  Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Mount Albert Grammar School.
The dust is settling for our Paris Olympians and fans after the closing ceremony earlier this week.
The performances of our New Zealand athletes on the whole have been exceptional and provided much discussion and interest across the school this week. One undeniable measure of our team’s success has been the record medal haul across a variety of codes.
But there are many lenses we can use to assess the results of our Kiwi Olympians. Chef de Mission Nigel Avery commented on the large number of individuals who had achieved personal bests or made finals at the Games.
A case in point was the absolute delight expressed by our three women pole-vaulters when they realised they had all qualified for the final – that was their Gold Medal!
And there is another more human message worth noting. For the duration of the Games, athletes from every corner of the world come together to focus on a universal goal – and, in doing so, somehow transcended the geo-political conflicts present in many parts of our globe.
It generates great hope when you see a shared humanity dominating the intolerance that can so often accompany difference and diversity – at least for the 16 days of competition!
Maybe that’s the real gold of the Games!
Have a good weekend.
Patrick Drumm
Headmaster
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Click here for the Calendar
Friday, August 30
Daffodil Day
Monday, September 2 to Sunday, September 9
Winter Tournament Week
PHOTO ESSAY
 Hockey Boys 1st XI v Pakuranga College
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Trials and Registrations
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Fixtures and Results
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Our Lion Fund programme aims to provide financial support to allow every MAGS student to access the breadth of opportunities we offer at our school.
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  During this week, three music ensembles have performed and competed at the KBB Music Festival.
The MAGS Camerata Chamber Orchestra, directed by Ms Cassandra Fletcher, performed during the afternoon session on Monday at St Mary’s chapel.
This group of 15 string players performed Palladio by Karl Jenkins, Libertango by Astor Piazzolla and the Theme from Star Trek by Alexander Courage.
MAGS Symphony Orchestra performed later that evening in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Led by Ms Anna Cooper, this group of 41 students performed music from Lord of the Rings composed by Howard Shore, Brahms' Symphony No. 1 and a medley of Stevie Wonder classics arranged by John Whitney.
The Owairaka Jazz Ensemble performed on Wednesday. Directed by Mr Neil Watson, this group's repertoire included the samba Chega De Saudade featuring Anouk Blackburn on vocals, the jazz standard Stella By Starlight, and Backlash that featured soloists Amie Jerschke, Felix McElwee, Julien van Omen, Will Poynter and Sylvie Edwards. They finished with Emma Newland singing Shallow from A Star is Born.
Senior music students Catherine Chen, Jonathon You and Nora Pecher have been selected to perform this evening with the KBB Honours Orchestra. This group features talented musicians selected from competing orchestras across the Auckland region.
Mr Watson said, "We wish them luck with their performance this evening and are looking forward to hearing the results of our music students hard mahi during the weekend."
You can see more photos of the ensembles in action here  |
Senior Course Selection for 2025 |
 We are now ready for parents to support their child to complete their Senior course selection for 2025 online.
Course selection for 2025 is now open and should be completed by Wednesday 28thAugust 2024, for current Year 11 & 12, and Wednesday 4th September 2024, for current Year 10.
You can view course information and options through SchoolPoint
If you are having problems, click here for some helpful information.
Please find a full list of all courses on offer at MAGS here
If you would like any further information or assistance with selecting courses and the online process, please contact your child’s Dean. Click here for Deans’ names and contact details.
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Huge Prizes in Puna Raffle |
 Te Puna o Wairaka has organised an amazing raffle to help them fundraise to upgrade Kapa Haka Kākahu (outfits).
There are seven prize packs up for grabs, all worth over $1000. The prize packs have been donated and can be viewed on Instagram @tpowkakahu.
Key details:
Puna will be selling a maximum of 250 tickets for $50 each. There will be seven draws and all tickets will be eligible for each draw.
A NZ Police officer will witness the draw on August 30, 2024.
All payments need to be made to the school by August 28; that is the closing date for entry.
If you would like a ticket, please email [email protected]
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Albertian Inspires Scholarship Aspirants |
 One of our most successful academics, Albertian D’arcy Brown (2015-2018) returned to MAGS to talk about his Scholarship journey at assembly and inspire students to take on the exams.
In his final year, D'arcy was Proxime Accessit (runner-up to Dux) after being first in French, Classics, Economics, English and History in Year 13, and winning the Calder Senior History prize and gaining the John Williamson Scholarship.
