MAGS' Hip Hop World Champions

Congratulations to the eight MAGS dancers who returned as world champions from the World Of Dance Summit held in Los Angeles.  
Harry Bannister, Manon Gilbert, Joshua Wen, Peyson Mataroa, Minna Bostwick, Alyssa Huang, Reuben Moffett and Makaia Quensell were all part of the Yung ID team that won the championship round. The group is run by director and choreographer and Albertian Josh Cesan.
Kyra-Leigh Masina and Brooklyn Smith Boyd were part of the The Collective, which gained 3rd overall.
The championship round followed the divisional finals where Yung ID gained second place in the Junior Team finals and The Collective won the Adult Team finals. Place-getters from all four divisions competed in the championship round to decide the overall 2025 winner of the WOD international title.
Director of Arts Co-curricular Ms Cesan said, "What an amazing achievement and experience for our students, who have worked so hard towards this goal." 
You can see a video of the winning performance here and a NZ Herald story about their success here

Art Expo: Spotlight on Alumni

This year’s MAGS Student Art Expo, on Saturday, August 2, 9.30am–4.00pm in the F.W. Gamble Hall (free entry), is not just about our current students — it’s also a celebration of our talented alumni.
With the usual MAGS Art Show on pause this year, we’re excited to share the creative journeys of our former students, many of whom are now emerging artists in their own right. Alongside outstanding student work, you’ll see pieces by recent graduates – such as Misaki Nakamura and Ruby Clayton, above left and right respectively, and Jessica Guernsey, at right – who continue to develop and share their artistic vision beyond MAGS.
The Expo will feature painting, photography, ceramics, digital posters, and technical design, with many works available to purchase.
Come and support our alumni, and their creative careers, and be inspired by the incredible talent growing out of our MAGS community.

Quiz Night Tickets on Sale

The MAGS Quiz Night is back and happening on Friday, August 8, from 6–10pm in the F.W Gamble Hall.
This year’s event is in support of UNICEF, a global organisation dedicated to protecting children’s rights and delivering vital aid to young people in over 190 countries.
All proceeds from the night will go directly to this important cause.
Gather your team of 8 and start preparing for a night of trivia, fun, and friendly competition.
Earlybird tickets are $96 per table ($12 per person) until this Sunday, July 27, then after that $128 per team ($16 per person) – and are available now via Kindo here

Business in Action

Tuesday and Wednesday this week saw our Year 13 Business Studies students showcase their innovative business products at a Young Enterprise event held at Auckland’s Viaduct.
HOD Commerce Mr Gilbert said, "This hands-on experience was a valuable opportunity for students to bring their ideas to life, gaining real-world insight into product development, customer interaction, and the art of making a sale.
"They appreciated the chance to receive direct feedback from the public, helping them refine their products and develop their confidence as young entrepreneurs."

Night of the Classics On Sale Soon

Our annual classical music concert is coming up soon and tickets will be available from the Finance Office from next Wednesday.
The concert, featuring our top musical talent, will be held in the F.W. Gamble Hall on Wednesday, August 6 at 6.30pm.
 
 

Staff Dominate Prefects in Football

There was some big talk from MAGS staff during the week about the Football clash with the Prefects but they backed that up at lunchtime today with a 2-0 win.
In the second half, making heavy use of the substitutes bench, the staff team forced some great saves from the Prefects' 'keeper before
Dance Teacher Mr Grace broke the drought when he scored with a slick header.
HOF Health and PE Mrs Wilson followed up a rebound off the post to slam home the clincher.

Personal Best Cerfiticates

The Junior Excellence Awards for Term 2 were presented to students from Year 9 (pictured above) and Year 10 (pictured below) at assemblies this week.
Certificates are awarded to up to two students from each mentor class at the end of each term. You can seen the list of 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

Get Sorted at Careers Expo 

The annual MAGS Careers Expo will be held on Tuesday, August 5 from 4pm-7pm.
Students and their families are encouraged to come along to learn about the different course options available at MAGS and gain information about tertiary study and future pathways.
This evening is particularly important for students in Years 10-12 and is a great opportunity to build on conversations had during Three Way Conferences before option choices open up for 2026.

Going for Gold

During the holidays, a group of Year 12 Outdoor Education students, Ailsa Taylor, Eloise Whitehead, Katie Somerville and Macy Hains, and their teachers, Ms Finch and Mr Whitehead, completed a three-day, two-night tramp in the Whirinaki Forest.
For Eloise and Katie, this was their Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice journey.
The girls began their tramp by walking the beginning leg of the Mangamate Loop Track, 9km of spectacular scenery and native forest, with a quick detour to the nearby waterfall. They had to make tough decisions, incorporating skills of risk management, learnt in class, of choosing whether or not to cross a river multiple times with the river being higher than usual, and account for everyone’s abilities and mental strengths.
They made their way to Verns Campsite where, due to the time of day and how early the sun sets in winter, they slept the night instead of their initial plan to make it to Central Whirinaki Hut.
The next day they arrived at Central Whirinaki Hut around 11.30am for lunch. They then walked to the caves, exploring the charcoal from fallen trees built into the walls of tunnels that led to dead ends,
The final morning started with firewood-collecting for the next trampers at the hut, and picking up rubbish to protect the native bush and animals.
Due to their decision to avoid some river crossings, they made their way back to Verns Camp, seeing whio and piwakawaka along the way back past the waterfall to the carpark.

