Wellesley’s Values

We give boys every opportunity to discover the best version of themselves. That is because we hold each other accountable to our values: Risk taking in learning, perseverance for our personal bests, and respect and empathy for self, others and Wellesley.

Through our unrivalled environment, our strong Anglican ethos and our clear Code of Conduct, we have created a culture of community, inclusivity and respect, blending over a century of tradition with future-focused teaching and learning.

Risk taking in learning

Risk taking in learning
We are happy to be challenged and to challenge; it’s fun to try new experiences. ‘It is cool to try and to fail than not to try at all.’ We are inquiring, flexible, critical thinkers and questioners. As a school community we have passion and skills for life-long inquiry and learning.

Perseverance for personal bests

Perseverance for personal bests
Everyone strives for personal bests. Each boy has aspirations and is supported to achieve these. We build resilience for learning. Perseverance is celebrated along with success. We create diverse opportunities for leadership and personal bests.

Respect and empathy for self, others and Wellesley

Respect and empathy for self, others and Wellesley
We treat others as we wish to be treated; we ‘stand in the other’s shoes’ to understand them; we ‘look out’ for one another; we display fairness; we build strong relationships across the school community.

See How our Values and School Traditions Come to Life

Wellesley School values and Traditions are founded on a long history, which is evident in our School Song and Prayer, and Motto and Crest, while Our Vision and Mission reflect both our history and our future focused, boy centered learning. Wellesley also offers a full school and also year level specific thread of Wellbeing and Resilience programmes to all boys at Wellesley.  Staff and boys are given time in the day for mindfulness to proactively build resilience, with mental and physical wellbeing improving academic and emotional outcomes.

Wellesley Vision and Mission

Our Vision:

“Each boy has every opportunity to excel”

Our Mission:

“We bring out the best in each boy: Body, mind and spirit”

Wellbeing and Resilience at Wellesley

Wellesley has a dedicated team who ensure that Wellbeing and Resilience is considered at all  levels of the school and throughout the school day. Inline with our core school values, and starting with Chapel on a Monday morning, well being is woven throughout the school day with tailored programmes offered to each year level, ensuring that the wellbeing of all boys is at the heart of school life.

See Wellbeing and Resilience at Wellesley for more on our in class and opt-in programmes.

Wellesley Song and Prayer

Take me again to the College that fills
That special place between the harbour and hills
Take me again to the College that knows
That the spirit that is free
Is the spirit that grows
Alone we stumble but together we hold fast
To face the future and to honour the past
Courage to be different and ambition to be
Part of the long held tradition
That is Wellesley

(Chorus)
Amat Victoria Curam!
Victory through care!
Leap into life with an open mind
An open heart to share
We are Wellesley, Wellesley
All of our lives we will stay
Stay true to Wellesley, Wellesley
In the curve of the Bay
The curve of the Bay
The curve of the Bay

Each generation grows up sturdy and free
Learning the secrets of the bush and the sea
Each generation learns to seek and to find
The education that will blow away your mind
To know the power that is caught in a word
To hear the music in the song of a bird
To dance to the rhythm of the earth is to be
Part of the long held tradition
That is Wellesley
(repeat Chorus)

Wellesley School Haka

Kaea: Torona kei waho
Katoa: Kei waho hoki mai!
Kaea: Tēnei rā mātou ngā tauira toa
Whiria nei hei kaiārahi
Katoa: Ko te kupu kōrero
O to mātou kura
Te kāreti, Werehi
E tū ki runga. Āhahā!
Me kimi i te wikitōria ā kura
I roto i ngā mahi katoa nei
Kaea: Tinana
Katoa: Hī!
Kaea: Hinengaro
Katoa: Hā!
Te wairua e!
Whiti, whano, ka haramai te toki
Haumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē

(repeat from beginning, then end with ‘Hī!’)

We throw out this challenge!

We are throwing it with you!

We are the student warriors
Weaving a pathway
To be future leaders

We stand before you
Presenting our school motto at
Wellesley College, which is
“Victory through Care”

With body, mind and spirit united we can
achieve our goals!

Wellesley Motto and Crest

‘Amat Victoria Curam’ is best translated for Wellesley’s purposes as ‘Victory through care’. The crest denotes the following: The cross represents the spiritual side of Wellesley, the light represents the lamp of learning and the bats and stumps represent sport.

The original design of the school crest and motto was a figure resembling Rodin’s “Thinker”. This is quite appropriate in many ways as our school highly values children’s thinking.