Be the hope we seek

We have been observing two pandemics in disbelief. The centuries-old pandemic of racism and inequality, and the more recent pandemic of coronavirus. Both focus around the words, “I can’t breathe”.

We reflected on this on our return to Chapel, although at this stage only possible with half the school at a time. We connected it to the story of the recent Day of Pentecost on Sunday 31 May – singing, “Breathe on me breath of God”. Pentecost, the birthday of the church, is about our receiving the Holy Spirit, the Holy πνεύμα (original Greek – pneuma), God’s holy breath.

We can celebrate being in a country that has done well with both of these pandemics. But we cannot be complacent. We can find and see stories of hope, and we can be the hope we seek, being respectful of the different cultures, races and languages, and so forth, at College and in our wider community.

In the classroom

In Year 11, we are doing ethics, examining different ways to decide what is right and what is wrong. We are also looking at different moments across 2,000 years of Western, Christian history as we head towards assessment for the Religious Education Achievement Standard. In Year 10, we are respectfully studying Buddhism, which is such a different way to view reality. In Year 9, we are studying and applying in today’s context the saga from Abraham through to Moses. These stories are foundational to Judaism and to our Christian, Western civilisation.

These are all wonderful opportunities to learn about and learn from unique perspectives. All this is interconnected. Our care for ourselves, for each other, for our environment, respecting those who are different, and justice for all is the warp and weft of the weaving we are hoping to make together through being part of this school.

NZQA update

As you may be aware from press coverage, NZQA has announced further changes to NCEA this year to account for the disruption caused by Covid-19. It has provided the following information as a summary for parents:

We know some of our students – and their whānau – are worried they might not be able to attain NCEA or UE this year, because of the disruption caused by Covid-19.

To help address this and support students, the following changes are being made to NCEA and University Entrance (UE) requirements for this year:

• Students working towards NCEA can gain additional credits, based on the number of credits they achieve during the 2020 school year. These additional credits will be known as Learning Recognition credits. For every 5 credits a student achieves towards their NCEA either through internal or external assessment, they are entitled to an additional 1 credit. Students at NCEA Level 1 are eligible for up to a maximum of 10 additional credits, while those at Levels 2 and 3 are eligible for up to a maximum of 8 additional credits.
• Students will be awarded a certificate endorsement if they achieve 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, rather than the usual 50. Students achieving 12 credits at Merit or Excellence level in a course – rather than 14 – will be awarded a course endorsement.
• Current UE requirements have been reduced from 14 to 12 credits in three UE-approved subjects. Students still need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet literacy and numeracy requirements to be awarded University Entrance.
• External NCEA examinations and NZ Scholarship examinations will now take place from 16 November–9 December 2020. This will provide extra time for teaching, learning and assessment in Term 4.
• The submission date for subjects which require students to submit a portfolio (for example, Design & Visual Communications) has been extended to 12 November 2020, to give students more time to complete their portfolios.

These changes have been designed to encourage students to continue working towards their NCEA and to ensure that the NCEA attained by our rangatahi this school year is just as valid as those earned in previous years.

So, what does this mean for students at Christ’s College?

This gives teachers the flexibility to adjust assessments and perhaps drop a standard without impacting negatively on students. The rationale for this is that we do not wish to compromise the teaching and learning process in a push to squeeze in assessment. In combination with the extra time in classes, by delaying the start of examinations, this ensures our students are well placed to still achieve at their best.

While we are confident that remote learning was productive on the whole, we also know different students had different experiences. This extra flexibility from NZQA empowers our teachers to be able to tailor programmes based on how the class progressed during remote learning. Teachers in many subjects have indicated they do not feel the need to adjust the amount of assessment at present – but, where appropriate, our Heads of Department are utilising the NZQA tools to ensure our curriculum continues to meet students needs.

Upcoming careers dates

Christ's College CareerWise

I encourage all boys and parents to register on the College CareerWise website, which gives weekly updates about events, jobs and news. Go to https://christscollege.careerwise.school/

Recent posts on CareerWise

Please click on the above link to access information. Add your email in the box provided, and confirm via email if you would like to receive weekly updates. Recent posts include:

Events
• UC – stay in touch Zoom appointments
• UC Year 12 – online Zoom sessions
• AUT Zoom meetings
• Virtual Careers Expo
• Coleridge Downs Training Farm Open Day
• Lincoln University Open Day
• Yoobee Design – July Holiday Programme
• PIHMS Career Week

News
• Lincoln University – sports scholarships information sessions
• Lincoln University – short videos of Lincoln degrees
• Victoria University – planning your first year at university
• UCAT – July 2020
• University of Auckland webinars – Education, Social Work, Sport, Health & Physical Education
• University of Auckland – fast track offers
• UC Science Radio – topical issues
• AUT – degree programme information videos
• Go Dairy – dairy farming information
• Careers NZ – future employment shortages

