From the Rector

Dear Parents,

Commitment is an act, not a word. Jean-Paul Sartre.

It has been encouraging to see so many of our young men involved in the co-curricular life of the school this term, as it is at any time of the year. The busy winter sports season, and the involvement of so many of our young men in the cultural and performing arts areas means that some of our young men have had a lot on their plates. To be able to balance the in-class and out-of-class activities requires organisation and commitment.

While for many adolescent boys commitment is not an issue, particularly when it comes to doing something they love, for some it has proved elusive. Failing to show up for a sports team practice, or a rehearsal, and then expecting to be able to just turn up on game day and play has been something that has frustrated coaches and managers alike in recent seasons. When this happens a young man lets himself and his team down; and yet often they do not see that they have done anything wrong, as, it has appeared, do some parents, some of whom appear to allow this sort of thing to happen.

Once young men join a team or a group they are committed – for the season, until the job is done. And while we know there are many young men who are involved in social teams and for whom the game is valued above the prize, to paraphrase the poet Henry Newbolt, but young men need to learn about being reliable, being dependable. They need to learn that “there are only two options regarding commitment”, as legendary basketball coach Pat Riley once said, “you’re either in or you’re out”. And while, of course, this isn’t the NBA, some of the reasons we hear for missing a training session or a match are lamentable. Such excuses say a good deal about a young man’s character. Commitment and credibility go hand in hand.

So well done to the enthusiastic and reliable young men, those who have turned up week-in, week-out, in the cold and the rain, or when they haven’t been feeling a hundred, and worked hard for their team and their mates, and for our school. American writer Ken Blanchard said, “There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses”.

Good luck to all those young men who are involved in the national winter tournament week, with teams from our school travelling far and wide to compete in regional and national competitions.

Thank you to our staff for giving their time to ensure our young men get the opportunities to be involved in such a wide range of co-curricular activities. Thank you, too, to our many parents and supporters who have been involved as well and thank you to all the parents and whanau members who have supported their sons throughout the season, on the side of a field, or court, or pool, or stage. Even if your sons might not say it, they do appreciate you being there.

Staffing

This term we welcomed Mrs Jacob to the Art department and Ms Pearson to the Science department and we wish them well for their time at PNBHS.

Open Day

The recent Open Day saw large numbers visit the school throughout the three sessions, two of which, in particular, saw large numbers. I would like to thank those involved in Open Day; the staff and the many young men who gave their time to ensure Open Day was a success. Special thanks go to Year 9 pupils Quinn Shearman and Chance Walker who, along with Head Prefect Telson Liuvaie, spoke at each of the presentations. My thanks also to those young men who acted as tour guides and did a superb job of providing their groups with information about the school from a young man’s perspective.

Enrolments for 2023 close on Monday 5 September. Due to the current school roll, we will be limiting the numbers at Year 9 for 2023 so out of zone applications may be unsuccessful. If you require further details, please contact the school office on 06 3545 176.

Senior School Examinations

Examinations for young men sitting NCEA Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 subjects will take place from Friday 9 September to Friday 16 September. These examinations are an important part of the senior academic year; not only do they provide an indication of progress in their NCEA studies, a yardstick if you will, but they will also reveal areas that will need extra work if success is to be gained in the NCEA examinations in term four.

The results from these examinations will also be used if a young man should require an NZQA derived grade because of bereavement, serious illness or an accident during the external examination period that causes him to miss an NCEA examination. Thus, we would stress that young men ensure they perform to their potential as every year we have a number of students who need this type of assistance.