Author Archives: Cameron Watt

Dear Parents

As the term progresses, changing Public Health requirements and the impact of COVID-19 have dominated many aspects of our lives.  As you have responded to the health needs of those in your households, our priorities have been to provide well-being support, along with academic and health structures that have helped maintain a safe and stable school environment for your sons.

Last year I reminded our young men that: “We want to grow in them the ability to act with resilience, so they can manage the difficulties or discomfort associated with online learning. If you do, you will put yourself into an advantaged rather than disadvantaged position with your learning and general wellbeing.”

In normal times, acting with self-discipline and growing in resilience are not necessarily attributes that produce immediate benefits. Rather, it is often only after young men leave School that they understand the worth of such lessons they may have learnt at Grammar.

2021 was different. The benefit for the young men who accepted the challenges presented to them and grew in resiliency paid off through their 2021 external examination results. 

This was visible through phenomenal Cambridge results, with our students receiving a record number of Top of the World and Top of New Zealand awards, and students completing NCEA qualifications surpassing their Unexpected Event Grades (UEG) by an average of 10%.

Moreover, in a cohort of 462 Form 7 students, 86% earned University Entrance across NCEA and Cambridge pathways. This figure is much higher than the overall national average (50.8%) and far exceeds national averages for male students in Decile 8-10 schools (59%) and for all boys (44%) and girls (56%) nationally.

Please be aware that the Ministry of Education and NZQA will soon publish results for secondary schools around the country. The statistics these agencies publish, do not include 55% of our senior students (those following a Cambridge pathway) and present a false picture of just how well our young men achieved overall in 2021.

I raise students’ results and the resilience they showed last year to achieve their potential or exceed their goals, as a reminder for all cohorts. If your sons use the lessons learnt from online learning through 2021 and they apply these to the way they approach School life this year, the benefits should grow exponentially. Our guarantee is that we will do everything we can to be on campus to avoid the need for School-wide online learning.

While we all respond in different ways to the trials and tribulations of COVID-19, it is a combination of the consistent implementation and communication of systems, alongside our collective words, actions and intentions that will ensure our campus remains open for all students. 

Like you as parents, we can lead young men to act in a manner that will provide them with considerable advantage, but they have to accept the challenge to act with independence and self-discipline, while asking for help when required.

It is through your sons committed involvement in and out of classrooms that they gain the full benefit of being on campus at Auckland Grammar School. It is their involvement in sport, the performing arts, in clubs, committees and their impromptu interactions with their peers, including the longer-term relationships they forge, that they come to understand and implement ‘The Grammar Way’. While we can measure results, much that happens here is immeasurable.

That model remains our preference. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Per Angusta Ad Augusta

Tim O’Connor
Headmaster

Dear Parents,

We have completed six weeks of teaching and learning, with the achievements of many young men recognised at assembly each morning.

Daily assemblies not only provide a setting to celebrate school successes, they also offer an opportunity to communicate to young men important messages regarding the School’s expectations, culture and the myriad of support systems available.

At the heart of our support structure is the Student Services team; a staff of professional counsellors dedicated to providing guidance, subject and career advice to students of all form levels. I would encourage you to visit the Student Services section of the School’s website where a wealth of resources, expert advice and further links can be found.

One such resource loaded in this section of the website is what we would describe as a common-sense article listing advice to young people. It has been published by educational author Daniel Wong (40 Ways to Be Successful in School – Even If You’re Not Smart). As a parent and an educator, I have found the article to be refreshingly simple, whilst also containing extremely useful insights. I would recommend you read it and discuss the advice with your sons.

The digital platform, Grammar SchoolTV, is another valuable resource we have recently highlighted to you, and one that is made available to all parents and students because of the funds we receive through payment of the school donation. The platform contains a wealth of interviews from pastoral experts throughout Australasia which you can access through the Parent Portal. A current topic within the SchoolTV database is focused on dealing with disappointment and is highly recommended.

