Kapa Haka at Polyfest - Takapuna Grammar School

Ad Augusta
A N E W S L E T T E R O F TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Kapa Haka at Polyfest
The TGS Kapa Haka has achieved an amazing
goal; participating in, and performing at the
Polyfest festival for the fifth time since starting
up again in 2007. The Polyfest has been going
since 1976 and Takapuna Grammar has been
involved in this a few times during this period.
However, to perform at Polyfest five years in a
row is an amazing achievement, as many of our
members are new to this level of performance
and to performing in Kapa Haka.
The group spent three and half weeks learning
the six items (words, actions and choreography).
Lunch times and after school activities were
also given up and three whole Sundays were
sacrificed to achieve their goal. Students from
different ethnic backgrounds were represented,
and even International Students from Germany,
(Ani and Tadje) participated.
Thank you to all the senior leaders who helped
keep the group going – Beau, Clayton, Tennielle,
Nikita, Anezka, Tyana, and Helena. Your
support and help made a huge difference.
Thank you also to the tutors – Mr. Raela and Mr.
Hurihanganui and his whanau for their tautoko,
and to Whaea Sheryl for her tautoko, especially
with the making of the poi.
Mai nga taumaha ki te kororia, mai te whanui ki
te whaiti (Through difficulty to glory, through the
narrow to the wide).
The group has certainly lived up to the meaning
of the school motto “Per Angusta, Ad Augusta”.
Kia ora tatou.
Contents
Principal’s Report . . . . . . . . . 2
PTA News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
May 2011
Student Achievement . . . . . . 5
Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Extracurricular Activity . . . 14
Principals Report
2
Dear parents and guardians
Welcome back to Term 2. We have been impressed with
the way students have returned to school. We have found
them settled and eager to engage with the teaching and
learning programmes.
I promised to return to you in respect to the International
Baccalaureate survey. The results are summarised below.
The survey, available for the month of March 2011, closed
on the 4th of April. 307 responses were received. There
were many responses that reflect the various opinions of
the International Baccalaureate being offered at Takapuna
Grammar School.
The summation offered here shows the response from
the community in respect to the survey question, “Are
you supportive of Takapuna Grammar introducing the
International Baccalaureate to its programmes?”
Groups ResponsePercentage
Parents
Yes 63.8%
No19.7%
Not Sure16.5%
Students Yes 75%
No12.5%
Not Sure12.5%
Of those supportive of the implementation, 94% of all
respondents indicated commitment to the programme.
With this response, the Board of Trustees and I are now
heavily engaged in discussion about the possibility of
introducing International Baccalaureate at Takapuna
Grammar School. The planned year for implementation
will be 2013.
In furthering the discussion, the Board of Trustees would
like to determine if the cost of International Baccalaureate
would be a limiting factor for the community. The two
year diploma course has a cost of $657.00US, equivalent
to $814.19NZ at today’s exchange
rates. This is an actual cost to families
for their student’s enrolment in
International Baccalaureate. There
is no levy by the school in respect to
additional costs incurred by the school
to undertake this qualification.
This is the total cost for the two year programme. Takapuna
Grammar School would be able to accept various payment
options, as it already does for many families in respect to
paying school fees and subject costs. We are interested
whether this $814.19NZ figure would be considered
a limiting factor for families making decisions about
engaging their students in the International Baccalaureate
qualification.
If you have any view about the acceptability of this cost,
either positive or negative, please email me at principal@
takapuna.school.nz.
On a separate issue, the school has become very aware
of the issues Facebook is creating for students and their
parents. While not necessarily a school issue, the impact
on students is acknowledged, especially when the medium
is used negatively. With this in mind, Takapuna Grammar
School would like to offer to parents an information
evening on how to manage Facebook and techniques that
can be effectively engaged to monitor and successfully assist
students. At assemblies last term, I talked to the students
about Facebook, highlighting the following themes:
• Facebook owns the pages so information cannot be
removed permanently.
• Many prospective employers now scan Facebook for
background information on prospective candidates
and can easily access pages which are many, many
years old.
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Takapuna Grammar School is going to host this
information evening on Wednesday, 13 July at
4.00pm for approximately half an hour. This is
the same evening as the Junior Parent Report
interviews. Parents coming to this report evening
and those parents of senior students are all welcome
to attend.
