ISSUE 50 - 5 JUNE 2013 FROM THE HEADMASTER The CBHS v College 1st XV fixture took place in atrocious weather The ‘Pallet Pavilion’ in Christchurch was last week – staff and supporters who braved the conditions full of action a couple of weeks ago deserved a medal. On the pitch, it was heartbreakingly close for with a small ‘vintage market’. A few our team – we knew with dry ball-handling conditions, we were dollars later, I had acquired a couple favourites; on the day, the weather won as a dogged and heavier of vintage Castrol oil cans, a book on CBHS pack steamrollered their way up the pitch for the only try of Greek astronomy, and two vinyl LPs the game. – the latter for no other reason than Herp Alpert and his Tijuana Brass had But when the whistle goes, the deserving team wins. The outcome nostalgic appeal. Having no working was a bitter disappointment to our team, who knew this may have turntable, some might think a pointless been the year – but as Kipling’s IF has it, purchase. However, one thing lead ‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster to another – and to a Hi-Fi shop in And treat those two impostors just the same…….’ Christchurch, where a new drive belt and new cartridge revived the unit which was pulled back into service for the first time in Tomorrow is another day, and the season is young. The Rathkeale fifteen years. fixture was a splendid come-back! In the meantime, records became cassettes which gave way to At the end of last week, we bade farewell as a school to Trish Smith our librarian of 37 years. She was quite unprepared for the send off CDs and they in turn to digital downloads. The progression is easy provided by the school at lunchtime, when having been drawn off to follow. Easier, smaller, faster. The chap in the HiFi shop told me site for lunch, she returned to find her library packed to the rafters many people were rediscovering the joys of vinyl, and as I dug out with half the school, who sang for her before Head Prefect Harry long forgotten 33rpm favourites I found the whole thing strangely McCormick made the presentation of a signed Wells drawing of involving. The means is accessible and mechanical – there was the library. As the first half slipped away the other half arrived! even a place in the deck marked ‘oil’. Maintenance was needed Two shifts of warm affection, including singing of Ka Waiata and – what a concept. Then there was the fragility of the functioning flowers from each house. She fired literary enthusiasm in countless parts – needing care and precision. The discs themselves – to generations. We wish her a long and happy retirement. be cleaned, stored carefully, handled respectfully - crisp sound reproduction testimony to sustained sensitive ownership. Sitting back and enjoying the sound came at a cost – investment of time, ASSEMBLY NOTES care and dexterity. Something rather more than the hidden self- Click here for Assembly Notes contained genius of an iPod – it barely needs anything from us, and produces a better end result. If the sound is all there is, vinyl for most of us is a nonsense. and white liveried GT1 Lister Storm crashed at Daytona, shattering its almost weightless bodywork. It happens that the workshop But perhaps some activities are better for being more demanding. charged with replacing it was near to my home, and the owner a A moment’s carelessness with a vinyl LP, and it will never parent of my last school. Needless to say, I managed to acquire a give pleasure again. The wound is there forever. As digital large piece of black and white striped carbon-fibre which hung on technologies become ever more spontaneous and remote from my laboratory wall to be looked at every day. Some might think it conscious engagement, carelessness is inherently likely, and was oddly prophetic. The look is the same, but our football shirts just as damaging. We are so used to things ‘just working’ we are far more interesting to watch. are at great risk of excusing our own carelessness as just part of rapidity of the medium. But care has never been more needed. In the Priorities document was a reference to the ‘Earthquake This week another example of what has become widely known Legacy’, three areas where we intended to sustain the lessons as ‘cyber bullying’ surfaced and was dealt with. The technology learned, and perspectives gained, from the experiences of 2010 was abused, the use was careless, the motivation inexplicable. onwards. A more developed document is being prepared and will be Doing damage is just too easy – the digital world is sterile and circulated shortly. remote. Personal involvement is casual, and danger ever-present. We must be alert to the oil-film world of social media. Oil on water We have just passed what in the northern hemisphere would have spreads to molecular thickness – it looks pretty in the right light, been the ‘third week in November’; it