Register 2019

LEADERSHIP The Chair, Board of Governors, Prize-giving Speech

Kia ora ta¯ tou Nga mihi nui ki a koutou Nau mai, haere mai Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kura o Te Karaiti Te¯na¯ koutou, te¯na¯ koutou, tena¯ koutou katoa Good afternoon, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to our end-of-year prize-giving events. This afternoon we celebrate the achievements of our very talented students and acknowledge the many contributions from all our staff who go about their work with such enthusiasm and passion. As I am now in my final days as a Board member, more recently as Chair, I wanted to reflect on some of the notable achievements of our Executive team and Board. I joined the Board in late 2011 and my first meeting was held in pouring rain in a prefab on the College quadrangle. Although we had come through the earthquakes with no injuries to students or staff, there was a massive task ahead as regards facilities. In partnership with our insurers, we embarked on an ambitious plan to replace damaged facilities, future- proof our infrastructure and make the campus more resilient. As we sit here today, we can all take great pride in what has been delivered. Our new teaching and staff facilities in The Miles Warren Building are magnificent, we have completely rebuilt the Hare Memorial Building, and the kitchen tower has been modernised and extended, including fantastic new kitchens.

All this came at a cost, some $63 million in insurance proceeds and around $17 million of reserves from the Christ's College Foundation. Of course, a vibrant school community is really about people, not buildings. Since Garth Wynne joined us as our Executive Principal we have moved very purposefully to redefine our agenda and implement an ambitious strategic plan that has included a much stronger focus on delivering a personalised programme for all students across both the academic curriculum and co-curricular activities. In our Strategy 2020 we reaffirmed our vision, mission and virtues and, for the first time, started a conversation about a graduate profile – key attributes that will see our graduates thrive in today’s world. Compassion and empathy, courage and resilience and a disposition to serve were three of the 10 we selected and talked about during the year – definitely not NCEA subjects, but rather things to reflect on and discuss informally. The wider framework for our Strategy 2020 was “innovation and excellence wrapped in tradition”.

• Enhanced pastoral care – delivered primarily through the House system, but adding cross cutting initiatives, such as greater assistance for Housemasters, Positive Education, Round Square, a focus on character development through such additions as MANifesto and MINDfit, and greater community service – all helping to further build resilience and empowering our young men to ask for help when needed. • A deliberate and purposeful engagement with mana whenua has been rewarding, with many achievements including the adoption of appropriate tikanga at school events, the introduction of Te Reo classes, the updating of our haka and the gift of new school waiata. There is more to do, much more to do, but we are on that road with increased confidence. The appointment of the school’s first bicultural coordinator, Dr Mike Field, from 2020, is a sign of intention within the school, and the willingness of Bishop Richard Wallace to act as our advisor demonstrates the respect for our efforts. At Board level there has been a real focus on financial freedom. This is crucial and, as a Board, something we have taken very seriously. Targets have been set for management around achieving a balanced budget (in plain English, that is living within our means) and focusing on growing the Christ’s College Foundation to support scholarships and strategic projects into the future.

Elements included:

• A continued emphasis on academic achievement with a focus on personalised goals and objectives – developed through mentoring relationships and better engagement with parents through technology and events.

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Christ’s College Canterbury

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