LEADERSHIP Deputy Principal’s Prize-giving Address
Te¯na¯ koutou katoa.
At one stage, before we had the mission of “Each boy at his best”, the mission was “Excellence in all that we undertake”. I think that College has always aimed for Excellence in everything it does and hope that this will be true many years from now, including its scholastic programme and the rigour required to reach academic excellence.
Respect – in a world which seems increasingly disrespectful and uncivil – Respect is the thing that helps the wheels of College life to turn smoothly – even in the smallest ways, such as good manners – holding the doors open for others and saying “Please and thank you”. Let’s not lose this civility and culture of respect – it is a vital part of College life.
It’s been a long Prize-giving, so you will be hoping for a short speech. When you hear the words “Garth Wynne” the speech is almost over. I cannot do justice to 35 years of working at College – so I have asked just two questions of myself: “What has remained the same, for the better?” and “What has changed over 35 years, for the better?” In other words, what are the good traditions, well maintained – and what have been the necessary changes? When I started teaching at College, we used to sing the school song at selected assemblies. It was composed in 1886. It started like this (I won’t actually sing it, you will be relieved to hear): “Come all ye jolly College boys Sing lustily I pray And recollect your battle cry And ring it out today Upraising with a mighty sound Of hip hip hip hoorah Your College, College, louder still.” This wonderful relic had a catchy tune and the Old Boys loved to belt it out at reunions. Eventually though, it faded into the mists of time and has been replaced by a rousing school hymn and lovely College waiata. I use this anecdote to illustrate the point that things change at College and times move on – this song had its heyday but became too quaint for changing times. So, what has remained the same, for the better?
8
Christ’s College Canterbury
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting