Special Guest at Anzac Assembly

Deputy Head Prefect Tyler Yare addresses the Anzac Assembly, above, while Professor Russell Stone is pictured below with cadet Nick Blanks.

MAGS remembered its fallen Albertians yesterday at the Anzac Service Assembly in the F.W. Gamble Hall with a special guest: Albertian Professor Russell Stone, who has just celebrated his 102nd birthday.
Professor Stone, who served in the Air Force and Army during World War II, joined other guests who were escorted by piper Andrew Wilkie into the hall, already filled with a Year 9 audience. Our Gloriana choir performed Hine e Hine following Deputy Head Prefect Tyler Yare reading Sigh Not by Albertian John Clarke.
Year 13 History students Nora Pecher and Head Prefect Campbell Buchanan spoke about our fallen Albertians.
Nora focused on brothers Reginald and Ian Grant, and how Reginald, as his brother's commanding officer, had to report Ian's death to their parents.
Campbell spoke about the service of Roger Whitfield and Athol Kilner (see more about Athol below in the article 'History of the Roll of Honour') – and put their service in perspective as young men who gave their lives so we could enjoy peace and prosperity.
As at every ANZAC Service, the names of fallen Albertians were read aloud, the Ode of Remembrance was read, and a laying of wreaths was performed at our cenotaph during The Last Post and Reveille, played by student Kiri Lovatt, as the school flag was lowered and raised both inside the hall and at the cenotaph, where the names of the fallen Albertians are inscribed in stone.
You can see more photos from the service here

Nine Chosen for Anzac Beach Sprint

Congratulations to the nine MAGS students who have been chosen as part of the New Zealand ANZAC Beach Sprint Team to travel to Malta.
Rowers Joshua Murphy, Aria Wallwork, Tim Reeves, Arlo Powell, Louis Collis, Hunter Whitten, James Neilson, Ziggy Miller and coxswain Amelia Jones will represent NZ and take on teams from Australia and Malta.
In advance of ANZAC Day, there are five days of training and visiting historic military locations on Malta. Our rowers will participate in the main ANZAC Day Service before competing in Boys, Girls and Mixed Crew racing in single, double and quad coastal rowing boats. 

Sign Up for Bubbles and Banter

MAGS is thrilled to invite you to an evening of memories as we celebrate 25 Years of Girls at Mount Albert Grammar at Bubbles and Banter on June 27, 2025, starting at 7pm.

This special complementary event welcomes all past students, parents, staff, and whanau to come together in the W.O.H Gibbs Room for an evening of fun and laughter.  Let’s reminisce, celebrate our achievements, and strengthen the bonds that have shaped our community.
Over the last 25 years the school has changed enormously.  New classroom blocks, dynamic spaces and learning areas have contributed to this. Optional school tours are available at selected times. Take some time to explore, see the school in action and experience the school, both old and new.  
Please register here for this event. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the school: [email protected]

Great to be Back at Polyfest

After a seven-year absence, MAGS again participated in the ASB Polyfest to help celebrate their 50th anniversary. 
With a theme of 'Legacy', groups dug deep to decide what this meant to them and produced some stunning performances from our six participating groups 
Director of Arts Co-curricular Ms Cesan said, "Chinese and Indian groups performed on the Diversity stage on Wednesday, bringing joy to their performance despite the rain. 

"On Friday, our Cook Island group was also undeterred by the rain, giving an outstanding performance and were clearly a crowd favourite. 
"Saturday saw our competing groups performing and the senior management team and teachers who came to support were kept running between stages as performances overlapped, having had some scheduling issues because of rain interruption the day before. 
"However, all groups represented MAGS with pride and excellence, and all gave stellar performances."
The Kapa Haka group – who are in a very tightly contested Division 1 and competing with immersion schools – still maintained their position in this division, finishing 12th
Meanwhile, the Samoan group took 5th overall and the Tongan group came home with two placings, finishing 3rd in both the Lakalaka and girls' Faa’uila.
Ms Cesan said, "We are very proud of all our students and acknowledge not only their hard work but also the commitment and time given to the students by the TICs and staff to get them to this standard of performance."

