By Rector, Dave Thorp | Posted: Monday April 28, 2025
Kia ora Parents and Whānau
Term 2 has already started, but we haven’t had a chance to draw a breath and celebrate a great Term 1. The roll is sitting at just over 800 for the first time in the school’s history. That’s definitely something to celebrate. We are reaching the point where we can benefit from economies of scale and we can direct resources towards some areas - better classroom spaces, extra teachers, more pastoral staffing, a bigger range of subjects - that we know will improve student learning and wellbeing.
We were really pleased with our confirmed 2024 NCEA results and we know what we have to do to keep improving. A big focus for 2025 will be the CAAs - the literacy and numeracy tests that students have to pass to receive NCEA qualifications. Right now, students can still get their literacy and numeracy from some targeted NCEA standards. We have strategies to ensure that everyone who is capable of passing will pass. Our pass rates for literacy and numeracy are high, well above the National average.
The winter sports season is upon us with lots of sports running preseason programmes. An excellently run schools Easter Hockey tournament took place in Timaru during the holidays - most of the participants were accommodated in our Hostel, Thomas House. The 1st XI Hockey team looked particularly sharp and it seems that another successful year lies in front of them. Term 1 saw some wonderful summer sport success in Cricket, Rowing, Athletics and other disciplines. You will be able to read about it elsewhere in this newsletter. Good luck to all of our winter sportsmen - play hard and have fun boys!
Last Term we experienced some bad behaviour during breaks and lunch times. It is clear that onlookers who encourage violence and/or get their phones out to film an incident can actually cause fights to happen. Boys tell us that they find it hard to just walk away when people are filming them. I have told the students twice in assembly that anyone who films other students fighting or has purposefully shown up to encourage violence will be considered a participant and will face consequences. This behaviour is not a major problem yet, but we want all students to know that we view it seriously.
Term 2 is a work term and a fun term. We get right into our academic work and at the same time nearly 650 boys get out and play winter sports. Fantastic!
I’m away from school this term. I am on sabbatical, visiting other schools to investigate trades-based learning. Our Wellbeing Deputy Rector, Rachel Fenwick, is Acting Rector for the first 5 weeks and then Andy Lincoln, our Teacher and Learning Deputy Rector, will be Acting Rector for the remainder. You’ll still see me out and about watching our teams when I can.
Scientia Potestas est - Mā te Mātauranga te Mana