Regards
Simon Lamb
Principal
Term Dates 2011
Term 2
Monday, 2 May – Friday, 15 July
Term 3
Monday, 1 August – Friday, 7 October
Term 4
Tuesday, 25 October – Thursday, 8 December
Contact us
If your contact details (including email) have changed,
please email the Enrolment Administrator, Helen
Parker by emailing; enrolments@takapuna.school.nz
or telephone 489 4167 extension 9221.
The school sends newsletters and any urgent information by email.
Playing it Strange at
the Beehive
Petra Bullock, Year 12, is no stranger to success. She played Cinderella
in the musical Into the Woods produced by the Music Theatre class
last term.
She won the TGS/Mike Chunn Song-writing award in 2010 for her
song “Dry your eyes”. Petra has also entered songs in his student
competition, Play it Strange. She featured on National Radio as part
of a programme on Chunn’s initiative for budding song makers,
singing her song “Sand” which she’d entered in the competition two
years ago.
Then, on 3 May, she performed three of her own songs at Parliament’s
Beehive before a public and MPs audience. They flew her down for the
occasion along with nine other students from around New Zealand.
Petra has been writing songs since Year 5. Having played the piano
from the age of four, she found she liked improvising and finding
riffs to which she could fit words.
Petra is looking to continue Music at University with a view to a
career doing what she loves – writing songs.
3
PTA News
PTA News
A Taste of Takapuna
The cook book “A Taste of
Takapuna” is coming together
well – we have sourced and
tested (that was the fun part)
many wonderful different
dishes. Recipes have been
contributed by parents of the
school, teachers, pupils, expupils and some well known
local personalities. We will be
in touch with those people
whose recipes have been
selected for the book soon. Our
photo shoot will take place in
July and the cookbook will be
launched in September. Many
thanks to our sponsors for their
support, through advertising.
Golf day
Golf day is scheduled for
Thursday, 27 October. Further
details will be published later in
the term.
4
PTA News
Entertainment™ Books as a fund-raiser
again this year for the School.
The new Book is only $65, and you’ll
receive $15,000 worth of valuable offers,
valid until 1 June 2012. The good news
is that $13 of your Book purchase goes
towards the school’s fundraising. The
Special Education Department are
excited to be involved in the Entertainment Book fundraiser. They will use the
money raised to purchase physiotherapy
equipment for their students. They are
hoping to purchase a treadmill and
exercycle. The students will benefit
enormously from the ability to use this
equipment, developing strength and
Parents Dance
Friday 20 May is our “Rock the Winter stamina and develop independence in
Blues away” 7.30pm at the School Hall. their physiotherapy programmes. The
This will be a fun night for parents, a students with higher physical needs will
chance to come and groove along to the be able to use this equipment between
sounds of two bands; Front Room and physiotherapy sessions to help reach
Ran for Cover, enjoy the cash bar, and their goals.
have a light supper. Tickets are $25 from To view the brand new Entertainment
the School Office, any PTA member, Book go to: www.entertainmentmedia.
Yartons and Nord. Door sales available com.au/auckland_20112012. If you
also, so come along, we would love to have ordered on-line you will receive
see you! Nominate the sports team or your Entertainment book within the next
arts group that you would like to support few weeks. They will be delivered to the
and the proceeds from the dance will go school and will be sent home with your
child. If you haven’t already ordered one
directly back to that group.
a flyer will be coming home soon with
an order form or you can order on-line.
Entertainment Book
We are pleased to announce that we’ll Please support the Special Education
be selling the new 2011 - 2012 Auckland Department with this fundraiser.
The PTA have been busy! Our new
team consists of Desiree Mason
– Chairperson; Wendy Duncraft Deputy Chairperson; Sally Teesdale is
our new Treasurer and Ruth Blackman
has taken up the Secretary’s position.
We have a small but focused team, who
are dedicated to planning events for this
year to help raise funds to go towards
specific needs identified by the BOT
and senior management. If anyone is
interested in joining the PTA, please
contact Desiree Mason or phone 446
6043 for more details.
by Jerry Yelich-O’Connor called
Performing Arts/Music/Art
“Barclay”. They commented
Art: Serge Coates-Chitty has had his
that her work was truly a
Art- Design folio displayed on the
superlative piece of writing.
