Parent Portal

For those unable to attend our recent Parent Portal Information Evening, you can find the presentation here to help you navigate the portal.

After-school pick-up by parents

We have again received several complaints from the public regarding parent parking around College, particularly in Gloucester Street. While acknowledging it can be busy during the after-school pick-up period, please do not double park or park across driveways as this is resulting in dangerous situations for other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. We have also received complaints regarding parents parking in the disability car park spaces in Rolleston Avenue. To avoid these issues, please ask your son to walk to where you are appropriately parked.

Electric Avenue music festival – 21–22 February 

A reminder that this Friday 21 February College will close at 12.50pm. This is due to Electric Avenue now being held over two days in North Hagley Park and the high numbers expected to attend. The normal  morning routine – as outlined below – will apply.

8.15am – House Roll Call
8.30am – Chapel
9am – Period 1
9.55am – Period 2
10.45am – Break
11.05am – Period 3
12pm – Period 4
12.50pm – End of school day

Christ’s College Museum – 175 years of history in the making

It has taken 175 years, but Christ’s College now has its own Museum. Funded by the 2023 Annual Appeal, the College Museum is packed with stories, images, treasures, and memories spanning the history of the school.

Located in the Hare Memorial Library (overlooking the Quad) and designed by Old Boy architect Alec Bruce, the new Museum is wrapped in a hallowed heritage building.

Major Old Boy donor Peter Margoliouth has climbed the wooden stairs and stepped into the museum room named in his honour to formally cut the black-and-white ribbon to open this special space in front of many donors. All have shown their commitment to protecting the past for the benefit of future generations of College boys and families.

“Throughout my life I have wanted to do something for College,” Peter explains. “College was good to me and I have certainly benefited from it throughout my life. What better way to contribute to College than the new Museum.

“My love of history was nurtured at College. Now, I want to share that history with many generations. I was pretty good at History at College, thanks to an outstanding master, Don Hamilton. And my favourite place during my time at College was the Hare Memorial Library. Its steeped deep in history. By supporting the Museum, it is also another way to keep my surname alive as I am the last. It is now here forever. I know my parents would be very proud to see my name above the door within the Hare Memorial Library. My father, Walter, was also an Old Boy, arriving at College in 1927.”

For Alec Bruce, “creating a dedicated Museum here at College is very overdue”.

“The history of College is something we can all be proud of,” he says. “This Museum is a record of a journey made by committed, capable, conscientious people with a mission to educate young men – to help them achieve their potential. Not only is the school still here 175 years later … it is thriving. This new Museum displays the evolution to date. Today is the moving edge of history.”

The Museum opens the door to Old Boys’ “authentic, genuine, personal memories”.

“And they will see again … where we have come from, to reaffirm their sense of identity and place. Archivist Jane Teal has created a remarkable legacy and College would be very much poorer without it.”

For Jane, the opening ceremony marks the fulfilment of 10 years of dedication to delivering the College Museum. While the College heritage lives on in every boy who passes through the school gates, it can now be proudly displayed.

Fellow archivist Anne Gabrielsson, former Executive Principal Garth Wynne, Old Boy artist Oliver Roake, the Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association, and the Christ’s College Parents’ Association have all played significant roles in enabling the Museum.

What does it mean to be Christ’s College?

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Peace to you all in the name of God.

It was wonderful to be joined by more than 300 Old Boys and supporters of Christ’s College, exchanging their ‘Black Tie’ for a hymn book and Service of Holy Communion last Sunday.

As we gathered to give thanks to God and pray for the present and future of our College, we were joined by two Wardens, The Right Reverend Dr David Coles (1990–2008) and The Right Reverend Dr Peter Carrell (2019–present). Thank you also to long-serving College Chaplain Bosco Peters (1998–2021) for his contribution.

Though repeated across Christendom on a thousand consecutive Sundays, it is hard to imagine a chapel or cathedral roof being lifted in praise as ours was this past weekend. Thank you to all who participated, and, as always, Glory be to God.

I include a portion of Bishop Peter’s Sermon below. His vision for where we stand in 25 years as a community of inclusivity and opportunity is a call to us all.

Christ’s College 175th Eucharist – 16 February 2025

Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26

What does it mean to be Christ’s College?

Jesus Christ challenges us to go beyond notions of ‘Christian gentlemen’ as the ideal spiritual outcome of education here.

When Jesus pronounces blessings on the materially poor and woes on the materially blessed, he issues a deep provocation to all who take seriously his call to follow him.

