‘Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.’ We’ve definitely advanced toward ‘what will be’ in Term 1. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) use has expanded, including a Year 9 ‘BYOD Blitz’ two weeks ago, to enhance and modernise our teaching and learning. Please continue to encourage your son to bring in a laptop, tablet, or similar device beyond a smart phone, for daily lesson use.

In support of cyber safety at TBHS and in the boys’ personal lives, visiting presenter John Parsons worked with each Year Level and the staff, on 21 March. John is a renowned ‘Internet Safety and Risk Assessment Consultant’ who has worked extensively in New Zealand schools. For more about John’s important work and advice visit: http://www.simulate2educate.co.nz/?q=john-parsons

Thomas House Year 8 interviews for 2019 Year 9 entry are complete, and the impressive young men coming through have been a pleasure to meet.

The whole – school drive to maintain, and where required raise, uniform standards was from 12 – 23 March with better personal appearance among the boys evident around the school. We want boys to keep pride in their appearance.

As for advancing the positive influences of the Arts and Sport, it’s been a bumper period since the last Newsletter. Into the Woods rehearsals are going very well. The cast is ahead of schedule. Peter McMullan has been welcomed on board, so the cast can now sing with Peter playing piano. Aaron Segar has started to block the opening scene (the prologue). Pip Black from Timaru Girls’ is taking charge of the costumes and doing an amazing job making or altering existing costumes from our costume room. Rachel Fenwick and David Gibb are starting to make the set. Others are progressively committing to making a fabulous Production for next term. The Jazz and Concert Bands are also rehearsing and we have groups practising hard to enter Rock Quest on 22 June. Theatre sports are now running in Monday lunchtimes too.

In Sport, Summer Tournament Week ran from 19 – 23 March with notable successes. The South Island Athletics was very positive with 4 titles won. Thomas Valentine set a new record of 58.38 metres in the Under 19 Hammer by breaking the old record by 6 metres. Taiyo Watanabe won the Under 19 Javelin. Bailey Gebbie won the Under 19 Triple Jump. George Guerin won the Open Steeple Chase. We also recorded 5 silvers and 8 bronzes. The Rowing Maadi Cup highlight was a bronze to Hamish Yeatman and Josh Wilson in the Under 15 Double. Five other crews made A Finals and 3 crews made B Finals. Tennis was competitive with a tie for 7th at the Nationals. The Tennis highlight was a drawn tie with Westlake Boys’ who eventually finished in the top 4. The TBHS Softball team also enjoyed its first South Island Tournament since the early 2000s, with a 3 win 3 loss record that saw them into a play-off for 5th and 6th (one unfortunately cancelled due to poor weather). Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who’ve helped our boys in Summer sport and other co-curricular activities so well this term.

At Open Day on 18 March we had an even larger group of visitors than recent years and a relaxed, engaging, and informative time of it; one that prompted plenty of positive feedback. The new main entrance and foyer space was also opened on 20 March with a combined school – Old Boys function. It included representation from families now recognised in the new foyer and on the outside wall - adding to the special nature of the event.

Looking to the Anzac Service, consider how much has happened in your life since August 2014. Living through the same duration from August 1914 to April 1918, in the last year of The Great War, you would have lived through an unrelenting and sorrowful War - a massive loss and lengthening school Death Roll mourned over the previous 4 years. The Anzac Service in 2018 marks the final year of the War in its 100 Year Commemoration. Join us if you can at Hogben Hall at 2pm this Friday. Old Boy Roger James will be guest speaker.

Nick McIvor
Knowledge is Power.  Scientia Potestas Est.  Mā te Mātauranga te Mana. 

[1]Kahlil Gibran https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/khalil_gibran_101694?src=t_progress