Christmas BBQ

Christmas fun at Huntley!








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Boys do well in Taupo Cycling Event

Matthew Lord, Connor O'Hagan, Trey Bidios,Henry Gay on Saturday the 24th completed the relay around lake Taupo and came back with some fantastic results. 290 teams took part and in the all male section the boys managed 10th placing! Overall the teams taking part they came 29th. We have yet to confirm their placing in the school competition but we believe they came 3rd in that! It was a fantastic day and the parents were all very proud of them. Personally, I was just pleased they all got round in one piece! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Taupo

Weekend Fun and Current Happenings

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OLIVER O'LEARY makes it two in a row! 

Congratulations Oliver O'Leary on winning the Hunterville Shemozzle 27th October and then backing up and winning the Hunterville Cross Country on Friday the 2nd of November

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloke's Night

Huntley School’s “Blokes Night”

a huge success!

 

Our fourth Blokes night was a great success with 220 blokes (Including boys) involved. The idea for Blokes night is for dads, uncles, male friends to spend an evening at Huntley celebrating what it means to be a bloke. In this case it was watching the All Blacks play Australia. The dress was “Black” although a few Yellow jerseys seemed to appear.  I was overwhelmed by the response of our families. Most boys had a significant male in their lives there on the night. Dads were only too happy to have other boys join them as well so no one was left out.

 

Many dads, granddads and uncles appeared on the night and sent the message out “Hey son, you’re important and I want to be part of this.”  The evening started off with some drinks a meal of hamburgers and chips, followed by the test.

 

I have recently been re-reading Steve Biddulf’s book, Raising Boys and Ian Grant’s Growing Great Boys.  Both point out the importance of “male time”. One of the benefits of Huntley is its largely male staff but adding the boys own male role models into the mix is a real winner. Boys at this age love being with their mates but they also like the opportunity to be with older males.

“Without male role-models, boy culture feels lost…Boy culture that is not mentored by spiritually vital elder males is more a gang culture. The elder males provide it with inter-generational magic, discipline, and direction. –

Michael Gurian, The Wonder of Boys

 

I would like to thank all the men that made the evening such a special occasion. As always it is wonderful working with the Huntley families who understand the bigger picture of getting the best out of their sons. This is just another example of Huntley and families “Preparing boys for the adventure of life.”

 

Regards,

Brad Gay

Headmaster

Under 13 champions Wanganui

Came back from 22-10 down to win 24-22!

Photo Book

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Half time pep talk

Results so far:
Hockey 6-0 to Waihi
Soccer 2-2 draw
Rugby 55-7 to Huntley

At the Airport

Jonty wears the Wally of the day hat. This will be passed around to unsuspecting Wallies throughout the tour.

South Island Tour

South Island Tour

 On Sunday 5th August the 1st XV, 1st XI Football and 1st XI Hockey are flying on Flight NZ5353 to Christchurch then driving to Timaru, where we will be billeted by Waihi School for Sunday and Monday nights.  On Tuesday we will travel to Christchurch for one night before returning to Palmerston North on Wednesday 8th August on Flight NZ 5346 after our games against Medbury arriving at 4.30 pm in Palmerston North.  

Day Boy Sermon on Olympics

I love the Olympics: the motto, the creed and the history surrounding them reminds me of a special place you may know well. So given that the Opening Ceremony happened yesterday I thought it was appropriate to do a sermon today on the Olympics. The long journey of the Olympic Games began more than 2,700 years ago. Records of Olympic history show that the ancient Olympic Games were held in Greece as early as in 776 BC. It was then that the basis of the Olympic Movement began to evolve into a philosophy of life: exalting and combining the qualities of body, will, and mind in a balanced whole. Does that remind you of somewhere else quite special? Out of this philosophy the Olympic Ideals were born, placing noble competition, sport, peace, culture, and education at the very core of Greek civilization. Once again it reminds me of a place I know that holds these same values. In 1896 the first modern Olympic games were held in Athens where about 300 athletes competed in 9 different sports. In New Zealand in 1896 a special school was founded with 13 pupils and now has 141 students. Now these Olympics are the 30th Olympics of the modern era? Huntley this year will be having its 15th Olympiad. The Olympics brings the world together and over 14,000 athletes from 205 Olympic teams and 170 Paralympic teams compete.
Times have changed but the quest for victory, the quest for gold, has not. The Olympic Motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger).
It is a motto for people who dare to try to break records. It is in my mind similar to a small school in New Zealand with the motto “Honos Per Ardua.” Seeking honour through hard work.

