Important news and notices for the Senior School.

Leadership

Congratulations to the new student leaders of 2020! Leadership announcements were made via our website at the end of last week and publicly acknowledged during our assembly on Monday this week (see below for the list of 2020 Prefect Leaders).

When discussing leadership with students and leaders from this year, one aspect we have focused on is the importance of humility. A few years ago, I read the following book: ‘Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership’. In this book, John Dickson tracks the history of humility and the role that Jesus has played in shaping our modern view of it. Historically, especially in the Roman and Greek world, humility was seen as a severe weakness. Pride was a key value and the ultimate goal in life was to prove you were worthier than your peers. When Paul wrote to believers and encouraged them not to take each other to court, this was because the courts were a place where you could prove your worthiness and the faults of others. When this happened, you would go up the social ladder and your adversary would go down. Jesus turned this on its head. He washed his disciples’ feet, he walked everywhere, slept out in the open, spoke in the open and talked to anyone, no matter what their station. Jesus's actions began a revolution in the Roman world, where slave owners began inviting slaves to be part of their home churches. His determination to treat everyone as equally valuable through the eyes of a loving Father revolutionised our whole perspective on humility.

Mr Budler shared in the Leadership Assembly about the role of leaders and how being a servant is a key part of this. As we move toward the end of this year, we will be praying that both the departing leaders and those who are stepping into these roles would be fully equipped to lead in Truth, Humility and Love.

Finally, while the Prefect roles and Council related roles are perhaps the most visible leadership roles, it is worth noting that there are many other leadership roles within the school and we encourage students to take up as many of these opportunities as possible. As Mr Budler stressed during the assembly, every student also has the important role of actively supporting and getting behind the student leaders to help ensure that the leadership roles are respected and sustainable. As we contribute towards an effective school community we reflect the biblical model of being connected as the body of Christ, yet having different functions.

Daniel Bennett
Head of Senior School

SENIOR STUDENT LEADERS for 2020

PREFECT

 ROLE

Angela Oh - Head Girl

Jonathan McGlashan - Head Boy

Emma Shepherd - Deputy Head Girl

Scott Werthmann - Deputy Head Boy

Sarah Wallace - Arts

Joshua Wilding - Environmental Council

Stephen Reed - Houses

Elizabeth Kimber - Missions

Daniel James - Peer Support

Victoria Sungiato - Peer Support

Caroline Richardson - Rise Girls Ministry

Emily Harvey - Sport

Nathanael Brown - Media

Note that the full list of leadership roles, including Council Roles are outlined on our school website.

UN Youth

This week Nancy Xu and Ella Goss successfully led a Model United Nations session with a group of 20 students. It was inspiring to see these leaders not only present key information about the Model United Nations process but also facilitate activities that challenged students to think critically about bias, media, communication and politics. The 3-hour session ended with a mock debate, based on the United Nations format for a General Assembly meeting. Hopefully, some of the younger students in the group will be inspired to continue UN Youth in 2020.

Exams

Please note that the first week back of next term is mock exam week for students in years 11-13. Students need only to come to school for the times set for their exams. A quiet, study space will be set up in the library at other times but the emphasis for the week is for students to focus on their examinations. Students need to make sure they arrive for the exams organized with any equipment and prepared for written and digital examinations.

With regard to examinations and all assessments, it is of utmost importance that students approach these with integrity and character. Not only does this align with our special character as a school, but students should also keep in mind that their work throughout the year will be jeopardized if they breach NZQA protocols.

The timetable for exams is HERE.

Year 10 students will still attend their normal classes for the week, although timings will be changed slightly, as per below for week 1 Term 4 Only. Form teachers will clarify these changes on Monday in week one as well.

BELL TIMES, Week 1 Term 4

BELL TIMES, Wk 1 T4
Devotions (Yr7-10): 8.45 – 9.00
Period 1: 9.00 – 10.00
Period 2: 10.00 - 11.00
Interval: 11.00 - 11.20
Period 3: 11.20 - 12.00
Lunch: 12.00 - 12.55
Period 5: 1.00 - 2.00
Period 6: 2.00 - 3.00

Key Dates to be Aware of

• Mon, 14 October - First Day of Term 4
• Mon, 14 October - Fri, 18 October 2019 Y11-13 Mock Exams
• Wed 16 October - International Students Group Photo
• Wed 23 October - International Graduation
• Thur 24 October - Sports Graduation
• Fri 25th October - 2pm Finish
• Monday 28th October -  Labour Day
• 1 November, Graduation, Last day for Years 11-13, Leavers Breakfast, Year 13 Leavers Assembly