Congratulations to our top Arts student, Connor Rabbidge, and top winter sportsmen, Ryan Bagrie (Junior Sportsman of the Year) and Will Gibson (Senior Sportsman of the Year). From Senior Prizegiving our highest accolades went to William Valentine (Proxime Accessit) and Thomas Valentine (Dux) for their academic mastery in 2018; a big night for the family!

Following the announcement of the 2019 Prefects in Week 1, it was a pleasure to announce our new Prefect Leaders: Liam Parker (House Captain), Bailey Lissington and James Davidson (Deputy Head Boys) and Matthew Gualter (Head Boy). This team will have an important bearing on 2019.

At wrap up meetings on 2 November, Seniors were encouraged to use their time wisely from here, and to keep themselves and their mates safe while on leave. This was done to help them to optimise remaining NCEA opportunities and to encourage good sense and mutual support of mates over Summer, when new freedoms can sometimes become overwhelming.

As occurs every year, we have staff moving on to other ventures. We farewell two relocating and four retiring staff at the end of this term. Hamish Cameron and Sonia Everitt go to new callings in 2019 - having completed two years good teaching at Timaru Boys’ as the first two years of what will no doubt be flourishing careers in our profession.

David Gibb, Ros Bennett and Sharon Melrose, and Business Manager, Lyn Stewart, all retire to enjoy well–deserved breaks from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of school life. Each has done much to provide support, warmth, wisdom, and innovation for students and colleagues alike. They will each leave lasting legacies. In the case of Ros and Sharon, legacies from 23 and 32 years’ dedicated service to TBHS respectively. They’ve given a staggering amount to the boys and school. We wish our departing staff good luck for the future.

As 2018 passes we’re conscious of the strenuous efforts made by staff this year to:

implement new teaching techniques to drive individual excellence
nurture more student wellbeing
expand use of new technology in learning
support greater work readiness for those seeking employment
provide new ‘lessons for life’ in special Year 11, 12 and 13 workshops
diversify participation and excellence in co-curricular Arts and Sport
extend Thomas House support for in–school learning
increase our focus on exceeding key thresholds and standards in NCEA
and foster TBHS biculturalism.

We are now doing strategic planning for 2019 and beyond. If you have something you would like to be considered in teaching and learning, pastoral support, or co-curricular activity for the boys in 2019, please call the school on ph: 687 7560 or email it to: tbhs@timaruboys.school.nz for consideration in our planning.

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

In this issue

The PDF version of the newsletter is available here.