Bollywood Dance Winners - Takapuna Grammar School

Ad Augusta
A N E W S L E T T E R O F TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
“Following their outstanding win this group has performed their dance for school
assemblies and visited the Wilson Home where they received a wonderful reception.”
Bollywood Dance Winners
D
espite having no dancers of Indian ethnicity the
Takapuna Grammar group of 18 won the Rockerz
Bollywood Dance competition last weekend.
This Supreme award reflects the quality of the dance
programme and the hard work by all the dancers and follows
from last year’s best entertainers’ award. Dance Teacher, Ms
Juliet Cryns chose the Rockerz competition as it gives our
students exposure to an ethnic dance style and gets them
performing in a real competitive event.
The Takapuna dancers are all studying Dance as a school
subject whereas all the others were co-curricular groups.
Following their outstanding win this group has performed
their dance for school assemblies and visited the Wilson Home
where they received a wonderful reception
Contents
Acting Principal’s report . . . . 2
Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . 4
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Issue 03 June/July 2009
For Your Information . . . . . . . 5
Top Art for 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ex-Pupils in the news . . . . . 10
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 16
Principal’s report
Welcome
2
“Another meaning of relating is understanding the world around
you, your place in it and how you can make a difference to it.”
A
d Augusta” has a number of purposes: it reports back
the amazing range of achievements of our students
and it also provides a snapshot that archives Takapuna
Grammar School as it is today. Most importantly it enables
us to model for you our teaching and learning principles,
the principles that are made explicit to the students in
assemblies.
The theme of the latest round of assemblies has been
relating, one of the key words from our KCRS learning
behaviours. Relating is the way that we can apply prior
learning to make and create links in other contexts.
In simple terms this means taking what you learn in
one situation and using it to solve problems in another
situation. For students this might be bringing the team
work skills they have learned in Physical Education to their
group performance in Drama or seeing the connection
between the landscapes visited in their Geography field
trip and the adaptive qualities of the New Zealand fauna
and flora studied in Biology.
Making these connections is more than just a
transference of skills and knowledge. It is understanding
that all learning is significant and enabling, irrespective
of where it occurs. All learning contexts in the school
are important – subjects, the co-curricular programme,
the leadership opportunities, our public ceremonies and
celebrations. I want students to be fully involved in the
whole school experience. They can take their lead from
the many examples featured here in “Ad Augusta”. It also
means seeing all classroom activities as important whether
or not they are assessed and each year level not as a series
of subjects that are all separate, but rather as a series of
skills, strategies, knowledge and approaches that can be
taken from one learning context to another.
However, another meaning of relating is understanding
the world around you, your place in it and how you can
make a difference to it. This can be seen in the achievements
of two of our ex pupils, The first is Dr David Friend who
has devoted much of his working life bringing medical care
“
to rural Zambia and Ruth Yoffe, a fashion designer, who is
enabling the poor and disabled to market accessories created
from recycled plastics in Cambodia. Both have used their
learning and experience to make a difference to the lives of
others. This is the true value and power of education.
Many of our students are already committed to
ensuring that this concept of helping others is part of the
culture of Takapuna Grammar School. One of our key
values is service and citizenship. In this publication we
have highlighted a number of students who have been
involved in activities that are designed to be of service to
others. I applaud these students and hope that they will be
an inspiration to others.
Next term, we will move into the brand new Ralph
Roberts Student Services Centre. The shift will largely
take place over the holiday period. As the name implies,
the building is student centred – it houses a new cafeteria,
the student support staff, careers, learning support, an
enlarged library and information centre as well as 10
classrooms. The official opening will be in August and
the Prime Minister has indicated that he will be available
to officiate. As indicated in a previous newsletter, we are
actively seeking funding to remodel the “old” library into a
facility to meet the learning needs of our Special Education
students. We seek the support of the community in making
this possible. The Board of Trustees is also developing a
long term property plan. All the decisions relating to this
plan will be based on providing the best possible positive
teaching and learning environment for our students.
The end of the term is rapidly approaching. It’s an
appropriate time for students to take stock. The question they
should be asking themselves is “how far have I progressed
towards achieving my goals for the year and what do I still
need to do to reach them?” Maybe, as parents, you will want
to help determine the answers.
