Dear Parents, Caregivers & Friends of the College

I extend a warm welcome to you all for the 2018 year on behalf of the staff and Board of Trustees.  We look forward to your support in making Tauranga Boys' College "Best for Boys" and ensuring the young men of the College thrive in our environment.  A special welcome to the boys and parents new to the College and to the staff who have joined us this year.  You will find the College a vibrant, caring and supportive community, focused on realising the potential of our boys.

This week we welcome both our new boys and staff and the large numbers of boys returning at each year level.  Our Year 9 intake is the largest ever at over 465, whilst record numbers have returned at each of the other year levels, with the likely result - to be confirmed - of over 2000 students attending the College.  This reflects our strong reputation as one of the best boys' schools in New Zealand, a demand for boys' education as well as the increasing growth of the population within our enrolment zone and greater Tauranga area.

We acknowledge our responsibility to grow the young boys who join us this week into good men.  I also want to emphasise the importance of the role you play as parents, caregivers, and the wider community in nurturing, guiding and shaping these boys so they an achieve their potential.  The saying "It takes a village to raise a child" still holds true and I am confident that by working together we can achieve our shared goal of growing boys to men who will thrive in our future society and make meaningful contributions to Aotearoa and the world.

Parental support is essential to support your son in engaging and achieving whilst at school.   It is essential you are proactive in this regard, make the most of the opportunities to engage and to support your son's learning and co-curricular activities, be it checking attendance, academic progress, discussion on classwork, or on the sidelines of the sports fields or in the theatre.  Your interest in your son's activities will provide him with motivation and desire to achieve his goals. The ongoing support will enable him to overcome barriers to achieving his potential.

I will provide details of these opportunities to you via this newsletter, sent out fortnightly, as well as via email relating to specific events.  In order to ensure you receive this communication, please check we have your correct email address.  If you do not have an email address please notify the School Office and we will arrange an alternative means of communicating with you.

Congratulations to our Prefect Leaders for 2018:

Head Boy - Anaru Palmer

Deputy Head Boy - Russell Green

Academic Captain - Damian Torwick

Arts Captain - Fletcher Oxford

Sports Captain - Wiremu Leef

BoT Representative - Kale Adair

Our other Prefects for 2018 are:

Fraser Blakeway, Matthew Brittain, 

Finlay Burke, Dominic Crombie, Hunter Eagle, Connor Garner, Ethan Hahunga, George Hiku, Adam Hitchiner, Zac Hobbis, Md Shadman Jahin, Ethan Larsen, Rhys Mischewski, Liam Moffatt, Callum Philpot, Lewis Reid,Jared Ruwhiu-Bott, Alfred Shum, Alevandre Talopau, Cody Tanner, Shi Jie Yong

Robert Mangan
Principal

Head Boy,  Anaru Palmer's speech to the students at Assembly today:  

"Kia ora mai tatou, and good morning Mr Mangan, teachers, staff and brethren of Tauranga Boys’ College. It is an honour to be standing before you today. I am humbled to be given the opportunity to take up the position of Head Prefect, and carry through 2018 the prestige, responsibilities and challenges that come with it. 

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge my teachers who have taught me in the past, and are currently teaching me this year. I would also like to acknowledge my Year 13 peers, the brothers on the bleachers, for what has been for most of us a challenging but worthwhile 4 years here. To my whanau and family friends, I am beyond grateful to be sharing this time with you and I thank you for all of the support you have shown, and solace you have given. Lastly, I acknowledge my siblings, parents, and Christ the Lord for their love and guidance.

A little bit about myself. I am from Matakana Island, but have been raised in Tauranga all my life. Before crossing paths with the college, I was a student at Welcome Bay Primary. I then attended Tauranga Intermediate where I was mostly known as ‘Anaru the Beatboxer’ because I used to beatbox; sometimes in front of the entire intermediate. When I first started at Tauranga Boys’ College, I got involved in lawn bowls, which surprisingly saved me from being pulled out and put in another college.  And bowls is where my journey here began.

For the last four years, I have had the privilege of getting myself involved in many of the opportunities that the college provides. Some significant opportunities I have made the most of have been the result of wanting to maximise potential in a specific aspect, or just wanting to try something new. Since Year 9, I have been a part of the Tama Tu Leadership Programme. This is a neat initiative for those wanting to develop their leadership potential. I give much thanks to you Matua Durie for mentoring me these last few years, and I somewhat have to acknowledge the boys in the group for donning me with the nickname, ‘Anahuge’.

