Rector’s eNews 19: 10 June 2025

We have just three weeks left of this term. Between the exam venues, the music practice rooms, and the sports fields, it is an incredibly busy time for everyone here on campus. While you may be supporting them from a distance, please know that if your boys are feeling a bit tired or overwhelmed, they aren’t alone. We are all feeling the pace – boys and staff alike.

Because it’s a hectic time of the term, my message to the school at assembly on Monday was simple: Let’s be kind to ourselves, and let’s be kind to each other.

This past Saturday, our boys faced a remarkably tough fixture away at Westville on their Old Boys Day. It was a fierce day of competition, and while the matches tested our grit, I was incredibly proud of the character and resilience our boys displayed.

The gauntlet doesn’t drop just yet. We have two important fixture weekends ahead of us against College and Hilton. These are the traditional rivalries we look forward to all year – days of great hockey, rugby and unmatched school spirit. For the boys to truly enjoy them, and to perform at their best in the exam room, our focus as a staff is helping them manage their energy and keep their outlook positive.

In a full boarding environment, the pressure of exams and big sports fixtures can easily amplify inside the boarding houses. When fatigue sets in, patience can wear thin. To counter this, we are focusing heavily on pastoral care and peer support over the next three weeks. We are reminding the boys that there is no need to panic. They don’t need to conquer everything all at once; small, steady daily habits will get them safely across the finish line and to the holidays.

This is the time we need the boys to look out for one another. We’ve asked them to check in on their friends. If someone in their dorm or House looks stressed, a simple word of encouragement makes all the difference. Our Housemasters, Tutors, San Sisters and Housemothers are available to support the boys’ mental and physical well-being as the term draws to a close.

We are all committed to helping these young men give of their best, look after their well-being, and finish the term strong.

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