Friday, April 19, 2013

Principal's Message


Dear Parents and Caregivers

Nǐ Hǎo - 你好 - Hello. Last Saturday I returned from a Principal's delegation to China, which was organinsed by the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury. I am pleased to report that as a result, we will be able to offer Chinese Mandarin as one of our language options next year. This will help our students take advantage of the emerging trade opportunities currently being negotiated by our Prime Minister, John Key.


On Sunday and Monday, the College hosted 550 students,staff and coaches at the inaugural Catholic Secondary Schools Sports Tournament. Thanks to our capable staff, together with the Home and School team, the event was a tremendous success. I would like to formally acknowledge the planning, preparation and sheer hard work of our Sports Coordinator, Nigel Ryburn, Home Economics specialist Margaret Burton and Caretaker, Alan Grant. 

On Thursday, we acknowledged the ANZAC tradition with a moving tribute by Jibi Kunnethedam in the Chapel followed by a rifle party firing volleys on the Magee Lawn. Students planted their poppies at the Memorial Grotto.

As a busy term draws to a conclusion, I am reminded of these words of caution from inventor Thomas Edison: 
"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing."
I reflect on the terms work, secure in the knowledge that we have indeed accomplished our goals through planning and honest toil. I wish everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday. Over this period, please take some time to prepare for the demands of the second term so that we can return refreshed and ready to succeed.

God bless you all
Paul Olsen
Principal

Parent/Teacher Interviews: On-line Booking

Thursday 9th May - 8p.m, Friday 10th May 3 - 5 p.m.

The following is the link for online booking:


the event code is  84BPX

Netball ANZ Grant



HELP US PLEASE!!!

We have applied for an ANZ Grant to help with tournament costs.  
Please go to 
and vote for St Kevin's College.
Thank-you for your support.

ANZAC Day Service


Yesterday the College gathered in the Chapel to remember the ANZACs and all those who serve our country in times of war or unrest.  In particular students and staff remembered old boys of the College who lost their lives in the Great War as Ben Latavao and Kieran Ryan shared details from the College Roll of Honour.  After an ANZAC address by Jibi Kunnethedam staff and students were piped up the hill to place wreaths at the Grotto before the Combined School's Firing Party gave their traditional salute.

School Trustee Elections Update


School Trustee Elections Update

This week you would have received your cover letter explaining the nomination process and nomination form in the mail.  This gives you the opportunity to put your name forward or nominate someone else as a candidate in the forthcoming Board of Trustee Elections.  Make a positive difference to our children's learning. Nominations close 12 noon 16 May 2103.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tournament Images



Congratulations to everyone involved in the running of the Southern Catholic Colleges Tournament 2013!  What an amazing event!!  We are incredibly proud to have hosted visiting teams from Roncalli College, Kavanagh College, St Peter's College (Gore) and Verdon College and extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the people, community groups and businesses who helped us to make this happen.  The icing on the cake ... that the SKC initials will once again be etched onto the Bishop Boyle Trophy after a first equal placing with Roncalli College.  Thank you and congratulations again.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Grease Is The Word


Grease is the word and it will be on stage from May 16 to 19 (week two of next term).  Directed by Mrs Newton, students have been rehearsing hard since the beginning of the term and it looks to be a foot tapping, hand jiving, high energy production!  Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults, and available from the school office now!  Don't miss out on this blast from the past.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Deputy Principal's Message

Dear Friends of the School

Like all weeks at St Kevin's College, it has been a busy one.

Mr Olsen has been in China as part of delegation to establish links with educational institutions and to investigate the possibility of offering another language at our school.

