Kat Darry – nutritionist to the All Blacks and boarders

All Blacks nutritionist Kat Darry has challenged our boys to lift their healthy eating habits during an excellent talk with our Year 11–13 boarders.

In response, the boys have made the most of their wonderful opportunity to learn from an international expert, and former College parent.

Kat’s sons, Tom and Sam, were both members of our Flower’s House community.

We invited Kat to speak to the boys to help support their fitness goals and ensure they had the ‘right’ information, with more senior boys hitting the gym and using the weights room.

The boys certainly want to boost their fitness, reject vaping and look and feel good, and we want to support those choices to enable lifelong benefits.

However, we are aware that the boys access a range of information, including from social media and not necessarily credible sources. By inviting Kat to talk, we can provide the boys with accurate, well-researched information from an engaging specialist.

Kat spoke about how much bodies changed at this age and the energy expended by just living and going through puberty. She also highlighted the importance of ‘real food’, discussing food groups but acknowledging the boys’ reality.

Kat challenged our boys to eat from the salad bar in the Dining Hall, suggesting suitable snacks and the best approach to breakfast. She also explained that they did not need whey products if they were eating well, and outlined the purpose of whey product use by elite athletes.

She also challenged the use of creatine, telling the boys they were physically too young and their bodies could not process it.

Equally importantly, Kat outlined a day in the life of All Black – and Flower’s Old Boy – Damian McKenzie, pointing out that the international rugby star relied on food, rather than supplements.

What's for dinner?

Click here to view the Dining Hall menu produced by the talented team at Spotless.

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Christ’s College Diploma Launch

I am excited as we prepare for our Christ’s College Diploma Launch next Tuesday evening.

Throughout the year, we have been sharing information on our new Diploma and seeking feedback. Our teachers have been working hard to develop the courses and assessment for the academic component, while a group of teachers and co-curricular leaders has been focusing on the details for the different achievement levels.

While the work will continue for the rest of the year, the framework has been finalised and we are delighted to share this milestone with our wider community.

Our launch event is designed to explain the principles and structures of the Diploma.

We will share some of the key ideas, based on years of research regarding best practice for teaching and assessing boys. We will explain that this is a much stronger preparation for NCEA Levels 2 and 3 while also integrating the character and wellbeing education at the heart of our College experience.

After you hear from a variety of people involved in developing the Diploma, we will celebrate this next phase for Christ’s College with refreshments. It will be a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, as well as meet or catch up with other parents who will be part of this journey.

We look forward to seeing you and urge you to register for our Christ’s College Diploma Launch by clicking here.

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Our bicultural journey

Tēnā koutou katoa!

Nau mai, haere mai to the first Te Taha Māori piece for In Black & White.

First, I’ll introduce myself. I am Dr Mike Field, Julius Housemaster, teacher of Reo Māori and Agribusiness, and also the Bicultural Coordinator at College. I take all these roles seriously, but feel a particular gratification in being the inaugural holder of the latter. Ngā mihinui, especially to Garth Wynne for having the courage and foresight in establishing this important role last year.

This column aims to tell the wider community about our collective progress in our bicultural journey. There are many reasons for College to take such a journey, including social justice, equity, diversity, and preparing our young men for a modern New Zealand. Āotearoa is changing, and we must change with it. I am more than happy to talk with anyone about these issues and motivations. Feel free to email me at mfield@christscollege.com.

In these articles, I will outline the various initiatives introduced over the past 18 months, highlight the exciting changes, and discuss the future direction of this important mahi at College.

I want to acknowledge the outstanding contribution by Bradley Shearer, the inaugural prefect of the student Taha Māori committee; the wonderful assistance and guidance from Whaea Tihi Puanaki; the energy and skills of Te Huaki Puanaki, the kapa haka tutor; the korowai and wisdom of Pīhopa (Bishop) Richard Wallace; the knowledge and teaching expertise of Te Wananga O Āotearoa; and the endless enthusiasm and support of the kapa haka parent group.

I would also like to mihi to the large number of staff members who are going above and beyond to support this kaupapa, including – but not limited to – Rev. Bosco Peters, Robert Aburn, Riki Clark, Steve Everingham and Nicole Billante.

He Waka Eke Noa – Working together, we will succeed!

Tama tū tama ora ki tū i te tū taioreore – Each boy at his best.

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Wind down for a good night’s sleep

Our recent talks – to Year 13 students and staff – from Sleep Well Clinic experts have highlighted the value of getting a good night’s sleep.

Tonight, our College parents can also learn about the best approach to healthy sleeping habits. Join us in the Chapman Room at 7pm for our Parent Education Evening – Adolescent Sleep, with Dr Bryn Sparks, one of New Zealand’s first sleep physiologists and Managing Director of the Sleep Well Clinic in Christchurch.