Another significant opportunity I have made the most of was playing rugby for the first time in 2016. Although I first started off on the wrong foot, literally trying a move where I ended up spraining my ankle, I took up the challenge to not only try something new, but also improve myself to be better than before. As a result, I now train with the 1st & 2nd XV and would like to thank the coaches who have seen my potential and supported me. Make no mistake lads. 

The concept of being better than before can exist in everything you do. Whether that be in a skill, sport or subject - I encourage all of you boys to be better than before.

It is a privilege to be able to stand here and observe our large cohort of young men, who fill this gymnasium with limitless and endless amounts of potential. As we continue to chip away at 2018, with our college this year having the most boys it has ever had - with little over 2000, I see that each and every one of us has the potential to do anything we set our mind to. Bearing in mind that this college should not only be a place to thrive, but it should also be a place to call home. A turangawaewae - a place to stand, is what Tauranga Boys’ College should eventually become to us. It is safe to say that I am proud to be a student of this college, and proud to be a part of this community. I feel it is a place that we as a collective can be proud of, and for many - a fortress we shall protect.

Speaking of this community, I would also like to extend another warm welcome to you our Year 9 boys. I hope you make the most of all of the opportunities that come your way this year. Although to some it may be a massive step up from intermediate, your first year here is a great time to experiment with different subjects and activities; a great time to get involved and enjoy the opportunities you most likely wouldn’t have gotten previously. Before coming to college, I was not a fan of Health & PE. But after approaching the subject with an open-mind, I overcame personal obstacles I never thought possible. It is safe to say that if you open your mind to the opportunities here, then they have the power to change your life. 

To the Year 10s, welcome back. Your year is about setting an example for the Year 9 boys to follow. I encourage you just to think about what your plans will be for when you start NCEA. You want to be able to have a good balance of academic priority and fun; but not too much fun that you lose your flow and drive as you get closer to NCEA. They say NCEA is easy, and that assumption may be true. But as long as you work hard and do the best that you can, then you will be better off in the long run for when NCEA comes around the corner.

Year 11s. Welcome to one of 3 years where you put all you have learnt while you have been alive, to the test. Year 11 is the gateway for many to some of the finer things in life, however it is an important year as it sets the foundation for how you will do in the following years to come in NCEA. 

You want to give all internals and externals your best effort, and feel free to seek help wherever necessary as I along with other boys will be keen to help you do well.

Year 12s. I feel that this has been the hardest time for me being a Year 12. To clarify any rumors or uncertainties, Level 2 is a massive step-up from Level 1 and universities will look back to the results you achieve at this level, should you choose to attend one. This can be a kickback year for some, and a full on year for many. I encourage you Year 12 boys to do the best you can in Level 2 because of the implications the credits can have in the long run.

To my brothers on the bleachers, the Year 13s. We earned the white shirt, now it’s time to prove to the school that we have what it takes to be responsible role models, good men and that we set the standard this year - not just for the boys below us, but for future generations. It’s our time, Level 3 will not be kickback although it depends on how you look at it. But I encourage you all to make the most of 2018, and have fun with your mates. Kia kaha tatou.

Many of you may or may not be aware that this year is our 60th Anniversary - we intend to celebrate 60 years of heritage and history, and I feel this is a significant and important matter to bring to light as it pinpoints how far the college has come through the decades. I encourage all of you to commemorate this special time in any way you can, as it would be good to celebrate what our college has represented in the past, and where we can direct it in the future for the future generations to come.

In closing, I would like to thank you all for your time this morning. It is a true privilege to address you all. I hope you all take care of yourselves and stay safe this weekend. In closing I would like to share a whakatauki, a proverb by Dr Maharaia Winiata.

Ina aro atu ana te oranga ki nga mea pai, ka rere te wairua, ka taea nga mea katoa.\

When our hearts and lives are attuned to good things, life is clear, the spirit flows freely and everything is possible.

No reira, tena koutou. Tena koutou. Tena ra tatou katoa."

On Wednesday 31st January our incoming Year 9s spent the day with the Year 13s in attendance to support them in their orientation and help ease their transition into the College.   A powhiri was held to welcome the new boys to the College at Te Whanau o Aronui.  The focus was on the College becoming a Turangawaewae for them, a place where they feel they belong, engage in and achieve success.  On Thursday the whole school returned,settling quickly into the routines of the College and beginning their classes for the academic year.   On Friday all year levels returned to school with the day beginning with returning students welcoming and challenging the new boys with a rousing haka, to make the most of the extensive range of opportunities available to them.   Then the first assembly of the year followed, acknowledging the student leaders for 2018.  Videos of the full Powhiri on our Facebook page https://goo.gl/TqwdBf

Recently parents of Year 9 and Year 10 should have received the TBC Co-Curricular Directory via email. This directory gives you directions on how to access our websites for Sport and Arts.  This details all the co-curricular opportunities available to your son.   The aim of this directory is to encourage your son to participate in co-curricular activities. 

