Latest News
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New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships
Auckland Grammar School's largest team of 21 swimmers competed at the 2019 New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships in Hamilton, beginning the week prior to Senior Exams. The team performed outstandingly well to finish third in New Zealand overall and win the trophy for the top school in relays. The medal tally was five individual and...
Auckland Grammar School's largest team of 21 swimmers competed at the 2019 New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships in Hamilton, beginning the week prior to Senior Exams. The team performed outstandingly well to finish third in New Zealand overall and win the trophy for the top school in relays.
The medal tally was five individual and one relay gold, one individual and five relay silvers and four individual and two relay bronze medals, with an additional 51 other top ten placings.
Every swimmer exceeded their personal best times in nearly every event, with some improving their times by significant margins. Two of our junior students were outstanding, with J. J. Kennard winning three gold medals and a silver and O. B. Sargison gaining two golds and a bronze.
The depth of swimming talent at Grammar was displayed in the relay events, with the Senior team winning gold in the 8 x 50m freestyle relay and bronze in the 4 x 50m and the 4 x 100m free relay and the Junior team silver in the 4 x 50m medley relay and 4 x 100m free relay.
The below individual members of the team will cross stage on Thursday to receive their medals and the School's congratulations:
- Form 3 student E. J. Joh - Bronze in the Junior 100m fly.
- Form 6 student M. J. E. Clark - Bronze in the Senior 100m Individual medley and the Senior 100m backstroke.
- Form 3 student O. B. Sargison - Bronze in the Junior 200m free and gold in the Junior 200m fly and 400m free.
- Form 3 student J. J. Kennard - Silver in the Junior 100m Individual medley and gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke.
The Junior and Senior relay teams:
- Junior 4 x 50 medley Silver: Form 3 student O. B. Sargison, Form 4 student S. F. C. Maberly, Form 5 student J. C. George, and represented by Form 5 student E. Li.
- Junior 4 x 100 free Silver: Form 3 student E. J. Joh, Form 5 students J. C. George and E. Li, and represented by Form 4 student S. F. C. Maberly
- Senior 4 x 50 free Bronze: Form 6 student Y. F. Wang, Form 7 students A. Carter and J. M. Dufaur,and represented by Form 7 student W. C. P. Body
- Senior 4 x 100 free Bronze: Form 5 student J. C. G. Klink, Form 6 students M. J. E. Clark and Y.F Wang, and represented by J. M. Dufaur
The Senior 8 x 50m freestyle team will also cross as the National Champions: Form 5 student J. C. George, J. C. G. Klink, 6 students M. J. E. Clark, G. H. Falconer and Y. F. Wang, and Form 7 students W. C. P. Body, A. Carter and J. M. Dufaur.
Finally, Captain of Swimming C. S. Poole crossed stage to receive the trophy for the overall top school in relays.
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Auckland Schools Debating Final
On Thursday evening, the Auckland Schools Debating Final and Prizegiving ceremony were held at Auckland Grammar School in the Centennial Theatre. Form 4 student E. H. S. Chignell was named top speaker in the Junior Open competition, while Form 5 students I. J. Mellis-Glynn and J. M. Sandelin were named the top two speakers in...
On Thursday evening, the Auckland Schools Debating Final and Prizegiving ceremony were held at Auckland Grammar School in the Centennial Theatre. Form 4 student E. H. S. Chignell was named top speaker in the Junior Open competition, while Form 5 students I. J. Mellis-Glynn and J. M. Sandelin were named the top two speakers in the Premier Junior competition.
Prefects H. S. R. Jamieson, M. W. Palmer, S. K. Verryt and L. A. Wong debated again St Kentigern College in the Premier Advanced Final, successfully affirming the motion "This house regrets the centrality of the All Blacks to New Zealand's culture and identity." The moot presented a highly entertaining debate to the large crowd gathered in the Centennial Theatre, and the team worked well together to produce a case that touched on domestic violence, toxic masculinity, post-colonial exploitation of Pasifika nations and the real reason students enjoy the Staff vs Prefect rugby match.
Their comprehensive case showed that the unity and cohesion which the negating team claimed the All Blacks brought to New Zealand were neither unique or overrode the harms that rugby culture brought to New Zealand. In a close but clear decision, the chief adjudicator awarded the debate to the Premier Advanced team with a 3-0 vote.
For his highly entertaining speeches at second affirmative and leader positions, Palmer, as captain, was awarded the cup for best speaker of the final, and this result capped off a very successful year for the team.
Mellis-Glynn and Palmer (on behalf of the Premier team) crossed stage on Friday morning to receive their trophies and the School's congratulations.
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International Young Naturalist's Tournament
After winning the New Zealand Young Scientist's Tournament in Wellington, in March, Form 4 students M. S. Griffiths and R. Sidhu were selected to represent New Zealand at the International Young Naturalist's Tournament held in Minsk, Belarus. Between March and August, they each had to prepare three presentations on subjects as diverse as 'The Perceived Size of...
After winning the New Zealand Young Scientist's Tournament in Wellington, in March, Form 4 students M. S. Griffiths and R. Sidhu were selected to represent New Zealand at the International Young Naturalist's Tournament held in Minsk, Belarus.
Between March and August, they each had to prepare three presentations on subjects as diverse as 'The Perceived Size of the Moon' and 'The Rate of Reproduction of Yeast Cells'.
