Dinners, breakfasts, and lunches – here comes Term 4

Term 4 is upon us and from a boarding perspective it will be another busy one. Aside from the normal end-of-year House functions, there are several other boarding-related activities taking place. At the same time as this newsletter is being sent to you, the annual Boarding Awards Dinner will be occurring. The evening celebrates the opportunities and successes that have taken place in boarding this year and I will summarise the evening and the winners of awards in the next issue of In Black & White. This Friday we have our Boarding Mothers’ Morning Tea at The George Hotel prior to the Pink Lunch. This has been well-supported and I would like to thank Sarah Davidson for her coordination of this event. Sarah has been instrumental in leading the Friends of Boarding group from a parent's perspective over the past two years and her support has been appreciated. Moving into 2021 we will continue to look at opportunities through Friends of Boarding to provide information sessions with an online style, similar to John Quinn's session last term, looking like the most suitable option. Feedback from the survey, which many boarding parents completed last term, will also be invaluable moving forward and again I will summarise results from this survey in a future issue of In Black & White.

This term also sees our Year 13 students begin their final term in boarding and I am sure most of them will be starting to reflect on their time in boarding and look ahead to life after College. It is an exciting stage of their lives. Last Friday they were invited to St Margaret's College for breakfast to mark the start of the final term of boarding for both groups. It was an opportunity for the students to catch up and reflect on the past five years in boarding and the combined activities they have been involved in which have included junior dinner swaps, Year 11 cooking classes and a Year 13 Valentine's Day Breakfast. The Year 13 students will also be involved in a ‘Thank you lunch’ for the Dining Hall staff on Sunday 1 November. The roles will be reversed and the boys will help provide lunch for the staff as a way of expressing gratitude. Head of Boarding this year Sam Averill has done an impressive job of being the student voice for boarding. Despite the disruptions of Covid-19 he has still managed to achieve a lot and has done so in a calm, friendly and approachable manner. Below is his final Head of Boarding report for 2020. I thank him for his work this year and at the same time congratulate Henry Briscoe on being appointed Head of Boarding for 2021. I would also like to congratulate Sam Hadley (Flower’s), Nathan McKenzie (Richards) and Louis Elworthy (School) for being appointed Head of their respective Houses for 2021.

Head of Boarding Report – Term 4

It was another extremely busy end of Term 3 for the boarding community at College, with the wrap-up of winter sports, Evita and House Music events. All three boarding Houses gave it a great effort and it has been awesome to see the immense House spirit on display. A special congratulations to Flower’s House for finishing 3rd in the House Music competition.

Just prior to the recent holidays all boarders were given the opportunity to fill out a student-led survey around their own experiences in boarding this year. Areas covered included the boarding programme, Dining Hall, interhouse activities and life within their respective Houses. The feedback we received is to be taken to Darrell Thatcher, and will help us improve boarding life moving forward.

I would like to make particular mention of the international students, who due to Covid-19 restrictions have been unable to get home since the beginning of the year to see their families. Our International Student Manager, Deanne Gath, has done an awesome job in coordinating holiday activities for these boys while they stay in Jacobs House. This included a pretty epic trip to Stewart Island in the last holidays. It sounds like the boys had a blast!

We have been coordinating regular meetings with Darrell Thatcher, the Heads of Houses and the Dining Hall, in which we have looked for ways to display our student voice and how we can improve boarding for all boys. These meetings have worked well, and we look forward to the transition for the 2021 Boarding Prefects to undertake these roles. A special congratulations to Henry Briscoe who has been appointed Head of Boarding for 2021, along with Heads of Houses, Louis Elworthy (School), Sam Hadley (Flower’s) and Nathan McKenzie (Richards). Congratulations lads, I’m sure you’ll go well!

We have also had opportunities to catch up with boarding schools around Christchurch, as we have continued our Year 9 and 10 dinner swaps with St Margaret’s College, as well as another successful breakfast for the Year 13 boys with their SMC counterparts. It was awesome to see the lads get behind these events, using them as a chance to catch up with mates and even make new friendships. At the end of last term a group of College boarders also attended another combined boarders Chapel service at St Andrew’s College, which was enjoyed by all and a great way to get to know boarders from other Christchurch schools.

As we head into the final term for boarding in 2020 and the last ever for our Year 13 boys, the boarding community is filled with excitement over what should be a busy end to the year. Good luck to all the boys for their exams at the end of the year and summer sport codes.

Boarding Programme

Another full programme of activities has been organised for this term. The full programme can be viewed here. The first weekend saw the boys head to Hoyts EntX to watch the movie Greenland as well as trampolining at Mega Air. The workshop was also open for boys to continue to work on class or personal projects.

