By A Lincoln | Posted: Tuesday June 24, 2025
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whānau,
As Term 2 draws to a close, we reflect on what has been another immensely busy and successful term at Timaru Boys High School.
With our Rector, Mr Dave Thorp, currently on sabbatical, Mrs Rachel Fenwick and I have had the privilege of stepping into the role of Acting Rectors. We are both sincerely grateful for the ongoing support we have received from staff, students, and the wider school community during this time. We look forward to welcoming Mr Thorp back in Week 2 of Term 3.
40 Hour Challenge
A particular highlight this term was the 40 Hour Challenge, which raised over $7,000—a tremendous effort. The boys approached the challenge with great enthusiasm, with many still playing badminton well after 11pm on the first night. By Sunday morning, despite the cold and frosty weather, bacon, eggs, and hash browns were cooking away. A heartfelt thank you to all involved, especially Mr Packwood for his excellent organisation.
Winter Sports
The winter sports season has been in full swing, with weather-related challenges not dampening the spirits of our athletes. While we can’t list every achievement from all TBHS teams, we do want to acknowledge a few highlights:
- Our 1st XV Rugby team currently sits at the top of their competition, with the Colts leading in the Otago competition.
- In Hockey, both the 1st and 2nd XI travel regularly to Christchurch and are performing strongly. The 1st XI remains top of the Canterbury Secondary Schools Premier Division, and the 2nd XI is mid-table in Division 1. We look forward to seeing the 1st XI begin their South Canterbury Division 1 campaign on 10 July, right here in Timaru.
Thank you to all parents and volunteers who continue to coach, manage, transport, and cheer on the sidelines in all conditions. Your support is invaluable.
EPro8 Engineering Challenge
A new initiative this term has been the introduction of TBHS EPro8 teams, led by Mr King and Mr Kumar. This exciting programme combines engineering and problem-solving, and many of our boys have come in with experience from primary school. We were proud to see both a senior and junior team qualify for the Grand Finals in Christchurch. The senior team placed 4th in their division, and the junior team won their age group—an outstanding result!
Culinary Achievements
Mr Sullivan has led several student teams in the National Secondary School Culinary Challenge. The boys’ culinary skills have grown impressively over the term, and while we await final results, their efforts and development have been exceptional.
Literacy and Numeracy Assessments (CAA)
This term also marked the completion of the first round of CAA literacy and numeracy assessments for 2025.
Key dates for results:
- 25 June – Reading results available
- 14 July – Writing and Numeracy results available
These results will be accessible via students’ NZQA logins, and will also be made available through the KAMAR portal as soon as possible.
School Zoning Update
The Ministry of Education-led process to establish enrolment zones for TBHS and TGHS has commenced. We are currently in the consultation phase, which runs until 27 June. Following this, the Ministry will take approximately 4–6 weeks to review and respond to feedback.
Once that response is received, the Board will consider the next steps and communicate any updates to the Timaru community.
We thank you all for your support throughout Term 2. Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable term break, and we look forward to seeing our boys back, refreshed and ready for Term 3.
Ngā mihi nui,
Mr Andrew Lincoln
Acting Rector
Timaru Boys High School
