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| McKenzie |
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| HILTON COLLEGE | |
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www.hiltoncollege.com |
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www.hiltoncollege.com |
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 I wake up to pouring rain once again and this has put a handbrake on my normal five laps on bicycle around the Circular Drive which I try to do three times a week between 6 and 6.30 am. At 7.15 I am busy answering a few e-mails when there is a gentle knock on my door. It is a tearful new boy who is battling. He has just been on his first leave this weekend and Monday morning has not been easy. We have a chat and I hope he feels better. It is not an easy time settling in. I head off to the Crookes Block to teach Mathematics and hopefully stimulate a few minds! At 2 pm each Monday we have a Matric meeting. I try to vary these meetings. One week we spend time on leadership issues and philosophies and the next week we deal with more general matters.
Our matrics have made a good start to the year but I emphasize to them that it is not all about having neat and tidy lockers but rather about asking themselves whether there is a good atmosphere in the dormitory or not; are the boys interacting well; are they talking about what it means to be a good Hiltonian; and are they perceptive about what is happening with each boy in the dormitory? They do not have an easy job and they too are learning.
There is much banter when I inform the matrics that I am changing the security code on the door to 2016 (Do not tell anyone- it is meant to be top secret!). I ask them if this number has any significance and someone pipes up that it was the Scotland vs France rugby score. I am very proud of being a Scot although when I boasted in the Staff Common Room, about the Scottish victory I received a few chirps! At 3pm I head to cricket but once again it is raining! Some of the u 14 A players are going do some work on the bowling machine in the Indoor Centre. I take one of the boys to the Beet Nets to give him some individual coaching during a brief respite from the rain. I thoroughly enjoy this and it is a good outlet. At 7 pm I take a short walk around the House to see that all is working and the matric on duty reports to me at 7.15pm to let me know who has signed out and that all is well. I take time to chat with the two new Form III boys to see how things are going. They have settled in remarkably well although it is always easier for older boys. During the evening I receive an e-mail from Tim Meyers who is on exchange at Harrow. He is having a great time and I think I will read out his e-mail to the House at tomorrow’s House Prayers. At 10pm I meet with Devan Kerr and we talk about a few issues. We have a weekly meeting. I do enjoy talking to him as he is always very open and keen to discuss matters of concern.
My evening ritual after 10.30pm is to sit with a nice cup of tea and watch SKY news and catch up on world events. |