How many of you boys would like to go for the gold? Yes, it would be great, but more importantly the Olympic Creed states:
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
The Huntley Creed of "Preparing Boys for the adventure of life" is similar. We may not all be in the first teams, or classes and we may not always win but we all aim to leave here having fought well in our academic, sporting, cultural, spiritual and social activities prepared for the next phase in our exciting lives.
Enjoy watching the Olympics and remember to reflect on the Olympic Creed and Motto.

Blokes' night 25th August 6pm

Boys and Maths. Why is it no longer adding up?

When I first took over as Headmaster of Huntley, an all boys prep school, I would interview new boys and 95% of the time I knew I had my first question in the bag. "Let me tell you what your favourite subject is," I'd say. Prospective parents would be in awe as I told them that Maths was their sons favourite subject. The boy would look at me as if to say, "How'd he know that?" In modern day terms I was like the TV character on the "mentalist" who always knows what people are thinking. ( Except in my case it was knowing what makes boys tick!) In the space of nine years this has changed dramatically and now I am more like a bad epidsode of "Who done it?" three guesses if I'm lucky.

So why the big change in what subject appeals to boys?

It would be easy for me to sit back and blame the curriculum for this turn about or be even more direct and blame the feminization of the Maths curriculum. However, it is much simpler than that, schools stopped teaching in a way that caters for boys.

Now don't get me wrong I am not Numeracy Project bashing, the
numeracy project came out with some laudable ideas. Making Maths "authentic" became the catch phrase and teaching them "strategies" became all in important. It is very hard to argue against any of these ideas, or would be if they hadn't somewhere along the line got it so horribly wrong. You see boys a linear creatures they love rules and they love strategies but they hate too many rules and too many strategies. Over do it and all you get is at best confusion at worst total overload. We stopped teaching boys the basics and expected them by osmosis to be able to identify what strategy they should be applying to a particular question. If they had a sound knowledge of basic facts and startegies they would much more easily see the connection between the two. I advocate ten minutes four times a week to fun quick fire basic facts type activities. This should then be followed by 40 minutes of strategies for problem solving in real world contexts.

Boys are also pragmatists. Take this example. "John has three friends and sixteen lollies. If he shares them equally his friends would get four each but what would happen if two more friends came along?" I actually posed this question to my class."That's easy," says one boy, with a twinkle in his eye, "You would tell the others to hide them til they left." You see the problem is our Maths problems aren't that authentic. Teachers proposed horrible questions that weren't really occurring in the boys every day life. How could we do it better? Take this example. If I asked the same boys to arrange a sleepover for sixteen friends and find the best Pizza deal to feed them given that mum had given them $50. Well then you would have a break down of real time specials from Hells Pizza, Dominos and Pizza Hutt within five minutes. That's authentic!




Problem solving is something that appeals to boys. Over the holidays my two boys built a hut. Measurement, angles and geometric terms were flying left right and centre. Creating bracing with 45 degree angles, working out the area of ply needed to cover the hut. The Maths problem solving was real time for the boys. It was like reality TV, our own mini episode of "The Block". There was also a chance for them to express their creativity by planning their hut. At Huntley the boys build huts in the Orchard and it would blow most parents away with the creativity and problem solving capability the boys display.

In summary we must make Mathematics more authentic and from a problem solving foundation. Basic facts are still important and should be practised regularly over short time frames. Mixing up your Maths lessons is a sure fire way of ensuring boys stay on task and activated. Problem solving that involves a range of mathematical disciplines is very important for boys to explore the relationship between concepts.

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Thank You

Firstly I would like to thank the Huntley Staff and Community for the on-going support I have had over the course of this term. I have relished the opportunity and thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs a Headmaster faces in the day to day running of a boys’ boarding school. I have a deep founded respect for what Brad does and what the job really entails.

I have tried to make the job my own and most importantly be myself. I feel I have achieved this but couldn’t have done so without the help from Richard Hogg, our board chair, Belinda Taylor, the Headmaster’s personal assistant, Barbara Pratt, Graham Brown and Mark McAlley who kindly stepped up to take on the Deputy Headmaster’s roles.

Last but not least I would like to thank the boys as they are what matters most. Overall they are a fantastic bunch of young men who I have been privileged to lead, teach and mentor. The boys are well on their way to being prepared for the adventure of life.

I hope you all have a fantastic holiday.

