Ad Augusta
December 2014 A NEWSLETTER OF TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN THIS ISSUE...
Top Sport Results School News 3 Staff News 7 Our TGS Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year have been Student Achievement 10 honoured beyond the school. At the recent Auckland Secondary Schools College Sport English 11 Young Sportsperson of the Year awards Eliza McCartney won the Girls Business 16 Athletics category and the Overall Sportswoman of the Year award. This Sports 18 accolade is well-earned. Eliza’s results are outstanding. Art 19 • 1st - Potts Classic, Open Women’s Pole Vault, Prizegiving 20 • 1st - Cook Classic, Open Women’s Pole Vault • 1st – Harry Jerome Classic (Canada) breaking NZ U17, U18, U19 Grammar Link 22 records 4 • Bronze medal at the IAAF Junior World Athletics champs, jumping 4.45m to also gain a New Zealand Senior Women’s record • 1st – NZSS (2013) Open Women’s Pole Vault, new record of 4.10m • 1st – NZ Junior athletics champs, Pole Vault • Jumped 4.27m to break the current indoor pole vault record. Eliza is only the second woman {the other being Valerie Adams} to win a medal at an IAAF World Juniors event. She now holds all the NZ Women’s pole vault records simultaneously. Markus Somerville followed up his TGS title by winning the Boys’ Sailing category, and with his partner Isaac McHardie, won the Junior Team of the Year. He was then named 2014 Volvo Young Sailor of the Year at the NZ Sailing Awards. His successes this year include: • 2nd - Sail Auckland, 29er class, Youth male • Bronze medal, ISAF World Youth Sailing championships, Portugal, 29er class • 2nd – NZSS Triathlon champs, U16 Girls • 1st - 2014 RYA Youth National Championship - 29er class, Weymouth, UK • 1st – NZSS U16 Duathlon champs • 1st – NZ 29er championships • 1st U19 and 3rd overall 2014 Duathlon At the same College Sport Young Sportsperson event, Head Boy, Harry Elworthy won Oceania Champs in Adelaide the Boys’ Cycling category. His top results include: • 1st - NHSS Athletics Intermediate Girls • 1st - NH Junior tour, Overall winner plus winner of 3 stages 1500m • 2nd – NISS Cycling champs, U20 Boys Criterium • 1st - NHSS Cross Country champs, • 1st – NZSS Individual cycling champs, U20 Boys Hill climb, 2nd U20 Boys ITT, Intermediate Girls 2nd U20 Boys Criterium, 2nd U20 Boys Overall points • 1st – AKSS Road race, Intermediate Girls • Selected for the NZ U17 team to race in Australia. • 2nd – ITT U17 NZSS Cycling individual Athlete Katherine Badham was a finalist in the Triathlon/Duathlon Girls’ category. She champs has also had a wonderful season. • 2nd - NZSS Indiv Cycling champs, U17 • 1st - AKSS Triathlon champs, Intermediate Girls Girls ITT • 1st - AKSS Team Tag Triathlon, Senior Girls Our congratulations to them all. • 1st - Barfoot & Thompson ITU Triathlon sprint distance, 16-19 years female category Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 1 • 1st - AKSS Duathlon champs, Intermediate Girls AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS REPORT Dear Parents and Guardians
Being already at the end of another year comes, again, as a surprise. The year has certainly flown past. At the time of writing, seniors are well ensconced in NCEA, International Baccalaureate Diploma and Scholarship examinations. The true test of student achievement activities feature strongly right now, measuring the teaching and learning programmes of the year. Year 9 and 10 students are engaged in their own exams and, if in Year 9, students are enjoying the diversity of the Camps. We have revelled in much student achievement recently, as evident in the celebrations of Senior Prizegiving, Junior Prizegiving, Sports Awards and Arts Awards Evenings. Thank you to the many parents who came to these events to support your own and other students’ achievements. It has been a sterling year and we look forward to reporting the data as the various analyses come available. Looking forward to next year we have much to venture into. While we will articulate the detail in the opening weeks of next year, building facilities will come available in January with a new Science Department precinct, further building development and student focused innovations. We particularly look forward to welcoming the new students in Year 9 and at other levels as well. We add to the existing cohort a whole new injection of students, their talents, abilities and personalities. Welcome to those parents and students reading this newsletter in anticipation of next year. My only advice to you would be to take every opportunity available to you. I thank you, the parents, for your input this year. We enjoy your involvement, even if your students do not encourage it! With your support we are able to deliver the range and quality of the programmes at Takapuna Grammar School. We thank you for everything you bring to this school. I wish you all a superb holiday season. I trust it is one characterised by relaxation and OBITUARY quality time with family and friends. It was with regret that the school learnt of the passing of Regards Warren Boyd who attended Takapuna Grammar School as a pupil. He completed his degree at Otago University and returned later to join the TGS Science Department from 1987 to 1991. He was an inspirational, hard working and dedicated Chemistry teacher. Warren was a perfectionist and expected his students to reach his high standards. He was a popular, engaging and social Simon Lamb staff member, willing to participate in discussions on most topics Principal and who displayed a genuine concern for his peers. His love of Takapuna Grammar School travel resulted in him leaving NZ to teach in a variety of different countries including Brunei and China. After many years Warren returned to NZ and did short term relief at TGS. He then taught in other Auckland schools until having to retire due to ill health.
2 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SCHOOL NEWS Important 2014/15 School Dates
MONDAY, 26 JANUARY (DAY 1) FRIDAY, 30 JANUARY (DAY 5) Auckland Anniversary Day Normal full day timetable for all students
TUESDAY, 27 JANUARY (DAY 2) • Year 9 students to be timetabled to Stationery Shop All students in school uniform • All levels to be timetabled to the school hall for individual and 10:30am Year 10 Assembly in Hall followed by Form Period class photos 11.00am Year 11 Assembly in Hall followed by Form Period 11.30am Year 12 Assembly in Hall followed by Form Period TERM DATES 2015 12.00pm Year 13 Assembly in Hall followed by Form Period Term 1 Tuesday 27 January To Thursday 2 April Term 2 Monday 20 Apri To Friday 3 July • Students to confirm subjects with Form Teachers and Deans Term 3 Monday 20 July To Friday 25 September • Orientation for International Students in the International Term 4 Monday 12 October To Friday 4 December Department • Collect stationery requirements FINANCE OFFICE 2014/2015 • Students dismissed at the completion of form period and Monday 12 December - 11 January Closed confirmation of subjects Monday - Friday 12 - 23 January 2015 9am – 3pm • Year 13 peer support students to meet with Mrs Pottinger Tuesday 27 January onwards 8.30am – 4pm 1:00pm in the School Hall • Orientation for International Students in the International The Finance Office will close at 3.00pm on Friday, 12 December Department 2014.
WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY (DAY 3) SCHOOL ENROLMENTS 2014/2015 Year 9 students only Friday 05 December Closed Orientation for International Students in the International Wednesday 14 January onwards 9.30am – 3.30pm Department School Enrolments will be closed from Friday, 5 December 2014 9.00am - 3.00pm Year 9 in all day with Form Teachers. and will re-open on Wednesday, 14 January 2015. Meet in the school hall followed by a Powhiri UNIFORM SHOP 10.00am Orientation in form classes – stationery The School Uniform Shop will be open for the purchase of all new subject list discussed and distributed and second hand Uniforms as follows. 10.40 - 11.00am Interval 11.00am - 12.00pm Walk about school orientation, Wednesday - Friday 14 – 16 January 10am – 12.30pm reviewing any other parts of orientation 12.30 – 1.15pm Closed booklets. 1.15pm – 3.30pm 12.00 - 1:00pm Lunch 3.30 – 4.00pm Closed 1:00 - 3:00pm Peer Support 4.00pm - 6pm Monday - Friday 19 – 23 January 10am – 12.30pm THURSDAY, 29 JANUARY (DAY 4) 12.30 – 1.15pm Closed 9.00am All Year 9s and Year 13 Peer Supporters 1.15pm – 3.30pm to Hall 3.30 – 4.00pm Closed Full Peer Support day 4.00pm - 6pm 3.00pm Students dismissed Normal shop hours resume on Tuesday, 27 January.
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 3 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SCHOOL NEWS From the Board Chair Another year draws to a close, exams are complete and it is time to both reflect on the year that has gone but more importantly look to the year ahead. This year marks the physical start of the exciting building redevelopment programme. One wing of the historic Main Block has been emptied, with the teaching and administrative spaces transferred to the ‘relocatables’, installed on the western edge of the school. The modifications to N-block are well underway and should be complete by the start of the next school year. They will deliver an integrated science facility that should be of great benefit to both student and teachers. The scale of the main building work is such that it requires government cabinet approval. This has delayed the commencement 2014 Dux - Samim Ozyurteri 2014 Accessit Proxime - David Sorrenson of these works until mid-next year and will be ongoing through the next three school years. For the current Year 9 students, the school will be a building site for much of their time at the school. This is far from ideal. Head Prefects 2015 Everyone involved is working together to try and ensure that there are no negative impacts on the quality of the teaching programmes and to provide a safe environment for all the students and staff. The scope of the project has grown. What was originally a plan to fix the leaky building has grown to include seismically strengthening it, replanning the interiors to provide a modern learning environment, the new science suite, additional spaces within the Ralph Roberts building and, hopefully, a much improved school hall. It hasn’t all been about buildings. Our first Year 13 International Baccalaureate Diploma graduates leave the school this year. The IB program provides a significant differentiator for TGS in both the local and international student communities. However, the school continues to see NCEA as the main learning route for the majority of students. On behalf of the Board I’d like to thank the entire staff of the school for their energy and the input they have provided to our children both during the school day and the many co-curricular actives that would not be possible without their leadership. I’d like to thank all those parents who contributed to the school via the annual school donation. The additional funding allows us to employ additional staff. This leads to both smaller class sizes and a greater number of subject options. To those in Year 13 I hope that TGS has provided you with a solid grounding for the next stage of your lives wherever this may take you. To all the other students I hope you have a great break and come back next year reinvigorated for another year of fun and learning. To everyone reading this I hope you have a safe and Left to Right: Donald Coleman (Deputy Head Boy), Augustine Morgan-Guthrie (Deputy Head enjoyable summer break. Girl), Andy Song (Head Boy), Liesbet Vercruyssen (Head Girl) -Jon Williams
4 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SCHOOL NEWS
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 5 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SCHOOL NEWS Salsa success for Taka Latin Dance Team Dance teacher, Miss Emily Woodfield introduced some of our most enthusiastic dance students to their first experience of a National Salsa competition, the New Zealand Salsa Open, in which dancers from all over New Zealand could compete in a variety of categories. Our new Taka Latin Dance Team was formed by Miss Woodfield especially for this event, and comprised 11 talented dancers who were excited to try their hand at Salsa. Prickles Dance Group also learnt a new dance to compete in the Open category. Learning a new dance style in only a few weeks, and then competing alongside very experienced Salsa dancers was a daunting experience for both teams, but they delighted the audience with highly polished and innovative performances. The Taka Latin team won third place in their category, Youth Salsa Shines Teams, which was an outstanding achievement. Prickles Dance Group did not place but were commended by the judges for their stunning performance and fantastic choreography by Miss Woodfield. Later in the day Miss Emily Woodfield competed herself in the adult section, taking out a Silver medal for her solo performance in the Semi-Pro Female Salsa Solo division, and a Bronze in the Open Salsa Duets category Students meet influential leader
Recently senior German students, accompanied by Mrs students to the address. Avram and Mr Barrowman, attended an address at the It was a unique experience for the students to be able to see Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland, by the German and hear one of the world’s most influential women, and European Chancellor Doctor Angela Merkel on Germany’s relationship leader, talk on a wide range of economic, educational, scientific with New Zealand including educational and scientific and social topics. Although question time was taken up mostly by exchanges. senior people and the school students did not get enough time to The Minister of Science and Innovation and Tertiary ask some more personal questions they had prepared, Alexandra Education, the Hon Stephen Joyce, also spoke about the extensive Kuntze took the opportunity to ask the first question. She was and rapidly expanding interchanges between Auckland University delighted to be able to speak directly to her country’s leader as she and German research institutes. As Pasch (Partnership) schools, would probably never get the chance in Germany. Takapuna Grammar and Pakuranga College, were invited to send Helping coaches
The Coach Support Initiative (CSI) Programme is one of Harbour Sport’s priority KiwiSport projects for the North Harbour Region. After a short trial in 2012, the programme was re-established at Takapuna Grammar in 2013. A part time CSI coaching coordinator was allocated to work with staff, coaches and student coaches across targeted sports. The CSI programme has one overall goal; ‘to improve Harbour schools’ culture and support around coaching, so more coaches are retained and supported from season to season’. To achieve this CSI works with industry providers so coaches have access to resources, support and funding for coaching skills’ workshops and seminars offered by the Greater Auckland Coaching Unit (GACU). Community volunteer coaches often say a lack of support and communication is a factor in reasons for dropping out of coaching roles. CSI aims to increase these things, working to retain this valuable human resource. One of CSI’s main objectives is raising awareness about the positive impact ‘best practice’ coaching can have on an athlete’s performance and development. Next year, the focus will be on teaching ‘training smarter’ skills, increasing the chances of optimal performance for the school’s athletes and teams. Cont’d > 6 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL STAFF NEWS
CSI will strengthen current links with Harbour Sport, AUT University, and the Greater Auckland Coaching Unit (GACU). Exciting news for 2015 is the prospect of a new partnership with the Athlete Development Academy based at the AUT Millennium Centre. It’s been a busy, successful year with the programme helping 34 coaches and in turn around 256 students. I’m looking forward to another year of coaching (and therefore athlete and team) development at Takapuna Grammar. If you have any questions or feedback about the CSI programme, please get in touch. Ignacio Arellano CSI Coaching Coordinator [email protected] The PTA thanks you for your support over 2014 The aim of the PTA is to support a wide range of current and future students, with tangible and lasting benefit. While many of our events are fundraisers, we also try to arrange events, such as talks, of interest to parents. The PTA cookbook, ‘Taste of Takapuna’ is our ongoing major fundraising project. With a wide selection of recipes and stunning photography the Taste of Takapuna is a go-to cookbook for many homes already. At $39 this is a good Christmas gift for friends, family, or a personal and local corporate gift. Last term 2 copies of ‘Taste of Takapuna’ were distributed to new Year 9 students to sell. By now you’ve had time to look it over. Outstanding payment for these is now overdue. Please arrange payment or, if you don’t wish to purchase, return them in new condition, before 4 December. The funds raised from the sale of these cookbooks will be used for a major project to enhance outdoor areas to improve the break-time environment for students. Please contact [email protected] if you’d like more copies.February - the PTA hosted a very entertaining talk by Nigel Latta. February – PTA hosted morning tea for TGS Staff. May - PTA annual dance “Twist ‘n’ Shout”, with local band Ran For Cover. $3375 was raised for 19 school groups nominated by ticket-holders. June – presentation by Career Clinic – “How to talk with your teen about their career”. August – Comedy Night with Paul Ego, Dai Henwood and Nick Rado. September – PTA hosted a talk by Celia Lashlie on Raising Boys. November – First Aid Kit sales. Projects approved from funds raised this year: $2400 to Dance for a Go Pro and 4 mini iPads; $2500 to Performing Arts for electronic drum kit; $720 to Duke of Edinburgh for tents and equipment; $2000 for 8 bench seats to be placed around the school; $750 to Special Education for a dishwasher; approx $2000 (not finalized) to PE/Rowing for weights equipment. The inaugural PTA Inspiration Award at Senior Prizegiving, was awarded to a Year 11 student who has shown outstanding personal determination to achieve success. Congratulations to Jackson Tuhiwai. Please see our PTA pages on the TGS website, or contact the PTA at [email protected] for more information.
