corridors - Mount Albert Grammar School
Transcription
corridors - Mount Albert Grammar School
VOLUME 7.No2 T E R M 2 . 2 0 1 2 W W W. M A G S . S C H O O L . N Z THE HEADMASTER Quarterly On the cover: On the occasion of the 90th Jubilee Celebrations Deadline for Term 3 Quarterly Week 6: All articles and photos (JPEGS must include student names) to the headmaster’s PA Jocelynne Bower jbower@mags.school.nz Mount Albert Grammar School Alberton Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025 T (09) 846 2044 F (09) 846 2042 E headmaster@mags.school.nz www.mags.school.nz VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 School Contacts Deans 2012 Email Dean of Year 9 Boys Mr Andy Belson abelson@mags.school.nz Dean of Year 9 Girls Ms Va Anisi vanisi@mags.school.nz Dean of Year10 Boys Mr Gavin Milne gmilne@mags.school.nz Dean of Year10 Girls Ms Helen Sutcliffe hsutcliffe@mags.school.nz Deans of Year11 Ms Jess Lythe jlythe@mags.school.nz Mr Martin Wrightmwright@mags.school.nz Deans of Year12 Mr Andrew Simpson asimpson@mags.school.nz Ms Natasha Phynnphyn@mags.school.nz Deans of Year 13 Mr Greg Cave Headmaster’s Report 3 Staff News 4 Special Assemblies 5 International Students 6-7 Academic News 8-9 Student leadership 10 The Arts 11-13 E Block Stages 2 & 3 14 Single Sex classes 15 Sports 16-21 Corridors 22-26 Calendar 27 Enrolment Details 2013 28 gcave@mags.school.nz Ms Catherine Horne chorne@mags.school.nz Attendance Officer Mrs Ellen-Jane Waetford attendance@mags.school.nz ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION Term 3 classes begin on Monday 30 July at 7pm. Course and enrolment details are on the school website www.mags.school.nz and click on to Community Education. Brochures are also available in local libraries or contact Jan (09) 8462044 ext 8153. Fax: (09) 8462042. Email: jspringett@ mags.school.nz We are continuing to offer a variety of languages including NZ sign language, English as a second language, French, Italian, Maori, Samoan and Spanish. Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Albertians & the Wider Mount Albert Grammar School Community, Term two has been another fantastic term for the school. Many of my colleagues often remark on how busy Mount Albert Grammar School is on most days of the week when they come to visit, usually to watch their school play sport. All afternoons seem busy but none more so than Wednesdays with up to four premier teams playing at home and a large number of other games and practices taking place. It’s not just sport that is happening. The arts and performing arts areas are full and the homework centre is busy also. The best part, for me, is to see the students really enjoying being at school and taking part in these co-curricular activities. In schools like ours, although co-curricular activities are very important, the most important part of our work occurs in the classroom. Once again, our results are outstanding and, as the next Metro magazine will show, we are performing far above similar types of schools and rate with the very best in Auckland. There has been a lot of debate recently about the “decile” status of schools. Deciles (a number 1-10) are attached to schools for funding purposes as the decile reflects the average socio- economic status of the families that attend. A one on the scale is attached to those schools in the poorest communities while a ten is attached to schools in the most wealthy communities. The lower the decile the more funding, per student, each school gets from the government. In my opinion, this information does not need to be made public as a decile in no way describes what a school is like in terms of teacher quality, school tone and pride, expectations, academic results, co-curricular performance and student well-being. These factors are far more important than the wealth of the families that send students to any particular school. Our school is a decile 7 school and, while that is probably a true reflection of the average socio-economic status of our families, it is in no way some sort of mark out of 10 for our performance in the key areas mentioned above. We are a “10” in many areas and, where we are not, we are working hard to improve our performance. We are not satisfied with ourselves, no matter what the results, and will always look for ways to continue to improve. In the same way that a top athlete will always be looking to go higher or faster, we will continue to work on all our programmes to maintain the cycle of continuous improvement. The Headmaster, Dale Burden Our 90th Jubilee celebration was a great success and my thanks go to Development Director, Chris Long, and Development Office Admin Assistant, Maree Pulevaka, for their excellent leadership and organization. The Old Boy and Girl Albertians who attended were absolutely thrilled to see their old school in such great heart. For some, it was the first time that they had returned for many years and they were amazed by the changes. Although there have indeed been many changes, the really important things such as the traditions and values have stood the test of time and are still being delivered as they always have been, albeit in a 21st Century context. The presentation of the “Jubilee Cup” by St Kentigern College was a very generous gift and will now be contested over a range of sports in the future. We look forward to the ongoing battles between two great coeducational schools. Stage two and three of the English and Arts Block came on-line after Queens Birthday weekend. The opportunity to create a modern learning environment for the Arts, English and Media Studies has been seized. The facilities are outstanding and, when stage 4 is handed over at the end of the year, these departments will have areas second to none. The ongoing modernization of the school is made possible by some government funding, but the most important component is the excellent management of school finances and the student fees (both subject and sports) and parental donations that are received. The contributions that our community makes continue to make up the difference between what the government gives us and what we need to keep pace with the basics of a learning environment fit for the 21st Century. Thank you for your ongoing support. Per Angusta Ad Augusta We also have Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Dancing, Hairdressing, Photography, Pilates and Yoga, M.Y.O.B, Photoshop and more. I look forward to meeting you as you continue on your life long learning experience. Please let me know if there are any classes you would like us to run that are not already on our programme. Jan Springett. Community Education Co-ordinator. 2 Proudly sponsored by Anne Duncan Real Estate Ltd. MREINZ LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT (REAA 2008) VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 3 Staff News Advanced Study Mr Evan Gray, our International Director, recently received a ‘Master of Advanced Study’ degree from Cambridge University in England. Mr Gray, who was on a business trip to Europe, visited Clare College, Cambridge, where he previously studied Mathematics. While there he was presented with his degree certificate by the acting Master of Clare College, Professor Paul Cartledge. Cambridge University is regularly ranked among the top Universities in the world. Support Staff The Careers Department welcomes Cecilia Pedersen who has transferred from her previous position as Student Centre Receptionist. Rose Akava has taken up the latter position (from Papatoetoe Central School) and has settled into the Student Centre with ease. One of our library assistants, Indrani Koggalahewa, has resigned to travel with her husband to Papua New Guinea and Linda Robinson (ex-Staffroom Attendant) has stepped into her role. Ann Dempsey, who relieved in the staffroom while her mother was off on sick leave, has taken up Linda’s vacated position as part time Staffroom Attendant. The Sports Department farewelled Irene Malone (Sports Administrator) early this term and welcomed Maxine Johns into that position early in May. Maria Cross has joined us from De La Salle College in the ESOL department as a teacher aide. Finally, the Science Department has been joined by Marya Hashmatt as Laboratory Assistant and Diane Beere has resigned from her job-share position as school nurse. Teaching Staff Helen Prangnell has joined the Mathematics Department this term. Her background is in accountancy and she was Director of Professional Standards at the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants before deciding to return to Mathematics, her “first love”. Judy Lawry took up the position of HOD, Careers at the beginning of Term 2. With a teaching background in Social Studies and Geography she has also gained qualifications and experience in the Career Development area. Lynn Lacy-Hauck’s academic background includes the completion of a Master of Arts Degree in Arts Management (2001). Although new to teaching, she brings her real world experiences, combined with her love of education, to the English Department at Mount Albert Grammar. Jane Norridge left us during the term to become a subject advisor with Arts practitioners in the Waikato/Bay Of Plenty region. She will be assisting schools to facilitate their own Professional Development. 4 Parents and caregivers (“MAGS Parents”) are an integral part of the MAGS community. It is important that, as a parent, you feel you are part of this community so why not come to our friendly and informal meetings to find out what is happening at the school? Each session has a presentation on specific topics from members of MAGS staff followed by an opportunity for parents/caregivers to ask questions about any aspect of the school and to raise any concerns. The school welcomes our feedback to ensure our children’s needs are understood and met. John Pipe, Deputy Principal (Staff Development) is the staff liaison for MAGS Parents and attends the meetings to answer questions on any topic including pastoral care, exams, health, homework, NCEA, qualifications, school policy, sports, study, subject options, teaching methods, truancy, uniforms and education in general. MAGS Parents meetings for the remainder of this term will be held on: July 18th Wednesday 7.30pm Staffroom August 8th Wednesday 7.30pm Staffroom September 12th Wednesday 7.30pm Staffroom MAGS Parents contact: If you require more information or have any queries contact MAGS Parents Group by emailing our secretary Michelle Jackson on portjack@ihug.co.nz. ANZAC Day The traditional ANZAC school service was held on 23 April in The FW Gamble Hall with over 50 Albertians attending. Claire McCracken, a Year 13 student and the guest speaker, spoke about a relative who fought in the war. Other students played the trumpet and the cadets again impressed as the Guard of Honour. The Year 13 students listened respectfully while reflecting on the photos and speeches. On 25 April the prefects represented the school at the Mt Albert service at Rocket Park. Many of the adults present commented on their presence, demeanor and service. The organizers said it was the most impressive group of student helpers they had experienced. Although I expect this praise from our leaders, it is gratifying to have the community give us this feedback. Head Girl, Hayey Becht and Head Boy Keneti Ah KuoiAtmore with Ben Stallworthy at the MAGS memorial. Scholars’ Assembly 2012 2011 saw a concerted effort on the part of the teaching staff to encourage students to aim for Excellence and Merit in every assessment opportunity. While this had been part of the normal academic process within the school, making it a priority had a wonderful, if unexpected, consequence. 