Top Art website. This features only
After careful consideration the
the 4 top design folios from around
judges agreed that the piece
the country.
was not clearly just non-fiction
The following Level 3 art students
and could not be designated as
Amy Jesensek, Liam Berryman, Greer
an essay. The judges anguished
McIntyre, Jerry Yelich-O’Connor, Billy
over this, however Jerry’s entry
Goddard-Worthington, Katie Moore,
was considered so extremely well
Madison Plummer, Mitch Patterson,
written that for the first time in
Sophie Walker, Sidonie Jago, Armando
the history of the competition a
Russo, Molly Parker, Samantha Gilmour,
Certificate of Exceptional Merit
Aylah Murray and Gaby Miegeville –
has been awarded to Jerry for
Little have had their work selected
her work.
for The Original Art Sale. Only 40
Senior Speech Finals: The
students’ works were chosen from all
TGS senior speech finals were
of greater Auckland. Aylah and Sam
held at school and the standard
were named as finalists; Aylah being
Aylah Murray (top) and Samantha Gilmour.
was very high leaving a very
awarded a second place and a $500
scholarship and Samantha Gilmour received a Merit Prize. tough decision for Miss Knowles and Mrs Basse. The final
Congratulations to the following Year 10 students; Mona placings were; Winner: Emerson Howitt, 1st Runner Up: Mattea
Harnett, Isabella Horner, Nick Thomson, Jenny Palmer, Danielle Mrkusic and 2nd Runner Up: Felix Pryor. Other finalists were
Gleeson, Ashleigh Davis, Morgan Ferguson, Bree Atherfold, Imogen Harriette Maire, Rachel Love, Victoria Timmins and Liam Chelley.
Larkins, Maria Brock, Sophie Latch, Hamish Buckley, Justin Cheon, Student Leadership Opportunities Term 1, 2011:
Eliza Melling, Stella Yu, Morgan Allen, Amy Taylor, Jessica Yoon, Ben The students who have been selected as House Leaders for
Verney and Madeline Lissington who are have had their art work 2011; Aotea: Louise Davidson, Siobhan Dixon, Mike Taylor, Ruby
“Deck’d” exhibited at the Devonport Outerspace Gallery, Goodyear, Ahmed Al-Rikabi and Vicky Inger. Arawa: Zoe Davidson,
Mattea Mrkusic, Aless Smith, Harry Ross, Felix Pryor and Cass
over the term break.
Power. Tainui: Dewi Phan, Allen Hu, Alex Ross, Jessica Smith,
Isabell Herstell and Umar Kuddus. Tokomaru: Joy Lynn Maralit,
Co-Curricular
Rodney Walshe Annual Ireland Essay Competition Sam Badham, Guy Le Noel, Steffi Burrows, Bronte O’Donnell-Clarke
2011: Takapuna Grammar School again produced a and Olivia Farrar.
group of highly talented young writers. Second place was Isabelle Verney has been selected as an Auckland delegate to
achieved by Harriet Robinson-Chen, who receives a piece the Sir Peter Blake National Youth Environment Forum.
of Waterford Crystal and a certificate for her piece call Only five delegates were selected to represent Auckland.
Continued over page >
“Durable Pigments”. The judges commented on the piece
Student Achievement
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
5
Student Achievement
6
This is the third consecutive year that a student from TGS
has been chosen to attend this prestigious forum.
Kun Qian, Alex Ross and Sophie Wilson have been selected by
the YMCA as TGS representatives on this year’s Raise Up
Crew. This group organises events for teens and comprises
representatives from all secondary schools on the North Shore.
Ella Matuschka, Riane Ross and Aless Smith were selected to
represent TGS at the Auckland Council Sustainability
Make a Difference Hui.
Isabelle Verney, Victoria Timmins, Carolin Fleissner, Rachel Love
and Mattea Mrkusic attended the Auckland Council Students
Against Drunk Driving forum in March.
Five students attended the World Vision Global Leadership
Convention in March. They were Frances Charlett-Green, Rachel
Love, Helena Power, Ella Rudin and Tara Pond.