During the tournament in Minsk, they beat teams from China, Kazakhstan and Georgia to find themselves second place heading into the final.
In the final, they beat the favourites from Switzerland and a strong Croatian team with a presentation on 'The Parameters of Producing Fire with a Magnifying Glass'.
As overall winners, they each received a medal and are invited to represent New Zealand at the 2020 International Young Naturalist's Tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Griffiths and Sidhu crossed stage last week to receive their medals and the School's congratulations.
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Important Notices from the Headmaster - September 2019
*Congratulations* Last week a number of our Premier and Development sports teams competed in regional or national tournaments throughout New Zealand. In summary, our teams performed as follows: 1st XI Hockey - 12th at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rankin Cup 1st XI Football - second at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships Premier Basketball -...
Congratulations
Last week a number of our Premier and Development sports teams competed in regional or national tournaments throughout New Zealand. In summary, our teams performed as follows:- 1st XI Hockey - 12th at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rankin Cup
- 1st XI Football - second at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
- Premier Basketball - third at the National Qualifying Tournament
- Premier Table Tennis - third at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
- Premier Badminton - second at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
- Fencing - fourth in the Team Sabre at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
- Weightlifting - third at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
- Under 15 Hockey - third at the National Invitational Tournament
- Junior Premier Basketball - second at the National Zone Championships
- Under 15 Rugby - eighth at the National Invitational Tournament
There are a number of sports teams still to compete in their National Championship competitions over the coming weeks and the Term 3 holidays; we wish them well with their preparation and performances.
Thank you
In order to achieve at the level we do in a variety of extracurricular activities, we rely on the goodwill of teachers, parents and Old Boys to assist us in a variety of ways.Our sincere thanks are extended to all who have coached, managed and supported our young men throughout this winter season. The value of such support is immeasurable.
Senior School (Internal) Examinations
The Term 3 School Examinations will take place from Friday 13 - Friday 20 September. These examinations are held for all Form 6 and 7 students, and for a select number of Form 5 students who are sitting NCEA Level 1 assessments.All Form 6 and 7 students will be on Study Leave during the Term 3 School examination period, when they do not have scheduled exams. Form 5 parents have already received information via email outlining any applicable leave for Form 5 students. The majority of Form 5 students are unaffected by this examination period and will be in their regular teaching classes.
Please refer to the Examination Timetable that has been posted on GrammarNet and the School website for details.
Cambridge Examinations and End-of-Term Arrangements
The Cambridge Examination Timetable for October/November 2019 is available on GrammarNet and the School website. Note that this timetable will be updated with rooming schedules and exam clash arrangements by the end of Term 3 and it will also be handed out to students at their Examination Briefing.It is important to note that there are a small number of Cambridge examinations on in the holidays (AS and A Level French and Further Mathematics) and several large examinations early in Week 1 Term 4 (namely, AS Mathematics, Accounting, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, French, History, Japanese, Physics and Spanish, and A Level French, Mathematics and Spanish). In order to have students better prepared for these exams, the entire Term 3 School Examinations are scheduled predominantly in Week 9 so that students can have the papers marked and returned for review and feedback during Week 10 of this term.
Examination Briefings will also be held in the Centennial Theatre for all students sitting Cambridge AS and A Level examinations on the afternoon of Friday 27 September (the last day of Term 3).
These Examination Briefings are compulsory for all students studying Cambridge AS and A Level courses, as it is essential that all students are fully informed about examination procedures. Students will also receive their official Cambridge Statements of Entry, which are required to gain entry to each examination room. Importantly, there will be no other opportunities to pick up this documentation, unless your son is absent on 27 September for an approved reason.
Briefing times re as follows:
- Period 6 - students in 7A-7H
- Period 7 - students in 6A-6I (and Form 5 students doing AS Mathematics)
Students in these Form 6 and 7 Cambridge classes will be released for Study Leave following their Examination Briefing.
Students studying Pre-Q and NCEA courses will attend their Examination Briefings in Term 4 prior to going on Study Leave.
Student Attendance- Notification of Absences
A reminder that if your son is absent, we ask you to promptly complete the Absence Notification e-form that is accessed within the Parent Portal on the day of his absence. This is a legal requirement and is part of our duty of care which we cannot fulfill without your co-operation.Parents should be aware that submitting an e-form verifies your son's absence and will generate an automatic response to the email address you have provided us.
There is no longer a requirement to phone the School or to provide a written note on the day of your son's return.
Students leaving our campus during School hours
Parents are reminded students are not allowed to leave the School grounds during school hours unless:
1) Your son has brought a letter or an appointment card to the Deputy Headmaster on the front steps after assembly. Your son will then be provided with an approval slip, allowing him to formally sign out at the Student Office prior to leaving the campus; or
2) For medical reasons, whereby your son must have permission from the Deputy Headmaster or from the School Nurse. In such cases, the School Nurse will contact you before your son leaves the School grounds.School Donation
Our thanks are extended to over 65% of parents who have paid the donation already. This provides genuine and much needed financial support for our young men and teachers.While parents will be aware the donation is voluntary, many parents may not understand where these funds are used and how important they are to maintaining our educational standards.
One specific area the School donation goes is to directly fund an additional seven teachers, to what the government provides, so that we can maintain as many curriculum pathways through to Form 7 as is practical. We appreciate your support.