Gumboot Friday Next Week

Gumboot Friday is coming up next Friday, August 1.
Students can wear gumboots to school on Friday, August 1, participate in interform activities on the bottom field at lunchtime, and come along to bake sales at morning tea on Wednesday and Friday that week. 
For this event, guest speakers from I Am Hope will be coming in to speak to our students to raise awareness about mental health, and provide information about the resources available. 
This event fundraises for free counselling for all New Zealanders under the age of 25, so it's relevant to all of our tamariki. 
For more information about Gumboot Friday, click here

Nurse Vacancy at MAGS

We are looking for an experienced Registered Nurse to join our school. This is a varied and busy role, working within a team of two other nurses, and with a wider pastoral team that includes counsellors and deans.
Experience in youth health, emergency, and/or mental health would be an advantage.
Excellent spoken and written English language skills are essential. Familiarity with Microsoft Office is desirable.
This is a permanent position, Monday to Friday, during term time only. It is anticipated that this position will be 30-35 hours per week with some flexibility available in this regard.
Ideal start date is Term 4, Monday, October 6, 2025, however, there is flexibility around this for the right applicant.
You can see a job description and application form here

Board of Trustees Nominations Reminder

This is a reminder that nominations are currently open for the election of seven parent representatives to the Mount Albert Grammar School Board. Schooled Election Pilot have been appointed as the Returning Officer for this election.
Parents have already been sent a nomination form by email or by post, however, if you need additional nomination forms, or forms in Te Reo Māori or a different language, please contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or [email protected].
Nominations close at noon on 6^th August 2025. Nominations can be submitted by email, through the Election Pilot system at www.electionpilot.nz or by returning the completed nomination form to the school office. You may provide a candidate statement and photograph with your nomination.
The electoral roll is held at the school office and can be viewed during normal school hours.
Voting closes at 4pm on 10^th September 2025.

School House Centenary: Save the Date

MAGS will be celebrating the Centenary of School House in 2027 on Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26.
For all those with an association with the boys hostel, please put those dates in your diary and await announcements of events to mark this occasion.
Pictured above are the first boys to board at old School House in 1927 with the Senior Housemaster, Mr H.L. Towers, and the Matron, Mrs M. Walker.
The old School House at 807 New North Road, pictured below, was built in 1844 as a gentleman’s residence.
MAGS' first Headmaster, F.W. Gamble, persuaded the School's Board to buy it from the Child Welfare Department, which had run it as a home for destitute children but had built new accommodations elsewhere.
School House opened in 1927 with 22 boys. It grew, and remained on that 2.5ha site until 1970, when the existing School House was built on what was a hockey field at MAGS.
The old building was demolished and a fragment of open space remains as the Alice Wylie Reserve.

More Rail Disruptions

There will be more disruptions on Auckland's rail network in the coming months in preparation for the City Rail Link’s opening next year.
Throughout late-July and August, there will be some weekend closures that will impact the Southern Line and the Western Line.
During the September school holidays there will be temporary changes to the timetables on most lines and, on the Southern Line, buses will replace trains between Puhinui and Pukekohe Stations.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July
Western Line: full closure
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket 
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August
Western Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket and New Lynn and Swanson
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August
Western Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket and New Lynn and Swanson
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August
Western Line: trains are running at a reduced frequency between Swanson and Henderson station.

Sports Update

Upcoming Premier Sport

The Basketball Premier Girls and Boys are at home tonight, both playing St Kentigern College teams at 6pm and 7.30pm respectively. The Football Boys 1st XI also play St Kentigern tonight, at Crum Park Turf at 7.00pm.
Tomorrow, our Netball Premiers play Avondale College at Auckland Netball at 9.30am, while the Rugby Boys 1st XV have an away game against De La Salle College at 2.30pm.
On Monday, the Rugby Girls 1st XV is playing an away game against Howick College at 4pm. The Basketball Premier Girls and Boys are back in action, with the Boys away to Rosmini College at 7.45pm, and the Girls away to Carmel College at 6pm.
On Tuesday, the Netball Premiers play Marist College at Auckland Netball at 5.30pm.
On Wednesday, the Football Girls 1st XI host Rangitoto College for an APC game at 4.00pm, while the Hockey Boys 1st XI face Selwyn College at Lloyd Elsmore Park at 5.00pm.
On Thursday, the Hockey Girls 1st XI play Pukekohe High at Kolmar Turf at 4.45pm, and the Lacrosse Premier Girls have a game with details TBC.

More sporting fixtures here