Ruth Blackman TGS PTA Chair
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 7 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL STAFF NEWS Several long serving staff leave TGS this December
Mrs Marilyn Cummuskey has been an Art, Art History and Te Reo phrases are commonly used by many staff, and who can forget Photography teacher at TGS since 1997. She has fulfilled numerous the incredible version of Lorde’s ‘Royals’ that Boaz wrote for the kapa roles including being assistant HOD. Her two daughters, Necia haka group at this year’s PolyFest, Aue Te Wero, an appeal for us to be and Rebecca Simpson, were students in the 1990s, Necia was kaitiaki (guardians) of our environment. Ka mau te wehi Matua! Deputy Head Girl in 1995. Marilyn’s love of all things artistic His students, in particular those of Maori and Pasifika origin has motivated her to inspire her students and pass on her passion. appreciate not only his knowledge and experience in Te Reo teaching, Highlights have included seeing Kate Moore named as the top but also his tautoko of them and their whanau. Photography Scholar in the country one year and another year The longest serving teacher, to retire this year is Mr Lou having the top Art History Scholar. She has experienced a huge Barrowman. He joined the staff, as an assistant teacher in 1981 and range of changes over the years including the introduction of the by 1983 had been appointed Head of Department, Languages. He is NCEA qualification. an outstanding linguist, teaching all the languages the school offers, Now she is planning on focusing on her own painting and Japanese, French, German and Spanish. He also has learned a whole photography, developing her tai chi skills and travelling to new places. range of others – Chinese, Italian, and Portuguese to name a few. We wish her well. Cohorts of international students have listened in amazement at Lou Also retiring this year is Mr Richard Shorter, who began twelve welcoming them at their powhiri in their various languages. The Latin years ago as the computer technician. It was never his intention to stay segment has largely, however, gone unrecognised. so long but the extent of technical support we need has increased each Lou is known nationally as an outstanding subject practitioner. He year and it has become more than a full-time job. All staff and many has advised and supported generations of language teachers through students call on his expertise every single day. “Where’s Richard?” subject associations and as an advisor in curriculum development. is the catch cry. His three children, David, Nicholas and Zoe, came He is one of very few teachers to have been twice recognised by the to TGS and their sports saw him umpiring hockey, up to national prestigious Sir Woolf Fisher Foundation, in 1987 with a distinction tournament level, and on the Rowing committee for six years. He was award and in 1991 with a travel award. Within the school, he has had also the Staff rep on the BOT for a three year term. He will be missed a strong influence in the area of assessment and reporting. He has been and we wish him well. relentlessly insistent on maintaining high standards of grammatical A farewell to Boaz Raela accuracy, correct punctuation and the proper use of given names in Kia ora e te whanau. reports. Congratulations to Matua Boaz Raela who will be leaving us at the Cultural context is a vital element of language acquisition. Lou end of this year, to move to Rarotonga with his whanau to take up a has promoted this by ensuring that many students have had an position as Deputy Principal, at Tereora College. It is with enormous opportunity to visit countries in which their learned languages are sadness that we farewell Boaz, as he is he pounamu, he taonga in our used. There have been tours to Japan and to Europe, Spain, France school. and Germany. These tours have often been fast moving to maximise Boaz is the kindest and warmest of colleagues, with his enormous the time available. Lou has also promoted exchange opportunities and capacity for aroha for all those in the school whanau. His humour, teacher visits. manner and approach with the staff has given him mana which Lou retires to Waiheke. He will have the time to pursue his own has enabled him to bring about a culture shift in recent years, with interests. Rumour is that there is a boat already purchased to do some far greater awareness and genuine appreciation for tikanga Maori: fishing. And there are still new languages to acquire. And so - zaijian, powhiri is now an integral part of school kaupapa; the school haka is adieu, an nyung hi ga se yo, adios, auf weidersehen, ciao, au revoir, proudly performed by all students; mihi is used by a number of staff; vale Lou.
8 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL A winning film The Year 10 Option F German class has won first place in the Junior section of the National German Film Competition run by the Goethe Institute in Wellington. The film included a student from Belmont Primary and another from Belmont Intermediate. It was filmed and acted by the students of the class and was brilliantly edited by Year 9 student Callum Erskine. It will be shown at a Prize-giving in Wellington, in December. The topic was “Sehnsucht” which means longing or nostalgia. The jury wrote that TGS students captured the feeling of “Sehnsucht” perfectly, that the co-operation with students from Belmont Primary and Belmont Intermediate was fantastic and that they were very impressed by the high technical standard of the film. It was spoken entirely in German and lead roles were played by; Thomas Casement, Jost Claasen, Michael De Boyett, Leroy Dixon, Zoe Dornbusch, Tim Lunt, Thursday MacDuff, Agnar Niksson, Chris O’Connor, Poppy Ross, Callam Shea and Jenna Williams. Academic success for international students TGS has an international student population of nearly 200 students. Many have success in their NCEA subjects before moving on to New Zealand universities. Graduates from Year 13, in 2013, now at Auckland University include Yuxin (Bela) Wang dong a BA in Japanese and Economics, Yanling Yu doing Psychology and Economics, Mingyue (Tiffney) Shi, Ziheng (Blake) Li and Danyan Le all doing a BSc. Peiyi (Angelina) Li is doing a BCom, as is Xuhong (Tommy) Deng. Attending Unitec are Yang (Windy) Shen, (Nursing), Yujie (Eugen) Zou, (Architecture) and Yuan (Bruce) Zhang, (Construction). Chuqiao (Daisy) Wang has been accepted into a Canadian university. Currently we also have a number of international students studying the IB Diploma, with good success. At Prize Giving Excellence in IB Mathematics was awarded to Muyu (Naomi) Liu, from China, as was the second placed Distinction award, to Yuxuan (Tom) Zhang. These two students along with high achieving Nina Li and Lin Guo are studying Mathematics at Higher Level for their Diploma. This is the toughest Maths course in IB. Ha Yeon Kim, from Korea, was awarded the Excellence Prize for IB Science. Our congratulations to them all.
