XI.
Karate Young karate champion Brady Henry added to his medal cabinet when he won Gold at the Auckland Regional Karate Championships in the Boys’ 12-13 year age group in the premier kumite division. Brady, in Year 9 at MAGS, has been learning karate since the age of 7, and representing New Zealand since he was 10. He is a 1st Dan (Black Belt). Among his many other achievements so far are Gold medals at the Oceania Championships in 2014 and 2016, and a Bronze medal at the Karate Commonwealth Tournament in Canada in 2013.
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Lacrosse MAGS Premier Boys’ Lacrosse team made the final of the 2017 AKSS Championship, having progressed through the Auckland Central pool unbeaten. They put up a valiant fight against favourites Rosmini College at Rosmini’s home ground on September 29. Although Rosmini prevailed 8-10, MAGS pushed them hard and for a while were ahead. Team manager Mr Neil Harrison said the match was a physical encounter which the boys enjoyed. “MAGS can hold their heads high – it was a true team effort with each member taking responsibility
for their role and backing their team-mates with positive comments under some trying situations. “The MAGS boys earned respect from the opposition, who said after the game that MAGS was the toughest team they played all year.” Mr Harrison thanked the coaches, who did an outstanding job preparing the boys, some who were new to the game this year.
Netball MAGS’ Premier and Year 10 Netball teams won their divisions at the 2017 Combined Points Tournament, held at the Auckland Netball Centre on August 2. The Year 9 team made it to the Quarter-Final. The Premier team beat a talented Howick side 20-11 in the final, while the Year 10 team overcame St Kentigern College 18-9. Later in the season the Premier side narrowly lost the AKSS Championship final to St Kentigern 36-38, and the NISS final to the same school 38-39. At NZSS they finished 6th. THE LION
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Swimming MAGS’ Swimming representatives brought home a haul of medals through the 2017 season, with outstanding Year 10 competitor Brearna Crawford leading the way. At her first meet of the season in the July holidays, Brearna broke two Auckland Breaststroke records, adding to the nine Auckland and five New Zealand records she had set in the preceding nine months. At the AKSS Individual Championships on August 6 at West Wave, the team won nine Gold, nine Silver and nine Bronze, with Brearna bagging four Gold in the 100m Butterfly, Breaststroke, Freestyle and Individual Medley (IM). Vasilina Shipilova won two Gold in the 100m Breaststroke and IM, Alida Seits won the 50m Backstroke and Butterfly, and Michael Chapman won the 50m Freestyle. At the Auckland Winter Swimming Championships held at West Wave on September 9-10, Brearna won nine Gold medals and set two New Zealand and Auckland records in Butterfly. Vasilina Shipilova won a Silver and two Bronze in
Rugby Former Lion and All Black meet First XV Former Lion Brian O’Driscoll and former All Black Justin Marshall visited MAGS on 25 June to run the First XV through some training drills. Brian is an ambassador for Lions partner Land Rover, and was touring New Zealand with the company making videos of life on the road with the Lions. He wanted to meet a grassroots Kiwi rugby team, and which better than the then reigning New Zealand First XV champions? Justin Marshall accompanied Brian as a representative of Land Rover’s sponsorship of First XV rugby on Sky Sport. The pair met with MAGS’ Director of Rugby, Geoff Moon and his assistant coaches Kerry Baker and Carl Perry. They observed the First XV having a warm-up training, then ran the boys through some drills and shared some advice. Geoff Moon said the school was honoured to host two legends of world rugby, and the coaches and team appreciated them making the time to visit.