D’arcy, who was introduced to the assembly by Deputy Principal Mr Powell, above, entered three scholarship exams, French, Classics, and History, gaining scholarships in History and Classics.
He spent his first year post-high school in France, learning a new language and culture before returning to NZ to pursue an Arts degree, majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Victoria University Wellington, graduating last year.
While at Victoria he was Vice President of the Student Volunteer Army in Wellington, awarded a Te Tini a Rehua award as a top Maori undergraduate student, co-taught an inaugural Global Studies program and tutored French.
Last year, after finishing at Victoria, he started working for All Good, a social enterprise in New Zealand giving back to communities in Ecuador, through investment in schools, female-led businesses and fair wages for banana farmers. He’s currently a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship, which allows students to study at Oxford University.
D’arcy spoke about how sitting the Scholarship exams was not just about achievement but also about the lifetime benefits of aiming high, taking on challenges and being disciplined in the pursuit of your goals. |
Fundraising Concert Success |
  A fundraising concert was held in Gym 2 last Saturday night to help raise money for the Centennial Choir to get to the Big Sing Finale in Wellington at the end of the month.
Performances by the choir, dance students and the MAGS Got Talent finalists alongside some of the music students were well received.
Stalls outside the gym sold snacks and there were raffles as well.
The choir are still fundraising so if you want to help with their efforts, you can make donations to the MAGS bank account specifying 'Centennial Choir'. |
Get Your Tickets for Teams of the Century |
 Our Teams of the Century event takes place on Friday, September 27 (not August 9).
Get ready for an unforgettable event! Don't miss this incredible opportunity to reconnect with classmates and reminisce.
Join us for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Albertians Association when our Teams of the Century will be announced.
Date: Friday, September 27
Time: 6.30pm
Location: F.W. Gamble Hall
Use this link to register and secure your spot today! Payment options available online or come in and pay at the school main reception.
We are thrilled to have renowned sports commentator and Albertian Mark Watson as our MC for the evening.
*All general enquiries to MAGS Reception – [email protected]
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Personal Excellence Recognised |
The Junior Excellence Awards for Term 2 were presented to students from Year 9 (pictured above) and Year 10 (pictured below) at assemblies recently.
Certificates are awarded to up to two students from each mentor class at the end of each term. You can seen the list of Year 9 and 10 students here
These awards recognise students who have demonstrated personal excellence by doing one or more of the following:
– shown huge improvement in the quality of work
– submitted outstanding work
– shown significantly improved effort
– exemplified the ‘MAGS Way’ values
– been a highly supportive and helpful member of their mentor class
– persevered through hardship to achieve success  |
2025 Enrolment Applications |
In-zone Applications for 2025
To assist with planning for 2025, please submit your in-zone application as soon as possible, preferably before Friday, 30 August 2024.
Out-of-Zone Applications for 2025
It is likely Mount Albert Grammar School will be at full capacity in 2025.
Should the Mount Albert Grammar School Board of Trustees be in a position to approve any Year 9 out-of-zone enrolments, for 2025, these applications must be received before Wednesday, 4 September 2024, for a ballot on Wednesday, 11 September 2024.
All 2025 enrolments are processed online via our school website. Please click here |
Sheep Milking in Full Flow |
Sheep milking on the farm has been underway for several weeks now, with students being schooled up by Deputy Principal Mrs Wright.
The new milking shed and machinery is working well, and the milk has been used to make soaps and lotions which are really nice skin products.
It is hoped that some Technology and Commerce students can be engaged to design labelling and brand names for the products along with marketing ideas. |
 Last Sunday morning, a group of environmentally-conscious students travelled up to Tāwharanui to take part in volunteer native tree planting.
This was part of an event organised by Auckland Council on behalf of The Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society (TOSSI). The Sanctuary is a unique blend of conservation, recreation and sustainable farming within Tāwharanui Regional Park.
The open sanctuary includes mature and regenerating native bush, wonderful beaches, spectacular coastal cliffs, wetlands, heritage sites, a marine reserve and extensive areas of rich pasture.
TIC Mr Hobbs said, "The students were a credit to MAGS with their efforts across several hours planting native trees (ranging from manuka and kānuka to kōwhai) across a steep slope.
"Several students had taken part in previous years’ plantings and were able to see some promising results of these efforts.
"Several members of the public were surprised that these students were doing this purely for volunteering and making a difference as opposed to being part of a formal school assessment. Overall, it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning out on the coast."