Seniors have opportunities this term to gain qualifications in areas which include: Forklift Operators Certificate, Site Safe Foundation Passport – Building Construction, and St John Level 1 First Aid Certificate. There are costs associated with each opportunity and the seniors have had a chance to sign up with Boarding Programme Coordinator Scott Franklin.

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We're here to help

With the conclusion last week of our second NCEA assessment week, our senior students are firmly in the final stretch of the year. Within the next fortnight all senior Internal Assessment will be completed, and the focus firmly moves to the end-of year-examinations.

It is important to remind our boys that all the research on the neuroscience of study skills shows that cramming is not effective. This applies to both our NCEA students and also our junior students who will be sitting end-of-course/year tests. Short consistent periods of study help the information to stick. Finding different ways to process this information is also important. Don’t rely on just reading class notes. Reformat notes in diagrams, mind maps, or timelines, for example. Use colours to group ideas in your notes to help your recall in moments of stress. Don’t review everything every session; test yourself on topics, and then specifically spend time actively remaking notes for those areas that aren’t ‘sticking’.

However, the biggest piece of advice I can give to our NCEA students specifically, is to use the help that is on offer to you. Teachers are available during study leave for specific help. Completing past papers and getting feedback on these can help refine exam techniques. Don’t forget the power of change of environment for study, either – our library is a wonderful resource in which students can take time to review their work in a quiet dedicated space. Just because there are no formal classes for seniors, that does not mean they need to stay away from school outside of their examination times; they are welcome on campus, provided they are onsite for constructive academic purposes.

Please note these important dates for Years 11­–13 students:
Friday 6 November – Last day for Year 13 students/examination briefing
Monday 9 November – Last day for Years 11 and 12 students/examination briefing

Teacher Only Day – 19 November (no school for students this day)
This is a day that has been set aside by the Ministry of Education for all schools to review the NCEA changes in further detail. As an independent school, we are using this day as advised, in order to ensure our planning for future curriculum development is as robust as it can be. With government-mandated changes comes the wonderful opportunity to review and revise how we are meeting student needs. This day is a prime opportunity to assess the MoE guidance with a lens of College’s future curriculum. We will look to communicate the outcome of this thinking with our parent community very shortly afterwards.

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Checking on wellbeing

As we move into the last term of the year – and with summer fast approaching – it is a great time to pause to check on your own wellbeing as well as that of your son. We know that the last few months have been challenging and uncertain for everyone. As adults we have found the struggle real and hard; we need to remember that our children have also found this a demanding time. As the boys move into exam time, it is a good opportunity to connect with them, to see how they are going. You might find the School TV Wellbeing Checklist helpful – click here.

Before doing that, take the time to reflect on how YOU are going and how you have managed your own wellbeing over the last six months. We have certainly seen many of our community feeling the strain of uncertainty. Have a think about how you are managing the big three:

• Food
• Rest
• Exercise

Make sure you are making time to eat well and fuel your body with the food it needs. Put a high price on getting eight-plus hours sleep a night, and look to do some form of exercise. You can then role model the behaviours to your children.

Once you have done this, make some time to go on a Mum/Dad date with your children to really check how they are going.

Ask questions like:

• What is going well at the moment?
• How are you feeling about your exams?
• Who is your hero and why?
• Do you have a favourite movie?
• What music makes you particularly happy?
• How do you handle stress?
• What do you enjoy doing for fun?
• What's been your favourite part of the year?

By sharing your answers to some of these questions you can build a rapport with your children. If you have time, watch the Netflix documentary called The Social Dilemma. This could produce some great discussion about social media and technology.

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Welcome back to Chapel

It has been three months since we were last in Chapel. We can give thanks for the way we have managed Covid-19 in our country, for a majority acceptance of science in our nation, for integrity in our leadership, and for a national culture which values the wellbeing of others (particularly those more vulnerable), not just looking out for our own “rights”.

As I write this, Election Day is tomorrow. As well as voting for our Parliament, we have two referendums – the Cannabis legalisation and control referendum, and the End of Life Choice referendum. From my reading, for both referendums, about three quarters of Kiwis misunderstand what they are voting for. In the future, might many say, “I didn’t know I had voted for that.” In Year 11, we spent weeks learning about ethics and different ethical theories so that we might progress beyond, “I think that’s a good idea,” or “that’s weird.” How many in our wider community have this agility, so necessary in an increasingly complex world?