14 selected for Blues squads A total of 14 MAGS rugby players were selected for the Auckland Blues Under 17 and Under 18 Development squads to undertake training camps. Six MAGS boys were chosen for the Under 18 squad - Deputy Head Boy and First XV Captain Jack Casey-Pickering, John Latu, Harley Maynard, Patrick Pati, Terrell Peita and Oliver Shepherd. They took part in a five-day camp at MAGS and the Blues High Performance Centre at Cornwall Park over the July holidays. MAGS’ Head of Rugby, Mr Geoff Moon, said the boys were fully integrated with the Blues team to give them a taste of life as a professional player. They received position-specific advice from regional coaches, and education in technique, 52
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Breaststroke and Individual Medley, Eva Williams won a Silver and two Bronze in Backstroke, and Michael Chapman won a Silver and a Bronze in Butterfly. At the NZSS Championships in Hamilton from 15-17 September, Brearna won 8 Gold, 1 Bronze and set a new Auckland record in the 50m Butterfly. Michael Chapman won Silver, and George Smith, Tony Tua-Tagaloa, and Vasilina Shipilova each won Bronze. To round off the season, Brearna won Gold in all 10 events she entered at the NZ Short Course Championships in Auckland from October 2-7, also setting three new New Zealand records and 5 new Auckland records. George Smith won 2 Silvers and Bede Aitu won Bronze. Not surprisingly, Brearna (pictured right with coach Mr Paul Kent) won an armful of trophies at the 201617 Auckland Swimming Awards for versatility and excellence, particularly in Breaststroke.
Xterra MAGS’ Xterra Running Squad have won the Teams Championship title for the second year in a row after winning all six races in the competition.
Former All Black Justin Marshall
tactics, mental skills, nutrition, and the responsibilities of being a professional athlete in areas such as social media. At the end of the week they played the Waikato Chiefs’ Under 18 side, winning 41-17. Four MAGS players were chosen for the Blues Under 17 squad in July – Tommy Baker, Kahurangi Morehu, Damien Naufahu and Soane Vikena, they attended a one-day training session. In October, Joel Cobb, Luka Klubien, Dylan Moon and Soane Vikena were selected for the Blues 17s Development Squad from players from throughout Auckland, North Harbour and Northland. The boys will attend training camps in December and January at the Blues base in Epsom.
Events were held from May to September in forests and regional parks around Auckland, including Riverhead, Shakespear, Waiuku, Totara Park and the Hunua Ranges. The Teams Challenge was contested by 25 teams, and by the end of the series the MAGS squad led by more than an hour. A number of individual students also won overall places in various race distances: Hannah Houghton: 1st U20 6km Holly Bannister: 2nd U20 6km Kendra Smith: 3rd U20 6km James You: 2nd U20 6km Ben Campbell: 3rd U20 6km John Stirling: 4th U20 6km Holly Chaafe: 2nd U20 12km Jack Cavanagh: 2nd U20 12km Hasan Pathan: 4th U20 12km Other team members were Tayla Bamber, Luke Clements, Liam Grozev, Pamela Kearney, Ayleigh Loomes, Danielle Stirling, John Stirling, Liam Thompson, Harry Thurman, Hannah Zwalue. THE LION
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NEW ZEALAND
Cricket
SELECTIONS AND AWARDS In addition to those noted in the July issue of The Lion, the following selections and awards were made in Terms 2 and 3
Year 10 student Adithya Ashok won the AKSS award for Bowler of the Year following his haul of 14 wickets during the Term 1 One-Day competition. The leg spinner’s top score was 4/41 against Rosmini College. Adithya’s efforts helped MAGS win the Auckland T20 Championship. MAGS’ Director of Cricket, Mr Tony Sail, said it was unusual for such a young player to receive an award of this calibre. First XI Captain Katene Clarke was selected for the New Zealand Under 18 team.
Katene Clarke
Adithya Ashok
Baseball Ayrton Laird represented New Zealand in the NZ Baseball Under 18 team that competed in the Oceania Championships held in Sydney from 18-21 January. New Zealand came 2nd to Australia.
Basketball Clarke Aiono and George Peyroux were selected for the Samoan Under 17 Men’s team. They competed at the FIBA Oceania Championships in Guam in July. Riana Rangi was been selected for the New Zealand Women’s Under 18 Basketball team. The team played in the final of the FIBA Under 17 Oceania Championships in Guam against Australia. Although New Zealand came 2nd, they still qualified for the FIBA Under 18 Asian Championships in 2018. Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Tessa Talo-Tomokino were selected for the New Zealand Under 17 Basketball team. Sharne was also selected for the New Zealand Premier team to play UC Berkeley from California at the North Shore Events Centre on 13 August. The New Zealand team featured the country’s best women basketballers and coaches.
