Principal's Foreword

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Ko te piko o te māhuri, tēra te tupu o te rākau

The way the sapling is shaped determines how the tree grows

We’ve been nurturing character at John McGlashan College since 1918. Our school was founded on the values of a well-rounded liberal education in the Reformed Presbyterian tradition, and John McGlashan’s vision of growing well-educated young men of character, who use their influence for the good of others. Little has changed in that regard since 1918. This is still our core business, and is underpinned by our refreshed core values of Excellence, Respect, and Manaakitanga.

I believe in the adage you can’t be what you can’t see, and to that end, you will have noticed more visual markers of who we are and what we stand for appearing around the campus. The most recent additions to this strategy are the large signage boards that adorn the ends of the Edgar Learning Centre and the Davies Centre. These proclaim to our community and the wider world who we are and the core values that we live by. You would have noticed the values tear drops along Pilkington Street and the pull-down visuals - Nurturing Character since 1918 - in the entry area of the ELC when you attended parent-teacher meetings. These create clarity around who we are. It’s important that we own this narrative.

The tagline, Nurturing Character since 1918, is actually something I was inspired by and borrowed from Aylesbury Grammar School in the UK after I visited there in 2023. Their history stretches back a little deeper than ours, with their tagline being, ‘Nurturing Character since 1597.’ Putting 400-plus years of education to the side, I felt this had resonance with what we do, and John McGlashan’s vision for a boys’ school. This was, of course, realised by his daughters Agnes and Margaret when they gifted their land and homestead to the Presbyterian Church.

Aylesbury is a boys’ school of 1300 students, and they share that they nurture character so their students can define their place in the world for themselves. This is their promise, while their purpose is for their students to thrive, and their values focus on respect for self and others, achieving the best in their learning, and establishing positive relationships in the community.

What does nurturing character mean at John McGlashan College, and how is it manifested in our values? It begins with our motto, which sits atop the refreshed values: Lex Domini Lux Mundi/He Atua He Marama/The Law of the Lord is the Light of the World. This relates to growing young people of integrity, empathy, moral purpose, courage, and the drive to be the best version of ourselves. It also anchors us to our Presbyterian heritage. This translates to our vision and the three sides of our mission, which is what we do every day to bring the vision to life. This is where we nurture character.

The three sides of the mission are a progression that shapes character from the inside out. Sparking curiosity and striving for excellence build the inner habits of character. It’s how the boys persist, hold themselves to high standards, and take responsibility. Growing young people of integrity is about one’s moral compass and where character becomes visible in the choices we make; how we treat others, respond to challenges, and carry ourselves, particularly as role models for others. Practising service turns our values outwards as actions for others; belonging, responsibility, and making a tangible and positive difference. This is the character that we have been nurturing since 1918.

It’s our values that give life to our mission. These are the non-negotiables by which we hold ourselves and each other to account; who we are at our natural best. If we do this, we reflect a character that binds us together and to something bigger than ourselves. But this is honed by the uniqueness that we all exhibit, and that makes our school a diverse and rich place to grow and be. If we connect this to belonging, these two aspects of character co-exist and make the other stronger.

It’s essential that we have visual markers and reminders about who we are around the campus for our young people. This extends to the theme of 100% Every Day that we set earlier in the year. Again, when you visited for the parent-teacher meetings, you will have seen the Ivan Cleary quote - Not everything counts, but everything matters - and the theme on the walls in the ELC, as they have been installed in another high-traffic stairwell area in the main teaching block. You can’t be what you can’t see. Alongside the newly installed House Walk, which tells the stories of who the houses are named after, this brings together origin stories, whakapapa, notions of belonging, and fostering a culture of effort and genuine pursuit of individual potential, whatever that looks like for each of us.

When the boys see themselves reflected in visual markers or artefacts, the mission becomes something they recognise, do, and make their own. It comes to life and is a practical way that we nurture the character of our young people. That said, while the assorted refreshed values collateral and visuals look great and proclaim who we are and what we value in our community and work towards, they remain aspirational if we don’t bring them to life. That is the outcome of a collective effort and agreement about our non-negotiables.

It was great to welcome the boys back to school on Monday. The campus springs back to life amidst the normality of our daily rhythms and rituals. This is important work we do with your sons. We don’t take the massive responsibility and privilege of nurturing their character lightly. Our vision, mission, and values guide us in this mahi, as it has since 1918.

Dr. Aaron Columbus

Principal | Tumuaki