Congratulations to the following students who have selected
on to the TGS Sports Council for 2011: Prefects: Luke
Yarnton, Harry Lissington, Brooke Cull, Kate Seatter and Natalie
Holland. Year 13: Aylah Murray, Alice Renouf, Michael Beaumont
and Oliver Harper and Year 12: Alahna Walker, Eisha PleasantsTate and Harry Ross.
The following Year 11 students attended Converge, a Youth
Forum run by the Auckland Council: Jake Benson, Clayton
Hockley, Stanton McKenzi, Lydia Rowlandson and Max Burney.
Sports
Athletics: The following students have achieved outstanding
results in Athletics. They are;
Brooke Cull
• National Club Championships: gold in 4 x 100 relay, silver
400m (PB 57sec), bronze 200m and 5th 4 x 400m relay.
• North Islands Secondary Champs: 1st x 200m, 1st 400m
and 1st 4x100m relay.
• Greater Secondary Schools Champs: 1st x 200m.
• Auckland Club Champs: 1st 400m, 2nd x 200m.
• Selected Oceania Team to compete in Australian Junior
Nationals.
Eliza McCartney
• North Island Secondary School: 2nd Open Women PB.
and 1st Intermediate Girls.
• Selected to compete at Australian Junior National Champs.
• Finished 1st Under 16 Women’s Pole Vault new PB 3.4m.
• 5th in the U16 Women’s High Jump equaled her PB.
• Club Nationals: won W16 Pole Vault with 3.3m.
Lucca Denee
• Auckland Champs: 1st 200m hurdles and 3rd Long Jump.
• Auckland School Champs: 2nd 200m hurdles.
Football: Kate Seatter selected for the Semi Finals National
Women’s League Football Federation.
Golf: Vinnie Isherwood, Taylor Bennett, Zain James and Alex Ross
have been selected to play in the North Harbour Golf Teams
Competition.
Parasports: Hamish Dunning Beck has had a good year on
the Techno Windsurfer. He was 2nd U17 New Zealander
at the Nationals in February, 1st U17 North Island Champs,
1st Auckland Champs, 1st Supercity Regatta - Torbay and
has just won the inaugural Kendall Cup trophy (U17 division)
which was the best sailor over 7 regattas this summer. He will
be competing at the Techno World Champs in San Francisco
in the July school holidays, along with 5 others from NZ.
Rowing: Takapuna Grammar School won gold in the
Girls U17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls at the North Island
Secondary Schools Rowing Championships on Lake
Karapiro. The crew, coached by TGS Director of Rowing,
Martin Simoncelli consists of Alahna Walker, Charlotte Gibson,
Courtney Sheehan, Jaime Shearer (Stroke) and Joshua Nicol-Molitor
(coxswain). This crew performed consistently throughout
the three day regatta, taking out the 2000mtr final in a
time of 7.26.66. The same crew combination has shown
exceptional form throughout the season, winning every
race they entered, except one at KR2 due to gear failure.
Rowing Maadi Cup: Takapuna Grammar School entered
a squad of 55 rowers in 31 crews across 22 of the 48 events
at Maadi cup and were awarded the following;
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Championship Trophies - Star Trophy (Overall Champion
School): with 1 Star Trophy points Takapuna Grammar
School placed 41st equal of the 122 schools. President’s
Scull (Champion Sculling School) with 1 Star Trophy points
Takapuna Grammar School placed 29th equal of the 117
eligible schools.
Medals - Bronze Medal: Girls U17 Quad - Jaime Shearer,
Courtney Sheehan, Charlotte Gibson and Alahna Walker. They
were coxed by Josh Nicol-Molitor. The girls were not
considered contenders for a medal but they battled valiantly
in the final to finish strongly and convincingly in third place
behind South Island crews St Andrews and Villa Maria.
Top Ten Badges - Each year for non-novice senior U18 age
group events with more than 10 entries, the NZSSRA awards
Top Ten badges to members of the crews. 14 TGS pupils
were awarded Top Ten badges. Ahmed Al-Rikabi, Alahna Walker,
Charlotte Gibson, Courtney Sheehan, Eddie Hogg, James Horner,
Joshua Nicol-Molitor, Mario Parussini, Melissa Niemandt, Michael
Beaumont, Michael Lineham, Samuel Badham and Thomas Shaw.