Preparations are well under way for what will be not only the inaugural Southern Catholic Colleges Sport Tournament, but also one of the biggest sporting events this year in Oamaru. We are expecting around 600 people total with 500 students competing in all of the familiar winter sporting codes. This event will take place on Sunday and Monday. Please take a look at posts later in the Blog and also on our Facebook page for details of where and when matches will take place. It has been a huge endeavour to organise. We have many people to thank: Mr Ryburn, our Sport Coordinator; our great Home & School team; the coaches and mangers of all the codes and the list goes on. We have received generous sponsorship from Lean Meats and Joe's Vege (Alma). Thank you.  The weather forecast looks good and the competition will be hot for the Bishop Boyle Trophy which has been held by St Kevin's College for the last two years. The addition of Roncalli College to the existing schools of SKC, Kavanagh College, St Peter's College [Gore] and Verdon College has seen a change to the format and raised the stakes.  Good luck to all of the participating teams.

On a Cultural note we had a visit from Apirana Taylor to work with our Kapa Haka group but also to deliver poetry to our junior school.  It was a privilege to have him at the College and our thanks to Mrs Jackson and Mrs Plunkett for organising this wonderful opportunity for students.

Last night the annual House Drama Evening was held in the auditorium and was a resounding success.  Congratulations to all of the students who took part and represented their Houses so well.  Our thanks to adjudicator Michelle Densen and also to Mrs Austin for facilitating this cultural celebration.

Congratulations to our tennis champions who were celebrated in assembly this week.  Winner of the Junior Girls was Kate Caldwell and the Boys, Thomas Pickles.  The Senior Girls competition was taken out by Brooklyn Johnston and William Sunderland won the Senior Boys.  This is always a fiercely contested competition at the College.

Francziska Yanzick is currently the toast of the school having taken a South Island title in the 3000m at the South Island Athletics Championships held last weekend.  It must be said that all of the students who traveled to the competition were a credit to the College both on and off the track.  Well done.

May God Bless you all

Kerry Ryan
Deputy Principal

Southern Catholic Colleges Tournament Programme

Action from 2012!
Momentum at the College is gathering pace as we look forward to Sunday and the beginning of the Southern Catholic Colleges Tournament!  With a large number of teams arriving for the event this is a great opportunity to showcase Oamaru and the Waitaki District.  The College is incredibly grateful to all those who have volunteered hours of time and energy to help, and in particular we wish to acknowledge Lean Meats and Joe's Vege Stall (Alma) who have generously provided meat and vegetable to the College for the Community Dinner on Sunday evening.  We look forward to seeing all of you out on the sporting fields and sidelines.

CLICK HERE to view and download the full Tournament Programme

PLEASE NOTE THIS CHANGE!!!  The Boys Basketball played on Sunday will now be held at the St Kevin's College Gym beginning at 1pm.  All game times remain the same, just a change of venue.  The Girls Basketball will still be played at the Waitaki Recreation Centre from 6.30pm Sunday.  Thanks.  

Fawlty Towers Faultless

Last night the Auditorium was filled with fits of laughter as the annual House Drama competition embraced the classic British comedy "Fawlty Towers".  The adjudicator for the evening was Mrs Michelle Densen, Head of English at Roncalli College in Timaru.  She is a experienced Speech and Drama teacher and was very impressed with the performance level of the students.  Congratulations to all those who took part in the four House plays.  It was a very successful evening, full of hilarity and entertainment.

Wining House - CLANCY
Best Student Directors - Monica Ley and Jazz Roundhill (Clancy House)
Best Actor - Gray Doppenberg (Whyte House) and Christopher Kearney (Clancy House)
Best Actress - Isobel Ryan (Magee House)
Felicity Irvine Trophy for Most Promising Actor - Karan Ratgali (Clancy House)

Apirana Taylor Visits St Kevin's

Photos courtesy of the Oamaru Mail
Yesterday Yr 9 and 10 students were privileged to hear Apirana Taylor, a nationally and internationally published Maori poet, short story writer, storyteller, playwright, novelist, actor and painter!  Both his poetry and short stories are studied in secondary schools for NCEA, polytechnics and universities.  Afterwards Apirana spent time with the Kapa Haka group sharing with them his knowledge of Maori instruments and their history.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Basketball Blog For All Your Basketball News!

