It is wonderful to have all the boys back for the new year and to see the Year 9 boys settling in so well. It has been great to also have the boys here for the Waitangi weekend as we come together as a boarding community.

Boarding activities

Our boarding activity programme is under way, with the water-based activities proving to be the perfect start amid the high temperatures. From Jellie Park to stand-up paddleboarding to the high-ropes course and the Aqualand water park, the boys have made a big splash. On Saturday, they hit the high notes with a karaoke fun night while the weekend wrapped up with an interhouse challenge day and pool time.

Matron role

There has been discussion in our boarding community regarding changes to the matron role. When I was appointed to this role, it was clear that at some point in the near future one of our matrons was likely to retire. Having spoken with similar schools, we knew that they had found it challenging to replace wonderful individuals such as Karen Adams and Sharon Cryer with people of equally high quality. In reality, many of these schools believed they had to change their models, as a woman living by herself in residence with 60-plus teenage boys was not as appealing as it had been in the past. In response, we began researching various boarding house models in New Zealand and Australia.

When Richards House Matron Jan Kelleher retired at the end of 2021, we took our time to begin setting up the transition to a new model. Throughout the interview process, it was very clear that there was little appetite from the candidates to live in. This process ended in the appointments of Stacey James and Kirsty Black.

Stacey works as the non-residential Matron in Richards House. She arrives at 6.30am to wake the boys and get them off to school. She also takes the boys to medical appointments and fulfils the same duties as the matrons in Flower’s House and School House. In the afternoon, she meets the boys after they return from school. As the residential House staff and non-residential tutors come on after dinner, Stacey goes off duty and returns home. Throughout the evening, we have two House staff on duty.

From 10pm–6.45am, Kirsty Black, our residential registered nurse, is on duty. Kirsty is on call, with the boys able to communicate with her through a call system, centralised in all Houses. All boys have been taught to use the system. Kirsty lives in a nearby College house. She responds and gets up to the boys throughout the night to deal with any issues – from homesickness through to serious ailments. If Kirsty needs to take the boys to the GP, she does so.

The roles of Karen and Sharon do not change, except that they will no longer get up overnight to the boys from Sunday to Thursday, as Kirsty now does so. As Fridays and Saturdays are Kirsty’s rostered days off, Karen and Sharon fulfil this role.

At present, we are in discussions with Sharon and Karen about how they want to move forward with their roles. This is a two-way conversation. As this is an employment discussion, it is confidential. However, at all times, the care of your children is prioritised. We have a lot of respect for Karen and Sharon and this is reflected within our discussions.

Boarding Facebook page

To connect with boarding families, we have set up a dedicated boarding Facebook page, click here.

What's for dinner?

View the Dining Hall menu produced by the talented team at Spotless.

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No shortcuts in learning at school and home

It’s a new year and a fresh start for students and teachers alike, and it’s already off to a successful start at Christ’s College. This year, the focus is on consolidating the best teaching and learning practices, to ensure that all students receive a top-quality education.

The positive energy and enthusiasm in the classrooms is palpable, and our teachers have been putting their expertise to use in crafting engaging lesson plans that are both informative and fun. Our students are eager to learn and are approaching their studies with a growth mindset, which bodes well for their future success.

At Christ’s College, we believe that education is a partnership between the school, the students, and the families. With everyone working together, we are confident that this will be a memorable year, filled with meaningful experiences and academic growth.

The three paragraphs above were generated by the new AI tool, ChatGPT, in less than one minute. I want to demonstrate to our community just how articulate this tool can be. I do not feel this needs to be banished from schools, as some commentators have argued. This technology has the potential to be hugely powerful if used well, but it also has the potential to hinder learning if used as a substitute for original work. We will work with students on how to harness the benefits but it is important to understand that it enables shortcuts that undermine the whole point of the education boys are at College to receive. I would encourage discussions at home as to the appropriate use of emerging technologies.

The discussion of not taking shortcuts with learning is timely as we are working as staff to implement the new Homework Policy that is the culmination of extensive research by the Centre for Teaching Excellence & Research last year. I wish to bring attention to some key points below.

We are recommending time limits per night for homework, based on age and stage.

Cathy Vatterott, an expert in the field, summarises: “The gist of the research is that a small amount of homework may be good for learning, but too much homework can actually be bad for learning.”

Our goal is to reinforce classroom learning with meaningful, efficient tasks. Our boys are busy young men with sport and cultural pursuits as well, so ensuring homework does not impede much-needed rest and a full night’s sleep (which are just as important for learning) is also an important aspect of these time limits.

