DECEMBER 2020
Back to Back SQUASH BOYS DEFEND NATIONAL TITLE GOLD STANDARD Five top Duke of Ed awards
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SENIOR PRIZEGIVING
Academic makes history
PERFORMING ARTS EXCELLENCE Two stars of stage and screen
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Mount Albert Grammar School Alberton Avenue Mount Albert Auckland 1025 Ph 09 846 2044 www.mags.school.nz The Lion is the official magazine of Mount Albert Grammar School
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Editorial and advertising inquiries to editor Graham Hepburn communications@mags.school.nz ph 09 846 2044, x 8236 Cover photo: MAGS’ NZSS Champion Squash Team is (from left) Tarin Love, Riley McCracken, Mason Smales, Jack Conder (Captain), Max Conder and Jaeswan Kwan Photo: Martin Sykes
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Designed & printed by ICG
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Contents 4-5
18-25
46
6-8
26-27
47-50
9-11
28-36
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12-17
37-45
From the Headmaster School News Community Academic News
Performing Arts School Ball
Prizegivings
MAGS Foundation Corridors – Albertian News Key dates
Sport
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Resilience rewarded I am delighted to present to you the Summer Edition of The Lion for 2020 – a year that has provided so much challenge for us all. Yet the pages that follow bear testament to the resilience of our MAGS community.
Lindsay Weir Photo courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library
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Despite the truncated nature of the school year, our students have managed to triumph over adversity and go on to enjoy so much success. Recent weeks have seen the school gather together to celebrate these
We’ve all been reminded of what really matters in a school. Despite the signifcance of opening two new buildings – the William Caradus Building (our new Science Block) and the GL Weir Indoor Sports Centre – we have never lost focus on the ‘building of people’ as our primary role at MAGS. Culture is carried by those people in our school – or more specifically in the spaces between people... the interactions, those teaching and learning moments, the words that cross between spaces, the hand that reaches out to bridge the gap to help or serve our fellow human being. But again, Covid has dictated that those spaces and the distance between people have had to be increased this year. It has made it so much harder to function as a community of people as we have known it in the past. But we have done just that and our culture has not only remained intact, but been strengthened. I am very proud of our MAGS young people. Our students have restarted their year again, and again. Yet their perseverance has seen them achieve a level of excellence that at one stage we thought wouldn’t be possible this year.
successes. Despite the FW Gamble Hall sitting empty for large parts of 2020, we have once again been able to sit shoulder to shoulder as a community. We have certainly been the envy of many other countries across the world.
William Caradus
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FROM THE HEADMASTER
The students on our front cover typify a group that has battled through the odds. The Squash Boys Premiers (pictured right) headed to Tauranga in early August to defend their National Secondary Schools Squash Title. An outstanding team effort saw them once again lift the trophy for the second year in a row. At the time little did anyone know that they would return victorious to Auckland as the city went into its second lockdown for three weeks! Congratulations to these champions who were also named MAGS’ Sports Team of the Year. The success of our students both inside and outside of the classroom has been driven by an incredible teaching staff. I know I speak for all staff in saying nothing truly prepared us for the 2020 school year. There wasn’t a paper at Teachers’ College called ‘Pandemic Teaching 101’! But our teachers created solutions as they moved through the challenging online learning environment. The energy, vibrancy
and collective wisdom of a classroom full of young people will never be replicated via a video link. Passion for a subject or context is difficult to transmit through a screen and the real-time rapport and feedback from students we thrive on in a classroom setting
is impossible to replicate remotely. Yet our staff remained committed to this somewhat uncomfortable teaching medium, ensuring learning was personalised as much as possible so our young people would not be disadvantaged.
And it was the re-opening of schools that was a precursor to restarting and reopening the rest of the country. That took some courage from our staff – particularly due to schools on Alberton Ave being centre of many of the COVID stories this year.
So, as we look back on a most unusual year, we can take much satisfaction from what we did manage to achieve. Academic success has again been to the fore and we congratulate all of our premier award winners, particularly Boys Dux Matthew Somerville and Girls Dux Caitlin Mitchell (pictured right). It has been a year for building resilience and from that comes great confidence for the future. Thank you to all in our community who helped us navigate our way through 2020. We emerge stronger for it and are well set as we approach our 100th year as a school. Merry Christmas Per Angusta Ad Augusta Patrick Drumm THE LION
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GEOFF MOON TRIBUTE
MAGS commemorated the immense contribution to school life of former School House Director and 1st XV coach Geoff Moon by unveiling a plaque in his honour in the FW Gamble Hall on October 14. At an intimate ceremony – at the request of Geoff’s family – Headmaster Patrick Drumm paid tribute to Geoff, who passed away suddenly early last year. Mr Drumm said that Geoff was a dedicated and inspirational educator who had made a big impact on the school in his six years here. He said unveiling a plaque to Geoff was part of a school tradition of honouring serving staff who had passed away, and “Moonie is now a permanent part of our whare”. Geoff’s plaque has the motto ‘Culture produces results’, and Mr Drumm said those words drove Geoff’s approach to his teaching, coaching and mentoring through his time at MAGS and when they worked together at Aorere College. Mr Drumm also introduced the Boys Choir, under the direction of Terence Maskell, who performed Sons of Gallipoli in Geoff’s honour, saying that, being a music lover, Geoff would have loved the tribute. Mr Maskell also spoke at the ceremony, recalling his years at Aorere College with Geoff and the debt of gratitude he owed him. He asked if Geoff could get some of his rugby players to sing in the Aorere choir, and soon it became a tradition that the 1st XV players joined the choir because Geoff could see the value in the culture and teamwork of a choir. Mr Maskell said the choir became such a big part of the 1st XV that the coach would watch their practices and use that to inform his choice of team captain. Speaking for the family, son Dylan said Geoff would have loved all the fuss over him – he would have tried to be humble about it but would have been taking photos of the plaque and showing it off. He thanked the school for the tribute and all it had done for the family.
Geoff Moon inspiring his team.
Geoff’s wife Angela with children Sean, Dylan and Jess at the plaque ceremony.
PASSING OF JOHANNA MCHARDY During the October school holidays, MAGS was saddened by the loss of former teacher Johanna McHardy, who passed away after a long illness. Mathematics teacher and colleague Michael Walden recalls, “Johanna was a teacher at MAGS from 2002 to 2014 with the rare ability of being able to harness the talent of every student that was lucky enough to be taught by her. “Her innovative teaching nearly always saw her doing things ‘her own way’ as she was not afraid to break with teaching norms at the time. This approach meant that many positive changes were made that still resonate through the Mathematics Department today. “She was the champion driver of our accelerate and Scholarship mathematics programmes and is still the primary reason for our consistent success at the national level. Her dedication to the creation of resources and inspirational mentoring has helped many teachers, even stretching beyond
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the MAGS community. “Former Headmaster Dale Burden often referred to Johanna as a ‘Rockstar of a Teacher’, which would be fitting given the number of national teaching awards she had achieved through her short teaching career, yet Johanna never seemed to enjoy the limelight. “She epitomised the meaning of service, always putting others before herself. During her time at MAGS, Johanna showed outstanding commitment to many areas of school life, including passionately leading the MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly) and Amnesty International groups; she led these initiatives not just with words, but by her selfless actions. “At her funeral service, we learnt about how Johanna’s leadership extended to a global scale; her family detailing the work she had done with Oxfam, which saw her direct our Air Force to send over three containers worth of water pumps to East Timor following their move to independence, benefitting the lives of thousands of people. “Even amid the years of treatment she had faced, Johanna was still using her talents to serve others, volunteering her time to tutor mathematics in Mt Eden Prison just to name one example. What a woman!”
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mony.
Year 12 student Leilani Ginnen has been elected as the new Student Representative on the Board of Trustees. Leilani said, “I am very much looking forward to working with the members of the Board of Trustees and making a difference as the representative of the student voice. “I wanted to be on the Board of Trustees to speak on behalf of the wide range of views, beliefs, and concerns that exist within the
SCHOOL NEWS
New BOT Student Representative diverse student body at MAGS. I am also interested in learning about the processes and decision-making that goes on behind the scenes that determines the way in which our school runs. “While on the Board, I would like to engage in activating change where needed to improve the experiences of students at MAGS, so all students can feel empowered to participate as fully as I have been able to.” This year, Leilani is studying Painting, Chemistry, English, Health, Calculus and History. Her extracurricular activities include the Pasifika Council, Komiti Faufautua, and the Health Committee. “When I leave MAGS I hope to study Law and Psychology at university, while also studying visual arts and continuing painting.”
FAOLAN CLEANS UP AT EUREKA! AWARDS Congratulations to Prefect Faolan Okan, who cleaned up at the Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards, collecting $15,000 worth of prizemoney and Scholarships – and taking home the People’s Choice Award. Faolan won: • The Ministry for Primary Industries Gold Scholarship ($5000) • The Federated Farmers New Zealand Gold Scholarship ($5000) • Highly Commended for being in the top four in the finals ($5000) He was one of 12 national finalists – along with Albertian Shalin Shah (below right, who was also Highly Commended) – chosen to deliver a presentation about how an application of science or technology will benefit New Zealand.
Faolan and Shalin talk to Justice Minister Andrew Little at the awards.
His video presentation was about using biodigestion to produce a sustainable gas supply. Faolan, who is also a talented film-maker and dancer, said that talking with the judges afterwards, they told him that the science in his presentation was strong but it was the fusion of artistic influence and creative direction that complemented the science to create a truly convincing story that anyone could understand. Last year, Faolan made the finals and won a Department of Conservation internship for his presentation about wastewater treatment. THE LION
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YES
AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to Coco Skincare, who won the ‘Excellence in Business Management’ award at the YES (Young Enterprise Scheme) Regional Awards held on October 19. Coco Skincare is made up of MAGS students Talisa GanSetu (CEO, pictured centre front), Jazz Singh (Marketing Manager, middle rear), Thomas Brooks (Communications Manager, left rear), Chhaya Patel (Production Manager, left front) and Carlos Roldan (Finance Manager, right rear). YES is an experiential, “hands-on” programme whereby students set up and run a real business activity of their choice. Sixty-nine teams competed in the central Auckland region for the YES regional awards. To be eligible, students had to develop an innovative product, produce it, promote it and sell it over the course of the year. Business Studies teacher Miss Carwardine (pictured with the students) said, “2020 was a particularly challenging year with Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns. Despite these disruptions, Coco Skincare persevered. Having identified a significant gap in the skincare market for young males, their team of five developed a customised, organic ‘All in One’ liquid showering product; one that reflected their diverse cultural backgrounds (Samoan, Indian, Maori and Filipino). “Congratulations to them for reaching out – beyond the confines of the classroom – to engage with their community, and to compete on a regional and national level with schools throughout the country.”