Clarke Aiono
Football George Peyroux
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‘Alosi Bloomfield, Maisy Dewell, Grace Jale and Nicole Mettam were selected for the New Zealand Under 20 Women’s Football team that won the Oceania Championship, qualifying for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in France in 2018. Maisy was also selected for the NZSS Girls Football team to travel to Singapore in September. THE LION
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Rugby League Javvier Pitovao and Kayal Iro were selected for the New Zealand Under 18 team. Javvier, a Prefect and Captain of MAGS’ Rugby League First XIII, Captained the New Zealand team to a 28-10 win over a team of Kiwi players based in Australia. They were also selected to play the Australian Schoolboys side, and for the NZSS team to play a New South Wales Schools team during the October holidays. The Kiwi team won both matches against NSW, 44-4 and 52-6, with Kayal scoring a try and Javvier being instrumental in setting up a number of others. Samuel Kamu and Uenuku Malesala were selected for the New Zealand Under 17 Maori Rugby League team.
Lacrosse Reese Jacques and Georgia Houston rejoined their 2016 team-mates Georgia Carter and Rachel Adams in the New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse Under 19 team to compete at the World Festival Tournament in England during the July holidays. Reese was also selected for the New Zealand Under 19 team to travel to Melbourne later in the year. Jackson Bramley, Izaak Glynn, Kaveen Hanthi and Zane Harrison were selected for the New Zealand Under 18 Men’s Lacrosse team.
Javvier Pitovao
Kayal Iro
Samuel Kamu
Uenuku Malesala
Touch
Alayna Kamuhemu
Antonio Wulf
Kayne Mave
Alayna Kamuhemu, Kayne Mave and Antonio Wulf were selected for New Zealand Touch teams, Alayna in the Under 16 squad and the boys in the Under 18 team.
Underwater Hockey
Rugby First XV Captain for 2018 Terrell Peita was selected for the New Zealand Under-18 Maori Rugby team to play the NZ School Barbarians in Palmerston North and the Tonga Schools team in Porirua in October. 56
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MAGS’ longtime manager of Underwater Hockey, Ms Sandra Kemp, was awarded a trophy for her Outstanding Service to Underwater Hockey by the New Zealand Underwater Hockey Association at the conclusion of this year’s NZSS Championships in Tauranga. Ms Kemp, who is a Learning Support teacher at MAGS, has been involved in the sport for 13 years, and led the MAGS programme for the past eight years. In that time, MAGS teams have won Auckland titles, and last year our Premier Boys team won Gold at NZSS. Ms Kemp’s two sons, Logan and Danyon, are Albertians who went on to represent New Zealand in Underwater Hockey, and have coached for MAGS. THE LION
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MAGS FOUNDATION
FINE ART SHOW 2017
The annual Mount Albert Grammar School Fine Art Show continues to go from strength to strength, this year making a profit of $84,000, a 26 per cent increase on last year. A portion of the total will provide much needed support to upgrade the audiovisual system in the FW Gamble Hall, the heart of the school through which every student passes each week at assemblies and other events. The remainder of the funds will be put to use in other areas of the school, including funding an Artist in Residence programme in the Visual Art Department. About 500 people attended the soldout Gala Opening on Friday, August 18, and hundreds more visited the show during the free-entry weekend to view and purchase from the collection of more than 1000 paintings, prints, glass, 58
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ceramics, sculptures and photographs. MAGS’ talented student artists are once again an integral part of the show, with small and larger works on display and for sale. Co-Chairs of the Fine Art Show Committee, Ms Lucille Peters and Mr Ken Fairgray, thanked parents, students, staff and the wider community for making the show such a success. “To us, the show embodies the MAGS values, in particular excellence and inclusiveness,” said Ms Peters. “We wish to acknowledge the many parents who contributed to the success of the show, from the core committee of 10, to the show volunteers who this
year numbered over 50, those who donated raffle prizes, student prizes and sponsorship, and everyone who attended the show. Your generosity will benefit the school for many years to come.” Mr Fairgray said as well as being a major fundraiser and showcase for the school, the Art Show is a way for parents to engage with MAGS and with each other. “This year’s show benefitted enormously from the skills and dedication of our new Year 9 families – it’s wonderful to see how the show has fostered a growing community of parents.” THE LION
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Parent-Daughter Breakfast
Mount Albert Grammar School has launched a new annual appeal to raise funds for siginficant projects and specialist teaching staff.