Parking and Pick-up Etiquette

While we experience a growing Mount Albert Grammar School Community, our accessways and neighbouring streets remain the same.
It is strongly recommended that parents only pick up their children from school when it is absolutely for medical reasons or under extremely urgent circumstances. Our students are young adults who are capable of walking considerable distances to meet parents, at a pre-arranged location. Ironically, this usually proves more efficient and easier than trying to do the same closer to the school.
At the end of each day, at the rear of the school, both Fergusson Avenue and Haverstock Road become jammed with drivers waiting to pick up students and, unfortunately, we experience similar at the front of the school. We ask that parents show consideration for our local residents and make different arrangements for the coming terms.
Please also note that the Aquatic Centre Car Park is almost complete and we advise that, from the start of Term 2, there will no longer be access from this carpark into Mount Albert Grammar School.
Parents will need to drop students off on the roadside, so that they can walk through the school to their practise court/field.
Further information will be sent prior to the start of term.

Relay for Life Hits $74,000

Last Saturday, a team of about 210 students and 20 teachers led by Miss David and Ms Kajanova took part in the Relay for Life Central Auckland event at Millennium Stadium.
This event raises funds for the Cancer Society, and MAGS has been part of this initiative for many years now.
The event was a great success with 60 students running a full marathon or more, and the team completing about 14000 laps, which adds up to approximately the distance from Auckland to Tokyo.
Ms Kajanova said, "The day was also filled with fun activities such as face painting and a talent quest, but also more serious moments, which included the Remembrance Ceremony when people who passed away due to cancer were remembered. 
"Our team has raised more than $74,000 and finished second in Central Auckland on the day of the event. One of our students, Paige Barnes-Kilgour also took the silver award for the top fundraising individual on the day after raising more than $4400."

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare

On Monday, MAGS Drama took 44 students to perform in the annual Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival at EGGS.
MAGS had seven items – from Othello, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Romeo and Juliet, and The Winter’s Tale.
HOD Drama Miss Hughes said, "A huge congratulations to the students who performed to a full house of students from other schools, friends and family. A special congratulations to Alysha Dodampegamage, who took out the award for Outstanding Costume Design for her group of Junior students performing Macbeth.
Director of Arts Co-curricular Ms Cesan said, "The MAGS drama students were all outstanding – both in their performance and demeanour during this event, and I felt very proud to be there with them."

Duke of Ed Journeys

Last Saturday, there was a formal Gold Award ceremony at St Kentigern’s College, where 84 young people from across the country (1% of all participants) were presented with their Gold Award by Sarah Hillary, daughter of Sir Edmund Hillary and Ken Hames, the National Chair of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.
Among those gaining recognition from MAGS were Ryan Antia, pictured right, and Ryan Shen.
Award Leader Mr Belson, also pictured right, said, "It was a wonderful occasion with lots of inspirational words from the young recipients and guests. I would also like to congratulate Jamie Snow, who has also just completed his Gold Award." 
Mr Belson added, "The weekend prior to this saw a group of silver students participate in their practice journey down in the Hunua ranges. It was a stunning weekend making for perfect tramping and camping conditions around the Upper Mangatawhiri Dam. Well done to all those involved and a thank you to Mr Knowles who gave up his time to help out.
"At the other end of the Award, there has been a number of Year 10 students starting their Duke of Edinburgh journey by signing up for the Bronze award, which is awesome to see." 
Ryan Antia said, "Completing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award was transformative, teaching me resilience, leadership and the value of community.”

Students Get in on Stadium Debate

Shane Henderson, Auckland Councillor for Waitākere and Head of the Auckland Stadium Working Group, returned to MAGS this year to present to Year 13 Geography students. 
These students were investigating the issue of whether Eden Park should be upgraded or a new waterfront stadium (Te Tōangaroa) should be built.  
The students learned a great deal from Shane’s expertise and experience with the issue. He was able to provide all sorts of insights into the decision-making process over such an issue. This included: balancing the various stakeholder’s perspectives and values, budgeting and costing, environmental impacts and how Auckland can become more of an international force when it comes to attracting world-class events.   
HOD Geography Mr Hobbs said, "Shane was very busy with media commitments so we were very grateful that he was able to take the time to come and support our students." 