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 9 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Orienteering During the October holidays, Year 11 student Max Griffiths travelled to Australia as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orienteering team. Max achieved some remarkable results during the trip with a 3rd in the Individual Australia Sprint Distance Champs, and 1st place results in the Western Australia Long Distance Champs and Australia Relay Champs. The NZSS team also came 2nd in the School Relay Champs, and won the overall Southern Cross Junior Challenge Competition against Australian state teams. Two talented young singers recognised Ella Cornfield, Year 12, who has been learning singing from Jane Horder for the last two years sat her ABRSM Grade 6 Singing exam and passed with Merit. She is also a section leader in the senior choir Skat-a-Tak and received the Outstanding Vocalist Award for a ‘Singer of Distinction in School Performance’. Ella is playing the role of Nancy in ‘Oliver’ next year. Maddie Hay is to be congratulated on being selected into the Auckland Youth Choir for 2015. Maddie was a section leader in both Skat-a- Tak and Leonessa this year and last year played a key role in the Music Theatre class’s production of ‘Godspell’. This year Maddie received the Bryant Singing Trophy for Excellence in Choral music and the Vocal Cup for Contribution to Singing Performance.
10 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL ENGLISH Summer Reading @TGS It has always struck me as rather strange that over the long summer holidays, when there is plenty of time to relax and read a great book, the school library is closed; the books are standing quietly and politely on the shelves eagerly awaiting a reader, with the knowledge that, in reality, it will be a long eight weeks until somebody can even be tempted. So, in an effort to make sure that our wonderful resources are fully utilised, we have introduced a ‘Summer Reading at TGS’, programme. Signing up for the Summer Reading programme offers the students two main options. Each signed up student will receive a specially printed tote bag containing ten books. These books can either be a ‘mystery’ selection – (compiled by the library staff and based on the student’s reading past preferences) or ten books of their own selection. Also included in the tote bags, are small gifts and favours from Glenfield Paper Plus, an entry form into a Summer Reading Photography Competition and details of the Takapuna Grammar School Library Facebook Page, so that reviews can be posted as well as a guide to some other titles that may be of interest. Students will be invited to collect their Tote bags in the last week of school, and students currently on exam leave can collect them on their Book Return Day. So far this year, with minimal promotion, we have over 60 students signed up and I hope that this is the start of having ‘an almost empty library over future summer holidays. Books will need to be returned in the first few days of the school year. Happy Reading, Annie White, Teacher Librarian
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 11 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL ENGLISH Original writing by senior English students R.I.P Sheba My bulging rucksack lands with a thump on the sofa. Six hours spent in small stuffy classrooms had drained the life out of me. I reach down to my feet, attempting to untie the thick tangled knot on my shoes when suddenly, something feels wrong. Suddenly, something inside of me feels empty. The candle in my mind flickers and I turn to face the patch of carpet in the corner. That’s when I remember….. Sheba was taken from us on the 2 December 2013. The distress that overcame me that day will remain forever engraved within my memory. The space on our crumbling, character filled carpet was her favourite spot to indulge in slumber. She had been the heart of our family for 11 years, beating quickly when we rejoiced and beating slower when we felt sorrow. She became my sole comfort when I wept since she would lick my tumbling tears without even asking. At 15 years old we knew her time was coming, her aching back legs decaying and her distant eyes constantly reminding us of what was to come. That morning was supposed to be a mere inspection from the vet. Once before we had to face choosing whether or not to let Sheba sleep in eternal peace, but afraid of the loss of her presence, we selfishly decided we could not bear to lose her. The car engine rumbled as I was in the shower and I made a silent prayer, the droplets of water dancing down my face like tears. They had left suddenly so I was certain nothing would happen since I hadn’t even had the chance to whisper goodbye. Mum wouldn’t do that to me. She knew I needed closure. She knew that I would need to hold Sheba in my arms one last time. I dressed, my hands lifeless and chilling and proceeded to turn the TV on, in aid of some distraction. I aimlessly flicked through channels and channels of trash, just as my mind was flicking through scenarios of Sheba’s appointment. It was not until I had started to battle my way through a bowl of bland soup that I felt a vibration coming from the driveway. I sprang from my chair, my heart pounding as I crashed right into my brother in the hallway. “So?” I asked nervously, my breathing fluttering. Silence passed between us. I nodded, showing my understanding as the tears started to congregate in my eyes. She had gone and taken part of me with her. As I sat with Mum in the car it was as if seconds had turned into minutes and minutes into hours. Time was never going to be my friend. The longer the hours of the day felt, the more time I would have to drown in the pain of my memories. I blink, my eyes forcing me to return to the present. It would be dangerous for me to dwell for so long on the past. I had to live in the present. The carpet was empty and would remain so for infinity. It was now my choice to accept this. After all, without death there is no life. But of course, she would continue to be cherished within my memory. In the end, that is all that matters. R.I.P Sheba
Ella Cornfield Year 12
12 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL ENGLISH Vinyl I’m never entirely sure what to say when people ask what the first record I ever bought was. Do they mean the first record I ever paid for, or the first I ever physically bought and got to hold in my hands? Or maybe they just hadn’t thought it through that much, maybe my modern [in]conveniences complicate the situation more than is necessary. The first I ever technically paid for was Bankrupt! by Phoenix, which I purchased on the internet at two in the morning. I left my friend’s house around one feeling weird and disoriented, unsure of myself. “I know!” I thought, “I’ll start a record collection!” I had recently started taking music seriously, and I was becoming very good friends with a girl who’d bought her first record at age nine (properly bought, I presume.) In my existentialist haze, I saw buying vinyl as a way to cement my identity. I quickly made a list of my favourite albums and trawled through on-line record shops to see which has the lowest shipping costs. Phoenix’s fifth LP seemed like the way to go. At this stage I didn’t own a record player, and my dad’s 70s Thorens turntable hadn’t been seen since long before I even existed, probably left at an old flatmate’s apartment, or broken during an 80s house party. In the hope that my parents would see I was serious about vinyl as my collection grew, I was content with using friends’ turntables for the time being. I fell asleep around three that morning and woke up around half past eight, made coffee, and demanded my dad wake up and drive me into town so I could buy what was my number one favourite album at the time. “You already own it on iTunes, why do you need it on CD as well?” he asked, reluctantly taking the hot tulip cup from my hands. “Who mentioned anything about a CD?” I replied smugly. He threw back the shot of espresso and promptly got ready. I returned to my bedroom and donned the most alternative looking outfit I could find (I had always been horribly intimidated by the Real Groovy clientele) - Doc Martens, a vintage denim miniskirt, button-up shirt with a bolo tie, and a plaid oversized blazer. Dad was thrilled with my recent improvement in music taste (he had just bought us tickets to the most important music festival in the world) so seeing my sudden interest in buying vinyl was further affirmation of this. Upon entering Real Groovy, I was struck with a surprising sense of belonging. I took music seriously, and I had a record collection (kind of). I was now one of the indie record girls I had always feared/admired. I worked my way through the “alternative rock” section of the store, through the alphabet until I got to V. Much to my surprise, and delight, the first record on the shelf was a limited edition pressing of the record on heavyweight white vinyl. I now owned, physically owned, my favourite album - Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend. My sixteenth birthday was nine months later and my record collection was big enough to need its own shelf in my bookcase. That morning my best friend had come over, and my mother drew a large, and rather heavy, box from the hall cupboard. I already knew what it was (I had chosen it the week before). We set it up on my dresser, which was more difficult and time-consuming than I had predicted. The first record played on my very mid-century minimalist turntable was, naturally, Modern Vampires. It was a ritualistic process, like some sort of pagan sacrifice. Taking the record out of its sleeve, placing it over the pin, lifting the arm and setting the needle on the outer edge of the record, then flicking the switch and waiting for the notes to start. This was the one album I hadn’t yet taken to a friend’s house to listen to, I had been saving it, and my god was it worth it. The Real Groovy slogan rang through my brain repeatedly. “Music sounds better on vinyl.” It does, it really does. Looking back, the whole process of buying a record over the internet, then buying another that I already owned electronically amuses me. It’s such a mix of old and new technology. Just over a year after my impulsive night-time purchase, my collection has reached an impressive size, and I have no intention to ever stop collecting.
