Welcome return to our boarding Houses

Welcome back. It was wonderful to walk around all three Houses and see the excitement of the boys as they arrived back at their Houses. The boys were very enthusiastic and certainly pleased to see each other.

It was a relatively seamless reintroduction to boarding and school for the boys. Thanks to the boarding staff for all the groundwork to ensure the smooth return. Thanks also to all the parents for getting so many of the boys back so quickly, ensuring that they could resume their term.

Hunter Wilson

Old Boy Hunter Wilson has been employed to run our gym and weights room in the evenings, taking on the role at the start of Term 3. Hunter is also running the Year 9 after-school programme on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hunter wanders around the three boarding Houses at 4pm, picking up the Year 9s so that they can join in a range of after-school activities. Touch rugby has proved a popular choice, along with frisbee and other games. A certified lifesaver, Hunter also takes the boys to the pool for some water fun and oversees table tennis and pool competitions on wet days to keep the boys occupied.

The interactive role followed a conversation with the Friends of Boarding group and Housemasters as we sought to encourage the Year 9 boys to get out and about and away from their Houses. The subsequent Hunter-led interactions have been great.

Please talk to your sons about giving this a go. The more boys who get involved, the better.

Fun weekend out

On Saturday night, a large group of boarders across all three Houses visited the new Escape Artists’ escape rooms in the central city. Here they had the opportunity to work together to solve problems and escape the rooms they were trapped in, leading to lots of fun for all. On Sunday, the boys enjoyed the new Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings movie at Hoyts EntX in the central city.

Healthcare for boarders

The Christchurch Doctors will temporarily take over the healthcare of boarders and international students at College during building alterations at Doctors on Cashel. Please complete and return the enrolment forms – sent out in recent correspondence – to The Christchurch Doctors as soon as possible. This will ensure that your son's medical notes are available, should he need to see a GP.

What's for dinner?

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

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Students reconnect in collaborative learning

It has been delightful to have students back on campus, with the boys quickly settling into their routines and focusing on their classwork. They have been excited to see each other again, and the buzz of the boys reconnecting reinforces the importance of learning in a collaborative environment for so many students.

I have mentioned this several times, but I want to reiterate that we understand remote learning provides some challenges – despite a great deal of effort on the part of both teachers and students. We have just under a week left of term and have been focusing on rectifying any wobbles boys may have experienced. Teachers, the Learning Centre, and Housemasters are all there to support anyone who needs some help.

In this vein, a second round of IPGs for the term has been sent out. These have been timed to capture the return to our site and give both students and parents an indication of whether learning is on track. Some live reporting feedback may be delayed because of changing deadlines around lockdown, so your understanding is appreciated.

Finally, I want to thank our timetabler and NZQA Principal’s nominee, William Bell, for all his work in readjusting our timetable and reorganising our derived grade examinations. These will start on Wednesday 20 October, with the schedule published on Schoolbox.

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Family fun as easy as child’s play

As we move into spring and revel in the warmer weather, it is great to spend time outside – connecting with your children. We know that ‘playtime’ is healthy for all of us – no matter our age.

When we allow ourselves to be spontaneous or creative – playfully enjoying novel experiences – this helps make new connections in the brain. With the holidays on us, think about what you can do with your family that is spontaneous, novel and creative – allowing you to connect with your children. This can range from board and card games at home to going to the Escape Room. Start with a family chat, encouraging your children to pick holiday activities and you can then book some time.

You can also consider what ‘playtime’ means to you – what do you do for playtime? This might sound strange for an adult, but when we were children we used to play a lot and this brought us a great deal of joy and happiness. As we get older, we tend to move away from playtime as we see it as something for the young. However, research shows that it helps make new brain connections, as well as giving us joy and happiness.

So the challenge for the holidays is to find time to have playtime with your children, your family – and for yourself.

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Business Banter – The Bostock Brothers story

Old Boys' Ben and George Bostock grew up on their family’s organic apple orchard in sunny Hawke’s Bay and share a family passion for healthy, safe growing practices where there is control from the farm to plate.

Hear George Bostock tell their story of remaining true to their core values of sustainable business, while achieving economic success, culminating in winning the Sustainable Business Awards in 2020.

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As we are at Alert Level 2, we need to follow guidelines from the Government, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education regarding managing sickness within College.

The following apply:

• Please do not send your son/s to College if they are sick
• Any unwell students need to go home to a parent or guardian and stay home until free of symptoms for a minimum of 48 hours
• If boys have a Covid-19 test, they must self-isolate until a negative Covid-19 result is received
• College will require proof of a negative Covid-19 test result before a boy can return
• A “return to school check” is required at the College Health Centre before resuming school/classes – the student reports to the Health Centre before the first period of the day for a quick health check
• Mandatory hygiene practices apply – hand washing/hand sanitising
• Mask wearing is recommended at school/in classrooms
• Boys must wear a mask on public transport.

Please make sure your contact details are accurate and encourage your son to have a mask and hand sanitiser in his bag.

