Ad Augusta 2009
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
May 2009 - Volume 17 No. 2 Ad Augusta Grammar’s Inaugural Father and Son Breakfast AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL MagaZINE Contents The Headmaster ......................................................................................................... Page 3 Report from the Board ................................................................................................ Page 4 Inaugural Father and Son Breakfast ............................................................................ Page 5 Sports: Roundup ......................................................................................................... Page 6 Sports: Focus on Outdoor Education ........................................................................ Page 10 Boys’ schools have an ethos and atmosphere that promotes self-discipline, academic Sporting Fixtures: 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Soccer .................................................. Page 11 achievement and leadership skills. Academic: 2008 Scholars, New Zealand Scholarships and Tertiary Scholarships .... Page 12 Academic: Premier Scholar Jed Bian, Scholars’ Assembly ..................................... Page 13 Academic: Young Physicists, Examination Entry and Fees ...................................... Page 14 Events: Upcoming Gala Dinner and Art Exhibition ................................................... Page 15 Arts: Performance Day ............................................................................................. Page 16 The Headmaster Arts: Takako Nishizaki workshop, Grammaphone plays at Mission Bay ................... Page 17 do hope the year has started well However, there are other factors in association and accomplished. Campaign: Annual Appeal donations, Augusta Fellowship ....................................... Page 18 I for your sons and that they prepared the success of AGS boys: boys’ schools I sincerely hope that your son is well for the end of term progress also have an ethos and atmosphere enjoying the Grammar experience Staff News: Roger Hill and John Wilson .................................................................... Page 20 examinations and received results that promotes self-discipline, academic and achieving to his potential in all the that matched their effort. Brief reports achievement and leadership skills, and in avenues of opportunity that the School Notices: Term Dates, 2009 Prefects and AGS vs. King’s 1st XV Match ................... Page 22 following on from these exams were boys’ schools, academics do tend to take provides. posted home during the holidays. priority over surroundings. This edition of Ad Augusta profiles As you are probably aware, our boys In his book ‘The Wonder of the main happenings of Term 1 at school Old Boys’ News did the School proud in the 2008 external Boys’, Michael Gurian says “boys and also highlights the importance of the examinations in both NCEA and CIE must compete and perform well to Old Boy connections with the School, OBA Leadership Award recipient Joe Gunson on Spirit of Adventure ..................... Page 23 pathways. Such outstanding academic feel worthy”. AGS provides such something that is vital to the continuance success by our boys goes against opportunities for our boys by providing of the Grammar tradition. How to get more involved with the School, Grammar Olympians Honours Board ..... Page 24 the trend worldwide, which is one of an environment that encourages increasing academic success by girls. questing, competition and self-discovery, Best regards Karen Higginson appointment, Form VI Science 1941 ............................................. Page 25 In other words, AGS boys go against and by ensuring there is structure and the trend that lauds the success of girls routine in the academic programme, and Augusta Awards and Call for 2009 Nominations ...................................................... Page 26 compared to the often poor efforts by copious team sports and cultural groups Reunions: Special Reunions and Regular Year Reunions ......................................... Page 28 boys. In some measure, the ongoing for our boys to participate in. high academic achievement of Grammar In such an environment boys will Events: Twenty/20 Cricket and AGS vs. King’s Annual Golf Tournament ................. Page 30 boys is because the School has respond positively, and consequently remained exclusively a school for boys, we as a school are able to recognise John Morris – Headmaster Events: Anzac Day and Kindred Schools .................................................................. Page 31 which means we can provide a form of and celebrate what boys are, rather than education that best suits boys without fantasising that all boys can be re-made Editor News of Old Boys .................................................................................................... Page 32 having to compromise for the needs of into pliant and expressive model students. Amanda Harkness the other gender. Boys’ schools are increasingly Grammar Families: The Rose Family ........................................................................ Page 34 Research in the US, Canada, unique institutions with a very special Contact Details Australia and New Zealand backs up this culture that turn out, in the vast majority Editor Obituaries ................................................................................................................. Page 35 point and suggests that boys in boy-only of cases, young men who are well Ad Augusta schools do at least 10% better than boys educated, thoughtful, independent- Auckland Grammar School Calendar of Events ................................................................................................... Page 35 in co-ed schools. minded, fiercely loyal, proud of their Private Bag 99930 Newmarket Auckland 1149 Front Cover: Guests at the Inaugural Father and Son Breakfast. Email: [email protected] Ad Augusta | May 2009 | page 3 > Sports < Inaugural Father and Son Breakfast ach year the School hosts a number Eof events to bring together the Grammar community of parents, students and Old Boys. In Term 1, the Inaugural Father and Son Breakfast was held to further promote the important father/son relationship, which is such a strong part of the Grammar tradition. During the very early hours of Wednesday 11 March, a committee of parent mothers could be found cooking up a storm for the 144 fathers, sons and one grandfather set to attend the event in the fitting Old Boys’ Pavilion. MC, Deputy Headmaster Mark Vella, addressed the significance of the venue, Ian Grant, Scott Milne, Samuel Milne and Jeff Blackburn. noting that many fathers at the event were in fact Old Boys and the students Given this event was such a would all become Old Boys themselves. success, selling out in just a few days, Then guest speaker Ian Grant, we plan to host another event in Term 3. Founder of Parents Inc and father of A date and guest speaker are yet to be two ex-Grammar boys, shared with the confirmed, however if you are interested audience anecdotes of his experience in attending, please contact the of what can sometimes be the turbulent Development Office on (09) 623 5639 relationship between a father and son. or [email protected]. Spaces Amongst the humour, Ian delivered will be limited! a clear and positive message to the boys We wish to thank the parent – a father or father figure should always committee involved for supporting the be the hero in a son’s life. His address Father and Son Breakfast – Janine was both moving and inspiring and will Manning, Rose Austen, Dores Report from the Board be a tough act to follow. MacDonald and Nicky Grave. Guest Speaker, Ian Grant. he Board is delighted to report that true in the area of school donations. been worthwhile having secured Roger’s T we have offered the Headmaster, We certainly understand that some services. Roger helped the Board in our Mr Morris, an extension to his contract are coming under increasing financial original deliberations on how the School until mid 2011, and that Mr Morris pressure. The Board is still however should set up our Development Office in has accepted. These discussions have determined to provide the quality of 2000. received careful consideration on both education Grammar has always provided Deborah George resigned from the sides and all are pleased with the to our students. We would ask parents Board in February 2009 to allow her outcome. Future extensions of the to give special consideration to the to assume her new role as Director of Headmaster’s contract are possible by role Grammar is playing in their son’s Enrolment and External Relations within mutual agreement. development before considering not the School. The Board would like to The School is off to a great start for paying the school donation. thank Deborah for her commitment to 2009. Our desire to proactively manage The Board is also delighted to the Board over five years and her strong student numbers, referred to in my welcome Roger Hill (Old Boy 1963) advocacy for parents’ views, on the previous Board Report, has achieved our as our new Director of Advancement. Board. Fortunately her passion for the desired student roll, which matches our This role has been somewhat redefined School and knowledge of school affairs is staffing capability. This has assisted us since Deborah George left the Director not being lost. in managing that portion of the School’s of Development role in November 2007. Thank you for your continued support budget