I’d like to invite Armaan Kumar Academic Prefect to deliver today’s reading. 

Today’s reading comes from the book of James Chapter 1, Verse 12. 

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”  

This is the word of the Lord (thanks be to God). 

Thank you, Armaan.  

Rectors Comments:    

James 1:12 is one the most targeted Bible verses about perseverance, imploring us not to give up even when we face trials. 

Today I want to talk about something that’s crucial for success—not just in school, but in life—and that’s resilience. But I’m not just talking about bouncing back when things go wrong. I’m talking about a different kind of resilience—the resilience of someone who thinks tenaciously, who won’t give up, and who keeps pushing forward no matter what. 

Resilience is usually thought of as getting back on your feet after a setback, toughing it out, and pushing through no matter what. But I want us to look at it differently today. Think of resilience not just as hanging in there but as an active force of tenacity—a force that drives the thinker, the innovator, and the problem-solver. A force that drives you. 

The tenacious thinker doesn’t run away from challenges. They tackle them head-on and use them as stepping stones to get better. This kind of resilience is not about just surviving the storm but thriving in it. It’s about asking the difficult questions when the easy answers are not there. It’s about looking at a problem from every angle, and if one answer doesn’t work, trying again, and again, and again. 

Think about some of the greatest minds in history, people like scientists, artists, leaders, they were not just smart, or resilient, they were tenacious thinkers. When Thomas Edison was asked about all the times he failed to create the light bulb, he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That’s what it means to be a tenacious thinker, one who views failure not as defeat but sees every setback as a step toward success. 

Right now, in our lives this type of resilience is more important than ever. Whether it’s new technology, environmental issues, or social problems, the challenges we now face need creative thinking and relentless persistence. It’s not just about working harder, it’s about thinking smarter, adapting, and never giving up. 

So how do we build this kind of tenacious resilience? It starts by embracing challenges, not dodging them. Take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. Keep a growth mindset, believe you can improve, no matter how tough things get, improvement through effort, learning, and never backing down. 

It helps to surround yourself with people who support and challenge you. No one does great things alone. We all need friends, mentors, and teammates who help us stay on track, offer new ideas, and remind us of our potential when we start to doubt ourselves. 

Above all, tenacious resilience requires a strong sense of purpose. When we are driven by something bigger than ourselves, it gives us the energy to keep going, even when things get rough. Purpose is what keeps us thinking, pushing boundaries, and finding new ways to make a difference. 

As we go forward, remember resilience is not just about hanging on through the hard stuff. It is about taking on the challenge, thinking outside the box, and refusing to give up. Let’s all aim to be tenacious thinkers because it’s through this kind of resilience that we not only overcome obstacles, but we will also make a lasting impact on the world around us. 

Please join me in singing our school song: Highways in the Heart.  

Thank you, please be seated.  

We haven’t had a cultural or sports report for a couple of weeks, so we have a bit to catch up on. I’ll now invite Cultural prefect, Te Ā Kruger-Taylor, forward to update us on the latest Arts and Culture news.  

Cultural Report: 

National Band Festival - Hamilton Recently the symphonic band travelled to Hamilton for this year’s National Concert Band Festival. The band performed very well, receiving a silver medal for its festival performance. Congratulations also to our soloists:  Sam Young (Silver), James Reid (Silver), Max Han (Silver), Darcy Jamieson (Bronze), Flynn Wickham (Bronze), Harry McNamara (Bronze), Edward Harvey (Bronze). As part of their journey to Hamilton, our band also delighted the students of Waipahihi Primary School in Taupo with a special concert for these young students.  

Can Edward Harvey please come forward to receive the band’s plaque and certificate.  

Lunchtime Concert at St Columba’s Church On Tuesday our symphonic band, jazz band, senior pipers and drummers, and soloists gave a lunchtime concert at ST Columba’s Church in Havelock North. Well done to everyone involved. $260 was raised which will go to Women’s Refuge.  