If your son is having/has had the Covid-19 vaccination/s, we also encourage you to update this information in your son's profile via the parent portal. Alternatively, you can email the Health Centre at healthcentre@christscollege.com. Please include both vaccination dates.

Healthcare for boarders

The Christchurch Doctors will temporarily take over the healthcare of boarders and international students at College during building alterations at Doctors on Cashel. Please complete and return the enrolment forms – sent out in recent correspondence – to The Christchurch Doctors as soon as possible. This will ensure that your son's medical notes are available, should he need to see a GP.

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Interbeing – a shared existence and acceptance

This is the first In Black and White since lockdown. For some, this was a more difficult Level 4 than last year’s one. As I write, many in our country are still at this strict level. There is much to reflect on, and much to give thanks for.

As I prepare to head into the next chapter of my life, I mull over what has changed in our school. As just one example, I arrived at a school where there were complaints when I used any te reo Māori in Chapel. Now, we chant the Lord’s Prayer in te reo Māori, sing waiata, and last week had a student-led Assembly (outdoors at this Covid-19 Level 2) for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, in which te reo is taken for granted, and the Tino Rangatiratanga flag (often referred to as the Māori flag) was one of the flags flying for Te Wiki.

Many people still approach reality in a binary way, dividing into “in” and “out”, “us” and “them”. The concept of “interbeing”, a term coined by the great Buddhist teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh, sees all sharing a common, interconnected existence.

In the week returning from lockdown, I spoke to the school community about Suzanne Simard’s scientific studies about the way trees share resources and information with one another through an intricately interconnected network of mycorrhizal fungi in the tree roots. Trees show interbeing. They are social beings, exchanging nutrients, helping each other, and communicating about insect pests and other threats. Trees recognise their own kin and care for vulnerable saplings.

Interbeing is one way of approaching our response to Covid-19. We go into lockdown, we get vaccinated, not just for ourselves but for each other. Realising interbeing helps in acceptance of differences in culture, language, perspectives, and so on. Interbeing is one way of viewing the foundations of Christianity – Jesus shares interbeing with all of us; and the Persons of the Trinity share interbeing. The Nicene Creed has the Greek original for this as ὁμοούσιον (homoousion; Latin: consubstantiálem – in English translated as “of one being” or “consubstantial”). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share interbeing.

Interestingly, at noon, many Anglicans use Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Litany for Peace, which includes: “Let us be aware of the source of being that is common to us all and to all living creatures.”

Some people think that inclusiveness, acceptance of science, an open, scholarly approach to our world and to history are accepted by Christians in spite of their faith. I want to reinforce that these things are important because of following Jesus not in spite of faith.

Chapel Prefects

Finally, I am delighted to announce that the Chapel Prefects for 2022 are Yusef Elnahas and Harry Vincent.

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Yours in Christ,

Bosco Peters
Chaplain

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Upcoming careers dates

September	Victoria University accommodation offers start
22 September	UC accommodation applications close
1 October	Victoria University accommodation applications close
1 October	UC enrolment applications open
1 October	Lincoln University enrolments open, LUCAS
1 October	AUT accommodation opens (first-in, first-served basis)
4 October	Lincoln University, hall offers are made (first-in, first-served)
10 December	UC applications to enrol due
10 December	Victoria University applications due

Christ's College CareerWise

The Christ’s College careers website, CareerWise, is a rich source of information about all things related to careers. Check it out and sign up for weekly alerts here.

CATE – Careers and Transition Education NZ

CATE is the professional organisation of New Zealand careers advisors. It is responsible for the careers conference, held at the end of each year. Click the link here to access parent resources.

School Leavers Tool Kit

For information on financial support for tertiary education, moving out of home, taking care of myself and others or getting a job, click here.

StudyLink – student loans and allowances

If boys intend to apply for a student loan or allowance, they need to register and apply online through StudyLink. As this process can take time, it is best to get under way sooner rather than later.

Student Jobs Guide

Many students will be looking for a summer job. MoneyHub has produced a comprehensive Student Jobs Guide, with tips on how to make an application and where to look for student jobs. For more information, go to MoneyHub.

Interview tips

MoneyHub has published essential tips and suggestions for job interview success. For more information, follow the link here.

University course planning

To date, Victoria University, the University of Otago, UC and Lincoln University have come to College for course planning sessions. Most boys have now decided on the degree they intend to pursue and have chosen the subjects they will study in semesters 1 and 2 next year. The University of Auckland will not come to Christchurch in the near future. However, boys can email the school liaison, Cheryl Martin, at c.martin@auckland.ac.nz if they need more information about studying in Auckland.

