Introducing our Prefect Executive

Mr Drumm is flanked by Head Prefects Rosa Fox and Toby Forster, while the Deputy Heads are, from left, Rose Leader, Lize Deng, Isabella Boersen, Ryan Shen, Eved Ah Soon and Brianna McCready.

At Year 13 Assembly today, our 2024 Prefects (pictured below) were introduced to their peers, along with Prefects for School House and Centennial House.
Our 2024 Prefect Executive is:

Head Prefect Rosa Fox
Rosa has been involved in all Four Pillars since the beginning of Year 9. She has been involved in many sports, including tennis, orienteering and co-captaining the Girls 1st XI Hockey last year. She also loves dance and has been a part of the Megacrew and junior performance group. She is looking forward to being Head Prefect for 2024 and contributing to the wonderful MAGS community.

Head Prefect Toby Forster
Toby has been involved across all Four Pillars, working more specifically in the Service pillar. He has taken part in many of our largest service groups such as Interact, Relay For Life, and been a tutor in the Academic Council. He is excited to take on the role of Head Prefect and to work with many students and teachers in 2024.

Deputy Head Prefect Eved Ah Soon
Eved advocates for Pasifika representation through roles in the Komiti Faufautua and Pasifika Council, fostering cultural appreciation and unity.
Within the arts and culture sphere, he is deeply involved in Megacrew, the Centennial Choir, Boys Dance, Latin Group, and leads the Samoan group, promoting diversity and creativity. As a member of the Rugby 1st XV, he proudly represents MAGS in sports. His overarching interest lies in cultivating a diverse and inclusive community where differences are celebrated and embraced.

Deputy Head Prefect Isabella Boersen
Bella values all the pillars and has worked hard to achieve excellence-endorsed results in NCEA. She is particularly committed to sports and has been a rower throughout her time at MAGS, and was named as Girls Captain of MAGSROW in her U17 & U18 seasons.

Deputy Head Prefect Lize Deng
Lize is the editor of the student newspaper, The Roar, leader of the Senior Photography Club, and student representative on the Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the MAGS Fencing team. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, and playing the piano and violin. He is an Arts Prefect and Visual Arts Leader for 2024. 

Deputy Head Prefect Rose Leader
Rose is primarily involved in the Arts Pillar at MAGS, focusing on film. She has participated in Sheilah Winn, Drama Backstage, and Technical team (serving as head of Drama Technical in 2024), Dungeons and Dragons, Movie Club, and Theatresports. Additionally, she has been appointed as the Media Studies Prefect for 2024. She also enjoys the Service Pillar and has engaged in tree planting, peer support, and mentoring, as well as participating in The Roar and the Junior Homework Centre. 

Deputy Head Prefect Brianna McCready
Brianna, an Arts/Cultural Prefect, joined MAGS in Year 11 and advocates for Māori and Pasifika interests on the Māori Kōmiti, Pasifika Council, and MAGS Rūnanga. Her service to MAGS involves Peer Support Leader, Peer Mediator, Wesley Intermediate Mentor and English Leader. Brianna's 14-year Performing Arts journey encompasses Classical Ballet, Jazz and her most recent Scholarship Dance, and Te Kapa Haka o Te Puna o Wairaka. She has also participated in Waka Ama and Girls 1st XV Rugby.

Deputy Head Prefect Ryan Shen
Ryan is a NZ Football Representative, International Mathematical Modelling Challenge Champion, School Athletics Champion, NZ Physics Competition finalist, Auckland Futsal representative, Spoken Word artist, and excels as an academic scholar. He enjoys serving as the pianist for school events and is also an avid footballer. 

MAGS Wins Top Rowing Titles

For the first time ever, the MAGS rowing squad won both the Boys and Girls U18 Coxed Eight at the College Sport Auckland Schools Regatta, held at Lake Karapiro last weekend.
The MAGS crews also won gold in both the boys and girls events for the U18 Coxless Pair Oars and U18 Coxed Four. There were also golds for the Girls U18 Double Sculls, Girls U18 Single Sculls and
Girls U17 Coxless Pair.
The historic wins were part of an incredible performance for MAGSROW, which saw the squad win gold in nine rowing events, two silvers, two bronzes and another four top placings in division two events.
More than 560 competitors from across Auckland took part in the regatta, which was held on Lake Karapiro’s 2km course for the first time, previously being held at Lake Pupuke.
Director of Rowing James O’Sullivan said the impressive results are a reflection of the squad’s hard work and the hours of training being put in each week by the rowers and their coaches.
“These were incredible results for our squad overall and an historic result for MAGS, so we are very proud of what has been achieved. Our entire squad has made a huge commitment to their on- and off-water training — including over the summer holidays — and that is what has underpinned these successes."
These results followed just over a week after the full MAGSROW squad competed in 45 events at the 2024 North Island Rowing Champs, held over three days at Lake Karapiro.
The squad was competing with more than 1900 other rowers from 44 clubs and 51 schools from across the North Island.
“Nearly all of our crews made it through their heats and into a final, which is a significant achievement at a regatta of this size, and especially impressive for our novice rowers who are just starting out,” said Mr O’Sullivan. 
MAGS also made the podium in four events, winning silver in the Women's Club Coxed Eight, the Men's Open Coxed Eight and the Women's Senior Coxless Pair Oars, and bronze in the Men's Senior Coxless Four event.
Albertian Holly Chaafe — who is now one of the MAGSROW coaches — also took out gold in the Women's Senior Single Sculls.