2011 produced a bumper crop of students achieving Academic excellence. A total of 214 students earned a Scholar Lion. To achieve a Lion a student had to achieve a GPA of 80 in their best 100 credits. The school is proud of the exceptional efforts of the teaching staff and so many students who took up the challenge and succeeded. Cautiously, we are optimistic that this may be the start of our dream to have a culture of academic excellence permeate the student body so that pride in excellent academic achievement becomes endemic. The Scholars’ Assembly took place at 2.00 p.m. on Friday 30 March and was attended by the Chairman and two members of the Board of Trustees, Lion recipients, Year 13 students, Year 9 and 10 students in the Academic Institute and over 250 parents and family. On a very warm afternoon the academic elite were honoured for their achievements. Most notable were the five students who earned three NZQA Scholarships and had their names inscribed on the Scholars’ Honours Board. This is the highest number added to the Board in a single year since 1972 when six names were added to the Board. The Scholar Lions of 2012 have the challenge laid down for them by their immediate predecessors. Senior Maori Assembly This was held on Monday 7th May - Focus on Senior exams. Miro Harre and Nathan Kara coordinated this assembly and introduced our guest speakers. We were pleased to see both Tatahi Rawiri-McDonald and Richard Ngata return to school to talk to Year 1113 students about preparation for University and the importance of exam preparation as well as decision making in regard to courses at University. Tatahi started his study with his focus in the area of Architecture but he soon realized that it was not what he wanted to do and is now enrolled in Law. He stated that it is important that you enjoy what you do and that you put the time into passing well in your subjects. University is very different from School. There are no teachers that follow up on whether you complete things, you have to be motivated to achieve for yourself. Richard spoke about having a clear direction and that he has set his goals as a pictorial. He showed it to us. He is in his second year at university and has been accepted into surgical medicine. He talked about how stressful it was in his first year not knowing whether he would be accepted into medicine. He had to achieve certain grades, however that is now history and he went on to talk about the fact he was going in to University and dissecting the shoulder of a cadaver. At school he said he had wanted to be surrounded by students that would challenge him academically so chose subjects like Physics, Biology and Chemistry. He had to work hard in these subjects to keep up with others in the class. Both students were Scholar Lion recipients and Prefects and we will follow them with interest over the next four years to see how they progress. Pacifika Assembly The five exceptional students are Joshua Lawrence, Nikhil Magan, Nicholas Parish, Elliott Varoy and Tea Williams, (pictured above). Heartiest congratulations on their endeavours are extended to them and their families. Parents and recipients enjoyed a scrumptious afternoon tea in the Staff Room after the assembly. Thanks are due to the Chairman of the Board who graced the assembly by his presence, Senior staff who made the occasion dignified and a worthy tribute to the success of the students, Matthew Battley, Briana Baker and Caitlin Davies, the Year 13 leaders of the Academic Committee, who acted as Masters of Ceremony, the 2011 Year 13 students who returned to celebrate their success with us and the parents who showed their unstinting support for their children. A very special word of thanks to Mrs Dimity Payne, Mrs Linda Robinson and Ms Ann Dempsey who prepared and served the afternoon tea and cleaned up afterward. Last, and by no means least, thanks and appreciation for going beyond the call of duty is extended to Ms Sheryl Collard, Mr Theo van Zyl and Mr Nicholaas Gedye for all they did behind the scenes. Mose’ati Mafile’o Year 13 Michael Jones The Pasifika committee organized assemblies for our MAGS Pasifika students to help encourage them to achieve academic success that reflects their true ability and potential. Michael Jones was inspirational in emphasizing that anything is possible when you want it badly enough and that every student can live the dream. However, he stresses that they must be prepared to sacrifice their time and prioritise what is important, - “Walk the Talk”. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 5 international International Students We have 121 international fee-paying students (75 boys – 19 in School House, 46 girls) from 15 countries: China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Chile, France, Germany, Indonesia, South Africa. Mainstream Class taster behind ‘Nek Minnit’ from Korea, and the eventual winners were ‘United Nations’, which was largely composed of our Japanese students. Well done to them and to everybody who joined in and a special mention for Dmitry Kawasaki who was the MVP. We are now looking forward to the football and basketball tournaments in Term Three. International Student Committee: International English Foundation Class get a taste of mainstream: Candy Wang has been very involved with the International English Foundation Class, which provides intensive English tuition for those of our incoming international students who are not ready for mainstream classes on arrival. She helps as both a peer-tutor at our after-school Study Centre and as peersupport twice a week at form period. Candy felt that these students would benefit from seeing how the rest of the school are taught and that this would help inform their future subject choices. After finding mainstream students who are studying the subjects the 13 International students wanted, and at the correct year level, Candy held a meeting to introduce the ‘buddies’ to the students they would host. Over the next two weeks, the Internationals then spent a full day in mainstream and were asked to write an account when they returned. Mainstream is a lot of fun and I can make many friends. Hiro Takasugi (Japanese) In Japanese I learnt how to introduce myself. When I choose a language I will choose Japanese. Sunny Kang (Korean) In maths I learned about algebra and it was a little hard for me but I sat next to my buddy and she helped me. Sophia Kang (Korean) Social studies is difficult. Dmitry Kawasaki (Russia) My buddy Ravindu is a friendly boy. I went into his form class. Yuyang Feng (Chinese) This proved to be a valid test of how ready the students are to move into mainstream. We have been able to see from their accounts how much they actually learned, or whether they just enjoyed the experience. It has opened their eyes and hopefully will motivate them to get where they want to go more quickly. Now they can really understand that “learn” is a verb – i.e., a doing word - and to learn English they must be actively using it. Volleyball Tournament: The first International Sports Tournament of the year was a great success with two girls’ teams, four boys’ teams and one mixed team taking part. ‘Chinese Boyz’ finished third 6 Introducing this year’s International Student Leaders –They will represent their fellow students on the International Student Committee, chaired by prefects Candy Wang and Takafumi Sen, and all have important roles to play in our sporting, cultural and social events. years ago, in conjunction with Mr Vovan, MAGS started a scholarship scheme to reward and support highperforming Vietnamese students. Mr Burden and Mr Gray visited the business Mr Burden, Mr Vovan, Mr Gray and former capital Ho Chi student Clark Pham Minh City and the political capital Hanoi. There they met agents and parents together with former students and prospective students. Mr Burden and Mr Gray thoroughly enjoyed the warm hospitality and the lovely Vietnamese food! Extra-curricular Activities Outside the classroom our students are involved in many different activities, including music, drama and sport. For example: Candy Wang is a Prefect and has been training in dance since age five. Sivach Panyarux (Thailand), Lu Chen (China), Trung Tuan Hoang (Vietnam), Chanmaly Van (Cambodia) and Seong Rok Oh (Korea). The Annual Auckland International Student Welcome In March the International Foundation Class went on a trip to Auckland Town Hall to join in this exciting and entertaining event. They were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor before listening to speeches from other International students. They then watched a local hip-hop crew and one of our students, Hirohisa Takasugi, joined them on stage to learn a few moves. It was also a great opportunity for the class to see the MAGS Kapa Haka group performing in such a beautiful venue to such a big and appreciative crowd. Not only were they given gift bags as they left, but two lucky students also won cool spot prizes – Dmitry Kawasaki got a Day Pass for Rainbow’s End and Youming Gao got a Day Pass for Snow Planet. After that it was off to Wendy’s for lunch. What a great day! Headmaster’s visit to Vietnam: Mr Burden visited Vietnam with Mr Gray and Mr Vovan, our school’s Vietnamese counsellor and guide, from 21 to 29 May. This was an opportunity for Mr Burden to visit one of the countries most important to the school. Our Vietnamese students consistently rank among our best academics and two Our International Girls visit Gladstone Primary School Two of our Year 13 international girls have applied to Auckland