Trio of Talents Also on Tuesday evening, the annual Trio of Talents cultural competition was held at Iona College. Each school presented three items. Congratulation to our boys: Jake Bhudisanont (solo piano); Josef Oosthuizen and Max Han (chamber music). The highlight of the evening, and the winner of the award for MOST ENGAGING PERFORMANCE, went to the Funky Monkeys featuring Te Ā, Perez, and Taniora on vocals, expertly accompanied by the band of Dan Pascoe, Harry McNamara, James Reid, Ryan Palmer, Max Han, Daniel Lie, Liam king. They raised the roof with Uptown Funk. The overall winning school was Woodford house.  

Jazz Band at the Schools’ Jazz Night, Havelock North Last Sunday evening our jazz band performed at the Schools’ Jazz night in Havelock North. This featured college jazz bands from the Hawke’s Bay. Our jazz band delivered a great set of three pieces as well featuring soloists James Reid and Harry McNamara. Congratulations to the jazz band.  

We now look forward to the Churchill Oratory Speech Competition, which is on Wednesday of next week during the usual Chapel time.  

Thank you, Te Ā. And congratulation to all those involved plus those who performed yesterday for the Grandparents, there were so many positive and appreciative comments from our visitors it was a real credit to you all.  

It is now my pleasure to be able to recognise a student for all the work that he has done in mentoring and supporting our current and new International Students. Can Jake Bhudisanont please come forward to receive his International Student Leadership Badge. It is wonderful to see Jake showing real care and connection for those students who are so far away from home. Having someone like Jake who is able to help and support them is so wonderful. Congratulations Jake. 

I’ll would now like to invite Sports Prefect, Will Foster, up to present this week’s sports report.   

Sports Report: 

Good afternoon school, it is my pleasure to read this week's sports reports. 

In Adventure Racing The Puketapu Night Run took place this year on a challenging 14.5km course, with four Lindisfarne relay teams and five individual runners stepping up to compete on Friday, August 2nd. Braith Carew, Titus Dunnett, and Will Foster dominated the competition, claiming victory in the Secondary Schools category and securing the overall top prize, finishing ahead of all other teams.  

Ronan Brier made an impressive mark by running the 14.5km course in the fastest time for the 16 and over category, while Hamish Butler excelled as the fastest under-16 runner to complete the full course. 

All of our runners delivered outstanding performances and deserve commendation for their remarkable efforts. 

Can Braith, Titus and Will please come forward to collect their medals. 

In Duke of Edinburgh Today we have Year 12 student Jacob Porter receiving his Duke of Edinburgh ‘Silver Award’. 

Can Jacob please come forward to collect his certificate and badge. 

In Football The 2nd XI Football team went head-to-head with Karamu High School's 1st XI last Saturday. Cam Evans and Jay Carey-Smith found the back of the net, bringing the score to a 2-2 tie by halftime. In a fiercely contested second half, Lindisfarne emerged victorious with a dramatic 3-2 win, thanks to a last-minute penalty expertly converted by Ethan Bernard. The team now looks ahead to their crucial match against Hastings Boys' High School next week, needing just one point to secure the league title. 

On Tuesday, our 1st XI faced St. John's in a regular league match. The game started on the back foot, with St. John's opening the scoring in the 7th minute. However, Tom Speers quickly responded, equalizing for the team. In the 74th minute, Andrew Wakefield found the back of the net, putting us ahead. The team then held firm to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory. 

In Hockey On Wednesday night, three Lindisfarne teams competed in their respective grade semifinals, highlighting the talent and depth within our hockey programme. It was a fantastic effort by all involved. 

The 2nd XI played their Division 2 semifinal with remarkable determination, delivering their best performance of the season against the top-ranked team in the grade. Despite the challenge, they showed great resilience and should be commended for their effort. The final score reflected a significant improvement, with the team conceding six fewer goals than in their previous encounter with Taikura—a phenomenal achievement. 

In the same division, the Lindisfarne Colts A team faced off against Napier Boys' 2nd XI. Despite being a younger and smaller team, the Colts competed fiercely throughout the game, ultimately going down 3-2. 

Both the 2nd XI and Colts A will now play off for 3rd and 4th place in the Division 2 competition. 