Sailing: The following students have achieved the
following results in sailing;
Markus Somerville
• Junior Sail Auckland 1st in Opti Class.
• Interislander Opti Class 1st.
• Auckland Secondary School Regatta 1st.
• Auckland Champs 1st Overall.
• Ranked 1st in Opti Class.
• National Opti Class 3rd.
Logan Dunning Beck
• 2nd, 29er Nationals.
• 1st Sail Auckland 29ers.
• Qualified Youth Worlds in Croatia in July.
James Roberts
• NZ Laser Radial Nationals 7th out of 51.
• Sail Auckland Grade 1 ISAF 8th out of 36.
• Qualified for the World Laser Radial Youth Championship in La Rochelle France in July, now ranked NZ 7th
youth Laser sailor.
Isobel Hawkins
• 2nd RSX Youth Female Nationals
• 2nd RSX Youth Female North Islands
• 1st RSX Youth Female Secondary School Regatta
• 1st RSX Youth Female Super City Regatta
• 3rd RSX Youth Female Sail Auckland
Surfing: Jordan Mercer, Hugh Raines, Isaac Mennie, Fischer
Jervis, Fynn Davies, Levi Cassrels, Tom Mason, Harrison Trounson,
William Broadbelt, Mickey Trounson, Jimmy Wright, Tom Fraser,
Tom Warmington, Oliver Le Noel competed in the TGS
surfing competition at Te Arai Point. There were four
Divisions - Open, Yr11 and under, Yr9, and Longboard.
Congratulations to the following students;
1st Year 9 boys: Harrison Trounson.
1st Year 11 boys: Isaac Mennie.
1st Open Mens: Oliver Le Noel, 1st Longboard: Oliver Le Noel.
Highest score in any heat: Oliver Le Noel (Longboard).
Competitors choice for best sportsmanship and overall effort:
Mickey Trounson.
Most innovative surfing: Fynn Davies (Longboard).
Most in need of new equipment due to damage: Tom Mason.
The event was sponsored by North Shore International Ltd,
which imports Sanuk footwear. Special thanks to Neil Raines
(father of Nelson and Hugh Raines) who donated four pairs
of Sanuk sandals retailing at $100 each and a limited edition,
pro-surfer signed T-shirt (also valued at around $100) as
prizes for each of the divisions.
Swimming: Claudia Brick placed 2nd in 400m, and 3rd in
200m at the Auckland Open Swim Meet.
Aless Smith has achieved the following;
• Taupo Epic Swim 2.5km swim won her age group
• National Age Group - 4 top 10 placings
• Qualified for NZ Open/World Championship Trials
• King of the Bays 4th in U19, 11th overall female
Tessa McNair placed 7th in 800m and 14th in 400m Freestyle
National Age Group Swimming.
Continued over page >
7
Student Achievement
8
Above, left to right: Waterpolo; Greg Pleasants-Tate; Surf life-saving and the girls’ waterpolo team.
Surf Life Saving: Max Revill competed at the Surf Life
Saving Championships. This was his first time at nationals
and only his 4th time at a surf sport competition. He made it
through to the finals of the U16 surf swim and placed about
13th out of 40 in the final. In the U19 beach relay his team
placed 6th.
Takapuna Grammar School was well represented at the
National Surf lifesaving Championships, a four day event
held at Mount Maunganui with over 1,500 athletes. The
team consisting of Jayson Hodgson, Nik Livock, Nick
Teasdale and Liam Cunningham finished 3rd in the U19
Short Course Boat race earning a Bronze medal representing
Red Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. This same team placed 4th
in the final for the U19 Long Course Boat race.
Jayson Hodgson and Nick Teasdale were also part of the
International Young Guns team competing in Surf Boat
competitions in New South Wales, Australia, and were
placed 7th, surpassing the goal of making the top 15 in this
highly competitive event.
Claudia Brick won 3 golds and 3 silvers at the Northern Region
Junior Surf Life Saving Carnival.
Tennis: Mikaela Davies:
• 4th in Schools Nationals Team event.
• Finalist in Auckand Schools singles and doubles.
• Competed in Queensland ITF tournament, made top 16.