I would encourage you to talk with your son to ensure he makes the most of the opportunities that are provided at the College.   We constantly strive to cater for all levels of ability and participation level, and with parental support can provide an enhanced programme to meet the needs of your son. 

I believe participation in some form of co-curricular activity is of great value to boys and would encourage your son to get involved.  

The Arts Council and Titans Council have been put in place in order to support all boys who want to participate in co-curricular activities at Tauranga Boys’ College, both to develop to an elite level or to enjoy participation for social interaction.  

All boys who are involved in co-curricular activities  for the College are expected to demonstrate the qualities of good men and follow the code of conduct as listed in the co-curricular websites. 

Providing a co-curricular programme of this level requires considerable resources over and above that which is provided by government funding.   The need for this resource is both in the form of financial support and in the form of human resource - coaches, managers, directors, producers,  to assist with activities.

In order to assist with the financial cost of providing the co-curricular programme, boys have been asked to pay a Titans Sports fee of $30 above the cost of general registration fees.   This fee will be used to assist with some of the significant financial costs incurred through the programmes offered:  This fee goes directly to fund coaching directors, and initiatives supporting the organisation and administration of Sport.

I appreciate payment at this time of the year may be difficult for a number of people with significant costs of uniform and stationery.  It would be appreciated however if this fee could be paid by Friday 13th March,  as your son makes a commitment to participate in co-curricular activities at Tauranga Boys’ College. 

Often the catalyst for continued commitment is when a financial commitment is made.  Parents may wish to set up an Automatic Payment for payment of this fee

Your son can also bring his fees to the office. You will receive a receipt for payment.  

As well as the financial resource needed to provide the  programmes on offer, we also need a human resource.  Our staff are very involved in a huge range of co-curricular activities as shown in the directory, and make a significant contribution in this area.   However as we grow in size the need for parental / community support has increased.  

We need your help to ensure we can provide the level of programmes we would like for your son. 

If you are keen to volunteer you can email teachers direct, as listed for each activity on the websites.   Or, you can contact Mr Darrell Boyd, Director of Sport d.boyd@tbc.school.nz or Mr John Page Director of Arts  j.page@tbc.school.nz or phone the College if you have any queries.

Matters involving college policy should go to the Principal, Mr Mangan or in his absence, Associate Principal, Mr Stuart or Deputy Principal, Mr Gilbert., Senior School, or Mr Davis, Junior School.  

Matters of a social nature such as the settling-in process of getting involved in school activities can be referred to your son’s Vertical Form Teacher.

Matters involving academic questions and class placements should be referred to the Tutors.  They are:

Year 13 Miss Elmes:   Year 12 Mr Hyett :   Year 11 Mr Orchard :  Year 10  Mr Deacon : Year 9 Mr Young and Mr Brewer

Questions involving careers or work experience should be addressed to Mr Meys

Personal matters or issues of health which are affecting learning should be referred to our Guidance Counsellors, Mr Ebbett or Mrs Jo Wallace-Boyd or to the Student Liaison Office

Matters involving discipline Matters such as unexplained absences, loss of equipment, bullying, detentions, classroom behaviour, should be referred to the Associate Principal in charge of Pastoral Care, Mr Stuart, or Assistant Principal Mr Watson in charge of Student Management,  or one of the Deans, Year 13 Mr Bryant :  Year 12  Mr Akkerman:   Year 11 Mr Ormsby:   Year 10 Mr Gemming:  Year 9  Mr Bradley.

Late lunches, forgotten appointments etc need to be notified to the Student Office before 8.00am to catch the Daily Information Sheet (D.I.S.).   The office can deal with a range of information such as opening and closing times, illnesses, uniform shop times and so on.

To make contact with any of these people please ring the College Office.  If the person you want is teaching at that time, please leave a message or have them call you back.   Return calls are usually made during intervals and lunchtimes,  when the teacher has a non-teaching period or after the teaching day ends at 3.15pm.  If uncertain as to who to talk to please ask the office staff.

Email Address 

If your email address has changed or has never been communicated to the College, please email it to s.sowman@taurangaboyscollege.school.nz so we can update your details.