University’s Education Department to train as primary school teachers. Jing Wen Candy Wang and Quqier Cherry Gao visited Gladstone Primary School last year after being invited by the Principal to spend a day there. While there, Candy and Cherry were attached to a Year 1 class, for a day, with children aged 5 and 6. Candy said: “The teacher and children were so friendly! The children proudly showed us all their drawings and work. We went to assembly at 9am. The Year 1 students did a little chicken dance in yellow costumes - very cute. This year we had the opportunity to go back to Gladstone Primary, and we took Sirinapa Jern Chankabi (also Year 13) with us. We visited another Year 1 class and stayed with them for a day. International Dean, Mr Cole’s daughter was in this class. Our visit was a great experience and very helpful to us in focusing on our future careers.” The Year 1 teacher said: “It was a pleasure to have the (MAGS) girls in the class for a day, the kids loved them and they were so helpful!” Takafumi Sen is a Prefect and in our Premier Basketball team and is also a junior team coach. William Engle is a Prefect and passionate about media, he Candy Wang recently directed our school’s Shakespearean play. Nayuta Nagai is in our 1st XI Football Team. He has scored four goals in the first four games of this season, an outstanding start! Nayuta Nagai Homestays Required We welcome applications from caring Kiwi families within easy travel distance of the school to provide short-term or longerterm homestays for our international students, boys and girls. If interested or you require more information, please contact Mrs Corinne Brewer, Homestay Co-ordinator, Tel: 846 2044 extension 8187, Email: cbrewer@mags.school.nz VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 7 A cademic The National 2012 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for New Zealand Secondary Students is sponsored by the Chinese Government. It is for students learning Chinese in New Zealand schools and universities. The speaking competitions are administered through the Confucius Institute and held in regions followed by the national event. Only David Tuipulotu non-native speakers of Chinese can participate in order to encourage New Zealand students to continue to learn Chinese at school. Given that John Key was quoted as saying that “all students should be learning Chinese” and that one of the key focus areas in the Ministry of Education and NZQA this year is to “lift the achievement of Maori and Pacific Island students in our schools”, the winner of this year’s competition encompasses all aspects of this and should be celebrated as an excellent role model of Pacific Island achievement for other students to follow and be inspired by. On 12th May 2012, four Chinese language students from Mount Albert Grammar School competed in the Auckland Region “Chinese Bridge” Speech Competition. David Tuipulotu placed 3rd on that day, and, as one of the top four Auckland Regional winners, was invited to compete in the National Competition. He subsequently spent the next two weeks improving his speech pronunciation with the help of his teacher, Mrs Eva Liu, and another Year 13 Chinese friend. During that time he was also studying for his school exams plus, as part of the National Competition, he had to prepare a cultural item which was to be presented after his speech. Luckily for David, he is blessed with a lovely voice and an excellent ear for music so he chose a very difficult but highly popular Chinese song to sing for the judges. On Saturday 26th May, he flew to Christchurch with the other finalists to compete in the 5th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary students. His determination to succeed was rewarded by his First Place award in the National Competition. His prize is an all expenses paid study trip to Beijing for two weeks in November, after completing his NCEA Level 3 examinations. David hopes to emulate the success of another former pupil of MAGS, William Walker, who won the same competition in 2010 and who then went on to compete in the Tertiary Chinese Speech Competition in 2011 and won the top place. William’s prize was a fully funded three year University placement in any University in China of his choice. He is now living and studying in Beijing, thanks to the generosity of the Chinese Government, which sponsors these scholarships. David hopes to follow in his footsteps and be able to study in China also. David formally received his prize at the official prize giving on Tuesday 29th May at the Consulate-General’s Office of the Peoples’ Republic of China. 8 NZIC Auckland Regional Chemistry Challenge 30 teams of budding chemists competed for the right to represent the Auckland Region at this year’s National NZIC challenge. Questions such as “What element in its solid form will float on its liquid form?” and “How did Madame Curie’s husband die?” Auckland Grammar School won the event, but MAGS did an awesome job, gaining both 4th and 5th place. The 4th place team were Year 12 students Kuldeep Dalvi, Jamie Hucklesby, Sean Pearce and Nathan Van Dort. The 5th place team were Year 13 students Taliesin Budvietas, Jack Caldwell, Theo Drissner-Devine, Edward Hughes, Dhanasit Srijarmorn and Natasha Nipper. We look forward to next year’s Chemistry Challenge when our Year 12 team will be our Year 13 team. Will they be our winners? Year 13 History trip to the Waikato Between the 26th and 29th of March, two groups of students travelled south following in the footsteps of the Waikato war of 1863, accompanied by teachers Mr Gardner, Ms Fisher, Mr Cavanagh and Mr Pipe. Visiting a number of British and Maori fortifications on the way down, the students were able to see for themselves the land that was fought over and the tactics used by each side. Highlights included being escorted around the home of the Kingitanga movement, Turangawaewae Marae and staying at the Marae at Te Awamutu College. The students were able to use their research to support work on their internally assessed Achievement Standard upon their return from the trip. Special thanks to parent Ms Tracey Hoffman for providing an adult female perspective on the second trip. Year 12 Business Studies students work with the Albertians Year 12 Business Studies students have demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills and worked with the Albertians to developed memorabilia for the school’s 90th Jubilee celebrations. These products are for sale on the school website and via the Development Office. The students took the initiative in designing their products and are operating their businesses as a result of careful business planning and market research. Just like the “real” business world there have been some challenges and a lot of rewards. As teachers, it has been a joy to watch the students grow in their business knowledge and experience: making strong business proposals, analysing their market research, handling quotes from suppliers and maintaining financial records for their business. Element = Bismuth, Pierre Curie died when he was run over by a horse and cart. “Chinese Bridge” From left to right in the photo; Kuldeep Dalvi, Jamie Hucklesby, Sean Pearce, Nathan Van Dort, Jack Caldwell, Taliesin Budvietas, Dhanasit Srijarmorn, Theo Drissner-Devine. Absent: Edward Hughes, Natasha Nipper V48 Hours Film Festival A group of Year 11 students has won the schools’ section of the Auckland finals of the V48 Hours Film Festival, announced last night. They now go on to the grand final to be judged against the winning school teams from Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with the winner announced on June 30. The V48 Hours Festival requires competing groups to write, film and edit a 7-minute movie within 48 hours. The MAGS group were in competition with about 20 other school teams from around Auckland, including students older than themselves. The winning MAGS team is called “Hungry Lion Productions” and consists of the following students:Thomas Holmes, Jed Bradley, Josh Botting, Tobias Heeringa, Liam Rudd, Alex Bucton-Wishart and Jackson Hemi. Each team is given a genre at random. This team’s genre was “Horror”, and they turned in a hilarious zombie film that reviewers compared to Peter Jackson’s early splatter movies. You can watch via this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_UluWw5Npk Year 13 History students outside Te Awamutu Marae Auckland Writers and Readers Festival On the 9th and 10th of May, 40 students travelled to the Aotea Centre in town to listen to a range of famous writers talk about their lives and their work. Victor Rodgers, screenwriter for Shortland Street, was a highlight for most MAGS students. He spoke about where his inspiration comes from and the conflict he faces between his desire to write about Pasifika people in a way that subverts the stereotype, and the reality of writing for a show whose survival depends on maintaining the interest of its target demographic. The major lesson our budding writers and prolific readers learned was that potential plots arise from the most ordinary of circumstances. J.K Rowling has often stated her inspiration for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone came to her when she was on the train and that a move from the suburbs to the country, near the Forest of Dean, provided a location that offered a range of imaginative possibilities: magical creatures, mystery and intrigue. We all know the outcome of that story. Overall, it was an informative experience and some of the older authors like Mal Peet, were the most engaging speakers, proving that no matter how old you get, you never really forget what it is like to be young. Thanks to Ms McColl who organised the event and to Mrs Cutfield and Mrs Mason who accompanied the students to the Aotea Centre. Cup designed by Jonathan Alexander, Paige Goldsmith, Borna King and Joel Southey Cufflinks designed by Boyan Buha, Harrison Graham, Genet Hussein-Ahmed, Aneeqah Jacobs, Maisie Jones and Melissa Sevens Sports drink bottle designed by Shekynah Clarke, Ashen Hanthi, Nathan Kopua, Brody Lam and Thomas Rees License surround designed by Callum Davies, Daniel Johnston, Jan Penanaranda, Samuel Perry, Montel Sapatu-Perigo and Munaza Tariq Year 12 Business Studies Trip In order to see business theory, which the 12 Business Studies students have been learning in class, put into practice in a large New Zealand business, the students visited Mt Albert Pak’nSave. Here they were given a behind the scenes look at a supermarket and gained information on the many facets of running a business: promotion, marketing, legal implications, environmental sustainability, community consciousness and business operation. Thank you to Pak’nSave Mt Albert for so willingly sharing your business experience and taking time out to pass your knowledge on to the students. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 9 ACADEMIC Student Leaders Congratulations to Brianna Baker, Miranda Chase, Seiafi Sapolu, Vaidik Raj, and Jonathon Sinclair on their selection as prefects. They received their badges at assembly on Monday 2 April. Red and White Day The prefects’ Student Welfare Committee organised a fundraiser day to support the Red Cross, with the proceeds going towards providing the continuing essential support and humanitarian assistance in Christchurch. In addition to students paying to wear red and white mufti there were other events for the day, including a well-supported dunk tank (with Head of Classics Greg Cave pictured below), a bake sale, a quad concert and ice-cream stand. The prefects have counted $5,416.30 and wish to thank all for their support. Trivia Night On Friday 18th May the Academic Council held their first “Trivia Night” in the F.W.Gamble Hall. Around a hundred competitors, including students and parents, answered questions on rounds such as Geography, Sport and MAGS History. The scores were close all evening and in the end just two points separated the top three teams. The winners “But A Shadow” consisted of students Tal Budvietas, Edward Duncan, Edward Hughes, Daniel Dillon, Theo Drissner-Devine, Max Ashmore and David Tuipulotu. All the proceeds from the evening are going to the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand. The Academic Council are keen to make this an annual event. 10 MAGS Maori Careers Expo with Years 11 –13 This was held on the evening of the 14th May and was coordinated by Rangimarie Pomare, Maori Liaison at Auckland University. We were happy to see Maori providers from the following institutions: Maia Waetford, Courtney Tierney MIT, Unitec, Massey University, University of Auckland, South Seas Productions, Defence Careers, Auckland College of Education. A karakia by Reg Korau began the evening. A short welcome was given to the different guests who had made the time to attend and present. The Leader’s group of Aaron McLelland, Patrina Guptill and Raveen Nand were very well spoken and organized and introduced themselves with their pepeha. They were ably assisted by Miro Harre, Nathan Kara and Emma Bailey. The parents and students who attended were very pleased with the information shared by the different providers and the requirements needed to get entry to their different courses. The Auckland College of Education and the University of Auckland had large numbers of enquiries which bodes well for us in the field of Maori studies and education. However, all the presentations had great support and the students got some nice gifts to take away and information to ponder. All the parents were very upbeat and impressed with the presentations and the reports given by current students in the different establishments. Andre Colbert, Tahau Thompson, Dharyin Colbert The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award The Award is continuing to flourish at MAGS and, with it, its profile and awareness. We have recently launched it to Year 10 students and there has been a great response from both the boys and girls with over 60 students enrolling. This response has enabled and warranted more staff to become involved, with Mr Kotze and Miss Robertson coming onboard to help run the Award. Congratulations to the following students who have recently been presented with their Bronze Awards: Irene Wu, Oliver Brookes, Oscar Johnston, Phoebe Ross, Sarah Crowhurst, Alex Chaptynova, Gina Holden, Alexandra Dean. Silver Awards were presented to: Tim Rutledge and Laurelin Okan. During the start of this term, a group of 18 students completed their Silver practice expedition in the Waitakere Ranges. Thanks to Miss Robertson and Miss Pulham for their assistance in running this camp. T he arts Performing Arts Music This term has been a successful one for the Music department. Students have worked hard towards their mid-term examinations, and towards various competitions. Our Barbershop Choir, MAGS Lliam Powell, Felix Worner, Mosa’ati Q, and the Barbershop Mafileo, Joshua Atukaho Quartet have both won awards at the Auckland Young Singers in Harmony competition that was held on 1 June. They have both qualified for the National finals that will be held in late September. We wish them all the best. Performing Arts has had a very busy year so far in 2012 with some outstanding successes in assessment, competition and performances. ‘Hit The Ground Running’ Performing Arts Concerts In the last week of Term 1 we held a Dance Concert over two evenings at TAPAC Theatre in Western Springs. “Hit The Ground Running” presented the Year 13 dance production, which had students developing their choreographies around a story from the media and combining the dance with visual images chosen by them to support their themes. “Hit the Ground Running” also had items from Years 10, 11 and 12 Dance students for performance assessments, and Year 11 and Year 13 Drama students also presented some of their work. The concert was very well received and there were some outstanding performances, making the job of selecting items for the Youth Festival in May a hard one for our guest moderators. S.D.N.Z. National Dance Competition Seon Rok On, Paht Satjipanon, Felix Worner, Vilami Likiliki, Mosa’ati Mafileo, Kieran Woods, Braedon Schache, Lliam Powell, front row; Joshua Alukaho, Herrey Feliciano We have also had two groups competing at the National Chamber Trust Competition. They have both performed well and made us all proud. On June 9th, the Orchestra and Choirs represented the Music Department during the 90th Jubilee celebrations.On June 28th, we had our annual Music Department Concert, which featured talented young musicians. The theme was the “Evening of Love Songs”.At the end of Term 1, one of our teachers, Mr Francis, retired and we wished him all the best. His replacement is an incredibly talented musician and teacher, Mr Ben Sinclair, an Albertian. He is teaching the woodwind students and running the Jazz Band. Welcome back Ben! One of our itinerant teachers, Dr Vidulich, was on his sabbatical leave for most of Term 1 and 2 and his reliever was Mrs Bisley, who started the String Ensemble. We farewelled her in June, and welcomed back Dr Vidulich. Year 9 students Holly Grbich and Brooke Moody performing at “Hit The Ground Running” After a busy Term 1, the Easter break saw the 32 member MAGS Hip Hop Dance team practising in earnest for the Mega School National Competition held at Logan Campbell Events Centre on the final weekend of the holidays. The team was ably lead by Arts prefects Nathan Kara and Jennece Morris and they rehearsed each day of the second week of the holidays, from 10am till 4pm in the school gym. On the day of the event, the students were excited and certainly motivated to achieve. Their performance was fantastic with each of the dancers giving their all. Our team of 32 dancers was the largest by 12 and certainly the best presented team. MAGS finished a very close second to Aorere College in the Final. Mrs Cesan was very proud of all the team. However, special mention must go to the overall leader, Nathan Kara, who did an outstanding job of managing the rehearsal process and earned enormous respect from the whole team for the mature manner in which he lead them. The following day, 14 of the school crew members competed in the open Mega Crew Division as part of a 30 strong team (TMC) lead by former student, Joshua Cesan. These students practiced each day after school from 5-9pm at crew practice and managed to find the same energy that they had committed to the school team. For their efforts, they won the National Title (by three clear points) and the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the “World Hip Hop Championships” in Las Vegas in August. They have decided, however, because of school/University commitments and the cost of taking VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 11 T he arts Visual Arts Auckland Youth Dance Festival As the term started, dance students began working towards internal choreography and performance standards. A group also rehearsed after school, having been chosen to represent MAGS at the first Youth Dance Festival. The six items chosen were from the many performances that had been judged at an Excellence standard by the guest moderator in the Term 1 Dance Assessment Concert “Hit The Ground Running”. These were the Year 13 Group Dance - Harakeke, Media Merge Productions choreographed by Brosnan Ackerman, Olivia Cochrane and Branna Dawson, a duet choreographed and performed by Year 12 students Eikura William and Jan Penaranda and a scholarship performance by Year 13 student Caitlin Davey. The festival concert entitled “NO LEFT FEET” was held at Centennial Theatre on the 10th and 11th of May and MAGS Arts Committee provided the theatre staff, videographer and photographers for the event this year. Again, Mrs Cesan was extremely proud of both the standard of the MAGS performances and the demeanour and helpfulness of the committee members and prefects who assisted during the two concerts. Our appreciation goes to the Arts committee members who volunteered to assist, and special mention must go to Caitlin Davey and Olivia Cochrane, the Dance Festival representatives on the Arts Committee. Also thanks to Jennece Morris, the Head Prefects, Hayley Becht and Keneti Ah Kuoi-Atmore, and Vaidik Raj who carried out their jobs with maturity and efficiency. Thanks are also due to Matt Shelton and former student Laurelin Okan who stage-managed and Oliver Barnett for his assistance with sound and multimedia presentations. These festival concerts were a huge success and will now become an annual event. Members from the professional dance community were invited to give feedback for each of the performances and will select items that will be featured in a concert entitled “Secondary Colours” at Q Theatre as part of the Tempo Auckland Dance Festival in the first weekend of Term 4. Choreography by Aria Whyte –“Shadows Of Depression” Dancers; Aimee White, Claudia Howlett, Emma Pearce, Melanie Williamson and Charlotte Wilkinson Photo Jennifer Qiu Don Wu’s pencil portrait of footballer, Lionel Messi Sandiuini Peiris’s acrylic painting “Dust In The Silence” from Hit The Ground Running Choreographed by Matthew James. Dancers; Olivia Cochrane, Brosnan Ackerman and Sarah Reece Photo Jennifer Qiu 