In the Division A semifinal, our 1st XI delivered a dominant performance against Napier Boys' 1st XI. The match showcased fantastic team play and impressive individual goals. Riley Lennox scoring two and Cooper Witheford and Ben Boere scoring one a piece. Alongside the attacking highlights, our back four provided a solid defensive structure that effectively countered Napier Boys' attacks. Goalkeeper Selby made three or four outstanding saves, further reinforcing our defense. The team secured a well-deserved spot in the finals with a convincing 4-2 victory. 

In Rugby Over the weekend, the 1st XV travelled to Feilding to take on the top-ranked Feilding High School in a CNI semifinal. This marks the first time in a decade that we've qualified for the top four in this competition, a testament to the team's hard work and determination.  

Feilding High School leveraged their size and power in the first half, taking a 17-0 lead by halftime. However, our lads stayed resilient and tight-knit as a group, scoring shortly after the break. We created several strong opportunities and competed fiercely throughout, holding our own against the favourites for long periods. Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalise on our attacks and eventually went down 33-5. 

Despite the final score, this was a commendable effort against a formidable team, and the boys can hold their heads high. The focus now shifts to securing third place in the upcoming playoff against St. Paul's, where we’ll be aiming to finish the season on a high note. 

In Surfing This year's surfing event provided our boys with invaluable exposure to high-level competition and the challenge of navigating unfamiliar surf conditions. Unlike the sandy beaches of Hawke's Bay, Raglan's rocky coastline presented a new set of difficulties, especially when it came to entering and exiting the water.  

Throughout the event, our boys faced numerous challenges during their heats—many were surfing these breaks for the first time, some competed against New Zealand representatives, and there were even incidents of snapped leg ropes and lost fins. Each of these obstacles tested their resilience, and they rose to the occasion admirably. The school and their parents can be proud of how they handled these challenges. 

Participants included Carl Marshall, Tom Holder, Tom O’Shaughnessy, Ashton Bell, Saul Ramonteu-Chiros, Zion Perrott, George Clarke, and Beck Allen. 

In Swimming From July 25th to 28th, six Lindisfarne boys competed in the NZ Secondary School Championships, a prestigious event that brought together some of the best young swimmers in the country. Each of our boys competed in multiple events and achieved personal best times, showcasing their hard work and dedication. 

Sam Skidmore, who had to compete in an older age group due to his birthday falling just before the event, delivered an exceptional performance. Despite the challenge, he reached the finals in every event he entered and won a silver medal in the 50m Fly—an outstanding achievement. 

As a team, Lindisfarne placed 13th overall among boys' schools, a remarkable result given the high level of competition from much larger schools. 

The boys representing Lindisfarne were: 

- Sam Skidmore 

- Monte Douglas 

- Liam McEntee 

- Wyatt Holmes 

- Elliot Wickham 

- Flynn Wickham 

Can Sam Skidmore please come forward to receive his silver medal. 

Coming up this week in sport; 

• Tonight the 1st XI Football team face Taradale High School 

• The 1st XV Rugby team play off for 3rd position in Taupo vs St Paul’s Collegiate 

• Our u15/D Grade Rugby team have their division final on Saturday vs Hastings Boys Red 

• Next week our 1st XI Hockey team will have their division finals vs Hastings Boys 1st XI. 

Rector comments:  

Thank you, Will.  

Congratulations to all those boys who were recognised today and thank you to all of you who do so much to make this college so positive and successful. Finally, remember that in all of our cornerstones, being a resilient and tenacious thinker is key to overcoming challenges and achieving success. It's not just about physical or intellectual strength, but the ability to persevere, adapt, and push through obstacles with determination. Whether you're tackling a tough problem in class or facing a formidable opponent in a game, resilience and tenacity will help you rise to the occasion and excel in all you do.  

Thank you, gentlemen, and let's go out and continue to be champions of character every day! 

Chapel Prefect Ronan Brier will now close our assembly in prayer.  

Ronan closes assembly in prayer. 

Article added: Tuesday 20 August 2024