Lily Palmer Year 12
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 13 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL ENGLISH The Storm The driving rain pounds against the window like an angry fist on a locked door. A thunderclap roars in the distance. A flash of lightning follows swiftly and I am instantly transported back in time to Vietnam. To the Mekong Delta Riverside. I remember the first few fat drops of rain splattering the dirt. Within ten seconds they began to pool in stirred up, muddy puddles. My friends and I gathered under the thatched roof, buzzing with excitement at the novelty of our first tropical rainstorm. The sturdy wooden posts supporting the roof creaked like an old man’s frail bones. A gust of wind rushed through the hut, the thatched roof threatening to take off. The next thing I knew, a laugh burst out of Sue as she ran, fully clothed into the downpour. Within seconds she was drenched to the skin. With only the slightest persuasion we were all out there, joining her in her moment of insanity. Our fears forgotten, we were free to be wild, no concern for consequences. Moments before, my light summer dress had been floating about in the gentle breeze. Now it pulled on my frame like an anchor, weighing me down, sodden. The rain felt warm as it ran down my skin, forming tiny rivers on the mountainside that was my face, my bare shoulder, my arm. I had never experienced anything like it, rain as warm as a shower in a storm so wild it appeared to have a life of its own. Lightning flashed bright and for a second we were a snapshot in time. Caught in a moment of joyous madness. Almost immediately the thunder followed. We screeched in unison. A high pitched hysteria that could shatter glass. Peal after peal, our cries rang down the riverside. Our bare feet stirred up the muddy ground as we ran, skipped and danced our way through the storm. In no time we had stirred up a thick layer of sludge. The muck oozed between our toes until we felt like small children again, making mud pies. Children who loved to worm their chubby little fingers into sludge. Whose scraggly dungarees were caked in mud. Their mother’s would fondly sigh when they saw their precious little angel’s ringlets matted to their foreheads. We heard a deafening boom and looked up. The night sky had cracked in half. A jagged white scar shone bright for a fraction of a second. Then it was gone. The storm was right above us. The palm trees thrashed their branches, as though they were children throwing a tantrum. The howling wind added to the chaos, the mother scolding the child. As the hot, tropical storm raged on, so did we. Screaming with both delight and fear. No longer concerned about our hair plastered to our faces or the fact that we had no change of clothes handy. The air was alive, buzzing with electricity. As I tipped my head back, laughing like a maniac, the warm, fresh rain poured into my mouth, sweet with the taste of recklessness. Lotus flowers lining the riverbank filled my nose with their intoxicating scent. Suddenly I am bought back to the present by an angry roar of thunder. As I huddle back under my blanket in cosy Takapuna, the Mekong Delta is nothing but a memory. The thrilling storm just another story for a rainy day.
Liesbet Vercruyssen Year 12
14 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SCHOOL SHOW School Show 2015: Oliver!
Oliver! is a popular adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic Top: the Fagins – Andy Song and Thomas Lunt; about an orphan escaping the workhouse to be lured into a kids’ Seated: the Nancies, Brie Young and Ella Cornfield; crime gang by the evil Fagin. Nancy is a part of the underworld On ground: the Olivers, Christian Swan and Luke Patterson. but tries to help Oliver. The show has plenty of catchy songs such A very active Term 1 next year will see it on stage at the Bruce as “Food, Glorious Food”, “Where is Love”, “You’ve Got To Pick from Sunday 29th March to Wednesday 1 April, the last week of the a Pocket Or Two”, “Consider Yourself”, “As Long As He Needs term. Me” and the touching and lyrical “Who Will Buy”. We welcome sponsorship if your company would like publicity in We auditioned talented Belmont Intermediate students for roles our programme. Contact Mr De Grut [email protected] as well as the 110 TGS students keen to be in the school show. Principal roles for next year’s musical at the Bruce Mason Centre are: Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 15 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUSINESS Business and Enterprise news In Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week we had a Dream Team talk given by Manfred Lange, an accomplished Business leader and Managing Director of Agile Utilities New Zealand Ltd. His business focuses on the coaching and mentoring of staff in the IT industry. Manfred demonstrated why he is such a good leader and left students with the message that the right people provide a competitive advantage.
Villa Maria’s Karen Fistonich with Sophie Turner
We also participated in the AUT Shadow a Leader event, where students are given the opportunity to shadow a leader for the day to gain a real life experience for them. Madison Johnson shadowed Telecom’s (now Spark) Chief Operating Officer Jason Paris; Paul Maxey shadowed Dr David Warburton CEO of Auckland Transport; Sophie Turner shadowed Karen Fistonich, Chairperson of Villa Maria Estate. Madison Johnson reflects on her day: “Shadow a Leader was an amazing opportunity. I was given insight into a day in the life and role of the Telecom Chief Operating Officer, with Kayne Munroe and Jason Paris. I saw different aspects of the business from Telegistics to marketing at Saachi and Saachi to several different business meetings. It was a great learning experience and I really benefited from seeing the business theories we learn in class, used in real life scenarios. It brought to life everything I have been studying and will definitely impact my understanding for my end of year exams.” TGS student Paul Maxey with Dr. David Warburton
As part of Level 1 Business Studies, students need to plan and run their own business and sell their products at our school Market Day. Following the event three teams were entered into the national Young Enterprise Trust Start-up competition. All of our teams placed in the Top 10. One of the teams, Scentsational was placed in the top three and awarded a Certificate of Excellence, presented by Mr Waller, Deputy Principal. The Scentsational team is Ella Halstead, Helen Leenoh, Olivia Gardner and Chamonix Stuart, who also each won $100!
16 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 The Scentsational team AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUSINESS
Financial Literacy Takapuna Grammar School is involved in the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income pilot programme to become a ‘Sorted School’. During Money Week we put together a series of opportunities for our students to highlight aspects of financial literacy through personal stories and industry expertise. We also had our first free community lecture at Massey University on the topic of Financial Scams which was very enlightening for everyone present.
Kyung Bock High School Visit In August we hosted students from Kyung Bock High School when they visited New Zealand. They stayed in homestays with our students and had a fantastic time learning about our culture and school. They visited the local area with Mr Park and went into lessons. For many of our students it was great to see and catch up in person with the friends that they had made when we visited Kyung Bock High School during our trip to Korea in April. Monetary Policy Challenge 2014 David Sorrenson, Elaine Zhang Lucy Oh and Ercan Hoskin (pictured left) participated in the 2014 Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Challenge, a national Economics competition where students have to make decisions about changing the OCR (Official Cash rate) based on the same data that the Reserve Bank uses to make its decisions. The team was selected as the Wild Card entry from the Auckland Region (Glenfield College was the other Auckland entry) for the national finals (one of 6 teams from throughout New Zealand) on 20 August in Wellington and came second.
ANZ- Massey Economics Challenge This competition was held at Massey University, Albany, where David Sorrenson, Lucy Oh and Elaine Zhang competed against 14 teams from across Auckland. The competition included questions on micro and macro-economics, the New Zealand economy and a quick- fire round on general economics. We were the overall runners up for our day of the competition.