These talks help ensure that we recognise the importance of sleep – both for performance and wellbeing. Sleep allows us to:

• Recover
• Re-energise
• File memories and learning
• Remain healthy
• Focus and be productive
• Boost our mood

We know that a consistent night-time routine helps us sleep and wind down before bed.

We need to reduce:

• Technology use
• Caffeine
• Exercise near sleep time
• Food intake late in the day

Use the 10-3-2-1 rule:

• 10 hours before bed – no caffeine
• 3 hours before bed – no big meals
• 2 hours before bed – no more work
• 1 hour before bed – no more screen time

We often live in artificial light in the morning, so it is also important to have 15–30 minutes of natural light. You can do so by:

• Eating breakfast outside
• Exercising outdoors
• Parking further away from work so you have longer to walk
• Cycling to work
• Having an outdoors meeting once you get to work

Sleep is one of our most powerful performance tools, and it’s free.

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A message from the Health Centre...

Dealing with vaping

As parents, you are no doubt aware that vaping has become a major health issue among adolescents, particularly within secondary schools. In the previous In Black & White, Executive Principal Garth Wynne addressed the issue.

At College, more students are seeking help. We are looking at how best to support those boys who want to quit vaping.

It is a concern that vaping is advertised as a healthy alternative to smoking, when, in fact, most vapes contain nicotine. They are easily accessed online, and companies target youth with their advertisements and flavours. We are seeing boys at the Health Centre who have never smoked but have started vaping, and find they can’t stop.

We encourage you to have an open and honest conversation with your son about vaping. Further information is available on the College website under SchoolTV in the Health & Wellbeing Resources section.

We recognise this issue needs a collaborative approach, and as the College nurses, we are more than happy to provide support and advice.

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Finding the right balance

In Chapel, we have been thinking about the value of balance. Balance is central to Anglicanism – called the Via Media, the Middle Way.

Balance is central to Buddhism. It is present in the Rule of Benedict and the Western monastic tradition in whose architectural structure and tradition our school is shaped. Balance is present in the lives and insights of Ignatius Loyola and Teresa of Avila, who have featured in recent Chapel addresses.

Balance doesn’t mean half-hearted one thing and half-hearted the other. Rather, it is the attitude of full involvement in a balance of things.

An example of this is in the saying: “Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on you.”

In College, balance is putting your whole self into each of the five dimensions of our school life – your whole self into your study, sport, and culture, and your whole self into inner, spiritual life, and positive, healthy relationships, including with yourself.

In lessons, Year 11 is working towards the six credits assessment in church history, focused on the Reformation and its impact on our present world. We are up to the continuing effect of the fourth-century Roman Emperor Constantine on our lives.

Year 10 is learning about – and learning from – Buddhism, a “world religion” but quite different to the religions we have studied so far in that the concept of a god or gods is not integral to it. The Buddhist understanding of ‘self’ is so different to our common (essentially Christian or post-Christian) Western understanding that it makes a wonderful study of trying to see things from a different perspective.

In Year 9, we are applying ancient stories to our present context.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Choral Evensong in Chapel this Sunday evening.

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Upcoming careers dates

June	AUT applications open University of Auckland scholarships open Lincoln University scholarships open Massey University Accommodation Scholarship, Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship, Academy of Sport Scholarship open
16 June	University of Otago Information Evening, Addington Events Centre, 6.30–8.30pm
29 June	University of Auckland online Open Day
30 June	Victoria University Information Evening, 6pm, The Piano
1 July	AUT scholarship applications open
10 July	Massey undergraduate scholarships open
23 July	Lincoln University Open Day
30–31 July	Massey University virtual event
1 August	University Halls of Residence applications open
1 August	Lincoln University Halls of Residence open (first-come, first-served basis)
3 August	Victoria University course planning
15 August	Lincoln University scholarship applications close
15 August	UC scholarship applications due
20 August	Victoria University Open Day
20 August	Massey University scholarships, accommodation, excellence, sport close
21 August	AUT Live
28 August	University of Auckland Open Day on campus
28 August	AUT Open Day
August/September	University liaison visits to help plan course selection
1 September	School-leaver scholarship applications due
9 September	UC Open Day
10 September	Victoria University online enrolment open
15 September	UC accommodation applications due
1 October	UC applications to enrol open
1 October	AUT accommodation opens (first-come, first-served basis)
10 December	UC applications to enrol close
10 December	Victoria University applications due

Christ's College CareerWise

The College careers website, CareerWise, offers a rich source of information. Check out the website and sign up for weekly alerts here – https://christscollege.careerwise.school/

Recent postings on the College CareerWise site were:

• Ara fortnightly newsletter
• NZ Broadcasting School newsletter
• Study Psychology at University of Waikato
• MoneyHub-Student Jobs guide
• Letz Live – gap year update
• Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School applications open
• Save the World with a Bachelor of Environmental Science
• Why study a language as part of your degree?
• Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
• Māori students studying at Victoria University
• Massey scholarships are now open
• Are you planning to study at Victoria University next year?
• Victoria University dates.

