Positive co-requisite results 

In May this year, we had the first opportunity to undertake the co-requisite assessments. The recently released results have been very positive and well above the national averages. In Reading (Year 11), College had a 97.8% pass rate, while in Writing (Year 11), there was a 91% pass rate. In Numeracy (Year 10), the boys recorded a 93% pass rate. These are very strong results for a first attempt and highlight the proactive approach by English, Mathematics, and Learning Support staff in ensuring our boys build these skills from Year 9. 

Boys can access their results by logging into NZQA with their username and password. Should the result not have been favourable this time, teachers will look at the marking rubrics to support the boys for their next opportunity in the first week of September. 

Internal assessments and Prep courses

Term 3 aims to finish where Term 2 has left off. Our seniors are busy with internal assessments and our Year 11 Diploma students have started their Prep courses and need to finalise their bids before the end of the term. School exams will be held in Week 6, alongside various trips, and cultural, sporting, and enrichment activities. 

While it may seem as if Term 3 has just started, it is time to think about courses for next year. As a school, our timetable is built around the choices that students make. We start with their selections and build from that point.

With that in mind, we have two important upcoming evenings for parents and students. Both are designed to help with the options selection process. 

On Thursday 7 August, we have the NCEA subject selection information evening for current Years 11–12 students. It will include a brief review of NCEA requirements. However, it is largely focused on boys having the opportunity to speak with representatives from each department. Representatives from the three local tertiary institutions will also be available to answer questions. 

On Monday 18 August, we have our Diploma subject selection evening for current Years 9–10 students. It will introduce – and explain – the choices, including the requirements for those entering the second year of the Diploma. Representatives from every department will be present so that everyone can ask questions about different courses or pathways.

Prior to each evening, the NCEA Course Booklet and the Diploma Course Booklet will be made available on the school website and parent portal, and communicated via email so that parents and boys can read about the course choices. 

Further details regarding each of the events will be communicated via email shortly.

In addition to subject choices, Term 3 is also a time for our senior boys to start thinking about the NCEA external examination preparation. While November is a few months away, in school weeks it is not far away at all. School examinations will be held in Week 6 this term. These are an extremely important part of the preparation for the end of the year. Not only do they provide derived grades for those boys unable to sit the NCEA examinations due to illness or other mitigating circumstances, they offer an opportunity to experience exam conditions, and deal with time management, nerves, questions in different formats, and multiple papers at one time. 

There is sometimes a ‘laissez-faire’ attitude towards school exams as not being that important, or a thought that “I won’t be sick at the end of the year”, or “I’ll see how well I do with no study”. This approach is ill-advised and not conducive to success. While it is difficult to be fully prepared, it is strongly recommended that boys do prepare. It is usual for grades to improve by the end of the year, but the full value of this experience – and the feedback that teachers provide – is vital to your son’s learning, progress, and success. 

Nurturing an environment for Christian education

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Peace to you all in the name of God.

Dearly beloved, it was a joy to join more than 100 students, parents, and teachers on the banks of the Avon on Sunday for our 175th Celebratory tree planting. David Newton and his merry men can often be found in the red zone at weekends, planting native trees grown at College by students from across the city. I commend the work of Eco-Action to you all, and thank the boys and Mr Newton for the opportunity to plant for the future.

Next week, Christ’s College, in conjunction with St Margaret’s College, welcomes The Anglican Schools Conference delegates. More than 30 school leaders, three Archbishops, and five Bishops, along with chaplains and Religious Education teachers from across the Pacific (including Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga), will join us at College for this special gathering.

It is an opportunity to share ideas, strengthen ties, and find ways of mutual support in an age where Christian-based values education – of that peculiarly Anglican varietal – is sought and needed by necessity of the world around the students of today. I invite parents/caregivers and supporters to join us for a Choral Evensong on Thursday 31 July at 6pm in the Chapel 

The conference theme is ‘Reimagining Anglican/Mihinare Identity in a Three Tikanga Church’. I will not hazard a guess on what that will look and sound like, but it is a privilege to host so many brother and sister Anglican schools. 