Prestigious Chinese Scholarship

Congratulations to Adriana Hillen, who has been awarded the Jay Action Kiwi-Dragon Culture Exchange Scholarship.
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide a 10-day cultural experience of China to young Kiwis who are not of Chinese descent.
HOD Languages Ms Mollgaard said, "This is an exceptional achievement as only 14 students from across the country were selected for this opportunity. This highly regarded scholarship includes 10 hours of language lessons before departure and a fully funded trip to three Chinese cities this April holidays. It is a testament to Adriana’s dedication and hard work."

Sweet Fundraiser for SPCA

Interact students raised $1,040.14 this week for the SPCA by holding a Cupcake Day bake sale yesterday and collecting donations during AMP time.
Co-TIC Ms Stünzner held two master classes in cupcake decoration in preparation for the day.
She said, "The baking group members did a brilliant job of creating animal-themed fondant cupcake toppers in the first session, and the second group (pictured) made buttercream frosting and decorated over 120 cupcakes to be sold during the bake sale.
"With other Interact members also providing a range of baked goods, as well as some Kiwi classic sausage rolls on offer, it was a complete sell-out! This concluded what has been a fantastic term of service to the community for our Interact members."

History of the Roll of Honour

The 1941 photo, above, shows F.W. Gamble in the hall at the front of the stage – the other two men visible in the photo are Nelson Body (on the left) and Dave Sumner (Old Boys’ President).

When war broke out in 1939 there were already a number of old boys serving in the armed forces and soon many more joined up, mostly in the Army and the Air Force.
Until 1941 the number of New Zealand casualties was quite small but this was to increase rapidly as New Zealand forces became involved in campaigns in Greece, Crete and North Africa, where casualties were high.
Every Friday at assembly the headmaster, Mr Gamble, would read out the names of old boys who had lost their lives in the services.
At the 1941 prizegiving, photos of 20 whom were known to have died were unveiled. Their photos had been given by their families and the framing was completed at the school by an old boy who had returned to teach at the school – Jack Jenkin.  
Over the next few years many more were to die, and the man most responsible for collating this information was Nelson Body, who had attended the school from 1927 to 1930 and then returned as a teacher in 1935.
He was active in the Old Boys’ Association and regularly corresponded with servicemen both in New Zealand and overseas. Thanks to him, at the end of the war the school was able to create a roll of honour, the original of which is part of the school grandstand which was built as a war memorial.

By the beginning of 1946, approximately 5000 students had passed through the school. Of these, 1537 had served overseas and 435 had served in New Zealand. The roll of honour records that 198 died in the service of the country.
In 2024 the school archivist received a query from a historian researching New Zealanders who served in the Air Force during World War II.
This request concerned Athol Eric Kilner, who had been killed in action over Bougainville in October 1944. In the photo below, Athol is at far right – and this has probably been taken at Torokina airfield on Bougainville.
His name does not appear on our original roll of honour but it did not take long to confirm that he was indeed a former pupil of the school.
It seems that his name may have been missed since his family had moved to Whanganui.
We have now been able to include Athol in our roll of honour and, thanks to a family member, also have a framed photograph which will be displayed annually as part of our Anzac commemorations.

– Greg Cave, Archivist

The 1933 Football 1st XI's Huge Sacrifice

The 1933 Football Team had a particularly successful year, ending the season as joint champions with Auckland Grammar School.
This was the sixth time the school had won this competition since first entering in 1924. The team photo, above, shows only 12 players but of these six lost their lives during World War II:
Sergeant Joseph Fyvie, Sergeant Alfred James Higgison, Pilot Officer Owen Edward Lamb, Pilot Officer Patrick Henry Francis William Leland, Pilot Officer Alexander John Macfarlane and Sergeant John Bernard Wood.
Two other members of the team served in the armed forces. With the school having been founded only in 1922, all former students were of the age likely to be called upon to serve in the armed forces. The school recognised its servicemen with the opening of the Centennial Walkway in 2022 and the building of a new memorial to these young men, as pictured below.