ROCKET LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
After falling short in the Grand Final last year, MAGS Pureial gained redemption by winning this year’s Meta High School Esports Oceania Rocket League. They beat Australia’s Yarra Valley High 4-1 in the Grand Final on October 10 to claim the title. Three of this year’s team competed in the Grand Final last year, held in Melbourne, but came up short against Unley High. Captain Drew French credits the addition of Luka Jeremic with making the difference this year, with Luka being named MVP in the Grand Final. The team won the Oceania Rocket League Champions trophy and got $400 computer monitors for their efforts. MAGS Pureial had to fight hard to overcome Westlake Boys High School in a best-of-seven series to make the championship round, and went on to beat Sydney’s Canley High School then Darwin High School to make the Grand Final.
Pictured with TIC Jack Su are (from left): Lewis Duguid-Jones (SavageLewis), captain Drew French (DarthDrewbie), Noah Banks (Arky) and Luka Jeremic (Applecrash).
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LIFE
This year the Relay for Life was initially postponed to October but was later cancelled due to the second lockdown. Despite COVID-19 interrupting plans for the original overnight event, the MAGS team still managed to raise a huge amount of money to go towards the Cancer Society. This year’s grand total raised by the MAGS community was $65,392, making MAGS the top fundraiser yet again. Money collected during Mufti
COMMUNITY
Relay for
Day on March 6 raised $3934 and also contributed to this total. Relay for Life TiC Alayna Pulham said, “This money helps provide free nursing, psychology, accommodation, transport and other key services to people in our community affected by cancer. This year, 31 students raised over $500 and will receive a ‘Superhero Buff’ for their massive contribution, and 135 students reached the $200 goal. Again, we had over 300 students sign up for the event and together every contribution counted.” Relay for Life ran an online event, with a virtual remembrance ceremony for those who have passed away with cancer on October 17.
CAN DRIVE FULFILS MISSION
Over several weeks leading up to mid-September, the Interact Committee collected about 1070 cans and packets of food donated by staff and students for the Auckland City Mission. Pictured with the results of the Can Drive are (from left) Interact President Shaye Coxon, with Vice Presidents Isla Thompson and Bailey Bennett. The City Mission picked the food up on September 21 and it went towards the more than 20,000 emergency food parcels they supply annually.
We are within walking distance of MAGS and provide the choice of centre-based or online tuition. Since 2009 KTL Tuition has successfully tutored many MAGS students and helped them to improve their grades
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Peace Week The centrepiece of this year’s Peace Week – from August 3-7 – was an arrangement of stars that were hung in the Library on Monday in line with MAGS’ theme of ‘We All Sit Under the Same Stars’. This school-wide activity involved Junior form classes decorating a star, given to them by the Counselling team, to represent the diversity in their class whether that be cultural, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability, etc. The decorated stars were then suspended from the steel rafters in the Library. Senior students, mainly art students, created smaller stars to hang with them as well.
Library staff also created a display in the foyer in line with the national Peace Week theme of ‘Celebrating Diversity’. There were also chalk drawings of Snakes and Ladders in the Caradus Quad throughout the week, and two students – Sonia Airehour and Ryan Shen – as well as TIC Becky Woodall (pictured right) – performed Spoken Word poetry at lunchtime in the Library.
Pink SHIRT DAY MAGS’ Senior students and staff joined the Pink Shirt Day movement on October 16, spreading the message about working together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting positive social relationships. Students handed out pink ribbons and stickers to reinforce the importance of creating a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or cultural background. The theme for Pink Shirt Day in Aotearoa was ‘Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!’ Pink Shirt Day is led by the Mental Health Foundation and supported by various agencies, with any money donated going towards free activities, resources and merchandise for schools, workplaces and communities to make Aotearoa a kinder, safer place for everyone.
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Congratulations to Sharnah PascoeScouller, who was named St John’s Regional Cadet of the Year (RCOTY) for the Northern Region in early September. Two weeks prior she was named one of the region’s six District Cadets of the Year vying for the honour of being RCOTY. Sharnah says of her RCOTY selection: “I had to create a presentation on wellbeing/ mental health and how I would use my leadership position to support cadets. As a part of this, I went through a range of interviews and team-building exercises showing how I can work in a team and what skills I have to prove I deserve the role.
“As I’m currently District Cadet of the Year (DCOTY), I finish my DCOTY term for this year and then start my RCOTY term on January 1. “As a part of my role as RCOTY, I have to support cadets and be a positive role model and leader for them. I currently have blue aiguillettes on my uniform from being DCOTY, but I will switch to silver ones in 2021 when I start my role as RCOTY.” Sharnah is working towards getting her Grand Prior, which is signed by the Queen and awarded by the Governor-General, and is the highest award in the St John Youth program.
COMMUNITY
ST JOHN YOUTH AWARD
Duke of Edinburgh Golds Congratulations to Year 13 student Caitlin Mitchell, who has joined Head Boy Eric Shen in achieving the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award this year. To gain the Gold Award, participants must learn a skill, improve their physical wellbeing, volunteer in their community, experience a team adventure in a new environment and complete a residential project. Caitlin’s physical recreation is karate, her skill is guitar, her service is in conservation projects, her adventurous journey was an expedition in the Nelson Lakes National Park, and her residential project was Space Camp in the USA. Eric was awarded his Duke of Ed Gold in February.
His physical recreation is karate, skill is piano lessons and performance, service is piano tutoring, adventurous journey an expedition in the Kaimai Ranges, and his residential project was also Space Camp in the USA. The Duke of Edinburgh programme challenges young people in goal-setting, leadership, organisation and self-improvement. These awards were presented by the GovernorGeneral on November 18 at a special ceremony. Along with Eric and Caitlin, Claudia Saunders, Georgia Sinclair and Lydia Finch, all from 2019, also received their Gold awards. Eva Williams (2019) has also completed her Gold award.
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Health and
PHYSICAL EDUCATION Our Year 12PE Performance classes competed in a Tough Guy/Gal Challenge held at MAGS in mid-Septmber due to the cancellation of the official Auckland event. This event aimed to test their performance at the end of a six-week training programme to complete the 6.5km course – mostly around the ASB MAGS Farm – in the quickest time possible. The event proved a real physical challenge with hilly terrain plus jumps and obstacles thrown in. But there were some notable times overall, with Luke Clements cleaning up with a time of 27:55mins for the boys and Amelia Caltaux with a time of 36:58mins for the girls. PE Teacher Andrew Scaife said, “There were also some notable dress-ups among the competitors which really lifted the spirit of the event and all will have a fantastic memory of this day, looking back as they reflect on this year. “A big shout out, also, to all the helpers and marshals that were essential to the event’s success.”
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ACADEMIC NEWS
FUTURE Pathways Expo Once again, the annual Future Pathways Expo on August 4 exceeded the expectations of both exhibitors and attendees. Careers Administrator Jan Connor said that due to the strong support we are now getting from our school community, exhibitors are wanting to provide more interactive and visual displays to give our students the best that they can when visiting our Expo. The Expo, spread over the two floors of the MH Building, featured information and advice from universities and training organisations, as well as interactive displays, faculty and subject rooms, NCEA information and advice from Deans. Mrs Connor said, “For the last two years I have been getting approached by more providers, who hear of our Expo and want to join – so I expect we will be seeing more diversity with us next year.
“From the start of the evening, we had a steady stream of parents and students that was sustained throughout. Numbers were close to 3000, from not only our own school, but also our neighbouring Marist College family.” She added, “Acknowledgement of the following needs to be made: the Security Team, who managed traffic and parking; the Ambassador Team, who not only set up the Expo rooms but also assisted our providers with their gear, got them set up, kept them hydrated (making tea, coffee and providing water) and fed, plus being willing ushers on the Expo floor.”
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MATHEMATICS
On October 28, MAGS had four teams of junior mathematicians participate in the annual Auckland Mathex competition at Barfoot & Thompson Stadium in Kohimarama.
Year 9 A team – Felix McElwee, Owen Frear, Alistair Clarke, Hector de Mornac Year 9 B team – Sam Carryer, Felix Armstrong, Jacob Miller, Eved Ah Soon Year 10 A team – Anatol Coen, Jay McElwee, Jules Webb, Harris Clow Year 10 B team – Matthew Radcliffe, Oliver Tang, Emil Hinchliff, Liam Spencer Mathematics teacher Mr Walden said, “The students were very excited to be able to attend this event, given it usually occurs earlier in the year. All teams performed
competitively and represented our school wonderfully.” Both Year 9 teams scored the maximum 100 points; our A team came seventh and our B team came eighth, scoring 100 two seconds before the hooter. Mr Walden said, “Well done to Eved for running that last and toughest lap at searing pace! Only eight teams out of the 84 entered achieved a score of 100, so these results were very impressive.” The Year 10 competition also proved very challenging, with only three teams out of 87 scoring the elusive 100 points. Our A team scored 95, placing them fourth-equal with two other schools. “The boys got stuck on 60 for some time, before recovering and powering through the last questions. I’m told they needed
40 seconds more to get the 100,” said Mr Walden. “If I recall correctly – I got lost in the hype – our B team scored 85”. On October 30, MAGS senior mathematicians competed at Calcex, aiming to keep their unbeaten run going. MAGS has won all three events since the competition started. Due to COVID-19 and the timing of the event this year, there was only the one local competition held, with a select number of East Auckland schools taking part as well as MAGS. Our Year 13 team made up of Caitlin Mitchell, Junjian Zhang, Tri Tran and Alex Pullen came 1st equal with Macleans College on 70 points at the final buzzer. Unfortunately, MAGS went on to lose the title on the tiebreaker question.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION YEAR 10 KAYAKING To conclude the Kayaking Unit for Year 10 Outdoor Education, students visited Vector Wero Whitewater Park in Manukau in late June. This enabled them to practise and develop their kayaking skills and reinforce concepts introduced in the pool and classroom. Each student was geared up with a full length wetsuit, booties, helmet, PFD, spray skirt, paddle and kayak in preparation to tackle the Grade 2 Tamariki River. This unit focused on ‘Self Discipline’ and ‘Self Confidence’, with the river certainly pushing most students outside their comfort zone.