Terry Holding,
Acting Principal
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Takapuna Grammar School
Leadership
34 Prefects attended a leadership training day at the YMCA, focussing on
goal setting, communication skills, leadership qualities, role models, cultural
awareness and team building. Four prefects, Katie Braatvedt, Mikey Jarvis,
Antonella Pradel and Derrick Newton attended an Auckland University
AIESEC Developing Leaders Day.
Eight prefects, Bianca Wildish, Jenny Kwon, Chloe Pryor, Billie
Kessell, Bafreen Sherif, Lauren Frost, Neda
Durdevic and Antonella Pradel attended the
International Women’s Day breakfast run by UNIFEM.
The Head Prefects, Vivien Hsu, Katie
Braatvedt, Bruno Offner and
Zac McEwen attended the Young
Leaders’ Day run by the Halogen
Foundation.
Lana Veslogouzova, Jenny Kwon, Derrick
Newton and Zane Catterall attended a dinner at
Takapuna Rotary Club and listened to the head of the
New Zealand Royal Society speak.
The Sports Committee of the Prefects organised
an inter-form Touch competition held at lunchtimes
and over 20 teams participated.
Neda Durdevic and Bafreen Sherif
organised volunteers to collect for the Red
Cross street appeal. The prefects also collected
for the Child Cancer Foundation after school
for a week in Devonport.
The Community Relations Committee organised an
African Safari themed mufti day to raise funds for ex-pupil Dr David Friend,
who is a doctor in Zambia. They organised a bake sale and a sausage sizzle
held on mufti day.
The Year 11 Committee of the Prefects organised a social at the end of
the term, with a Disney theme.
The 24 House Leaders attended a leadership training day at the YMCA
focussing on communication skills, leadership qualities, event planning and
team building. The House Leaders encouraged participation in swimming
sports, athletics days, mufti day and the House Chant challenge. They helped
present at House assemblies.
A new approach to what have been Peer Mentoring and Peer Mediation.
This new team will train in aspects of restorative approaches and mentoring.
The Year 12 students are Leisha Calder, Rosie Cliffe, Elena Duranska,
Donna Lee, Amelia MacDonald, Ani McGahan, Margaret Palmer,
Alex Revell, Aimee Shearer, Jordan Stent and Joe Vergara.
Danielle Thrussell, Natasha Burgess, Freya Adam and Jack Parker are the
TGS representatives on the Shore Youth Council. They attended a leadership
camp run by the North Shore City Council.
Five Year 12 students were selected to be a part of the PSSP (Peer Sexuality
Support Programme) team in 2009. They are Alex Edney-Browne,
Catherine Campion, William Godfrey, Rosie Smith and Lyle Cardy.
They attended a 3 day training/leadership Hui with other students from the
Auckland region.
Amelia MacDonald, Ani McGahan, Bella Piper-Jarrett and ChunLin Lee were selected to attend the World Vision 40 Hour Famine leadership
camp. TGS aims to win a top award again in 2009.
Rosy Herstell (Year 12) was selected
to represent Auckland at the Sir Peter
Blake National Youth Environment
Forum in Wellington. This is a
fantastic achievement and recognition
of Rosy’s outstanding commitment to
various environ-mental forums.
Luke Carey and Lana Kennett
were selected to attend the Making a
Difference: Sustainability Environmental
Hui student camp run by the Auckland Regional
Council.
Students from Years 10-12 participated in the Enviro-Schools
Challenge competition. They were: Isabelle Verney, Victoria Timmins,
Blake Rax, Rosy Herstell, Donna Lee, Monique Warder, Lucy
Hawkins, Renee Yu, Margaret Palmer, Aless Smith, Alice Denne,
Luke Carey and Mattea Mrkusic. They achieved third place in the regional
challenge – a fantastic first effort.
Rikki Taylor, Mikala Easte, Maddy Denne, Nicholas Ganley,
Harry Ross, Louis McDonald, Jesse Parkinson and Jack Blathwayt
participated in a 5 day Spirit Trophy Voyage, representing TGS.
