Pink Shirt Day

Our Health Committee members were out in force this morning, greeting students as they arrived and handing out stickers as they spread the word about working together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusiveness.
Many MAGS staff also supported that message by wearing pink for the day.
The Health Committee also held a bake sale at lunchtime with the goods quickly disappearing.
Pink Shirt Day is about creating a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion or cultural background.
Pink Shirt Day is funded by donations that help the Mental Health Foundation to reduce bullying through raising awareness about bullying prevention, funding education workshops and supplying thousands of free resources that promote inclusive workplaces, schools and communities.

Lessons in Leadership

MP Helen White is pictured above speaking to students and below with Associate Principal Jo Williams as well as Arshiya Arora, Ryan Antia and Nishka Arora.

On Monday, Mount Albert MP Helen White attended the Leaders of Tomorrow forum at MAGS where she spoke about her journey in public service and answered questions from the floor.
This event was the culmination of joint efforts by three MAGS clubs: Debating, UN Youth, and Students Against Dangerous Driving. 
Students also divided up into groups and had to workshop solutions to several challenging scenarios.
Debating Leader Ryan Antia said, "Attendees left with a deeper understanding of leadership and a renewed sense of purpose in contributing to their school and the wider community.
"The overwhelming attendance at this event reveals the keen level of civic interest and also the depth of the talent pool of students who are willing and ready to take up the mantle of leadership both at school and in the wider community."

Enter the Art Show

Students are encouraged to make submissions for the 2024 MAGS Art Show, which runs from August 2-4.
This year’s theme is ‘Light and Shade’ – and there are plenty of awesome prizes to be won as well as the opportunity to make some money by selling works alongside professional artists.
Digital submissions are due by end of Week 8, and painting submissions are due by the end of Term (Week 10).
All entry details are on Google Classroom – students just need to fill in the form then upload their artwork (or hand it to their teacher) and they’re set. Google Classroom code: kpd4x7

Young Navigators Rewards Initiative

Three MAGS students – Noah Curtis, Rimu Frandi and Keon Leota – were among 45 rangatahi chosen from schools all over NZ to participate in the Young Navigators Challenge.
This event was a Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) initiative designed to ‘empower young indigenous leaders of Aotearoa to celebrate and harness their cultural heritage as they grow into the future decision-makers of New Zealand’.
During the three-day event, under the guidance of business mentors, our students embarked on a fast-paced entrepreneurial journey of leadership, connection and collaboration to find innovative solutions to real world business challenges, like building a resilient food system for our whānau. They were divided into groups of six to tackle food insecurity using the power of technology.
On Day One participants met up and took part in some workshops at Deloitte. On Day Two they were put into teams and given the problem, and then had one day to come up with a solution and make business plans and pitches. On Day Three, they presented their solutions to a judging panel.
Rimu Frandi's group was judged the winners of the challenge, and she said, "Young Navigators was an amazing opportunity to learn more about leadership and connections within a business. During this three-day experience, I developed many strong skills for my future, with my business group winning the challenge and getting acceptance to EIA (Entrepreneur's in Action) in July." 

Youth Choir Singers

Former Head Choristers Emilie Tucker (2020), pictured right, and Lara Grozev (2021-2022), left, joined current Gloriana singer Anouk Blackburn (Year 13) as part of the 100-strong Auckland Youth Choir at the Town Hall last Sunday.  
These current and past MAGS singers will be competing with Auckland Youth Choir in the upcoming World Choir Games in July.
Gloriana Director Catherine Oxenham said it was a real joy to see these singers continuing their connection with music.

Debut Win for Mooting Team

Last week a team consisting of Ryan Antia, Lachlan Paul, Stephanie Zhang and Eliza Rodger won their mooting competition on debut.
This was the first time MAGS had a team in a mooting competition – just a fortnight earlier the team had to attend a workshop to learn how to moot.
The Auckland Legal Schools Mooting Competition features a mock court case scenario where competitors present the two opposing sides of a case (Defence and Prosecution). Among other things, this involves witness cross-examination, client interviewing and giving preliminary advice to an actor playing a client with a scripted case. This gives a taste of legal experience to the participants and hence, like debating, mooting is very popular with school and university students, especially those wishing to study Law. 
Team Leader Ryan said, "More satisfying than winning against a very experienced team was seeing how well our team rose to the challenge and remained calm and collected under the extreme pressure of the cross-questioning from the opposition. 
"The team is looking forward to further mooting competitions and to make mooting as popular as debating at MAGS."