Parents of senior students should be aware that our Student Services staff are communicating regularly with Form 6 and 7 students regarding a range of opportunities to meet with industry and tertiary providers. The presentations on offer provide important information such as course and enrolment details, and can provide further clarity for our senior students about educational pathways beyond Grammar.

The presentations, to be held at lunchtime either in person or online (depending on current COVID-19 restrictions) and from a range of academics commence in Term 2 and will include information sessions with representatives from Massey, Victoria and Auckland universities over the upcoming fortnight. Senior students are strongly encouraged to listen to the Daily Notices and attend such seminars.

• Monday 9 May – overview presentation from AUT
• Tuesday 10 May – overview presentation from the University of Waikato
• Wednesday 11 May – overview presentation from the University of Auckland
• Thursday 12 May – overview presentation from Manukau Institute of Technology
• Friday 13 May – overview presentation from Unitec
• Monday 23 May – overview presentation from Victoria University of Wellington
• Tuesday 24 May – overview presentation from the University of Canterbury
• Wednesday 25 May – overview presentation from Massey University
• Thursday 26 May – overview presentation from the University of Otago
• Friday 27 May – overview presentation (online) from Lincoln University

As a school, we are acutely aware that growing up in the 21st century presents complexities for young men that are varied and at times challenging.

Consequently, I do encourage you and your son to feel free to access the expertise of our Student Services team at any stage of the year by contacting the Student Services Office Manager on 09 623 5400 extn 445 or via email at studentservices@ags.school.nz.

Aon Junior Rowing Regatta

On Sunday 27 February, the School’s Rowing squad competed in the Aon Junior Regatta at Lake Karapiro against other schools from around the North Island. The squad aimed to work with intensity and precision as they were racing over 2000m for the first time this season.

Conditions were fast, with a strong tailwind throughout the day leading to quick times, and all age groups had to contend with a number of crew changes, with many rowers stepping up to fill the gaps. The junior crews, the Under 15 Octuple and the Under 16 Eight finished second in close racing, with the Novice Four finishing third. The Senior squad’s highlights were the heats of the Under 18 Pair finishing first and the Under 17 Eight coming in third after Westlake and Hamilton Boys High Schools.

The day’s final race was the Under 18 Eight race; they focused on a strong start and then rowed long and aggressive through the middle of the race. However, they were outpaced and finished fourth in a competitive final.

The squad now looks towards maximising training time as they build for the North Islands Secondary Schools Championships in a fortnight and for those who selected the Maadi cup at Lake Ruataniwha in four weeks.

Annual Head of Harbour Regatta

On Saturday 12 February the Auckland Grammar School Rowing Squad competed at the Auckland Secondary School Championships, otherwise known as the Head of Harbour regatta out at Lake Pupuke.

Normally run over one day, this year the regatta was meant to be run over two days due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. The seniors and the Under 18 Novice crews raced on the Saturday and had to manage strong winds and wet weather, which produced poor racing conditions, especially at the start line.

Fortunately, all of Saturday’s racing was completed, but all races on the Sunday (for the junior crews) were postponed due to high winds.

This was the first opportunity to provide racing, even if it was only over a 900m course instead of the normal 2km race. 

This regatta also acted as the inaugural race for the Novice squad, who secured solid results with the Novice Eight winning gold, the Novice Quad winning silver and the Novice Four winning bronze.

The Under 17 squad secured bronze in the Four and silver in the Quad. These results were superseded by what was the highlight of the day – first placing for the Under 17 Eight crew over Westlake Boys’ High School and King’s College.

For the Under 18 squad, the Pairs racing faced rough lake conditions, thus lending a mixture of results and a new-found appreciation for the value of coxswains. The Under 18 Double and Quad had strong results both finishing in second place.

The Under 18 Four crew saw an incredibly hard-fought battle between the First and Second Fours and Mount Albert Grammar School, with the top Grammar Four securing silver behind Mount Albert.

The final race of the day – the Under 18 Eight – was punctuated with a heavy head-wind. Off the start, Mount Albert Grammar School and Westlake Boys’ High School took an early lead, with the lighter-weight and technical Grammar crew struggling with the conditions. Although showing an impressive work-ethic and managing to pull back on the crews in front, the Under 18 Eight were able to secure third place.

Congratulations to the entire crew and to Masters in Charge Mr Campbell Lowe and Ms Marie Gaspar for their continued efforts.

On Tuesday 22 February 2022 (colloquially known as ‘Twosday’), a group of our Prefects, led by Form 7 student R. J. Maguire, visited classes collecting donations for ‘Two for Twosday’, raising money for the Cameron Wilson Trust.

The trust was set up in honour of Old Boy Cameron Wilson ’08. Born in 1994, Cameron was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer at just 12 months old. After prolonged treatment, Cameron was in remission for a decade, and started his journey at Auckland Grammar School in 2008, where he was in 3E. Tragically, Cameron passed away in June 2008 at just 14 years old.

All proceeds from staff and students will go towards the Cameron Wilson Trust, providing financial assistance to help meet the day-to-day expenses of families with children suffering from cancer.

We are very proud of our students donating to such a worthy cause. If parents or members of the wider Grammar community wish to know more or donate, visit the Cameron Wilson Trust website.

On Friday 18 February, the School acknowledged and celebrated our top students with our annual Scholars’ Assembly.

With students in classroom bubbles and those in attendance maintaining social distancing, it was a privilege to have guest speaker Professor Sir Peter Gluckman ’61 address our top scholars.

A total of 18 students’ names will be added to the Scholars’ Honours Board for 2021, including 2022 Prefect Ryaan Sidhu who was named this year’s Top Scholar, with an overall average of 96.8%, receiving 4 Scholarships with 4 Outstanding.

Click here to read the full list of students who crossed stage at our Scholars’ Assembly, including their final results, list of 2021 extracurricular activities and what they plan to study in 2022.

Hello to all our Old Boys – from the most recent leavers, to the oldest living Old Boy of 106, this community stretches far and wide. Despite being separated across various areas of New Zealand and the world, we are all bonded by the collective experience of being a student at Auckland Grammar School.

As I enter my last year as a student here, the true extent of this community has become increasingly apparent to me. Auckland Grammar is far more than just a school; it is a place where lifelong bonds and connections are made, as highlighted by this extensive Old Boys network that we have. 

Being named as Head Prefect for 2022 was an exciting experience and I feel privileged to be able to lead the student cohort through this uncertain year. Hopefully we are able to stay on campus for the majority of this year – COVID-permitting – and be able to fully experience what Grammar has to offer. Although some events such as the 30, 40, 50 and 60 year reunions have been postponed, I look forward to meeting some of you throughout this year. 

As a student body, I wish to see us be able to adapt to whatever 2022 may bring. With semi-remote learning, the absence of assemblies in the Great Hall and still various limitations on gatherings, it is challenging to try and get back to some sense of normalcy. However, we are adapting to these challenges; assemblies on the ‘Great Field’ enable us to still congregate as a school which is a big positive, as maintaining traditions like these are essential to the Grammar experience. 

As a Prefect team, this year we wish to be heavily involved with students of all year levels, and give back to this community. We have begun implementing ideas already, from fundraisers for The Cameron Wilson Trust, to the inaugural lunchtime Touch Rugby competition, we are looking to have an active presence at Grammar. The Touch Rugby competition will have 16 teams taking part on a weekly basis to ascend to the championship, with the winning team to play the teachers side (which may be a somewhat lopsided affair).

Once I finish up my tenure at Auckland Grammar, I am largely undecided as to what I would like to do, with possibilities of studying at either Sydney, Christchurch or Otago. Regardless of what I decide upon, in the short term I wish to fully immerse myself in my last year at Auckland Grammar, and continue the legacy that this School has built. 

Per Angusta Ad Augusta

Louis Eglinton
2022 Head Prefect