Remembering Maurice Hall

Our Assistant Archivist Mr Cave looks back on Maurice Hall's time at MAGS:

Maurice Hall came to MAGS in 1962 from Avondale College as Head of the Mathematics Department.
In 1969 he took up a Senior Lectureship at Massey University before becoming our fourth Headmaster in 1970.
Maurice, pictured right with his late wife Maureen, was regarded as an outstanding Mathematics teacher and regularly lectured and advised on new developments in the teaching of Mathematics and co-authored Mathematics text books.
Students remember him as a caring, friendly teacher. When he returned as Headmaster, the school, and New Zealand as a whole, was just entering a period of dramatic social change and it was Maurice’s task to steer the school through this while at the same time maintaining the core values of the school. For the first time the school had to devise programs for students with little or no English. The school slowly developed into a multicultural school and was one of the first participants in the Secondary Schools’ Polynesian Festival (now known as Polyfest).
Maurice fostered the Arts and the school opened its first Music suite in 1983. In addition to annual drama productions, the school produced a series of musicals starting in 1981 that fostered closer relations with Marist Sisters’ College and Auckland Girls’ Grammar.
Sport continued to be important in the school, with many successes across most codes but the highlight was probably the school’s victory in the inaugural secondary schools’ rugby competition in 1982.
In 1976, the new Library Block was opened by Sir Robert Muldoon, the Prime Minister and an old boy of the school.
Two years later the squash courts were opened, and in 1984 Sir Robert Muldoon returned to open the “new gymnasium”, a full-sized facility that replaced the old wooden structure which now houses the Learning Centre. Maurice had steered the school through a number of fundraising ventures, which allowed the school to build a modern gymnasium that suited the needs of the school.
In 1972 Maurice appointed the first woman to teach on the staff since the end of World War II. From then on women were appointed in greater numbers, some attaining positions of responsibility, and all of them contributing positively to the life of the school. Maurice instituted the Parents’ Association to allow parents to have a greater voice in the education of their sons.
In 1986, the Auckland Grammar Schools’ Board, which had been responsible for the school since 1922, was dissolved, meaning the school had its own Board of Governors allowing even greater input from parents. Maurice was instrumental in setting up a very successful Board, which was soon to be known as the Board of Trustees.
Maurice’s education philosophy can be summed up in the introduction to the 1981 Albertian: “The school strives to meet the needs of those it serves. Above all it strives to respect the individuality of all its members.”
When it was time for teachers to write reports, he always reminded them that they were writing about the children whose parents loved them and so teachers should always find something positive to write.
Maurice was dedicated to the school. The 1988 Albertian contains a long valedictory. One sentence sums up his dedication. “Except for his wife and family, who gave him constant support, nobody will really know how much time Mr Hall devoted to the school.” This devotion continued and he regularly attended sports and cultural fixtures.
The school thanks Maurice for his immense contribution and sends its sincere condolences to his whānau.
 
A Requiem Mass for Maurice will be held at 11am tomorrow at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 510 Riddell Road, Glendowie. All welcome.

Maurice Hall is pictured with current Headmaster Mr Drumm and former headmasters Dale Burden and Greg Taylor at one of the many events he attended at MAGS.

Top Scholars Recognised at Parliament

HOD Technology Mr Bailey, at left, and HOD German Mr Gibbs, at right, accompanied Jude Wilson, centre left, and Samuel Reeves to the Top Scholar Awards ceremony at Parliament.

MAGS' two Top Scholars from the 2023 Scholarship exams, Samuel Reeves and Jude Wilson, were recognised at Parliament this week.
Samuel and Jude, the Top Scholars nationwide in German and Technology respectively, were presented with their awards at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Education Erica Stanford.

Changes to School Day Next Wednesday

Due to the PPTA Paid Union Meeting next Wednesday (May 15) at 1.00pm, MAGS will operate an adjusted timetable structure on the day. 

Senior students will have their usual four classes and finish at Lunchtime, however classes are 10 minutes shorter and Lunchtime is earlier at 12.20pm.
Junior students will also have their usual five classes with adjusted times, and Assembly has been moved from the morning to the afternoon, with their day also ending earlier at 2.30pm.

Any students are welcome to remain at school and work in the library if they have set transport arrangements and/or are waiting for things like sports trainings or practices.

Year 11 Exams

Year 11 exams begin in Week 5 – Thursday, 30th May – and run to Thursday, 6th June.
Students should read the exam timetable and instructions carefully.
They can be downloaded here
Students have also received a copy of this timetable via their Google Classrooms and through their Mentors. 
Information on the room allocation for these exams will be provided to students closer to the time. Any students who have a clash between exams will be notified by Miss Rose by Monday, 13th May.
If they do not receive communication by then, they should complete the form available at the Student Centre to identify any further issues. 
These exams are extremely important and will likely be used for students' MCEA certificate so it is important that students attend all exams. These will also be used as prerequisite information for Level 2 courses in 2025.

Clash of the Colleges

Winners of the 2024 Auckland Clash of the Colleges, with Mt Albert MP Helen White, left, are Abby Cook, Hanna Smith, Sophie Chandler and Emily Lyon. At right is Tangaroa Walker.

Clash of the Colleges, hosted by Agri Futures in collaboration with MAGS and the New Zealand Rural Games Trust, witnessed an impressive display of talent and teamwork among students from various schools. 
The event, on the ASB MAGS Farm last Friday, showcased skill, camaraderie and sportsmanship.
Agri Futures general manager Daniel O’Regan said 140 agriculture and horticulture students from MAGS, St Cuthberts, Onewhero Area School and Morrisonville College took part.
“Clash of the Colleges aims to foster enthusiasm and passion for the sectors that make up the food and fibre industry among the next generation, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience and networking opportunities,” O’Regan said.
MAGS Team 58 (Emily Lyon, Sophie Chandler, Hanna Smith, Abby Cook) took out the competition and our Juniors won their division too.
In the gumboot throw, Dre Palavi won the junior event with a throw of 16m.