We all appreciate just how different our world has been since January 2020. Interestingly, our start-of-year routines were not overly affected until this year when several of our regular activities were compromised by crowd limitations and the wearing of masks under the Red Traffic Light setting.
It certainly has been a little different but there has definitely been a glint in the eyes of all our boys and staff. I sense that they like being back at College and those whānau who would normally join us have had the opportunity to do so online for special events and some educational programmes. We are fortunate to find ourselves at school and essentially participating in a complete programme.
Adaptability has already come to the fore. The Open Air Block is exactly that, with the principle being extended to other classrooms and Houses across the campus. As a consequence of being a secondary school and our attention to mask wearing and keeping classrooms well-aired, we will find ourselves in a very strong position as it relates to close or casual contact when we have a Covid-19 case on-site.
Like many within the community, we are just getting on with it – that being said with a sense of underlying anxiousness as to what the future may hold. Our approach has been to do what we can, when we can and while we can. The best example of this was the way our rowers participated in the Canterbury Championships this year where they found themselves in their bubbles unless they were racing and, by doing so, allowed the racing to proceed.
Our annual MMG Survey
Last year, the entire parent and student community was asked to participate in our annual MMG Survey. The 2021 survey allowed direct comparison with 2016 in a variety of key areas as it involved all year groups. This feedback provides significant insight into our programmes and helps the school reflect and plan. You will find here an extract from the full Parent Report. It was presented and discussed with the College Board at the end of 2021. Our results were generally very encouraging and we were also grateful to receive honest and open commentary on areas for improvement. As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have thoughts on how College can better achieve its mission and strategic intent.
Positive steps
I am pleased and excited about where College is heading in 2022. Our enrolment is at record levels. We are also introducing our much lauded College Diploma programme for boys in Years 10–11 and our Wellbeing programmes are embedded in our curriculum across all year levels. We are also on the wave of exceptional co-curricular outcomes in both sport and cultural activities. We have so much to celebrate and look forward to while we kick Covid-19 to the corner!