If you ever felt like you were behind on the basketball news from the College, we have the answer!!  

CLICK HERE for a link through to the SKC BASKETBALL BLOG
and be introduced to the new coach for the Top 5 Boys team...







Girls Nite In - SKC Home & School Fundraiser

GIRLS NITE IN
AT THE
CRITERIAN

Fashion parade

Showcased by Preens

18 APRIL, 6.30PM

Tickets $20 - bubbly, nibbles and prizes
Available from Preens (ex Paddingtons)

Netball Forum

NETBALL PARENT'S FORUM

The first parent's forum of the year will be next Tuesday 16 April at 7pm in the St Kevin's College staff room.  We would like to welcome any parent of a girl playing netball for St Kevin's College this year to attend to hear news about netball in the College and help us make decisions that will benefit our players.

If you would like more information please contact Athena Evans     aevans@stkevins.school.nz

CLICK HERE to view the agenda for the evening.



Wednesday, April 10, 2013

South Island Champion


On Friday our Athletics team headed back to Invercargill to compete in the South Island Secondary Schools Athletic Championships and once again, they were a credit to the College in both their performance and their conduct during the weekend long competition.  Several students come in with Top Ten finishes but all would agree the star of the day had to be Yr10 running sensation Francziska Yanzick who came away with a South Island title after placing 1st in the U15 Girls 3000m.  Congratulations Fran!!

Results:
Nicole Dowling - 5th U16 Girls High Jump
Merekite Wahitapu - 9th U16 Girls Long Jump
Francziska Yanzick - 6th U15 Girls 800m, 1st U15 Girls 3000m
Benedict Yanzick - 11th U19 Boys 1500m, 8th U19 Boys 3000m
Cole Ryan - 5th U16 Boys 800m
Connor Ryan - 8th U15 Boys 3000m
Matthew Cullimore - 10th U15 Boys 3000m
Thomas Pickles - 12th U15 Boys High Jump, 6th U15 Boys Shot Put


Otago Cricket U15 Batsman of the Year

Last week the Otago Cricket Awards were held in Dunedin at Kings High School.  It was a very enjoyable night celebrating the successes of the Otago Volts and Otago Sparks, along with age group cricketers.

Yr11 student Brady Kingan was given the position of captain of the Otago U15 team and on Thursday received the award for the Otago U15 Boys 2012-2013 Batsman of the Year.  Congratulations Brady.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Over the Easter break, I had the privilege of attending the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Hillary Award presentations. Four of our past students, Sean Hand, Sian Waters, William Plunkett, Jaln Rodger had their awards presented by the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Jerry Mateparae. Having this number of Gold recipients is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of Mr Dixon and his team who selflessly run the programmes within the College.

While the students were on holiday, the staff have taken the opportunity to continue their professional development in a number of areas. The implementation of the new NCEA Level 3 standards has been the major focus in the senior school. Br Damian Price, a visiting Christian Brother based in Melbourne  worked with staff to develop a shared understanding of our Catholic perspective of the Principles within the national curriculum. 

At assembly this week we took the opportunity to celebrate a number of superb student achievements.
  • Hayley Evans Leigh McNamara were presented with their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
  • Head Boy Jibi Kunnethedam, was presented with the $1000 cheque for himself and $1000 for the College for his runner up placing in the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition held in Wellington on Wednesday 27 March. We also acknowledged his success in the Unity Race Relations Speech Competition. Jibi will be one of the two students representing the Aoraki region later this year.  
  • Rowing medals for Maadi Cup were presented to Julia Fauth and Tiana Mihaere. Julia received a Gold in the A Final for the Under 16 Single Skull, and Julia and  Tiana recieved a silver for the A Final of the Under 16 Pair. These were outstanding achievements for the College and rowing in North Otago.  
Later today I will join four other southern principals on week long visit to China. The regional delegation is making links with education providers in Beijing and Wuhan. The trip is being facilitated by the Confucius Institute at Canterbury University. One of the expected outcomes of the visit is the establishment and resourcing of a course in Mandarin in 2014. This will further enrich the opportunities available for our students to be able to learn about China which is a rapidly emerging economic partner. In my absence, Mr Ryan will be in the role of Acting Principal.