How might the world be changed so that each human being has the opportunity to flourish, not just some?

 This year we give thanks for 175 years of amazing education, and sporting and cultural achievement.

‘Each boy at his best’ through the past decade or so has been a significant theme for this school to develop true respect for the dignity of each student here.

The response of College to complaints of abuse here has been a profound expression of Christian sorrow and regret for the past and compassion in the present.

Looking ahead, what vision will drive this College forward?

The greatest challenge for the future of Christ’s College is to engage with Jesus Christ and the application of his teaching for the education of our students. Within that teaching lies the profound challenge of how a school bearing Christ’s name is a community open to all boys who seek a Christian education in the Anglican tradition.

In my vision for the school, I would like the 200th anniversary of this school to give thanks for a huge advancement in our scholarship benefactions to enable more boys from all sections of our society to be blessed by the education this school offers.

– The Right Reverend Dr Peter Carrell, Bishop of Christchurch, College Warden, Old Boy (8724)

Yours in Christ,

The Reverend Canon Cameron Pickering

Christ’s College Athletics Day

We have all enjoyed an action-packed Athletics Day in warm conditions at Ngā Puna Wai. It has been great to see the boys giving their best, along with the 15 Old Boys racing to lift the Corfe Cup. Special thanks must go to Athletics Master-in-Charge Graeme Christey for his excellent work in once again organising Athletics Day. 

Thank you also to our volunteers for all their efforts. It has been great to see so many parents there supporting their sons, adding to the success of the event. Below are some photos that capture the excitement of the day. We will publish the results later in the week.

What is Round Square?

With our new Year 9s coming on board, it is timely to learn more about Round Square and its role at College. It gives our boys the opportunity to embrace and grow a global perspective through learning opportunities, connections, and collaborations with other Round Square schools, student exchanges, service projects, and conferences.

Our involvement is largely student-driven, with our Round Square senior and junior committees leading initiatives across the school and among the network. Other student committees work within the Round Square framework in terms of democratic processes, leadership, adventure, and service.

Founder Kurt Hahn believed that “there is more in us than we know, [and] if we could be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we would be unwilling to settle for less”. 

Today, Round Square chief executive Rachael Westgarth points out that “given the right opportunities, and encouragement, we can each dig a little deeper and achieve more than we might expect”.

“When we put our minds to it, we can be kinder, listen more, study harder, be braver, speak up, climb higher, be better friends to one another, travel further, volunteer more, be happier, challenge ourselves, and achieve greater goals,” she shares. “And in doing so, we can discover a greater strength of character.

“In a world that is becoming increasingly virtual, in which seemingly infinite knowledge is at our fingertips at all times, it has never been more important for education to focus on building character. In the age of AI, the next generation will be defined by its humaneness – those human qualities and that practical intelligence that cannot be replaced.

"We need them to be tenacious and responsible problem solvers, who are committed to sustainability. We want them to be inquisitive and inventive, self-aware, and able to communicate across cultures with an appreciation of diversity. Most importantly, we hope they will be courageous, and, at the same time, compassionate.”

These are all qualities that students in Round Square schools – such as Christ’s College – discover and develop through interacting with six themes: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service (IDEALS).

By exploring these themes across different cultures between 50 countries, and over 60 years, the schools in the Round Square network have “built a strong, supportive and collaborative community that creates opportunities for young people to explore the world through interacting with their peers across the globe”.

Boys or parents who want to find out more can contact me at sarah.davidson@christscollege.com

A thirst for thought on staying hydrated

Staying well-hydrated is key to maintaining focus, energy, and overall wellbeing throughout the school day. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and even headaches.

We encourage boys to drink water regularly, especially during breaks. Carrying a water bottle to school and refilling it during the day is an easy habit to develop.

Top tips

• Eat hydrating foods such as oranges, watermelon, and cucumbers
• Avoid sugary drinks or energy drinks as they can make you more dehydrated
• Drink before you feel thirsty. Being thirsty is a sign that you are already getting dehydrated, so try drinking water regularly.

Supporters gear up for College

College families can choose from an array of supporters’ gear at the Uniform Shop in Gloucester Street. From scarves and jerseys to caps and beanies, and bucket hats, you can show your support for Christ’s College and your son’s team by donning our special gear. They are also ideal birthday presents for wider members of our College family.

Please call in to our Uniform Shop on Mondays 10–4pm, Tuesdays 10.30–4pm, or Wednesdays 10–4pm to view the range of supporters’ gear, or email the Uniform Shop Manager directly at uniformshop@christscollege.com.

CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS