Following recent elections, the new Board of Trustees met for the first time early last month. 

We acknowledged the contribution made to the school by outgoing Board members Fiona Ali, Kellie Bain, Geoff Bates and Simon Chu. Especially Geoff, who had provided over six years of service to the Board, the last three as chair. We welcomed new Board members, Lawrence Alloo, Anna Campbell and Russell Marsh, with Janine Kapa-Blair, Liane Topham-Kindley, Peter Young and myself returning for a further term as parent representatives. Emma Moore and Lochlann O’Sullivan continue as staff and student representatives respectively.

The school recently hosted the Education Review Office as they completed their cyclical visit. A visit from ERO can be viewed as challenging for a school, but in reality it provides a real opportunity to collectively examine the educational environment we are providing for our young men. We are looking forward to receiving the finalised report from the ERO team, and sharing it with you all.

The timing of handover from the last Board with the ERO visit has provided us with a good starting point to commence our work as governors of the school. The school is in excellent heart, and we are excited at the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We are looking forward to providing the strategic framework for ongoing success for Otago Boys’ High School.

Being on the Board is just one way parents can make a direct contribution to the school. We are always on the lookout for people to help out with our sports teams, with our cultural groups and in our support groups like the Parents’ Association, Old Boys’ Society and Foundation. Most importantly, we can be actively involved in supporting our young men’s learning, and I do encourage you to attend interviews, communicate with staff and celebrate success at whatever level. I know it’s a cliché, but strong communities do provide the best opportunities for our young men to receive the right learning. We can all play a part in that.

Andrew Kilsby
Chairman, Board of Trustees