Warm regards

Sam Edwards

Open Day thoughts

With Open Day coming up I thought it was perhaps a good thing to focus on why I see schools such as Huntley providing a link missing in main stream schooling these days. There has been a lot of exposure in the media about national standards and the academic tail concerning Maori and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. There is also a lag of boys academically, especially in primary schools. Heightened in recent years with the introduction of new education programmes such as the numeracy project which has had in my opinion had an adverse effect on boys love of Mathematics. A few years ago Mathematics was the favourite subject of boys coming to Huntley (Up to 90% of boys stated this at interview) but now it has dropped in favour. (Maths is still the favoured subject generally but has steadily declined in popularity over he last few years.)

The primary school boys lag is probably more pronounced due to a range of factors such as absence of male role models, lack of single sex schools, the teaching styles employed at primary levels etc. Many schools are waking up to this and are looking to make changes. Unfortunately a lack of cohesive programmes sees many of these attempts fail to meet their well intentioned potential. Fortunately independent schools in New Zealand are well known for the innovative programmes they provide and many have worked for decades on providing specifically for boys. There are a number of independent schools in the primary area that do solely cater for boys. Many have been round for years and have an in-depth understanding of what makes boys tick. Most have a proven track record of preparing boys for their secondary education and beyond. So what are the main factors a parent should look for before sending their sons to an independent prep school?

Parents approaching a boys school should be looking at the culture that exists within the school. Does the school display a strong ethos to everything it does? If the boys within the school are proud of their achievements you will find that your son will very quickly start to set his own goals for the future. He may see himself as a future member of the first eleven, choir, debating team or drama club. It doesn’t really matter as long as he can feel the sense of pride the boys have in the school. He will naturally set about finding his own niche. Finding his niche is also an important part of boys’ education as their confidence will develop, and with that academic achievement tends to lift as well.

Another aspect is boundaries, boys love them. They need to be fair, consistently applied and with clear consequences should a boy fail to meet expectations. Fairness is the important aspect here; boys smell out inconsistency and will do all they can to circumnavigate any discipline they can if they feel unfairly treated. Routines are an important part of this as boys love knowing what they are doing where and when.

Many independent schools have fantastic peer and staff role models and mentoring programmes that positively reinforce these boundaries. Boys love something to aspire to such as leadership positions, recognition for their abilities etc.

Sporting and Cultural opportunities for boys are another vital aspect of boys schooling. Boys need to be part of a team or group to help them learn the vital lessons of working with others. Many boys are dying to try something different like learning a musical instrument but often get put off because of adverse peer pressure. Independent school boys are often immersed in an environment where it is cool to be seen as a member of a band or able to play and individual instrument.

Boys’ academic achievement is affected by a combination of the things above. There are also important aspects that boys naturally find appealing or challenging. Many boys are not confident orally so they need to be forced into situations where speaking confidently is an expectation. Many independent schools make speech making, sports reports, debating, and drama a compulsory part of their curriculum. Reading is another traditional area boys will shy away from if given the chance. Compulsory reading periods that offer high interest, action, adventure books with plenty of non-fiction being made available can turn a reluctant reader into a voracious reader. Once again its all about finding the area of interest for the particular boy and exploiting it. Reading mileage is another important aspect as is senior boys reading to junior boys. Ask a boy to write something about his summer holidays and he begrudgingly will, don’t expect him to proof read it! Ask him to write a manual about how to change the tire on his bike and he’s captured. Finding points of interest are vital for boys to buy in to the requirements.


The final ingredient in helping boys succeed at school is the relationship between Parent and School. Parents and teaching staff working together is another important aspect for boys’ education. Boys will invariably try and play the home off against the school if they get the opportunity. However, if the school and parents are on the same wave length and heading in the same direction it makes a huge difference. Sometimes believing in a school’s professional advice can be hard but parents need to acknowledge that the school is acting to help their son. Once again it comes down to consistency on both the parents’ and the school’s part. Read about what the school stands for and if this fits your general philosophy then it makes sense to get in and support it. Parents sometimes do irreparable damage to their son’s educational opportunities by not supporting decisions made by the school.In summary it is my view that there is nothing wrong with our boys in our education sector as long as they are exposed to the right elements listed above. There is no doubt that the right combination of ethos, boundaries, role models, sporting and cultural opportunities, tailored academic programme and supportive parents and schools working together will produce outstanding boys.


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Boarders, parents and staff -Making the triangle work.