On Wednesday, I am sure you know, there was the presentation to Christ’s College of two korowai (traditional woven Māori cloak). One is for the Executive Principal, the other for the Head Prefect. Traditionally, a korowai is a mantle of prestige and honour, and so the korowai symbolises leadership, and this includes the obligation to care for the people and environment.

I was privileged to join Bishop Richard Wallace, Māori Bishop of the Anglican Māori Diocese of Waipounamu, in blessing the korowai. Synchronically, we had both chosen the text:

Korōria ki te Atua i runga rawa,
he maungārongo ki tōna iwi i runga i te whenua.

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.

I dedicated the korowai, praying that the person wearing it would be clothed with the humble servant leadership of the one after whom this College is named. Christ is the model of all we do in this school. I am heartened with the way our bicultural journey progresses.

I am delighted to announce that Freddie Sudell and Kosei Oikawa have accepted the invitation to be the Chapel Prefects for 2021. My thanks to all that Henry Eglinton and Ederick He have done this year.

This is a short term. I look forward to seeing many of you.

Yours in Christ.

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Upcoming careers dates

30 October	Ara Animal Management, and Ara Animal Technology application date
31 October	Otago University – closing date for international student applications
10 December	Closing date for 2021 first year applications to Universities
10 December	Otago University – closing date for Summer School applications
14 December	University of Canterbury – apply to enrol by this date
5 January–17 February 2021	Auckland University Summer Start Programme
11 January 2021	Otago University Summer School

Christ's College CareerWise

Click here to see recent posts on our CareerWise website. Click here to subscribe to our CareerWise website and receive weekly updates about careers events, news and job opportunities.

Future Jobs

Technology might be your first thought. But interestingly, with technology allowing for more jobs to be automated, jobs of the future will be more human-centric – focusing on health and wellbeing and helping humans live their best lives.

Futurist Morris Miselowski explains: “While there will still be a need for people who can code, these types of skills will be cooling down and making way for those who can integrate tech and humanity,” he says. “The health and wellbeing sectors will also be growth industries, we are increasingly taking wellbeing into our own hands – including when it comes to caring for our elders, and we are learning to be more discerning in this age of information.”

Here are the careers he predicts will be big in the future: Health & Wellbeing; Mental Health worker; Geriatric care; Physician assistants; Virtual Influence teams; Robotic to human experts

Click here to read more.

Chiropractic Career Talk

Tuesday 29 September, 7pm
Rendezvous Hotel, 166 Gloucester Street, Christchurch
The New Zealand College of Chiropractic is holding an information session later this month. This is the ideal way to find out more about a career as a chiropractor and how chiropractic can make a difference to people’s health. For more information and to register, go to http://chiropractic.ac.nz/event/chiropractic-career-talk-christchurch-2/, telephone 09 526 6789, or email recruitment@nzchiro.co.nz

Announcing Te Pūkenga

The Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins, has announced Te Pūkenga as NZIST's new permanent name. Te Pūkenga is Aotearoa's biggest tertiary education provider. On 1 April 2020, New Zealand’s 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) became subsidiary organisations of a single national institute, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. This means they’ll be working much more closely to deliver the best value for learners right across New Zealand and globally. For more information, visit tepukenga.ac.nz.

Practical skills for life

The Ministry of Education has recently published a range of resources and advice for school leavers. For more information, go to https://school-leavers-toolkit.education.govt.nz/

University study – Having a Plan B

As boys leave College, they are usually confident the study or career decisions they have made are correct. In some cases, however, they may decide to change direction, during or at the end of their first year of tertiary study. For example, we recommend students who enrol in the Health Sciences first year have an alternative plan in place in case they do not get into their preferred degree programme. I heard that at a university where around 900 students had enrolled for a Bachelor of Engineering, 200 had moved to a different course within the first two weeks. There are many different options available, which lead in all sorts of interesting directions – and deciding to make a change is perfectly understandable and acceptable.

Study Link – Student Loans and Allowances

If any boys are intending to apply for Student Loans or allowances, they need to look at the StudyLink site and register. It does take time and the earlier they do so, the better. https://www.studylink.govt.nz/

Mainz ­– The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand

Wednesday 21 October ­– Christchurch Open Night
7–9pm, High Street Campus, 191 High Street
This is an information evening for the 2021 programmes in Audio Engineering, Live Sound and Event Production, DJ and Electronic Music Production. There will be workshops, DJ Performances and a Live Band recording.

Friday 30 October – MAINZ Live Event
12–4pm, Woolston Campus, 19 King Edward Terrace at the Woolston Campus
Open to the public, a festival stage of MAINZ DJs and bands. Also, an opportunity to discuss the EETECH (Live Sound and Lighting) programme for 2021, with the tutorial team. Any queries, phone 03 365 9195.

