Year 11 semi-formal. This year, we decided the Year 10 dance would be in support of Alzheimers New Zealand, to raise both money and awareness for this cause. The committee decided the theme of the dance should be purple, the colour associated with the organisation. As well as raising awareness, we were also able to raise over $1500 for Alzheimers New Zealand, which will be used to fund Alzheimers organisations around New Zealand. We decided the Year 11 semi-formal would support Tearfund NZ. Tearfund is a New Zealand organisation that works predominantly in Africa and
Southeast Asia to help support vulnerable individuals and give them the opportunity to have better futures. Tearfund works to fight against modern day slavery and trafficking and has impacted the lives of over 338,000 individuals. Our support of this charity through the Year 11 semi-formal raised over $3500 for this cause. As mentioned, the service committee has been trying to incorporate physical service and volunteering, as well as fundraising. As a result, we have improved our relationship with the environment committee this year, working even more closely with them, which has grown hugely from previous years. A number of service committee members have been regularly involved in the cultivation of native plants in nurseries set up by the environment committee, and the number of volunteers at these plantings continues to grow. The canned food drive held earlier this year was another great way for College boys to help those who are less fortunate than us to get through the tough winter months, by reducing the pressure on them to keep their families warm as well
as fed. This was very successful and we managed to accumulate a large amount of non-perishable food items thanks to the generosity of the boys and their families. All the events and activities the service committee organised would not have been possible without the leadership and guidance of Assistant Principal – Community Engagement and Special Projects Neil Porter, whose passion and dedication to service at College motivates and encourages the generosity and willingness of many boys to give back to the community. He was also a huge help to the committee in steering us in the right direction and advising us on our actions. The committee themselves were also integral in supporting me this year by providing help, ideas and advice as to the direction in which we should head in terms of service events in school. Without Neil and the service committee, I would have found it immensely more challenging to direct and develop service within the school, and I would like to offer huge thanks to them for helping me this year. I would have been unable to do it without them. Service at College has changed drastically during my time here and will continue to change in the future. Currently, I believe the service committee is on a very good path and will continue to prosper in supporting the wider Christchurch community, New Zealand and the rest of the world. If everyone was to do small acts to help others less fortunate than themselves, the world would be a much better place. These small, seemingly insignificant acts can make a huge difference to the lives of others. I would like to end with a quote from American historian and activist Howard Zinn: “Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world”.
Tommy Whitaker Head of Service
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Register 2019 Virtues
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