It’s all 'on' again! The gates are open. Lessons are well underway. Friendships and acquaintances are renewed. And our wider co-curricular activity is gathering steam. We welcome boys and families new to Timaru Boys' and those of you returning for another year. The full vitality and diversity of TBHS is back.

It was a delight to bring new boys and staff into the school and community, at our Powhiri on 7 February. Included in our 44 teaching staff are newly arrived: Sonia Everitt and Tim Clack (Mathematics), Karen Staples (English), Debbie Newman (Digital Technology), Hamish Cameron (Commerce), and Monique Bastings (Music). Tim and Karen return having taught here as ‘relievers’ last year.

Our newly appointed Head Boy is Brad Cvitanich. He will be well supported by Deputy Head Boys Hamish Dunbar and Tim Currie, and Head of House, Ollie Browning. We know these four young men will serve their peers, staff, community, and our wider school interests, to the best of their ability. They are also part of a promising group of nineteen prefects selected for 2017.

We have received our 2016 NZQA results. The increase in NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 Certificate achievement was pleasing and a huge credit to the boys and staff who worked hard to generate them. The school sits above all of the ‘national’, ‘national male', and ‘decile’, roll-based benchmarks for Levels 1, 2 and 3.

It was also tremendous to see the rise in Excellence Endorsements on Certificates at all Levels; a fantastic NCEA accolade for these boys and their teachers and parents. 2016 Endorsed boys were recognised at an Academic Assembly on 8 February. From NZQA Scholarship examinations we congratulate Ryan Davis for being awarded Scholarships in Chemistry and Physics, and Liam Arthur for Scholarships in Chemistry, Biology, English and Economics. This placed them both in the top 3% in New Zealand. We look forward to working with our Seniors to extend these positive NCEA and Scholarship performances.

The 2017 House Competition has launched with the Swimming Sports and Athletics Day. The five records broken in the pool by Jack Sands, Hercules Cho and Riley Taylor, and personal bests achieved at the stadium, put new year sport on an exciting early footing. These events showed the first influence of the vertical house group system we added this year; with sets of Year 9 - 13 boys joining for House-based interaction each morning before period 1. As these new groups develop, they will be a place for imparting POWER values and extra House spirit.

Last week we hosted ERO reviewers Russell Wallace, Chris Gold, and Liz Riley as they collected information from the boys, staff, and Board about growth and achievement at TBHS in the past, present and future. We expect their report to be available near the end of term.

If you get a moment, stop by to see the beautiful new sculpture 'Knowledge, Power, Wisdom and Family' located on the library lawn off North Street. It was kindly gifted by the 2016 Year 13 students. Sculpted by Debbie Templeton - Page, it will be enjoyed for years to come. Perhaps it will inspire the 200-300 boys we anticipate signing on for Arts Week later this year. Across from the sculpture the renovation of the Sick Bay and Gillies entrance is progressing well and options for its opening later this term are being considered; more to follow.

Finally, we have Open Day on Sunday 19 March 1-3pm. Come along to check in with us and friends here again, and please encourage others new to TBHS to pop in to learn about ‘who we are and what we do’ as well.

Nick McIvor
Scientia Potestas Est
Mā te Mātauranga te Mana