Kia ora whānau

The end of the year is almost upon us. Well done to all the senior boys who have applied themselves diligently in search of success in their external exams. We look forward to celebrating with you some great results come mid-January. Enjoy your summer holiday, and we look forward to seeing you back refreshed and re-energized at the end of January 2024. Also, well done to the junior boys on your efforts in this week’s internal exams. I had the privilege of walking around the classrooms being used for exams and the attitude and application was the best I have ever seen. Well done!

On Wednesday we had our Orientation Day for our incoming Year 8’s followed by a BBQ on the front lawn. We are looking at having at least 100 Year 9’s next year. It was a fabulous day and the feedback from the year 8’s was incredibly positive. We are looking forward to you joining the Waitaki Boys’ family next year. Thanks to Mr. Cathcart in particular for his organisation and the 2024 Prefects who did a great job supporting the new boys.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that from an excellent field of applicants, Stephen Briscoe will be our new Deputy Rector. Stephen is currently Deputy Principal at Elim Christian College in Auckland. He has been running their senior campus at Botany for the past 3 years. Stephen is 36 years old, married with 2 young children. I am very excited about what he is going to bring and have no doubt that with his strong values along with his extensive experience in pastoral care that he will prove to be an invaluable asset to our school moving forward. We look forward to Stephen and his family joining us in the New Year. Rizwan Ali has been appointed as the new Commerce/Social Studies teacher. Rizwan is currently teaching at Labasa Sangham School in Fiji. He was previously Head of Department at Labasa Arya School. Rizwan and his family will be emigrating to NZ in the New Year. It was with sadness that I received a resignation from Sarah Lawrence last week. Sarah has been appointed to a position at Manurewa High School in South Auckland. We wish Sarah and her whānau all the best with their next 'chapter', and we will recognize Sarah's contribution appropriately in due course. Her position has been advertised and we hope to have that filled within the next fortnight.

Along with Jordan Horrell as our new HOD English, Sue Nuttall joining the Technology department, Susana Kavatoe joining the Mathematics department, Nigel Ryburn increasing his hours in Technology and Ian Cope teaching Photography, I am incredibly excited about the teaching staff team for 2024.

Today the staff have been working through what the Period 5 programme will look like for 2024. We have been sharing ideas about what an effective whānau (formerly house group) time teacher looks like. Janice Vermeulen shared the outline and plans for the well-being programme and also teachers have been planning their ‘Inspire’ programmes. The potential of the Period 5 programme is incredibly exciting, and I believe it could elevate our school to another level in terms of student engagement, achievement and pastoral care.

On the sports field during the past week both our Volleyball team and our Touch team have won the Junior Aoraki Champs. Great effort boys. Thanks to Tony and Bhupendra Singh for taking our Volleyball team and Misha Vercoe for looking after the Touch boys. Our Year 9 Cricket team are at this very moment playing Otago Boys’ in the final of the Otago/Southland Year 9 tournament. As we go to press, I can tell you we made 179/8 off our 40 overs and Otago Boys’ are 17/1. It should be an exciting game.

I would like to also make a ‘shout out’ to the new Whitestone Diner and Deli which is about to open on Thames Highway. I was fortunate enough to attend the opening last evening. Simon and Annabel Berry have done an amazing job with the entire concept, design and dining offerings. We wish them every success. As a proud North Oamaru boy who spent a large part of my youth in the Tui Diner it is great to see this grand old building ‘reinvented’. Simon and his family are proud Waitakians, and I encourage you to support this new venture. You will not be disappointed!

Finally, a reminder that in the final week of school we will have Year 10 camps/Year 9 activities camp and junior prizegiving is on Wednesday 13th December at 10am. It would be great to see you there.

Wishing everybody a wonderful weekend and thanks for your ongoing support of our school.

Whakaohooho taitahake marohirohi

Inspiring young men of outstanding character.

Floreat Waitakia

Darryl Paterson

Rector