YEAR 13 NAVIGATION In August, The 13 Outdoor Education students were divided into groups and given their biggest challenge yet: To participate in a four-day class navigation exercise in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park between Te Aroha and Katikati. Each group had 34 hours to find as many checkpoints as possible before getting back to the start/finish line in Te Aroha on time to avoid any time penalties. Wherever they were at 5pm was where they had to sleep the night and they weren’t allowed to move again until 7.30am the next day. It was a real test of their leadership, group work and problem-solving skills to find as many marked features as possible. 14
YEAR 13 SOLO From 14 to 16 October, the Year 13 Outdoor Education class participated in a 48-Hour Solo experience. The objective of Solo is to further develop an individual’s selfawareness, self-esteem, self-confidence, personal responsibility and personal motivation. It was a test both mentally and emotionally, and has hopefully helped each student further consider their own values and provide them with a time without distractions to set their own goals. The experience is largely about reflection in order to devise strategies for lifelong well-being. With only a basic shelter and minimal food, participants also heighten their appreciation of what a lot of us take for granted. Thank you to Sharon and Neil Waller for their ongoing support in allowing us to use their stunning coastal property on the Kaipara Harbour.
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ACADEMIC NEWS
Head Boy Eric Shen and Head Girl Megan Williams with Ms Ardern after she was presented with a birthday cake.
SCIENCE
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opened the William Caradus Building on July 24 and toured the new Science block, talking to students and teachers. Ms Ardern was scheduled to open the building, which has been in service since the beginning of the year, on March 24 but that was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the ceremony, Head Boy Eric Shen and Head Girl Megan Williams MC’ed proceedings, with Megan speaking about William Caradus, pictured above, MAGS’ second Headmaster (from 1947-1954). William Caradus, who fought in World War I and World War II, was a foundation master in 1922, Head of Science 1922-46, and Deputy Headmaster 1934-46. He was a teacher of Chemistry and Physics, and held a Master of Science – Chemistry 1st Class Honours. Among the guests were two former headmasters in attendance – Maurice Hall and Greg Taylor – as well as members of the Board of Trustees, MAGS Foundation Chairman Peter Thorp and National MP Melissa Lee. In his speech, Headmaster Patrick Drumm said it was fitting that the building be named after William Caradus, who had contributed so much to MAGS in his tenure. Mr Drumm also pointed out that the plaque, which he unveiled along with Ms Ardern and Board of Trustees Chair Greg Moyle, still had the date of the official opening as March 24 – a piece of history in itself – and this would be a talking point down through the years. Ms Ardern spoke about the importance of Science in all walks
Science Teacher Justin Hinds and Head of Science Aase Diegel with Ms Ardern at the opening.
Ms Ardern talks to a Science class during her tour of the new building.
of life, and the importance of buildings such as the Science Block, which were inspirational in themselves. Following the unveiling, the Boys Choir, under the guidance of choir director Terence Maskell, delighted Ms Ardern and the guests with their Gallipoli-infused version of the National Anthem in honour of William Caradus. After the ceremony, Ms Ardern, who had an upcoming birthday, was presented with a birthday cake by Eric Shen. She then enjoyed refreshments with the guests in the Science Block, and chatted to the Head Prefect team before taking a tour of the William Caradus Building and talking to staff and students.
EPRO8 CHALLENGE MAGS’ teams enjoyed great success in the EPro8 Challenge, which tests engineering and problem-solving skills. Every year over 10,000 students from 800 schools from throughout New Zealand take part. Teams compete to build large structures; solve practical problems; engineer using pulleys, motors, gears, wheels and axles; invent simple machines; undertake fun experiments; construct electronic circuits; and solve practical maths problems. MAGS had four Senior and four Junior teams, with 32 students in total from years 9-13. They achieved excellent results in the preliminary rounds, with several teams reaching the final. In the Seniors, Team Vectorius, consisting of Grace Duan, Nicole Muir, Connor Voight and Matthew Batcheler, gained immediate entry into the final as they came second in the first round of competition. Shrek team (made up of Maya Azam, Daniel Neeley, Paige Tyson-Taylor and Callum Wishart) also did very well – coming third in the preliminary rounds. In the Juniors, team Bazinga reached the semi-final after coming second in the preliminary rounds. This team consisted of Patrick Bauld, Owen Frear, Felix McElwee and Ben Somerville.
Team Vectorius (pictured), consisting of Grace Duan, Nicole Muir, Connor Voight and Matthew Batcheler, gained immediate entry into the final.
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Visual Art
A feast for the body and soul, the Board Show and Business Market Evening held on October 28 was again a big hit with the MAGS Community. Staff, Albertians, students and their families turned out in droves to view the vibrant displays of Senior Visual Art – Painting, Design and Photography – as well as enjoy a huge variety of food and drinks being sold by Year 10 Business students from their stalls. The classrooms and hallways of E Block were opened up to display art, while stalls were set up inside and outside as Year 10 Business Studies students learned about marketing and selling their products to the public. MAGS’ talented students also entertained with music, dance and drama pieces centred around E Block. And this year, the Technology Department had its own display with student work such as lighting, furniture and sculpture on show.
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Something great came out of COVID-19 for Ruby Clayton, who in September won first prize in the youth category of the Waitakere Art Expo 2020 and picked up $500. Following that, she sold her painting – Old Man Take a Look at Your Life – for $1200 and won the People’s Choice Award (worth $250). Ruby credited her painting teachers Ms Leonard and Mrs Mulgrew for their help and inspiration. She said the work was also a product of having time to paint during the COVID-19 lockdowns. THE LION
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EXTRA-CURRICULAR
SUCCESS
IN THE ARTS
LARA CHUO During the October school holidays, Lara Chuo had the rare opportunity of attending the SGCNZ National Shakespeare School Productions (NSSP) as a direct entry participant, which allowed her to go through straight from Regionals without having to go through Nationals. Lara received direct entry after the Auckland Central round of the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, for her portrayal of Lady MacBeth in a scene directed by Ophelia Sykes and Sarah Norman. The Auckland Central round submission was filmed rather than performed live due to the lockdown. Lara said of her experience at NSSP, “The week was filled with workshops such as fencing, cha cha, waltz, improv and tours of landmarks in Dunedin such as Larnach Castle, the old Cadbury factory, and the new state-of-the-art facilities of the University of Otago. “Whilst all of this was happening, we had to rehearse for a production of three Shakespeare plays, performed by the end of the week. The plays were Much Ado About Nothing, King John and Merchant of Venice. I was cast as Constance and Messenger for King John by my director Alexander Sparrow, who I had the greatest pleasure to work with and who gave us a lot of crowd-working tips inspired by the Globe performances and his standup work.” Lara added, “I have learnt a lot, made new friends and even gained new mentors – I enjoyed my time at NSSP 2020.”
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PERFORMING ARTS
FAOLAN OKAN Among his many achievements this year, Faolan Okan secured a starring role in the short film Frankie Jean and the Morning Star. Made by Bamber Films in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, the movie is about Frankie Jean, an 8-yearold who is obsessed with rugby. She wakes in the wee hours of the morning to watch the All Blacks play South Africa in the final of the Rugby Championship. When they unexpectedly lose, Frankie is devastated – not just that her heroes lost, but that the kids at school are going to tease her because of it. Unable to sleep, she sneaks out of her house before dawn to practise her kicks and stumbles across a boy, Joseph (played by Faolan), sitting alone on the ledge of a bridge, ready to jump. She doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation and thinks he is sad because the All Blacks lost – but Joseph hates rugby. He hates a lot of things and just wants to be left alone. After a bumpy start the two begin to connect. Joseph shares his impossible dreams of becoming a dancer and Frankie her impossible dream to be the first female All Black. An unlikely friendship forms. When Frankie leaves, she gives this new friend her worry doll – for good luck. She heads home – her belief in magic restored – completely unaware that she just saved this young man’s life as Joseph walks away from the bridge. Faolan said of the role, “Being a part of Frankie Jean was such a thrilling yet heart-warming experience. The morals of the film are so pure and uplifting, and the production team took me in with open arms and treated everyone like family. I’m so lucky to have met such an incredibly talented group of creators and will always cherish my experiences with them!”
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ARTISTRY IN ACTION In September our talented Dance students finally participated in their assessment filming for Artistry in Action. After this dance concert had been postponed then cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was great to see them perform – even without a public audience. HOD Dance Samantha French said, “Mr Grace, Ms Cesan and I are so proud of each and every one of our awesome students who gave it their all. Special mention must go to our Year 13 Leavers, who delivered outstanding performances and celebrated their last ever MAGS dance concert with so much pride.” Photos: Darcy Vasquez, Ed Duley, Ruby Twist and Madison Campbell
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PERFORMING ARTS THE LION
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Chook
Chook Photos: Ruby Twist and Darcy Vasquez
On July 30, the Year 10 Drama Academy performed their production of Chook Chook by New Zealand playwright Fiona Farrel. The show follows four hens stuck in a battery farm. While on the surface the show questions the ethics of caged hen farming, it is an allegory that looks at the place of women in society. The show uses comedy to express the absurdity of the ‘cages’ women can find themselves in. It then asks what we should do about it in the interests of freedom, duty, contentment or self-preservation. HOD Drama Gerald Urquhart said, “The students performed excellently. There was a sense of joy that permeated their performance. “The audience responded well to the show. There were a lot of laughs had and some serious discussion afterwards. The cast are pleased to have provoked such meaningful exchanges in such an entertaining manner. “A large thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, including the cast, crew and the support of the families.” 22
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CHILDREN OF THE
PERFORMING ARTS
Photos: Ruby Taylor Sinclair
Black Skirt
The Year 11 Drama Production took place on July 29 with a performance of the Australian play Children of the Black Skirt. It is a hard-hitting play that explores the place of children throughout Australia’s history. The children take turns telling the stories of the spirits trapped in an orphanage. Through sharing their stories the spirits are released. HOD Drama Gerald Urquhart said, “The play was well-received, with it being booked out days in advance. At the conclusion of the show, the audience sat in quiet contemplation, clearly moved by the performances. The students appreciated such strong support for the work they created. “The slick show was the result of some very focussed effort by both cast and crew. The creativity and camaraderie of everyone involved is to be applauded.” THE LION
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THE POHUTUKAWA TREE After an eventful year, MAGS’ Drama Department was pleased to finally stage the Year 13 Production, The Pohutukawa Tree, on October 22 and 23. It is a classic of New Zealand theatre written by Bruce Mason. It follows the story of Aroha Mataira, a Māori matriarch whose faith in both tikanga and Christianity leave little room for her two teenage children. Set in the 1950s, it explores the shifting perspectives at the beginning of a time of great change for New Zealand. HOD Drama Gerald Urquhart said, “The performance was very well attended with both nights selling out. The audience were moved by the performances from our soonto-be school leavers. “Ka to he ra; ka ura he ra.” A sun sets; a sun rises. “I could not think of a better quote from the play for this graduating class,” Mr Urquhart said. “As the sun sets on school life for them, I am excited by the potential of the new dawn. I want to wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavours. Waimarie.”
