Learning Progressions  

Years 9–11 parents will soon receive the first 2026 Learning Progressions (LPs). Through the LPs, boys can better understand where they are, and where they are going. The rubrics attached to LPs on Schoolbox best illustrate both. They show the learning stages from ‘foundation’ to ‘stage 4’. It would be rare for a Year 9 student to reach stage 4, indicating the student was ready for Year 12 NCEA.

These first LPs provide snapshots of where your son now sits, based on what has been covered so far. The checkpoints do not have a ‘stage label’, but rather a comment and rubric so that boys will, hopefully, fully take on board the learning feedback. End-of-course LPs will provide a final overall average on the foundation to stage 4 scale.

In these first progressions, some rubric aspects do not have a highlighted descriptor showing where your son sits. This indicates part of the course is yet to be covered, but has been included to aid transparency in the overall knowledge and skills expected in that subject to reach stage 4 by the end of a prep course.  

If parents want to learn more about Learning Progressions and the stages pathway in expert subjects, please read page eight of A Parents’ Guide to reporting at Christ’s College.

Year 10 families – Immerse & Inspire and Diploma programmes

Thank you to all the parents who attended our NCEA Information Evening and our Year 9 and new student families meet the teachers opportunity. We look forward to welcoming our Year 10 families to our Immerse & Inspire and Diploma programmes introduction evening on Monday 16 March, from 6–7pm in the Chapman Room. Please register here.

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Reflections on Ramadan

Raising awareness about Ramadan and its importance to Muslims, our Senior Round Square committee – alongside our College Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Cameron Pickering – has held an information session. About 60 boys have heard from Year 12 student Ali Mann, who has spoken about the period of fasting, communal prayer, and reflection. Following Ali’s presentation, a light suhoor (pre-dawn meal) has been provided for boys opting to undertake a shortened fast.

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Winter sport and arts sponsorship opportunities

We are seeking winter sport sponsors to support our rugby, basketball, and football programmes. Our tiered sponsorship structure delivers meaningful benefits designed to raise the sponsor’s profile within the Christ’s College business community. Our packages ensure strong visibility, brand alignment with excellence, and opportunities to engage with families, Old Boys, and supporters throughout the season.

We are also seeking sponsors for our upcoming senior production, Les Misérables. This year’s production presents a unique opportunity – a collaboration with St Margaret’s College, meaning that sponsors gain exposure across both school communities. Two audiences, two schools, one exceptional production.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities and tailored packages, please contact:

Shelley Keach
Senior Development Manager
skeach@christscollege.com
027 807 0539

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Taking note – from karaoke to House Music

Hosting a karaoke session at Christ’s College, the usually quiet Williams Quad was recently filled with the sounds of disco, musicals, and duets. Overseen by MCs Charlie Wood and Cole Moffatt, the karaoke fun also included a song in Japanese from International Culture & Languages, Te Reo Māori teacher Steve Everingham. Prefects, students, staff, and teacher trainees all sang along, making the most of an entertaining event. Thank you to Master-in-Charge of Choirs Peter de Blois for organising the session.

It was also a timely reminder of the value of co-curricular music, and those events that become much-loved traditions. Singing and playing instruments build capability, wellbeing, brotherhood, and general ‘good vibes’. There is no greater example than our Christ’s College Parents’ Association House Music Festival on Thursday 25 June. At House Music, every boy performs. House choirs and instrumental and vocal ensembles will take to the Town Hall stage for a superb night of music making. We have recently published the House Music rules and a sign-up sheet on Schoolbox. Please note that we have revised the regulations and judging criteria.

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Grab an umbrella 

Ensure that the rain doesn’t stop any sideline play by grabbing one of our striking $50 College umbrellas from the Uniform Shop. Featuring the full College logo and colours, our large umbrella has a comfortable rubber handle and quick-release mechanism for easy opening, along with a stylish design. 

Call in to our Uniform Shop on Mondays 10am–4pm, Tuesdays 10.30am–4pm, or Wednesdays 10am–4pm to view the full range of supporters’ gear or email the Uniform Shop at uniformshop@christscollege.com.

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UPCOMING CAREERS DATES

TERM 1
12 March	Lincoln University liaison visit, 8.15am, Fine Arts 201
17 & 19 March	Victoria University of Wellington, drop-in sessions
19 March	Victoria University liaison visit, 8.15am, Fine Arts 201
19 March	Yoobee Open Day
1 April	Year 11 ‘Your Education’ student exchange presentation
TERM 2
3–4 May	University of Otago Open Days
7 May	Year 12 Careers Expo, 8.30–10.30am
20 May	University of Auckland, scholarship applications open
2 June	University of Auckland Information Evening, Novotel Hotel, 6–8pm
4 June	Year 12 UC Discovery Day (voluntary)
9 June	University of Auckland Information Evening (online)
16 June	University of Otago, Health Careers Day, Christchurch Medical School
17 June	University of Otago Information Evening, Addington Raceway
30 June	University of Auckland, scholarship webinar for students
TERM 3
1 August	University of Auckland, accommodation applications open
6 August	UC course planning, 8.15am, Fine Arts 201
13 August	University of Auckland, scholarship applications close
29 August	University of Auckland Open Day
30 September	University of Auckland, Accommodation applications close

Christ’s College CareerWise

The Christ’s College careers website, CareerWise, is a rich source of careers information. Parents and students can subscribe to our careers platform to stay up to date with the options and opportunities open to the boys. These may cover career-related events, news, and jobs. For most events, there are links to register. Our Years 11–13 boys and their parents are encouraged to subscribe to CareerWise.