• World ranking of 666 for juniors.
Triathlon: Jonathan Ranford placed 22nd out of 60 at the
Tour of Te Awamutu U17 race. Hannah Sykes place 16th
at the Junior Rotorua Tour, 14th at the Junior Tour Te
Awamutu and 3rd over at the Cycle for Life Clevedon.
Waterpolo: The following students have been selected for
either the New Zealand or North Harbour Waterpolo teams;
Carlo Burney – New Zealand U16.
Jake Benson - North Harbour U16A.
Katie McKenty – New Zealand U15.
Kate Sheehy and Katie McKenty - North Harbour U18B.
Rikki Taylor - North Harbour U18B.
TGS Waterpolo teams travelled to Hamilton to compete in the
National Northern Zone Division 2 Waterpolo Tournament
where the boys Jake Benson, Maximillain Borner, Fynn Blackwood,
Carlo Burney, Mitchel Donnelly, Louis Harknett. Guy LeNoel, Eli
McKeown, Max Revill, Oliver LeNoel and Gavin Woodword placed
4th in the semi finals. The girls team Alesha Brokenshire, Stacey
Choi, Ericka Gatland, Ruby Goodyear, Lauren Kerslake, Imogen Ling,
Katie McKenty, Isabelle O’Brien, Lydia Rowlandson, Kate Sheehy and
Rikki Taylor lost their semi final match but managed to win the
play off game for 3rd and 4th position and finished overall
3rd. The boys 4th and girls 3rd placing is by far the best result
for TGS Waterpolo at a National event.
Past Pupils
Greg Pleasants-Tate has been selected for The New Zealand
U20 squad for the June IRB Junior World Championship in
Italy. He is only North Harbour Player that has been named.
Greg is a Takapuna Rugby Club player and is playing for the
Premiers.
Hospitality in action
Stage Challenge 2011
Two girls hooked on video games pick up the message from
one game that they can kill - and imagination becomes reality.
This is the storyline chosen by this year’s Stage Challenge
choreographers, Andrew Coshan and Siobhan Dixon. The
fears of many teachers and parents, that games can have
negative influences, are explored in the eight minute piece,
fulfilling the “social message” directive required of a Stage
Challenge performance.
Siobhan and Andrew have been doing Stage Challenge since
Year 9 and have always wanted to take up the choreography
roles. “There’s a competitive streak in us”, says Andrew,
recalling the seniors’ work they have performed over the years.
“We have learnt from previous years’ performances,” Siobhan
says. “So we have the knowledge to make ours the best we can.”
They have enlisted set builders and costume makers to
construct outfits and the large TV screen and elastic prison
cells needed for the dance/drama. Six different songs have
been edited together to provide the eight minute soundtrack.
The final piece will be performed at the Dance Evening,
this year at the Bruce Mason Centre on Monday, 27 June at
7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Bruce Mason Centre
on the night or on line at TicketMaster, www.ticketmaster.
co.nz. Please note that TicketMaster charge $8.00 for all
online ticket purchases and the Bruce Mason charge a small
handling fee for tickets brought on the night. Tickets are
$9.50/student and $18/adult.
“Planning and presenting food for a special occasion”
is a challenging task in the Year 13 Hospitality’s
programme and the recent drama production of
“Into the Woods” provided an excellent opportunity
for an authentic cross-curricular learning event.
The students chose as their ‘client’ the pupils from
visiting peninsular schools, attending a performance
of Into the Woods, to complete their first assessed
piece of work. The students researched and modelled
a range of menus and packaging ideas that fitted
the theme of the show and that were suitable for the
target audience- primary and intermediate peninsular
schools’ students.
On the morning of the event the students set up their
production-line teams to prepare the food. Each team
had a quality controller checking for consistency of
size and standard. The food was packaged in themelabelled boxes with cellophane windows and a ‘Seal
of Excellence’ sticker was placed on the opening of
each box. As students arrived they were escorted
through the Technology Department during a lesson
time and each received a stylish and exciting picnic
box to take out into the sunshine to enjoy with their
friends. Visiting staff and parents were also treated to
a range of garnished platters served in the Peter Blake
Restaurant.