UC Stay in touch

Click here to ensure you have the latest key dates and important information.

UC Information Evening, 9 June

Click the link to register – https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/events/tours-and-events/info-evenings/

InZone careers kiosk

Find our InZone careers kiosk in the careers room, with boys able to view short video clips on jobs within different vocational pathways.

School subject selection

When it comes to subject selection for next year, it is good to look ahead at the best subjects for Years 12–13 and university courses. Check out the CareerWise website and the following links.

Uni Canterbury-Best-Preparation
LincolnUni-Best-Prep.pdf
OtagoUni-Best-Prep
Victoria Uni-Best-Prep

Thinking about University

A guide for students, parents and whanau, Thinking about University provides information on university entry, application, study, accommodation and scholarships, along with university life, choice and support.

University scholarships for Year 13 students

MoneyHub, a consumer finance website, has published an extensive guide to hundreds of university scholarships. You can also check out the ultimate checklist for Year 13 students.

UC Engineering

Boys studying NCEA Level 3 Calculus, whether in Year 12 or 13, need to understand the entry requirements for the Maths programme for Engineering at UC. EMTH118 Engineering Mathematics 1A requires the following: NCEA Level 3 Mathematics, 14 credits (18 strongly recommended), including the standards ‘Differentiation (91578), and Integration methods (91579). If students do not have these, they must take MATH 101 first.

HamiltonJet – careers advisors visit

Christchurch careers advisors have visited the HamiltonJet site – home to the renowned world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of marine waterjet propulsion systems. HamiltonJet products and services are recognised by boat builders, naval architects and a variety of businesses around the world, with their apprenticeship spots in high demand.

HamiltonJet employs apprentices in the following Level 4 Trades: Fitting & Machining, Metal Casting, Heavy Fabrication, Electrical and Boat Building. Candidates need to have a Level 2 or 3 pre-trade qualification or be able to demonstrate appropriate work experience in a related trade.

The Year 13 Mechanical Engineering class will visit HamiltonJet this term. Please register any interest via email to grant.cameron@hamiltonjet.nz.

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Gargoyles, grotesques and corbels

How many of you have raised your eyes from the pavement or towards the roof recently? If you have, you will have realised that our buildings have several intriguing carved embellishments – both inside and out.

There are gargoyles on the outside of the Hare Memorial Library. These are the carved, stone animals that seem to leap from the side of the building. They are actually water spouts, designed to move the flow of water away from the roof, and so they have a pipe inserted inside the carving.

Gargoyle, Hare Memorial Library, north side.

A damaged gargoyle from the Hare Memorial Library, showing the pipe inside the carving.

Grotesques are for decoration. There are several grotesques on the Rolleston Avenue side of the Dining Hall.

A corbel was originally designed to be a projecting, weight-bearing column. Those seen in the Dining Hall are more decorative. They provide visual links to some of Christ’s College’s early fellows. They are surrounded by angels with raised wings. Although there is no direct evidence, it is more than likely that the corbels, grotesques and gargoyles were originally carved by Frederick George Gurnsey.

Charles Robert Blakiston was a son of Sir Matthew Blakiston, 3rd Baronet. He was a Fellow from 1855–1898. Various versions of the Blakiston Coat of Arms show a fighting cock.

The corbel of Charles Robert Blakiston.

It is unclear how some of the other crests portrayed in the corbels link directly to family names. The Archivist would be delighted if family members could explain these connections.

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Christ's College Business Banter

The story of Xero, 30 June 2021, 7am

Following the success of the Business Banter launch with Fix & Fogg, we are excited to bring you our second event, with Old Boy Alastair Grigg talking about his time at Xero.

Hear College Alastair Grigg speak about his time as Chief Operating Officer at Xero and how he and his team took a fear-inducing subject, such as accounting, to a fun creative, easy-to-use service.

Click here to book your breakfast on Wednesday 30 June at 7am in the College Dining Hall.

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CHRIST'S COLLEGE EVENTS

17 June	Parents' Association House Music Festival, 7–9pm SOLD OUT
22 June	Christ's College Diploma Launch, 7–9pm RSVP NOW
23–25 June	The Shakespearean Banquet, 6.30–9.30pm BOOK NOW
30 June	Business Banter – Xero, 7.30–8.30am REGISTER HERE
1 July	Parent Education Evening with Paul Dillon – Drug and Alcohol Education, 7pm BOOK NOW
9 July	Parents' Association Mid-Winter Drinks, 6–9pm BOOK NOW
3, 4 & 10 August	Community Visits – Nelson, Marlborough and Timaru REGISTER NOW

CCOBA EVENTS

29 July	Dunedin YOBs, 6–8pm BOOK NOW
20 October	Gentlemen's Lunch BOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD PDF 65 Years On Reunion BOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD PDF 75 Years On Reunion BOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD PDF

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