God Bless
Paul Olsen 
Principal

Agricultural Entrepreneurs


Year 10 Agriculture students have had the experience of growing their own vegetables this term.  The wonderful weather and their constant care has lead to a bumper crop.  Students then sold their harvest to staff for a small donation.

2013 Board Of Trustees' Parent Election Update

Next week correspondence including a cover letter and a nomination form will be sent out to all St Kevin's College parents and immediate caregivers.  Step up and be a school trustee, it is an important role, if you have the skills and experiences to make a positive difference in our students learning, step forward and nominate yourself or someone you know by filling out a nomination form. 

St Kevin’s College - Board of Trustees’ Election

  • Nominations are invited for the election of (6) parent representatives to the board of trustees.
  • A nomination form and a notice calling for nominations will be posted to all eligible voters.
  • Additional nomination forms can be obtained from the school office.
  • Nominations close at noon on (16 May 2013) and may be accompanied by a signed candidate’s statement.
  • The voting roll is open for inspection at the school and can be viewed during normal school hours.
  • There will also be a list of candidates’ names, as they come to hand, for inspection at the school.
  • Voting closes at noon on (30 May 2013).
Sue McErlane
Returning Officer

NCEA News


Financial Assistance for NZQA Examinations

Applications are now open for parents/caregivers who need to apply for financial assistance to help meet the cost of NZQA Examination Fees.  The following link takes you directly to the NZQA information page:
If you meet the specified criteria, download and complete the required application form and return this to the school office.

Special Assessment Conditions (SAC)

Applications are now being processed for those students who are eligible for special assessment conditions.  Information regarding these can be found on the NZQA website using the following link Special Assessment Conditions.
Parents/Caregivers of students who have had SAC’s in previous years are advised to follow the link and keep up to date with the process.

If you have any queries about NZQA please contact the Principal’s Nominee, Janette Potter by email jpotter@stkevins.school.nz or by phone EXT 744.

Consultation Meeting

Sexuality Education Consultation Meeting
Monday 8 April
7.30pm in the Redcastle Room

We extend a warm invitation to all members of our College Community to attend.
This meeting is part of the tri-annual review process required under the Education Act.

House Drama Evening

House Drama Evening
Thursday 11 April
7pm in the College Auditorium

Come and enjoy an entertaining evening of student directed "Fawlty Towers" and support your House.



Thursday, April 4, 2013

TelstraClear/Vodafone and Intelligent Rewards


There is a great way you can help fundraising efforts at the College ... Intelligent Rewards is an offer from Vodafone where each dollar spent by parents and caregivers can earn reward points for the College.  These points can be used towards redeeming fantastic rewards, from computers to sports gear.  A number of other businesses are also signed up to Intelligent Rewards.


An existing Vodafone home line customer?
Parents can call 0508 011 737 and quote Intelligent Rewards or complete the online form here. Simple and FREE.



Monday, April 1, 2013

National Speech Competition Results

Photo thanks to ANZ NZ
Last week was a busy week of public speaking competitions for Head Boy Jibi Kunnethedam.  He represented the Otago/Southland region at the national finals of the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech and was runner up to the overall winner, Rachel Boyd from Whangarei Girls' High School.  If Rachel is unable to travel to Gallipoli, Jibi will go in her place.

He then traveled to Timaru for the Aoraki Unity Race Relations Speech Competition where he has also successfully moved on to the national finals.  

Congratulations Jibi!