Play the Game

Mihi Whakatau

Centenary Celebrations

Ballantyne House

Science of Reading

A values-based culture

Outdoor Education

Play on! Production

Centenary Art Exhibition

Swimming Sports

Exchanges

Cross Country

Old Boys’ Reunions

Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Winners.

Top row: Angus Schmack, Sports Scholarship to St Andrew’s College; Beau Terpstra, Executive Principal’s Scholarship to Christ’s College; Nitin Keswani, Academic Scholarship to Christ’s College; Hugo Bush, Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association Scholarship to Christ’s College.

Middle Row: Will Glassey, Sports Scholarship to Christ’s College; Zac Hibbs, Sport’s Scholarship to St Andrew’s College; George Greig, Field-Dodgson Choral Scholarship to Christ’s College; George Wood, Sports Scholarship to Christ’s College.

Front Row: Siyuan Wang, Year 6 Medbury School Music Scholarship; Andy Li, Music Scholarship to St Andrew’s College; Ollie Gordon, General Excellence Scholarship to Christ’s College; Oscar Cutler, Regional Boarding Scholarship to Christ’s College.

Kia ora koutou

I have always thought that the opportunity to educate other people’s children is a rare privilege that also brings with it huge responsibility. Luckily, at Medbury the responsibility comes easily as the boys are such a pleasure to work alongside, and this has been so evident in a very full first half of our Centenary year. As we look back over the many and varied accomplishments that have made up the past two terms, it is sometimes necessary to pinch oneself to believe the vast array of activities that take place at Medbury.

A quick scan of the year to date sees teaching and learning, of course, at the top of the tree. Of course learning does not just happen in the classroom, and learning activities to date have included Year 6 visits to Kate Sheppard House, the World Vision Junior Youth Conference, Future Problem Solving, Year 3 and Year 4 visits to the Court Theatre and the Christchurch School of Gymnastics, the Year 5 trip to Ferrymead Historic Park, to name just a few. Our experiential learning through outdoor education experiences have seen all boys in Years 5, 6 and 7 attend camp weeks at various venues. These experiences build positive relationships and develop skills like resilience and teamwork which turbo charge learning back in the school and classroom environment.

As you would expect, sport and culture also feature highly in our all-round holistic offering and the summer and winter sports codes have all competed with success in the first part of the year. We have seen our boys compete exceptionally well in the traditional school exchanges during Term 1 and as I write, our winter sports teams and codes are punching well above their weight, and there have been some outstanding individual and team performances. The Term 1 Swimming Sports and recent Cross Country events were outstanding, with great competition and lots of community support.

Culturally, the focus has been dominated by our Centenary production, ‘Play On’, an outstanding whole school extravaganza showcasing the talents of literally everybody at Medbury, from boys to staff. Performed over two full house evenings to over one thousand spectators, ‘Play On’ epitomised the Medbury spirit and what can be accomplished with teamwork and enthusiasm. Music, too, has been in the spotlight, with our Chorister’s and various bands and groups performing at an array of events from Centenary Reunions to Church services. Mana Kapa Haka is also thriving, and a huge group is working hard to prepare for the Tuhono festival event which takes place in Term 4 this year.

We have all heard the statistics that those currently at school are likely to have much longer working lives than their parents’ generation. They will end up doing multiple jobs and a lot of those jobs either have not been thought of yet or will be done in very different ways to how they are currently. Of course employers want, or even require, young people to obtain their ‘tickets’ to the next stage of education or of life and, as you know, those ‘tickets’ generally come in the form of examination results. The ‘tickets’ are, in themselves, unimportant, however. They are stamped on the way in, and then often discarded. What we want for our boys at Medbury, is that they flourish on the journey that follows. This means that a broad and holistic approach to education is more important than ever and I see it as our responsibility to bring out our boys’ talents, to broaden their interests and to develop their personal qualities. I am sure that you will agree with me that this first half of 2023 has done just that and more. Medbury is about the education of the whole boy, and as you have read, the opportunities are endless.

Play the Game.

Noho ora mai.

Dave Scott Headmaster

Mihi Whakatau and Powhiri Tukua

On Monday 30 January 2023, on a warm day out on The Avenue, we welcomed the new boys, new staff and the new Headmaster, Mr Scott. There were eight staff and two students who attended from Mr Scott’s previous school, Kristin School in Auckland.

The Mihi Whakatau’s start was signalled with the sound of the Conch, followed by Mrs Mahon and Mrs Cathcart’s Karanga.

Mana Kapa Haka performed the haka powhiri, led by the Co-Heads of Kapa Haka, Zac Hibbs and Samuel Moggie, then they led the School in the School Haka.

Matua Maaka then said a karakia, followed by everyone singing He Honore.

Korero and waiata followed then Matua Maaka handed the toki to the manuhiri (visitors) to speak.

Mr Scott said “he honore tera, it was an honour to be formally welcomed by the boys and staff of Medbury School. What made it really special for me was having my former colleagues and student representatives from Kristin present to witness this occasion”.

This was a great first day and start to the year, marking the beginning of the Centenary year.

Ollie Gordon, 8S, Head Boy

Throughout the Centenary day there were many fabulous events. The photos to the right are of the Founders Day Service, and overleaf are photos of the Opening of Ballantyne House, and the Gala Dinner.

The Founders Day Service was a fantastic morning where many Old Boys from Medbury had a trip down memory lane and got to revisit their former school and join all the current Medbury boys in a service that celebrated 100 years of Medbury being open. The Choristers led the singing and there were many great prayers and readings throughout the service. To conclude the service, the youngest boy at Medbury, Louis Mackenzie, and the oldest former Medbury boy, Mr John Rutherford, cut a fabulous triple layered cake. The boys all received a Centenary cupcake for morning tea.

Later that day, there was the Official Opening of the newly refurbished historic Ballantyne House. George Forbes, the Chairman of the Foundation, spoke and introduced Richard Ballantyne, who cut the ribbon and gave a speech. The Jazz band played and guests could tour Ballantyne House.

To conclude the amazing Centenary day there was a Gala Dinner in the evening where Jason Gunn was the Master of Ceremonies. He talked about his son’s time at Medbury and shared many hilarious stories with us all. After Jason finished speaking, the four Head Boys read a poem from the ‘Ink Stains’ written in the 1950s by Old Boy Stephen Scott. There was also live entertainment provided by the ‘Starlets’. Finally, to wrap up the evening, Former Medbury Boy, Oscar Stove sang ‘Time to say goodbye’.

We would like to thank The Oxford Group, Two Rivers, Southern Alps Brewing Co and Hey Hey for their sponsorship, which helped make the evening a great success.

All in all, everyone who came to an event throughout the day had a fabulous time celebrating 100 years of Medbury and will remember this day for the rest of their lives.

Matt Bennett, 8D and Will Gardiner, 8D, Deputy Head Boys