Good afternoon School. Please be seated. We’re joined on stage today by Hawke’s Bay cricket captain and old boy Angus Schaw and we look forward to hearing from Angus later in the assembly, so welcome back to the school.

I’d like to invite Tom Goodisson to deliver today’s reading.

Today’s reading comes from 2 Corinthians Chapter 4, Verses 8 – 12

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

This is the word of the Lord

Thank you, Tom.

Rectors Comments:  

The reading from Corinthians that Tom read for us so well comes from Paul the apostle’s second letter to the Corinthians. In the letter Paul reveals his great confidence in God's ability to sustain him and his great hope in the life to come. It’s about having resilience, so that you bounce back after trials and keep moving forward.

I chose this reading because I think it’s worth reflecting that on this day last year, 26 March, we woke up to Covid 19 Alert Level 4. It was the start of a period of time in which we had to show resilience. You may remember that you were sent home from school a few days earlier. For most of us, we were home with our families unless they were essential workers and it all felt a bit surreal given it was a week day when we’d normally be at school and parents would be at work. You were adjusting to remote learning and all the challenges that brought. I have a distinct memory of walking our dog in the middle of the road in our suburban street as there were no cars to be seen. It was eerily quiet, but quite calm and peaceful as I remember.

But you didn’t have to adjust to remote learning for long because you may recall that your holidays were brought forward by a few weeks and this gave your teachers a chance to work out how they were going to figure out this whole online teaching challenge. It was certainly a time for teachers to show resilience and then the many parents who became teachers at home.

Well, we survived, got through the year and of course we have had one or two close calls since that time, but here we are a year down the track and things are looking brighter for us. There’s lots to look forward to in the coming weeks – events we weren’t lucky enough to get off the ground are just around the corner, so like you I’m excited about our upcoming production, winter sports kicking off and we’ve also got that incredible South Island coast to coast trip happening at the end of the term for some of you.

With plans for a travel bubble with Australia well underway, we may even see some overseas travel happening for families later in the year, so as I say things are certainly looking up. Let’s continue to show resilience this year if other things crop up in our lives that we have to face head on and push through to the other side.

I’d like to thank you all again for your efforts on Gala day last week. If you haven’t had the chance yet, have a look at the photos on our Lindisfarne facebook page as they really do show us at our best – working hard together to raise funds and at the same time having a lot of fun along the way. Your parents were incredible too and I felt so grateful to them for the way they supported the college. Please pass on my thanks once again.

It’s Open Day tomorrow. The school is looking a picture and I really look forward to showing it off to prospective parents, but more importantly I can’t wait for them to meet those of you who will be in school. I often say to people that our best form of advertising is you – the students of Lindisfarne, and I thank you in advance for the way you will represent the school tomorrow. Show those parents and students that you are a proud, confident and capable young man and remember our value flags as you contribute to the day.

I really enjoyed your singing on Wednesday at Chapel. I told you it lifted my spirits and so please do the same today and show Angus how we’re taking our singing to new heights. It’s fitting that we are singing the school song when we’re joined by one of our old boys, so please join with me in singing the college hymn Highways In The Heart.

I’ll now invite Cultural Prefect Zachary Fitzgibbon forward to update us on the latest Arts and Culture news

Arts and Cultural Report

Good afternoon staff and students. Welcome to this week’s cultural report! I am Zac Fitzgibbon, one of your cultural prefects for the year alongside Oliver Newton.

The last few weeks have been both busy and exciting. Here is a run-down of cultural events that have taken place.

PIPE BAND NATIONALS

Our Pipe Band competed last Friday and Saturday at the Royal NZ Pipe Band Competition over at the Sports Park. All the boys put in a fantastic effort and played very well. The Lindisfarne College Pipe Band was the only school band from the Hawke’s Bay competition. In the street march in Napier, the band was complimented by the judges on their excellent presentation and playing. Congratulations to all pipers and drummers in the band.

GALA

As you would have seen, we had our annual gala last weekend. We had some exceptional performances from the Kapa Haka boys, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Rock Band, Improvisation Class as well as some junior soloists and new boys to Lindisfarne College performing as well. The visitors to the college clearly enjoyed the depth of student talent that was on show.

FAME

This year’s School Production of FAME has been progressing smoothly. There are only three more weeks till Opening Night on April seventh. Both the cast from Iona College and Lindisfarne College are working very hard to put on a great show for everyone to see. Be sure to secure tickets for your family by seeing Miss Agnew at reception or via Trybooking.com

LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Yesterday there was a student lunchtime concert in the auditorium. Well done to Quinn le Lievre, Daniel Lie, Joshua Chan, William Duncan, and the Improvisation Class that played at this. The next concert is on Thursday, April 1st at 1.15 pm. These concerts are for students, so come along to listen and support your fellow student performers. 

PROJECT PRIMA VOLTA

Three Lindisfarne College singers are a part of the Project Prima Volta Choir. This is a choir that supports young singers and gives them the opportunity to perform with professionals. We are currently preparing for an exciting concert series with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performing songs from hit musicals such as West Side Story and Beauty and the Beast. We will be performing in Wellington, Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay.

DEBATING

Recently, Lindisfarne College entered two teams in the Hawke’s Bay Debating Competition. Our team participated in four debates each. Congratulations to Edward Brougham who was chosen for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Debating Team. All the teams crafted their debates skillfully and will be formidable opponents in debates to come.

WRITING COMPETITION

The New Zealand English Teachers Association have created a flash fiction competition. This competition is open for years 7-13, so all of you can enter. Flash Fiction are short stories that are no longer than 300 words, which makes it a stimulating way to write. First prize for the best story is $200. Entries are due by the end of next term. If you want to give this a try, feel free to come to chat with either Mrs Atkin or me.

If you have any questions regarding anything cultural or want to join a band or event, please feel free to have a chat with Oliver or me.

Thank you, Zachary

Mr Hakeney – onto sport now…

Cricket season is nearly over with all three of the Wednesday T20 teams winning their final games of the season this week in nail biting fashion. Congratulations to George McKenzie, Charles Sisam and Zachary Taylor for their role in these games. The First XI also played Clifton County Cricket Club in a T20 game on Wednesday and the standout opposition player was our guest on stage today, old boy Angus Schaw, who hit seven sixes on his way to 68. Angus is the current Captain of Hawkes Bay and recently made his debut for Central Districts A. He is an ex-Captain of the First XI and is here to introduce himself to you and to chat about where sport has taken him so far in his life. Angus has recently won the Hawke Cup with Hawkes Bay, which he has brought along to share with us today. Boys please welcome Angus Schaw.

Click here to see the sports report

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Congratulation to Tom Druzianic for achieving his Gold award.  This is an outstanding achievement with approximately 200 hours of volunteered time just for his gold let alone the hours he also did for his bronze and silver awards. This means in his 200 hours Tom has been involved in recreation/sport, learning a new skill, giving help to a service/charity, going on adventurous journeys to learn about the outdoors and a weekly residential project which involves staying with people he doesn’t know and working in groups to achieve tasks.

Tom also gets to go and be present his award and badge by the Governor General.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brynn.

Congratulation to all those boys who were recognised today and I wish you all the best for your weekend.

Before I hand on to Reverend Dunnett to close our assembly in prayer, I want to acknowledge the passing of one of our parents earlier this week. Freddy Hoggard’s father passed away and I know you join with me in expressing our heartfelt sympathies for Freddie and his family. I also know when whilst we must give the family space and time to grieve at this time, when Freddy returns to school you will be there for him to provide the support and care he will need as he transitions back in to school.

Article added: Friday 26 March 2021