CULTURE Leadership Events
PREFECTS This year, the focus for the College Prefects was about being mentored as a group for the benefit of themselves and the wider school community. The year started with a leadership workshop as part of the Prefect orientation. This focussed on how different leaders and leadership styles can work together and complement each other, as well as developing an agreed strategy/ attitude for the entire Prefect group. In Term 2, a “Prefects’ Weekend In” was held as a retreat style intensive where the Prefects could reflect on their goals for the year, the legacy they wanted to leave and how they could still continue to grow and develop their leadership skills. This involved a series of seminars, practical activities and a team-building experience at the Escape Rooms. The 2019 Young New Zealander of the Year, Kendall Flutey also came to speak at a shared dinner with the St Margaret’s College Prefects. Kendall talked about her own unique journey which personifies someone who was courageous in leadership and who stepped up to make a difference for others.
I have enjoyed the first year in my new role as Director of Character & Leadership. It has been fantastic being involved with the student leadership aspects of the school and I have enjoyed building a range of experiences designed to empower student leadership. I also look forward to when the focus will turn to creating a more coherent framework that provides a rationale for the emphasis we want to place on character and leadership. In addition to the key events listed below, this year has seen the inclusion of leadership workshops for Year 12 as part of the MANifesto programme and Year 10 as part of the Immerse & Inspire experience. A visit to Waihi School to run activities that introduced fundamental leadership ideas was also a new community outreach-type event, where we have been able to help contribute towards the character and leadership development of others. Unfortunately, we were not able to host our annual Year 7 Be Inspired Afternoon because of Covid-19 restrictions, but look forward to hosting again in 2022.
Another new initiative was having the Prefects join the Year 10 Immerse and Inspire programme in a mentoring and role-modelling capacity. It was a great experience for both the Prefects and the Year 10 boys, with many of the Prefects finding it beneficial in developing their skills at building relationships, a key part of leadership. It was another opportunity for the Prefects to act as leaders, and to help set a positive tone for each programme. The Prefect group for 2021 were good stewards of the school, and contributed to a positive culture around the campus. They made change where it was needed and took the opportunity to highlight issues around racism, wellbeing and diversity. They did an excellent job with their respective committees and should be commended for the way they have gone about their work this year. EMERGING LEADERS We were thrilled to be able to host the annual Year 12 Emerging Leaders Conference this year after it was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19. Canterbury entrepreneur and inventor Logan Williams was this year’s keynote speaker. He talked about young, future leaders having the courage to step up and be courageous by not getting “stuck down a career path”. His ideas about thinking outside the box and taking a chance fitted in nicely with the theme of the conference, “Courage is the key to great leadership”. Logan’s success from creating a wide range of innovative inventions for the betterment of others, served as inspiration for the 590 plus students from 29 different schools around
172
Christ’s College Canterbury
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software