Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) at MAGS has featured activities based around our new Whare Wānanga.
On Monday, there was a Korero Cafe at the Whare, with free kai for those who ordered in te reo; a Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Kahoot on Tuesday; a screening of The Lion King in te reo on Wednesday; and a poi workshop yesterday. A staff waiata outside the Whare planned for today was abandoned due to the wet weather.
The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of te Reo Māori. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future.

International Olympiad Medals

Congratulations to Victor Coen, who has achieved a gold and a bronze medal at international olympiads in Egypt and Saudi Arabia recently.
The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) was held in Alexandria, Egypt from September 1 to 8, and Victor was awarded a bronze medal for his efforts.
In late July, the NZ Olympiad in Informatics was informed of a new AI Olympiad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 8 to 13.
Victor was one of two students from the NZ IOI team who wished to attend this event. Despite very little preparation time, he and the other student achieved outstanding results, with Victor receiving a gold medal. 
Most of the other contestants had also come from IOI, so the standard was comparable. 
Margot Phillipps, the Executive Director, NZ Olympiad in Informatics, said, "Both of Victor's results are phenomenal. In other countries, winning a medal at the IOI often results in University scholarships being offered at prestigious universities."

Homestay Families Needed

We are excited for 2025 and our new cohort of international students. 
We have students arriving from the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Germany and Italy.  Stays vary from one term through to a full year.
A host is expected to provide a clean and comfortable bedroom with bed, wardrobe (built-in or free-standing) and drawers, linen and towels, desk and lamp, heating in room and three meals a day plus snacks and laundry.
The application process involves police vetting for all family members over 18 and the completion of an application form. 
This is followed by a home visit from the school. This helps us to know a little more about your family’s interests and lifestyle and enables us to make a well-informed student match.
If you would like some further information, or to receive the application forms, please email [email protected]

Film Night is Back!

Don't miss out on tickets for the always-popular MAGS Film Night coming up next month.
Tickets are $12 and available at the Finance Office for the screening on Thursday, October 17 at St Lukes Event Cinemas' No. 2 theatre from 6.30pm-8.30pm.
You can see a Film Night trailer here

Back to the 70s With Dawn Raids

Tickets are now on sale for Dawn Raids, the Level 2 Drama production for 2024 that is being staged next week.
This play is a comedy-drama written by Samoan/New Zealand playwright Oscar Kightley (Sione’s Wedding, Niu Sila, BroTown).
The play looks back at the 1970s, when Pasifika were subjected to dawn raids by the police, who were supposedly cracking down on alleged illegal overstayers.
 
For tickets, please email HOD Drama Carmela Hughes at [email protected]

Order Your 2024 Albertian

Our Finance Department is now taking orders for The Albertian 2024, which will be available by mid-2025.
The yearbook contains a full wrap-up of the year including Academia, Arts, Service and Sports reports and photos, as well as formal class photos – and much more!
It can be delivered to Year 13 students, rather than picked up from MAGS, for a small extra cost.
You can order the 2024 Albertian here

Important Screen Time Survey

A local parent is studying at the University of Auckland, investigating how the health of the eye’s surface might be affected by a child’s screen time.
Parents who have a child aged 12 to 18 and would like to help with this quick and important survey, please check the information at the link below. 
Please read through the survey information and if you are happy, press ’submit’ to start the five-minute survey. 
When you finish your survey, there’s a shorter version for your child to complete, but if they are not keen, the parent survey would still be appreciated.
There are 3x $100 Woolworths vouchers to be won for adults completing the survey who enter the prize draw (you need to actively enter the draw, as the survey is anonymous).
Please feel free to contact the study’s lead investigator, Julie Cullen (Masters student, Ocular Surface Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology), at [email protected] for more information about the study.

You can read about, and take, the survey here

Dance Scholarship Concert

Our amazing senior choreographers present their 2024 Scholarship choreographic submissions next Tuesday, September 24.  
The evening also features the popular Year 13 Leavers' Dance.
Email Mr Grace – [email protected] – to reserve tickets. 

View From Mt Albert 1935

This original 4in x 2 ½in print was taken by Nelson Body and it is a gift of his estate to the School.
The buildings on the school farm include the woolshed and the pigsty. The citrus block can be seen near the School. In the far right there is a part of Rangitoto Island.
This image is part of Set 94, recently added to our website's Historical Images page here

Graduate Choir at MAGS