The SADD (Students Against Driving Drunk) committee organised a bake
sale to fundraise for activities throughout the year and Jenny Kwon and
Christina Zhao attended the SADD Auckland conference, held at Epsom
Girls’ Grammar during the holidays.
3
News
From the Board of Trustees
Special Education
ith Stage 3 of the property development at the
school almost complete, the next priority for
property funds is to upgrade the current library to create
a new facility for Special Education students. Their
current facilities are grossly inadequate and the Board,
along with the new HOD of the Unit, and the students’
parents are working with the local MP and the Ministers
for Disabilities and Education with a view to securing
additional funding for this project. We are seeking a
reasonably modest amount but would welcome any
assistance with this venture from any direction, including
the school community.
We are very grateful to the architect of the other
new buildings, Peter Davidson, for contributing his time
to create the concept drawings for the Special Education
unit. He is now completing the developed design for us.
The Board has had this project in its sights since the
W
property improvements were begun five years ago and
for the sake of the students, their families and the staff
at the Unit, we are determined to see this project come
to fruition.
Board of Trustees’ Elections
You may be aware that the Board of Trustees’
elections are due in April of next year. There will be
six vacancies at TGS to be filled through the election
process. A hard-working, forward-thinking Board can
make a big difference to the performance of the school.
If you are passionate about supporting TGS and have
skills you think would benefit the school, please consider
standing for the Board. The current Trustees are already
working towards a smooth transition from this Board to
the next.
Below: Floor plan Special Education.
“If you are passionate about supporting TGS and have skills you think
would benefit the school, please consider standing for the Board.”
4
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
F.Y.I...
Year 9 2010
Enrolments
D
ust off your glad rags and put this date in your
diary; the parents’ ball is on Saturday 15 August
at Duders in Devonport. This year’s theme is Casino
Royale and in keeping with the theme there will be
gaming tables available as well as a live band, dancing
and a delicious buffet meal. Tickets cost $95 and can be
purchased from the School Office and Yarntons. Or you
can call Karen (ph 09-445 6079) or Desiree (ph 09-446
6043) to secure your table now.
The annual golf day will be held on November 13
this year. Funds raised will again go towards the heating
of the school pool. We need parents to support this event
by entering teams. Either get together with a group of
friends or work colleagues, or entertain your clients and
enjoy a great day of golf. For more information contact
Helen Whitehead ph 09-445 6515.
Look out for breakfast meetings for parents and
children where the PTA plan to bring topical and
inspiring speakers to the school. At this stage we are
confirming the guest speakers and plan to hold the
breakfasts in the school at a small fee.
The PTA is a very friendly, very small group of
helpers who are having a lot of fun whilst working for
the school community. We are always looking for new
people to join in. For any information please contact
Nicky Pridham ph 09-486 1822.
As we like it and alls well that ends well
T
he 2009 SGCNZ
University of Otago
Sheilah Winn Shakespeare
Festival was held in
Wellington over Queens
Birthday weekend with
Takapuna Grammar School
represented by David Arrow,
Amelia MacDonald, Joseph
Daly and Beren Allen.
They had gained a place
by winning the regional festival at Long Bay College
with a scene from “Twelfth Night,” a scene they had
directed themselves. At the conclusion of the festival
David Arrow received the
award for best performance
by an actor in a comic role
playing Malvolio.
In other categories,
Katie
Braatvedt
was
runner up in the Morrison
Trust Shakespeare Music
Composition Competition
with the composition
she created for our own
outdoor production of “Romeo and Juliet” and Jenny
Kwon’s “Macbeth” image won the SGCNZ Static
Image Competition: Jenny’s poster is reproduced here.
Open afternoon
Thursday 23 July 2009 between
4.30 and 7.00pm
followed by an information
session and presentation by the
Principal in the School Hall
Enrolment evenings
Enrolment interviews for In
Zone students will be conducted
between 4.00pm and 7.00pm on
the following dates:
• Wednesday 29 July
• Tuesday 04 August
• Thursday 13 August
No appointment necessary
Out of Zone Applications
Must be received by Friday
04 September 2009 prior
to the ballot on Monday 14
September. Enquiries can
be made to The Enrolment
Administrator, Mrs Helen
Parker, Telephone 09-4894167
extension 221, or email
[email protected]
•••••
Whitecross Accident cards
are available for all Takapuna
Grammar School students.