YES results. We had a very strong end to the year with our YES companies gaining a range of awards at the regional finals. YES Auckland North Regional winners in Business Management went to: Keep Kool, Closing the Loop, and Onboard The YES Auckland North Regional winner for Excellence in Innovation was Closing the Loop, who also scooped our first ever National Excellence Award and will be travel to the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards Dinner, in Wellington on December 10th, to be presented with their award.
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 17 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL SPORTS Our female golfers have success Early in the term, two students took part in the North Harbour Junior Girls vs Auckland Junior Girls golf stroke- play competition. Bridget Connolly won both her matches while Stacy Choi had a win and a loss. Bridget also played in the national age group championships in Taupo, finishing 37th oveall, 17th gross and 12th net. In the North Harbour Senior Women’s match-play at 1st XI Cricket Omaha, Bridget won the plate in the Stableford, in the Upper Harbour Trophy competition. Bridget was also selected to represent North Harbour at team achieves the Eagles Tournament in Levin that was held in the October holiday break and again at the national interprovincial tournament in Rotorua the following week. This is her second breakthrough win appearance at this tournament. Despite cold, gloomy, windy weather and threatening rain, the Takapuna Grammar First XI completed an outright win over Kristin College on Saturday (15 November), in the final Junior Boys Takapuna Grammar 2-day match of the 2014 ACA Secondary Schools Premier B School Volleyball Team placed 5th at the competition. Opener Toby Robb, and Captain Matt Strain rescued the game from a precarious, weather-affected position, Auckland Secondary Schools Volleyball and brought the game home safely. Championships. Three teams were in contention for the Championship going into the final round of the competition, but TGS was the only team to 2014 NZ National Criterium win outright and score maximum points. We believe it is 28 years Championships held around Takapuna on since Takapuna Grammar last won this Championship. Friday 21 November More importantly, it opens up the possibility of promotion to the prestigious Premier A Competition next year. This would place U17 Boys – 1st Harry Waine, 2nd Jacob Takapuna Grammar back amongst the top echelon of cricketing Kench and 5th Oscar Elworthy schools in Auckland, a huge boost to the school’s sporting profile, and greater recognition for our cricket programme and our players. Following in the footsteps of Takapuna Grammar cricketers such as Richard Jones, Danny Morrison, Bruce Warner and the legendary Bert Sutcliffe, the Championship win is great credit to the hard work and dedication of our 1st XI cricketers, their management and coaches, as well as the on-going support that the school receives from the North Shore Cricket Club.
18 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL ART “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” - Ansel Adams The work featured on these pages is by our 2014 Level 2 Photography students. It was produced for their External Folio Standard where to achieve highly students have to “produce a fluent body of work that shows understanding of art making conventions and ideas within photography.” This involves “making individual,related works that are critically selected to form a series or sequence in the generation, development, clarification and regeneration of ideas within the art making process.” This assessment is worth 50% of the year’s course. To complete it, each student has to display approximately 32 photographs on two A1 pieces of board. These represent two terms work, during which time each student explores his or her own individual theme. Students also have to study the work of three to four contemporary photographers to help them extend their techniques and the ideas that surround their chosen theme. 2014 students dealt with such a diverse range of topics as : text bullying, identity, old movies, haunted houses, steam punk, ecology, metamorphosis, gender roles and the populated urban environment.
Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 19 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRIZEGIVING
Level 1 Level 2 Mayuri Bhindi 1st English Literacy Fiona Bongartz 1st Art Photography, 1st English for Academic Purposes - Level 2 Francis Bilham Excellence in French and 1st in History, the Norah Hamblin Trophy Alesha Brokenshire 1stMathematics Thomas Block Excellence in Geography Mera Conger Distinction, Year 12 IB Spanish Ab Initio, Distinction Year 12 IB Jordan Blum Distinction in English and 1st in Media Studies, Distinction in History Literature, Excellence Year 12 IB Individuals and Societies level 2 Ciara Connolly Excellence Geography Esther Cain Distinction Design Visual Communication Ella Cornfield Distinction Art History, Distinction English Lydia Cassin 1st Science Alternative Darcy Cox Distinction Chemistry, Distinction Physics Iverson Chan-Tung 1st Economics and Accounting and 1st English AGG School Tyla Cunningham Excellence Hospitality Old Girls Danille Desvaux D Marigny Distinction Year 12 IB Individuals and Societies, Michael Clark Distinction Mathematics Excellence French Devon Copp Distinction Physical Education Sophia Edgson Excellence Tourism Breanna De Gouw Distinction Geography Caoimhe Fidgeon Excellence Year 12 IB Literature Amber Freebury Distinction Science Helen Fu 1st Accounting Kayla Gerber Excellence Technology Food and Nutrition Isobel May Gibson 1st English Literacy, 1st Physical Education Practical Max Griffiths Distinction Chemistry and Distinction Geography, 1st Music, 1st Louie Heron 1st Technology Resistant Materials Physics, Distinction Mathematics Extension Level 2 Pol Idelon Excellence Year 12 IB Arts Lucy Guild Distinction Mathematics Phoebe Johnson 1st Drama Ella Halstead 1st Business Studies Amy Juer 1st Music Theatre Ella Hill 1st Chemistry Kayeon (Alice) Kim Distinction Accounting, 1st Economics Yuka Isozaki Distinction History, 1st Mathematics Extension – the TGS Ha Yeon Kim Excellence Year 12IB Science Mathematics Cup year 11 Ji Won Kim Distinction Biology, 1st Chemistry Lily Jervis Distinction Geography Kevin Lee Excellence Year 12 IB/NCEA Computer Science Yunyi Jiang Excellence Economics Min Kyung Lee Excellence Japanese Hyun-Ji Jo Excellence Japanese Raphael Lee Distinction English for Academic Purposes - Level 2 Eleanor Johnson Distinction Mathematics Extension Xin Ye (Cindy) Li Distinction Mathematics Jacob Kench 1st Physical Education Muyu (Naomi) Liu Excellence Year 12 IB Mathematics Suranart Khadkham 1st ESOL Lily MacDonald Distinction English Joshua Kim Distinction Mathematics Extension Tessa McNair 1st Physical Education Soyun Kim 1st ESOL Ralph Michell 1st Technology Furniture Making Alisa Kogiso Distinction History Augustine Morgan-Guthrie 1st Art History, Distinction English, 1st Media Studies Julian Laking Excellence German (the Robin Holding Award) Ye Jin (Geena) Lee Excellence Spanish Samantha Mottram 1st Business Studies Marco Legall-Misikini Excellence Drawing for Design and Excellence Design Visual Tafadzwa Mudapataki Distinction Year 12IB Science Communication Amanda Jane Mueller Distinction Geography Zachary Martin 1st Drama and Distinction Media Studies Courtney Naismith 1st Art Design Victoria Mudford Distinction Mathematics Jessica Neves Distinction Physical Education Rowen Myers Excellence Technology Resistant Materials Tiffany Nicol Excellence Special Education TeAniwa Patterson Excellence Te Reo Maori Isabelle O’Brien Distinction Mathematics Applied Chris Pirie 1st Accounting Hannah Patterson 1st Classics, 1st English, Distinction History, Distinction