We also wish to use this new, revised Homework Policy to support students in independent study. Especially in senior years, they may not be assigned a specific task in every class, but that does not mean there is no work to be done. This will be an ongoing discussion that may take time to be embedded but will reap rewards long term. And also, significantly, the policy mentions (perhaps most relevant to our junior students who do not have the demands of NCEA) utilising homework time for reading for pleasure is a very valid and recommended task if all classwork is up to date.

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It’s the little things

The start of a school year is an exciting time, filled with possibilities and opportunities for growth and learning. Whether it is the excitement of reuniting with friends, the thrill of taking on new subjects and activities, or the anticipation of what the future holds, the start of a school year is a time to embrace change and look forward with hope, optimism, and curiosity. There has been such a vibrant energy around school over this past week as we have welcomed new students, staff, and their whānau to our school community and reconnected with returning students and colleagues.

With new classes, routines, and social opportunities, it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all. This ‘busyness’, while bringing with it a sense of anticipation and excitement for what the future holds, can also feel a little overwhelming. Pausing and being present can help us to slow down and connect with our inner selves, reducing the feeling of overwhelm and increasing our overall wellbeing.

I noticed my own feelings of frustration and overwhelm this morning while trying to complete the daily school drop-off. One minute we were waiting for that elusive gap onto Rossall Street, then frantically trying to make the Carlton Mill lights with a sea of red tail lights stretching ahead of us. There may have been some short-temperedness with a late lane change from the car beside us only then to narrowly miss the cyclist weaving between the lanes and a couple of pedestrians trying to cut across from the park. That early morning urgency, when we all need to be somewhere at a certain time, creates a whole new level of busyness. And yet, just as school was in sight, the traffic slowed to a standstill and paused to allow a mother duck and her three nearly grown ducklings to safely cross the road. And we all smiled at this little moment of joy and then calmly set off on our way.

Whether it is the new school year excitement or busyness that you find yourself facing, it is important to take notice of, and cherish, the small moments of joy that arise throughout our days. Whether it is a kind word from a friend, a compliment from a teacher, the sun on the school Chapel in the morning or a smile around the Quad, these moments can bring a sense of peace and happiness in the midst of a busy schedule.

By taking the time to notice these moments, we can cultivate gratitude and positivity, even in the midst of a busy year. By finding joy in the little things, we can increase our overall wellbeing and make the most of the opportunities that a new school year has to offer.

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From an Olympiad to university, opening the door to opportunities

This year, Advanced Learning offers boys a range of opportunities for development and growth. While some will be familiar from previous years, there are also some exciting new inter-school competitions on offer.

Several Advanced Learning opportunities can be used as evidence for elements of the Christ’s College Diploma. Boys are reminded to monitor the student notices as information on events and opportunities will be posted when it becomes available.

Star Courses

The University of Canterbury offers a range of subsidised courses to Years 12–13 students. Enrolments will be taken shortly for semester one and dual semester courses. Enrolments for semester two-only courses will take place in July. If you are in Year 12 and considering taking MATH199 next year, please email Head of Advanced Learning Emma Bracken to arrange a time to meet and discuss the prerequisites.

Senior Ethics Olympiad

The Senior Ethics Olympiad will be held on Friday 19 May. The Ethics Olympiad fosters collaboration and co-operation and develops critical-thinking skills. Team members work together to develop approaches to contemporary ethical conundrums. Weekly training will soon get under way. Details will be provided in the notices.

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Medical records update

Happy New Year and a warm welcome to our new families who have joined the College community this year. It feels reassuring to start a school year with more certainty than the previous three years.

If your son/sons have experienced any changes to their health over the holidays, please update their medical records via the parent portal. If you have any concerns regarding the health of your son, do not hesitate to contact us via healthcentre@christscollege.com.

We look forward to working alongside you in 2023.

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Chapel core to College life

Tēnā koutou katoa.
Peace to you all in the name of God.

As we begin the new year – my second as Chaplain to Christ’s College – there is a welcome return to numerous Services of Thanksgiving and traditional rites and passages unable to be held last year under Covid-19 restrictions.

As a staff, we gathered in Chapel the week before school returned, and the next week welcomed Year 9 students to College. We have again gathered as a whole to induct the 2023 Prefects, and also come together for our Waitangi Day service.

During the academic break, our wider College community gathered in Chapel on several occasions to farewell and commend to God those who had connections with College. It is a privilege to be alongside people and families on your behalf at such times.

