If we think more about the boys coming back to school, this saying is, perhaps, complemented well by an old Maori one: Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi – ‘The old net is cast aside, while the new net goes a-catching’[2]. This speaks to the new opportunity and sense of renewal that comes with a new school year. In the spirit of constructive starts, new learning and growth, and accessing the bounty of good education, we welcome all boys, parents, and our wider community to 2016 – especially those entirely new to us. At start up assemblies the boys were encouraged to be patient, organised, and ambitious as they begin – we really want them to start as they mean to continue.

The Pōwhiri on 9 February was a stirring ceremony and symbolic inclusion. We thank all the parents who were able to attend. The Year 9 Parent Information Evening the next day was a setting for transfer of knowledge, and another source for new connections between school and home. Year 9 now follow each of these touchpoints with additional orientation and the prospect of exciting John Scott Lodge camps, beneficial Year 13 support, and reactivation of our co-curricular programme.

We were proud to announce our nineteen 2016 Prefects this week. A special congratulations goes to our four Prefect Leaders: Liam Busse (Head Boy), Jack Deeley (Deputy Head Boy), Max Pierce (Deputy Head Boy), and Angus McKnight (House Captain). They will all undoubtedly serve the boys and school to the best of their ability. We are also pleased to have selected a fine group of Peer Support Leaders to work with Year 9, and to have identified our eight new House Captains to drive keen competition at all year levels among the four Houses – starting with the Swimming Sports this week.

The 2015 NCEA results are available. We see areas to develop across particular subjects and levels, but improvement is, of course, always a continuous process. A strong performance against key standards has been made broadly, in Certificate achievement, and highly, in the 28% of boys on our 2015 senior roll who received an NCEA Endorsement. We look forward to building on this in 2016.

Special congratulations goes to three boys who earned top NZQA Scholarships, above Endorsement level, in the 2015 examinations. Eleazar Coronado (in Statistics), Jacob Anderson (in Geography) and Jesse Drake (in English, Statistics, and Biology [Outstanding award]) all reached the pinnacle of New Zealand secondary school academics; a fine effort.

The Board of Trustees and staff are considering our school strategic goals and outcomes for 2016 during this month. If you would like to have input to the draft document as a parent, please contact our office to receive a copy of the draft strategic plan.

I finish by way of mentioning boys who have undertaken extraordinary pursuits. Liam Arthur attended the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra in January, to enjoy scientific enrichment as one of only four New Zealanders chosen. Guy McDonald completed an epic voyage to the Auckland Islands with the Sir Peter Blake Trust, to explore the flora and fauna, and history of New Zealand’s remote territory; a truly adventurous start - with quite a ‘new net’ cast!

Also journeying and with an international focus, were Jack Deeley, Oliver Prisk, Jack Winsley and Campbell Brown who went to India in December. They were hosted for a Friendship Week at St. Mark’s School in New Delhi. Thomas and James Bell, Ryan Davis and Jason Hodgett travelled to France over the break as well, in our annual Montpellier exchange. Each group had superb experiences that may stay with them for life. All these students will also be encouraging plenty of other boys to follow in their footsteps.

Nick McIvor

Scientia Potestas Est

Mā te Mātauranga te Mana

[1] http://www.gaelicmatters.com/famous-irish-sayings.html

[2] http://www.maorilanguage.net/maori-words-phrases/proverbs-nga-whakatauki-nga-whakatauaki/

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