University of Otago information

7–9 October – Notification of halls and scholarships for 2022
23 October – Payment of $800–$1500 required for hall deposit
10 October – Apply to StudyLink for student loans and allowances
November – Boys need to sit external examinations, regardless of the credits already gained
10 December – Boys need to submit the papers/subjects they are studying in 2022
1 February – A further accommodation payment, $4000–$8000
10 February – Tuition fees required
19 February – Travel to Otago
21 February – O Week
25 February – Preliminary lectures

Ara – programme closing dates

30 September – Bachelor of Nursing
30 September – Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications (NZBS)
1 October – Bachelor of Musculoskeletal Health
30 October – Certificate in Animal Management
30 October – Certificate in Animal Technology

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Francis Robinson (141), Jacobs House, 1861

In the 19th century Old Boy Papers Collection is the following letter from Henry Jacobs to Francis Robinson’s father, Captain Robinson of the Manawatu. Somewhat the worse for wear, having been munched by silverfish at some point prior to its arrival in the archives, it nevertheless provides a number of clues about life at College in 1861.

Transcribed, it reads:

The College
Christchurch
December 19 1861

My dear Sir

I have great pleasure in sending Francis home for the Midsummer Holidays in good health & with an excellent character. The best testimony to this he takes with him in the shape of two prizes, one given by the College for proficiency in Arithmetic the other by the Warden (the Bishop of Christchurch) for Good Conduct. I can add my own strong testimony & that of Mrs Jacobs to his uniform good behaviour.

His good temper trustworthiness & diligence have gained for him the respect & affection of all with whom he has had to do.

The Good Conduct Prizes were adjudged by the votes of the boys themselves, subject to the conformation of the masters & you will be pleased to know that his schoolfellows were very nearly unanimous in his favour.

I understand from him that he has sufficient funds for passage money & other expenses. I trust he will arrive safely and speedily with you.

I will send the Quarter’s account on a separate sheet enclosed.

Believe me
faithfully yours
Henry Jacobs

F Robinson Esq
Manawatu

Francis Robinson’s only year at College was in 1861, for according to his obituary “the difficulties of transit were so great that it was impossible to send [him] continuously”. ⁱ

Obviously, he was boarding with the Jacobs family in the Headmaster’s House and to date this is the only mention that has ever been located that refers to the involvement of Jacobs’ first wife, Charlotte Emily (nee Corrick). Based on the College List, there were 19 boys, including Robinson, in Jacobs House in 1861, of whom possibly only three lived at home in Christchurch.ⁱⁱ

According to the Lyttelton Times, Robinson was in the 3rd Form (Year 9) when he was awarded the Arithmetic Prize in both the Mid-Winter and end of year examinations ⁱⁱⁱ. A search of the Attendance and Behaviour Book notes that when he was enrolled he could read and write well, but had not begun Latin. The same volume provides information about his weekly place in class and his gradual improvement from 10th in a class of 11–16 boys to a regular second place. It also indicates that he required at various times a copy of a Latin Primer and a large slate.

Here for the first time, too, is information about the awarding of a Good Conduct Prize, which was presented by the Warden but involved both boys and Masters.

Finally, Jacobs indicates he will send the quarters account. The cost of boarding, washing included, was 50 guineas a year ^iv so added to that was presumably the cost of books, slates and other incidentals.

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i Christ’s College Register, August 1930 p 344
ii From Auckland Arthur Charles Smale (143); from Wellington George Noyes Baggett (156), Arthur Rowsell (139) and Frederick Arnold Baker (138), Frederick (148) and Richard Riddiford (149), Richard John Barton (96); from Wanganui Andrew Duncan (122); from Lyttelton Henry Thornton Dudley (59), Charles Edward Gundry (60), Robert McDonald Waitt (64); from Carsdale Station James Harding (142); from Temuka Edmund James (155); from Rangiora Frank Shrimpton (137); from Mt Thomas Edward Hatfield Brown (24); from Christchurch Frederick George (39) and Henry Lyttelton Brittan (66), Charles John Merton (71), Thomas Gordon (140). Henry Samuel Brown (42) from Mt Thomas may also have been in Jacobs House. The Lyttelton Times 3 July 1861 at the time of the Mid Winter Examinations indicates there were 18 boarders.
iii Lyttelton Times 3 July 1861 and 28 December 1861
iv George Cotterill advertised that his boarding fee was the same as the Headmaster’s. Lyttelton Times 6 April 1861

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CHRIST'S COLLEGE EVENTS

27 October	Business Banter – The Bostock Brothers story REGISTER NOW
29 October	Boarding Mothers Morning Tea BOOK NOW
29 October	The Pink Lunch BOOK NOW
21 November	Thanksgiving Service for Rev. Bosco Peters REGISTER HERE

CCOBA EVENTS

23 September	Queenstown, Wanaka and Arrowtown Long Lunch BOOK NOW
8 October	Wellington AGM and Long Lunch BOOK NOW
9 October	Wairarapa AGM and Long Lunch BOOK NOW
15 October	CCOBA Golf Tournament 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
29 October	Auckland AGM and Long Lunch BOOK NOW
19 NOVEMBER	Christchurch Long Lunch BOOK NOW
25 NOVEMBER	Christchurch YOBs BOOK NOW

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