These cards entitle students to
free assessment of any injury
with no ACC surcharge at any
Whitecross Clinic potentially
saving up to $70. X-rays,
physiotherapy and medical
supplies used e.g. bandages etcnot included in this. If a student
does not get a card issued at
school, and the parent would like
one, extras will be available from
the School Health Nurse.
5
News
6
“The mothers had embedded her in obscurity and a
three hundred and sixty four day a year work ethic that
characterised her existence and cleansed her soul.”
Ireland Essay Runner-up
O
nce again Takapuna
students have excelled in the Ireland essay
competition. For the past
twenty years Rodney Walshe,
the Honorary Consul for
Ireland has sponsored an
essay competition for senior
secondary school students.
Over the past five years
Takapuna Grammar students
have been well represented
amongst the award winners although the elusive first prize
(and a trip to Ireland) has not yet been achieved. We came
as close as possible this year with the national runner–up
being Jenny Matthews. Close on her heels was Nicholas
Cornwell in third and Jack Parker who gained a Special
Certificate and $100 for being in the top six.
These three students wrote amazing pieces using very
different styles. Jenny researched and wrote about the
Magdalene Girls, Nicholas analysed “Finnegan’s Wake”
and Jack wrote an imaginary letter from a young Irish
soldier away from home. Short extracts from each appear
below.
The presentation of the awards was made by Rodney
Walshe’s son, Darragh, at a recent assembly. Waterford
crystal clocks were presented to Jenny and Nicholas.
The Magdalene Girls
by Jenny Matthews
‘Bad girls do the best
sheets’ Common words that
grated her mind. An Irish
saying, something from her
other life, that hinted at the
veiled threat of the Magdalene
laundries. For this girl however
all threats had been actualised,
the Magdalene asylums had
swallowed her whole. Once
she was Janie but that right was stolen. The mothers had
embedded her in obscurity and a three hundred and sixty
four day a year work ethic that characterised her existence
and cleansed her soul. Her palms were stained with the
blood of her sins; only scrubbing could wash the spots
away. She was Lady Macbeth, as were they all.
An unholy alliance of church and state spawned the
Magdalene asylums. Never officially state funded, the
asylums were a product of a British colonial government
who lightened their work load by ceding responsibilities
for social welfare to the Catholic Church. Fault also lies
with an emerging Irish middle class that entrenched its
identity in notions of social and moral respectability.
From the beginning Magdalene asylums were touted as
nothing less than charitable facilities striving to do good
in an unscrupulous community. Indeed their founder
Lady Arbella Denny foresaw a golden glove that would
simultaneously remove desperate women from desperate
circumstances and smooth away the effects of Irish vice.
8 Leeson Street Dublin was the site of the first ‘shelter for
fallen women’ and upon its opening in 1767 it became
a gateway through which Ireland was to become a
moralistically pure society once again...
Notes concerning the aesthetic reassessment of
Finnegans Wake
by Nicholas Cornwell
(Note: the following reflections were written by a Mr. F.A.
Waters, aged 48, plumber, who has recently passed on following
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
an attack of arthritis whilst deep water fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr Waters, who
described himself to those who would listen as ‘the greatest amateur scholar ever to take up
the pen’ requested that the entirety of his life’s works be burnt, save this brief commentary
on James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. While the reader may be struck at the cryptic pomposity
of the paragraphs, it can only be added, to put it in Mr. Water’s own words, that one
‘has to read the bloody book yourself ’. They are not necessarily an attempt to completely
demonstrate what Joyce had in mind, but rather to unlock doors for the reader that may
have remained shut.)
Part VIII.
No other work of English fiction has so completely achieved the
disappearance of the writer. If I may use an overused distinction, rather
than using the Apollonian brilliance of eloquent imagery or attention to
detail, we are flung head first into the most Dionysian synthesis of history,
culture and art that language allows, as before the Tower of Babel was
constructed.
