The Clipboard - 16 February 2024
I want to make special mention of our Year 13 leaders who have started the year with servant hearts and want to connect and support the direction of our college. We also welcome our new staff who will be a huge asset to our aspirations to provide the best education for boys in Aotearoa.
I want to wish our 2024 Head Boy Ollie Church all the very best for a great year. Ollie is an outstanding person. He has tremendous mana in our kura and he follows a long line of tremendous Head Boys. Ollie’s ability to connect with all groups and immerse himself in college life means that he has his ear to the ground and his approachability, ready smile and quick wit is something we all admire. Thank you, Ollie, for all that you do and all that you will do. We are in great hands with Ollie and his prefect team.
Mum
Even in my advancing years I miss my Mum every day. She brought five of us up by herself, which, to this day, is something I am in awe of. When I was young, my Mum walked me to high school on the first day of school, which I hated. I said to her “I can do it; I don’t need you to baby me.” My friends joined me along the way and chatted excitedly to my Mum. I sulked at the back of the group. She stopped at the school gate, licked her fingers to pat down a cow lick in my hair and said “Have a great day.” I watched her leave. In the distance, one of my mates ran past her and said to me “I think your Mum is crying.” I ran after her and said, “What’s the matter Mum?”, to which she said “I’m fine son; I’m just happy.”
I worried about her all day.
I ran home from school as fast as I could to check on my Mum. She said “Let’s get an ice cream.” We walked to the dairy and we sat in the park. She said “I know you didn’t like me walking with you to school today. When I was young, I went to a school called Whakarewarewa School for Natives. I had to leave school when I was 11. I started work as a house maid in Rotorua that same year. I used to watch the rich girls walking to school and wished it could be me. I walked to school with you because I never got to go to high school and I wanted to feel what that was like. I know that was selfish and I hope you can forgive me.” She gave me a big cuddle and as we walked home she said “no matter how old you get, and if I’m here or not, I will always walk with you.”
When boys enrol at Wellington College, we understand that we enrol the whole whānau. It’s the way it should be. If you can imagine a triangle with your son at the apex, the whānau and Wellington College are at the base and in the corners. Our role is to work as closely as we can to make sure that your son gets the very best of what we all do, at home and at school. That partnership is crucial.
When they graduate from WC, I can tell you that no matter how old they get or where they are we will always be walking with them.
Mr Denham
Headmaster