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Junior Netballers Win Club Title |
  This year MAGS has entered the Premier 1 and MAGS Senior A teams and some of our top Year 10 players into the Auckland Club Competition.
Our MAGS Year 10, pictured above, were entered into the U16/U18 Auckland Club Grade as MAGS Junior Premiers.
After two rounds of round robin, our Junior Premiers played off against Trivialist Falcons to decide the winner of the grade.
Having lost to Trivialist by one goal earlier in the round robin match, it was always going to be competitive, with many supporters from both teams watching on.
Forty minutes of netball couldn’t separate the two teams. Extra time saw our Junior Premiers finally achieve the win by two goals, 32-30.
Meanwhile, on the indoor courts at the same time our MAGS Premiers, pictured above, had their semifinal game against a very strong club team, Eastern. After trailing for the majority of the game, the girls pulled ahead in the last quarter, dug deep and held onto their three-point lead to take the win and a spot in the finals.
Director of Netball Mrs Henry said, "Come down and support our MAGS Premier netball team this Saturday, playing in the Senior A final against an unbeaten TSC Flyers at Auckland Netball Centre at 1.30pm."
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Top 10s in AKSS Road Race |
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 On Tuesday, 19 students competed at the Auckland Secondary Schools Road Running Race, held at Pulman Park in Papakura. The day was sunny with some moderate winds, making conditions comfortable and testing at the same time.
Two students managed to gain top 10 finishes in their age group. Nina Chalmers (Year 12) finished third in a hotly contested Intermediate Girls section. She ran at the front of the leading pack for most of the race and finished strong in the last 100m to gain a podium finish. She completed the 4km race in a time of 13:54, two seconds behind the runner up.
Theo Bray (Year 12) ran a smart race in a high-quality field to finish 6th in the Senior Boys category. Theo stuck with the front pack for three-quarters of the race before the leading four runners broke away. Theo’s time was an impressive 18:51 over the 6km race.
Our Intermediate Girls six-person team managed to accumulate enough points to finish third. The team consisted of Nina Chalmers, Olivia Appleton, Hazel Helmore, Peyton Curle, Sofia Gough and Ashley Lo.
Assistant Director of Sport Mr Crossan said, "Thanks to Mr Dempster who helped with transport and course marshalling on the day." |
Orienteering Boys' Trophy Haul |
Our Orienteering Boys team was recognised at assembly this week for their continuing excellence, including dominating the podium at the recent NZ Secondary School Champs.
They are pictured with, from left, the NZSS Premier Boys Team Award, the NZSS Top Secondary School Award, the NISS Top Boys School Award, and the NZSS Intermediate Boys Relay Champions Award.
This was the Boys' seventh national title in a row, while the Girls finished third in the Top School competition, with their best ever overall points and results. |
 Hunter Marsh (Year 10) has competed in the last two legs of the Auckland Secondary Schools Mountain Biking Series.
He has finished with two top-10 placings in the Under 16 Boys Category.
In June, he finished sixth in the race at Totara Park.
At the start of August, he finished on the podium with a third place at Waitawa Regional Park.
For his age category, riders do three laps of the course, totalling a 15-18km ride depending on the course.
Riders accumulate based on where they finish in each race to determine an overall series champion.
His next race will be at the start of September at Riverhead. |
 Today, the Football Boys 1st XI play Rangitoto College at Crum Park Turf at 7pm.
Tomorrow, the Netball Premiers take on St Mary’s at 11.30am.
On Monday, the Football Boys 1st XI play St Kentigern at Crum Park Turf at 6.30pm.
On Wednesday, at Ellerslie Turf at 3.30pm, the Football Girls 1st XI have the chance to make a clean sweep of the season when they play the APC Final against Baradene. Prior to that game, at the same venue, the Junior A Girls Football team is in the Junior APC Final vs Baradene at 1.30pm. At 4pm at Fowlds Park the Rugby League 1st XIII are playing a pre-Nationals friendly vs St Paul's College, and the Hockey Boys 1st XI play a semifinal against Westlake Boys at North Harbour at 5.10pm.
On Thursday, the Lacrosse Premier Girls play their One Day Tournament at Avondale Racecourse from 10.15am, and the Hockey Girls 1st XI face St Kentigern at Lloyd Elsmore Park at 5.45pm.
For updated fixtures and results, click here
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