The traces of style which show a fellow human being has manufactured
the work are absent: instead the author’s presence is forgotten, we begin to
believe that the descriptions used are entirely self-sufficient from him. So
we have an act of creation only the highest genius permits, the required
invisibility of the author so refined as to eliminate awareness of his
existence.
A Long Letter Home
by Jack Parker
13 March 1941
I’m sorry Tommy, for not saying goodbye. I know you didn’t want me
gone, but I know you’ll understand why I have, and I hope you’ll understand
why my farewells were whispered to your sleeping back. I meant to say
goodbye, I really did. I guess in the end I just couldn’t face Ma. I know, I
know. Off to fight the Germans and he can’t stand up to his own mother!
She’d cry, mind you me, cling and wail too, what with one thing and the
other the War would be over before I left!....
We stole off like Sidhe, Tommy. Dead of night and all. I went out the
window, over the Delaney’s fence. Just like old times, eh? Ran down to the
railway too, out past the brickworks. We practised our commando skills,
stowed away in the baggage cart. God, the journey to London was hell! The
cart stank of shite, and half the tinkers of Ballymun must have been hiding
there with us. Never again Tom, that’s for sure! I tell you, when I get back
to Galway, I’m staying there.
They say we’re shipping out tomorrow. I can’t tell you where, or the
censors will tear my letter to ribbons. They’ve spies in Eire, and they say
the Brits are just itching for an excuse to tamper with our mail. It doesn’t
matter though, the whole thing will be done soon and I’ll tell you about it
when I’m home for Christmas. I miss you man. No chance to post it now
so this letter may be a while, the communication services at the front are
“somewhat sub-standard”, if you’ll pardon my ponce. God, I’ve been here
too long, Tom.
Takapuna Grammar School
High Achievers
Gala Morris placed 3rd and John McCall in the Long Short
Story Band placed 2nd at the Smokefreerockquest at the Regional
Finals. They will be taking part at the National Finals between
September and October 2009.
Nick Mead was placed 2nd in the Under 19 Boys’ Downhill at the
New Zealand Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Championships.
Claudia Brick recently attended the Arafura games in Darwin.
The games are held every two years, and involve more than 2000
athletes, competing in 26 sports. The games are attended by
emerging sportsmen and sportswomen in the Asia Pacific region.
Claudia attended along with 20 other members from the North
Shore Swimming Club. Claudia competed in 13 swimming events,
and made the finals in all but 2 events. She went on to win silver
medals in the 100 backstroke, and the 4 x 100 medley relay.
Helena and Noah Orr won the Women’s Under 15 and Men’s
Under 15 New Zealand Ocean Swim Series. Helena was 6th in the
Open Womens’ table and Noah was 7th in the Open Mens’ table.
Their younger brother Callum came 7th in the Mens Under 15.
We hope to see him at Takapuna Grammar School soon.
Sam Isherwood and Vinnie Isherwood have been selected to
attend the Auckland Secondary Golf Championships.
The following students have been recognised for their contribution
to the Child Cancer Foundation for their work as Volunteers for
the 2009 Appeal; Hong Su, Zac McEwen, Laura Burley,
Christina Zhao, Derrick Newton, Alexander Hosking,
Mikey Jarvis, Chloe Pryor, Lucy Korn, Matt Lowe and
Jamie McPherson.
The following students participated in the 2009 Takapuna
Grammar School Senior Speech Contest. The Winner was
Nicholas Cornwell, and the Runner-up was Laura Eaton.
Certificates were also awarded to the following Finalists; Dean
Stroobant, Michael Ross, Amelia MacDonald and Kate
Braatvedt.
The following students were also selected as representatives for the
Lions Young Speechmaker Contest; Dean Stroobant, Amelia
MacDonald, and Laura Eaton.
7
Art
Top art 2008
T
hese pages display a selection of work by some of
our top Level 3 Visual Arts students.
It was produced for
their end of year folios and
Scholarship submissions.
Level 3 Painting, ArtDesign and Photography
are represented here.
8
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
9
Takapuna Grammar School
Ex-Pupils
Right: Claire Sorrenson and Mr Terry Holding.