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For the fourth year in a row, the Moon Stars have won the award for the best performance of an original piece at the New Zealand Chamber Music Contest. Ensemble member Matthew Somerville, who normally writes pop or rock music, composed the award-winning piece Broken Two. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the ensemble recorded a video introducing themselves, and another video of them performing the piece. The Moon Stars are (pictured above from left) Quinn Pham (Violin), Grace Duan (Violin), Helen Wen (Violin), Scarlett Ploeg (Cello), Mekal Covic (Cello), Stefan Moon (Percussions), Mariella Bowman (Double Bass), Matthew Somerville (Percussions). The Jazz Band was back in action in early July – under the direction of Music teacher Neil Watson – with some lively performances at assemblies. On July 31, the Jazz Band and the Abundant Life School (ALS) Jazz Band from Kaitaia entertained staff and students with
PERFORMING ARTS
Music jazz and soul grooves at lunchtime. Albertian and ALS Teacher in Charge of Music Dr Opeloge Ah Sam decided to take his band on a concert tour of Auckland after live performances were scrapped for the KBB Festival. When fellow Albertian and Deputy Principal John Stradwick heard about his plans, he invited the ALS Jazz Band to perform in a “jazz-off” against our Jazz Band, with the ensembles playing three items each. Before an appreciative audience, ALS started with What’s Going On?, Cantaloupe Island and Come Together, and MAGS responded with Backlash, Sway and Cheesecake. Gloriana – The Girls Choir – made its debut at the Arts Lions and Arts Attitude Awards on October 23. With Dr Erin Atchison conducting, they sang For the Beauty of the Earth, accompanied on piano by Ms Catherine Oxenham.
Spoken WORD The MAGS Spoken Word team won their semi-final and progressed to the finals of the Word – The Frontline competition. MAGS also made the final last year in what is a fiercely contested event. The competition changed drastically this year due to lockdown, with works being pre-recorded for a livestream rather than an in-person event. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the team of Ryan Shen, David Laxon, Reet Kamra, Sonia Airehrour, Abby Irwin and Katherina Cooper-Light beat Aorere, De La Salle, and Saint Dominic’s for a spot in The Grand Slam, which was held on November 7. THE LION
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School Ball
The School Ball finally went ahead following multiple bookings, two lockdowns and limits on social gatherings. Despite this, a spectacular night was had by all at Ellerslie Event Centre on November 10. This year’s theme was ‘Starry Night’. The ball committee continued to plan and prepare for the evening throughout the year, remaining positive and hopeful and it certainly paid off. The attendees climbed several flights of stairs to the very top of the Event Centre and were certainly warmed up for the dance floor by the time they arrived. They then walked down a red carpeted hallway lined with clouds, glittering lights and stars and entered the ballroom through a tunnel of brightly lit curtains. In the ballroom, White Door Photography provided four photo booths and three areas of backdrop for students to capture their moment. There was also a roving photographer capturing all of the action on the dance floor. A live Facebook feed through the night was viewed by over 1000 people as the ball continued. Family and friends could follow the photos as the evening progressed. N.Z.D.J Kieran had the dance floor pumping throughout the evening. Students danced to their chosen music, accompanied by lighting effects, smoke, confetti cannons, spark lights and Co2 guns. Tuiaki ‘Otulau, Dakota Stephens and Turouaiti Jack sang the slow jams for the evening. Then back to the dancing with the DJ right through until the end of the night. The awards ceremony saw Ezra Purcell and Evie Lamb crowned King and Queen of the Ball, the Cutest Couple award went to Ayleigh Loomes and Seth Dean, Kike Ogundipe and Oliver Moss were Best Dressed, Serena Zhang was nominated as Shining star of the Night, and Nicodemus Smith was named Best Dancer. Topping off the awards was the Best Dressed Teacher – the one and only Mr Coup. Natasha Phyn, TIC School Ball, said, “A fantastic night was had by all, including the staff who attended. It was an event that was well worth waiting for and it wasn’t until the lights came on and the music stopped that the students started to leave. “A big thank you to the ball and SADD committees for helping to organise a memorable and fun night.”
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SCHOOL BALL THE LION
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Senior Prizegiving History was made on November 10 when Matthew Somerville became the first Year 12 student to be named Dux at Mount Albert Grammar School. He was the Top Boys Academic alongside Caitlin Mitchell, who was named Girls Dux during the Senior Prizegiving ceremony held in the FW Gamble Hall. As Academic Dean Mr Gibbs said of Matthew, “This year’s Boys Dux is a quite remarkable young man with great talent in every subject he studies. Not once has he gained anything less than excellence in any NCEA standard: 268 excellence credits out of 268. No-one has done that in our school before.” Mr Gibbs said of Caitlin, “This year’s Girls Dux is a sciencemathematics specialist with highly developed skills in foreign language and Geography. She has passed all three levels of NCEA with excellence with 92 excellence credits out of 92 at Level Three.” Both Matthew and Caitlin won a slew of other awards on the day, which saw Senior prize-winners, scholarship recipients and certificate awardees cross the stage Proxime Accessits were Bailey Bennett and Head Boy Eric Shen, who was also named Best All-Round Boy in Year 13, while his counterpart, Head Girl Megan Williams, picked up the award for Best All-Round Girl in Year 13. The pair were also awarded Chris Liddell Scholarships, which are each worth $5000 per year for three years and are granted to students who show strong academic potential and are also good allrounders. They were presented by Albertian Chris Liddell’s brother John Liddell. Alexander Pullen won the prestigious Woolf Fisher Scholarship, which his father had also won in 1990. The only Gold Lion awarded – for gaining Lions in Academia, Arts, Sport and Service – went to Andre Pickering, who has had an incredible year, being named Victor Ludorum, Best All-Round Māori Student, and picking up a University of Auckland Scholarship. Head Prefects Eric Shen and Megan Williams, who MC’ed the ceremony, gave their farewell speeches, thanking staff and their parents – and remarking on the strong bonds they have formed with their peers. The top teaching awards were also presented. Science teacher Pat Barrett received the Herb Towers Travel Prize for a professional development trip overseas. Chris Liddell also awards Teacher Scholarships worth $10,000 each for excellence in teaching and contribution to the school, and these went to Waimirirangi Paul (Head of Te Puna o Wairaka) and Simone Connell (Specialist Classroom Teacher). Ms Paul was visibly moved by a haka performed in her honour by her students. Oliver Bulman and Lucy Woodall were named Best All Round Year 12 Boy and Girl respectively, while Calvin Pooley and Nishera Gnanendra received the equivalent awards for Year 11. The prizegiving also featured the Boys Choir singing Dream a Little Dream of Me, under the guidance of Tali Afele, who reappeared later to reinforce his special talents by singing It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas backed by Eric Shen on Piano. 28
Caitlin Mitchell and Matthew Somerville, who were named Girls and Boys Dux respectively, are pictured with Headmaster Patrick Drumm.
Head Girl Megan Williams and Head Boy Eric Shen were named Best All Round in Year 13.
Science Teacher Pat Barrett is congratulated on winning the Herb Towers Travel Prize.
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PRIZEGIVINGS Alex Pullen won the Woolf Fisher Memorial Scholarship, the same award his father James (pictured right) won in 1990.
CP Liddell Scholarship winners Eric Shen and Megan Williams with John Liddell.
Schneider Fernandes and Nanaka Inaba were named the Top International Students.
CP Liddell Teaching Scholarship winners Waimirirangi Paul and Simone Connell with John Liddell.
Luca Eastwood and Blake Jowsey won the Jim Greatbanks Engineering Scholarship.
Bailey Bennett and Eric Shen were named Proxime Accessits (runners-up to Dux).
Faolan Okan won the Neville Watson Memorial Prize for the student who best typifies the spirit of Mount Albert Grammar School.
Ronette Va’ai won the Girls’ Foundation Cup and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua won the Isaac Gray Cup for Service to the School.
Gold Lion
The only Gold Lion awarded in 2020 – for gaining Lion badges in Academia, Arts, Sport and Service – went to Andre Pickering, who has had an incredible year, being named Victor Ludorum, Best All-Round Māori Student, and picking up a University of Auckland Scholarship.
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Lucy Woodall won the Linda Fraser Cup for Best All Round Girl in Year 12, while Oliver Bulman won the equivalent award for Boys, the Harry Wichman Cup.
Andre Pickering won the Te Puna o Wairaka Whanau Award.
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Bella Krikorian won the Jo Williams Cup for Diligence and Manas Chigurukota the Robert Wilmott Memorial Prize for Quality of Effort in Year 11.
Nishera Gnanendra won the Brian Murphy Cup for Best All-Round Girl in Year 11.
Oscar Reinsfield won the Hanson Cup for Senior Progress and Endeavour in Year 12.
Niua Pomare-Khanna won the NgÄ Uri a Matiu Tupuni Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Bethany Fletcher won the Sylvia Lamb Benevolence Cup.