When in doubt, consult the Psalmist…

“This is the generation of them that seek him; * even of them that seek thy face, O God of Jacob.”

Yours in Christ,

Cameron Pickering

A Spelling Bee and ethical questions

Spelling Bee

Years 9–10 students can sign up for the Aotearoa New Zealand Spelling Bee competition. For the past two years, College students have qualified for a travel and accommodation package (including parents/caregiver) to compete at the Spelling Bee Final in Wellington for the chance to win $5000. Students need to  email me at ebracken@christscollege.com to register. 

Middle School Ethics Olympiad

Students can sign up through Schoolbox notices in the coming week for the Middle School Ethics Olympiad. In the past, College students have excelled at both the Middle School and Senior School levels. In the Middle School Olympiad, students will consider how to best address issues using a range of ethical approaches to matters such as Elon Musk naming his child X Æ A-12X and the morality of bullfighting, among other topics. 

Warding off winter illness

We are halfway through the school year and feeling the winter chill, so it is timely to share a few tips for keeping bugs at bay.

• Wash hands (20–30 seconds) and dry thoroughly.
• Identify any symptoms (temperature, runny nose, sore throat, cough, fatigue).
• Notify the school if you are sick. Stay home. (Absence line: 03 364 8676).
• Treat your symptoms (Paracetamol, lozenges, adequate nutrition and fluids).
• Engage in good hygiene practices (cough/sneeze into your elbow; wash/sanitise your hands).
• Rest and avoid contact with others, remaining at home until 48 hours symptom-free.

We encourage parents to update any medical information regarding your son via the parent portal on the College website, or by emailing the Health Centre at healthcentre@christscollege.com. This ensures that we have the most current information, should your son require our services. 

Meet 'Sam the Trap Man' – author, hunter, and conservationist

We are excited to invite whānau and members of our school community to a special author event that’s just as much for the adults as it is for our boys.

Each school holiday, we choose a book for our ‘Shared Holiday Read’. It is a chance for our whole school to connect over a single story, with unlimited ebook copies available. Our most recent pick was Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson. If you have missed it, there’s still time to read it. You might even like to read it as a family. Sam will visit College on Friday 8 August. He is a well-known hunter, conservationist, and bushman, committed to protecting our native wildlife. He has also featured on Country Calendar. His work brings together hunters, farmers, and mana whenua in various ways. We are fortunate that Sam is coming to College to speak to our community.

All things musical

Twelve rock bands, three choirs, two chamber groups, one big band, one symphony orchestra, dozens of talented soloists, and a House Music Festival involving the whole school highlight the power of music at Christ’s College.

These are among the College performances at our school and in the wider community in Term 2. Indeed, there were performances every week. 

It is not the output but rather the diverse group of talented practitioners, teachers, students, parents who make the Music Department. All are passionate about the arts, music, and collaboration. Everyone brought their best selves and exhibited our virtues. Many thanks to the coaches, teachers, boys, and family for making this such a bumper year.

Now, excluding Southern Jam and Sedley Wells, the competition season is all but over. It is a great time to consider starting to play an instrument or joining a group at College. To use a sporting analogy, we are now in preseason for 2026. Let us use this time to prepare for a busy summer and next year. It is time to begin learning notes, rehearsing, and exploring repertoire. We need all instrumentalists and singers who wish to work together to explore excellence, practise hard, and contribute to our special music scene. After all, we need each boy at his best. 

Please contact me at hugo.zanker@christscollege.com or one of our instrumental coaches if you wish to join our co-curricular music programme.

Exchanging places and being of service in SA

We have welcomed five exchange students to College at the start of Term 3. Daniel McLaren and Henry Billings – from Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville in the United States – have joined us for three weeks, along with Howard Ng and Timmy Kung from St. Paul's Co-Educational College in Hong Kong. Paul Behrens, who is from Gymnasium am Moltkeplatz in Krefeld, Germany, will spend nine weeks at College.

Exchanges offer a wonderful opportunity for students to explore the world and take themselves out of their comfort zones, while also enhancing their global citizenship.

All exchanges are reciprocal, which means that a College boy who goes on an exchange will need to host an exchange student within 12 months. He will do so at school, in his home (day students) or in a boarding House. If the stay period includes school holidays, a College boy is expected to host his exchange student.

