Sporting champions Maddy Gordon and Isaac Munro, with headmaster Patrick Drumm and guests Taylah Hodson-Tomokino, Kyle Harris, Karl Te Hana and Isaiah Papali’i at the prize-giving.
The old phrase of being “Jack (or Jill) of all trades and master of none” doesn’t quite apply to Maddy Gordon, who has been named Victrix Ludorum (girls’ sporting champion) at Mt Albert Grammar School for 2017.
A quick look at Maddy’s sporting credentials shows she’s the master of everything she has a crack at – and Isaac Munro, who was awarded Victor Ludorum, is in the same category.
Maddy received her award for excellence in athletics, netball, swimming, volleyball and cross-country. She was also the joint senior girls’ athletics champion (with Grace Jale).
Isaac was named male sports champion for his success with the premier boys softball team, winning the top skiing award, and excellence in swimming, waterpolo and rugby.
The team of the year was premier boys softball (winning the national title for the fifth consecutive year), and the girls’ and boys’ awards for outstanding achievement in sport went to swimmer Brearna Crawford and orienteer Mitchell Cooper.
Guests of honour at the sports prize-giving dinner at Alexandra Park were Albertians Kyle Harris, a premier rugby referee, Taylah Hodson-Tomokino a former international Sevens player and now a presenter for Sky Sport between studying, and Isaiah Papali’i, who went straight from school last year to a contract with the Warriors. They were interviewed as a panel on stage by Commonwealth Games Sevens gold medallist and MAGS parent Karl Te Nana.
Departing Director of Sport David Long was farewelled in a speech by former Associate Principal Paul McKinley, who returned from his new role as principal of Glenfield College to pay tribute to his long-time colleague.
Mr Long, who has been director for a combined total of 17 years, and his wife Chris, who has worked at MAGS for six years in the Advancement Office and as a mathematics teacher, were praised for their dedication to serving the school, and the lengths they have gone to in helping students reach their potential.
More from the MAGS newsletter:
MAGS’ top Pasifika students were acknowledged and celebrated at the annual Pasifika celebration dinner.
Vaimoana Va’ai won the year 13 award for academic excellence, and William Sharkey was named top year 13 Pasifika boy. Fia Jones and head boy Denzel Robertson won university scholarships for 2018.
The best all-round Pasifika Students for 2017 were deputy head girl ‘Alosi Bloomfield, and Aaron Fa’asalafa (pictured with headmaster Patrick Drumm).
The Tagaloa Peter Su’a Award for services to the performing arts went to Liam Akeli and Vaimoana Va’ai for their achievement and service in music, drama and dance
The Pasifika sportsman and sportswoman Awards went to Javvier Pitovao for rugby league and ‘Alosi Bloomfield for football.
A special tribute was paid to Mrs Siutu Ah Kuoi, who has been involved with MAGS for 47 years through her children and grandchildren
MAGS basketballers Sharne Pupuke-Robati and Tessa Talo-Tomokino have helped the New Zealand under-17 women’s team make history by becoming the first junior-women’s national side to qualify for a basketball World Cup.
The team beat Thailand 80-52 in their quarter-final of the FIBA Asian Championship in India, securing one of the four qualifying spots for the 2018 FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Belarus next July.
Sharne played a starring role in the quarter-final win, scoring 16 points and taking 15 rebounds
Year 13 student Reese Jacques has been selected for the New Zealand under-19 women’s lacrosse team to travel to Melbourne. Earlier this year Reese travelled with the team to the World Festival Tournament in England during the July holidays.
Year 10 student Archie Gothard is just 15, but that hasn’t stopped him being made captain of the Auckland under-19 golf team.He will lead the team in a tournament at Matarangi on November 17.
From the Marist College newsletter:
Lucy Hill has been appointed Deputy Principal Administration and will step into the role at the beginning of the 2018 school year. Principal Mrs Monica Johnson says Ms Hill brings a wealth of experience and a passion for Marist education.
Marist students enjoyed school holiday trips to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, embracing local cultures, welcoming the warm water and sun on their backs and savouring local food and sights.
Fourteen students and four adults went to Vanuatu and 22 students, supported by four adults, headed for New Caledonia for face-to-face exposure to the French language.
A highlights for the Vanuatu party was a visit to Mele village where the girls gave a huge parcel of sewing supplies their school community had donated, along with the remains of the second-hand clothing stall from Marist Day.
Three Marist students did some real life learning about the computer industry in the holidays – working alongside a tech company to upgrade the college computer network. They reimaged and replaced the hard drives in around 200 computers, and then downloaded and installed additional programs.