Calvin Pooley won the Warwick Gibbs Cup for Best All-Round Boy in Year 11.
Ella Vuetilovoni won the Yevette Williams Cup for Effort in Year 12.
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MAGS is very excited to announce the leadership group who have been chosen from an exceptional field of students through a rigorous process. The Prefect’s role carries great responsibility around service leadership and guardianship of our school culture. All 2021 Prefects must attend the compulsory Prefects Convention (Friday, 11 December – Sunday, 13 December) to be held at MAGS School House this year. The current Head Boy (Eric Shen) and Head Girl (Megan Williams) will hand over the korowai donated by the GallagherSullivan family to their successors when the Head Boy and Head Girl for 2021 are announced.
SERVICE
LIONS 2020
Albertian and Revo Tour Director Ben Greenwood spoke about the small acts of kindness that could make a huge difference.
2021 PREFECTS: Hannah Adye, Tali Afele, Morgan Aiono, Edie Ancell, Matthew Batcheler, William Bell-Purchas, Henri Blakeley, Emeline Bloomfield, Maria Boow, Samara Brain, Sylvia Brunt, Oliver Bulman, Amelia Caltaux, Nate Carroll, Mingi Cho, Luke Clements, Matthew Denby, Grace Duan, Angus Edwards, Leilani Ginnen, Nofolisi Hala, Justin Hemara, Hana Hilson, Stanley Iongi, Humeera Imran, Rosa Jack, Char’lee Jones, Reet Kamra, Lance Law, Jovis Meredith, Nicole Muir, Keertivaasan Prakash, Xander Pritchard, Marcus Savelio, Genevieve Taua, Boston Tofa, Pasilika Ulugia-Pua, Ullrich Von Reiche, Sophie Vu, Ella Vuetilovoni, Breanna Waka, Lucy Woodall.
The Service Lions of 2020 were awarded on November 4 to 102 welldeserving students at a Special Assembly in the F.W. Gamble Hall. MCs for the event were Deputy Head Girl Ronette Va’ai and Prefect Flynn Lakeman, who introduced guest speaker Ben Greenwood, an Albertian and Revo Tour director. Revo Tour, which focuses on teenagers’ physical and mental wellbeing, has conducted activations at MAGS that have involved basketball and dancing competitions among other activities. Mr Greenwood spoke about the small acts of kindness that could make someone’s day or even change their lives. He said he was having a tough time at high school until someone extended the hand of friendship to him. The theme of his speech was ‘You make a living by what you get but you make a life by what you give’. He said that giving and helping others would – above all other things – see students living a fulfilling and happy life. A Service Lion is awarded to those students who have served the school and the wider community for a sustained period of time. Students were awarded the Lions for services to the Performing Arts, Visual Arts, the Library, Technology, Pasifika, School House, and the wider school community. They were read by Mr Cave and presented by Headmaster Patrick Drumm and Mr Greenwood. THE LION
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PRIZEGIVINGS
2021 Prefects
Congratulations to all our 2021 Prefects on their appointment. We trust that the 2021 Year 13 student body will support this group in their significant role.
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Arts Lions and Arts Attitude
AWARDS
At a special assembly on October 23, Arts Lions and Arts Attitude Awards were presented to the top students across Cultural Activities, Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art. The assembly also saw (and heard) the debut of Gloriana – The Girls Choir with Dr Erin Atchison conducting as they sang For the Beauty of the Earth, accompanied on piano by Ms Catherine Oxenham. Headmaster Patrick Drumm said the Arts had shone during the lockdowns, with students coming up with innovative ways of producing work and staying connected.
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2020 Dux Artiums Faolan Okan and Lara Chuo, pictured with Headmaster Patrick Drumm.
PRIZEGIVINGS
Arts Awards Dinner The wealth of talent in Performing Arts, Visual Art and Media Studies was recognised and celebrated at the Arts Award Dinner held at Sorrento in the Park on November 6. For the second year running, Faolan Okan was named Boys Dux Artium while Lara Chuo picked up the equivalent Girls award. Faolan, an Arts Prefect, is a student of Dance, Drama and Media Studies who has 24 credits at Excellence already in Arts subject in 2020. He also won Best Male Actor, Best Filmmaker and the Leadership in Dance Award at this year’s dinner. He was Junior Dux Artium in 2017, and his extracurricular activities include being part of the World Hip Hop Champion dance crew the Swagganauts and recently having a lead role in a NZ short film. Lara is a student of Dance, Drama, Media Studies and Painting, who has 28 credits at Excellence in Arts subjects in 2020. She also won Best Female Actor, Best Female Dance Performer and the Excellence in Arts Management award at the dinner. She is a member of MAGS’ NZ champion Hip Hop Megacrew, and was chosen for the National Shakespeare Schools Production for her performance in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competition. Lara is the Head Arts Prefect, Leader and Choreographer for the Chinese dance group, and was Junior Dux Artium in 2017. MCs for the night Abby Irwin and David Laxon welcomed guests and introduced several performances: Tali Afele singing It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas backed by Eric Shen on Piano; a scene from Macbeth performed by Molly Cavanagh, Lara Chuo and Sarah Norman; and a song performed by Tali Afele, Tuiakai ‘Otulau and Niua Pomare-Khanna.
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Lorielle Cowley and Kaemon Ah Kuoi-Simich were named Top Year 11 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 11 Pasifika Students. Marcus Savelio and Leilani Ginnen were named Top Year 12 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 12 Pasifika Students.
PASIFIKA PRIZEGIVING DINNER
Top All-Round Pasifika Students in Year 10 were Josie Gaoa and Isaiah Fale.
Achievement across Academia, Arts, Service and Sport was celebrated at the Pasifika Prizegiving Dinner on 30 October at Sorrento in the Park. Deputy Head Girl Ronette Va’ai and and Tali Afele welcomed guests, and were also recipients of some of the top awards. Ronette shared the Ulugia-Pua award for Outstanding service to Mount Albert Grammar School and the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Service to MAGS Pasifika with Iosefa Ulugia-Pua, and shared the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership with Ezra Munokoa. Tali shared the Peter Su’a Dux Artium award with Tuiaki ‘Otulau. Ruby Maoate and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua were named Best All Round Pasifika Students, and Ruby, who has won a Top Achiever Scholarship from the University of Auckland, was named Top Year 13 Pasifika Scholar. Leilani Ginnen and Marcus Savelio were named Top Year 12 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 12 Pasifika Students, while Lorielle Cowley and Kaemon Ah Kuoi-Simich were named Top Year 11 Pasifika Academic and Best All Round Year 11 Pasifika Students. Top All-Round Pasifika Students in Year 10 were Josie Gaoa and Isaiah Fale. The Year 13 Pasifika Boys Siva Samoa featured students and
The Village Community Trust Award for services to the Pasifika Council was won by Ezra Munokoa and Halle Fatuleai.
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staff showing off their dance moves, and preceded the special awards in Arts, Sports and Service. The top sportspeople were Sataan Tawera and Latonya Lole. The Village Community Trust Award for services to the Pasifika Council was won by Ezra Munokoa and Halle Fatuleai. The Pasifika Leavers’ Video provided a humorous riff on school life, and that was followed by the Year 13 Taualuga, with staff, including Year 13 Dean Mr Coup and Deputy Principal Mr Stradwick showing off some outrageous moves as they danced with the students.
Ruby Maoate and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua, pictured with Mr Drumm, were named Best All Round MAGS Pasifika Students.
Ronette Va’ai and Iosefa Ulugia-Pua shared the Ulugia-Pua award for Outstanding service to Mount Albert Grammar School and the Ah Kuoi Family Cup for Service to MAGS Pasifika.
Ronette Va’ai shared the Tupuola Apisaloma Taulapiu Cup for Cultural Leadership with Ezra Munokoa.
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PRIZEGIVINGS
TE PUNA O WAIRAKA Celebration Dinner Te Puna o Wairaka recognised its top students and sent its Year 13 Leavers off into the world with an emotional farewell at the Celebration Dinner on Thursday, November 12 at Te Mahurehure Marae. Guest speaker Dr Jennifer Martin encouraged the Leavers and Te Puna o Wairaka students to continue their te reo journey, saying it would open up some wonderful opportunities. Dr Martin, who is a graduate of the kura at West Auckland’s Hoani Waititi Marae, went on to graduate from the University of Auckland and gain a PhD with her thesis written entirely in te reo Māori. She is now a Māori studies educator and runs a Māori language consultancy. She urged the students to pursue their dreams, and not let any naysayers put them off achieving their goals. As well as haka from the departing and remaining students, the event – MC’ed by Year 12 students Breanna Waka and Isaiah Nin – featured a song by Albertian and Te Puna alumni Abbey-Jean Kaipara, who was backed by Andre Pickering on guitar. During his speech, Headmaster Patrick Drumm called Te Puna HOD Waimirirangi Paul on to the stage to pay tribute to her work, which was recognised earlier in the week at Senior Prizegiving with her receiving a CP Liddell Teaching Scholarship. When it came to the awards, Andre Pickering won the Top Senior Academic Award, was named All-Round Top Senior Student, and Top Sportsperson. Tayla Bamber won the “Manu Tute” Award For Services to Puna and the wider community, while Niua Pomare-Khanna received the “He toka tū” Award For Contribution to Kapa Haka. Kobe-Ray Cameron was All-Round Top Junior Girl, and the All-Round Top Junior Boy was Hokioramai Dunn. The Top Junior Academic Award went to Mihimere Hope. The award for Top Senior Māori Language Orator went to Niua Pomare-Khanna, and Mihimere Hope was named Top Junior Māori Language Orator. When it came to sports achievement, Waimarie Tawera won the top junior award. In their farewell speeches, Niua Pomare-Khanna and Tayla Bamber, who both served as Deputy Head Prefects in 2020, paid tribute to Whaea Waimirirangi Paul and Matua Peter Walters for the vast amount of time they invested with their students whether it was in course work or in kapa haka. They both said that Te Puna o Wairaka and MAGS had given them great opportunities academically and culturally.
Whaea Miri and Matua Peter with the Year 13 Leavers.
Whaea Miri and Matua Peter with guest speaker Dr Jennifer Martin.
MCs Isaiah Nin and Breanna Waka.
