Rector's words

At Otago Boys’ High School, we talk about excellence often. We celebrate it on the field, in the classroom, and through the arts. But true excellence isn’t reserved for competition days or prizegivings. It’s built quietly, in the choices we make when no one is watching.

It’s the early morning study, the extra repetition, the willingness to try again, and the decision to lift the standard—not just for yourself, but for the boy next to you.

Excellence doesn’t mean perfection. It means effort, consistency, and pride in your work. It means carrying our school values into every corner of your day, and knowing that small habits shape who you become.

Choose well. Work hard. Be an OB’s Boy.

I was asked this week why we still do an ANZAC service. "Because it is part of our DNA," I replied.

Now, this person was not anti-ANZAC, nor were they lacking understanding of the connection to our school; rather, they were asking if it had relevance to the boys in our school today, some 111 years after the Gallipoli landings.

Yes, it is still relevant to our boys - because it is in their DNA.

Some of the fundamental building blocks in DNA are called nucleotides. Apologies to the professors in our school, but we call our "nucleotides" our traditions and our connectors. Our ANZAC service, so well-presented today by our school, is a perfect example of this.

My thanks to Emeritus Professor John Broughton, who spoke to our boys so well and so thoughtfully today. As an educator (with over 50 years of experience in the Otago Dental School) and as a playwright, Professor Broughton was able to capture the essence of ANZAC in his fictional piece describing the conversations likely heard in the trenches.

The boys were captivated by his skill with language, his layering of tone, his symbolism, and the grit that these words elicited. To be connected to events from 111 years ago through our DNA, supported by such powerful language, was a special experience - one I will treasure.

𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭’𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"Being a Man of Oak counts. Your bearing, the way in which you carry yourself, your manner, your choice of words, they all matter. Your language matters. Your dress matters. The blazer is not the last uniform you will wear, have a look upstairs at all the dads in brown boots — that’s a uniform! So cut your hair and shave; most of you won’t look like Tom Selleck.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Your habits matter, they guide you in both calm seas and raging storms. Discipline rules, not the punishment kind, but the habitual kind. Self-control beats self-indulgence. Rituals and routines leave a mark not only on yourselves but also on those you encounter. Timetables are just as important when you leave school. The Stoics are right.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Connection counts, through hobbies, through service, through faith, through sport, or through the stage. Connection enriches you. Before you find your passion, find your connection.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Listen, love, and laugh often. Laughter is the best medicine. Don’t take yourself so seriously that you have no fun; don’t drive so fast that you miss the road.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Be kind, be generous, be brave, be spiritual, be joyous, be funny, be hopeful, be happy, be sad, be up for it, and be ready, because your future is here.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Understand that no good music was written after Bryan Adams’ Summer of ’69 in 1985, and if you think otherwise, why are all the songs you dance to from that era? Understand also that no good TV was written after Blackadder IV in 1989.

Being a Man of Oak counts. Understand that being a Man of Oak counts. Know that your school is proud of you, and that it will always be your school. Understand, being a Man of Oak counts."

 The value for our final academic term is excellence. This can be a difficult word in the context of a school. Not because we do not extoll the virtues of desire and grit needed to be excellent, but it is just for some students, that word automatically switches them off. They don't believe they can be.

My job is to give them the belief that they have the potential to be excellent, and they do. In a school context, there are many ways in which a young person can be excellent, as an academic, in the arts or sport, but also as a person. Especially a person who is working on being a better friend, more reliable or more honest. But more importantly, it is letting them see their own reflection and potential.

So this week we framed excellence as part of their self worth. Not that they have to be excellent to have any self worth, rather they have the mindset to expect excellence in themselves, that they remove any mental barrier they may have to being excellent. Their self worth is dictated best by them, and not by others and there is no real reason why in some area they cannot achieve excellence.

In the pursuit of self worth we ask them to define it for themselves. We hope they choose healthier options than drinking lots, driving fast and any other self destructive behaviour they all have access to. We ask them to look up, not down and we praise them when they achieve, even a small milestone for some, can be a first step.

