Back to the 80s  — TGHS and TBHS Production 2017 by Matthew Chapman

Rector's message - June 2017

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One of the toughest things you can attempt is to try to encapsulate something as intricate, organic, and evolving as a school, in a single message. To embody what it is all about, what it is for, without reducing it so much that meaning is lost.

We tried to do this last week as we met families at the 2017 Information Evening. We aimed to give them a condensed ‘picture’ of Timaru Boys’; one that shared its finer traces and tinges along with the main brush strokes, for a precis of what drives us. For some families, the Evening was a ‘top up’ after the Open Day in March, or after previous dealings with the school when elder brothers moved through it. For other families it was their first time in the school; curious to know about its essence, ethos, priorities, and daily practicalities. Most questions from the floor centred on how specialising in boys’ education becomes reality in what boys receive and what they are expected to give. The Year 9 volunteers who spoke were fantastic; each able to speak freely and frankly to so many new learnings after only one and a half terms here. This group included: Daniel Nicolson, Eul Jaan Su, Joel Giddings, Deltah Kaipo, and Alex Power.

Returning to the attempt to capture what Timaru Boys’ is all about, this or something similar should do it:

We want “to be the school where each boy can find his niche, in and out of the classroom, having been taught, supported, and challenged well for personal excellence, while gaining the qualities of ‘a good man in the making’ along the way.”

This was shared with the audience last week, and we hope it resonates with you, as you read it now.

The combined TGHS/TBHS Production from 23 – 26 May was a hit. Those of us of a certain vintage in the audience were transported back to the 1980s through its music, and if anything, the show did the ‘80s better than the ‘80s did! Our congratulations go to all the students who worked so hard to bring it all together, with male leads: Caleb Cameron, Abraham Hix, Max Mortimer, Karl Omotoy, Reuben Woods, Aleks Rampala and Laurence Chapman. Reuben’s seminal rendition of the teacher, Mr Cocker (presumably taken from ‘Joe’) seemed a flattering amalgam of current TBHS staff who shall remain nameless. We look forward to hosting the Production in 2018.

Promotion to senior leadership has arrived for Mr Sam Nelson, as he moves to MacKenzie College in Term 3, to take up a new role as Assistant Principal. We are delighted for Sam as we know he will do a marvellous job there, as he advances his career. We are also, understandably, a little downcast to be losing such a top man. From 2006, when Sam arrived, he has been a highly successful Physical Education teacher, Assistant Head of Physical Education, Coach, Dean, House Master, Specialist Classroom Teacher (leading the teaching of others), Rite Journey designer and leader, and most recently, ‘graduate’ of the new Emerging Leaders Programme for aspiring teaching staff in South Canterbury. Sam leaves behind many great memories and a lasting imprint on hundreds of young men, both past and present, fortunate to have come under his personal and professional influence.

Nick McIvor
Scientia Potestas Est
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