Dear Parent and Caregivers,
Greetings, tena koutou katoa, talofa lava.
I am currently in the middle of fireside chats with families considering Shirley as an option for 2019.
One of the common questions asked of me in these meetings is, "what is being a Shirley Man all about?"
Here are some observations;
I once talked to a mother about her son being a hero; a comment that did not sit well with her. Her response to me was that she did not like the word very much at all. It turned out that her feelings were strong because she did not want to raise a son to be an action figure or a soldier.I certainly accepted her view but hastened to point out that it was very important to transcend stereotypes, especially when we place it in a modern context.In my mind hero lends itself to being purposeful and respectful and having the courage to do the right thing when so much pressure is often mounted on people to do the opposite.
Frankly, in my experience boys are hungry to become heroes in their parents' and their teachers' eyes and most of all in their own eyes. Heroic, for me, involves boys of all ages embracing the following;
Honourable, a moral boy who becomes a man of conscience and duty.
Enterprising, a busy industrious boy who becomes a man who gets things done.
Responsible, a boy who cares about others needs and who becomes a man of service.
Original, a boy who is able to express himself and as a man does so as a unique person.
Intimate, a boy who learns how to love and as a man, can love as an equal, other people as well.
Creative, a boy who dreams and who pursues his dreams when he becomes a man.
Not for one moment would I say that every student in Shirley becomes such a person, but this is the goal for all and more achieve it, than those who do not. Long may that be so.
The Heads of House, Deans and Assistant Deans of House and their Form Teachers try and advance all of the above through practical activity and through spending time discussing good examples, from the actions of good people, with their students.The House system is literally a four school in one school model. In each house the Head, The Dean, Assistant Dean and Form Teachers all strive to know each boy and their parents. They discuss issues and provide good examples of good practice for each boy, then they provide opportunity for boys to put such learning into practice. Done well, boys are strengthened, and "The Shirley Man" emerges from the school to enter the world after his time in his school is over.
We are fortunate in this school to have Heads of House: Rob Wilson-Pyne, Dan Gilmore, Maria Lemalie and Craig Croft: Deans of House, Andy Firmidow, Garth Jones, Scott Davidson and Ira Perkins and Assistant Deans of House, Andy Lee, Merryn Herlihy, Tony Christie and Pete Beswick all striving to produce the heroes in our school.
Finally, a word about teeth. First I need to give some background information. I went to the dentist, Wednesday 9th May, my discomfort level? Well all I can say it was – high! A quarter of an hour later, I had endured the drill that whines and sprays water, the drill that grinds, and produces a smell like burned chops, a clamp, the usual pokey thing in my mouth that is supposed to remove debris- but doesn’t, a dozen cotton wads jammed in my mouth so I could barely breath and finally, a strange implement, (no doubt sourced from a secret laboratory in the Pentagon) that shot out a blue light and worryingly made my teeth vibrate.I left the dentist with my tooth somewhat restored but my discomfort level exactly the same. Initially my discomfort was caused by the pain in my tooth, afterwards it was caused by the cost ($200) of fixing the problem.
Now here is the thing, I am told the uptake of people under the age of 18, who go to the dentist is only 65%, less for Maori and Pasifika families, even though the cost of seeing a dentist before you are 18, is ZERO.
Can I urge all parents to avail themselves of the opportunity to go to the dentist while its free, also to establish great eating and dental care patterns while their children are young. It is self-evident to me that the double whammy of pain in the mouth and in the bank balance later in life is to be avoided if at all possible.
Regards
John Laurenson.