Tēnā koutou to the wider School community. The long weekend was well-timed after a very busy May. The brave performance of the School and College 1st XV's on College Day reflected the amazing maturity and resilience that modern students are capable of whilst reminding us of the centrality of a supportive community in developing these fine young men.

Another highlight was the presentation to Old Boy John Wood of the Altiora Peto medal. John is the current chancellor of the University of Canterbury and has had a distinguished career in public service including ambassadorial roles. Our Old Boys do provide a model of high achievement and service that is inspirational to the boys.

Old Boy George Spencer attended Christchurch Boys’ High School from 1926 – 1929. He was born in Christchurch in 1911 to newly arrived immigrants from Lancashire. Suffering from the trauma of his service in World War One George’s father was unable to care for his family. George’s Mother had left school at age 10 to work in a Lancashire cotton mill and so with no transferable skills, no social welfare benefits and no family support she had to raise George and his two brothers alone.

George’s brothers both left school at age 12 to get jobs to support the family. George, however, as the son of an ex-serviceman and through showing some talent at primary school was able to gain a scholarship to attend Christchurch Boys’ High School. In 1929 George won the Bevan – Brown Memorial Prize for Classical Studies. A further scholarship enabled George to attend Canterbury University from which he graduated with a Master of Arts degree with 1st Class Honours. George then went on to have a 50-year teaching career.

Having come from very humble origins George was very careful with his money and was able to establish an inheritance for his descendants. George’s descendants have gifted some of this to the Te Kura Trust to establish the George Spencer Fund in order to support School to…

"develop caring and decent future leaders, through the provision of a holistic curriculum, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care programmes and the engagement of individuals who can make a difference to the lives of students at the School".

This is a gift that recognises the essence of schooling and one that will ensure that Christchurch Boys’ High School’s focus remains on developing good people regardless of political or policy settings.

The school is supportive of the intentions of the reviews of NCEA and Tomorrow’s Schools. An inclusive, adaptable and high-quality education system is central to New Zealand’s economic and social future. The school will engage in consultation and will provide information to the wider community to enable those interested to also engage. The key issue for education is retaining and attracting high quality, passionate and caring teachers. The reality is that whatever form a new education system takes if does not prioritise ensuring that good adults are getting alongside students it will not deliver on its purpose.

Educational failure does have an extreme public cost. 50% of young people who offend in New Zealand are not engaged in school. The only difference that school can make for these children is through building robust and caring relationships and for this we need teachers. One of the risk factors for children (alongside drugs, alcohol, abuse) is passive adults. Teachers are in a wonderful position to be active adults in children’s lives who step up when children use homophobic language or display other discriminatory or non-caring behaviour.

Special congratulations to Old Boy Anton Matthews. Anton has held free Te Reo Maori lessons for the community in the Hall and has attracted crowds in excess of 500. This is a hugely positive reflection on our community. Cross-cultural skills are an advantage to all and we are continuing to move to a more caring and inclusive society.

Whāia i te iti kahurangi

Altiora Peto