School News
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9
Sports Headlines
10
TGS Rugby Success In Rotorua
The 1st XV opened their campaign at the Western
Heights Invitational Tournament in Rotorua with a
convincing 57–0 win over a touring South African side,
Marist-Brothers, Linmeyer. Rotorua plays host to more
than 50 schools and 200 teams from 12 different codes,
from netball and rugby to motor cross and golf, at this,
the largest multi-sport tournament in New Zealand.
Takapuna Grammar took a squad of 48 rugby players
that made up two teams - a 1st XV team, competing
in the 1st Division competition and an Academy team
that competed in the 2nd Division. Each team played
three games over three days in their respective divisions.
Pre-season training and matches during February and
March had prepared the players for the challenges they
faced in Rotorua in early April.
Their second match against hosts Western Heights
High School 1st XV was a much tougher contest.
Despite trailing 10-8 at halftime, the boys turned in
an impressive second half performance, keeping their
opponents scoreless and eventually winning 21-10.
The third game, on the final day was against John Paul
College 1st XV. By this stage fatigue and soreness were
beginning to set in for many players, but the boys turned
in another pleasing defensive effort, grinding out a gutsy
10-0 win to claim the tournament trophy. To concede
only one try over the course of three games was a credit
to the players discipline and determination on defence.
The Academy side were the only U16 team in the 2nd
Division. They played Reporoa High School 1st XV,
Kerikeri High School 1st XV and Western Heights High
School 2nd XV – teams much older, bigger and more
experienced than ours. Small juniors played against and
alongside senior players and they did themselves and the
team proud. If you’ve ever been to a TGS rugby game
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Golden Day for Rowing
Sunday, 13 March was a golden day for the Girls U17
Coxed Quadruple Sculls at the North Island Secondary
Schools Rowing Championships on Lake Karapiro. The
crew, coached by Martin Simoncelli, was Alahna Walker,
Charlotte Gibson, Courtney Sheehan, Jaime Shearer
(Stroke) and Joshua Nicol-Molitor (coxswain), took out the
final in a time of 7.26.66.
The same crew combination has shown exceptional form
throughout the season, winning every race they have entered
up until the North Island championship, except one at the
KR1 regatta due to gear failure.
The annual ‘Maadi Cup’ regatta was the final focus for this
crew and they dug deep, to finish the season with the Bronze
Medal at the national secondary schools championships.
Right: GU17 quadruple sculls bronze medal winners. (Left to right) Alahna Walker,
Charlotte Gibson, Josh Nicol-Molitor, Courtney Sheehan, Jaime Shearer
you’ll know that the boys take a lot of pride
in representing their school: games begin
with a ‘Taka – the pride!’ call and the team
had decided on their own to perform the
school haka before their games.
The coaches, management and parents
were particularly impressed with the entire
squad’s approach to the weekend, both on
and off the field. The staff at Keswick
Christian Camp were complimentary
about the way the boys were co-operative
and respectful at mealtimes and obliging in
their duties around camp. The spirit and
solidarity shown by the entire squad was
perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the trip.
To come away with the tournament trophy
was the icing on the cake.
11
Visual Arts
12
At the end of Term 1, 20 skateboard decks designed and
painted by our 2010 Year 10 Art students went on display
at the Devonport Depot.
The students had responded to the theme of “city versus
nature”, after a study of a range of contemporary “street
artists” and illustrators. The concept of each deck and the
way each student designed and treated the wooden surface
is entirely individualistic, reflecting their skill and creativity.
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
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Extracurricular Activity
Above, left to right: Pre Instuction self portrait. Post instruction classmate portrait. Work by Metua Tauirarii.
“…but Miss I can’t draw…”
11 Spatial Design: Learning to see, learning to draw, learning to design
Drawing is often viewed as a mystic power only possessed
by a certain number of gifted individuals. It manages to
provoke feelings of rage and anxiety in even the most
confident and professional adults.
The development of drawing is linked to the cognitive
development of our brains. Realistic drawing skills often
halt at about the age of ten when students decide they
“can’t draw”.
Sadly, this belief is extremely common, persistent and
completely untrue. Like anything, drawing is a skill that
can be taught and added to the toolbox of life-long
learning. It is also vital in any subject that requires visual
communication and lack of confidence due to this deep-
seated belief often stands in the way of student success.
