Shaping Character Through Co-curricular Excellence
I had the privilege of speaking at the South Island Regional Sports Coordinators Conference last year, where I shared my belief that co-curricular activities are essential to delivering a world-class, holistic education. These opportunities allow our students to grow not only intellectually, but also emotionally, physically, and spiritually. For this reason, one of our key strategic priorities is to ensure that we achieve and sustain the highest standards of excellence across all our co-curricular programmes.
To understand the value we place on co-curricular activities, we must reflect on the purpose of education at Christ’s College. Education is not just about developing competencies; it is also about cultivating the virtues that strengthen our communities. At College, we do not believe it is possible to speak of an “educated person” without reference to character dispositions such as leadership, integrity, resilience, and honesty. Our co-curricular programmes are, therefore, a vital vehicle for nurturing these qualities. Just as importantly, they provide a platform for our boys to learn how to compete, strive for excellence, and pursue success, all of which are building blocks of positive wellbeing.
One of the greatest benefits of co-curricular life is the social connections it creates. For adolescent boys, belonging and relationships are central to their identity and wellbeing. Teenagers are wired to be part of a group, and their sense of belonging is often grounded in the strength of these connections. It is, therefore, essential our boys are able to build multiple, healthy relationships that sustain them.
Last year, The New Zealand Herald identified Christ’s College as having the leading school sports programme in the country, a remarkable endorsement of our staff. Yet we remain committed to continuous improvement, ensuring we not only maintain but also enhance our standard of excellence. Music and the Performing Arts must continue to be a cornerstone of our programmes, opening windows into the richness and complexity of the world. Over the past year, our music programme has undergone significant change, and we see value in conducting a review to explore ways to enrich this offering. We will also keep strengthening our service programmes, ensuring that our students are meaningfully connected to the communities they serve.
Christ’s College is a place of extraordinary opportunity. The boys who flourish most are those who embrace the breadth of what is available. Our co-curricular programmes give them a new lens through which to view themselves, their peers, and their place in the wider world.
For this reason, every teacher at Christ’s College is involved in co-curricular life. It is also why the enhancement of these programmes remains one of our key strategic priorities. Through this deliberate focus, we move ever closer to realising our vision: to empower our communities through the development of both intellect and character.
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