We’re on again and it’s good to be back! The boys trundled in this week, arriving in all shapes and sizes and varying states of readiness to be back in schooling.

They are all, however, resuming good learning rapidly. They have presented well overall but some seemed to have lost their punctuality or shaving gear over Summer; matters we soon resolved! Included in our ranks are the 200 new arrivals in Year 9; what a delightful bunch! We welcomed them as they crossed a symbolic cultural threshold in the Powhiri on Tuesday. Thank you to the parents who came. Meeting the Year 9s individually over the previous two terms was a pleasure for me. Seeing them again now as a group even more so, as they settle in. In our start up meetings and assemblies the need to treat their education as a prized possession was impressed on all the boys. The importance of putting a premium on their personal excellence was re-emphasised too. And so we begin to make 2020 a year of which we can all be proud. The boys have also been challenged to be ambitious in 2020. To find their ambition. To feed their ambition. To follow their ambition. To get ‘fire in the belly’ about the things that matter in their positive personal development, and be unashamedly ambitious while doing so.

We return to welcome new staff: Matu Pene (Maori) Kate Gilmore (Food Technology), Donna Young (English), Caroline Frankel (Spanish and English), Bryan Frost (Classics), Teresa Robertson (International Director), Melanie Palmer (Administration) and Carol Dyas will be Librarian and Careers Advisor from 10 February, when Bridget Schaumann starts her secondment to the National Library.

In the provisional 2019 NCEA results we have maintained our high standards and brought a greater proportion of our young men into the Merit and Excellence Endorsed zone. We now wait for the NZQA Scholarship results eagerly.

Over the break some King’ boys achieved impressively.

In sport, Liam Condliffe was selected for the New Zealand Track and Field Team - including a Silver Medal for the Senior Boys 110m Hurdles. Lachie Cameron won a National Gold Medal in Junior Boys Javelin. In Cricket Beckham Wheeler - Greenall was selected for the NZ U-19 Cricket Team currently playing in South Africa. In Touch Meihana Schooner, Taine Hand and Vaiola Palu were selected for the National Secondary Schools Tournament Team. Meihana was also selected for the New Zealand U20 Team. Logan Wilson was chosen for the New Zealand U18 Team.

In the Arts, Tomuri Spicer recorded his original music with Orange Studios after being a finalist in the Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition. He also prepared to perform as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet which opens this Friday 31st January for the Dunedin Summer Shakespeare. Emmanuel Keane also achieved Licentiate levelin Piano; a high musical distinction.

Let’s all invest in giving 2020 the best start we can.

Doctrina vim promovet insitam. Ma te ako e whakaputa mai he taranata whaihua. Learning brings out one's innate talent.

Nick McIvor
Rector