All our exchanges are subject to strict protocols in order to provide a safe environment. We also offer exchanges to schools in Australia, Singapore, and California, and language exchanges to both France and Japan.

Meanwhile, Year 13 students Frank O'Gara, Max Hao, Jeffrey Jiang, Kennedy Xiao, and Gordon Wyness are involved in a service project – alongside 50 students from 25 Round Square schools, representing 20 nationalities – in South Africa.

Finally, Louis Zhao, from China, Yusuke Kitagawa, from Japan, and Benedikt von Wuelfing, from Germany, have joined Christ's College as Year 10 boarders.

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 careers. Parents and students can subscribe to our careers platform to stay up to date with the many options and opportunities open to the boys. Various providers provide a wealth of information and we then share the most relevant updates with our College community via CareerWise. These may cover career-related events, news, and jobs. For most events, there is also a link to register. I strongly encourage our Years 12–13 boys to subscribe to CareerWise.

School subject selection – Term 3 

Boys choosing their subjects this term – for 2026 – can check out these preparation links to aid their decisions regarding university and polytechnic study:

• Lincoln University – Best Prep
• Victoria University of Wellington – Best Prep
• University of Otago – Best Prep
• Ara – Best Prep
• University of Auckland – Best Prep                                                           
• University of Canterbury – Best Prep
• University of Waikato – Best Prep
• Massey University – Best Prep

School subject and career opportunities

Careers NZ has created posters featuring career opportunities so that students can learn more about career options based on the subjects they enjoy.   

University scholarships open                                                                                

Check out the scholarships on offer at the following universities: 

Victoria University of Wellington school-leaver scholarships
University of Canterbury first-year scholarships 
UC scholarships resource
University of Auckland school-leaver and first-year scholarships                                 
Lincoln University scholarships                                                                             
Massey University scholarships                                                                         
University of Otago entrance scholarships 

University scholarships for Year 13 students                                          

MoneyHub has compiled a comprehensive guide to scholarships for students planning to start university in 2026. The MoneyHub Scholarship Guide lists scholarships from all universities, along with opportunities for Māori, Pacific, and international students. 

University accommodation – CCRF (Term 3)

The New Zealand Common Confidential Reference Form (CCRF) is an online university accommodation reference form. Boys can fill in the form now or at the same time as they apply to the halls of residence for their chosen university (or universities). They can register for accommodation at several universities on one form. Once they have completed and submitted the form, their Housemaster will complete the school section. Applications for halls of residence open on 1 August and close about 27 September. 

2026 Hands-On at Otago applications open                               

Hands-On offers Years 12–13 students in 2026 an opportunity to experience a week of University of Otago student life. Students stay on campus in a residential college and choose a study subject for the week. More than 20 subjects from Business, Health Sciences, Humanities (Arts), and Sciences are on offer. Students can learn from leading academic staff, meet other students from schools across the country, and participate in a range of activities that will both challenge and inspire. Hands-On is held from Sunday 11 January–Friday 16 January 2026. 

Staying a step ahead with new shoes

Step into Term 3 with new Clarks school shoes ($159.99), now available from the Uniform Shop. You can call in to our Uniform Shop during term time on Mondays 10am–4pm, Tuesdays 10.30am–4pm, or Wednesdays 10am–4pm to view the shoes and the full range of College clothing or email the Uniform Shop at uniformshop@christscollege.com. 

CHRIST'S COLLEGE & CCOBA EVENTS

Antarctic geology pioneer, teacher, and rowing coach – Hartley Travers Ferrar 

Recently, the Antarctic Heritage Trust invited Year 12 College students to attend its Explorer Conference, along with many other local schools. Christchurch is one of only five gateway cities to Antarctica. The students tapped into their ‘explorer mindset’ to learn how to step out of their comfort zones, and discover more about resilience, exploration, science, and Christchurch’s relationship to the icy continent.

