One of the requirements for a Barrowclough Award is community service. Recently, we have been involved in three activities in which our boys served the community.
World Vision Conference – Friday, 15 March, 2019
On Friday 15th March, the World Vision committee led by Jayden Burgess, attended this year’s World Vision Conference. Students from PNBHS filled a van and made the early morning journey to the Town Hall in Lower Hutt to join secondary students from the lower half of the North Island.
The conference provided an opportunity for those students attending to establish networks and share ideas, as they plan and prepare for the start of this year’s 40-Hour Famine, to be held on Friday 7th June. Throughout the day, each presentation focused on the theme of ‘Giving Back’.
The key message those in the PNBHS committee took away from the conference was to seize every opportunity to make a positive change. All participants were challenged to think about the sort of person they wanted to become and use that as a blueprint in developing their character throughout the year.
Unfortunately, the 15th of March will always be remembered for those tragic events that occurred in Christchurch and though saddened by the Christchurch incident, the group is more determined to focus on making a positive difference to the world they live in.
The World Vision 40 Hour Famine is an important event on the calendar of many schools. The funds that will be raised will make a significant difference to the lives of so many less fortunate and as such, the committee encourages everyone to – ‘Put a hand up and volunteer to make a positive difference’.
Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon – Tuesday, 19 March 2019
The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is designed to help children stay active and healthy. Participants get to swim, cycle, and run around a course that has been adjusted to suit their age and ability, participation is either as an individual or as part of a team. On Tuesday, 19thMarch thirty PNBHS students volunteered to help. The day started at 7.30am with boys helping participants as they positioned their bikes ready for their transition from the swim to the cycle leg.
Throughout the day PNBHS students assisted in all areas of the TRYathlon. They 
were life guards during the swim, used as crowd control for the cycle leg and guides to help keep participants on course during the run. Many did this by running with the younger participants and encouraging them all the way to the finish line. Likewise, those tucked away in the far corners of the cycle route cheered on each competitor, encouraging them not to give up.
The organisers and parents expressed their gratitude for the way the boys assisted, supported and actively engaged in their assigned tasks. It was very pleasing to hear the praise the boys received from parents who appreciated the way in which they supported the younger children throughout the TRYathlon.
Poppy Day Collection – Friday, 11 April 2019
Palmerston North Boys’ High School students have a tradition of assisting with the annual RSA Poppy Day Collection. This year, the event occurred on Friday, 11th April. Appropriately, this event is well supported by many of our students across all year levels.
Those who volunteered were divided into three groups. Each group met at the front the Memorial Gallery, and following a uniform and grooming inspection, they walked with a staff member to the co-ordinating centre located in the Senior Citizens Rooms. On their arrival they were partnered with other students in their group and sent out to various locations.
The success of the day was a direct reflection of the diligence and hard work done by Prefect, William Wood. William co-ordinated the placement of all students working closely with respected former PNBHS staff member, Mr Mike O’Connor. Ensuring the transition between those students arriving and those departing ran smoothly, was a logistical undertaking that positively contributed to the day being a success.
Often the efforts of those who volunteer go unrecognised, but the positive feedback this year from organisers and members of the public meant that all those who helped received the acknowledgement they deserved. Once again thank-you to William and each and everyone of our students who helped in this special event.
Aotearoa Youth Declaration
Thank you to Deputy Head Prefect John Cole for providing this report:
“On the first weekend of the recent school holidays, a group of five PNBHS students attended the 2019 Aotearoa Youth Declaration. This 4 day conference in Auckland, held annually, seeks to bring together motivated young people in from all around Aotearoa. The conference seeks to hear their opinions on issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as construct a “Youth Declaration” that presents an abridged youth perspective. The conference also seeks empower rangatahi with skills surrounding communication, cultural understanding and active/conscientious citizenship.
The event is split up into some 24 different “ropū groups”, where discussion covered our country’s heritage, issues of Equity, issues of Technology and Innovation in our country’s future. Participants had the opportunity to do local workshops, visit industry experts in their places of work with the wider Auckland area and to voice their opinions on all of the topics.
By the end of the four days the boys had made friends from all around the country, taken on personal challenges relating to perspective and learning about other cultures and gained new understandings of what it means to be rangatahi with a voice in Aotearoa. Furthermore, the boys have refined the skills that will allow all of them to engage with their local elected representatives and foster change in their communities.
The attendees from PNBHS were: William Wood, Trent Hooper, Rohan Sharma, Liam Richfield and John Cole.”