MAGAZINE May 2020 India Immersion Tour: Challenging our Reality Page 05 Contents 03 The Headmaster’s 32 Scholar’s Assembly OLD BOYS’ NEWS Update Speech 35 The President’s Report 04 Report from the Board 34 Notices 36 ANZAC Day 05 India Immersion Tour 38 Nothing is Impossible 08 Meeting the Challenge - On-line Learning at AGSOBA Award Grammar 39 Nominations The Headmaster’s Update 10 Auckland Grammar 40 Reunions/Gatherings ‘SchoolTV’ - Help at your JUST 12 MONTHS AGO, THE GRAMMAR COMMUNITY WAS PREPARING TO CELEBRATE AN HISTORIC PERIOD IN Fingertips THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY – 150 YEARS. AS THE SCHOOL ENTERS THE FIRST YEAR IN A NEW DECADE, ANOTHER HISTORIC CHAPTER IS BEING WRITTEN; NOT ONLY FOR AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BUT ACROSS THE 42 Old Boys’ News GLOBE, AS WE COLLECTIVELY RESPOND TO THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19. 12 Academia 05 45 From the Archives One of the privileges of reaching a abandonment of Term 1 examinations non-teaching – who used these 16 Sport milestone such as a sesquicentenary is and our inability to perform the School’s systems to teach online classes in 46 Grammar Families that in challenging times we can look ANZAC Day Service for the first time unabated fashion. Rightfully, this has back and seek solace and support from since WWII ended. The Grammar been a revolutionary step forward from 18 Arts and Culture the way those before us have dealt community will appreciate that these the 1948 correspondence work and 48 Obituaries with uncertainty. three examples are synonymous radio broadcasts. with what Grammar represents, and In this instance, we can seek reassurance In times like this, I am reminded that at 20 International accordingly it has tested the spirit, from knowing that through time, the the heart of Auckland Grammar School Department Publications industry and self-discipline of our young 50 School has had to close half a dozen are two things: ‘The Grammar Way’, men. So, too, has it challenged our staff. times due to public health related issues. which includes a clear educational 22 The Prime Minister’s The first occasion was in the School’s The response has been reflective of philosophy that is focused on the Vocational Excellence Editor: Sara Meade infancy in 1898, when several epidemics a community that knows who we are teaching and acquisition of knowledge; Award Ph 09 623 5400 ext 576 – including influenza and the measles – and understands why we gather each and the people who support ‘The [email protected] closed Auckland schools for the last two day at our Mountain Road campus: to Grammar Way’, including the School’s 21 School website: ags.school.nz weeks of November. teach and to acquire new knowledge. vision, mission and values. Feedback, comments and suggestions 23 Staff News/Awards The more recent closure in the School’s Educationally, the School has responded When facing uncertainty or challenge are welcome. history was in late 1947 and lasted over in new ways, with young men and we can seek reassurance from our past. With thanks to all contributors, especially teachers interacting ‘online’ rather than Peter Stanes ‘58, Murray MacKinnon four months until 19 April 1948, due to However, it is the quality of our people, Art House Tour ‘on campus’. As a result, the Term 1 25 ‘59, Daniel Reddish, Jessica Betty and the Polio epidemic (infantile paralysis). our understanding of ‘who we are’ and the Grammar Media Group. Thanks also Some Old Boys will recall this closure curriculum content was able to be our preparedness to embrace old ways to PK Malkamaki (Spawn) for graphic and may also remember that they taught in full. and new, that will support our young men design skills, plus Jim Espie ’38, Mary and 26 Academic were expected to complete lessons via through this pandemic and allow them to Endowment Fund Stephen Farrell and Amanda Booth for their Auckland Grammar School has never proofreading assistance. correspondence and listen to school promoted digital learning or permitted be ‘better than before’ in 2020. broadcasts on radio. Cover image: Students at Gaitore Ki the open use of devices on campus (and Per Angusta Ad Augusta. 