Remember there are a lot of things in life you don’t control. For example, you don’t get to pick your parents, the country you are born in, your given talents or how others may judge you. You don’t get to control the past, but you can control much of your future because you do control your choices. Integrity, kindness, honesty, and hard work are a choice, as are preparation, perseverance, and attitude. What and who influences you is a choice. Your trajectory is your choice … my advice … choose wisely and forever keep searching for truth, beauty, and justice at the forefront of your decision-making. For all boys here, your College experience has been most directly influenced by teachers, coaches, and mentors across many areas and other ancillary staff with whom you have engaged. How fortunate we are to have such an exceptional group of dedicated professionals to set you on the path and be there to help you along your way. The opportunities you are provided directly reflect the enthusiasm and commitment of these people. Can I ask everyone here to thank all our staff for another great year of contribution to your College experience and this community? Staff changes and transitions within and beyond College throughout any year are recorded in the Register and communicated as they are effected in our fortnightly In Black & White newsletter. Of special mention, staff who departed throughout this year included Aidan Dempsey, the school painter and decorator since 2016, the amazing Ann Shaw who first joined the school in the Dining Hall in 1994 but is most remembered for her meticulous management of College’s clothing service, as is her loyal assistant, Ange Bosworth, who worked alongside Ann for 12 years. Edwin Flores, our Physics technician departed at the beginning of the year, as did Grant Hadley, our Performing Arts and Events Technician; mid- year we farewelled our International Student Manager, Paul McCarthy, and at the end-of-year we said goodbye to our South Australian GAP student, Oscar Brown, and Nicholas
Sutcliffe, who has made a significant contribution to the school’s music programme through his role as teacher and organist. Here today, we publicly acknowledge four departing staff members of significance. Sara Ball joined the staff in 2017 on our IT help desk and, most recently, has worked as our Academic Management Executive Assistant. Sara’s dedication, attention to detail, and loyalty will be missed in this pivotal role, and we are saddened to see ‘Miss Apple’ leave us. Samantha Squire, we farewell after seven years with her hand on the tiller of our Mathematics Department as she moves to Western Australia. We thank Samantha for her passion for her subject and for wrangling the diverse demands of teachers within the department due to varied other responsibilities across the school. We acknowledge her leadership through the tricky tides of recent years and the implementation of new programmes within our Diploma and beyond. Thank you, Sam. Ian Stevenson was appointed in 2001 as a Mathematics teacher and has carried that responsibility for his entire time at the school. As a previous New Zealand volleyball representative, it is unsurprising that, for some years, he was Master-in-Charge of that sport and
followed the same path into basketball. I have no doubt that Ian sees his most enjoyable and productive contribution to our school in his role as Housemaster of Corfe House for the past seven years. He came to that by way of Somes and Condell’s and his style and influence are probably best encapsulated in this parent email, received earlier this year: “I am so grateful that Ian has been Housemaster … he has been so incredibly supportive, fun, socially intelligent, and a true hero in the Housemaster sense. Knowing that my son always had someone that was truly invested in the absolute best outcome for him was extremely important to me.” Can we now thank Ian for the past 22 years being here at College? We wish him well in the new challenges of being a life coach and mentor in the wider community. Finally, today we honour and farewell our Deputy Principal, Mr Rob Donaldson. We stand humbled and inspired by the extraordinary contributions of Rob, whose journey at Christ’s College began 35 years ago in 1988. Over that time, Rob has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of countless students and colleagues.
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Register 2023 Leadership
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