12 All Year 13 students visited the travelling Top Art show in June well as the Wallace Gallery at Pah Homestead in preparation for their folio submissions. Unbound – Art Exhibition Four accomplished art students from our school were accepted into the Unbound Art Exhibition in Ponsonby. Using books as the starting point, these emerging artists Megan Laxon’s altered book dissected, decorated and transformed their books into original art works. The students showed skill and creativity in their designs. They were competing for a position in the Art Exhibition against high school and tertiary students from as far away as Dunedin. Congratulations to Ruth Lever, Megan Laxon , Christian Tiatia, and Samantha Brake on their outstanding achievement. Thanks to Ms Ainsley Jones for supporting their endeavour. DRAMA On Saturday April 28th selected Drama students competed in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Competition held at The Performing Arts Centre in Western Springs. While none of the groups placed on the day, Ms Norridge was very pleased with both their preparation and their performances, and the groups received some excellent feedback. The Photography and Design classes have just moved into their spacious and smart new rooms. An amazing effort had been made in the preceding week by all art staff (and support staff) and not only were the classrooms functioning, the corridors were lined with work, the gallery hosted a Year10 “Whare Project” installation, the storeroom was organized and the library books were placed on shelves in time for the 90th Jubilee Tour. Thanks go to Edward Duncan and members of the art committee (facilitated by Mrs Mulgrew) who were extremely helpful in hanging the works. Students are very happy to be in the new rooms and are applying themselves with enthusiasm to the new environment. The Photography Studio has just been fully equipped with lights and back drops and there is now an amazing new professional facility in the school. We can’t wait to see the new work emerge! In May all Year 12 and 13 Painting students visited the Degas to Dali exhibition and were inspired by the breadth and skill of the work they saw. Two students, Sanduini Peris and Don Wu have had work accepted for the great NZ Art Show. Only 40 student works were accepted. YEAR 10 WHARE PROJECT; Inaugural installation in our new gallery space such a large team, to forgo the World Competition for this year. However, they have been invited to represent New Zealand at the “BodyRock Festival” in San Diego May 2013 and will be fundraising for this. MAGS students in this team were: Year 9 - Jono Osborn and Jackson Tuarae; Year 10 - Kit Alofa and Gabriel Sutton; Year 11 - Riley Bourne and Phoebe Wedge; Year 12 - Wairere Ma’afu Roberts, Marion Lavea, Eikura Williams, Jamie Foster, Matthew James, Michael James and Brosnan Ackerman; and Year 13 student Nathan Kara. 2011 Albertian, Cameron Cranston was also part of the team. ”War For What “ Choreographed by Nathan Kara. Dancers; Marion Lavea and Kit Alofa Photo Jennifer Qiu Year 13 Iona Schwalger, Photography teacher and Peter Harrison from Apix Photographic Supplies, who came in and offered comprehensive technical advice and instructions to all Year 12 and 13 classes for the lighting system in the new photographic studio. Ruth Lever took this portrait of her instructors. Ruth Lever, Megan Laxon, Christian Tiatia and Samantha Brake VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 13 ACADEMIC E Block Stages 2 & 3 Open for Teaching & Learning Single Sex Junior classes At Mount Albert Grammar School students have the best of co-education AND single sex education. Year 9 and 10 classes are single sex and streamed according to academic ability. This is because at this age boys and girls have quite different learning needs that are best addressed in single sex classes. Bottom floor of E Block looking towards the student gallery, staff work area, Art library resource room and design classroom. New English classroom upstairs Design room downstairs Photo; Brosnan Ackerman Media room upstairs In Year 11 the classes are generally co-educational and in Years 12 and 13 all classes are co-educational. This is a unique arrangement and designed to get the best out of both settings at the time when it is most appropriate. Individual departments modify content and teaching styles to meet the needs of the single sex classes. The students, staff and parents have all commented on the model as ideal. It is the best of both worlds. Recently a number of coeducational schools have visited Mount Albert Grammar School in order to gain information to assist them in deciding about making the change in their school. The School is now moving onto its next 3-5 year Development Plan. The teaching and learning in the junior school is a major focus as the school continues to improve and develop teacher pedagogy. Years 9 and 10 students at Mount Albert Grammar School will continue to benefit from excellent teaching in single sex classes in a co-educational environment. Large courtyard spaces and seating areas are a welcome change from the narrow fenced walkways while constructions was under way. Just the final wing to be remodelled now! Scaffolding on Stage 3 has just been erected. Bottom left photo; Brosnan Ackerman Year 12 14 Raipoia Kawhia JPuna In my opinion single-sex classes are good because boys and girls have different learning styles. Research shows girls benefit from an all girls environment at junior school. It prevents one group dominating the other and both groups can have opportunities for leadership. Seeing how well the Seniors interact means I am looking forward to the mixed classes in Years 11-13. Holly Grbich 9MSY I like having single sex classes because I feel more confident knowing that I don’t have to worry about what boys think. I find that having single sex classes encourages everyone to participate, therefore we all get the best of our education. I look forward to mixed classes at senior school, when we are more confident. Brianna King 9MSY I really appreciate having single sex classes because I feel that it makes things so much easier. I find that being in single sex classes I am not easily distracted and that everyone seems to get along very well as we know what it’s like coming from the same gender. I have never been in a single sex class before and coming to MAGS and experiencing being in a class with all girls have really changed things, I feel that I am a lot more confident in participating because I’m not worried about what boys will think. I also am keen to move into the co-educational environment once I commence Senior School. Jackson Tuarae 9GIB Being in a single sex class has helped me out a lot. At Intermediate school all of my classes were coed. I’ve found that being in a class with just boys has helped me settle in a lot faster than Intermediate and it’s given me better grades because I can concentrate and listen to the teacher better. I look forward to Senior School when we have the maturity for co educational classes. Angus Scahill 9HDG I enjoy being in a boys only classroom because it gives us students the opportunity to work with kids that learn equally and at the same pace. It’s great being with just boys as we enjoy the same things and feel relaxed around each other. It is also a good way to make lots of new friends, like how I have so far this year. I think it’s a great way for us to mature and prepare for when we are seniors in co-ed classrooms. Liam Jordan 9KBR I find single sex classes exciting and enjoyable because you are learning with boys that are at the same level as you academically, without any social distractions. Also single sex classes keep you on task and ready to learn. It’s also an awesome challenge in Physical Education. I am looking forward to the co –ed class opportunities in Senior school. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 15 Sport SPORT School Cross Country Sports Round Up The annual school cross country races were held on Tuesday 1 May (Girls) and Wednesday 2 May (Boys). This event was a great success thanks to the great weather conditions. Congratulations to all students and staff who participated in this event. Badminton Girls Results: Junior First: Jacqueline Hand Second: Ana Moi Third: Monique Kost Boys Results: Junior Intermediate Rebekah Van Dort Nicole Lawrence Elizabeth Lyon First: Charles Dunn Second: Max Thomson Third: Milan Bonkovich Intermediate James Stacey Haylen West Aaron Booth Senior Rachel Lund Caitlin Donaldson Hayley Becht Senior Matthew Battley Matthew Vercoe-Curtis Nicholas Bailey AKSS Cross Country The school was well presented at this year’s event, which was once again held at Saint Kentigern College on Tuesday 29 May. MAGS had 24 students competing in this event. The course started in good condition but became very heavy under foot as the day progressed. All students represented the school with Junior boys – Charles Dunn, Max pride and ran very well. Thompson, Milan Bonkovich The outstanding achievement of the day came from Year 13 student Matthew Battley who placed 9th in the Senior Boys’ race. Many of the students running in this event also represented the school at NZSS Cross Country that was held over the same course on June 16th. There are 11 teams playing at all levels of the competition this season. They are great MAGS ambassadors, being enthusiastic and demonstrating good sportsmanship. Above all they enjoy the game. We have ‘club night’ on Thursday after school where you will see students peer coaching and having fun. Our Premier team has had a particularly good start to the season winning all but one game that they narrowly lost to the Auckland Grammar team. Our number one player, Riga Oud has just returned from an Under 19 International tournament where he won the doubles. Congratulations to Riga. Also Vivian Washington has been playing overseas in Australia at an International Tournament. We are looking forward to competing in the NZ Secondary Schools’ tournament this September in Christchurch. Basketball This season, several MAGS students were invited to the NZ U16 and U17 Selection Camp. Geronimo Doyle and Reuben Porter were selected for the U16 Boys’ Squad and Maia Wilson for the U16 Girls’ Squad. They will be traveling to the Australian State Championships in July. Keziah Lewis was also selected for the NZ U18 Women’s Team. Our nine school teams have started strongly with the Open Boys’ team winning all their games to date and the Premier girls’ only losing one game. Intermediate boys– James Stacey and Aaron Booth Junior Girls Ana Moi (2nd) Jacqueline Hand (1st) Monique Kost (3rd) BMX Michael Bias in Year 13 is currently ranked 2nd in the Oceania area and 12th in the World for Junior Elite Men. His goal is to represent NZ in the 2016 Rio Olympics. We will watch with interest to see if he is successful. Canoe Polo NZSS Cross Country Seven students represented the school held on the St. Kentigern’s course that was used for the Auckland championships. This was a great opportunity for our students, being so close for us to travel to. The fields were the biggest they have been in a long time with the senior boys having 226 runners. Our results were – Jacqueline Hand 22nd in Year 9 Girls, Max Thomson 19th in Year 9 Boys, Elizabeth Lyon 48th in Junior Girls, James Stacey 114th in Junior Boys and Matthew Battley 15th, Nick Bailey 158th and Kieran Woods 204th in the Senior Boys. 16 For the second year in a row the Mount Albert Grammar School Senior Canoe Polo Team got through to, and competed in, the New Zealand Canoe Polo Schools’ National Championship, which was held over 3 days at the Makino Aquatic Centre in Fielding (30 March –1 April). The team under the expert coaching of Mr Andrew Candy and captained by Marshall Norbitt (Year 11) bonded well and acquitted themselves well against some very experienced opposition. We only managed to achieve 7th in the Senior Open Div. 2. The MAGS team of seven students never gave up and fought valiantly in every game, winning the respect of their peers. Playing Wellington College. Joshua Bougen, Marshall Norbitt and Jarrod Wilson Tim Lund, Laurence Kerby, Sean Pearce and Guy Hirst Olivia Morgan Day, Sarah Crowhurst and Kate Wislang Cycling The main focus in Term 2 was the Auckland Secondary Schools’ time trial series, which has found a new venue around Airport Oaks. There have been two events so far. We have entered four teams in both events, two Senior boys’, a Senior girls’ and a Junior boys’ team. In the second event, three of the four teams improved their times and their overall standings. The Senior girls’ team knocked more than 4½ minutes off their time. Three riders in that team of five are brand new to cycling and their progress Matthew Battley, Keiran Woods (behind) Nick Bailey. At the start of the senior boys’ race at NZSS Cross Country held at St. Kentigern’s. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 17 S port Sport is really exciting. The Junior boys’ team also has many new faces and they are improving really quickly as well. The North Island Championships are on the 30th June and 1st July and we hope to have both individual and team entries in that event. grading rounds have been completed, with the draws for the rest of the season due to soon be released. We have fielded thirteen teams this year and thanks go out to all the Coaches and Managers that are keeping these teams up and running. Girls’ Hockey Girls’ Football Girls’ Football has started strongly with new Director of Girls’ Football, Paul Marshall, overseeing all teams, academy classes and coaching the 1st XI. The 1st XI had several pre-season matches, including a game against the NZU17 girls’ team. This was a special occasion for the MAGS girls with the field in perfect condition and plenty of support from parents and friends. The girls battled away and, though they came away with a loss, they played well and did themselves proud. The season has now been underway for five weeks and MAGS is fielding a record seven girls’ teams this year. The 1st XI girls have come away with maximum points and only conceded one goal. The 2nd XI, Jnr A and Jnr B teams have also been unbeaten this season. Girls’ Hockey has started strongly. The Premier team has a considerably different line up from last year’s team, having lost five Year 13 players. However, the team, while relatively youthful, has a core of experienced players in their fourth season together, with the addition of some very exciting new talent, in particular Auckland U18 player Hannah Elia. This team is led by Briar Tippett with the very able assistance of Hannah Ward. They are on track to make the Intercity B competition, no mean feat in what is arguably New Zealand’s strongest secondary school competition. The Girls’ 2nd XI has played 3 games, winning 2 of these, drawing the 3rd, and conceding only 1 goal so far this year, which is very satisfying for their new coach, Ms Sharne Roberts. Grading games are almost over for the Under 15 teams with one team performing especially well. We are fortunate this year to have the assistance of Mrs Karen Blanchard and experienced senior students Ruby Mansell and Scott McPherson to coach these teams. As well, experienced goalies from both the 1st Girls’ XI and the Boys’ teams are providing specialised training. It is exhilarating to watch the confident way that our younger players respond to good coaching. Nicole Lawrence and Jade Parris (10) playing NZ U17 team Boys’ Football Excellent progress has been made so far this season with the 1st XI, U13 and U15 teams making it into the Knock Out Cup Quarter Finals. The 1st XI is currently top of the league and Connor Stoton 18 1st XI Girls playing on the new turf at Diocesan Boys’ Hockey The 1st XI team have started the season off by winning all their games so far and are on track to make the top Intercity Competition. They are being coached this year by Black Sticks, Arun Panchia and Old Boy Thomas Guy. Daniel Panchia represented Auckland at the Under 21 Tournament and will be in the Under 18 side along with Mitchell Bascombe. Jonathon Sinclair and Terry Gada are in the Auckland Under 18 Development side. The 2nd XI and Under 15 teams are very competitive in their respective grades. The Under 15s have made it into the A Division which we have not done for a long time. Lacrosse Again, we have two girls’ teams competing in the local competition. In our top side we have three NZ representatives, Amelia Scharting, Briar Tippett and Olivia Hext. They will travel to Melbourne to help overcome the Australian opposition. Netball Year 9 & 10 Netball North Harbour Tournament Year 10 Final V Westlake Girls’ High School 29-11 Year 9 Final V Westlake Girls’ High School 23-15 Once again our teams dominated this Jamie-Lee Price on defence Tournament. It shows the huge depth we have in our junior ranks. Stand out performances during the day, in the Year 10 team, were from Kayla Kiss in the shooting end and, in defence, Semira Van der Made, Felicity TeAhuru-Kakahi and Taunten King. Ms Natalie Absolum made numerous changes and this did not stop their flow at any stage of the games. The Year 9 team enjoyed the opportunity to bond as a group and try different combinations. They were just as dominant. Consistent performances from TeUranga Royal, in defence, and Leilani Folau and Latisha Isaako in attack were pleasing to see. Opposition coaches and parents came up after games to commend the girls on their skills and sportsmanship on the court. Netball North Harbour Tournament - Premier Girls. This was our first hit out since the College Netball match against St Kentigern College. The team was very excited, especially with Nadia Loveday (NZ U21) returning to the court for the first time in nearly a year since a knee injury last season. It was a nervous start against Baradene College with all players making a few errors and tied 9-9 at half time. Captain Rebekah Roache took charge, demanding discipline and control from her team. With changes made MAGS pulled away to win convincingly 24-15. From then on MAGS grew with confidence and picked up the intensity running every ball down on defence and all shooters scoring from anywhere in the circle, beating Rangitoto College 24-10 and St Cuthbert’s College 27–7. In the final MAGS had to play Westlake Girls’ High School. Meretini Fuimaono at Goal Attack took charge of the attacking end with her accurate shooting and play making. In the mid-court Rebekah Roache, Destiny Grace and Nadia Loveday proved too fast and skilful for Westlake. Jamie-Lee Price and Holly Fowler shut down the Westlake shooting circle, taking intercepts and unsettling the shooters. Changes were made at half time and Jamie Sowter, Alanis Toia and Shekynah Clarke were brought on and MAGS continued to dominate their opposition and won 28-11. All players took the court in every game and the girls deserved to feel pleased with their performances. This is a good start to the season for the MAGS Premier Netball team. Orienteering We have been very successful in this sport over the four months that it has been running. Kieran Woods gained maximum points in the Zone Sprint Series winning all races he competed in. Matthew Battley was 2nd (Senior Boys) in the Sprint Series Finals. Matthew Battley, Oliver Brooks and Kieran Woods won the Teams’ Relay Event and are the AKSS Senior Boys’ Champions and MAGS were 3rd in the Top Schools’ Boys’ competition. Kieran Woods placed 2nd in the AKSS Individual Championships (Senior Boys). Rugby MAGS have fielded 9 teams in this year’s competitions. The 1st XV have had a good start to their season with four wins, Michael Kelly, Bradley Moyer, Adam Batt, Cameron Rutherford. