From the Rector

Dear Parents,

The end of the term has arrived at a good time: winter ailments, as well as the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic, have had a real effect on the school. The holiday break will give our young men and our staff the chance to recharge their batteries for the second half of the year. Some who have struggled for motivation will need to dig deep as we head get ever closer to the NCEA examinations in the fourth term.

The headline of a recent article in the Sunday Star-Times read “Slower, Dearer, Harder: Is Aotearoa Broken?” The article looked at a number of issues we as a country are currently facing, both economically and socially. Economist Cameron Bagrie said, “Too many things have got out of balance between the economic and social ledger”.

Sociology Professor Paul Spoonley agreed, and he talked of New Zealand “entering a social recession, a period of disengagement and a spike in social stress”. He attributed much of this to the Covid pandemic: “In the early stages of the Covid pandemic, New Zealand displayed very high rates of social cohesion and trust, as high as anywhere in the world. But as Covid becomes endemic, compounded by growing costs to individuals, households and sectors, the fragility of our institutions and communities has been exposed.”

Statistics point to worsening levels in a range of areas, but in particular educational achievement and school attendance.

I mentioned at a recent assembly that there is a direct correlation between the two – research will show us that consistent school attendance will lead to better educational outcomes, which I would have thought was obvious. Our boys have to be here at school, and they have to motivate themselves to achieve the best they can academically. Because if they don’t, it can have serious consequences in later years.

In fact, Bagrie believes that the fall-off in educational attainment and attendance will really hurt us in the coming years. He says, “if you wanted to pick a variable as to where New Zealand is going to be economically 30 years out, educational attainment today would be the best predictor”.

Recent research out of Australia, highlights another real area of concern. There, “boys are falling far behind girls in school-leaving exams and at university to such an extent that a University Admissions Centre analysis of results found that being male was ‘greater than any of the other recognised disadvantages we looked at’”.

The report in the Sydney Morning Herald (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/boys-falling-far-behind-girls-in-hsc-and-at-university-20220607-p5arsk.html?fbclid=IwAR3iUx5wIP3L6fpvlsx7wyRk-TPO2840du-5JBFk1ib58O_-9_BXTrGi7vM) discusses several possible reasons behind the decline in boys’ academic achievement. It also noted that boys’ attendance at secondary school was worse than girls’, and that 70% of school suspensions were boys.

As a boys’ school, that is a real concern, and it is no different here in New Zealand. Our young men will fall further and further behind unless they focus on achieving to their academic potential.

Perhaps over the holiday break some of our young men will take stock of where they are at academically and realise they will need to graft over the coming two terms to get the best out of the academic year.

Open Day

For parents of Year 8 boys considering enrolment at PNBHS in 2023, our Open Day is on Thursday 4 August. Presentations followed by tours of the school will begin in the Speirs Centre at 9.45am, 5.30pm and 7.00pm.

While PNBHS will continue to operate an enrolment scheme we have been able to accept all applications for enrolment, received by the closing date, since the scheme was introduced and would like to be able to continue to do so. Out of zone enrolments after the closing date are unlikely to be accepted. This year we were unable to accept a number of out of zone enrolments that were received after the closure of the enrolment period.

Enrolments for 2023 will open on Monday 25 July.

If you require further detail, please contact the school office on 06 3545 176.

School Ball:

Date: Saturday 13 August, 8pm – midnight

Venue: Silks Lounge, Awapuni Racecourse Function Centre

The school ball is a long-standing tradition at PNBHS. Despite the often adverse publicity that comes with such functions, it is my preference to continue this tradition so our seniors have the opportunity to experience a formal social occasion with young women. The parameters we set have grown through time to recognise the availability of drugs and alcohol and the growing pressure that consumption of these before and/or after a school ball is the norm for teenagers today. This belief needs to be dispelled.

Our senior school ball has very clear expectations and we want young men and their partners to have a night to remember; one that is alcohol and drug free.

We do have systems in place that will monitor this so that those who ignore our warnings are identified for their own protection and the protection of others. The use of alcohol and drug detection services may initially detract from the quality occasion our seniors have in mind, but at the same time the outcome of the evening needs to align with our school’s integrity and standards.

As we approach the 2022 Senior School Ball, the seniors who choose to attend the ball will be reminded that it is an official school function and that fundamental rules in respect to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes apply.

I encourage you to talk to your son about behaviour that is appropriate at a formal occasion of this nature. We, as a school, will clearly reinforce the rules and expectations associated with our school ball. The young men and their partners who choose to attend are expected to abide by our guidelines. It is your son’s responsibility to ensure his partner understands the meaning of attending a PNBHS Senior Ball.

This is not a compulsory school activity thus if your son cannot agree with our rules, guidelines or expectations then he does not have to attend.

Each young man who wishes to purchase a ticket to this year’s ball will receive a letter regarding the conditions of attendance. I would ask you to read through this letter with your son and complete the return slip.

The conclusion of the School Ball is midnight and, thereafter, you, as parents, are responsible for the safety and well-being of your son. There are to be no after-ball parties, which have a clear tendency to quickly deteriorate. I thank you in advance for the support you will provide the school and your son.

This school event is an important social occasion for young men and their partners. We wish to continue offering such an opportunity to our young men and their partners. We will continue to do so, as long as the Ball is the key event our young men want to attend on the evening and the formality of such an occasion is retained.

D M Bovey

RECTOR