Connecting my MacBook Pro to a Classroom Audio-Video System

Dear Mac Community,
I recently got a new MacBook Pro from my local Apple Store here in Spokane. It's running 10.8.5. Until now, I've been connecting my old MacBook Pro via a Mini Display port to VGA adapter in a classroom at a local university where I teach a course and I've been able to show all documents and presentations that I can open on my MacBook Pro. My new Mac has a Thunderbolt port instead of the old mini dispay port. When I use my mini display port to VGA adapter I'm getting a screen with a timer and set of options I haven't seen before, but what's on my Mac's screen is no longer showing on the projector's screen as it did before I got my new MacBook Pro. They're using a Mac Mini which is set by default to Windows 7 or something and some generic monitor. After problem solving for a while I noticed that when I move my cursor I have access to two displays, the one on my lap top and the display connected to the university's display monitor. I'm okay with this discovery, however try as I might I can't see any of the documents that I created on my computer, including, Pages or Word documents, nor can I show any of the web sites that I open in my browser. Neither can I show pictures from my iPhoto folder which usually open in Preview. The only documents I can show on the projector after some navigating are Keynote presentations.
I have a thunderbolt cable but the classroom is equipped with a male VGA connector which as far as I can discern is the only way to access the projector attached to the ceiling. Is there a way around this challenge that will allow me to show my students everything that I pull up on my MacBook Pro screen as I was able to do with the old Mac with the mini display port? Is there a thunderbolt to VGA adapter that will eliminate this problem?
Sorry this was so long winded, I would appreciate any helpful suggestions around this challenge.
Thank you,
trinibass.

You have enabled Extended desktop, which combines the two displays along an edge of your choosing. The mouse moves freely across the two displays, and can carry a window with it. You can even drop a window so that half is on each display, and it will scroll "the right way".
This visual is from the arrangement tab in displays preferences:
Note that these icons are proportional to the pixels on each display. You can re-arrange them by dragging. The white bar is the menuBar, which can be dragged to either display.

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This is the forum for the Late 2008, Unibody MBP. It appears as though you have the previous model based on your description of the machine. Could you confirm that for us?
Depending on your TV's inputs, you could go a number of ways to connect the MBP to it.
_Previous Generation MBP:_
If your TV has a DVI input, then a straight DVI-DVI cable will do the job just fine.
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how do I connect my macbook pro to my tv?

You can also go with something like this:
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These computers supply multichannel audio (up to 8 channels) and video signals over Mini DisplayPort:
MacBook (Mid 2010) and later
MacBook Air (Late 2010) and later
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) and later
Mac mini (Mid 2010) and later
iMac (Late 2009) and later
Mac Pro (Mid 2010)

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Hi,
I'm new to Apple support communities having just bought my first Macbook Pro (a 17" 2.5GHz i7 model) and this is my very first community post.
Im a bit of a Hi-Fi enthusiast, so, with my new MacBook Pro I've taken the opportunity of completely reloading my iTunes library in high quality Apple Lossless format. Took a while but now I've completed the task Im pleased I've done it.
My question is, what is the best way to connect a Macbook Pro to a high quality Hi-Fi preamp - my Hi-fi system is musical Fidelity, and the pre amp (an A5 CR Pre amp) and this pre amp, which has superb audio quality, only has analogue phono inputs ?
I'm interested to understand what both the wired and wireless connection options are. I'm guessing one option must be to use the headphone output, but I have no idea if the output from the headphone socket on my new macbook (which is presumably designed to drive headphones) would be at a suitable level for a phono line level input ?
Ive also read a few comments about using digital connection - and my second question would be - what is the audio digital connection on my macbook ?
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What is the best way to connect a MacBook Pro to my HiFi system?
Look at the back of the reciever and see what your connection options are, the front headphone jack is output usually.
The Mac's analog audio in/out ports doubles as a optical in/out ports.
The analog won't over power your amp, it's just a headphonejack, like a powered mic, just enough power to get the signal to the destination in one piece.
Since you have a analog amp, your stuck with inferior analog connections, however you mentioned you wish to listen to the best sound quality of your lossless music.
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Another method is to use a Airport Express, it also has duo analog/opical out port. Then set up the Airport Express for iTunes streaming using the Airport Utility, then in iTunes setup the lower right corner one can set the connection.
I recommned a Harmon Kardon surround sound system, with their 100 watt satelight speakers and the 200 watt subwoofer. Enable the "concert hall" and other neat effects which will turn your 2.0 (stereo) iTunes music into 4 channel speaker sound filling the room with music and sending the lower channels to the subwoofer.
It will likely bring tears to your eyes that you can actually hear the full quality of your music as intended, I almost quarranty you will never want listen to music on a crappy iPhone or iPod again.
If a surround sound system is out of your budget, you can get by using the Harmon Kardon "Go Play" portable stereo and a analog stereo cable.
If your going to use your analog amp to power reference speakers, then there are various analog adapters of all sorts to make the appropriate connections once you know what they are, check out Radio Shack online for them.

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