MAGS hosted its first Parent-Daughter Breakfast in the Atrium of the Maurice Hall Building on August 24. One hundred and fifty guests attended the event, where they received a buffet breakfast and were entertained by the MAGS Strings group.
Headmaster - Patrick Drumm
Called Annual Giving, it offers parents, alumni and members of our community the opportunity to help give the school financial security to provide the best environment and teachers for our students. MAGS sincerely thanks those who have already donated. Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm says the demand for a MAGS education has never been higher, and the pressure that places on our building and teaching resources has never been greater. “Despite being a State School we can no longer rely on the Government to provide solutions to fundamental challenges we face as a growing school,” says Mr Drumm. “We need to
Following breakfast, media personality and Year 9 parent Ms Petra Bagust gave an entertaining presentation. Petra’s daughter Venetia has two younger siblings, also on their way to MAGS. Tim Kay, Director of Advancement, MAGS Foundation, said, “The inaugural Parent-Daughter Breakfast was a huge success and will now become an annual event on the school calendar.”
find new, additional ways to provide for our current students, and prepare for our future. Annual Giving aims to enhance the educational experience of our students, and continue to ensure they receive the very best opportunities available through our academic, sporting and cultural programmes.” Once each year we invite you as a member of our school community to support MAGS with a special donation. Each year at the same time we will get in touch to check that you would like to continue giving, and whether you would like to vary the amount. The Annual Giving Appeal differs from the annual School Donation in its purpose. The School Donation tops up the school’s day to day operational costs in areas of classroom supplies and equipment not fully funded by the Government. Funds collected through Annual Giving will be put
Personal Details
Address:__________________________________________
Dr Goodey attended MAGS from 1952-1956, being named Dux in his final year. He is best known for his world-leading research and treatment of hearing problems, including pioneering cochlear implants and tinnitus research. In his 50-year career Dr Goodey was instrumental in establishing a database of deaf children in 60
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the Auckland region, and set up New Zealand’s first ear, nose and throat medical and surgical training programme. He has been President of a number of medical organisations, including the New Zealand Medical Association, and is still involved in teaching at Auckland Medical School and in a number of hearing research foundations.
toward more substantial costs, such as new buildings, facilities and the employment of specialist teachers. The Annual Giving Programme will be administered by the Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation - the fundraising arm of the school. Enquiries can be directed to the Director of Advancement, Mr Tim Kay, at tkay@mags.school.nz or phone 09 815 4034. To donate, please fill in the form below and post back to:
MAGS Foundation Alberton Avenue Mt Albert Auckland 1025 If you would like to donate online, please visit the school website at www.mags.school.nz and search for ‘Annual Giving’. Thank you for supporting the school.
Type of gift
Donor’s Name:_____________________________________
Dr Ron Goodey, CNZM, was inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School Hall of Distinction in a ceremony at School House on November 30.
MAGS FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
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If donating by cheque, please make it out to the Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation and post to Alberton Ave, Mt Albert, Auckland 1025.
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Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation ASB Bank, Mount Albert: Account Number: 12 3029 0432660 00 Reference: Initial and surname Code: AG
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Aaron Booth
ATHLETICS
Liam Jordan
Cole Evans
Jack Goodhue
Aaron Booth (2010-2014) won Bronze in the Decathlon at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei. In doing so he set a new personal best total of 7523 points, to finish behind Kyle Cranston of Australia on 7687 and Juuso Hassi of Finland on 7566 points. Athletics New Zealand team manager Mr Craig Motley said that the Athletics community was immensely proud of Aaron's achievement in a truly world class field. “Medals at this level are hard to come by, but Aaron demonstrated what perseverance, preparation and hard work can achieve." Aaron was MAGS' 2014 Senior Athletics Champion. He won numerous Auckland and New Zealand medals during his time at school, including a Silver and two Bronze at his final NZSS Championships where he was named Best All-Round Athlete. Between training, Aaron is now studying for a Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying) at Massey University in Albany.
CRICKET Aniket Parikh
Brett Randell
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Malia Steinmetz
Aniket Parikh and Brett Randell have been signed for domestic cricket contracts for the coming season. Aniket (2011-2015) will play for the Auckland Aces; Brett (2008-2012) will turn out for Northern Districts. During their time at MAGS, Aniket was awarded Best Bowler, Best Batsman and Best All-Rounder, and was awarded the inaugural Crowe Family Scholarship for tertiary study; Brett was awarded Best Bowler and Best All-Rounder. Both have since played in the New Zealand Under 19 team.