Tayla Bamber and Niua PomareKhanna spoke on behalf of the Year 13s.
Whaea Miri and Matua Peter with some of the big prizewinners on the night.
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SPORTS Awards Evening The importance of sport at MAGS was celebrated just as much as sporting achievement at the Sports Awards Evening 2020 held on October 21 in the FW Gamble Hall. Headmaster Patrick Drumm said that with the school year disrupted by lockdowns, training for and playing sport had helped students maintain discipline and get back into routines – something that should help them in their upcoming exams. For the second year running, Latonya Lole was named Victrix Ludorum while Andre Pickering was named Victor Ludorum. Latonya is the Athletics Captain and Senior Champion, the Premier Netball Captain, part of the AKSS Rugby 7s Condors team, and MAGS’ Mixed Touch co-captain, who are AKSS Champions. Andre is a member of the Boys 1st XI Hockey team, plays in the Boys Lacrosse team and 3rd XI Football, and is the top skier at MAGS, an AKSS Snowboarding medalist, and attended NISS for skiing and snowboarding. The Squash Boys Premiers (Max Conder, Jae Kwan, Tarin Love, Riley McCracken, Mason Smales and Captain Jack Conder) were awarded the Headmaster’s Cup for Team of the Year after defending their national title. The Te Aroha Keenan Cup for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Girls was once again awarded to swimmer Brearna Crawford, while cricketer Adi Ashok won the comparable boys’ award – the Olympic Cup.
Guest speaker Sir Bryan Williams entertained the audience with his reminiscences.
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Te Aroha Keenan Cup winner Brearna Crawford and Olympic Cup winner Adi Ashok.
Brearna is an Auckland Champs Gold medalist, a National Age Group record holder in 100m & 200m Breaststroke, and 50m and 100m Butterfly Auckland Record holder, and NZ Open Record holder in 100m Breaststroke. Adi is the 1st XI Cricket Captain, played for the NZ U19 Cricket team, was named AKSS Cricket Players’ Player of the Year 2020, and is MAGS Best All Rounder. Guest speaker and Albertian Sir Bryan Williams set the tone for the evening with an entertaining speech about how important sport had been in his life as he went from joint Victor Ludorum at MAGS in his final year of 1967, to being named in the All Blacks in 1970, and going on to be a rugby coach and administrator. Sir Bryan, who played 38 test matches for the All Blacks, said the discipline and determination he had learned in the course of being a top rugby player and athletics champion at MAGS helped him with his studies and to stick at a law degree through tough times. He said he was grateful to MAGS for all he had learned and went on to achieve, and loved giving back to the school. In recognition of that, in 2017 MAGS’ No. 1 rugby field was named the Sir BG Williams Field.
Victrix Ludorum Latonya Lole and Victor Ludorum Andre Pickering.
At the conclusion of his speech, Sir Bryan was presented with the first MAGS Centenary hoodie and received a huge round of applause. The night also saw the awarding of Blue Caps to MAGS’ Auckland representatives and Black Caps to MAGS’ NZ representatives. Nine students were also recognised as Elite Premiers for representing MAGS at Premier level for each of their five years at school: Monica Kelly (Basketball), Adi Ashok (Cricket), Jayden Dahya (Hockey), Mitchell Cooper (Orienteering), Luca Eastwood (Orienteering), Jydee Leonard (Orienteering), Aidan Skinner (Orienteering), Mikayla Cross (Softball), Jack Conder (Squash).
Sir Bryan Williams show off his MAGS Centenary hoodie.
Premier Boys Squash Captain Jack Conder accepts the Headmaster’s Cup for Team of the Year.
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SPORT
CROSS COUNTRY
The School Cross Country, which was postponed from earlier in the year, was run on October 20 and 21 in fine and dry conditions. The event, which starts and finishes in the school grounds but is mostly run on the ASB MAGS Farm, is compulsory for Junior students with Seniors and staff also joining in. Special mention goes to Mathematics teacher Mr Naylor (in bottom left photo), who ran with the Year 9 Boys and offered to buy an iceblock for every boy who finished in front of him. Mr Naylor did not have to open his wallet, and has been challenged to run with the Year 10 Boys next year. The cross country winners were: Year 9 Boys – Jesse Burge 1st, Oscar Vink 2nd, Vinnie Shaw 3rd; Year 9 Girls – Frankie Pengelly 1st, Amelie Kelly 2nd, Lili Curnow 3rd; Year 10 Boys – Luke Eagles-Smith 1st, Justin Brendolise 2nd, James Ray 3rd; Year 10 Girls – Emily Rednall 1st, Bella Houghton 2nd, Frieda Wilson 3rd; Intermediate Boys Champion Oliver Fox; Senior Boys Champion Luke Clements; Intermediate Girls Champion Eva Wadsworth.
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Fencing MAGS retained the Auckland Secondary Schools championship team title on October 17, with MAGS A narrowly winning the final. Eight teams from a variety of schools battled it out at the Fencing North event. The MAGS B team scored a great victory against the early favourites Kristen (past winners), before falling to Hamilton High School and finishing fifth. MAGS A were not really tested in the early rounds, before narrowly winning the finals in a very tense and close match 45-43 against a composite team.
MAGS A (Caleb Anderson, Shaun Owen and Daniel Finch) are pictured with coach Kyle Macdonald, and celebrating the final score at right.
FOOTBALL Congratulations to Football players Milly Clegg (pictured below) and Sharon Tomokino (pictured left), who attended the NZ U17 Women’s Football Camp in Cambridge during the school holidays. The camp ran from October 7-10, and is part of the build-up to the rescheduled FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It is planned to be held in India in February and March next year after it was moved from its original dates in November this year. The NZ U17 Women’s team was nominated to represent Oceania at the World Cup in the absence of playoffs due to COVID-19.
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On August 5, MAGS sent three Netball teams to defend their Combined Points Tournament trophy from 2019. While the teams did not repeat that same success, there were many positives. Our Premier 1 team, who had recently suffered their first loss in the Auckland Netball Competition against Westlake Girls the previous Saturday, bounced back to take a one-goal win over a very talented and physical St Peter’s Cambridge team to be top team in pool play. In the quarter-finals they met St Kentigern College, resulting in a hard-fought battle, with MAGS going down by two goals at the final whistle. The girls took comfort from the fact that St Kentigern were overall Premier grade winners. Head Coach Vicki Morgan was very happy with the team and how they gave it their all in the tough games, and played with pride. Director of Netball Kathy Henry said that the Year 10 team also did very well throughout pool play, however they were unfortunate to have in their pool the overall Year 10 grade winners Avondale, who they went down to by four goals. Coach Danica Hape-Tiria was very happy with how the girls are tracking and also took comfort in the fact that the only game they lost was to Avondale.
SPORT
NETBALL Our Year 9 team made it to the quarter-finals and also went down to the overall grade winners in Auckland Girls Grammar. Coach Kelly Roberts said the team played well and lots of positives were taken from the day. The Premier Netballers were also invited to attend the St Peter’s Cambridge tournament during the October School holidays and had a tough pool. They only had one loss in their pool matches but with two wins and two draws they just missed out on the top four. They eventually finished sixth in a well-organised and competitive tournament at SPC. Catalina Young was named MAGS Player of the Tournament by opposition teams.
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ORIENTEERING Over Labour Weekend our Orienteering team competed in the rescheduled National Orienteering Championships held in the Manawatu and achieved some outstanding results. On exceptionally difficult courses, Matthew Greenwood had an outstanding weekend, winning all three of his races in the Long, Middle and Sprint distances to be crowned National Junior Boys Champion. Seth Dean was also a National Champion in the Senior Boys, winning his Long and Middle events. There were also podium places for the following students: Long distance event – Mitchell Cooper (2nd) and Aidan Skinner (3rd) in Senior Boys. Middle distance event – Aidan Skinner (3rd) in Senior Boys. Sprint event – Tom Aish (2nd) in Intermediate Boys; Mitchell Cooper (2nd) and Aidan Skinner (3rd) in Senior Boys. Earlier in the year, MAGS’ Boys team won the North Island Orienteering Championships for the fourth year in a row. For the Orienteers, this was their first major event of the year. For the championship, MAGS took a strong team to Tuakau College in the Sprint and Waiuku Forest in the Long. The Boys took out the event in dominant style, finishing more than 150 points ahead of their nearest rival. There were wins for Tom Aish, Sam Carryer, Matthew Greenwood and podium places for Callum Wishart, Luke Clements, Matthew Greenwood (again) and Sam Carryer (again). There were also strong Performances from Aidan Skinner, Mitchell Cooper and Seth Dean in the Forest event. The Girls finished third in the their highest ever position with a podium performance from Ayleigh Loomes in the Senior Girls and a strong showing from Eva Wadsworth in the Sprint (5th).
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SPORT
RUGBY
The Rugby Girls 1st XV were three-from-three in their debut season before the imposition of COVID-19 Alert Level 3 curtailed their season. They began their season and a new era in MAGS Rugby in late July with a 33-24 away win over Aorere College, then followed that up with a hard-fought 7-5 win over Manurewa High in their first game on the Sir BG Williams Field. Their next game, away to Southern Cross, saw them win 26-17. Previously, the Rugby Girls had been all-conquering in the Rugby 10s format but this is the first year of MAGS girls playing XVs competitively and a big step up in terms of tactics and technical skills.
AUCKLAND SELECTIONS Well done to our Rugby Girls 1st XV captain Sylvia Brunt and Albertians Princess Elliot, Shannon Leota, Shannon Muru, Lovely Pulotu and Mele Tu’inukuafe, who have all been selected in the Auckland Storm, the women’s representative rugby team. The Storm started their season, contesting the Farah Palmer Cup, on September 6.
RUGBY League Several MAGS Rugby League players were selected for national teams or honours during the October school holidays. Kyson Kingi and Cassius Cowley were selected for New Zealand Maori Rugby League (NZMRL) Under 17s, while Cassius Tia and Tre Fotu were selected in the NZ Resident U16s team. The two sides faced each other on October 24 at Rotorua International Stadium. And Te Waaka Popata-Henare was chosen in the NZMRL U15 Tournament Team. THE LION
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RUGBY
SEVENS
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The Auckland Rugby Sevens competition in October saw both the Senior Girls and Senior Boys teams qualify for the national competition the Condor 7s. The Girls finished fourth in the competition and the Boys second. The U15 teams also played their tournament having already accepted the invitation to attend the Condor 7s, scheduled to take place in mid-December. Both teams finished third, with the girls losing their semi in golden point.
