Principal's Foreword

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A powerful sense of community has pervaded the week. Connections have gone back and forward in time; some reestablished, others in motion and being strengthened, and others newly established. Simon Sinek shares that ’it’s hard in this modern age to find an intense sense of community…technology makes it more difficult…we’re connected but not connecting’. 

Feelings of belonging are based on place, relationships, and shared experiences. I have seen this in spades over the past week, both at and outside of school, as members of our community have come together in various ways and spheres. It has been humbling to see such a deep connection to John McGlashan, from those here now, those in the past, and those who are set to join us in 2026.

On Tuesday night, I travelled down to Gore with our General Manager, Kirstyn Sandall, for a John McGlashan community event. This followed a similar event we organised in Waipiata earlier in the term. We gathered at the Croydon, where we were joined by the parents and whānau of boarding students. These spanned families whose sons are currently at our school and those in 2026 and beyond. There was a scattering of Old Collegians amongst the dads, whose conversation belied a deep affection and connection to our school, and pride that their sons were continuing and strengthening that connection. We also had mums and dads with no prior connection to our school, whose sons were either with us or set to join us. I enjoy this about our school, the mixture of historical and familial connections, but also that this is constantly refreshed and enriched by the addition of new families. It collectively strengthens the whakapapa of John McGlashan and drives us forward. It is important for us to visit the regions and engage with our whānau there, and to that end, I’m keen that this is something that we establish a cadence for.

I talked about the symbolism of the stained glass window in our chapel in a recent newsletter, its depiction of town and country showing the intersection of those two spheres. This is just one example of what makes us unique. This was reflected in our second community event of the week, in which we met with Old Collegians for a city-based event. Collegians of all vintages joined us for an enjoyable evening of conversation and reconnection. I feel strongly that we need to grow relationships with alumni. We talk about John McGlashan being the turangawaewae for our students, past, present, and future, their place to stand. We need to ensure this is real and meaningful. Going forward, we’re keen to increase the opportunities to gather with Old Collegians, wherever they may be.

While the two aforementioned events are related to the past and present, our eye is also on the future. We engaged with newer members of our community when we hosted the incoming Year 7 cohort and new Year 9 students who will join us as boarders and day boys in 2026. This is an exciting moment. Parents and whānau do not take it lightly when they commit to the school that will facilitate the education of their young person, and we do not accept that responsibility lightly.

A draw for me in coming to John McGlashan was that we take students from Year 7, which presents a greater scope to develop character and prepare them for success in the senior years of their schooling. This was recognised at the college’s foundation in February 1918. We recently obtained a copy of the original prospectus for the opening of the college on 12 February 1918. In reference to the ‘lower school’, parents were ’strongly urged to enrol their boys as young as possible, as much more satisfactory results can be eventually obtained when we are able to secure continuity in their education from its earliest stages.’ This was front and centre when we welcomed our new Year 7s and parents, and whānau to the school community on Thursday afternoon. Lisa Matheson (Year 7-8 dean) and her team did an outstanding job running the event. Likewise, Donna Smith’s (Year 9 dean) and Drew Campbell's (Director of Boarding) teams ensured an excellent orientation for our new Year 9s. Drew is set to host the new boarders for a sleepover on Friday night.

At both events, I talked about the initiation of the collaboration between home and school, our young people being at the centre of all that we do. The collaboration is focused on ensuring that students thrive in their journey at John McGlashan and realise their potential. We also talked about themes of belonging and whakapapa, and our school being their turangawaewae, their place to stand, from that moment. This is not something that has to be earned, but is there from arrival at the kura and the beginning of the journey.

The new Year 7s and 9s, and their parents and whānau, are now part of our community, our whakapapa. This is grown and strengthened as the boys move into stewardship, kaitiakitanga, and take us forward. They begin a new thread of the rich tapestry that is the whakapapa of our college. On that note, I asked the new students to think about their forming thread and what they will add during their journey to strengthen our collective tapestry.