28 Giving to Grammar Chhatriyan, Jaipur. Back L to R: Isaac As part of the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 nor will it in a hurry). Nevertheless, the Mellis-Glynn, Josh Potman, Rhys Dawson, national lockdown, Auckland Grammar School responded to the circumstances Finlay McMahon, Ben Thomson, Akash at hand by utilising the e-learning Mudaliar; Front: Darcy Houston, James School closed at the end of the day on 30 Department Profile Freeman-Greene, Shakeel Kalyan, Finn Monday 23 March. History will also systems that were already in place, Tim O’Connor 48 Mathias. Image by Daniel Oram. record the cessation of daily assemblies alongside the skills and expertise of Headmaster Designed and produced by gardyneHOLT. in the weeks leading to lockdown, the quality staff members – teaching and 02 AD AUGUSTA MAY 2020 MAY 2020 AD AUGUSTA 03 India Immersion Tour Report from the Board 2020 HAS SO FAR PROVED TO BE A CHALLENGING START FOR THE AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. When we started the School year, Idon’t We are indeed fortunate that the Senior As we return to School in Term 2, we will believe any of us thought we would be in Leadership Team and teaching staff all be exploring what the ‘new normal’ ‘lockdown’ for a substantial part of began trialling online learning some time might look like. There will no doubt be Term 1. ago. This has put us in a very strong some trial and error in this process. position to respond, and to continue It has been a time of great frustration Staff have worked hard over the Term 1 providing quality education through an and disappointment for many, as several holidays to ensure that we are ready to online platform. planned and highly anticipated School either continue to provide online learning events have had to be cancelled. Our young men have responded and/or return to the classroom. brilliantly to the challenges that we have I am incredibly proud of the way in which Whatever the new normal looks like, all faced with online learning and I want the School community has responded to you can be confident that the Auckland to commend them for their diligence the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grammar School community will adapt, and resilience. I want to acknowledge the hard work and and we will continue to provide our young dedication of Headmaster Tim O’Connor I also want to thank parents who have men with the first-class education that and the Senior Leadership Team, who supported their sons and the School our School has provided consistently for have put in extraordinary hours to during this difficult time. Your constructive the last 150 years. prepare our School to cope with these and supportive feedback has been greatly Per Angusta Ad Augusta. unprecedented changes. appreciated by our staff. I also want to recognise the hard work I know that time spent in our ‘bubbles’ of our teachers and support staff, who has been both rewarding and, at times, have all rallied together to implement the demanding. It has been great to spend Above: Walking towards Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata. changes and to make sure that our young more quality time with our families, but men continue to receive tuition with as most of us are keen to get back to work little disruption as possible. or back into our community. “INDIA TEACHES YOU TO BE YOUNG, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TEACHING YOU ABOUT THE WISDOM OF AGE. IT TEACHES YOU THAT LIFE ISN’T FAIR, IN A SOCIETY WHERE HOPE SITS ALONGSIDE DESPAIR. AT EVERY TURN THERE IS CONTRAST, PERHAPS MOST OBVIOUS WHERE TOLERANCE MEETS FEAR, AND FOR EVERY VIEW THERE IS AN EQUAL AND AN UNEASY ALTERNATIVE.” - ALEX BEST ‘06, TOUR LEADER 2019 04 AD AUGUSTA MAY 2020 MAY 2020 AD AUGUSTA 05 2 Describing their experiences as visiting the communities of Kolkata Current Head Boy Michael Hiddleston 1 everything from ‘overwhelming’ to and the beautiful mountainous town of was one of the Form 6 students on the ‘immensely positive’ and ‘awe-inspiring’, Darjeeling, playing endless games of tour. He described India as being more than 120 students have taken part rugby, being impromptu guests at an “hugely confrontational”. in the School’s biennial month-long Indian engagement party (complete with 3 “From the moment we stepped off India Immersion Programme over the the group’s take on Indian dress), arriving the plane to the moment we left, our past 12 years. at the rural village of Saraswatipur (home experiences were vastly different to to 6,000 people living off the local tea The tour is specially designed for senior what we knew and were comfortable economy), and being greeted by a child students to experience the culture and with from home. The taxi ride from the wearing a Grammar jersey from tours history of India, while at the same time Kolkata airport to our first hotel, the gone by (agsindiatour19.blogspot.com). developing their personal leadership and sounds, smells, colours and incredibly communication skills. Alex reflects on the group’s month-long skillful, dangerous driving gave us our 4 5 6 immersion in India. “Since we arrived in first indelible taste of what was to be a India, we have played countless games month of new experiences.” “The underlying philosophy of of rugby, met children and their coaches, the immersion experience is that “Travelling on tightly packed trains, been to schools, climbed mountains, staying in questionable accommodation we all need to be challenged; to visited homes, and taken part in religious and witnessing life and death in some be taken beyond our comfortable ceremonies.