Epsom Girls Grammar School Newsletter - Term 3, Issue 1

Newsletter

Term 3, Issue 1

Principal’s message

Greetings Parents and Caregivers,

Last week, we welcomed many students and families to our Careers and Subject Selection Evening. It was wonderful to see such a positive atmosphere, with students thoughtfully exploring their options, asking questions, and discussing pathways for the years ahead. These conversations are an important part of helping our students make informed decisions about their future learning and aspirations, and we thank the many parents and caregivers who joined us.

I would like to take this opportunity to share an important update from the Epsom Girls GrammarSchool Board.

Epsom Girls Grammar School Board appoints new Board Chair

The Epsom Girls Grammar School Board has appointed Andy Patrick as its new Board Chair, following the Board meeting held on 28 July 2026.

Andy has served on the Board since 2023 and has chaired several Board committees. His whānau connection with Epsom Girls Grammar School extends back to the early 1900s, with his daughters currently representing the fourth generation of the family to attend the School.

Professionally, Andy has led teams in multinational companies and global technology start-ups. He brings significant leadership experience, a strong understanding of the School and a clear commitment to educational excellence, student wellbeing and the successful delivery of the School’s strategic direction.

The Board also acknowledges and thanks outgoing Board Chair, Tahei Simpson, for her leadership and service. Tahei served as Board Chair from 2023 until 28 July 2026, leading thoughtfully and inclusively through an important period for the School and embodying the spirit of the School’s motto, Per Angusta Ad Augusta, through difficulties to greatness. Alongside her fellow Board members, she played a key role in the appointment of the current Principal and in guiding the School’s strategic direction.

The Board is grateful for Tahei’s contribution and is pleased that she will continue to serve the Schoolcommunity as a parent representative Board member.

On behalf of the School, I congratulate Andy on his appointment and look forward to working alongside him as we continue to build on the strong foundations of Epsom Girls Grammar School. I also thank Tahei for her dedicated leadership as Board Chair and for her ongoing commitment to our School community. I know you will join me in congratulating Andy and thanking Tahei for her outstanding service.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our students and our School.

Per Angusta, Ad Augusta,

Brenda McNaughton
Principal

Upcoming Events:

For a full list of upcoming events, see the calendar page on SchoolBridge.

Sport

Rowing: International Success for Imogen Wallis

Congratulations to Year 13 student Imogen Wallis, who recently represented New Zealand as a member of the New Zealand Under 19 Development Team at the International Rowing Challenge in Michigan, USA.

Imogen achieved outstanding results including:

Gold: Women’s Coxed Four

Silver: Mixed Eight

Bronze: Women’s Quadruple Scull

2026 World Aquatics U16 Water Polo Championships

Congratulations to Amelia Lafaialii (Year 11), Angelina Yang (Year 10), and Emily Rope (Year 12), who recently represented New Zealand at the World Aquatics Under 16 Water Polo World Championships.

The New Zealand team finished an impressive eighth overall, narrowly missing seventh place after an 8–7 loss to Australia in a closely contested playoff match. Congratulations to Amelia, Angelina, and Emily on representing both New Zealand and Epsom Girls Grammar School with distinction.

NZ Secondary School Swimming Championships

Congratulations to the eight students who represented Epsom Girls Grammar School at the New Zealand Secondary School Swimming Championships over the weekend. The team achieved a number of outstanding results and personal bests throughout the competition.

A special congratulations to Kathryn Bates (Year 9), who won six medals: gold in the 200m Backstroke; silver in the 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, and 200m Individual Medley; and bronze in the 200m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle. Thank you to Ms McConachie and Mr Perry for their time, dedication, and support of the team throughout the championships.

Father/Grandfather and Daughter Celebration

Fathers, grandfathers, and other special father figures are warmly invited to join us for our Father/Grandfather and Daughter Celebration on Wednesday, 2 September, from 6.45am to 8.20am.

You will enjoy coffee and light refreshments while spending time together with other members of the School community before the school day begins. Tickets are $60 per pair and are available through the School's online shop. We look forward to welcoming you to this special event.

Chinese Extravaganza 2026

Chinese Extravaganza 2026 lit up the stage across three sold-out performances on the first weekend of Term 3. More than 160 students from Epsom Girls Grammar School and Auckland Grammar School came together to present an outstanding celebration of Chinese culture, featuring a diverse programme of music, dance, drama, and traditional performance.

The production was the result of months of dedication from students, supported by backstage crews, staff, and volunteers. Thank you to our Arts and Culture Coordinators, Ms Liang and Ms Leask, and everyone who contributed behind the scenes. Congratulations to all the students whose talent, commitment, and teamwork made this year's Chinese Extravaganza such a success.