Media Elise Powell 1st Health Studies Bella Purcell Excellence Technology Soft Materials Elizabeth Pearson Excellence Year 12IB Spanish Ab Initio Marlene Read 1st Mathematics Dexter Peffers Distinction Mathematics Storm Robertson Excellence Art Lisa Pijper 1st Dance Amy Robertson Distinction English and Distinction History Tina Price Excellence German Mathew Sherlock Distinction Biology and Distinction English Gary Qian Distinction Design Visual Communication Mary-Margaret Slack 1st Dance Rebecca Rawlinson 1st Mathematics Applied Lucy Spiers Excellence Special Education Phoebe Rendle Excellence Te Reo Maori Pia Tapsell Distinction Technology Food and Nutrition Adam Rundle Distinction Physics Maryanne Thatcher Distinction English and 1st Science Emma Rzepecky Distinction English Toby Wakelin 1st Mathematics Extension Level 2 and Distinction Physics Charlotte Sellars 1st Biology, Distinction History Claudia Wallace 1st Mathematics Applied Ahmed Sherif 1st History (the Gallipoli Stone) Sarah Winder Distinction Biology and Distinction Geography Imogen Spray 1st Health Karyn Zhao 1st Biology Lily Steedman Excellence Technology Soft Materials Adele Zhao Distinction Physics Lisa Suravej 1st Art Painting, Excellence Design Visual Communication Meng Zhou Distinction English for Academic Purposes - Level 1 Frank Talbot 1st Physics, 1st Music Liesbet Vercruyssen Distinction History Sophie Wakelin Distinction Biology Luoyu (Mary) Xu Distinction Art Design, Distinction Mathematics Yuxuan (Tom) Zhang Distinction Year 12 IB Mathematics Miyako Yajima Excellence Maori Cultural Performance
20 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 AD AUGUSTA – TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL PRIZEGIVING
Katherine Badham Duathlon and Cycling 1st in the NZSS under 16 championship Level 3 2nd in the NZSS Individual Cycling Katie McDougall Synchronised Swimming Silver Medal Oceania championship 1st Elena Buckley 1st Art Photography (Photolife Award) in the NZSS Championship Tamara Bullock Excellence German Harry Elworthy Cycling - NZ Under 17 Cycling Squad 2nd in the NZSS Individual Tessa Carey 1st Dance Cycling Championship Daekeun (Sam) Cho 1st Mathematics with Calculus, Distinction Physics Erica Gatland Climbing - NZ Under 18 and Open Woman Outdoor Bouldering team Henry Cornwell Distinction Biology Eliza McCartney 1ST NZ Junior Athletics Pole Vault Championship Annalise Cruickshank Excellence Special Education Maya Wyatt Theatre – Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ Youth Shakespeare Company Bridie Dixon Excellence Music Theatre Andy Song Theatre - Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ Youth Shakespeare School Harry Elworthy Distinction Year 13 IB Science, Distinction Year 13 IB Mathematics Production Shaleen Farrell 1st Classics (the C.C. Robinson Award) Courtenay Giles Duke Of Edinburgh Gold Medal Award Kate Harris 1st Art History (the Margaret Cullingworth Award), Distinction History Markus Somerville Yachting Madeleine Hay Excellence French, 1st History (the Toynbee Cup) Madison Johnson NZ Diabetes Society award Jake Helsby 1st Physical Education (the Wareham Shield) House Trophy TAINUI Hannah Hood Distinction Year 13 IB Spanish Ab Initio Andy Song Peninsular Cup Madison Johnson 1st Business Studies, 1st Accounting (the Margaret Cullingworth Andy Song Farquarson Shield – Senior Speech winner Award), Excellence Geography Henry Watts Year 11 Speech Cup Toshiki Kogiso Distinction Chemistry, 1st Physics, Distinction Mathematics with Elaine Zhang Margaret Campbell Shield Statistics (Short Shield) Neeve Sew Hoy Mike Donald Memorial Award Jasmin Krishnan 1st Health Liam Hill Tony Steele Award Si Jing (Joy) Lai Excellence Year 13 IB Arts Brooke Stilwell Post Award Lucy Lim 1st Art Design (the Benefitz Award) Alice Song AFS Award Madeline Lloyd Distinction Biology Danielle Desvaux de MarignyZonta International Leadership Award Lovely Maralit Excellence Tourism Sabina Giurgiu The Library Service Award James McArthur Excellence Year 13 IB Spanish Ab Initio Tim Phimester The Auckland City Bursary Liam Mullane 1st Economic Lydia Knott Aroha Cup Eui Chan (Lucy) Oh Distinction Year 13 IB Individuals and Societies, Distinction Jonny Raey Daniel James Trophy Year 13 IB Literature Valentina De Bruin Success Cup Samim Ozyurteri 1st Biology, 1st Chemistry, Distinction Mathematics with Calculus Soo Min Bae Malcolm Fairgray Cup for Horticulture Adam Purcell Excellence Technology Furniture Making Lauren Burton Prentice Award Thomasina Robinson-Chen Distinction English, Distinction History, 1st Mathematics Iverson Chan-Tung Devonport Rotary Cup for Academic Endeavour with Statistics Lucy Lim Benefitz Graphic Design Scholarship Neeve Sew Hoy 1st Art Painting Vailoa Penn Ex-Pupils’ Scholarship Ella Sheehy Excellence Technology Soft Materials Liam Mullane The BNZ Award Young Eun (Alice) Song Excellence Japanese Madeleine Hay and Grace Woods The BNZ Awards for “Being good with money” David Sorrenson Excellence Year 13 IB Individuals and Societies, Excellence Year Ha Yeon Kim TGS International Student Scholarship 13 IB Mathematics, Excellence Year 13 IB Literature Toshiki Kogiso Rowan Nicks Scholarship Brooke Stilwell Excellence Te Reo Maori Samim Ozyurteri Warren Mason Scholarship Rachel Sykes 1st English for Literacy Thomasina Robinson-Chen The Dorace Mason Scholarship Max Tang 1st Music, 1st Design Visual Communication Jackson Tuhiwai The PTA Encouragement Award Laurence Tews Distinction Mathematics with Statistics Sophie Wynn Devonport RSA Memorial Trust Service Award Linda Vu 1st Hospitality Lovely Maralit Devonport Rotary Scholarship Samara Wash 1st Drama Ben Wilks Excellence Year 13 IB Science UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS Grace Woods 1st English (the Sam Dorrington Memorial Award) Maya Wyatt University of Auckland Scholarships Gavin Woodward Excellence Technology Resistant Materials (the White Cliffe David Sorrenson University of Auckland Scholarships Timber Award) Harry Elworthy University of Auckland Scholarships Maya Wyatt 1st Media Studies Neeve Sew Hoy The AUT Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship Sophie Turner The AUT Business and Law Faculty Award Harry Elworthy and Sophie Wynn The Prefects Training Program Shield Maryam Alhaseny Massey University’s Vice Chancellors High Achievers Special Award Scholarships (Arts) Ella Sheehy Massey University’s Vice Chancellors High Achievers Scholarships Samim Ozyurteri Dux (Arts) David Sorrenson Proxime Accessit Madeline Lloyd Massey University’s Vice Chancellor’s High Achievers Scholarship Hannah Patterson Academic Excellence Year 12 (Academic) Max Griffiths Academic Excellence Year 11 Alice Song Victoria University Academic Excellence Scholarships Tamara Bullock Spooner Cup Matthew Chandler Victoria University Academic Excellence Scholarships Andy Song White Cup Lucy Eaglesome Victoria University Academic Excellence Scholarships Edward Lotawa The Chubb Cleverdon Cup Samara Wash Victoria University Academic Excellence Scholarships Courtenay Giles University of Canterbury College of Engineering High Achievers GOLD MERIT BADGES Scholarship Robin Charlett-Green - Hockey, Adventure Racing, Sports Council, Rowing, PSSP Sam Hume - Rugby, Rowing, Radio Roar, Ball Committee Tamara Bullock - Hockey, Basketball, Sports council Ultimate Frisbee
CITATIONS FOR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE Sabina Giurgiu Merit award Rodney Walshe Ireland essay Competition Samim Ozyurteri Mathematics 97% in the University of Auckland Max paper Sam Copp Football - New Zealand Under 20 Football team Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 21 The Community Newsletter of Takapuna Grammar School Ex-pupils Grammar Link
