Assembly Notes - 20.02.26 (Academic Assembly)

Academic Assembly

Kia ora, boys and staff e noho please be seated. Welcome to Assembly.

I'd like to invite Academic Prefect Joshua Vossen-Chong forward to deliver today's reading.

Today's reading comes from Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

This is the word of the Lord

(Thanks be to God)

Rectors Comments:

Thank you, Joshua. I invited Joshua to deliver today's reading as an academic prefect because today we celebrate our 2025 academic results. The end of year NCEA and NZ Scholarship examinations of 2025 have produced some outstanding results that we should all be proud of.

Today we present our academic ties to Year 12 students, Academic Colours to Year 13 students, New Zealand Scholarship colours to those who meet the requirements for this honour, Rector's citations and we acknowledge our Centurions.

Before we do that, I want to congratulate all students on working hard towards achieving the best you could in 2025. If you felt that you could have given more, it is important that you have set clear goals this year that lift you to this next level in 2026. It is important to know where you are going in 2026.

Year 12 students, well done on your 92% pass rate for NCEA Level 1 last year. Year 13, congratulations on your 94.4% pass rate for NCEA Level 2.

It is my hope that you challenge yourself this year. If you are a student who struggles to get to achieved, have this at your minimum and see if you can push to the next level. If you have a mate who missed out on Level 1 or 2 last year, keep him accountable and support him this year. Help him plan, help him stick to time frames and celebrate wins along the way with him.

For those who are pushing into Merit, Excellence and Scholarship, set lofty goals and don't stop pushing when things get tough. Sometimes it is easy to set the goal of completing Scholarship, but then to simply not do the Scholarship Examination at the end of the year. Push yourself. Be better than before and make the most of the Academic Cornerstone.

Joshua read from Colossians chapter 3 as follows: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart". Aim to show courage this year, give your whole heart and your best effort this year.

Today's Academic Assembly reminds us of the important College value of Striving and Achieving. Remember, this value isn't about competing to be the best. While aiming for honours such as Dux, Top of Year, Centurion or Top in Subject is admirable for those who pursue it, that's not the core message. What truly matters is striving to be your best. Be better than before. Hold yourself to your own high standards and potential that makes you proud.

You're the one who knows if you're giving your full effort — whether you're focused in class, using study time effectively, staying on top of homework, and preparing properly for assessments. And you're also the one who feels the genuine satisfaction that comes when your hard work pays off with a result you can be proud of.

So, I wish you all the very best with your 2026 Academic goals. I ask for your courtesy and respect for the young men who come up on stage today. We have a large number of students to acknowledge. In particular can we please ensure that our applause is appropriate, that we are sitting up straight and that there are no conversations as students make their way up.

I'd now like to invite Acting Assistant Rector, Ms Carroll, who will announce our Academic Scholars. Thank you, Ms Carol.

Academic Awards: Read by Ms Carroll.

Special Rectors Citation

• Max Han

Level One 2025 Rectors Citations

• Micah Arnold
• Titus Dunnett
• Lachie Gavin

Level Two 2025 Rectors Citations

• Ashton Bell
• Charles Hope
• George Mossman
• Taylor Smith
• Tosei Tsuru

Level One Academic Tie – GPA of 70%+ for best 5 Subjects

• Max Allen
• Seth Bell
• Fergus Benefield
• James Boyes
• Thomas Boyes
• Jed Bruce
• Lachlan Butler
• Braith Carew
• George Chrystall
• Angus Clarke
• Finley Day
• Monte Douglas
• Ethan du Toit
• Mac Fan-Robertson
• Harry France
• Ollie Fritchley
• Dominic Goodenough
• Sam Harrison
• Patrick Hoyt Swinburn
• Waiariki Hunia
• Matthew Hunt
• Duncan Logan
• Ethan Lys
• Manahi Maddock
• Archie McDonald
• Harry McNamara
• Daniyal Sheikh
• Sam Skidmore
• Ardie J Smith
• William Symes
• Remy Taong
• Hunter Thow
• Freddie Walker
• Kahu Walker
• Luke Wallace

Level One Academic Tie with Distinction – Given to students who have a GPA of 90%+ in their best 5 Subjects

• Tay Barton
• Jamison Chheur
• Taurere Whiunui

Level Two Colours – GPA of 70%+ in Top 4 Classes

• Ralph Absolom
• Beck Allen
• Cody Caton
• Isaac Dann
• Fletcher Dawson
• Fergus Denton
• Rupert Fuge
• Frank Gilligan
• Locky Hallett
• Otis Hoggard
• William Jerebine
• Thomas King
• Leo Marcroft
• Mason Millar
• Orlando Norman
• Ted Oliver
• Charlie Pike
• Ben Pringle
• Te Awarangi Puketapu-Pene
• Beau Reid
• Patrick Ross
• Ben Tian
• Logan Tims
• Charlie Tizard
• Joseph Turner
• Joshua Vossen-Chong
• Nakaia Waitere
• Andrew Wakefield
• Elliot Wickham
• Tennyson Wiffin

Level Two Colours with Distinction – GPA of 90%+ in Top 4 Classes

• Noah Hemmingsen
• Jasper Jamieson

Level One 2025 Centurion Awards – 100% Grade point Average

• Max Allen L1 Art
• Tay Barton L1 Art, L1 Commerce
• Jamison Chheur L1 Art, L1 Chemistry
• Dominic Goodenough L1 Art
• Sam Harrison L1 Physical Education
• Duncan Logan L1 Technology
• Taurere Whiunui L1 Art
• Vinzent Macgregor L1 Mathematics, L1 Commerce

Level Two 2025 Centurion Awards – 100% Grade point Average

• Beck Allen L2 Art Design
• Locky Hallett L2 Physics
• Noah Hemmingsen L2 Accounting, L3 Economics
• Thomas King L2 Physics
• Jasper Jamison L3 Physics
• Leo Marcroft L2 Art Design
• Mason Millar L2 Art Photography
• Ashton Scott L2 Art Photography
• Logan Timms L2 Physical Education
• Charlie Tizard L2 Art Design
• Joshua Vossen-Chong L2 Art Design

NZ 2025 Scholarship Winners

• Frank Gilligan - Scholarship in Drama
• Max Han – Scholarship in Mathematics with Calculus
• Noah Hemmingsen – Scholarship in Economics
• Jasper Jamieson - Outstanding Scholarship in English

Rector Speaks: Thank you, Ms Carroll. Thank you to all of our teaching staff who helped these young men obtain these achievements. Congratulations boys, who should be proud and inspired about the year ahead. If you did not come up on stage today, I hope that you are inspired to work to your potential.

We will now be singing the hymn God Defend New Zealand.

HYMN – God Defend New Zealand

Rector Speaks: Thank you school, e noho, please be seated.

Thank you for an excellent assembly where we have acknowledged our top academic achievers.

Jasper Jamieson will now close our assembly in prayer.