24 Jan 2024
Return to international tours
International tours are back on the agenda at Churchie, and boys are relishing the chance to expand their education beyond our shores.
Service in Samoa
After a five-year hiatus, Churchie’s Samoa Service tour recommenced in June, with 10 Year 12 students, Head of Senior School Rod Olsen and Housemaster Wayne Gore visiting Alofi-0-Taoa College and Letuii Primary School on the island of Savaii.
Churchie has maintained a relationship with Alofi O Taoa College in Savaii for over 20 years, and the boys were greeted with open arms by the college’s students, who had decorated their whole school to celebrate the occasion.
The boys worked with local teachers to deliver lessons in mathematics and English, with the college’s students eager to learn, showing their appreciation through continual acts of kindness. Each Churchie boy billeted with one of the college’s students, allowing them to tutor the extended families at night and experience traditional Samoan culture.
One of the students on the tour, Jibreel Baytieh, organised the donation of 10 iPads to the college, and another student, Ryan Kim, ran sessions for the local teachers on how to use the scientific calculators that were donated to the college by Churchie.
Prefect George Prineas said the experience was one of the best on offer at Churchie.
‘The culture within their school was amazing, the singing and dancing were awesome to be a part of and they involved us in their various events throughout culture day,’ George said. ‘The students of Alofi O Taoa loved teaching us their traditions and language and helping us immerse ourselves in the Samoan lifestyle.’
Service tours such as this provide a wonderful opportunity for Churchie students to develop leadership skills and give back to the wider community.
New Zealand sports tour
The New Zealand sports tour was an adventure our Prep School boys will remember forever. Thirty-six boys and seven staff travelled across the ditch in June to partake in some friendly competition against St Kentigern’s College, Dilworth School and the King’s School in Auckland.
Boys had the opportunity to play either basketball, rugby or football. Our basketball team enjoyed a trifecta of victories, winning against all three schools. Rugby scored wins against St Kentigern’s College and Dilworth School and experienced their first-ever game on an artificial rugby pitch against the King’s School. Our football team also played well, celebrating a win against Dilworth School. A highlight of the sporting competition was watching the Dilworth boys perform their school haka—a very special moment for all on the tour.
In addition to sports, the boys enjoyed sightseeing and a variety of cultural experiences. A visit to Rotorua included mud baths, sulphur spas, geothermal springs, rainforests, a gondola ride and an afternoon of luging. At Tamaki Cultural Village, students experienced different Māori cultural activities and learned the traditional New Zealand haka. The boys also delighted in a visit to Hobbiton in the town of Cambridge, where they enthusiastically explored The Hobbit movie set.
Our students represented Churchie well while on tour, showing good sportsmanship, and thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in another country’s culture. We thank the parents and staff who accompanied the boys for their support and encouragement.
The Cambridge Tradition
Thirteen Years 10 and 11 students experienced the Cambridge lifestyle in July, embarking on a trip to the UK to take part in The Cambridge Tradition: an Oxbridge Academic Program offering students the chance to study a range of subjects including Espionage, Engineering, Astrophysics, Zoology and Global Business.
Accompanied by Careers and Guidance Counsellor Beth Gilpatrick and Senior School Teacher John Collins, the boys began their trip with a weekend in London, exploring the London Underground and visiting important cultural sites such as Buckingham Palace, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square.
After arriving at Jesus College, Cambridge, on a Sunday, the boys commenced classes the following day, settling into their courses and forming friendships with students from around the world. The courses included excursions to places such as the Churchill War Rooms, The Imperial War Museum Duxford and Bletchley Park. These beyond-the-classroom experiences are known as ‘super-curriculars’ and are highly regarded in applications to UK universities.
Year 11 student Bruno Hickey found the trip to be academically and culturally rewarding.
‘It exposed us to real-world situations and gave us a taste of what studying in the UK might be like,’ Bruno said.
We look forward to taking another group of high-achieving students on this culturally enriching academic experience in 2024.
Spanish study tour
A group of Years 10 and 11 students studying Spanish, led by Mr Bergas Pax and Miss Carole Berry, embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Spain during the September school holidays to enhance their language skills and enrich their understanding of Spanish culture.
During the trip, the boys stayed with local host families, allowing them to practise their Spanish language skills in real-life situations and delve into the heart of Spanish culture.
Boys also took part in immersive language classes tailored to their proficiency levels. These classes not only focussed on grammar and vocabulary but also encouraged interactive learning through group discussions and cultural activities. The small class sizes provided boys with personalised attention, significantly improving their language skills.
Beyond the classroom, the tour included weekend trips to Barcelona, Granada and Toledo and an exciting football showdown between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Year 10 student Angus Storen found the trip to be transformative. ‘We left with enhanced language skills, a deep appreciation for Spanish culture and a competitive edge for our QCE and IB pathways,’ Angus said.
In 2024, our language study tours will continue, with trips to France and China planned for the end of the year, providing boys studying French and Chinese with an opportunity to enhance their language skills beyond the classroom.
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