We have received letters of thanks from the Christchurch City Mission, Christian World Service, and Women’s Refuge, all of which are worthy recipients of 2022 Chapel service collections. This year, we hope to continue to lighten the load of these agencies, which do so much good in our city and world.

Evensong Service

I extend a warm welcome to all parents and caregivers, supporters and friends of Christ’s College to join us for our first Evensong Service this Sunday 12 February at 7pm. Our Choir continues to go from strength to strength numerically and it does us all good to stop amid a busy start to the year and give common worship and thanks for all the blessings of life.

Meanwhile, our new Chapel Prefects, Edward Nye and George Brackenridge, have shared their thoughts on their roles below.

While being a Chapel Prefect, I hope to help parents and boys understand that the Chapel is a core part of life at Christ’s College and that it is a place for everyone in school no matter who you are. The role of Chapel Prefect comes with challenges, like writing rosters and finding other Prefects to help with ushering in the services as well. These things will all be easier with the help of my co-prefect, George, and I look forward to the skills these opportunities will develop.
– Edward Nye

It is an honour and privilege to be named a Chapel Prefect at College. Leadership, to me, means empowering others and leading by example. I want to foster a greater understanding of Chapel to the new boys of the school. During Covid-19, when we were unable to attend Chapel, I felt a huge part of my sense of belonging disappear. I aim to impart this appreciation and respect that I was fortunate enough to experience in my junior years to others. I believe Chapel is such an integral part of our educational journey and provides enlightenment to all boys.
– George Brackenridge

As we have begun so may we continue, in the knowledge and love of God, who has called us together.

May God bless you all this week,

Yours in Christ,
The Rev'd Cameron Pickering

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CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS

Tuesday 7 February and Thursday 9 February	Parent Education Evening – Making use of the Parent Portal Register here.
Monday 13 February, 6pm	Sumner Community Visit Book now.
Friday 17 February, 4.30pm	CCOBA AGM
Friday 17–Sunday 19 February	CCOBA Reunion Weekend 2023 Register here.
Monday 20 February, 6pm	Tai Tapu, Selwyn, and Lincoln Community Visit Book now.
Thursday 23 February	Welcome to Christ's College – Year 9 parent registration Register here.
Thursday 23 February	Year 10 Welcome back to Christ's College Register here.
Sunday 26 February, 10am	Joe Studholme Memorial Vintage Classic Car Day Book now.
Tuesday 28 February, 6pm	Waimakariri Community Visit Book now.
Wednesday 1 March, 7.30pm	Parent Education Evening – In your skin – Relationships and Sexuality Education Book now.
Thursday 2 March, 6pm	North Canterbury Community Visit Book now.
Saturday 4 March, 12pm	CCOBA Yacht Race Register here.
Monday 6 March, 7pm	Diploma Information Evening for parents of Years 10–11 Book now.
Thursday 9 March, 6pm	Southern Lakes Community Visit Book now.
Thursday 9 March, 7pm	NCEA Information Evening for parents of Years 12–13 students Book now.
Thursday 23 March, 7pm	Parent Education Evening with Lea Stening – Sports nutrition for teens Book now.
Sunday 26 March, 2pm	CCOBA vs College Hockey Register here.

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Upcoming careers dates

28 February	Victoria University of Wellington liaison visit, 1pm, Year 13, W101
2 March	University of Canterbury (UC) liaison visit, 8.15am, Year 13, Fine Arts building
9 March	University of Otago liaison visit, 8.15am, Year 13, Fine Arts building
15 March	University of Canterbury (UC) liaison visit, 10.15am, Year 12, during Congers
7–8 May	Otago Tertiary Open Day – College to take group
11 May	Careers Expo, 9am, Year 12, Christchurch Arena
17 May	Lincoln University, 10.15am, Year 12, during Congers
24 May	NZ Defence Force, 10.15am, Year 11, during Congers

Christ's College CareerWise

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

School subjects and career opportunities

Discover where your school subjects can take you. Careers NZ has put together posters featuring career opportunities. Boys can learn more about career options based on subjects they enjoy.

Career interviews

One-on-one career talks with Year 13 students are under way. I will work through all the Houses, seeing boys during study periods. If your son (in any year group) needs immediate help, please ask him to contact me. I will find a time as soon as possible and will follow-up with you by phone. Year 12 interviews will start in Term 2, and Year 11 interviews in Term 3.

Careers sessions

Careers sessions with liaison officers from different tertiary providers will be held for Years 11–13 students throughout the year.