Feast of Visual Art

Year 8 Info Evenings in Term 2

Mount Albert Grammar School will be holding two information evenings in Term 2 for prospective Year 9 students in 2026.
These evenings are primarily aimed at in-zone Year 8 parents and guardians, and their sons/daughters, and will be held in the F.W. Gamble Hall on Wednesday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 13, from 7pm-8pm.
To manage numbers, feeder schools have been assigned an evening to attend but if that date does not work there is no problem attending the other evening, and there is no need to RSVP.
May 7: Kowhai Intermediate School, Pasadena Intermediate School, Ponsonby Intermediate School, Wesley Intermediate School.
May 13: Auckland Normal Intermediate School, Balmoral Intermediate School.
Attendees will get: 
• A visual presentation about Mount Albert Grammar School for Year 9 students in 2026.
• Information about our enrolment procedure for the 2026 intake.
• The opportunity to find out about the academic, sporting, arts and cultural opportunities at MAGS.

Sports Update

Premier Netball Team Announced

MAGS would like to formally announce the coaching and management team for our MAGS Premier Netball Team.
Director of Sports Academies Ms Keenan said, "We welcome both coaches and manager to the Mount Albert Grammar School sporting community. The team will play in the Auckland Secondary Schools Premier and Club competitions for 2025."
 
The players selected for the 2025 season are:
Sasha Tobin, Aria Gardiner, Bella Gardiner, Tupou Kautai, Lucia Lemamea, Taylor Rose Mose, Tyler McNeil, Muriwai Mikaere,  Khalen Quensell,  Romi Ropati, Faith Taihia, Mali Toleafoa

MAGS Premier Netball Head coach – Waana Araroa
Waana has been a MAGS parent and coach when her daughter Meretini Fuimaono was a Premier player. She returns in 2025 as a teacher of Te Reo Māori working within our Te Puna o Wairaka department. After five years of coaching at MAGS, Waana took up the Director of Netball and Premier Coach role at Epsom Girls Grammar School, a role she held for eight seasons and saw them feature at many NZSS events. Waana has also coached at Marvels NNL and worked within the Mystics development coaching environment. She brings the expectation of everyone growing their game, working hard together, and developing a competitive style with each player adding to the dynamic of the team. We are pleased to have her involved with the talented players in our squad. 

MAGS Premier Netball Assistant coach – Sulu Fitzpatrick
Sulu believes in the power of the collective, working together to a common goal. Sulu joins our coaching team with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Sulu and Waana have worked together before, each with an appreciation of each other’s strengths. As a Silver Fern, Sulu was known for her communication and leadership skills. She will inspire our players to grow their skill sets and add resilience to how they play the game.

MAGS Premier Netball Manager – Sarah Vincent
Sarah joins us from the Mathematics Department where she teaches. She is a qualified Netball umpire, and supported the development of junior umpires at MAGS. We are pleased that she will be the girls' organiser and support with all off-court needs at training, games and tournaments.

Auckland Reps WIn Gold

There were some outstanding results from the group of MAGS Students who represented Auckland at the NISS Athletics Championships at Porritt Stadium, Hamilton on April 5 & 6.
The standout performances came from Nina Chalmers, pictured below, and Kendra Scally-Tu’i, above, who broke NISS Records in their winning performances.
Nina won the Senior Girls 1500m in 4:27.56 and broke the NISS record by three seconds, while Kendra did the sprint double in NISS record times, winning the Senior Girls 100m and 200m in 11.79s and 23.87s respectively
Ty Gonzales also took double gold for his hurdles events: the Senior Boys 110m and 300m Hurdles.
Benjie Fairclough won Gold in his Senior Boys Pole Vault, then helped the Senior Boys 4x400m team to a gold medal-winning performance in the relay event at the very end of the meet. 
Zara Bint also ran in the Intermediate Girls 100m, and was a key contributor to the bronze medal-winning Senior Girls 4x100m relay, having to run up a grade.
Eric Zhao also ran in his 300m Hurdles event, and placed 7th, and Christiaan Findlay competed in the Junior Boys Triple Jump and placed 6th – a solid effort for a Year 9.