FOOTBALL
Malia Steinmetz (2015-2016) was named in the Football Ferns squad to play two games against the United States in September, the World No. 1 side and defending World Cup Champions. Although the 20th-ranked Kiwis lost their games against the US in Denver and Cincinnati, the tour was valuable experience as they build towards the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Malia earned her first senior international cap in the Cyprus Cup in March. Liam Jordan (2012-2013) was selected for the national team of his home country, South Africa, following in the footsteps of his father, the late Keryn Jordan, who also played in New Zealand. Like Keryn, Liam is a striker who competed in the COSAFA Castle Cup against other African nations in June. He has already played at national Under-17 and Under-20 level, and represented the latter at the recent FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea. Liam boarded at School House and was a star of our First XI during his time at MAGS.
RUGBY
MAGS’ 2013 Head Boy Jack Goodhue was named in the All Blacks squad to tour France, Scotland and Wales. Jack was picked in the midfield pack, following his call-up to the wider squad as injury cover during the British and Irish Lions tour earlier this year. Jack went straight from MAGS’ First XV to a contract with Canterbury in the ITM Cup in 2014. In 2015 he and his twin brother Josh, who was First XV Captain in their final year at MAGS, helped the NZ Under 20 team win the Under 20 World Cup.
CORRIDORS
ALBERTIAN NEWS
ALBERTIANS IN SPORT
This season he returned to his home province of Northland for the Mitre 10 Cup, and played for the Crusaders in the Rugby Championship. He scored a try in the Crusaders’ 25-17 victory over the South African Lions in Championship final. The All Blacks northern-hemisphere tour runs from November 5-26, beginning with a match against the Barbarians before games against France, a French XV, Scotland and Wales. Mitre 10 Cup: Nearly a team's worth of Albertians were named in Mitre 10 Cup squads for the 2017 competition. The Auckland team featured 2016 First XV member Caleb Clarke, who this year helped the NZ Under 20 team win the Under 20 World Cup, and 2015 Albertian Samuel Slade, with MAGS' Director of Rugby Mr Geoff Moon as Assistant Coach. The Northland team featured no fewer than nine Albertians: Michael Faleafa, twins Jack and Joshua Goodhue, Blake Hohaia, Josh Larsen, Matt Matich, Jaycob Matiu, Ropate Rinakama and Howard Sililoto. Alex Hodgman played for Canterbury.
SOFTBALL
Cole Evans (2011-2015) was part of the Black Sox Softball team which won New Zealand’s 7th world title at the World Softball Championships in Whitehorse, Canada. The Kiwis beat Australia 6-2 in the final. Earlier Cole scored a hat trick of home runs in the Black Sox’s 8-1 win over Denmark. Still only 19, he’s been named as one of the New Zealand team’s “brightest prospects”. During his time at MAGS, Cole helped the Premier team to 3 straight NZSS wins. MAGS has gone on to win 2 more consecutive championships, making us 5-time New Zealand title holders. THE LION
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CORRIDORS
CORRIDORS ALBERTIAN NEWS
Author and poet CK Stead receives a prize, thought to be in 1949.
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Old Boys’ reunion, 1930. Nearly 400 Old Boys attended.
From the Archives
Sports Dinner, 2003.