Career Convos

During the year, College hosts presentations from Old Boys who share their post-school journey and detail their careers. Our Career Conovos are held on various Thursdays from 8.15–9.10am in the Jacobs House Leadership Lounge. It is an informal setting, with breakfast provided. Last year, the speakers included builders, medical students, architects, and engineers.

Career view

I recommend that all parents and students – regardless of their future university of choice – look at the Career View resources published by Victoria University of Wellington. Career View provides detailed information on where the different subjects can take you in terms of skills and career pathways. See more here – Victoria University of Wellington careers website.

In Black & White – Careers

I share a range of relevant information with parents and boys via In Black & White. However, I am aware that not all boys read the school newsletter, so I hope parents will use the information provided as a springboard for investigation, discussion, and inspiration to support their sons as they consider their futures.

Please contact me with any suggestions regarding careers, or if you require any career-related advice for your son.

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100 years ago – 1923

If you look up the New Zealand History website for key events in 1923ⁱ, you discover that this was the year that the Otira Tunnel was opened, writer Katherine Mansfield died, the National Bird Protection Society (later The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society) was founded, the first Chatham Cup football game was played between Seacliff from Otago and the Wellington YMCA, and New Zealand was allocated administration of the Ross Dependency.

However, what was going on in our small corner of the world at Christ’s College?

In all, 63 boys of various ages enrolled in February, and were allocated to School, Flower’s, Jenkins, North Town, South Town, and Condell’s Houses. They included Geoffrey Buckland Orbell (3550), who would rediscover the takahe, Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and Bar (3565), Charles Hilgendorf (3534), who was knighted for public services, especially as Chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board, and Paul Scott Sergel (3559), who co- founded St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton.

Term began on Friday 9 February, and on 24 February, most of the school went to the Canterbury vs Wellington cricket game at Lancaster Park.ⁱⁱ The boarders went to the Westminster Glee Singers on 17 March, and, on 22 April, there was a service in the Chapel for the dedication of a memorial to the Old Boys who fell in the Great War.ⁱⁱⁱ

Flower’s House won the interhouse cricket and, because of the hard state of the grounds, it was not possible to begin football (rugby) until a week after Easter. The Swimming Sports were held at both Corsair Bay, where Francis Karl Morris (3545) was 2nd in the U13 100 yards, and in the baths, where Arthur Charles Knight (3537) was 2nd in the Forms 1–2, 30-yards race.

By the time the August College Register was published, it was able to include the results of the Tancred History essay competition, with Robert Archibald Whyte (3573), Peter Sidney Plummer (3553), and Harold Frederick Harding (3530) placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively, in Class C.

There is no doubt that some of those 63 boys were members of the choir, but, unfortunately, because of influenza practices, it had to be discontinued for a while. They, and all other boys at College, regularly attended Chapel services.

Athletic Sports Day was on 11 October, but “the weather was really bad, rain fell at intervals throughout the day, and a cold southerly wind prevailed which made things unpleasant for both competitors and spectators, though luckily the heaviest downpour occurred during the luncheon adjournment”.^iv

Unfortunately, Eric Stephen Gerard (3528) was beaten in the final of the lightweight boxing competition and Paul Harper Fortnoum Cox (3522) was 8th in the junior gymnastics competition.

The end of the year was rounded out by the 15 December dance in the gymnasium, the 16 December Commemoration Service in the Cathedral that honoured the founders of the Canterbury Settlement, and the 17 December Prize-giving.

The prize winners among the 63 boys who had enrolled in various classes at the beginning of the year were:

Denis Sidley Anderson (3514), Latin
Roger Fairbairn Ballantyne (3516), French
Geoffrey Harington Dunkley (3525), Tancred Literature
Harold Frederick Harding, Tancred Literature
James Howard Hewlett (3532), French
Charles Hilgendorf, English
John Hawdon Lascelles (3539), French, Junior Somes Scholarship
Edward Weston Morrah (3544), Latin
John Tarratt Alan Neville (3548), Tancred Literature
Paul Scott Sergel, English, Mathematics
David Mortimer Taylor (3563), Latin
Morvyn Williams (3568), English
David Dumville Thorpe (3564), Latin, French, Mathematics
Charles Hazlitt Upham, Science
Basil Archdall Wright (3574), Science

ⁱ https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-1920s/1923
ⁱⁱ Canterbury won by 114 runs after many days rain delays, Star 1 March 1923.
ⁱⁱⁱ This was replaced by the present memorial when the Chapel was extended in the 1950s.
^iv Christ’s College Register, December 1923 p302.

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