Tuesday 22nd September 2015

Dear Parents,

Spring has sprung and it is a relief to see an improvement in the weather at last. For the boys and staff here at the college, the lighter mornings and longer twilights signal of the imminent arrival of external examinations.


We have had some wonderful successes recently; academic, sporting and cultural which have all been celebrated at various assemblies and can be seen in this newsletter.

Congratulations go to Fete convener Pam Timms for another fantastic community occasion on Saturday. The Parents and Friends Association is indeed a dynamic and influential group which gives great service to the college. $49,000 was raised which will enable a wide range of additional, boy-focussed opportunities and I would like to thank all those parents who contributed tirelessly to the success of the day. Lesson … ‘Don’t let a shower of rain put you off!’

Our annual Columba-McGlashan chapel service was held in the Davies Sports Centre last Sunday and was enjoyed by a strong crowd of about 600. In the safe hands of Reverend Barry Kelk the service was marked by a high level of student participation and also by the quality of the music, both of which added to the sense of occasion.

The lead statement in the recently published ERO report is, ‘This is a high performing school’. Other statements include, ‘Students and staff respond well to the school’s high expectations for teaching and learning and students succeed very well in their learning and culture and sport.’ You can view the confirmed report on the ERO website. ERO states, ‘The school is very well placed to sustain and improve its performance.’ And while these statements are true, I believe there is still room to improve. I don’t want us, staff or boys, to rest on our laurels but strive to keep pushing the boundaries in all aspects of achievement and in the contribution we make to college life.

I hope you all have a refreshing holiday break and return with renewed energy to take on the challenges of Term 4.