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SPORT
SNOW SPORTS Four students attended the annual AKSS Snowboard Champs at Snowplanet in July, with Andre Pickering and Sophie JohnsonChung (pictured right) bringing home medals. Sophie won Gold in the Senior Slalom and Bronze for Overall Slalom Race, and she also won Silver in the Slopestyle competition. Andre placed second overall in the Slalom, and second for Senior Boys. He also placed fourth in both Slopestyle and Dual Slalom. The MAGS Girls team placed third overall, while the Boys finished sixth overall.
SQUASH The MAGS Premier Boys Squash Team successfully defended its New Zealand Secondary Schools National title at Tauranga’s Susan Devoy Squash and Fitness Club in August. MAGS had won its first national squash title in 2019 at this event, which has been played for the last 36 years. It was going to be a tough ask to defend the title as the team had lost their No. 1 player from last year: Arnd Arelmann (Yuyo), who was an exchange student from Chile but returned home at the end of 2019. A new addition to the team this year was Year 9 student Riley McCracken, who has a promising squash career ahead of him. MAGS entered the competition as the top seeds but the top four teams were very even on paper, and any one of them had a reasonable expectation of taking out the title. First round, MAGS played Katikati College and beat them 5-0. Second round, MAGS played Orewa College and won 5-0. In the quarter-final, MAGS played St John’s College (Hastings) and won
4-1. In the semi-final, MAGS played Whangarei Boys High School and won 4-1. The final was a repeat of last year’s final against the second seeds Tauranga Boys High School. The final was a tough battle as was expected, with Jaeswan Kwan coming back from being down matchball in his match to win. A loss in that match would have given TBHS the title; however MAGS was able to clinch victory 3 matches to 2 and win their second consecutive National title. Well done to the boys who represented MAGS proudly and were humble in victory. The boys dedicated the win to Yuyo as he had been battling cancer for the past year, but has finally overcome it. At the tournament prizegiving, Jack Conder and Mason Smales were named in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Senior Team to
play against Australian Secondary Schools on the Gold Coast. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the test matches were cancelled. The boys were honoured to be named MAGS’ Sports Team of the Year at the annual Sports Prizegiving – a great recognition for their accomplishments this year. The 2020 MAGS Premier Boys Squash Team was made up of the following players – Jack Conder (Captain), Tarin Love, Mason Smales, Jaeswan Kwan, Max Conder and Riley McCracken. The team was coached and managed by Juls Conder and Michael Blanchard.
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SWIMMING AUCKLAND INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hunter Dobson won three Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals at NZSS.
Boys 14-15: Thomas Murray: 3 x Gold (200m Free, 100m Back, 200m Back); Bowen Crawford: Gold (200m Breast); Quin Walden: 2 x Silver (100m Free, 100m IM); Hunter Dobson: Silver (200m IM), Bronze (100m Back); Carwin Li: Silver (100m Fly); Tony Tua-Tagaloa: 2 x Bronze (50m Free, 100m Free)
MAGS had a team of 20 swimmers compete at the College Sport Auckland Individual Champs on August 9. The team had some great results with 25 medals in total. After such a good hit-out, it was disappointing for our top swimmers who could not compete at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Champs in Hamilton the following week due to Auckland being at Alert Level 3. Boys 16 and over: Justin Hemara: Silver (100m Back) Girls 16 and over: Emily Cameron: 4 x Gold (200m Free, 400m Free, 100m Back, 200m Back); Brearna Crawford: 2 x Gold (100m Breast, 100m IM); Lucy Woodall: Gold (50m Free), Silver (100m Back), 2 x Bronze (100m Free, 100m IM)
Girls 14-15: Isla Marsh: Silver (200m Fly); Amber George: 2 x Bronze (100m Back, 200m Back)
NZ SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS In another stunning performance, champion swimmer Brearna Crawford broke the NZ Open Short Course Record in the Women’s 100m Breastroke at the 2020 NZ Short Course Championships in Hamilton during the October school holidays. In doing so she set a record of
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1:06.60 in the 17 Years Age Group as well. She also broke the 17 Years Age Group Record during the heats of the Women’s 50m Breaststroke (31.58s) and then swam even faster when she won the final in 31.31s.
NZSS CHAMPIONSHIPS MAGS sent away a team of 18 who had qualified for the 2020 New Zealand Secondary School Swimming Championships in Hamilton from October 15-18. After a difficult year and training block leading into the event due to Covid-19, there was still plenty of success in the pool in the form of personal best times and medals. The MAGS Aquatic Team finished 10th overall out of 123 different schools who participated in this year’s event and will continue to build on this success in years to come. Relays: Gold – Men’s Under 16 4x100m Free (Tito Tipi, Hunter Dobson, Sebastian Taku, Quin Walden) Silver – Mixed Under 16 4x50m Free (Hunter Dobson, Anna McGowan, Tito Tipi, Isabella Houghton) 2x Bronze – Mixed Under 16 4x50m Medley (Tito Tipi, Isabella Houghton, Hunter Dobson, Anna McGowan), Mixed Open 8x50m Free (Quin Walden, Edie Ancell,
Hunter Dobson, Lara Grozev, Justin Hemara, Isla Marsh, Thomas Murray, Amber George) Individual Results: Hunter Dobson – Men 15 Years – 2 Golds (100m Back, 200m Back) Amber George – Women 15 Years – Gold (50m Back) Quin Walden – Men 15 Years – Silver (50m Back) Tito Tipi – Men 14 Years – Bronze (50m Back)
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SPORT Pictured at back from left: Freddie Lockhart (Senior Boys Singles and Boys Open Doubles champion), Kelvin Annan (Junior Boys Singles). Front row from left: Claire Jiang (Intermediate Girls Singles), Jennifer Zhang (Senior Girls Singles), Shona Nakano (Girls Open Doubles and Mixed Open Doubles) Absent: Chelsea Wijntjes (Junior Girls Singles and Girls Open Doubles), Luke Eagles-Smith (Intermediate Boys Singles and Boys Open Doubles) and Jacob Solomon (Mixed Open Doubles).
TENNIS
MAGS’ Tennis Championships were pushed out later than usual, and the winners were recognised at Assembly in June and presented with their trophies. MAGS also sent a team to the Champion of Champions Tournament: Freddie Lockhart and Ethan Hope – Senior Singles and Doubles (U19), Luke Eagles-Smith and Harry Palmer – Intermediate Singles and Doubles (U16), Vita Hicks (Intermediate) and Chelsea Wijntjes (Junior). Freddie was able to make it through to the second round in his singles game. Despite playing the 2nd seed in the tournament, he played an outstanding game and kept the score to a close 9-6 loss. Both girls won their first round matches.
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ASB MAGS
FARM UPDATE
The ASB MAGS Farm has been through some great changes in the last 12 months and we are just seeing the benefits now. Thanks to our Community planting day in July, our native tree nursery found a great purpose in 2020. Two hundred and fifty community members joined the school staff in helping to restore our spring-fed creek with a native corridor planted with our own trees. This day was run in conjunction with Watercare and part of the Meola Creek Restoration. The planting day was a huge success and adds to the work the students have put in with Year 10 Outdoor Education students planting 800-plus trees in the adjoining wetland. Out of school time, the Environment Group put in some real hard yards spending time “gapping up” with plants in the existing planting, and weeding and staking trees. Their effort was rewarded with a lunchtime barbecue but the true reward will be seen with flourishing natives in the years to come. The stream planting gives a small indication of the work the primary industry is putting in to become stewards of the land. This little farm in the middle of the city is becoming much more representative of our regions, which provide the country with so much. We have a few more projects to come for modernisation, so watch this space. Our neighbours saw some large machinery driving around the farm during the first lockdown and recent comments from them give me confidence that it was all worth it. The tractors were sowing new grass and mulching stale Kikuyu grass to provide better pasture for our animals. The dairy cows have produced 15-20 litres of milk per cow per day – more than double last year, allowing us to raise 30 calves. These have been sold to lifestyle blocks and our new trailer has made delivery easy. The lambs have been growing flat out this year and have enjoyed very favourable conditions and new grass. The students have kept on top of their animal health issues by vaccinating and drenching, which provides much entertainment in our covered yards. I am still looking for a student who can crutch the sheep so I can supervise and encourage rather than carry out this task! My back and hamstrings are still suffering!
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I have four new staff for next year to allow me time off and to do work when needed. These are top Year 12 students Phoebe Hunt, Hayden Breen, Bonnie Von Trott and Luke Campbell. The employment contracts are a great reward for studying agriculture during their time at MAGS. As sad as I am to let the outstanding 2020 staff members go, I am excited to see what opportunities will come for the 2021 crew. As the year nears an end, I want to thank all of the students who have made 2020 enjoyable. I wish all of those Year 13 students heading to university to find a career in Agri-food and Fibre all the best. There are so many opportunities! – Peter Brice, Farm Manager
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RUGBY
Michael Fatialofa (2006-10) has made a remarkable comeback from a horrific spinal injury suffered during an English Premiership rugby match in January. Videos of him walking again in May went viral after he suffered a vertebrae fracture and spinal contusion while playing for Worcester against Saracens. Doctors have dubbed his recovery ‘a miracle’ after he was stretchered off the field and spent three weeks in intensive care. Michael (pictured below) played in MAGS’ 1st XV from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he was captain of the team that won the Auckland Championship, the New Zealand Championship and the Moascar Cup. He was selected for the New Zealand secondary schools team that year as well. From 2011 to 2014 he played for Southland and then returned to play for Auckland from 2015 to 2018. He also played for the Hurricanes from 2016 to 2018, with the team winning the Super Rugby title in 2016. In 2018, he signed with the Worcester Warriors. He completed his rehab in early June and walked out of an English spinal unit to be hugged by his wife Tatiana. Since then, he has been back training with the Worcester Warriors.