“Claire has set the standard for future
TGS students. This is an amazing
achievement which will most
definitely inspire many other students
to follow in her footsteps and pursue
their dreams.”
From TGS to Duke
By Vivien Hsu
T
akapuna Grammar School’s Head Girl and Proxime
Accessit of 2008 has won a full scholarship to one of
the top universities in the US.
Claire Sorrenson is one of the winners of the
Robertson Scholarship to Duke University in North
Carolina.
The Robertson program awards leadership merit
scholarships to UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. Hailing from
thirteen states and three foreign countries, thirty scholars
will enroll at the two universities. Each year, the program
aims to enroll half the scholars at Duke and half at UNC.
The scholarship covers tuition, room, board and fees.
The program was founded in June 2000 by Julian
and Josie Robertson. Mr Robertson is the billionaire
founder of investment firm Tiger Management and he
owns several businesses in New Zealand, including the
Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers golf resorts and the
Dry River winery in Wairarapa. The Robertsons reside in
New Zealand for part of each year.
This year there were two successful candidates from
New Zealand, our very own Claire being one of them.
The candidates were flown over to the US in a private jet
for their interview in March and were lucky enough to
stay at Mr Robertson’s house in Idaho and even go skiing
with him.
Claire has set the standard for future TGS students.
This is an amazing achievement which will most definitely
inspire many other students to follow in her footsteps and
pursue their dreams.
Claire is off to Duke in August and she plans to focus
on creative writing, art history and English. The school
congratulates her on her outstanding achievement and
wishes her the best of luck in her studies at Duke.
Left: Kate Quinn - Early Childhood Care.
Gateway
S
10
uccessful Gateway placements have been organised this
term in career fields as diverse as Media, Hairdressing,
Early Childhood Care and Marine Engineering.
For more information regarding Gateway placements,
please see Ms Strong, Gateway Co-Ordinator situated in
the Careers office or telephone 09-489 4167 x 610.
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
Above: Shaun Quincey. Below right: Christine Kim.
Ex-Pupils in the news...
S
haun Quincey (Leaver 2002). Rowing alone across the Tasman Sea is
in the Quincey blood. Shaun’s father, Peter, was the first and only to
make the gruelling trip from New Zealand to Australia, in 1977.
Now Shaun aims to be the first to row the other way, completing his
father’s trip. His philosophy is “there’s a lot of adventure in everyone and
if you don’t embrace it then you’re not really living”.
Shaun recently returned to school and talked to assemblies at all levels
about his boat, the Tasman Trespasser, his preparations and the conditions
he might experience. The school will be able to keep track of his journey
through his website tasmantrespasser.com and by email
C
hristine Kim (Leaver 2004) recently won the Auckland University
Graduation Gala Concerto Competition. A student at the School
of Music, she performed a stunning rendition of Ibert’s Concerto pour
flute et orchestre, which the event’s MC described as “a beautiful but
terrifying piece of music”.
Her 2007 successes included 3rd place in The University of
Auckland Concerto Competition. In 2008 she was the recipient of the
Anne Bellam Scholarship and was invited to play in the prestigious Sir
James Galway master class held in Switzerland in August.
Christine is at present employed by Takapuna Grammar School
as an itinerant music teacher.
Community Education at
Takapuna Grammar School
Classes starting Monday, 3rd August.
Online Enrolments are now available
http://www.takapuna.school.nz/files/community.asp
Phone 09-486 3693 for a booklet
11
Development
12
Above: The Ralph Roberts Student Services Centre.
The Ralph Roberts
Student Services Centre
J
une sees the official handover to the school of the
latest of the new buildings. As previously announced,
the building is named after prominent ex pupil Ralph
Roberts. Ralph was President of the New Zealand
Yachting Federation between 1986 and 1989 and was
awarded the MBE for services to yachting and sport in
1993. He competed at the Olympic Games in 1960 and
1968 and was reserve crew in 1964. In 1984 Roberts
was Sectional Manager of the New Zealand Olympic
sailing team that won two gold medals and a bronze,
and in 1992 he was Chef d’Mission for the New Zealand
Olympic Team. He has recently was been awarded the
highly prestigious SPARC Lifetime Achievement Award.