Student Job Guide

MoneyHub has updated its comprehensive directory of student jobs. With 50+ well-known employers listed and links to their student job application details, getting a part-time job is a lot easier with this guide: https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/student-jobs.html

University of Auckland – Summer Start

Summer Start is a six-week programme (Tuesday 5 January–Wednesday 17 February 2021) giving eligible school leavers the opportunity to gain credits towards their degree and start their university journey early. For Year 13 students planning to study at university in 2021, this is a great opportunity to experience life at the university. Students from outside the Auckland area who are thinking about applying for the Summer Start programme may be eligible for a University of Auckland Summer Start Scholarship to assist with accommodation. Applications will close on 20 November at midday.

University of Auckland – Business School Updates

For students interested to know more about the majors that are offered and career opportunities that may come from these majors, our newly refreshed Majors and Careers page on our website is a great place to visit. With a page for each major, students will find information on each, along with the industry, trends, career options and predictions for the future.

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“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – Winston Churchill

20 September 2020 is Battle of Britain Sunday in the Anglican Lectionary. The Battle of Britain took place when Hitler was planning to invade Britain; however, the Luftwaffe (Air Force) had to destroy Britain’s fighter capability before an invasion could take place. The RAF tenaciously overcame the Luftwaffe with the resulting postponement and cancellation of the German plans.

Although this date was in the Term 3 holidays, as it is 80 years since the Battle of Britain it is appropriate that we remember four Christ’s College Old Boys who were part of that battle.

To be included in the list of “the few” there were three criteria. Each airman had to have:

• served in one of the 71 Squadrons of Fighter Command at that time
• flown between 10 July and 31 October 1940
• flown at least one operation sortie – that is, to have been scrambled in an attempt to intercept the enemy.

When the Battle of Britain Fighter Association came to find the names of all those involved, to include them on the planned monument on the Victoria Embankment overlooking the River Thames, the list was not definitive. By searching personnel records, newspaper accounts, photographs and taking account of differences in spelling, particularly of overseas airmen, a list was compiled. That list includes 127 New Zealanders,ⁱ four of whom are “ours.”

To become a pilot, they could take advantage of the flying lessons that were offered as part of the government plans for the defence of New Zealand and become part of the Civil Reserve of Pilotsⁱⁱ or they could apply for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Three of these Old Boys remained in the air until the conclusion of the Second World War.

Pilot Officer William Thorpe Eiby (3975) was at Christ’s College from 1929–1931 in Condell’s House. Eiby joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots and was commissioned in late June 1939. He arrived in the UK from the RMS Rangitane in August 1940. He joined 245 Squadron at Aldergrove in September and began flying Hurricanes. He moved to 73 Squadron in November 1940 and then left for the Middle East where he was attached to 274 Squadron in the Western Desert. He was shot down near Tobruk in February 1942 and made a forced landing. He later was involved in moving aircraft to the Western desert and then was posted to Fiji and ultimately back in New Zealand flying Dakotas as part of the 40 (Transport) Squadron.ⁱⁱⁱ

Flying Officer Colin Falkland Gray DSO DFC (2 bars) (3984) was at Christ’s College from 1929–1930 in Condell’s House. Gray initially did not pass the medical examination for a short service commission, however he subsequently left for the UK in RMS Rangitata. After training he joined 54 Squadron at Hornchurch. During the period of the Battle of Britain he destroyed 12 Me109’s^iv and probably another, three Me110’s and shared in the destruction of two others and damaged two more, damaged a Do17^v , and probably destroyed a He111^vi. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Throughout the rest of the war he continued to destroy enemy aircraft both over Britain and overseas. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and two bars to the DFC^vii and is recognised as the top New Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War.

Condell’s House 1930. William Thorpe Eiby is fifth from the right in the back row and Colin Falkland Gray is on the right hand end in the back row

Pilot officer Geoffrey Mervyn Simpson (4358) was at College from 1933–1935 in Harper House. He is the only known death of a Christ’s College Old Boy during the Battle of Britain.

His initial service involvement was with the 1^st Canterbury Regiment; however, in mid-June 1938 he was provisionally accepted for a short service commission and left for the UK on RMS Rangitata on 25 August. He trained at Ansty, Uxbridge and Little Rissington and after the award of his flying badge was posted to Lossiemouth for advanced training on Wallace^viii and Henley^ix aircraft. He then joined 229 Squadron who were flying Blenheims^x. These were replaced in March 1940 by Hurricanes. He was involved in sorties over France in May 1940, and the Squadron took part in operations over Dunkirk and moved to Biggin Hill on 10 September 1940.