The Countdown to Giving Day Begins

On Friday, 28 August, the Epsom Girls Grammar School community will come together for Giving Day, a 12-hour fundraising campaign to create even more opportunities for our students. Parents, whānau, alumnae, staff, and friends of the School are invited to be part of this special day, and every gift will help to provide the people, places, and experiences that empower our young women to thrive.

Thanks to the generosity of members of our community, every donation made during Giving Day will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling its impact. Please save the date and join us on Friday, 28 August. Together we can make a lasting difference for current and future generations of EGGS students.

2026 Visual Arts Club Portrait Competition

The Visual Arts Club held its annual Portrait Competition at the end of Term 2, with this year's theme celebrating the EGGS community. Students from Years 9 to 13 showcased their creativity through a diverse range of artistic styles, mediums, and techniques.

Congratulations to our 2026 winners: Mika Wong (Year 13, 1st), Aille Li (Year 12, 2nd), Calista Hu (Year 10, 3rd), and Jessica Feng (Year 10, People's Choice Award). Thank you to everyone who entered and helped make this year's competition such a success.

Career Insight Workshops

Our Career Ambassadors recently hosted a series of lunchtime Career Insight Workshops, allowing students to learn more about future study and career pathways.

Industry professionals from KPMG, Construction Costs, ZURU, Ruby, and the New Zealand Super Fund shared their study and career journeys across a range of fields, including business, marketing, finance, human resources, and quantity surveying. University of Auckland Medical and Health Sciences students, and EGGS Old Girls, Lea Huh, Ananya Rai, Anika Rai, Amaya Senanayake, Dihini Thasanga, and Stuti Tiwari also provided valuable advice for students considering careers in medicine and health sciences.

Olympic Athlete, Alicia Hoskin visits Epsom Girls Grammar School

At the end of last term, our Year 10 Sports Academy cohort had the opportunity to meet Olympic gold medallist Alicia Hoskin. Alicia shared her journey to the Olympic Games, speaking about the resilience, determination, and mindset that have contributed to her success as a high-performance athlete.

Students also had the opportunity to hold Alicia's Olympic gold medals and hear first-hand about the dedication required to compete at the highest level. Thank you to Alicia for inspiring our students to pursue their goals and embrace new challenges.

Waikato Culinary Fare

At the end of last term, our Hospitality students competed in the Waikato Culinary Fare, achieving outstanding results. Across a wide range of categories, including Cupcakes, Cold Desserts, Pizza, Mystery Box, and Barista, students were awarded eight gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals.

Congratulations to our individual Gold Award recipients: Willow Pointon-Greenwood (Year 13), Ella Randall (Year 12), Georgie Sidwell (Year 12), and Leonor Kerr (Year 13). And to our team Gold Award recipients: Abtha Abdul Razack (Year12) and MayMay Lagutao (Year 12), Janvi Bhardwaj (Year 12) and Sierra Bartlam (Year 12), Honey Schaumkel (Year 13) and Afatia Puefua (Year 13), and Melody Chen (Year 12) and Florence Heap (Year 12). A special congratulations to Melody and Florence, who won their category with an outstanding score of 97/100 and were awarded a pair of chef's knives. Well done to all our students on their exceptional achievements.

Get To Go Challenge

On Monday, 27 July, four of our adventure racing teams competed in the Hillary Outdoors Junior Get to Go Challenge. Three teams joined forces with Rosmini College, while one competed as an all-girls team. Throughout the day students tested their skills and endurance across mountain biking, kayaking, and orienteering.

Our teams achieved excellent results:

• Mini Eggs 1:3rd Place (just missing qualification for the national finals!)
• Mini Eggs 2:5th Place
• Mini Eggs 3:7th Place
• All-Girls Team:11th Place

Congratulations to all the students who represented Epsom Girls Grammar School with determination and teamwork. 

French Video Competition

At the end of Term 2, our French students participated in a national competition judged by the French Embassy. Students created short, TikTok-style videos that explained a French grammar rule in a creative and engaging way. Epsom Girls Grammar School placed in all three competition categories.

Congratulations to our winners: Ruby Hookway (Year 10), Senuki Singappuli Mudiyanselage (Year 10), Manha Khan (Year 10), Peace Pongsakdi (Year 10), and Eloise Jeffs (Year 10) (3rd, Junior); Farah Daou (Year 11), Advaita Vijendran (Year 11), Effie Guo (Year 11), and Alice Randerson (Year 11) (2nd, Intermediate); and Brooke Griffiths (Year 13), Hannah Kynoch (Year 13), Dewmi Liyanage (Year 13), Lucy Graham (Year 13), and Beatrice Pham (Year 13) (2nd, Senior). Well done to all the students on this outstanding achievement.