This 2020/21 Summer Holiday was very different for our 23 International Students. Usually, the Christmas - New Year break is the one time when all the boys get to re-unite with their families and friends and enjoy the festive traditions of home. By last September, it was clear that there would be no chance of returning to St Bede’s in 2021 if the boys were to go home as before. Their families knew this too and, made the decision for their boys to stay in Christchurch. Our boys put on a brave face, but they were all disappointed that they could not return home after almost one year away. However, we were especially fortunate that our group of homestay families opened their homes again to the boys for the holiday period and worked hard to make the boys feel at home during the holidays.

While a few boys took the opportunity to do extra English study at local Language Schools, most of the International Boarders took part in a bus tour of the North Island, organised by a local company, Smylies Tours. 

The 13-day trip took them from Wellington to Auckland return, by way of the East Coast and then back through the Centre of the North Island. This gave the boys a chance to see places and have experiences International Students based in the South Island very rarely get to see or do. Walking along Coromandel beaches with sandals in one hand, trying out the Luge in Rotorua and finding one of the last patches of snow on Mount Ruapehu were some of the highlights of the trip. 

I am very grateful for two staff members who helped make this possible. Ms Festa accompanied the boys on the first part to Auckland, and Mr Sullivan took over for the return.

I would also like to thank the team of parents who came up with the Christmas “stockings” for the students on the tour. The surprise was very well received even though the concept of this Christmas tradition was new to them.

So, with a very different Summer holiday to what they were expecting, at the end of a very different year to what they were expecting, the SBC International students managed to get through the holidays well. The boys now seem happy to be back at school and being with their friends again, ready for the 2021 school year.

Staff Changes

Madeleine Castle, International Students Administrator / Homestay Coordinator, left St Bede's College on Thursday 14th January. She has moved to the West Coast to a new role at John Paul II High School in Greymouth from Term 1 this year.

Madeleine worked within the International Office from 2016 and moved from part-time to full time in 2018. She enjoyed working with the wide range of agents, parents and homestay hosts and all the staff at the College who are involved in the international student experience. Most of all, Madeleine was always there for the boys, from sticking plasters to strapping ankles, to uniform fittings and lost property, to advising on how to keep their rooms tidy and which colour socks they should be wearing!

I would like to thank Madeleine for her valuable contribution to the international students programme and to the boys over the years. She will be missed.