As a community, expecting excellence in an OB's student is a good thing. Supporting them through encouragement and high expectations works well because they learn to accept it, to expect it and hopefully to live it.

I really look forward to this term being excellent. 

A horrible week of weather has everyone feeling a little down, however it is these times we have the opportunity to be resilient. Yesterday I watched ten Year 12 boys playing football outside on our turf, in the grey misty rain. One, the goalie, was even diving around in the puddles in his blazer! "Sorry Sir, but it is way more important to not let a shot go in, than to be warm and dry." 

Brilliant - maybe not for his blazer.

And it is this brilliance that we celebrate in large and small ways every day, these one off things that keep me coming to school every day, is that joy, that carefree youthful energy that boys have. No doubt, they don't often think of the consequences, but in the main their joy is still childish. Keeping them as children, I think, is important. 

For a parent, or a school teacher/rector to 'treat' a boy as a child is not demeaning. Self autonomy and freedom, in my opinion are not just legislative lines in an Act, they are earned by behaviours, and most importantly accepting responsibility. Yes, we want them to grow up, to grow up well and to be lead by people who care, and they certainly get that here, but my simple point is let's not let them lose the joy of being a child too soon. Why? Because being a child while you are still at school is a good thing. What's the rush? The bills, taxes and other responsibilities are still there, crouching, waiting for them - so why hurry. 

Being a child is not an insult. It was children, acting responsibly and thinking of others who raised over $21,000 for Shave for a Cure, the Cancer Charity last week. It was children who helped move the car of a person stuck in the mud before school today and it is children who represented us so well, in a losing effort in Invercargill. Sometimes it is the children who teach us how to have fun, splash in puddles, dive in the mud and in this case win the FA Cup of lunchtime football.

Fingers crossed for better weather next week.

Schools like ours thrive on being busy. At all times, we make the effort to 'do more' for the boys, because we care and want them to have the best kind of education.

Part of that is the experience of interschools. We have completed three this term, with Southland, Timaru, and, on Tuesday, Christchurch. Each one of these is a massive effort: the coordination, coaching, and management on the field and back here at school is significant. Our team,all of them, do it so well, with so much passion and energy. It is our point of difference.

The connection between the 'brother' schools is what sets us apart from many. We understand that, as a boys' school, we are better when we are connected; we are better when we share best practices; and we are better when we are competitive and cooperative. Last week, several academic and pastoral leaders from CBHS travelled to Dunedin to meet with our curriculum and pastoral leaders. Together, we make things better for boys across the South Island.

I can think of no better illustration of the power of the boys' schools network than the positive email I received from CBHS Senior Sports Director Ricardo De Sousa after the interschool.

It read;

Dear Otago Boys’ High School Team – Mr Hall & Mr Brown

On behalf of our school community, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the past two days of our shared sports exchange between our two great schools. These exchanges are always a highlight on our calendar, and this week's event was no exception.

The opportunity for our students to compete, connect, and grow alongside their peers from Otago Boys' is something we deeply value. Beyond the games themselves, these exchanges foster respect, camaraderie, and school spirit, qualities that extend well beyond the playing field. They help build lasting relationships between our schools and offer unforgettable experiences for the young people involved.

We would especially like to acknowledge and thank Steve Brown and his team for their hard work behind the scenes. The planning and coordination required to make these exchanges run smoothly is no small task, and Steve’s dedication ensured everything was executed seamlessly. His commitment to upholding the tradition and spirit of this exchange is truly appreciated. (Even when I accidentally called him Simon).

Once again, thank you for your generous hospitality and for helping to create such a positive, competitive, and memorable experience. Please would you thank all the billet families for us – The boys had such a great time. We look forward to continuing this proud tradition between our two schools in the years ahead.

Many Thanks

Ricardo De Sousa

CBHS SPORTS