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 19 SPORT two losses and one draw. It is a long season and the team knows there will be many tough games to come, with the 1A competition being one of the strongest school competitions in NZ. Junior rugby is also looking very promising for the future of MAGS rugby with the U15 and U14 teams recording some very high scoring wins in their respective grades. Rugby League There were high expectations for MAGS Rugby League in 2012. Last year’s 2011 team set a precedent in winning the Nigel Vagana Trophy for the first time. The expectation for the 2012 team was high, as many of last year’s side had returned as Year 13 students. Pre-season fitness was done at the top (and on the sides) of Mt Albert as early as February and many a kilogram was lost in the hot sun. As the college season is very short (all over at the end of Term 2) it was important to ‘hit the ground running’ in the first game against Kelston and, to their credit, the MAGS boys came from a long way behind to draw with Kelston 18 all. Easy wins over Rutherford and Massey High School allowed some complacency to set in before the St Pauls game. MAGS underperformed against a very classy St Pauls side who went on to win 28-8. The low point of the season came the following week against Avondale College where MAGS lost 20-10 at Avondale. The boys vowed to respond and the following week thrashed Henderson High School 50-0 to finish the season in third place and a little frustrated at that loss to Avondale. Nevertheless, the season finished on a positive. The MAGS 1st XIII were lucky to have the services of league legend Steve Price, who assisted with coaching (and water boy duties), as well as having a massive off-field presence through his mentoring program ‘Price’s Pathways”. Coach Mr Jo Lundon steered the ship every week and deserves his reputation as one of the best secondary school coaches in Auckland. Former head boy of MAGS, Pete Ah Khoi, assisted Jo and with his expertise they made a formidable coaching team. The team was managed by Mr Rob Nikiel. Sailing Chelsea Rees, a Year 10 student, is the Best Female Under 16 sailor in NZ. She gained this honour by being the 1st placed girl and 12th overall at the 2012 Optimist Nationals held in New Plymouth over the Easter break. Softball MAGS Softball team had very successful season culminating in traveling to the National tournament in Lower Hutt where they came an outstanding third place. To top this off NZ Softball selected two MAGS boys Bradley Bennett and Callum Elson for the NZ Development Team that is traveling to Sydney in July. Jacob Hafford will also travel overseas, going to Brisbane and Sydney in September with an Under 17 side competing at an International Softball Association Tournament. Squash All seven teams are off to a steady start with the Boys’ Premier team currently in the middle of their grade, Senior B Boys and the Junior A Boys are in 2nd place, Junior A Boys are currently in 7th place and Junior B Boys are in the top half of the table in 4th place, Junior A Girls are currently in 4th place and the Junior B Girls are not far behind – all teams are enjoying the benefits of playing and training on the upgraded courts and the help of Auckland Squash who are providing Stuart Fraser for coaching. Swimming Rima Williams in Year 12 will be representing NZ at the Trans Tasman Tri Series to be held in Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Melbourne in June. She was selected for the NZ team after competing at the Olympic Trials held in Auckland in March. Tennis S port tournament. Three students played for Counties Manukau at the NZ Nationals and placed 1st in their respective grades. Kenzel Fa’aofo and Devante Toparea (Under 15 Boys’) and Idaho Purcel (Under 17 mixed). Idaho was also chosen to play in the New Zealand Under 17 mixed side. Trampolining MAGS took part in the Auckland Secondary Schools’ Trampolining on the North Shore in Browns Bay on 8 June 2012. Year 13 student Penny Bennett won the Individual Elite Grade and Kate Nicholson came 3rd in the Individual A Grade. Maeghan Cotton, Hannah Dabb and Kate Nicholson were 1st in the A Grade Teams Events. A fantastic result. winning one of four Outstanding Player of the Tournament awards. The boys also finished 4th and being a young side we can expect them to improve next year. Miranda has achieved National honours this year, making the NZ Junior Women’s side that competed in Adelaide at the U20 Australian State Championships and the NZ Schoolgirls’ squad who will play Australia in August. Our Junior team has been playing in a Senior competition to gain experience at a higher level. They finished a creditable 9th out of 16 and this will help in the development of the sport at school. Harness Racing While working for a Harness Racing Trainer (Paul Nairn) through the Gateway Programme, Jack McKinnon was asked to travel to Melbourne with a horse, settle her in and continue training her until the horse raced on Friday the 8th of June in the Victorian Oaks, which is a premier racing event. Amelia’s Ribbon Day Penny Bennett wins Gold Underwater Hockey There are six teams – Premier Boys and Girls, Senior Boys and Girls and two Junior teams. We are very lucky to have the expertise of previous and current NZ representatives as our Coaches. All teams competed at the Northern Regions Underwater Hockey Tournament on 14-16 June. Congratulations to Danyon Kemp and Matt Trevalyan for being selected for the New Zealand Underwater Hockey Under 19 team to compete in Australia in July 2012. Waterpolo Rawhiti Williams holding the NZ placard Rawhiti Williams, a Year 10 student, represented NZ in Malaysia at the World Junior Teams ITF Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying Event. He is currently the No. 1 seed in NZ for the Under 14 age group. Touch Five of our students have been added to the 2012 Elite Youth Academy. They are James Halley, Ethan Thompson, Danielle Pone, Charlotte Pritchard and Ashi Ponini. Caitlin Pritchard and France Bloomfield will represent NZ in the Under 15 Girls’ team who will play in the Australian National Youth Championships in NSW during September. Shannon Leota, Gloria Murray-Fiu and Jamie-Lee Price will represent NZ in the Under 17 Girls’ team at the same Our two premier teams competed in their respective National tournaments, the girls in Division 1 and the boys in Division 2. The girls finished 4th with Miranda Chase In May Amelia Eades competed in her first Special Olympics Swimming Ribbon Day. The competition was held in Te Awamutu with six different clubs from the Auckland region competing. She impressed the crowd with her beautiful form in the water and took away a first place in backstroke and a second in breaststroke. She also pulled the relay team from last place into third in their race. Her team, North Harbour, awarded her the certificate for best swimmer of the day. Ribbon days and regional games are prerequisites for participation in the National games and the World games both of which will be held in 2015. Samoan Independence Day On 1 June 2012 Samoans worldwide celebrated 50 years of independence. We gained independence from New Zealand on 1 Jan 1962 and celebrate Independence Day each year. Senior Samoan students from our school participated in Auckland Girls Grammar School’s Independence celebrations. The items, the plays, and the guest speakers, Miss Samoa and the Auckland Blues players of Samoan decent, contributed to the success of this notable milestone and helped promote Samoan Language Week. It was a colourful and vibrant affair of singing, dancing, workshops and speaking Samoan. The boys also wore their MAGS ie faitaga. Lharyzza Va’ai, Jahkeisha Annandale, Claire Patolo, Charlotte Unasa, Seiafi Sapoli, Sariah Clayton, Sitaya Maglo, Penelope Tonga, Cory Yandall, Solomon Falaniko, Mills Tonga, Tim Smith, Keneti Ah Kuoi-Atmore (Head Boy), Tavita Tavita,Braydon Kulatea, Jaidyn Taimailetane 20 VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 21 corridors THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MOUNT ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL ALBERTIANS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED No 30 July 2012 Mount Albert Grammar School Celebrates 90 Years This year is Mount Albert Grammar School’s 90th year and a range of activities was organised by the Albertians Association and the School, culminating in a Jubilee weekend on the 8th and 9th of June. Celebrations started on Friday the 8th of June with a large mix and mingle for ex-students, teachers past and present and other members of the extended Mount Albert Grammar family. Guests were hosted by the Albertians Association and by current pupils in the School Hall. More than 200 people attended, including ex-students, former teachers, long-serving staff and a number of distinguished ex-students including ex-All Blacks, top sportsmen, academics, politicians and business leaders. The function was very successful with much good-natured socialising. On Saturday the 8th of June the main event started with photographs being taken of attendees grouped by the decade that they attended Mount Albert Grammar. The first photograph captured a spritely group of gentlemen who left school in the 1930s! The most recent group consisted of pupils who left in the 1990s. It was fantastic to see a 60-year span of ex-students represented and the photographs will be a wonderful addition to our historical records. 22 Next attendees were invited to tour the School and the Farm. Senior students who performed their duties admirably, guiding their visitors around a series of displays and cultural performances led tour groups. The past students were very impressed by how the School has changed, by the displays and by the pride shown in the School by their student guides. At lunchtime, nearly 180 people sat down for a formal Jubilee luncheon in the School Hall. The catering was superb, the company was good and the speeches were short. The day also included home games for the 1st XV, 1st XI and the School’s Premier Netball team. Netball beat King’s College by nearly 50 points, the 1st XI drew against Saint Kentigern College and Mount Albert’s 1st XV lost to Saint Kentigern College, but demonstrated guts and determination against a larger and more experienced team. The day was a great demonstration of the strength and diversity of Mount Albert Grammar’s sports programme. The two days of the Jubilee were the culmination of a larger programme of activity organised by the Albertians and the School. The main activities were: The Albertians Association organising a past student speaking programme in which prominent Albertians spoke to School assemblies about what Mount Albert Grammar meant to them. This activity received very good feedback from students and staff. The Albertians Association sponsored the Year 12 Business Class entrepreneurship project by asking the students to design and sell a range of Mount Albert Grammar VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 23 corridors merchandise. The Albertians supported the students by providing advice and the funds required to purchase stock. The merchandise the class produced has been well received and is selling well. The Albertians and the School Development Office have used the Jubilee as an opportunity to update and expand our database of contact details. This will allow us to contact more ex-students for future events. Another high point of the celebration was the significant donation made by the Burgess family to the Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation. Benevolence of this nature is a fantastic demonstration of people’s commitment to support our School and Burgess family’s generosity is very much appreciated. The Jubilee has been a wonderful experience. It is another step in bringing Mount Albert Grammar School’s extended family together and as well as being a very successful event in its own right has been a fantastic learning experience because, in only another ten years, we turn 100. The Albertians Association and the School are already planning for this event and we hope that it will be even better! Ben Stallworthy President, Albertians