Recent CareerWise articles include:

USA Sports Scholarship Webinar

Fulton Hogan – university graduates

University of Otago Open Days – registration

Where studying art could take you

Career of the Week – actuary

Tech-savvy students – drone operators

Lincoln University – degrees that work

Crimson Education Information Evening

LETZ LIVE – overseas GAP year and working holidays

LETZ LIVE specialises in GAP programmes in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The LETZ LIVE programmes offer school leavers an opportunity to gain international experience, develop life skills, and immerse themselves in a new culture, including school assistant and activity assistant roles in the UK.

Otago Open Days

University of Otago Open Days will be held from Sunday 3 May–Monday 4 May. It is important to arrange travel and accommodation as soon as possible. Families can also contact individual residential colleges for tours at other times.

University of Canterbury subject selection

University of Canterbury’s Best preparation for university study is a useful resource for Years 11–12 students when selecting school subjects. It helps to identify which subjects are vital, recommended, or useful for different degrees.

Why study science at Lincoln University?

Learn more about Agriculture and Life Sciences at Lincoln.

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CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS

Thursday 12 March, 6–8pm	Southern Lakes Community Visit Register now
13–14 March	Wānaka A&P Show
Monday 16 March, 6–7pm	Year 10 families – Immerse & Inspire and Diploma programmes Register now
Thursday 19 March, 1–4pm	Christ's College Open Day Register now
Tuesday 31 March	Janet Storry Interschool Tennis Register now
7 & 8 April, 9am–3pm	Years 7–8 Rugby Clinic Register now
13 & 14 April, 9am–3pm	Years 7–8 Hockey Clinic Register now
13 & 14 April, 9am–3pm	Years 7–8 Football Clinic Register now
16 & 17 April, 1–4pm	Years 7–8 Basketball Clinic Register now

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Rowing into history

In our new rowing exhibition in the Christ’s College Museum, you can see blazers, caps, photos, and programmes – plus much more – spanning 100 years.

Our rowers have certainly put Christ’s College on the sports map – more so than most other New Zealand schools. College has lifted the Maadi Cup 13 times, the second most successful school in the U18 coxed eight race. 

Inspired by our rich rowing legacy, Rowing MiC Henry Smith has collaborated with our Archivist to create a special rowing suit featuring the names of every rower to have represented College. These will be updated each year to add new names. You can find this piece of living history on display in the Christ’s College Museum.

As we have so much rowing history on show in our temporary exhibition, we will focus on key facts and figures in this article. 

• 1893 – The Canterbury Rowing Club offers College free memberships but Headmaster CF Bourne rejects this approach.¹
• 1913 – Headmaster EA Belcher adds rowing to the list of College sports, stating: “Rowing has been started for the elder boys who dislike cricket and are no use at it.”²
• 1914 – The College rowing Colours are chosen and House races begin.³
• 1915 – Interschool racing gets under way at Kerr’s Reach.⁴
• 1916 – Equipment is acquired, including three ‘clinkers’ (two are good but leaky), multiple sets of oars with some described as weak, odd, and having wrong buttons but later being fixed. Two of the boats are named Thetis and Thalia.⁵
• 15½  – The minimum age for College rowers in 1918.⁶
• 1922 – Work is under way on building the first College Boathouse. A ferro concrete building, it was constructed on the riverbank below the Fitzgerald Avenue bridge following a bequest to College from William Wood. When the College base moved to Kerr’s Reach, the building was used to store boats and equipment before being sold in 1974.

• 1958 – College rowing moves to Kerr’s Reach and a new Boathouse funded from tuck shop and book exchange profits.
• 13 – Christ’s College has claimed the prestigious Maadi Cup for the U18 coxed eight at the Maadi Regatta 13 times (1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2021).
• 10 – College has won the Maadi Cup on 10 occasions under the guidance of 27-year coaching veteran Peter O’Connor (AKA Mr Rowing), a twice Canterbury coach of the year.⁷
• 4 – College has won the Maadi Cup four times (one joint with Peter) under the guidance of international rower and coach Henry Smith.
• 6 – College has won the Springbok Shield – awarded to the top U18 coxed four at the National School Championships – six times (1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, and 2016).
• 2 – Current College coach Tony O’Connor has competed at two Olympic Games.
• 1 – College coach Tony O’Connor has steered the NZ men’s eight – including Old Boy cox Sam Bosworth (13830) to one gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

We look forward to the next chapter for Christ’s College rowing as current and future squad members step up to represent the school.

¹ School List 1850–1950
² Register, April 1913 p403
³ Register, August 1914 p57
⁴ CC Rowing Minutes 1915 p13
⁵ CC Rowing Minutes 1917 p9
⁶ CC Rowing minutes 1918 p30
⁷ Opening the Gates, Warren Lidstone. 2026 p99

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