Cook Islands · CGA Community Issue 1 · April 2026

Online learning,
here in Raro.

Twelve Cook Islands students, an online school, and a community keeping their families close.
CGA students and families at a minigolf meetup in Rarotonga
The Cook Islands CGA students and families gathered for mini-golf and pizza. Rarotonga · 29 March 2026

Starting our journey
with CGA.

Crimson Global Academy is a New Zealand-registered online private school for students aged 6 to 18, offering International GCSE and A-Level curricula.

In the Cook Islands, twelve students are currently enrolled with CGA — some full-time, others joining group classes after school or working one-on-one with a CGA teacher.

Seven of those students form a dedicated Cook Islands Mathematics class, meeting over Zoom four times each week with their teacher, Mr Nagy. The class sits at Pre-iGCSE Stage 1 — typically for students aged 12 to 13, or Year 9 level.

I enjoy learning about new and interesting things in our maths class.
— Student, Year 9 CGA Maths
We have noticed our child’s growing confidence in maths, and proficiency in using the online platforms too.
— Parent, Cook Islands
A bit of fun 01 April 2026

The day the class multiplied their teacher.

The Maths students played an April Fools joke on Mr Nagy by changing all of their Zoom backgrounds to an image of him — and turning off their cameras.

When the class began, he was briefly greeted by a gallery of himself, staring back. A moment of confusion, lots of giggles, then a good laugh.

Learning snapshot,
term by term.

Term 1

Completed
M

Year 9 Maths — Number & Algebra

Foundational skills in number theory and algebraic reasoning.

Prime factors Standard form Power rules Factorising Inequalities Linear equations Graphs
E

Year 9 English — Novel & Directed Writing

Novel study of Animal Farm alongside directed writing in multiple formats.

Animal Farm Speeches Articles Letters Opinion pieces

Term 2

Up next
M

Year 9 Maths — Geometry

Spatial reasoning, measurement and classical geometric construction.

Transformations Compound shapes Angles Maps & scales Pythagoras Construction & loci
E

Year 9 English — Writing & Poetry

Broadening the writing repertoire and studying poetic form.

Transactional writing Autobiography Biography Poetry

A few moments from recent classes.

Screens shared by teachers and students — maths puzzles, Animal Farm chapters, a whiteboard mid-proof.

Mr Nagy working through making x the subject of a formula on a shared whiteboard
Algebra · Mr Nagy
Desmos Marbleslide challenge completed by a student
Marbleslides · Success
Desmos Marbleslide fix-it challenge showing a linear equation
Fix It #2
Live Wayground quiz: adding fractions with the same denominator
Live quiz · Fractions
Animal Farm plot summary video playing during English class
English · Animal Farm
OneNote class notebook showing an Animal Farm allegory discussion
Class notebook
Mark Phillips, CGA Principal
Mark Phillips
Principal · Crimson Global Academy

A principal’s visit to the Cook Islands.

In March, Mark — who has led CGA since it opened in April 2020 and spent over 35 years in education — travelled to Rarotonga with CGA Marketing Manager Natasha Dalziel.

“I had the privilege of meeting a number of our families in the Cook Islands, speaking with prospective families and meeting educational officials. The Cook Islands is a small Pacific Island nation. The scenery is spectacular, and the people have a natural warmth that made our visit particularly special.”

“What became abundantly clear is that, despite the remoteness of locations, people everywhere have high aspirations for their children. That is nothing new of course, but our families (and prospective families) also demonstrated a real desire to keep their families and communities together.”

“The power of online education to act not only as a strong educational solution, but also a strong family and community benefit, has never been more apparent.”

What’s happened,
what’s coming up.

Recent

10–15 Mar
Internal exams 1
Assessment
29 Mar
Student & family meet-up · Rarotonga
Community
30–31 Mar
Information session with CGA Principal
Meeting
2–19 Apr
April school holidays
Break

Upcoming

13–21 May
Internal exams 2
Assessment
2–20 Jul
July school holidays
Break

Meitaki.
Thank you.

Meitaki ranuinui to the many who have helped us get started on this journey. A special thanks to CGA for working with us and to CISNOC for allowing us to use their office for the Maths class. It is with all this support that the program has been made possible and we greatly appreciate it.

Our community,
your invitation.

Thank you for reading our Community newsletter. We are a group of Cook Islanders interested in advancing academic opportunities for our children. Please get in touch if you’re curious — or reach CGA directly via their website.

Community Contact
Duane and Sally Malcolm
Duane & Sally
Malcolm
Phone · 56655
CGA Principal
Mark Phillips
Mark
Phillips
35+ years in education
Principal since 2020
CGA Marketing
Natasha Dalziel
Natasha
Dalziel
For programme enquiries
Cook Islands · CGA Community
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