In Spatial Design Technology we decided to bust the
myth wide open and prove to our students that anyone
who can write his or her own name can indeed draw.
This has enabled students to design with skill and
confidence by transforming the way they perceive the
world around them, enabling them to solve real world
problems; a core component of Technology Education.
Students have completed a six-week programme devised
from ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ by Betty
Edwards. The work from the course is currently on
display in the Peter Blake Art and Technology Centre.
The results speak for themselves.
14
Above, left to right: Pre Instuction self portrait. Post instruction classmate portrait. Work by Oliver Philp.
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Bring It On at Takapuna Grammar
Bring It On is a secondary school hip
hop dance competition run in New
Zealand and Australia. Takapuna
Grammar has been entering this
competition for four years. Bring It
On’s motto is to “encourage youth
leaders” and the organisation runs
a very successful mentoring and
leadership programme.
Jodie Catterall and Philip Perez, along with their group of
leaders and choreographers, have worked the crew hard
this year and the results are really starting to show. The
competition requires that all choreography and leadership
is done by current students of the school. Jodie and Philip
have taken on the challenge to work with a group of 50
dancers who are all at different levels of experience in hip
hop dance.
The competition is on the 27 May
from 12-2 pm at the Telstra Clear
Pacific Stadium in Manukau, and
you can expect to see them working
hard almost every night of the week
up until this time. This year’s group
has shown the dedication and team
work required to put together a
wonderful routine and will not disappoint, despite being
against some of the ‘giants’ of hip hop; schools such as
Mangere College, Manurewa High and Kelston Girls
College.
Tickets can be purchased through the school. It would be
great to see as many supporters there as possible as part of
the score is for crowd support.
15
For Your Information
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Pohutukawas for Peter
By: Rachel Love
Takapuna Grammar School is the proud new host
of ‘Pohutukawas for Peter,’ a painting honouring Sir
Peter Blake, by New Zealand artist Dean Buchanan.
The painting is now on display in the Peter Blake Arts
and Technology Centre and has made quite an impact
among students and teachers.
Dean Buchanan, one of New Zealand’s most well-known
artists, was commissioned to do the painting, as a tribute
to Sir Peter. Blake’s career as a yachtsman inspired much
of the colour scheme used as well as the sail pattern
running through the water. Dean Buchanan’s work is
instantly recognisable and highly regarded for its technical
skill given the large canvases he uses. This painting is no
exception, dominating the wall it hangs on, and adding a
certain Kiwi charm to the building.
The painting’s former home of many years was the
Auckland Regional Council Chambers, but when the
council disbanded the question became where it would go
next? The painting is owned by the Jowsey Family Trust
and having been in possession of it for some time, Keith
Jowsey approached the school. Our links with Sir Peter
Blake made Takapuna Grammar School a viable and
appropriate choice. Sir Peter Blake is a past pupil and has
left a lasting legacy within the school, so the move seemed
natural.
It resides in prime position in the Sir Peter Arts and
Technology Centre where it hangs alongside a painting
by Pippa Blake, Sir Peter’s wife.
Students and visitors to the school have been able to
admire the painting as they travel through the building
and to appreciate the impact of this vibrant piece of
artwork. We are aware of what a privilege it is to house
such an historic piece.
Important Dates 2011
Tuesday, 24 May
Friday, 3 June
Monday, 6 June
Monday, 20 –
Wednesday, 22 June
Wednesday, 22 June
Wednesday, 29 June
Thursday, 30 June
Wednesday, 6 July
Tuesday, 12 July
Wednesday, 13 July
Friday, 15 July
Saturday, 16 July
Monday, 1 August
Wednesday, 3 August
BOT Meeting in the Ralph Roberts
School Library at 7pm
Mid Term Break
Queens Birthday Observed
Big Sing
Senior Report Issue
Senior Report Evening - starting 4pm
Stage Challenge
Junior Report Issue
BOT Meeting in the Ralph Roberts
School Library at 7pm
Junior Report Evening - starting 4pm
Information Evening on Facebook starting 4pm in the School Hall
End of Term Two
Senior School Ball
Term Three Commences
Open Evening – two sessions 4pm
and 5.30pm in the School Hall