it addresses three assessment standards: geographic research, the issue of wilding pines in the high country, and the end-of-year external standard on a large natural environment. Working in small groups, the boys measured and recorded aspects of the weather, vegetation, soils and landforms at a range of sites from the top of Mt Cockayne (1874m) down to the Craigieburn Basin floor. The patterns revealed by the data then formed the basis of their research findings and they were able to compare the vegetation and soils of the western high country with the eastern high country. This trip was completed in weather that was nothing short of record setting, with consistent highs of over 30 degrees celsius every day. This year’s trip was slightly different, with Head of English Chris Waugh also travelling and experiencing the excursion for the first time, with an eye to integrating English standards into the experience as well. This year’s trip was best summed up by Gus Pavey, who, in his English essay, wrote: “Fuelled with cereal and a plethora of bacon & eggs we set off, as the valley's quilt of mist began to lift. Out were the wide open landscapes of our beloved Canterbury and in were the wild
rainforests of the West Coast. We stopped atop the frigid Arthur's Pass to add to our growing family of data. A hunt through brush and boulders was required just to locate bare ground. With data collected and numerous trucks given the signal to honk and please our simple minds, we battled on. Patronising the Biology students, as we hysterically looked at the towering road they had to hike for their trip to Temple Basin. That folks, is why you do Geography. The rickety vans ate up the road. Curling around the shoestring corners and over the bottomless viaducts eventually coming out of the Alps. To the bewilderment of all, the West Coast skies blessed us with a bluebird day. Allowing for a lazy lunch upon the banks of the sparkling Taramakau. The rainforest's dense canopies provided sanctuary from the radiant southern sun. Venturing through the extremely dense forest to our site felt as though you had a dozen ropes latched onto your back, slowing you to snail speed. Canterbury warmly invited us home. An afternoon dip in Lake Pearson was of top priority after slogging it in the warm west." Behind the scenes we have been working on an exciting new curriculum for the new College
Diploma, which will enable the boys to study both local and global geographic phenomena. Field trips to Kaikoura for the Core classes and the inclusion of the Year 11 Prep course with the Year 12 class to Craigieburn were very successful. These are a crucial part of the Geography syllabus, allowing students to immerse themselves into the environments that they have studied. Once again, we had a successful 2021–2022 dipping into Scholarship examinations, with Claude Tellick being awarded an Outstanding Scholarship, and Year 12 student Oscar Gosling gaining Scholarship as well. Prizes Winners Year 9 Overall Excellence Ericsson Yee Year 10 Overall Excellence David Wayne Year 11 Overall Excellence Oscar Compton-Moen Year 12 Overall Excellence Sean Jang Year 13 Overall Excellence Oscar Gosling
Neil Nicholson HoD Geography
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