On Saturday 26 October Simpson, in Hurricane W6669, took off as leader of the Blue section to patrol the Croydon area and pursued some Me109’s to the French coast. They lost them and returned for home, but a He59^xi was seen flying off the coast near Boulogne. It was attacked and forced to land on the water. Simpson’s Hurricane^xii was attacked from behind and failed to return. He had completed 492 flying hours and it was his 99th operation.^xiii

Geoffrey Mervyn Simpson^xiv

Pilot officer James Samuel Humphreys (4249) was at College from 1932–1935 in Julius House. He joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots in 1938 and sailed for the UK provisionally accepted for a short service commission. Like Simpson he trained at Ansty, and Little Rissington, initially on Ansons^xv and then joined the newly formed 245 Squadron at Leconfield. He volunteered to serve in France and joined 607 Squadron at Vitry-en-Artois where the squadron was involved in heavy fighting. They retired to Croydon and Humphreys was posted to 605 Squadron and was involved in the defeat of a force of He111’s and Me110’s from Norway which were sent to attack the area around Newcastle, on 15 August 1940.

Humphreys then flew out of Croydon and on 9 September after probably destroying a He111 he was shot down with a badly wounded hand, bailed out at 12,000 feet and drifted over the Canadian Army Camp at Bordon. At the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot, he lost his finger. Now classified as A2 he was trained in rocket projectiles and served in the Middle East and Palestine. His final posting was as a Squadron leader in command of 20 Squadron at Bangkok in 1946.^xvi

Unfortunately, we do not have a photograph of James Samuel Humphreys. If anyone has a photograph, the Christ’s College Archives would be very pleased to copy it for its records.

ⁱ The number of New Zealanders involved in the Battle of Britain varies. This number is based on the research undertaken by the Battle of Britain Fighter Association https://bbm.org.uk/
ⁱⁱEvening Star 16 March 1937
ⁱⁱⁱ See The Airmen’s Stories – P/O W T Eiby https://bbm.org.uk/airmen/Eiby.htm
^iv Me 109 Messerschmitt Bf and Me 110 Messerschmitt Bf. These and later models served as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft
^v Dornier list (fast) bomber
^vi Heinkel Doppel Blitz standard medium bomber. Gray, CF 1990 Spitfire Patrol London. Hutchinson – a copy of this book is held in the Harris Collection
^vii See The Airmen’s Stories – F/O CF Gray www.bbm.org.uk/GrayCF.htm
^viii Wallace – a two seated general purpose bi-plane
^ix Henley – a two seated target tug, which towed a target for missile practice
^x Blenheim – the first RAF aircraft to have all-metal stressed skin construction and one of the first to utilize retractable landing gear, flaps, powered gun turret, and variable-pitch propellers
^xi Heinkel 59 – a floatplane bi-plane used as a torpedo bomber and in maritime reconnaissance
^xii Hurricane fighters' fabric-covered wooden framing wings meant that explosive shells from German fighter cannons passed through them without detonating.
^xiii See The Airmen’s Stories – P/O G M Simpson www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/SimpsonGM.htm; Martyn, E. For Your Tomorrow Vol 1 p99: Macfarlane, J D 2004 To Battle p39
^xiv From To Battle p 39 original source RNZAF Museum
^xv Anson – twin engine plane used for coastal reconnaissance and search and rescue
^xvi See The Airmen’s Stories – P/O J S Humphreys https://bbm.org.uk/airmen/HumphreysJS.htm

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CHRIST'S COLLEGE EVENTS

23 October	Boarding Mothers Morning Tea, 10.30–11.30am The George Hotel **SOLD OUT**
23 October	The Pink Lunch, 12pm The Dining Hall BOOK HERE
12 November	Greymouth Community Visit, 6–8pm REGISTER HERE
17 November	Blenheim Community Visit, 6–8pm REGISTER HERE
18 November	Nelson Community Visit, 6–8pm REGISTER HERE

CCOBA EVENTS

21 October	65 & 75 Years On Reunion and Gentlemen's Lunch BOOK ONLINE HERE or fill out a form below 65 Years On Reunion Form 75 Years On Reunion Form and email them to ccoba@ccoba.com
6 November	Auckland AGM and Long Lunch, 12pm BOOK HERE
7 November	Wairarapa AGM and Long Lunch, 12pm BOOK HERE
20 November	Christchurch Long Lunch, 12.30pm BOOK HERE
26 November	Christchurch YOBs, 6–8pm BOOK HERE

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