THE HALL
The FW Gamble Hall is the heart of the school, particularly at the end of the year as students of all year levels and their parents gather for prizegivings. Here, MAGS Archivist Brian Murphy looks back through the history of this "storehouse of memories". The Mount Albert Grammar School Hall was not part of the original build. Assemblies were taken in corridors. The Headmaster stood at the intersection of the main north/south corridor and the southern east/west corridor and boys stood in both for prayers and notices. Some said, in later life, that they only ever saw the Headmaster in profile. The contract for the construction of the Hall was let in mid 1925 and it was formally opened on 11 March, 1926, by the Minister of Education, Sir James Parr. The Albertians of 1926 reported in its Editorial: “Notable among the dreams realized is the Assembly Hall, that vision for which we yearned so long and which now that it is in use contributes so much 64
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to the unity and harmonious working of the school.” And the Headmaster, Mr Frank Gamble, in his Annual Report said: “Only those who are intimately connected with the work of a school can realise fully what such a hall can do towards the attainment of the esprit de corps which must be the characteristic of a sound secondary school. Especially with growing numbers the attempt to inculcate the proper ideals would be supremely difficult without this central rallying point. It will take some time to get the boys to appreciate the dignity of this hall and the respect which is due to it. But already a step forward has been taken, and I have clear visions of the time to come when this hall will be to boys a storehouse of memories and the inspirational point of loyalty and honour.” An arresting architectural feature of the Hall is the hammer beam roof. The first hammer beams were added to Westminster Hall in 1393. Since then many, mostly less elaborate versions can be found in many halls in England. Under the gallery, or mezzanine,
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are several artifacts of a previous use. There were heavy curtains that could be drawn across the galley front for the purpose of showing motion pictures. A 16mm projector was mounted on a high stand, the curtains were drawn and a large heavy stiff screen was slotted into two wooden blocks. A section of the curtain rail remains as do the blocks. The curtains also served as a backdrop for taking sports photos. When the Hall was opened in 1926 gold lettered names went back to 1922 so that lists of Prefects, Masters and Sports Captains would be complete. Over the years many of these lists have weathered well. Some have not. One such was the Hockey First XI Captains. Owen Haywood, captain in 1954, paid to have the list restored. The photograph (4) taken in August 2010, shows Owen pointing to his name. The pendant lights in the hall are not the original ones. The photograph (1) shows one of the original fixtures. The drawing by Russell Hughes appeared in The Albertian of 1966 and featured two of the original pendant lights.
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There were also sconces which were torch-like. None of these appear to have survived. In the early days of the School a trophy cabinet was built against the back wall. It can be seen in the photograph (3) showing an assembly, with staff sitting either side of the Headmaster. At the time of the Golden Jubilee (1972) a more elaborate structure was built. A section of the back wall was pushed out to make an arched recess and a high Honours Board was erected. This was a gift to the School by the Old Boys’ Association. The Board honours scholars with international reputations, boys and girls of the School who have won a significant number of modern scholarships, and sportspeople who have represented New Zealand at the highest level. In the middle is a heavy sculpture by the renowned carver Arnold Wilson who was Head of Art at the time. Each piece is different, yet the whole forms a circle. It is a metaphor for the School, unity in diversity, e pluribus unum. In 1991 the Mount Albert Grammar
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The Rev. Tony Ross conducted the funeral service for Albertian and former MAGS teacher Ron Hemus, August 2008. Others on the stage were Headmaster Dale Burden, Head Prefects Carl Perry and Abby Manley, and Albertian Alan Burton, who delivered a eulogy.
School Old Boys’ Association erected a plaque outside the Hall, renaming it the F.W. Gamble Memorial Hall. The Hall is a memorial to others, too. All the members of the staff who died in office have a plaque in the Hall. The first was David Wilson Fell who died on 17 January 1925 as the Hall was being built. He was 26 years old and had an Honours degree in history. His obituary ends with: “Mr Fell took a keen interest in ‘Varsity affairs, was a popular figure in tennis, hockey and music circles and had made himself deservedly popular throughout the School.” Another memorial is the annual ANZAC service. The first was in 1957. A few days before the service the photographs of the fallen are displayed around the Hall. The photograph (2) shows Graham Burgess MNZM, who was a Warrant Officer in Bomber Command in World War II, remembering his fallen comrades. The photographs are housed in a restored cabinet which is located in the wall recess under the Arnold Wilson sculpture.
Over the years, the Hall has been used for many other events; formal and informal, grave and joyous, as well as more than 15,000 assemblies and annual prizegivings. There was an annual Prefects’ Ball, and regular dramatic and musical performances. There have been years of group photographs as well as funeral services, dinners, powhiri, reunions, cocktail parties and other party events, commercial events, tests and examinations. Some examples are shown in the images on these pages. Albertians regularly visit the hall to see their own name, those of their boyhood comrades or the name of a deceased relative. They come in contemplative mien, some with wistful smiles, some moved to tears. The prescient Headmaster Gamble was correct when he predicted in 1926 that: “… this central rallying point … will be a storehouse of memories …”.