Class of 1953 reunion On Labour Day, nine prefects turned up at school to prepare the Bert Sutcliffe Lounge for the arrival of the TGS ex-pupils Class of 1953. Some of the ex-pupils spoke of how there used to be a line that went down the middle of the TGS driveway which separated the girls and boys at interval and lunch time. This was hard to imagine for the current prefects and led to many amusing tales. The current prefects provided tea and coffee and the ex-pupils brought a lovely shared morning tea. The event consisted mainly of sharing stories and catching up on how their lives had gone but also, at the end of the function the prefects took the Class of 1953 on a short tour of the school and allowed them to see just how much it has evolved since they attended. In fact some of the ex-pupils were amazed at just how different the school now looked. After the morning tea, newly-selected Head Boy for 2015, Andy Song, made a memorable speech. He spoke of how society and Takapuna Grammar School has evolved greatly from when the ex-pupils last attended here in 1953. One particularly memorable excerpt was in his concluding paragraph which I will share with you now: “The school may have changed a little bit, the technology may have changed a little bit and your high school crush may have changed… a lot. But everything else about TGS will always remain the same. A tree with history has stable roots holding the tree down so it doesn’t get affected by rain, wind or snow, persevering through pain, the high and the low… I would like to thank you [ex-pupils] again, as without stable roots; there would be no green leaves or fruits.” Thank you especially to Wendy Strain for making this reunion possible and also the help of the prefects who represented the school, especially Emma Ross and Lovely Maralit. Takapuna Tekura, Takapuna Tekura. Takapuna is the school. By Emma Rzepecky
22 | Ad Augusta – December 2014 The Community Newsletter of Takapuna Grammar School Ex-pupils
MRS GRANT: THE SCHOOL A LETTER TO OUR LATEST LEAVERS NURSE Dear Ex-Pupils, Mrs Grant came to TGS in 1960. At Our 2014 Leavers will enter a new chapter of their lives. We that time she was the only nurse the school wish them well and welcome them in to the TGS Alumni family. had, and was in fact the first school nurse If you have not already registered on our ex pupil database, to be appointed on the North Shore. Mrs please visit our Takapuna Grammar School website under Ex Grant was more than just a school nurse. Pupils. We also have a Takapuna Grammar School Alumni Face She was also a counsellor and often during book page. the counselling of a pupil, Mrs Grant Best wishes and good health for 2015. would teach relaxation techniques but in Wendy Strain most cases she was simply “somebody to listen,’ and after sharing a problem the pupil often solved it. FROM A CORRESPONDENT: THE “BOYS FROM Before Mrs Grant could become a school nurse she had to BAYSWATER” IN THE AD AUGUSTA MAY 2014 become a trained maternity nurse. She was also a trained dietician It was pleasing to hear how many of you enjoyed reading and held a Home Science diploma. She has worked in Auckland, Harold’s story ‘Boys from Bayswater’. The family advises that Dunedin and Whangarei hospitals. She was involved in the Social their father’s story is close to becoming a feature film or television Education programme which included involvement with the I.H.C., programme. They were delighted to be contacted by the Reid family the rebuilding of Wikitoria House, first aid courses to the equivalent and will meet with them shortly. standard of a Bronze Medallion and an open forum in which senior Harold’s family would love to hear from any relations of John students used to discuss topical social issues. At the end of 1985 (Jock) Marshall Waddell as the story revolves around the story of Mrs Grant retired after 25 years of service to TGS the three boys
“SEIZE THE DAY” FROM 1975 MAGAZINE Ex-Pupil Brian Wood died in 1980 at the age of 42. His wife Beulah Wood has written a book ‘Seize the Day”. It is a biography of Brian Wood, a teacher from Takapuna who became a high school principal in Nepal. He died climbing in the Annapurna Range in 1980”- I Brian Wood as a sportsman, musician, teacher, Christian, and family man. Brian was a ‘man’s man’, remembered for his exceptional abilities in sport, mountaineering and music, focused and expressed in the only profession where his abilities and passion could have the maximum benefit and impact on young lives - teaching in boarding schools. Brian’s life touched and inspired countless lives. His own source of inspiration was not primarily the mountaineering and sporting heroes he so admired, nor the music of Handel or Bach, but the person of Jesus Christ whose life and example he tried to follow in humble service. That is what I find so inspiring about Brian Wood. - Taken from a review by John Barclay, Principal, Hebron School, India. To purchase a copy, $20 including postage, contact Beulah Wood at [email protected] We wish to thank Beulah for the copy she has donated to our school. Ad Augusta – December 2014 | 23 The Community Newsletter of Takapuna Grammar School Ex-pupils
Catch Up Corner Elizabeth Harper (formerly Cunnington) 1976-1979 Elizabeth Harper was recently named as one of Queensland’s most inspirational businesswomen. She took home the Private and Corporate Sector Award at the state’s recent Telstra Women in Business Awards and will now proceed to the national final in Melbourne in November. Her ‘day job’ involves building relationships across the GHD business, which currently employs 8,500 people, as well as offering strategic direction to the board. She is also a mentor to many women at GHD and within the IT industry. Harper started her career as a software developer and says she got to where she is due to perseverance. choice and she’s fortunate to have such a supportive partner. “If you do a good job, communicate effectively and build “I’m (currently) away for three and a half weeks, but my relationships across the business you can achieve anything,” she household will continue to function. It’s about having the right says. In terms of how she “manages it all”, Harper says she has a support network within the company, within your family and within very supportive husband, who is the father of five children from a your friends.” previous relationship. The couple are also proud grandparents. There’s no doubt that support network will be cheering Harper “We (women) can’t do it all,” she told me. “We have to make on at the National Women in Business Awards next month. For a choices, in reality there are trade-offs.” woman who came from an IT background, Harper is both humbled Those trade-offs for Harper include working 18-hour days away and exhilarated to be among the nominees. from her family including overseas travel, but she says that’s her “This is really about celebrating women, I’m very excited.” We need you! TGS turns 90 in 2017 We are looking for several capable and enthusiastic people Dear Ex Pupils, to form a small team to coordinate planning for this exciting Thanks to you all for keeping in touch with us throughout the event. If you think you can help, please reply to w.strain@ year. Our database is growing and our Facebook followers are takapuna.school.nz Tel.4894167 Ext 9031 with your name increasing. We have some wonderful photos from 2014. Reunion and contact details. We will be in touch with you, with a date catch ups are always special. We have received more memorabilia for an initial meeting for people to attend before committing and enjoyed meeting you at school visits and events. Best wishes and themselves to this team. good health for 2015. This is going to be a party for everyone who ever attended Wendy Strain TGS, with opportunities to catch up with all those people we all TGS Ex Pupil Community Coordinator went to school with, fellow students and teachers too.
24 | Ad Augusta – December 2014