SHINE Fundraiser Nets $1400

Interact kicked off 2024 by fundraising for SHINE, a charity that the club passionately supports each year.
SHINE, which stands for Safer Homes in New Zealand, provides aid to victims of domestic violence and supports those who perpetuate it to lead a life without abuse. Interactors promoted the fundraiser in form classes and assemblies, collected donations during mentor time, sold DIY key chains and held a bake sale in CS Quad.
Interact TIC Miss Barlow said, "We had a massive amount of baking and sold out most of it very early on. Overall, Interact raised $1409.25. Thank you to everyone for your support of this important kaupapa!"

Moving Tribute on Display

The cabinet display outside the Library now features a fascinating ANZAC Day tribute.
Thanks to library staff member Steph Bretherton, Assistant Archivist Greg Cave and Shamla Marrikar (Year 11), the display features war memorabilia, including medals from Albertian Albert Dodds, photos of fallen Albertians, the very significant Memorial Book, together with the Reg and Ian Grant Memorial Cup.
The Memorial Cup was presented to MAGS in 1945 by Reg and Ian’s family and is for the Sprint Championship; it has been awarded every year since. Both Reg and Ian were noted athletes in their time at the school.

The library will move to the new Nairn Building early in Term 2.
Director of E-Learning Mrs Goddard said, "We are boxing our book collection in the coming week, ready for the move to this modern and spacious facility.
"Although the books may be in storage for a short while, we hope to keep disruption to a minimum, and the current library space will still be available for student use until the new library opens.
"Parents, please remind your child to take out several books for holiday and early Term 2 reading –  by the end of Monday, April 8. Kids who read, succeed!"

Councillor Talks Local Politics

On Wednesday afternoon, Shane Henderson, the Auckland Councillor for Waitakere, came in to speak to a group of Year 13 Geography students. 
Shane is the Chair of the Auckland Stadium proposal group, and shared his experiences for students examining the stadium debate as an example of a contemporary geographic issue.  
Geography teacher Mr Hobbs said, "Shane was very engaging as he explained the role Auckland Council has in gathering different proposals for stadiums in Auckland and how they aim to balance the needs of a wide range of interest groups such as local residents, environmental groups, businesses, mana whenua and ratepayers.
"He gave students food for thought when comparing how a new stadium would open avenues for more global-scale events and business investment versus the high costs involved.   
"He also discussed various career opportunities in the public sector for students with an interest in town planning, urban development, social decision making and politics – and how the need for these roles will increase in the future as Tāmaki Makaurau’s population grows." 

Students Attend Rotary Brunch

Interact leaders Zoe Burnett and Marie Gamage attended Rotary’s International Women’s Day Brunch, with their tickets subsidised by Judy Lawley, from Rotary Westhaven.
The annual event was held as a fundraiser for the Himalayan Leaky Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Palestine/Gaza Relief.
Paula Whetu-Jones, director of Whina, was the guest speaker. Both students really enjoyed the event and said they loved hearing about Paula’s journey.

War on Moth Plant Begins Again

Moth plant is an invasive species that is taking over local green spaces and killing native flora and fauna.
This year, the Sandringham Project in Community Empowerment is working with the Mount Albert Grammar School Environmental Committee to encourage community members to take the initiative and eradicate this invasive species.  
Team up, remove moth plant and compete for prizes in three separate categories, each with its own set of prizes: 1^st prize $500, 2^nd prize $300, and a bonus prize for ‘thickest vine’. 
Learn more and register here
Registrations are open now and submissions can be made from today until May 5.

Gloriana Building Relationships

Gloriana were invited to perform at the Women in Construction event hosted at MAGS on Wednesday.
Choir Director Mrs Oxenham said, "They were delighted with the opportunity and the performance was well received."

Donation Receipts for Tax Claims

Donation receipts for tax purposes were sent via email this week for parents who want to claim a rebate with the IRD.
Please check your inbox/junk email for your receipt.