was well known to be the a tiny amount covers a huge area, but it is fragile and has no low point, short days, dark, cold and damp, and towards the end real substance. of an excruciatingly long term. Christmas was not far away, but not close enough either. If anything was going to go wrong, it was I had a flash-back a couple of weeks ago. Watching one of our the prime time. I really shouldn’t temp fate, but the boys are in football teams, I remembered the very similar Newcastle United good form at present – the school is buzzing along. shirts, a team I followed for a time. The long time owner was Sir John Hall, whose other passion was motor racing. In 1996 his black Simon Leese, Headmaster Librarian Miss Trish Smith is farewelled after 37 years of service to Christ’s College IN BLACK AND WHITE 2 CALENDAR EVENTS Week 5 Th 6 NZCF ‘Big Sing’ Festival begins, St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 150 Withells Road 9.00am-1.00pm Year 13 Classical Studies Day, UofC 12.45pm Interhouse junior hockey first round, Upper 12.45pm Interhouse senior basketball, Gym F 7 CPIT ‘Have a Go Day’ for selected year 11, 12 & 13 boys 1.15pm Year 12 General Studies, OBT 1.15pm Interhouse junior basketball, Gym 7.30pm NZCF ‘Big Sing’ Festival concert, regional finals, CBS Arena Sa 8 Weekend programme available for all boarders 12noon 1st XV v St Bede’s (home) Su 9 10th Ordinary Sunday 7.00pm Choral Evensong Preacher: The Headmaster Week 6 Tu 11 NZCT Chamber Music contest begins 1.15pm Interhouse senior basketball, Gym W 12 Music Scholarship auditions, Music School Years 9 & 10 mid-year English & mathematics examinations Th 13 8.35am-3.30pm Year 13 Physics NCEA internal assessment day, ICT1/2 9.00am-1.00pm Entrance/Scholarship examinations 12.45pm Interhouse junior debating semi-final 12.45pm Interhouse senior hockey first round, Upper 1.00-1.45pm Music recital series, Chapel 4.00-6.00pm Study skills seminar for Year 11 dayboys, OBT 7.00-9.00pm Study skills seminar for Year 11 boarders, OBT F 14 9.00am-3.00pm NZSS cross-country championships set-up for selected students 1.15pm Year 13 General Studies, OBT 1.15pm Interhouse junior basketball, Gym 7.00pm College v King’s College debate, OBT Sa 15 Weekend programme available for all boarders NZSS cross-country championships, Halswell Quarry 2.30pm 1st XV v Shirley BHS (home) Su 16 11th Ordinary Sunday 9.00am Holy Eucharist Week 7 M 17 4.00pm Interhouse junior rugby prelims, CCCG Tu 18 1.15pm Interhouse senior basketball, Gym IN BLACK AND WHITE 3 FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Donors to the Building Preservation the refurbishment of the Dining Hall in 2006, and Philip Burdon Fund gathered in Big School recently (6125), for his leading gift and patronage of the 2006 appeal. for a supporters’ function. Now used as the Library, Big School celebrates Mr Barker also stressed that the aims of the Building Preservation its 150th anniversary this year, and Fund are as valid now as they were when it was launched. “If as New Zealand’s oldest educational we want our heritage buildings to look as good in 100 years building still in continuous use, it was time as they do now, we will need to continue to invest in their an appropriate venue to thank people preservation,” he said. “Despite the major upgrade required personally for their support for College’s because of the earthquakes, heritage buildings require a lot of built heritage. The upstairs windows maintenance. The Board will continue to manage the Fund so that also provided guests with an excellent those aims can be met now and in the future.” view of the complex ‘West Wing’ construction site. Headmaster Simon Leese emphasised how Christ’s College is Gifts over the years to the Building Preservation Fund have very much more than a collection of buildings. “We all know how provided a capital base, the income from which is used to help much our lives in this place are enhanced by our campus. Old preserve and maintain our heritage buildings. Chairman of the buildings are both a joy, and a liability. We are so pleased to have Board of Governors David Barker paid tribute to the loyalty of the the support of those who understand the latter, to ensure they wider College community who have contributed to the Fund. remain the former for generations yet to come.” He particularly acknowledged the generosity and leadership of Old Boys Charles Bidwill (6116), for his commitment to fund Mrs R Crossland, Director of Development From left: Henry Seaton, Justice Peter and Mrs Gill Penlington, Mr Tom Tothill and Jack Noble-Adams Mrs Jennifer and Mr John Packer Dr Shailer Weston, Justice Peter Penlington and Mr Godfrey Judd The Headmaster and Mr Godfrey Judd IN BLACK AND WHITE 4 CAREERS Computing Courses & Careers - Online Music & Movie Distribution The need for computing professionals and executives is growing as companies become more global.