The Prefect Team of 2011
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
October 2011 - Volume 19 No. 5 Ad Augusta The Prefect team of 2011 AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE Contents The Headmaster ........................................................................................................... Page 3 Report from the Board .................................................................................................. Page 4 ERO were particularly impressed with the boys’ The Prefects Ball ........................................................................................................... Page 5 behaviour and the respect shown towards Sports: Round Up ......................................................................................................... Page 6 adults and for each other. Sports: Staff vs. Prefects Rugby and Football Matches .............................................. Page 8 Focus: Table Tennis and Chess .................................................................................... Page 9 Arts: KBB Festival and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance ........................................... Page 10 Arts: Pipe Band Kilts donation and GrammAcoustix Third at Nationals .....................Page 11 Academic: Debating success ......................................................................................Page 12 The Headmaster Academic: Chemistry Olympiad, Maths Olympiad and Eton Press Maths .............. Page 13 he triennial Education Review tone and ethos of the School. They help them get trade jobs. Events: Art Exhibition and Ernst & Young Winners ................................................... Page 14 T Office review of Auckland Grammar were particularly impressed with the In addition, the government has Events: Gala Dinner .................................................................................................... Page 15 School took place during the last week of boys’ behaviour and the respect shown recently introduced Trade Academies August and first week of September. towards adults and for each other. which will focus on delivering trades and Foundation Trust: Campaign Report and Augusta Fellowship .................................. Page 16 The methodology of reviews and The final report will be made technology programmes to students the reporting of them have undergone available at the School Office and will be not engaged in a traditional academic Events: Rowing Dinner ............................................................................................... Page 18 considerable change since our last on the school and ERO website as soon education. Staff: Farewell Toni Durant, Welcome Angela Coe (Director of Development) ....... Page 19 review in 2008. The written reports as it is available. All this is good news. are now much more concise and I was particularly pleased that the Providing a relevant and meaningful Notices: 2012 Term Dates, Leavers’ Lunch, Homestays needed, the methodology followed involves reviewers did recognise the special education for all 16 – 19 year olds is a Cricket Fundraiser and AGS Sailing Regatta .............................................................. Page 20 fewer classroom visits and more context of our school. It is very apparent major issue facing all OECD countries conversations with the various groups that AGS does have a special character and New Zealand could do worse of our stakeholders and wider Grammar and is distinct from many other state than study the success of the Finnish Old Boys’ News community. Along with this, there are schools. This situation has arisen as education system in which all students OBA President’s Introduction: Jim Whineray ............................................................ Page 21 many government regulations that a result of history, tradition, location, experience a broad general academic schools must comply with. a staunch belief in what schooling education for nine years, and then at Augusta Awardees: Sir David Baragwanath, Sir James McNeish, Naturally, reviews must focus on the should be about and an unwavering age 16 graduate to either “grammar” Bruce Plested and Andrew Simester ......................................................................... Page 22 National Education Topics as prescribed commitment to the pursuit of excellence schools for those pursuing a university by the government, which this year in all spheres of educating young men. education, or to “vocational” schools Annual Dinner Registration Form ............................................................................... Page 23 include success for Maori and Pasifika The recognition of context is for those heading towards a polytechnic Former AGS Headmaster Sir John Graham ............................................................... Page 24 students, International Students and the significant because there is no such programme or the workforce. operation of school hostels. thing in education as “one size fits all”. In the latest PISA educational Form 6 Leadership Award, Rugby Lunch ................................................................... Page 25 The major evaluation question One of the great strengths of surveys, Finland was the top ranked that guided the review team’s the New Zealand education system nation, and while it has advantages other 2011 Executive Committee, UK and Melbourne Old Boy Functions ........................ Page 26 investigations was how effectively the is that there is a vast range of countries may not have (for example, it The Eric Astley Prize ................................................................................................... Page 27 School’s curriculum promoted student schools to cater for the vast range of has a very homogeneous population), learning (engagement, progress and children. Philosophies, assessment their educational system is certainly News of Old Boys ....................................................................................................... Page 28 achievement). methodologies and curriculum worth a close inspection. I was hoping to report to the preferences may well vary and this is a Meanwhile, my best wishes to all our Owen Lewis/Class of ‘56 5A Reunion and Obituaries .............................................. Page 29 Grammar community some of the good thing. Choice and diversity must be students preparing to sit their external Editor written feedback received from the encouraged. examinations. I sincerely hope that your Amanda Harkness Tibbs House 50th Anniversary ................................................................................... Page 30 ERO team but we are still awaiting the A recent encouraging innovation is hard work is rewarded in the grades you Calendar of Forthcoming Events and Reunion Dates ................................................ Page 31 unconfirmed report in writing. the setting up of the first tertiary high receive. Contact Details I can say that in their oral feedback school on the grounds of the Manukau Best regards Editor to the Board of Trustees the team said Institute of Technology to catch Ad Augusta it was a “great privilege” to have been disaffected students before they lose Auckland Grammar School able to visit and review the School; they their way and drop out of education, Private Bag 99930 recognised the “special character” of by providing them with a cohesive and John Morris Newmarket Front Cover: This year’s Prefects Ball at the Eden Park Convention Centre. Grammar, and they appreciated the relevant vocational education that will Headmaster Auckland 1149 Email: [email protected] Ad Augusta | October 2011 | page 3 > Sports < The Prefects Ball he 2011 Prefects Ball was an Toutstanding night in every respect and it was widely agreed amongst staff, students and the Ball Committee that Grammar had produced one of the best school balls of the modern era. Over the past few years there Report from the Board have been understandable concerns around school balls, but the attendees he Board is now almost halfway successful events. Not only do these end of the year, and our senior boys are this year banished those fears with an Tthrough its term and we are continuing occasions help to draw together the School preparing for their external examinations. hilarious, entertaining, enjoyable and also View from the upper balcony of guests during dinner. to address a variety of issues that are community (and many from outside) but We wish them well for successful results responsible night. important to the School. With this in also provide much needed funds for the that will take them through to the next The process began in late Term 2, on centre stage. Finally, the theme was looked stunning, decked out with whisky mind, we have embarked on the first full Academic Endowment Fund. This Fund stage of their careers. with the annual Prefects Ball Skit announced as ‘Boardwalk Empire’; a barrels, paintings, silhouettes, chaises- Strategic Review undertaken by the Board enables us to reward and retain in the May I take this opportunity to thank announcing the ball’s theme in Assembly. popular new television series set in longues and atmospheric lighting to for a number of years, to ensure that we classroom Grammar’s best teachers, thus the Headmaster, senior executive and all It was the usual thrilling affair, with the Atlantic City during the 1920s Prohibition create a sophisticated ambiance while prioritise the challenges for the School ensuring that the high academic standards staff for another outstanding year’s work. entire student body packed into