Arts Notices

The Performing Arts programme is ramping up for the year at MAGS. 
Students should keep an eye out for notices about groups they are interested in joining.

Pillars Expo Next Week

Calling all students who would like to find out more about joining a group in either the Arts, Sports or Service pillars.
There will be Prefects and group leaders available to answer your questions and help you sign up for groups on Tuesday, February 13 at lunchtime on the main field.
Come along!  

MAGS Community Traffic and Parking Challenges 

The start of the new term brings with it the traffic challenges that, as a community, we are all very much aware.
Recently, we have been advised of concerns regarding traffic congestion both at the front and back of our school, affecting local residents.
Those parents who need to provide transport for their children are asked to drop their children a comfortable walking distance to our school.  A kilometre walk for our secondary school students is a comfortable walking distance and provides them with a few minutes for thinking and planning for their day.  And, if this same approach is taken at the end of each day, the traffic congestion we are facing will be reduced – a win for us all.
Most will also be aware that parking in the local streets adjacent to Mount Albert Grammar School is also limited. Unfortunately, the school is aware that one vehicle has already been towed this term. 
Again, it is important to be mindful of the road rules and show consideration when parking vehicles. Failure to do so can be both inconvenient and costly.

Roadworks Next Week

Next week, for three nights (7pm-7am) from Tuesday, February 13, roadworks are scheduled to be carried out around the Alberton Ave/New North Rd intersection up to St Lukes Rd (as pictured above).
During this time the road will be closed and detours set up. Please plan ahead and think about using another route. 
On-street parking in the affected area will be limited while work is carried out. Residents may need to either park on their properties or on a side road and walk to their properties.
You can get in touch with AT on 09 355 3553 if you have any questions or concerns about this work.

Homestay Families Required

Our International Department is currently looking for kind and caring families to accommodate our International students.

This is a great opportunity to learn about a different culture and build lasting friendships
Our next student intake is Term 2 – commencing the end of April. There are mainly long-term students arriving, but there is an intake of short-term students later in the year.
Homestays are our most popular style of accommodation as our students benefit from living with an English-speaking family and sharing in the NZ family experience. 

What are the expectations of a host family?
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, three meals a day plus snacks and laundry.
 


The application process
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]
 

Tickets on Sale for MAGSROW Quiz Night

Join in the fun at the MAGSROW Quiz Night on Saturday, February 24 and help raise funds to support our rowing squad.
A delicious roast dinner is included in your ticket price and there are lots of great auction items up for grabs. Book now here

Download the MAGS App

Keep up to date with school news and events on the MAGS App – free from the App Store or Google Play.
MAGS parents can instantly access school announcements, Daily Notices, the Kamar portal, teachers’ contact details, and notify the School if your child is absent.
When notifying absences, you need to load your child’s Student ID number. You should only need to do this once, and this helps us record absences more easily.
Parents and students can check the School Calendar and sync chosen events with their own Calendar, and choose Groups about which they wish to receive Alert Notifications.
There are links to the MAGS Newsletter, Sports, Maps, and more …
Search for “SchoolAppsNZ”, and load the app on to your phone. You can then search for and add as many schools as you want so you can receive alerts from multiple schools. If you are having trouble with this, click here to see how.

Sports Update

Sign up for School Athletics

The School Athletics Day will be taking place at Mount Smart Stadium on Wednesday, February 21.  Students can register here
Entries close on Wednesday, February 14 at 5pm. The cost is $20.

Please note that the following distance events will run on these dates at the Lovelock Track:
1500m: Tuesday, 13 February at 7:15am 
3000m: Thursday, 15 February at 7:15am 
400m Heats: Friday, 16 February at 7:15am (Will be dependent on entries, and students will be notified early next week, otherwise these will be held on Athletics Day).
 
It is expected that students who are in sports academies take part. Further details will be sent to parents once entries close off.
Any questions, please contact Carlin Crossan at [email protected]  or on ext. 8136

Max Shallard Wins Wrestling Bronze

Congratulations to Max Shallard, who won Bronze at the Oceania Champs in Guam in late January in the U20 under 65kg category.  
Beforehand, Max had a great week at Tokyo University, training with Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Yukako Kawai. 

General Notices

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