The school roll continues to grow, and we have a waiting list for Year 9 Boarders for 2022 which is great news. In 2021 we had a successful Super 8 year, winning four shields and the Super 8 Cultural Festival title. Many thanks must go to the staff, old boys and community who support, coached and managed our teams.
There are some exciting plans ahead for the school and the surrounding area. Those of you located in New Plymouth will be aware of the proposal to redevelop the racecourse as a multi-sports hub with many facilities. With these facilities being so close to the school it will benefit the boys. We also have received our first draft of plans to redevelop the boarder's lounge into a two-story boarding hub with common room space and senior boarding accommodation. The project is exciting and will future proof boarding into the 21st century.
COVID had disrupted some aspects of the school programme. However, in late November, two days after the traffic light system came into place, the Year 9 students were on outdoor education camps throughout the North Island. I must acknowledge the staff who led the activities, and the team's determination to ensure the boys got these opportunities is one of the unique aspects of the school. The easiest option would have been to remain at school and do nothing, as many schools did.
It appears the new norm for 2022 will be vaccination passports. School Sport NZ and NZ Rugby have mandated that all students involved in their events must be vaccinated. This will be a challenge that we will need to navigate to make sure we give the students the best possible chance to have normality and represent NPBHS.
2022 is the schools 140th year, and we look forward to having a function to celebrate the event later in the year. I encourage you to contact your schoolmates and get a table together to come back through the gates. If you have lost track of some old schoolmates, don't hesitate to contact the Old Boys liaison to see if we have their contacts.
We hope to have some more normality in 2022, and I look forward to seeing you next year.
Sam Moore