FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK .. 2 DEAR PARENTS AND FRIENDS ........... 2 STAFF .......................................... 4 STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2018 ............ 5 PROPERTY .................................... 5 LOOKING AHEAD ........................... 6 TERM IV HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS ....................... 6 ACADEMIC .............................. 8 ADMINISTRATION ................... 8 FROM THE CHAPLAIN .............. 9 SCHOOL COMMUNITY ............. 9 FRIENDS OF RATHKEALE .................. 9 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ...................... 9 RATHKEALE OLD BOYS ASSN .......... 10 TSTB BOARD VACANCY ................ 10 ODYSSEY 2017 ....................... 10 VIVA CAMERATA & WCO ...... 12 STAFF PROFILE ...................... 12 2018 DAY ONE ARRANGEMENTS ............. 13 from the Principal’s Desk DEAR PARENTS AND FRIENDS teaching staff and senior management team to start the year well. I returned from Odyssey in a somewhat bedraggled state, but was pleased to have COMMENT – WHAT MY KIDS SAID given myself the privilege of spending time (Excerpt from my 2017 Rathkeale College with a committed group of young people. Prizegiving speech) Individually and collectively they did really On seeking advice on what enduring well in testing conditions; probably the message I might leave this morning Ali was hottest ever. An article from Liz Evans, or at quick to point out that whatever I had to say least photos may be included in this needed to be brief and to the point. While newsletter. All credit is due to her for the there would not be a person in this opportunity she makes available to the Year auditorium that wouldn’t think this was good 12 students. What they gain from the advice, it wasn’t the answer I was looking for. experience will, I am sure, be long-lasting So, I turned to our children and sent them a and remain fondly in their memories for a group email informing them of my plight and long time. asked them what I might say that could have Term IV is now well and truly over, and it some meaning for you. Our son Simon is would be fair to suggest it ended well. The currently working in Australia and from him I Christmas Carol Service was well attended by might have expected the response we have school families and the succession of often heard on the Mitre 10 television readings, familiar hymns and boys acting out advertisement when the Kiwi boy asked his scenes of the Nativity made for another Australian friend “Hey Jonsey, give us a hand enjoyable and meaningful evening. A strong with a job Sadderday” who replies “Maaate, parent presence accompanying the boys at ya dreamin”. But, what ensued was quite the Saturday Leavers’ Service was a great remarkable. Without reservation, he and his touch and I expect the message of building sisters all thought it was a good idea and one’s future on firm foundations had some were quick to have a say. And what was poignance. Shortly after, during our interesting, was the coincidence of their prizegiving, it was a pleasure to reflect briefly thinking. on the successes of 2017 and to Before I try to thread together their thoughts acknowledge our high achieving students. I and add some of my own, can I preface this thank all the leavers for their contributions to by acknowledging that I had picked up on the life and times of the college and wish Vicky Robertson’s idea of asking her kids them all the best for the future. Hopefully what they thought before she spoke at the their time at Rathkeale has allowed them to Senior College prizegiving. She actually be exposed to options for the future and be didn’t say much at all about what they well placed to pursue their goals and thought, but she did share some advice that aspirations. resonated with me and worth sharing. Very I trust our families are facing the prospect of candidly, she said that she expects three a happy Christmas and some peaceful things from people who she works with: holiday time. Soon enough the boys will Always get to work on time return and there is much to look forward to - Be good at what you do and in 2018. We will commence with a full - Contribute to promoting good school roll, for the first time since the school - relationships became integrated 25 years ago and this in itself will add to the buoyancy we currently Just think about it – be on time, do your best enjoy. and be kind to others. What more do we need in and outside our classrooms? I expect the Board will announce the new principal sometime this week and all eyes will She went on to say that it was really be fixed on that person. In the meantime, I important to do what you value and while it look forward to working with a strong may take a time to get there, reflecting on her own career pathway, she implored Hannah, our eldest daughter, as she is people to think about what is important to inclined to do, took a more academic them. This really struck a chord with me approach and after saying that you don’t because this is exactly what Simon is on have to rush to advance your career and that about. After spending four years working in trying different things is good she went Melbourne and two in London he has down a different path. She described the decided to go teaching. He has chosen a concept of “Imposter Syndrome”, something career change because even though he is she wished she heard of when she was a good at what he does, or at least he thinks student. Individuals with impostor syndrome he is, it is not cutting the mustard in terms of have an inability to recognise their what he really values. So, he is leaving the accomplishments for what they are. They feel corporate world, sacrificing a considerable they are inadequate and incompetent. And, income and returning to New Zealand to despite considerable external evidence to the start his teacher education. I asked him to contrary, they constantly worry about being tell me in one sentence why? He managed it exposed as a fraud. She first heard about it in three, saying: at a conference sitting in a room full of people many of whom were leaders in their Different jobs reward different people in respective fields. As the guest speaker different ways, but few reward you long after outlined impostor syndrome, she said it the work has been put in. Teaching gives resonated with many people and for her it you the opportunity to help shape the way was a definite lightbulb moment. Although young people view the world and, after the she would say this is a syndrome is hard to teaching finishes, you can view how they, in fix, knowing that she is not alone has helped turn, shape the world. That continuing and her view her achievements differently. So, evolving impact is the reason I hope teaching while parents and teachers sometimes lament will be rewarding. lack of effort students are making, we need to hear the cry of some of our young people Conversely, his sister Claire, who has been who are putting too much pressure on teaching for six years has just resigned to themselves. We need to ask, why is it that pursue what she values more at this time of this self-imposed condition exists in the her life. She is a pretty decent sports woman minds of some, perhaps more so in girls than and has decided to do everything she can to boys, but certainly boys as well? And, how play netball at the highest level. She has can we help them deal with it? Hannah realised that continuing to teach may reduce suggests that sometimes people spend too her chances of attaining what few do and for much time comparing their blooper reel with the immediate future she is going to the highlights of others; that is, when people concentrate on that. Like Simon, Claire is are comparing what they are least good at now more focussed on what she really with what others are best at. This is certainly values, and both can tell you how they have not a fair comparison and you spend too got to this point. Simon would urge you to much time thinking that what you are doing explore what you are looking for and is not good enough because it isn’t as good suggests if you have an itch, then scratch it. as someone else. Accepting that you don’t Even if you don’t make the best choice the have to be the best at everything may help sky will not come crashing down. As a sports ease the pressure and cause less stress. And person, Claire hears a lot about setting goals, she says talking about it certainly does. but for her, she thinks some of what is said is And finally, Jayne our youngest, younger than quite unrealistic – expressions like “if you can Mr Watson, who did attend Senior College dream it you can achieve it” make her when we first came to Rathkeale. Jayne somewhat queasy. I can tell you the things takes a view from a different perspective, she dreams of require sheer hard work and perspectives being something very much sometimes there is only a very small window aligned to her work! She says not to worry of opportunity. Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of about what others think you should be doing taking 10,000 hours to perfect something is or where you should be in your life. She says probably more realistic. “should” is boring and only describes a milestone of expectation. She says mix it up, Tutors Tom Scott and Kenneth Sprowson, but do not compromise your values.