Amazingly, one of our own College Masters was a renowned scientist on the legendary Discovery Expedition, alongside Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton. Hartley Travers Ferrar joined the 1901–1904 Expedition a month after graduating from university. The youngest member of the on-board scientific staff earned the nickname ‘Our Junior Scientist’. Despite his youth, Ferrar’s contribution to the expedition goals and Antarctic science proved to be remarkable.ⁱ 

Much has been written about Ferrar’s discovery of the first fossils on the Antarctic mainland and, when travelling to north-west of McMurdo Sound, he ventured across the largest mass of ice known to man. We can also read about New Harbour Glacier being renamed Ferrar Glacier as a mark of honour for this feat and his Antarctic legacy.ⁱⁱ  

Thanks to our College record-keeping and archiving work, we have been able to piece together Ferrar’s time and contribution to our College community. Registers, School Lists, Board minutes, and objects bring insights into a remarkable man. Ferrar was appointed to College to replace Horace Lang, who had enlisted to serve in World War I, only to enlist, himself, in 1916.

Ferrar first appears in the Form Lists of Christmas 1915 as Form Master of Lower Third–III. It consisted of 22 boys and was the lowest class in the upper school. The Form Lists indicate that he taught Mathematics to Set II class B3, which appears to include boys in about Year 9. Interestingly, there is no indication that he taught Science. That was the preserve of AE Flower and JFD White. He would have taught other classes but these are not in the Form Lists.ⁱⁱⁱ 

However, it was in rowing that Ferrar made his mark. The Christ’s College Register of December 1915 describes him as “an old rowing man” and indicates that he had taken over the coaching of the Rowing IV. 

In the Commemoration section of the Register of April 1916, Ferrar’s contribution to rowing was celebrated.

“In his report the Headmaster drew attention to the fact that College was Head of the River for the first time. This statement was received with loud applause, cheers being given to Mr Ferrar, who coached the crews.”

Evidence in a Prefects’ meeting record from October 1915 shows that Ferrar may not have been the most strict of masters: “Forms III2 and B3 warned that if the disturbance created while a certain master was taking them was not stopped, the Prefects would take measures to put an end to it.” ^iv 

College!, by Don Hamilton, describes HT Ferrar … “though an Antarctic explorer and a cheerful and interesting man, was no great disciplinarian – he left to join the army”.^v 

By 1917, Ferrar heeded the call to serve with the 1st Canterbury Regiment in Palestine, working principally on aerial surveys and intelligence.^vi 

Ferrar’s departure was felt by College, none more so than the rowing squad.

“By the departure of Mr Ferrar, we lose the coach who trained our rowing crew so successfully, that for the past two years we have won the Rowing Tournament. We only hope that he may return in time to coach our crew for 1918. His keenness and enthusiasm have brought this sport almost to the front rank in the events of the School year.”^vii 

After the war, he did not return but took a position with the New Zealand Geological Survey. He carried out extensive field work and obtained his PhD while working for the service throughout New Zealand. Ferrar Peak in the Cloudy Range of the South Island bears his name. Some of his polar relics are held by Canterbury Museum. Ferrar died in 1932, leaving his mark on the world in more ways than one. 

This signed note from the College archives features the names of several officers of the British Antarctic Expedition (1901–1904), including that of Hartley T. Ferrar, whose signature appears second from the bottom. Other signatories include key figures of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

The exact provenance is unknown. It may have come from a pre-expedition event such as one of the farewell banquets held in Christchurch, possibly at The Christchurch Club or the Canterbury Club, prior to the expedition’s departure aboard RRS Discovery. 

ⁱ   Our Junior Scientist. https://www.dundeeheritagetrust.co.uk/story/hartley-ferrar/
ⁱⁱ  Our Junior Scientist. https://www.dundeeheritagetrust.co.uk/story/hartley-ferrar/
ⁱⁱⁱ  Hartley Travis Ferrar notes. FJ Teal 2021
^iv Hamilton, D Hamilton’s Notes, 1990s. Prefects' meeting 28 October 1915
^v  Hamilton, D 1996, College! Christchurch. Christ’s College Board of Governors pg. 313-314.
^vi Hartley T Ferrar. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartley_T._Ferrar
^vii Christ’s College Register, April 1917. pg. 445