From Board the

We have some changes to Board membership this year. At the end of 2022, we bid a fond farewell to Rob Hall and Malcolm Johns as outgoing Board members. Rob joined the Board in 2014 and sat on the Remuneration and Nominations Committee. Malcolm served on the Board and Capital Works Committee for six years. Both Rob and Malcolm could always be relied upon for considered wise counsel. They contributed greatly to the governance of the school during their respective tenures.

As I write this, I’m also packing my bags for the upcoming weekend as I head to Wānaka to take part in the Motatapu Mountain Bike Race. With so many things cancelled over the past three years I’ve jumped on board with a few events lately, feeling I should make the most of being able to do these things.

I am sure I am not alone in this. It has been refreshing and energising starting a year with no restrictions in place. We’ve seen great participation, support, and involvement in school events at the start of this year, possibly in an effort to make up for the two years without.

The Academic Assembly was one such event. The Centennial Chapel was bursting with whānau and friends who came to celebrate the students’ academic successes of 2022. The award recipients contributed to a record level of achievement in NCEA and Scholarship examinations. The College is extremely proud of their achievements. The Board recognises and appreciates the teachers and support staff who have supported these achievements through their dedication to teaching, encouraging and inspiring students to attain their best.

We had a good response for the two vacated Parent Nominee positions on the Board and thank all those who expressed an interest. The Board was seeking to appoint members with senior executive or strong governance experience together with a background in development, construction, and health and safety. We appointed Alan Merry and Peter Armstrong to fill these positions and warmly welcome them to the Board.

Alan is the Chief Executive at Engenium Consulting Engineers. He has a background in civil and fire engineering and extensive experience in the construction industry. Alan also sits on the Board of Sport Canterbury and has a daughter, Harriet, in Year 4.

Peter is CEO of Westpower. He brings experience in business, strategy, growth, building teams, and asset management. He has Advisory Board roles at the University of Canterbury in the engineering field. Peter has two children at St Andrew’s, Jessica in Year 8 and Jonathan in Year 7.

Jamie Lee Tuuta, who has been a Board Intern for the past 18 months, was appointed as a full Board member at the beginning of this year. We will continue to value Jamie Lee’s ongoing contribution.

The Board started the year with an afternoon at Castle Hill Lodge, hosted by Castle Hill Outdoor Education Centre Operations Manager, Jo Parsons, and the team of instructors (Emma, Bailey, Jason and Sienna). It was a great opportunity to see this wonderful outdoor education space in action and it truly is a unique learning facility for our students. We had a tour of the lodge and outbuildings before a walk along the river. Not quite as adventurous as the rafting or caving that the students do (we’ll do better next time, I promise). The experience did, however, give us a chance to chat with the instructors, gain oversight on health and safety, and learn more about the new programmes implemented last year. 2022 was the first full year of the new programme and team. A total of 652 students over four year groups (Years 7–10) attended camps and Duke of Edinburgh Hillary’s Award activities. Jo and the team are so passionate about the outdoors and how they can play a role in developing physical, social, character, and leadership attributes in students over consecutive years. They have oodles of energy, warmth, skill, and very evident capability. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon with them.

So, with all this in mind, I would invite you all to seize the opportunities that this year will bring and build on the strong start that the College has had.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. Let us keep close together, not wide apart.

Felicity Odlin Board Chair On behalf of the Board of Governors