Virtual Careers Expo

The Virtual Careers Expo will enable students to explore future learning pathways via real time interactivity and engagement with tertiary education providers from all over New Zealand. Over 40 tertiary education providers are confirmed for this event, including all eight New Zealand universities, plus polytechnics, Wananga, and private tertiary providers. Attendees will enter a virtual exhibition hall and can browse through the participating providers, visiting their virtual stands and engaging in live chats with representatives from each institution. And, just like at a real-life careers expo, they will have the opportunity to attend scheduled presentations, with each provider hosting a 20-minute webinar where attendees can participate in a live Q&A. Thursday 18 June, 12–8pm and Friday 19 June, 9am–5pm. For more information and to register, go to https://www.mediadesignschool.com/virtual-careers-expo

UC Scholarships webinars

Various dates. For more information, go to https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/events/tours-and-events/scholarship-webinars

UC online Open Day – Thursday 9 July

https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/events/tours-and-events/open-days/

Lincoln University virtual Open Day – Friday 17 July

https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/News-and-Events/Open-Day-2020

CV Flipbook

A curriculum vitae (CV) tells a potential employer who you are, what you have done and what you are good at, outlining personal details, academic qualifications, community service, interests and achievements. The aim of a CV is to help you get an interview. Click here to view a flipbook that has information on writing and designing a CV, including how to identify skills, write a cover letter, and prepare for an interview.

CVs – university and scholarship applications

All Year 12 and 13 boys should create and keep updating their CV, as it is very easy to forget what you have done if you don’t write it down. Universities will require information, as will Housemasters who will be writing references. Scholarship applications may ask for information about subject areas, evidence of leadership (in and outside school), and involvement in sport, cultural activities and community service.

Lincoln University – short video clips

These short clips, presented by Lincoln University academics, are ideal for boys who want to know more about a particular qualification, or subject selection advice to prepare for a particular degree, practical work, industry demand and possible job outcomes. They have been recorded by Lincoln University liaison staff and cover a range of different diplomas and degrees, plus information about scholarships.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbfAii8GmZBuukU-36Lug4zCrB7xhKohW

Max Heywood – keen to offer advice

Max left College at the end of 2019. In his final year he was Deputy Head Prefect and admired by boys and staff alike. While Max had the opportunity to go to various universities, he eventually decided on the University of Sydney. After only a few weeks, however, he returned to Christchurch to spend lockdown at home. Max hopes to return to Sydney soon, meanwhile he is very happy to talk to any Year 12 or 13 students or their parents about the processes he went through to get to Australia. If you would like to talk to Max at College, please contact me on 027 268 9437 or csellars@christscollege.com.

A positive adjustment

Our boarders have now been back in residence for three weeks and I want to thank them for the way they adjusted to the new norms that have been imposed on them – especially as they had to adjust to different expectations around College, as well as within their boarding Houses. Overall, they have handled the situation well. Since Queen's Birthday weekend we have been able to ease some of the initial restrictions – particularly around leave and in the Dining Hall. Moving forward (even when we get to alert level 1), the message to the boys will continue to be that good hygiene practices, physical distancing (as in being respectful of each other’s spaces) and contact tracing will still be in place. Very few boarders have been unwell since they have been back, and it is more than a coincidence that an increase in hygiene standards has contributed to this. The isolation area we have set up in Jacobs House has not been used to date – so, as if at a Dr Ashley Bloomfield press conference, I can say it has been 21 days with no boys in isolation.

The weekend Boarding Programme has been limited since the boys have been back, as some of our regular activities have been restricted in terms of availability. Activities will be College based for the rest of Term 2, but as restrictions ease we should be in a position to have a full programme up and running in Term 3.

Adapting to change

Some of our character and leadership programmes have had to be adapted for 2020, including changes to the Year 10 Immerse & Inspire programme, our MANifesto sessions, and the Year 12 Leadership Day.

On Monday 8 June, Year 13 boys had a MANifesto session with Director of Wellbeing & Positive Education John Quinn. Part of the session included an opportunity to reflect on how the Covid-19 situation has affected them.

The Year 12 Emerging Leaders conference set down for Tuesday 30 June has been cancelled. In its place we will run a “Leading with Integrity” day for Year 12 College students. The day will be split into three sessions:

• Session 1 will be with leadership speaker and trainer Joel Bouzaid and will be an opportunity for the boys to distil their personal values, reflect on what the top challenges facing Year 12 students at College are, and unpack their personal leadership philosophy.
• Session 2 will be a Year 12 MANifesto session with John Quinn and will include work on character strengths, mindsets, mindfulness and making good decisions, and how this links to leadership.
• Session 3 will be based around peer support and provide some tools for the boys to be leaders and mentors in their Houses as they move through their final years at College.

Association football and dribbling matches in the 1880s

There have been a few surprises in the indexing work I have been undertaking during lockdown, and this was one of them.

Although the game that was College Rules had some elements of football (soccer) in the scrimmages and rushes, on 27 May 1882 the Games Committee, “Resolved to play Association once a week as practice in dribbling but to keep to Rugby Union as the Rules of the School. And that Lower Club always play Association”.

On 5 July 1882, Alfred Henry Williams (742), the chairman of the committee, read a request for a return match from the Association, which the committee suggested for 22 July. A week later the Association Football Club had agreed to the date and asked if College could alter the width of the goal posts. Unfortunately, it could not.

