Principal's Foreword

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My sons tell me that they do not require a constant stream of advice, but I give it anyway, as fathers do, in the hope that a little of it will be absorbed. So here’s my contribution to the pre-exam advice you are giving your sons.

There are just a few days to go before the seniors are on exam leave.

· There is no time to waste.

· Focus on the end of the year, and your commitments.

· Take responsibility.

· FINISH WELL.

· Sermon over.

The staff often comment on the way in which many of our boys surprise them by exceeding expectations. Three such boys were recently selected as standing out from their peers. Congratulations to Angus Kenny and Max Gomez on their Mana Pounamu Awards and to Danny Adams who won the Otago Polytechnic Pacific Island Award. These boys are highly respected role models and represent the quality of potential leadership we have at the College.

Marketing Trip to Japan

During the recent school holidays, Director of International Students Anna Noble and I went on a ten-day marketing trip to Japan. This undertaking was very worthwhile as we were able to visit several schools, meet with agents, attend two recruitment fairs and visit Ichikawa High School. The highlights of our trip were meeting with Mr Fuji, father of one of our Japanese pupils for 2018, and Jamie Joseph, father of Ben in Year 8 and coach of the Japanese national rugby side Sunwolves Super Rugby franchise. I am sure this visit will be beneficial to the College in the long term. So far, we have two Japanese students enrolled for 2018 in Year 9 and Year 13 and we anticipate that there will be more to follow.

It has been suggested that the best method of building positive business relationships in Japan is to attend the marketing fairs consecutively for two years. In Japanese culture, the principal’s direct involvement adds significant value in building positive relationships with schools and agencies. One of McGlashan’s strategic goals is to broaden the diversity of nationalities within our international cohort.

Staffing for 2018

Sue Porter, Assistant Principal and Head of Learning Support, is leaving at the end of the year after eight years at John McGlashan College. Sue has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Otago Girls’ High School, and we wish her all the very best in her new position. Sue has put a lot of energy into our OARS-funded students over the years and has been fully committed to the boys she has helped. Advertisements have been placed for a new Head of Department for Learning Support.

Anna Trenberth is also leaving at the end of the year to take up a position at Dunedin North Intermediate. Anna has been a hard-working and dedicated teacher in our Year 7 area for four years, and we wish her well for the future.

Three new teachers have been appointed - Lars Thomson will be a permanent full-time teacher of mathematics, Hamish Cartwright permanent full-time teacher of science and physics and Anita Veitch to the 0.6 fixed term homeroom teacher of Year 8. Interviews were held in the last week of the term holidays, and these teachers will commence work in 2018.

For the junior school, the remaining six weeks of the term will be filled with exams, Orientation for next year’s beginning students, camp, Arts Week, various celebrations and a multitude of learning activities that we hope they can enjoy outdoors.

All the best to the departing senior students for their exams.
Regards, Neil Garry