Brian Murphy
ARCHIVIST THE LION
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Albertian news Trophy given new lease on life One of Mount Albert Grammar School's most significant trophies has been given a makeover by the family who first presented it 46 years ago. Mr David Hanson (1958-1963) visited the school in September to return the trophy to Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm in time for this year's Senior Prizegiving. The Hanson Cup is awarded annually to a Senior student who has shown exemplary Endeavour & Progress. Mr Hanson is one of six brothers to have proudly attended Mount Albert Grammar between 1954 and 1972 – his siblings are Andrew, Robert, Peter, Mark and the late John. Their mother, Mrs Betty Hanson, MBE, served on the Grammar Schools' Board of Governors. The brothers engaged in many activities at MAGS, including hockey, swimming, lifesaving, athletics, the Rifle Club, Artillery and Air Training Corps. Two were Prefects and one was Head Boy. All pursued tertiary training and education, including one to Cambridge University in England. All have excelled as entrepreneurs, and lived around the world, but return to MAGS for Albertian gatherings whenever they can.
The refurbished trophy has gained a square wooden base, added to its original circular base, bearing sterling silver plates with enough space to hold winners' names for another 200 years. The front and rear plates bear the original Lion 'badges' awarded to Robert and David in 1960 and 1961 respectively.
LIONS OF 2017
Farewell and good luck to our Year 13 students
KEY DATES 2018
Ryan Cory-Wright at MIT Ryan Cory-Wright (2010-2013), who left MAGS at the end of Year 12 to begin an Engineering degree at Auckland University, has been accepted to MIT near Boston to study for his PhD. MIT is ranked among the top universities in the world, and its Engineering school is often ranked first. Ryan has begun the first year of his five-year PhD in Operations Research, a field focusing on making better decisions using maths, programming and algorithms which can be applied to a variety of industries. In Ryan's final examinations with MAGS he gained Outstanding Scholarships in Calculus and Statistics and a Scholarship in Physics, and was named an NZQA Outstanding Scholar for 2013, one of the top students in the country. While at Auckland University, he was named in the Dean's Honours list from 2014-2016, gained a Senior Scholar Award in 2016 and a NZ Operations Research Centre Young Practitioner Prize.
Three attain Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards Three former students received their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards from the Governor-General at a ceremony held in Auckland on July 9. Virginia Megson and Hannah Rahman (both 2012-2016) attended with their families. Matthew Milner (2007-2011) also completed his Gold Award and was working overseas. The Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy presented each student with their award and had a chat about what they had done to in order to achieve it. In her speech, Dame Patsy said “This award ceremony is well deserved recognition for a challenge completed … 66
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22 January Monday Senior Leadership Team meeting 23 January Tuesday Senior re-enrolment: 1pm-3pm New Staff Induction 24 January Wednesday Senior re-enrolment: 9am-3pm New Enrolments’ Catch-up Testing: 9am Peer Support Training 25 January Thursday Staff Administration Day Peer Support Training
there’s a great feeling of satisfaction that the moment has finally come when all the hard work and time spent has paid off.” Achieving the Gold Award is a huge achievement, taking at least a year of commitment to serving the community, meeting new challenges and working with others.
26 January Friday Staff Administration Day 29 January Monday Auckland Anniversary Day
TERM 1
30 January Tuesday Year 9 students only start school 31 January Wednesday Full school in 5 February Monday School closed 6 February Tuesday Waitangi Day 30 March - 3 April Friday-Tuesday Easter 13 April Friday End of Term 1 (11 weeks)
TERM 2
30 April Monday Start of Term 2
4 June Monday Queen's Birthday 6 July Friday End of Term 2 (10 weeks)
TERM 3
23 July Monday Start of Term 3 28 September Friday End of Term 3 (10 weeks)
TERM 4
15 October Monday Start of Term 4 22 October Monday Labour Day
2018 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Auckland Anniversary Day Monday 29 January Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February Good Friday Friday 30 March Easter Monday Monday 2 April Day after Easter Monday Tuesday 3 April Anzac Day Wednesday 25 April Queens’s Birthday Monday 4 June Labour Day Monday 22 October
6 December Thursday Junior Prizegivings End of Term 4 (8 weeks) THE LION
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