Due to the lack of immediately available information about the results of the games in the Minute Book, I turned to Papers Past, and there was another surprise. The meeting held to inaugurate Association Football in Christchurch was chaired by none other than College’s Headmaster, Charles Carteret Corfe, and Edward Vesey Hamilton (315) was appointed secretary and treasurer.ⁱ It was suggested that, as it was the holidays, it might be possible to play on the College ground. Indeed, it was possible. College authorities gave permission, and on 29 April 1882 the first game was played.

The Globe reported: “As a matter of course handling was not unknown, and proper passing little understood, but some good back play and dribbling was shown on both sides”.ⁱⁱ

Due to a lack of complete initials it is not possible to be certain who in that first Association game had College connections, but William Pember Reeves (289) can be clearly identified and it would seem members of the Maude and Wynn Williams families were involved, and possibly Herbert Brown.ⁱⁱⁱ

The first game against a Christ’s College team was played on 23 April 1883. It was a 15 a side game, rather than the usual 11, even though the opposition team were two players short. Walter Douglas Dalgleish (931) and Frederick James Hamilton (619) scored the two winning goals. Based on the other surnames in the two newspaper reports, other members of the team probably included George Edward Rhodes (791), Annesley Frederick George Harman (582), Albert John Webb (721), George Harris (903), James Cecil Palmer (664), Charles Henry Hamilton (620), George Edward Rhodes (791), Maurice Tancred Stack (919), Walter Septimus Fisher (929), and Arthur Hamilton Rowley (883).^iv They were almost all in the 1883 College 1st XV.

The 1883 1st XV

Back row L–R: George Harris (903), George Edward Rhodes (791), Thomas Forsaith MacDonald (863), Annesley Frederick George Harman (582), Charles Henry Hamilton (62), Cyril Stanley Buchanan (1065)
Middle Row L–R: Morris Carr Robison (936), CE Maude (935), Walter Herbert Hargreaves (629) (captain), Arthur Gladstone Cox (887), Walter Septimus Fisher (929)
Front Row L–R: Arthur Hamilton Rowley (883), Albert John Webb (721), Edward Rogers Webb (722), Maurice Tancred Stack (919)
Insert L–R: Reginald Fortescue Cook (913), John Wright (1004), Frederick James Hamilton (619), Leonard Evelyn Cotterill (753)

The Christ’s College Sports Register does not begin until May 1884, so there is no in-house published record of these two games, and there are only two clues of a later date. On 28 June 1884, a match was already arranged against Association, but once again no account of it can be found in either the Christ’s College Register or in the newspapers of the period. College continued to have a connection with this game, however, and the report on a game against Dunedin High School, played on 7 July 1884, bemoans: “Considering the practice our boys have in Association football, and loose, dribbling play, it is curious that, when engaged in a foreign match, they make so little use of their valuable knowledge in this important department of the game”.^v

Christ’s College, true to form, decided to create its own game. Known as dribbling matches, they were first mentioned in the Games Committee Minute Book of 5 April 1886, when Messrs Hare and Walter are thanked for donating prizes. However, they did not go ahead until the following year. “The rules were a mixture of Rugby and Association, the goals being on the Association principle, as also the prohibition of ‘hands’, while off-side was forbidden and the ball was oval”.^vi Hare and Walters again offered prizes.

Thirty-six boys entered, divided into six teams. Charles Seaward Cantrell (1027), Hugh Montgomerie Hutton (918), Heathcote Beetham Williams (1000), Frederick Dalgety Moore (1087), Andrew Melville Jameson (1132) and William Crosbie Hamilton (987) were named as captains, and in the final round Williams’s side beat Jameson’s by one goal to nil. The goal was scored by Charles Freeman (1228).

In a report in the Christ’s College Sports Register, the “immense importance of dribbling right on the moment you get the ball was unmistakably impressed on the players. The advantage of combined dribbling and passing with the foot came into unusual prominence. The players themselves were unanimous as to the excellent training the games are”.^vii

In 1888 the dribbling matches were played again with some modification of the rules. This time there were five sides, with Arnold Beetham Williams (1102), Arthur Hale Thorpe (1144), William Cranstoun Henry Wigley (991), Walter Dymock Perry (1149), and Kenneth Stuart Williams (1156) as captains. Perry’s and Williams’s teams faced off in the finals, with Perry and Ivon Arnold Borton (1251) scoring goals for the winning side.^viii Dribbling matches do not appear in any further reports.

On 18 April 1918, at the request of Headmaster GE Blanch, the Games Committee had a thorough discussion about the introduction of Association Football. They unanimously decided against it.

The December 1976 Register reported soccer had been introduced to College the previous year and was now able to enter two teams in local competitions. In 2007, soccer became football once more.

ⁱStar 18 April 1882
ⁱⁱGlobe 1 May 1882
ⁱⁱⁱStar 1 May 1882
^ivPress and Lyttelton Times 23 April 1883
^vChrist’s College Sports Register September 1884 p11
^viChrist’s College Sports Register June 1887 p34
^viiChrist’s College Sports Register June 1887 p35
^viiiChrist’s College Sports Register June 1888 p24 and September 1888 p40