Well here we are at the Bristol Marriott Hotel for the British Boarding Schools Conference. I have been doing some reflection on the three way relationship needed in a boarding school environment. Our first speaker was Libby Purvis a reporter who unlike most reporters is very pro-boarding. Let's start with her opening quote:

"If there is one thing crucial to making boarding work in a modern and emotionally literate society, it is the creation of a three-way partnership between the pupil, the parents, and the staff. Trust, openness, patience and goodwill are the key words: and the adults naturally bear the greatest responsibility for keeping it real." Libby Purvis

I think this statement is fundamentally true, boarding schools in the modern age musn't be content with being good we have to be great! Why, I hear you ask? It comes down to the fact that most prospective parents don't initially approve of boarding. These parents feel it is unnatural to send their son away to prep school, most have no experience of boarding themselves or in some cases had bad experiences when they boarded. In most professions good enough is good enough but in boarding schools you have to be better than good, you have to be great. The only excuse for boarding is when it is done exceptionally well. This is something we have to keep in the forefront of our minds at Huntley. Whatever we do for boarding has to be of an exceptional level being good is not good enough we must be great.

Done exceptionally boarding schools give a network of relationships for students to take up and explore independently. For most boys it is their first opportunity to grow, make decisions and test themselves in a safe environment. When done well this development in confidence and self awareness is the first thing parents notice about their sons. Boarding schools provide belonging, loyalty, and comradeship. But if it goes wrong or is not done well it can be terrible.

To be a great boarding school we must mesh with modern family life. At Huntley I believe we should be seen by parents as an extension of family. The school in essence is almost like a friendly uncle, not trying to intrude on the family but be a friendly, supportive addition to shaping their sons for the adventure of life. Staff must give huge support and listen and try to understand parents. Parents also have a role to play in supporting their son but equally supporting the staff in this equation. Parents and staff need to realise that boarders share everything, favourite teacher, same best friends, best subject, sports teams, play etc. parents are the only thing they don't share. Therefore boys will ring them about every grievance. This is not necessarily a bad thing but parents do need to realise this and temper it with the fact that they will at times get a jaundiced point of view from their son. They must therefore build good relationships with staff and trust that what their child is telling them is not necessarily the whole story. The Head plays a integral role in assuring these relationships develop well. If it is done well the boarding head will find his job easier. It is largely about trust. Staff and parents must agree never to undermine each other.
I guess one of my challenges as Headmaster is communicating this to all three groups.

I hope the term has started well. Warm regards from rainy Bristol. Brad

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Trips to London

We are having a great time so far. The boys are certainly taking it all in. They found the Tube ride a bit scary but coped really well with it. Off to Caldicott today, the school that Pam and I taught at in 1995-6. It will be fun catching up with old friends and seeing how the school has changed.

We had a pint for you all in the Sherlock Holmes pub. For more photos check out Henry's blog at:

Http://henrysoverseasadventure.blogspot.co.uk/

In Hong Kong

Yay we are on our way. We loved Hong Kong and are now looking forward to reaching England. I hope all the boys are enjoying their holidays.

Term 1 Highlights

Huntley Clay Shoot

What a fabulous day for dads and their sons to get out and shoot some clays. Many thanks to Mr Giles Standford from Taihape Sports for organising the day. Mr Brodie was the top shot of the day with 40/45 and Harry Newman scored 30/45 to win the boys section.

Get wise money programme

Vaanei from the ASB bank came to talk to the boys about making good decisions with their money.

Camp Tongariro

Camp Tongariro was a hugely successful outdoor educational experience for all the boys but don't take my word for it have a look yourself.

Swimming Sports/ Family Day

Boys view the Rugby World Cup

These lucky boys went and visited the rugby world cup tour in Marton today.

Huntley 2012 Triathlon!

Huntley maths extravaganza

Maths Extravaganza week is in full flight. In the photos below 8BG are in full swing on the laptops.

Huntley Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

 Rain and wind didn't stop the boys enjoying themselves on the Alphabet Scavenger Hunt!

 Hmmm there must be something beginning with "h" in the dorms....

 Yay! "s" for saxophone.

 The alphabet scavenger hunt is finished!

 All the items in alphabetical order please!

Hold your horses! Angus is coming in!

Mobile education

Via: Voxy Blog

Speed maths with 7SL

This morning I visited 7SL. They were doing a speed Maths lesson. I also had a look at their "What it means to be a learner poster." I was very impressed with the motivation of the boys they love the competitive aspect of timing themselves.

Sunday fun day

These photos were taken in 10 minutes! lots of fun.