Thanks for being on board with Boarding

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Boarding community in 2023. Brenna Nation has done a wonderful job with the leadership of the Friends of Boarding committee. This is a useful ‘feedback and feed forward forum’ for us. It has been a positive outlet where staff can bring issues and concerns to the table, as can parents. It is pleasing that we are usually all on the same page.

I would like to thank the Boarding staff. Kevin Harris, Henry Smith, Lionel Randall, and Monique Ellis-Martin have led their teams wonderfully throughout the year. The Boarding Housemaster role is certainly a vocation and I appreciate how much support these people and their families provide our boys.

To our matrons, Karen Adams, Sharon Cryer, and Stacey James, and our overnight nurse, Kirsty Black, thank you for looking after the health and wellbeing of our students and for all the communication that you have with the parents and the boys.

To Zac Knight and Claire Nicolson, once again – like Monique – you have subbed in so adroitly for the Housemasters as you continue to build positive relationships with our boys.

To our residential tutors, thank you in particular to Nick Karton (School House) and Josh Wood (Flower’s House), who are departing. Thank you also to Hunter Wilson, who has been the man of many jobs throughout our community, whether that is looking after the gym, helping in the Houses and within Jacobs, or with the Year 9 after-school programme. Good luck for your future endeavours.

Thanks to the Year 13 cohort. You have been great leaders and excellent ambassadors. The boys have been proud of you have been proudly waving the flag for Boarding throughout the year. You have been a motivated, innovative, and positive group. Enjoy what the future holds for you.

It will be great to see you all as the year comes to an end as we farewell our Year 13 students.

Boarding activities

Our boarders have enjoyed a fun-filled performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. in the Old Boys' Theatre and also honed their Airsoft survival skills during a busy weekend of activities.

What's for dinner?

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

Being your best right to the finish

This Is the last curriculum update of 2023 as classes draw to a close next week. In the coming week, all boys – from Years 9–13 – will be completing their final work across a range of courses, whether that be in a classroom or in an exam. It may be the easy path to go into ‘cruise mode’ for these last few days, but that is not the work habit we hope to ingrain in our boys. We expect to see all our boys finish well.

I recall that in younger days – when training for distance running – my training partner always encouraged me to find that last bit in the tank to up my speed and momentum at the end of a run. Boys, this is the time to do the same. A school year is definitely a marathon rather than a sprint, but digging deep and crossing that finish line with the best you can muster shows the grit and determination that is integral to College life. I know the boys have it in them and I look forward to seeing that purpose coming to the fore.

Years 9–11
Boys in Years 9–11 will then turn their attention to activities outside the classroom. Whether it be camp, service, or career exploration, there is much to be gained from these experiences. They all contribute to the holistic education that underpins our curriculum and I am confident a lot of learning will take place during this week as well.

Prize-giving
To round off our school year, comes one of my favourite events – prize-giving. The opportunity to celebrate prizewinners from all year levels together is one not to be missed. There is much to celebrate in the academic domain, whether it be excellence in particular subjects or overall academic awards. We will let prizewinners know of their awards at the end of next week or early the following week (with the time dependent on your year level). This is also a special day for the Year 11 students, who will all have the opportunity to cross the Town Hall stage and receive their Christ’s College Diploma – the culmination of a two-year programme. Tickets are limited, so if you have not already registered for your family allocation, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible in order to share in this great event. You need to secure your tickets by Monday 20 November by clicking here.

We will remember James Ogilvie-Grant – 11th Earl of Seafield

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Peace to you all in the name of God.

Every year, at the nearest school day to Anzac Day, we pause as a community for a Service of Remembrance of the Fallen.

Last Friday, as the students of Years 9–11 gathered for our regular Chapel service, we remembered again those who laid down their lives in service of others.

Many cultures across time have emphasised the need to remember those who have gone before us. In this way, they live on in the memory of the present. The College Chapel features carved names in stone of Old Boys and masters who have fallen in conflict. Our Library, too, remembers those who have served and died.

One name, at least in his given one, which is strangely and hauntingly omitted from the Memorial Wall to those who have died in the Great War 1914–1918 – the armistice of which was marked on Saturday 11th of the 11th – is James Ogilvie-Grant (1474).

Born in Oamaru in 1876, James attended Christ’s College in the 1890s, and from there on to Lincoln College. He emigrated to Scotland to assume the responsibilities of his peerage and answered the call in 1914. A captain in the Cameron Highlanders, James was mortally wounded on the front line on 11 November 1915. The war raged for another bloody three years before the Armistice was signed on the anniversary of his death. This year marks 108 years since James Ogilvie-Grant – The 11th Earl of Seafield – was killed in action while leading his men at the front.

Though it seems at times we have to delve a little deeper into our history beyond the nuance of the memorialists, one thing we will strive to do at College is always remember – “Their name liveth for evermore”.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will Remember Them

Round Square conferences and exchanges 2024

Year 13 students Tom Foster and Jack McKeown have recently spoken at Assembly about their life-changing experiences at the Round Square International conference in Kenya. During the conference, the boys met students from all over the world, engaged in group discussions (baraza groups), undertook service and adventure activities, and heard from inspiring keynote speakers. It was an exciting and enriching experience for both students.

In 2024, boys can apply to attend Round Square conferences in China, Australia, and Colombia.They also have the opportunity to take part in student exchanges in Australia and the United States, and possibly Ecuador and India.

Please click here to find all the details.

CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS

Upcoming careers dates

Christ's College CareerWise

The Christ’s College careers website, CareerWise, is a rich source of information about all things related to career information. You can subscribe here.

Year 13 Leavers 2023 – post-College plans

Below are the statistics, as of November, for Year 13 College student leaving at the end of 2023. In all, 89% intend to study at tertiary institutions in 2024 and 11% plan to work, take a GAP year, or start an apprenticeship.

The following percentages apply to those attending tertiary institutions in 2024 and their places of study.

• 31% University of Canterbury
• 18% University of Otago
• 17% Lincoln University
• 14% Victoria University of Wellington
• 6% University of Auckland
• 5% Overseas universities (China, UK, USA)
• 4% Australian universities
• 4% Ara Institute of Technology
• 1% Defence Forces

Of the 2023 leavers attending tertiary institutions in 2024, the following percentages indicate the intended areas of study.

• 31% Commerce/Commerce & Law
• 18% Engineering
• 9% Arts/Arts & Law
• 8% Science/Science & Law/Surveying
• 6% Agriculture, Viticulture, Horticulture
• 5% Health Sciences
• 5% Sport, Sport and Recreation Management
• 5% Property Management
• 5% Design/Fashion/Fine Arts
• 3% Architecture
• 3% Trades/Defence Forces
• 2% Broadcasting/Computing

School Leavers' Tool Kit

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

Parents as passengers on their teen’s career journey

Understand the career process so that you can successfully guide your teenager through the exploration process.

A money guide for students

MoneyHub has published a money guide to provide students with the tools and information so that they can develop a great relationship with money.

Student Jobs Guide

For those looking for a summer job, MoneyHub has produced a Student Jobs Guide, with tips on how to make an application and where to look for work.

Finding Your Pathway programme – Year 11 students

Year 11 students will be involved in multiple career-related activities during our ‘Finding Your Pathway’ programme in late November. The boys will visit two businesses, Foodstuffs and Archibalds, on Thursday 23 November while College will host guest speakers on Friday 24 November.

From Monday 27 November–Wednesday 29 November, the boys will visit Lincoln University, the University of Canterbury, and Ara so that they can explore each campus, and learn about the different degrees, diplomas, and opportunities on offer. On Thursday 30 November, tertiary providers Whitecliffe, SIT, MAINZ, Yoobee, and the New Zealand Broadcasting School will deliver brief presentations to the boys at College.

Christ’s College Cricket Club Score and Minute Book 1859–1862

At first glance, this volume looks promising – a detailed account of the beginning of the cricket club from the year that the game was recognised as a summer sport. It turns out that way, but it takes a while to get there.

P3 begins with two lists of names – the 1st XI of 1859. William Guise Brittan (10), Charles Thornton Dudley (21), George Harper (84), Henry Frederick Mason (83), Frank Mathias (3), Frank Morton Ollivier (89), Wilby Morton Ollivier (88), John Morton Ollivier (94), Charles Edward Phillips (captain) (61), Thomas Albert Phillips (77), and Talbot Brabazon Scott (33).

To whom are added A Hastings, Charles John Merton (71), Thomas Richard Moore (93), George Dye Draper (17), and Alured George Mathias (37) to make up the XVII of the College.ⁱ

Interspersed with draft rules, reports of expenditure, and internal and external games are lists.ⁱⁱ Some are clearly team lists, but there are other lists of non-playing, subscribing supporters or honorary members with names like Rev’d Henry Jacobs, Mrs Brittan, Mrs Harper, Mr De Troy, and Frederick Thompson. Also included were the names of boys who subscribed to the club, and it was on the basis that that they had paid their subscriptions that they were elected to play.

Initially, games were in-house. However, there are three games mentioned in 1859. Avonside was played on 26 October, with a return match at Mr WG Brittan’s field on 31 November, and against Kaiapoi on 23 December. Only the return match is reported.

This book also provides the first indication of a playing uniform. The XI were to appear in white trousers with blue caps.ⁱⁱⁱ It was not until 1874 that black and white became official.

Conveniently, the last pages of the book overlap with the beginning of the Games Committee Book. It confirms that by 1862, cricket has been formed into the Upper and Lower Clubs.

In 1862, they teamed up with the Union Club and played the Albion Club 2nd XI three times. Christ’s College provided most of the combined team: Arthur James Cotterill (63), Frank Morton Ollivier (89) Richard John Barton (96), Arthur Robert Guinness (31), Thomas Morton Ollivier (135), Thomas Richard Moore (93), Edward Parkerson (40), Charles Devey Fearon (144), and Frederick Arnold Baker (138).^iv

It was not until 1886 that the cricket blazer was worn for the first time. This photograph of the 1892 team shows George Thorngate Weston (1433) wearing the oldest cricket cap in the College Collection.

ⁱ There are inconsistencies in the various sources regarding those who were in the 1st XI or XVI or XVII in 1859. The 1850–1950 School List names John James Thomson (43) and Herbert John Mathias (2), who had already left College. A Hastings appears in both the cricket club book and the teams that played Avonside in 1859, but he is not in the School List.

ⁱⁱ See Lyttelton Times 30 March 1859, 16 April 1859, 3 December 1859 for accounts of these matches vs XVI of the College.
ⁱⁱⁱ Cricket Club Scorebook and Minute Book 18 November 1861. These colours are not mentioned in the Games Committee Minute Book until 11 August 1863.
^iv See Lyttelton Times 15 March 1862, 22 March 1862, 9 April 1862. Games Committee Minute Book 15 April 1862.