This new building is larger than the Sir Peter Blake
Art and Technology Centre and includes a new library
twice the size of the current one, a cafeteria and lunch
courtyard, a Senior Learning Centre that includes
access to computers, new classrooms and a new Student
Support Centre.
The building also acknowledges the wider Roberts
family, many of whom are ex-pupils, and in particular
Ralph’s mother Zella. Zella, now 104, was married
to Trevor Roberts, founder of Roberts Electrical on
Hurstmere Road Takapuna. For many years Trevor was
a member of the Auckland Grammar Schools Board
then when it separated he became a Takapuna Grammar
Board Governor. Zella on the other hand spent many
years on the TGS PTA. In the late 1940s, Zella led
the fight against the Takapuna Borough Council and
Government to prevent the introduction of state housing
on what is now Belmont Intermediate and TGS grounds,
known to the community as our spacious playing fields.
We celebrated her efforts by inviting her to lay the
foundation stone for the new building.
At the Foundation Stone Ceremony Zella spoke of
some of the obstacles she encountered in the process of
saving TGS grounds. She spoke of the difficulties in trying
to present her case to an all-male council in a time when
the voice of women was less valued. Only collaboration
with her husband made it possible to achieve her goal.
Zella’s hopes are that students, now and of the
future, make the most of the school grounds that she
fought so hard to save several decades ago. Her legacy
of determination and perseverance will continue to
resonate around the school through the new Ralph
Roberts building.
“It is an important step in creating a consistency of care for our students
with special needs, ensuring that the best possible environment is created
for delivering the teaching and learning across what is effectively 10 years
of schooling for these young people.”
Exciting developments ahead for
Special Education
2
009 has seen some exciting new developments in
Special Education at Takapuna Grammar School.
At the beginning of this year the Learning Support
Centre (LSC) at Belmont Intermediate and the Special
Education Department at Takapuna Grammar were
joined under a single Head of Department. The new
HOD Michele Brooke, who has run the LSC at Belmont
Intermediate for the past 5 years is incredibly excited
about the new direction “It is an important step in
creating a consistency of care for our students with
special needs, ensuring that the best possible environment
is created for delivering the teaching and learning across
what is effectively 10 years of schooling for these young
people. It is very much a product of the Extending High
Standards Across Schools (EHSAS) initiative.”
Takapuna Grammar has also embraced the inclusive
model that has been working so effectively at Belmont
Intermediate. This model however looks a little different
at high school due in part to the constraints imposed by
the external examination system. Integration within
the school environment however, is well on its way.
Students are now experiencing specialist lessons in
rooms alongside their peers. Feedback from parents has
been positive as mainstream students enjoy interacting
with students between classes. Annalise Cruickshank
thinks being able to have her drama classes in the drama
room in the Georgea Tindall Performing Arts Centre is
‘awesome’ and the ability to use the specialist facilities in
the sewing and hard technology rooms in the new Peter
Blake Building cannot be underestimated.
Special Education
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
13
Sport
Great results from Cross Country
S
everal students competed in the North Harbour
Secondary Schools Cross Country which was held at
Moire Park in Massey.
A short, but tough course was put in place but there
was no stopping Andrew Ranford who powered through
to win the Intermediate Boys section by a comfortable
margin. Andrew and Vicky Inger also competed in the
Auckland Secondary Schools’ Cross Country recently.
Hockey season
underway
H
14
ockey got underway early in term 2 with the school
fielding 2 boys’ teams and 6 girls’ teams. The
early results across the board are proof that Takapuna
Grammar School will again be a force at the business end
of the competition. The code is being run by a strong
parents committee.
In July the girls, 1st and 2nd XI’s will host King
Edwards High School, England.
Vicky finishing a very respectable 18th in what was a
large strong field of Junior Girls. Andrew finished in 3rd
place which is an excellent effort.
