Kia ora to all the Old Boys of our great school.

Chris Moore asked me to give you a quick update on how we are coping with the Covid-19 Lockdown. This is a very unusual situation. Schools are about coming together and creating community. Normally, when we are confronted with a disaster, we can comfort and support each other. With this current crisis, coming together is the one thing we can’t do.

At very short notice, the teachers put together online learning programmes for every class and they are now all experts at operating Google Meets and the like. Students have adapted well and I’m confident that their learning will not suffer too much.

The events that create the normal rhythms of the school - things like exchanges, assemblies, the ANZAC service, etc - are missing, and that is a big loss. However, adversity brings out the best in people, and we are finding new ways to connect. The prefects have lifted our spirits by making a series of very funny videos documenting their lives in lockdown. Check them out - they are on the Timaru Boys' Facebook page. I feel that this demonstrates that the TBHS spirit is irrepressible and will stand us in good stead when this is all over.

As I am writing this, we are one week away from shifting to Alert Level 3. The school will open up but only a handful of junior students will be attending classes. Most students will continue learning from home. Hopefully, we will see some winter sport, even for a few weeks. One fantastic piece of news is that the Memorial Library will soon undergo earthquake strengthening and this will mean we can use the building again. It’s such an important part of who we are. Thanks so much to the Old Boys’ Foundation for making this happen, especially Bruce Lund and Brent Bruce.

Thomas House is gearing up to welcome all its students back, which should happen (hopefully) when we move out of Level 3.

Things are not perfect but they could be a lot worse. We are healthy and in good spirits. When you are next in Timaru, please feel free to come in and look around. It will always be your school. I look forward to meeting you.

Cheers

Dave Thorp
Rector