Mixed Conditions for Cross Country

The school cross country took place on Monday (Girls) and Tuesday (Boys). 
The Girls had comfortable conditions with a relatively clear day during their races on the traditional course. 
On Tuesday, the boys had to battle a softer course due to some heavy rain in the morning.  The course was modified slightly to avoid damage to the bottom fields.
The main highlight over the two days was the close finish in the Year 10 Boys race. Jasper Metcalfe finished three seconds ahead of Akaldeep Singh and Malua Tipi, who had a tight finish for second and third. 
In the Senior Girls race, Nina Chalmers showed her prowess by winning by two and half minutes. This was fresh off setting a North Island Secondary Schools 1500m record on the weekend. 
Henry Hills won the Senior Boys race, which consisted of two laps of the course, in strong fashion. He completed the race in 18:47.
Assistant Director of Sport Mr Crossan said, "The two days would not have been possible without the help of staff and students who assisted with the organisation and officiating over both days. A special thanks goes to Mr Dempster for organising the whole event, Ms Inwood for organising the interform points and Ms Wright for managing the farm section of the course. Also, thanks to the number of prefects that assisted with recording the results."  
 
Results:

Mixed Touch Team On Top Again

MAGS had a very successful day at this year’s College Sport – Auckland Secondary Schools Touch Senior Championship Tournament.
Our Senior Girls and Mix teams both medalled as one of Top 3 schools in Auckland at Cornwall Park on Tuesday.
Both teams performed exceptionally well throughout the day despite pouring rain. 
The Senior Mix team went undefeated, winning 4 out of 4 pool games, beating a strong James Cook side 5-2 in the semi-final. Captained by Dylan Yare, the Mix team put on a phenomenal performance  against One Tree Hill College in the final. They previously beat them in pool play and won again in the final, 8-4. The Mix team came away as undefeated back-to-back winners, placing themselves first in Auckland once again. 
The Senior Girls went on to win 2 out of 3 pool games, qualifying for a tight semi-final against top contenders Auckland Girls Grammar.
Assistant Director of Rugby Mrs Wright-Akeli said, "With more than half the team being junior girls and making a return for MAGS Senior Girls touch this year, they should be extremely proud. Captained by Karamea Driscoll-Maruariki, the girls bounced back from their loss to then go on and face Massey High School coming away 3rd in Auckland." 
 
Results 

Archers Dominate Matchplay

MAGS Archers enjoyed some fantastic results at their AKSS Matchplay Championships on Sunday. 
Every gold medal teams match had a MAGS team in it.
Recurve Team Gold: MAGS White (Phoebe Newcombe, Ilaria Melchiori, Oscar Holmes, Peter Yeh, pictured below).
Compound Team Silver: MAGS Blue (Simon Atkinson, Luna Nicholson-Brown)
Barebow Team Silver: MAGS Red (Ben Whaley, Maiah Radu – in her first tournament)
Barebow Team Bronze: MAGS Green (Tom Jarrold, Ben Gladding)
The Individual matches had some big wins for MAGS as well. Phoebe and Ilaria both made the gold medal match. They tied scores at the end to take the result to a one-arrow shoot-off. Phoebe won it by millimetres.
Recurve Individual Gold: Phoebe Newcombe
Recurve Individual Silver: Ilaria Melchiori
Compound Individual Bronze: Simon Atkinson
TIC Ms Lees said, "Those Recurve medals are so, so hard to win. We have won an Individual Silver medal once before in the entire time we have been competing in this competition. This is one for the record books!"