On yer bike
2
009 is shaping up as a great year for Takapuna
Grammar School cycling. 5 teams entered into
the AKSS TTT series, which is held on Auckland’s
waterfront every second Sunday. The Junior Girls A
team who sit 9th and the Junior Boys A team who sit
8th after 2 races have made a great start
A D AU G U S TA - TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
The Maadi Cup
By Harriette Moore and Bianca Niemandt
T
akapuna Grammar’s second year and senior rowers
faced their greatest challenge at the annual National
Secondary School Rowing Championships – known as the
Maadi Cup. Everything had been building up to this point.
With a vast number of schools entered from through out
NZ there was truly fierce competition. From the first race, the
regatta was cut-throat throwing many out of the regatta and
shattering with it their hopes and dreams. However armed
with knowledge from the Director of Rowing, James Coote
about how truly important each and every race in the regatta
was, the Takapuna rowers rose to the challenge. After four
days of tough racing and heartbreaking finishes (seconds
off getting through into the next round), by Thursday night
there was a fantastic 9 B finals and one A final.
Three crews placed 1st in their B final, the Boy’s Under
18 coxed quad, the Girls U16 double and the Boy’s U16
coxed quad, putting them in the top 10 of New Zealand.
An athlete in the senior squad Bianca commented “one crew
that truly stood out for me in the regatta, putting their hearts
into every stroke of the race, proving how much they wanted
victory was the Girls U17 coxed quad of Rose Crooks,
Rebecca Nolan, Katie Philips, Harriette Moore, coxed by
Jacqui Lane and coached by James Coote. They made an A
final and placed 3rd in New Zealand.”
Rowing at Takapuna Grammar is a mix of extreme
commitment (think 10 trainings a week, every week from
September to April), dedication (think putting the rest of
your life on pause) and most of all perseverance. However
it is pride that sets Takapuna Grammar Rowing Club above
the rest. If you have been to a regatta, you will know of the
great pride that both the athletes and the supporters have.
They are renowned for the support and cheering of the
athletes through the famous ‘Taka Puna’ chant, which can
be heard on television broadcasts over and above the voice
overs and background noise.
Thank you on behalf of all the Takapuna Rowers to: the
parents, for their continued support; to Miss Knowles, for
giving so much of her time to the sport as teacher in charge;
to Cherie Lane, Betty and Pat Sheehan and all the workers
behind the scenes who dedicate so much of their time freely;
to the Coaches Robbie Glanfield, Terry Tidbury, Bonnie
Crooks, Charlotte Robertson, Sam Thexton, and of course
to Director of Rowing James Coote, for their phenomenal
effort and time given to us.
Below: Girs U17 coxed quad bronze medalists.
IN BRIEF...
The North Harbour rugby
competition started in early
Term 2 with TGS fielding
6 teams. After 4 weeks of
competition, most teams
are sitting mid-table with
the business end of the
season yet to come.
Pre season, the 1st XV
squad ventured north to
Mangawhai for a camp
weekend to develop team
work and fitness for the
upcoming season. The
squad was also involved
in a number of leadership
tasks which tested their
teamwork, planning and
problem solving abilities.
The team is progressing
well having won 3 games
and narrowly losing 2
in a very competitive
environment.
15
Ad Augusta
A N E W S L E T T E R O F TA K A P U N A G R A M M A R S C H O O L
“Following their outstanding win this group has performed their dance for school
assemblies and visited the Wilson Home where they received a wonderful reception.”
Bollywood Dance Winners
D
espite having no dancers of Indian ethnicity the
Takapuna Grammar group of 18 won the Rockerz
Bollywood Dance competition last weekend.
This Supreme award reflects the quality of the dance
programme and the hard work by all the dancers and follows
from last year’s best entertainers’ award. Dance Teacher, Ms
Juliet Cryns chose the Rockerz competition as it gives our
students exposure to an ethnic dance style and gets them
performing in a real competitive event.
The Takapuna dancers are all studying Dance as a school
subject whereas all the others were co-curricular groups.
Following their outstanding win this group has performed
their dance for school assemblies and visited the Wilson Home
where they received a wonderful reception
Contents
Acting Principal’s report . . . . 2
Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . 4
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Issue 03 June/July 2009
For Your Information . . . . . . . 5
Top Art for 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ex-Pupils in the news . . . . . 10
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . 16