Association 24 Congratulations Bruce Culpan (1944-1947) Bruce has been a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand for 60 years. William Good (2001-2005), Mary-Grace Aballe (20022005) William was Head Boy and Dux in his final year at Mount Albert Grammar School and is currently working at Middlemore Hospital. Mary-Grace was Head Girl in her final year at Mount Albert Grammar School and is currently working at Waikato Hospital. They recently graduated from The University of Auckland with their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Andrew Austin (1998-2002) Graduated in 2012 from The University of Auckland with a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He was a University Doctoral Scholar and Bright Future Top Achiever Doctoral Scholar Celia Austin (2003-2007) Graduated in 2012 from The University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with First Class Honours in Art History Jeremy Austin (20012005) Graduated 2010 from The University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Pharmacy TeRina Keenan (2005 -2007) TeRina was competing with the Athletics team at the Western Athletic Conference Champs (WAC) in Idaho prior to her graduation and was due to fly in. At this meet in Idaho she won the discus 54.60m for the third time, throwing a personal best and came 2nd 15.18m in shot-put. There was a slight mishap with the graduation plans though. Their jet was grounded & delayed by bird strike in Seattle so that consequently six of them missed the Undergraduate morning ceremony. However, in a first-time departure from the usual custom, they were allowed to march & graduate in the afternoon ceremony with the Masters & PhD students, which was also a bonus for her family to see her cross the stage. TeRina is training hard for the US Regional Champs to qualify for NCAA champs, and will be back in NZ around June 15. She has competed in Austin Texas at regional championships and qualified for the NCAA championships, which took place in Des Moine Idaho. She made the final and placed ninth. When she returns she has a 14-day stay and will be preparing to travel to Europe where she will compete in Germany, France, Belgium, Wales and England with the NZ Athletics Development team. Gareth Williams-Spiers (2004-2008) is proving hard to catch on the rugby field. He is the flying winger playing for Suburbs and midway through June, having scored two tries in the previous weekend game is leading the top try scorer table with 13 tries for the season. His closest rivals have scored nine tries. Williams-Spiers was recently named in the Auckland ITM wider training squad along with fellow recent Albertians: Dillan Halaholo (2007-2011), Gafatasi Su’a (20092011), Sean Brookman (20082010) and Albert Nikoro (20062010). Arun Panchia (2002-2006) and Thomas Guy (2005-2009) are the Head Coach and Assistant Coach of the 1st XI Boys’ Hockey team in 2012. Panchia was a member of the winning NZ Black Sticks team who recently returned from Malaysia having won the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament for the first time in the 21-year history of the tournament. He has recently been named as the travelling reserve in the Black Sticks team to travel to the Olympics later in the year in London. Visitors to the the Development Office Ian Culpan (1964-1968) visited in April to oversee student teachers at the school. Ian is currently Head of School in the College of Education faculty (School of Sciences and Physical Education) at the University of Canterbury. Colin Mathura-Jeffree (Waite) (1986-1990) visited Mount Albert Grammar School on 26 April 2012. Colin was a prefect in his final year in 1990. Colin has modelled for many years overseas and is currently hosting TV shows in New Zealand. Erica Tumata (2000-2004) visited Mount Albert Grammar School on 1 May 2012. Erica is currently studying for her primary teaching degree in primary school teaching and graduates in October/November 2012. Frank Chapman (1972-1976) visited Mount Albert Grammar School earlier in the year. VOLUME 7.No2 TERM 2.2012 Quarterly 25 TERM 3 CALENDAR Mike Blamires (1951-1956) (Staff 1961-1966, 1968-1970) visited Mount Albert Grammar School on 30 May 2012. Mike came and spoke at a School Assembly prior to our 90th Jubilee celebrations as part of our Albertian speaker series. He was a past student and also a staff member. Sammy Ho, (2003-2007) Graduated from Mount Albert Grammar in 2007, prefect, service to the school award, 1st in graphics, graphics scholarship, design input for main quadrangle. 2009- Student exchange programme for one semester at Kingston University (London). 2010- Graduated with a BAS, Bachelor of Architectural Studies 2011- Working Holiday at Panorama Mountain (Canada) At present, he is in his last (5th) year of the MARCH programme (Masters of Architecture (Professional)) at The University of Auckland. Sammy also works part-time at Bossley Architects as an architectural assistant. ANZAC Assembly The school’s annual Anzac Assembly was held on Monday 23 April. It was attended by year 9 and year 13 students and a large number of Albertians. The guest speaker was student Claire McCracken whose great uncle Albertian Aubin Karl Lempriere (1932-1934), died from wounds he sustained in his first battle during World War II on 21 November 1941, aged 22. The Assembly was followed by an ANZAC luncheon held at School Claire McCracken House for the Old, Old Boys which was well patronised. Students in the Air Training Corps once again provided the guard of honour. 26 July 16 Monday Term 3 Commences 17 Tuesday Winter Sports Photographs – Gym 2 18Wednesday 1st XI Girls’ Football vs Avondale College, at MAGS at 4.00pm PPC Committee at 5.30pm 21 1st XI Boys’ Football vs Rangitoto College, at MAGS at 12.00pm Saturday 1st XV Rugby vs Auckland Grammar, at AGS at 2.30pm 23 Colin Thode and son, Scott Thode. Jack Beresford Monday Maori Language Week Staff Meeting at 3.30 pm in the Murray Nairn Library 25 Parent Teacher Interviews – 4.00pm - 7.00pm Wednesday BOT Meeting Hal Harding, Alan Thom, Russell Stone and Stan Walker in School House 1st XI Girls’ Football vs Rangitoto College at Rangitoto College at 4.00pm Parent Teacher Interviews - 4.00pm - 7.00pm Saturday 1st XI Boys’ Football vs Sacred Heart College, at Sacred Heart at 12.00pm 30 31 August 1 Monday Year 9 Information Evening - Balmoral Intermediate – in the F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm Tuesday Year 9 Information Evening - Kowhai Int., Pasadena Int. and Wesley Int F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm Wednesday Year 9 Information Evening - Ponsonby Int. and Glen Eden Int. F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm 2 Thursday Pasifika Parents’ Pathways Evening – in the F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm 4 Saturday 1st XI Boys’ Football vs Auckland Grammar School, at MAGS at 12.00pm 1st XV Rugby vs Kelston Boys’ High School, at Kelston Boys at 2.30pm 8 On Wednesday 25 April our Head Boy Keneti Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Head Girl Hayley Becht were joined by fellow school prefects and staff members at the Anzac service held at the Mount Albert War Memorial Hall and placed a wreath on behalf of Mount Albert Grammar School. Mr Brian Murphy, school Archivist and honorary Albertian, laid the wreath on behalf of the Albertians Association. Keneti Ah Kuoi-Atmore and Hayley Becht PRESIDENT Ben Stallworthy Ben.Stallworthy@aucklandtransport.govt.nz IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Maelen Tagelagi tagmed@vodafone.co.nz SECRETARY Chris Long clong@mags.school.nz TREASURER John Sumner johnsumner@xtra.co.nz COMMITTEE David Griffin david@cglord.co.nz Dale Griffiths dale@wvp.co.nz Brett Kingstone b.kingstone@kbhs.school.nz Greg Moyle greg@nzfp.co.nz Brian Murphy bmurphy@mags.school.nz Michael Riley Michael.Riley@aucklandtransport.govt.nz Greg Taylor gregt@iconz.co.nz Dale Burden headmaster@mags.school.nz Thursday 28 1st XV Rugby vs Onehunga High School, at MAGS at 2.30pm ANZAC Service ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE LIST 2011 26 September Wednesday Maori Parents Pathways Evening in the F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm PPC Committee at 5.30pm and MAGS Parents at 7.30pm – in the Staffroom 11 Saturday 1st XI Boys’ Football vs Kelston Boys’ High School, at MAGS at 12.00pm 13-16 Mon-Thurs “Arts Alive” Week 14 Tuesday Cultural Concert - at the Centennial Theatre at 7.00pm 15 Tuesday NCEA Luncheon of Excellence “Junior Bytes” - at the Centennial Theatre at 7.00pm 16 Thursday “Arts Alive” Concert of Excellence- at the Centennial Theatre at 7.00pm 18 Saturday 1st XI Boys’ Football vs Westlake Boys’ High School, at MAGS at 12.00pm 21 Tuesday Pathways Evening – Years 10 -12 in the F.W. Gamble Hall at 7.00pm 22 Wednesday BOT Meeting 24 Friday “Stand Up / Stand Out” Finals 25 Saturday 1st XI Boys’ Football vs St Kentigern College, at St Kentigern at 12.00pm 29 Wednesday Auckland University Course Planning 3-7 Mon-Fri Tournament Week 7 Friday Staff Only Day 10-14 Mon-Fri SENIOR EXAMS 10 Monday Staff Meeting at 3.30pm in the Murray Nairn Library 12 Wednesday PPC Committee / MAGS Parents at 7.30pm - in the Staffroom 13 Thursday Albertians Association Meeting 17-19 Mon-Wed SENIOR EXAMS 21 Friday Cultural & Arts Photographs 26 Wednesday BOT Meeting 28Friday END OF TERM 3 At the time of going to print, College Sport had not released all draws for Term 3 Sport. Please refer to our website www.mags.school.nz and note on calendar all sporting events. Alberton Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland 1025 Tel: 64 9 846 2044 Fax: 64 9 846 2042 Email: headmaster@mags.school.nz w w w. m a g s . s c h o o l . n z OUT OF ZONE ENROLMENT DATES Applications Close: Wednesday 5th September 2012 Ballot Date: Wednesday 12th September 2012 Last date for notification to parents: Friday 21st September 2012 Last date for parents to accept offer of placement: Friday 19th October 2012 We would appreciate receiving all In-zone Enrolments as soon as possible TERM DATES 2013 Tuesday 29th January Year 9 only Wednesday 30th January Full school in Friday 19th April End of Term1 Monday 6th May Term 2 begins Friday 12th July End of Term 2 Monday 29th July Term 3 begins Friday 27th September End of Term 3 Monday 14th October Term 4 begins Friday 6th December Junior Prizegiving Monday 9th December Staff Only Day Alberton Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland 1025 Tel: 64 9 846 2044 Fax: 64 9 846 2042 Email: headmaster@mags.school.nz w w w. m a g s . s c h o o l . n z
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