Changes to Train  Fares

Free travel for 5- to 12-year-olds and half-price travel for 13- to 24-year-olds on AT bus, train and ferry services will end on April 30, 2024, in line with the Government’s decision to withdraw funding for these concessions.  
This means that from Wednesday, May 1: 
5- to 12-year-olds will no longer travel for free on weekdays and will instead pay a child concession (at least 40% off adult fares). They will continue to travel for free on weekends. The child concession will apply to anyone aged 5 to 15, who has a registered AT HOP card with their correct date of birth.   
13- to 15-year-olds will stop receiving the half-price child fares discount and instead switch to paying full child fares (at least 40% off an adult fare during weekdays) but still have free travel on weekends. The child concession will apply to anyone aged 5 to 15, who has a registered AT HOP card with their correct date of birth.   
16- to 19-year-olds with a secondary student concession will stop receiving the half-price secondary fares discount and instead switch to paying full secondary fares (at least 40% off an
adult fare). Students aged 16-19 should apply for the secondary student concession to ensure they are paying the cheapest fare possible. 
More information about the discounts and what you may need to do next can be found here

Sports Update

MAGS Retains Challenge Shield

It was fantastic to host WBHS once again this year, only the second time they have visited MAGS since the traditional exchange was restarted in 2021.
This year there were eight matches with Basketball, Hockey, Football, Rugby, Squash and Volleyball in the sporting arena and Debating in the academic challenge. MAGS won six of the eight matches to retain the challenge shield.
With 120 boys competing from both schools, the WOH Gibbs Room was at capacity for the after-match.
Deputy Principal Allie Wright said, "Thanks to Whangarei for travelling through the difficult roading; we thoroughly enjoyed hosting and look forward to next year's challenge."

Results:
Basketball Junior Boys – MAGS won 61-56
Basketball Premier Boys – MAGS won 95-44
Debating – MAGS won
Football – MAGS won 7-2
Hockey – WBHS won 5-0
Rugby – MAGS  won 19-10
Squash – WBHS won 4-0
Volleyball – MAGS won 3-0

Mountain Biker's All-Round Talents

At the Cycling New Zealand Schools North Island Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua, Hunter Marsh (Year 10, pictured above front right) represented MAGS in all three individual events – Cross Country, Downhill and Enduro.
Racing in the Under 16 category, one of the largest age groups, Hunter rode against some strong competitors and placed third overall for his age. 
The National Schools Mountain Bike Championships will be held in Christchurch in October, and we look forward to seeing what Hunter can achieve there.

Waka Ama Success at Nationals

With many schools entering close to actual club teams preparing for this year’s world sprint champs, competition was always going to be tight at the Waka Ama Nationals.
MAGS Paddlers aimed to make as many Championship finals as possible – and achieved this goal, being quite unlucky not to podium in two team events.   
This was also the first year that Canoe Racing NZ (K1) ran a national secondary schools event. At short notice, MAGS entered a few K1 events and did very well considering the students had not had any previous experience. 
Both Marnie and Marlin Toloa successfully defended their national titles, coming first in the J16 Girls W1 and J19 Boys W1 respectively.
The Boys W6 500m came fourth in the hotly contested Championship final, while the Boys W6 250m were coming third in the Championship final but a course correction to avoid a possible lane infringement cost them precious seconds and they did not podium.
in the J16 Boys W1, LaRome Waihirere won the Championship final only to be disqualified for a lane infringement. 
The W12 mixed made the championship final. 
In the K1 250m, U16 Girls – Marnie made the final in her 1^st K1 event, U16 Boys – LaRome made the final, and U19 Boys – Marlin made a semi final. 
In the K1 relay, U16 Boys – LaRome teamed up with students from Whakatane High and came fourth in the 4 x 100m K1 relay final, and in the U19 Boys – Marlin teamed up with students from Gisborne Boys High, Whakatane High andTe Rangi Aniwaniwa and came third in the 4 x 100m K1 relay final.

Give Curling a Go!

The MAGS Curling squad are looking for more students to join their ranks.
Teams play in mixed competitions on a Thursday at Paradice Ice Rink in Avondale in Terms 2 and 3. All equipment and coaching is provided - all you need is some warm clothes!
There will be two “have-a-go” sessions on May 2 and 9. Please contact Ms Donna Hobbs – [email protected] – if you would like more detail or would like to sign up.

You can unsubscribe here

Copyright © 2024 Mount Albert Grammar School. All rights reserved.

View web version