Irae Simone (2009-13) was named in the Wallabies squad for the first time in September and made his test debut against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup games. Irae, who played rugby for MAGS’ 1st XV and was Victor Ludorum in his final year, has been making a name for himself across the ditch playing inside centre for the Brumbies. The 25-year-old moved to Australia in 2014 and spent two years playing rugby league with South Sydney U20s before switching back to rugby with a Sydney club then joining the Waratahs in 2017. Last year, he signed with the Brumbies and scored three tries in 17 appearances. Two more Albertians have made their debuts for the All Blacks, with prop Alex Hodgman (2007-11) and winger Caleb Clarke (2012-16) joining Jack Goodhue (2010-13) and Nepo Laulala (2006-08) in the national team. Alex and Caleb were both impressive for the Blues in Super Rugby Aotearoa, and Sevens star Caleb was a standout in the North-South game. Caleb made his debut off the bench against the Wallabies in the drawn Wellington test, and Alex came off the bench in the All Blacks’ second test win at Eden Park. Caleb’s strong debut off the bench helped to secure a starting spot in the second test and he justified that with a barnstorming performance that saw him get a standing ovation when he left the field. With Irae Simone lining up against the four All Blacks, five Albertians took the field to play international rugby at Eden Park.
CORRIDORS
ALBERTIANS IN SPORT
SOFTBALL
NETBALL
Congratulations to Maddy Gordon (2016-18), who was named in the Silver Ferns squad in August, and joins fellow Albertian Maia Wilson in the national squad. The call-up follows Maddy being named the MVP in the final as her Central Pulse team won the ANZ Premiership title over the Tactix. Maddy was MAGS’ Victrix Ludorum in 2017, having excelled in a number of sports at MAGS, including netball. The Silver Ferns played a three-test series against England in Hamilton in October and November but Maddy did not get on court.
Albertian Cole Evans (2011-15) has been named captain of the Black Sox at age 22 and will lead the team at the 2022 Softball World Cup in Auckland. Cole, who plays shortstop, has already played at three World Cups, winning a silver medal as a 17-year-old at his first senior world championships in 2015 (while still at MAGS), and taking home a gold medal at the 2017 world tournament. In 2018, Cole and his older brother Rhys were part of the Black Sox’s Intercontinental Cup winning team in Prague. His grandfather, Stu Kinghorn, coached the MAGS Premier Softball Boys to many NZSS titles and was a New Zealand representative himself in 1970. THE LION
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FROM THE
Archives Gordon Lindsay Weir, pupil, 1922-1926; master, 1938-1978. Died 31 October 2003 Lindsay Weir was one of 155 boys at Auckland Grammar School who were told by the Headmaster, JW Tibbs, on the first day of school, 1922-1926 that they were no longer living in the redrawn Grammar boundaries and must report, the following day, to the new school in Mount Albert.1 Thus began a life-long association with Mount Albert Grammar School. “By 1926 he had done the hat trick and was captain of the First Cricket XI, captain of the First Rugby XV and Head Prefect.” 2 He attended what was then called Training College and went on to do a parttime BA at Auckland University College while teaching in primary schools. On the sporting front he played rugby for Grammar Old Boys and cricket for Eden. He was an Auckland rugby representative in 1930 and 1932, but it was in cricket that he really shone. He was a New Zealand cricket representative from 1930-1937. He played against the MCC in New Zealand in 1930, 1933 and 1936, and against South Africa in 1932. He toured England with the New Zealand team in 1931 and in 1937, and he played in eleven tests.3 He returned to School to teach and stayed for 41 years, punctuated by war service. He fought with 21 Battalion in the Middle East and Italy, rising to the rank of Captain. Along with other colleagues serving overseas, Mr Weir was not forgotten by his colleagues at home. It was resolved at a staff meeting on 12 July 1943 4 “to levy a shilling a month to send a parcel in rotation to Major Boulton, Captain Scott, Captain Hardy and Lieut. Weir, in that order, each month.” On his return he coached the First XV and the First XI. He was an Auckland cricket selector and was the coach of the New
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Zealand Colts on a tour of Australia in 1956.5 On the retirement of JG Brown he became head of the English Department. “During this period the school gained its share of successes in University and Lissie Rathbone Scholarships and many a boy whose name did not appear on the scholarship lists has reason to be grateful for periods spent in A8” [now called A10].6 In 1962 he became First Assistant, a position later called Deputy Headmaster. In the following year he was awarded a Woolf Fisher Fellowship which enabled him and his wife, Betty, to travel to the US, the UK and Europe for three months.7 There had been a radical change in the English curriculum, embraced by younger members of the staff. Mr Weir “continued to teach English with a magnificent disregard for NESC, although he remained on speaking terms with some of its perpetrators.” 8 Although he officially retired in 1966, he continued to teach until finally hanging up his gown in 1978.
He was the guest of honour at the 1979 Old Boys’ Dinner. He was a regular attendee at the Old Old Boys’ quarterly luncheons (The Lunch Bunch) and he was one of 14 original men to be inducted into the Mount Albert Grammar School Hall of Distinction, which was established during the seventy-fifth jubilee celebrations. The entry “Gordon Lindsay Weir (19271947)” appears on the Eden Park Centennial Walk established in 1999.9 Before his death, on the Eve of all Saints, he was, at 95, the world’s oldest living test cricketer. Such are the facts, but what of the man? As first Assistant/Deputy Headmaster he took the daily afternoon assembly. Often there were notices, very occasionally there were thanks or praise and, more frequently; home-truths: “Some silly fellow dropped a half-eaten pie on the stairs and some other silly fellow stepped on it. Don’t do that!” Alan Burton was the editor of The Albertian in 1963 when Mr Weir wrote a
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Lest it be thought he was a grump, he could be positively benign; though he was usually a splendid mix of the genial and the acerbic. John Mowlem, who had been in the First XI for five years and was captain for three, was in his final year when Mr Weir retired as coach in 1961. In his captain’s report in that year’s The Albertian he wrote: “One thing that has been left unsaid for too many years is a word on our cricket coach. After five years of coaching by him one cannot fail to see the evergreen qualities of his character. Everyone has at some time heard, “Pitch it up or you’ll hit your toe” or “What are those funny things you’re bowling?” or “Get off your tail and
Lindsay Weir touring with the New Zealand Cricket team.
Lindsay Weir with wife Betty and son John.
RCJ STONE, Tradition and change, Mount Albert Grammar School: the first seventy-five years, Auckland, 1997, P15. 2 TG Moorcraft, in The Albertian, 1966, pp4-5. 3 NAC McMillan, Tradition and Change, Mount Albert Grammar School: the first seventy-five years, Auckland 1997, p398. 1
HL Calder, Common Room minutes Vol 2, commencing 1938, n.p. 5 Nac McMillan. Loc.cit. 6 TG Moorcraft, loc.cit. 7 TG Moorcraft, loc.cit. 8 EB Murphy (ed), The Albertian, 1979, p2. 9 New Zealand Herald, 23 July, 1999, p11. 4
pull that roller over here!” However, I’d rather Mr Weir than anybody else and that goes for all of us.” 11 And that’s the nub of it. For everyone who has spent a professional life-time working in a school the only judges who really matter are the pupils whose lives one influences. In that regard Dad, Weir was a spectacular success. – Brian Murphy, Archivist
CORRIDORS
three-page Editorial of his Woolf Fisher Fellowship trip. It was in the days of letterpress and a corrigendum appears. Dad Weir was incandescent but was mollified when a shaken Alan produced an immediate cyclostyled corrective. Butch Brown said of him: “He completed 40 years of teaching at the end of 1966 but stayed on to give English and French pupils the benefit of his quiet sarcasm and cool judgment”.10 It wasn’t just pupils; many a staff member – and I was one – got an earful from time to time. There was no malice in it. It was just that there were two groups of people in the School; a handful like Dad Weir and the rest of us who were often not up to scratch.
Mr G L Weir, member of the 1931 New Zealand cricket team to tour the United Kingdom. Ref: 1/1033071-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
Lindsay Weir playing for New Zealand.
JG Brown (ed), Mount Albert Grammar School Golden Jubilee 1922-1971, Auckland 1971, p108. 11 J Mowlem, in The Albertian, 1961, p38. 10
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MAGS Centenary
Mark your diaries as booked out for our Centenary Celebrations from Monday, 9 May to Saturday, 14 May, 2022. MAGS will be hosting events across the week, both at MAGS and off-site. We will have a mix of events, some will be ticketed and others free to attend. Most of the events to attend will be held from the Wednesday through to the Saturday. Our aim is provide a breadth of opportunities for us to showcase the school as it is in 2020, as well as the chance to reconnect with fellow alumni across the decades. We have exciting merchandise opportunities planned and a wonderful selection of activities. There will be a relaxed ‘pub style’ evening that we encourage all ages to come to – a chance to reconnect and reminisce. Our focus is to provide lots of different opportunities for alumni connection that will work for our large and diverse community of alumni. If you haven’t already, go to the MAGS website and sign up to the Centenary database to stay up to date with developments and announcements: https://www.mags.school.nz/mags-centenary-celebrations/
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LIONS OF 2020
Farewell and good luck to our Year 13 students
KEY DATES 2021 TERM 1 2 February Tuesday Year 9 students only start school 3 February Wednesday Full school in 15 April Thursday Last day of classes for Term 1 16 April Friday Staff Only Administration Day End of Term 1
TERM 2
3 May Monday Start of Term 2 8 July Thursday Last day of classes for Term 2
9 July Friday Staff Only Administration Day End of Term 2
TERM 3 26 July Monday Start of Term 3 30 September Thursday Last day of classes for Term 3 1 October Friday Staff Only Administration Day End of Term 3
TERM 4 18 October Monday Start of Term 4 8 December Wednesday Junior Prizegivings Last day of classes for Term 4
9 December Thursday Staff Only Administration Day 10 December Friday Staff Only Administration Day End of Term 4
2021 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
25 April Sunday Anzac Day (holiday observed on Monday, 26 April) 7 June Monday Queen’s Birthday 25 October Monday Labour Day
1 February Monday Auckland Anniversary Day 6 February Saturday Waitangi Day (holiday observed Monday, 8 February) 2 April Friday Good Friday 5 April Monday Easter Monday
Please refer to our website www.mags.school.nz for the full Calendar, including all sporting events
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