Register 2024

House Debating “On a rainy Thursday, with the Year 10 and Year 11 students involved with various activities, Rolleston showed up to W301 with stacks of paper and nervous looks on our faces to face the wrath of School House in the final of Senior House Debating and to defend our title from the previous year. The team consisted of Harry Vaughan, Aaron Kwak, and Seann Zhao, and despite a lot of confusion about the motion (This House prefers to live in a world where happiness is predominantly seen as a consequence of random factors rather than personal choices) resulting in a few panicked calls, power naps, and more while preparing late into the night before, Rolleston was able to successfully affirm the debate and claim victory in ‘a very high-quality debate’, in the words of adjudicator Emma Bracken. We managed to brutally take down the opposing team, who were left floundering as they unsuccessfully attempted to respond to our compelling points and watched in horror as our rebuttal swept their points away into oblivion.

Finally, the considerable number of supporters Rolleston had (including a certain particularly enthusiastic Housemaster) boosted morale and contributed to the victory. A grateful ‘thank you’ to you all on behalf of the team, and we are stoked to be the reigning champion once again.” – Aaron Kwak Throughout Term 3, our junior House debaters followed in the footsteps of the seniors and claimed 2nd place in their competition. Congratulations to Tom Kerr, Alex Johnstone, Ollie Trollip, and Charlie de Costobadie on their efforts. Parents’ Association House Music This year, the Rolleston boys put on a magnificent show at the Parents’ Association House Music in the Christchurch Town Hall. Three musical pieces were prepared, with two performed on the night. The House has done exceptionally well to come 2nd overall. To start the evening, the Small Vocal Ensemble consisting of Harry Vaughan, Ollie Trollip, Alex Johnstone, and Charlie de Costobadie, ‘rick rolled’ the audience with an entertaining performance

of Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. The talented singers – wearing sunglasses and questionable blonde wigs – were awarded 3rd for their performance. A huge effort by the House community set the scene for a rendition of Gimme Gimme Gimme by ABBA and the harmony set the choir apart from the other Houses. This piece was conducted by Head of House Harry Vaughan who looked marvellous in his costume. Performing in front of a huge audience requires the character strengths of bravery and creativity and the House really stepped up on the night. Congratulations to everyone in Rolleston House on a superb 2nd place performance. Supporting the House Choir was the Backing Band, which included Seann Zhao (keyboard), Lucas Zhong (violin), Charlie Saunders (drums), Matthew Geddes (bass guitar), and James Saunders (electric guitar). The musical talent of this group was evident and being awarded the House Backing Trophy was well deserved.

Finally, a talented group of Rolleston House musicians had prepared a piece for the Instrumental Ensemble heats earlier in the week. Seann Zhao arranged an ABBA Medley which included Mamma Mia , The Winner Takes It All, and Money, Money, Money . The group consisted of Seann Zhao (piano), Jago Wallace (guitar), James Saunders (guitar), Max Hillyer (bass), Charlie Saunders (drums), Harry Vaughan (synth), and Lucas Zhong (violin). While the boys were not selected to perform on the night, the points they were awarded made a significant contribution to the overall success of Rolleston House this year. Well done! REACTION House Plays Rolleston House performed Cut by Ed Monk as part of the REACTION House Play competition on 13 August, with Harry Beaglehole stepping up as director. Although the play presented challenges during the preparation and, at times, caused confusion for both the cast and the audience, the boys pulled it together on the night. This was an impressive achievement given the level of difficulty of the play and the boys

could be proud of their efforts. The students involved included Alessio Barlozzi-Knothe, Alex Johnstone, Ollie Trollip, Finlay Benson, Charlie de Costobadie, Dylan Jackson, Noah Kingston, Jago Wallace, Noah Goodfellow, Aaron Kwak, Harry Beaglehole (Director), Ben Beattie, and Harry Vaughan.

from Fantasiestuecke by Robert Schumann, and Andante con Moto – an excerpt from the second movement by Franz Schubert. Jago Wallace performed Requiem for three cellos and piano, Op. 66 by David Popper as part of a quartet as well as Czardas by Vittorio Monti. Ollie Trollip sung Bring Him Home from Les Misérables by Claude- Michel Schönberg, and James Saunders performed Just Breathe by Pearl Jam. Alex Johnstone, Charlie de Costobadie, Ollie Trollip, and Aaron Kwak were acknowledged in Assembly for their success in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival; Aaron Kwak was awarded his Gold Badge for the Student Volunteer Army; and Ollie Trollip spoke about Junior Round Square Week, as well as giving another stunning vocal performance. Jack Payne was acknowledged for his Gold in the SISS Rowing Championships U15 octuple sculls, Sam Ensor came 12th in the Year 9 3000m at the SISS Cross Country Championships, and Seb Gray was recognised for his part in winning the