After 11 years as MAGS associate principal, Paul McKinley is moving on to run his own school – delivering a resounding endorsement of the people he leaves behind.

Paul has been appointed principal of Glenfield College and gave this final message in his farewell speech: “MAGS is not just a good school, it is great.”

He notes in the school newsletter that, over the years, he had found everybody had heard of MAGS.

“I wondered if that was due to the school’s history, or academic results. They are part of our reputation, but really it’s about our people – our staff and students. Everyone carries tremendous pride in belonging to MAGS, and that translates into all round results that mark us out from other schools.”

Paul says he remembers “when the only day of the year when boys had their shirts tucked in was at prize-giving – now students wear the MAGS uniform with pride every day… E block was a building site for two years – now it’s a fine example of a modern learning environment… when the girls’ hair rule changed and they thought it the end of the world to have it tied up.

“… When we did pamphlet drops around local streets to encourage families to send their children to MAGS – today the demand for places from our in-zone families has never been greater… when a student who has faced real learning challenges stood up to ask a question of the visiting Prime Minister, and the assembly of Year 10 and Year 13 students were silent with respect…”

Snippets from the school newsletter:

Big jump in art show profit: The annual MAGS fine art show continues to go from strength to strength, this year making a profit of $84,000, a 26 per cent increase on last year.

A portion of the total will provide much needed support to upgrade the audio-visual system in the FW Gamble Hall, the heart of the school through which every student passes each week at assemblies and other events.

The remainder of the funds will be put to use in other areas of the school, including funding an artist in residence programme in the visual art department.

Theatresport champions: Zoe Holden and Dan Bell were named Theatresports Student Leaders of the Year at this month’s Auckland Theatresports Youth Programme Festival.

This is the second year in a row that MAGS students have won the award, as voted by TYP tutors and mentors. MAGS head of drama, Gerald Urquhart, said the tutors remarked on the culture of Theatresports at MAGS and the respectful and welcoming leadership style of the Zoe and Dan.

Welcoming refugees: A group of teenagers who have been accepted into New Zealand as refugees visited Mount Albert Grammar School this week to learn what life will be like in a Kiwi high school.

The 24 young people, aged 13-19, were buddied with students and spent an afternoon in classes and looking around the school.

The teenagers have come from a variety of countries with their families, including Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar. They spend six weeks at the Refugee Resettlement Centre in Mangere before being placed around New Zealand, and enrolled at their local high school.

Oceania representative: Year 11 swimmer Bede Aitu was selected to represent the Cook Islands at an international sports competition in Turkmenistan, the first time that Oceania was invited to compete. Bede swam in six events and set new Cook Islands records in five of them.

Homestay families: MAGS international department is currently looking for new homestay families for term 4 of this year and for 2018, for short and long-term stays. If you are interested in including a student in your family life, or know of someone who would like to, contact co-ordinators Paula Barakat and Deborah Ball on [email protected]
or phone 09 846 2044 (x8123).