Boys showing their support for Tom Walsh by TBHS

Rector's message - 8 September 2016

Much has happened since the last newsletter. We enjoyed the success of Olympic Shotputter and Old Boy, Tom Walsh, played a fantastic Waitaki Exchange, and danced the night away at the Senior Ball!

The building of support for Tom in the second week of the Rio Olympics galvanised the boys, staff, and community. It gave us all extra school pride and motivation. The Rectory group photo we posted went viral – attracting approximately 107,000 hits over two days; it showed just how much South Canterbury and New Zealand was behind him. Tom joins the rarified company of TBHS Olympic medalists Marc Ryan and Jack Lovelock, with the prospect of more success at Tokyo in four years, all going well.

Waitaki Day was played fiercely but fairly. First XI Football and First XV Rugby traded trophies in their sports, and we finished the day drawn 9-9 overall. While we would of course have preferred to win the Day, perhaps a draw was fitting, given the comparative strengths of the boys across the schools. The magical Speedy Oil was brought out again for the ‘ointment anointment’, and it was a pleasure to have Old Boy, Don McCully, speaking about what the day means as a time of tradition, exertion, and triumph. The solidarity and positive behaviours of the boys in support of each match gave them a great footing; one appreciated by the staff and opposition. The ‘team on the touchline’ was every bit as successful as those ‘out in the middle’.

When we discovered that Year 13 wished to host a Dr Seuss – themed Ball in 2016, it received mixed responses in the school initially. Any uncertainty was dispelled quickly as the Ball Committee got down to organising a dazzling event with Mrs Whytock and the 27 staff who contributed so generously to make this a night to remember. The Ball was a sumptuous meal, great dance party, and enchanting evening, all rolled into one for the Year 12 and 13 boys and their partners. Congratulations to everyone who made it such a special event.

Looking at our academic achievement, we are showing good progress to complete a bulk of the year’s NCEA coursework this term, and to further prepare for the November exams. Many of our boys are heavily committed to different activities and duties in and out of school, so the need for careful and disciplined prioritisation and time management, will be the making of their year, in the next six school weeks before exam leave. In our classes there is lots of good will, engagement, focus, and adaptation to achieve. All our boys are capable of finishing 2016 with their best, rightful results, provided they persevere - or as Dr Seuss might have uttered: ‘Oh the things you can find if you don’t stay behind’[i].

Nick McIvor
Scientia Potestas Est
Mā te Mātauranga te Mana


[i] https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/61105.Dr_Seuss?page=2