Friday, October 31, 2014

Acting Principal's Comments

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

This week the College has been quietly busy, preparing for the next Tuesday which will see our senior students presented with their academic awards and graduation certificates at the Senior Prize Giving for 2014.  The evening will begin at 7pm in the College Chapel and we extend a warm invitation to all of our College Community to join us.

Yesterday we were delighted to have our incoming Year 9 students and their parents visit the College for Orientation Day.  Thank you to Ms Walshe and her team for all of their work in preparing and presenting the day, which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.  I look forward to seeing them all again when school begins next year.


Neither rain nor thunderstorms stopped the grand opening of our Equestrian Arena today and we were honoured to have the Mayor, Mr Gary Kircher, officially open the arena and to be joined by so many of our College Community.  On behalf of the College we are extremely grateful to all of the business and families who have contributed towards this development.  A special thank you to Mr Alan Grant and Mr Mark Watson who have worked tirelessly ahead of today.

Students thoughts have been focused towards examinations this week with seniors receiving important last minute information about their upcoming NCEA exams.  A reminder that teaching staff will be available for additional assistance and tutorials.  The Cambridge exams have already begun and we are looking forward to the same high level of achievement as was gained last year.  

Finally, the College gathered in the Chapel today to celebrate All Saints Day with a special mass.  Thank you to Father Wayne for joining us, and for staying on to bless the Equestrian Arena.  

Mr Olsen returns to school next week and we look forward to hearing of his time in Nepal.

May God bless you all.
Kerry Ryan, ActingPrincipal

Relay For Life Kicks Off

Mr Ryan became the poster child for Relay For Life at assembly this week when Laura Hesselwood, Vincent Adams and Josh McIntyre presented him with a new look!   Relay For Life is on in Oamaru next March and we are looking for a strong contingent of support from the College.

National Maori Hockey Champion


Every year at Labour Weekend a National Maori Hockey Tournament takes place with teams from all over New Zealand, divided into rohe (local area).  This is the 22nd year this has been held and only the first time the tournament has been held in the South Island.  GypsyMae Harihona-Harrison was selected to represent Te Waipounamu ki Waitaha, with most of the players coming from the Canterbury area.

The tournament was held at Nunweek Park, Christchurch, from Friday 24th through to Sunday evening.  Fourteen teams registered for this event, eight womens and six men.

GypsyMae's team held some strong players coming from the secondary schools premiere grade and included Black Stick, Jordan Grant who competed in this year's Commonwealth Games.  Even with such a solid team all the games were hard fought for, where Waitaha were able to go into the final against defending champions Waiariki (Rotorua) to win the National Women's Title 1-0.  The team stats were 16 goals for, 3 against over the total competition.

GypsyMae's impressive performance showed she could hold her own as a contributing team member playing positions ranging from left and right-back through to mid-field. This was a great opportunity for GypsyMae to gain knowledge and experience from some national and world class players.  She is also stoked to be a National Maori Hockey Champion as well!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Acting Principal Comment

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The end of another busy week at the College has arrived and I must congratulate Ms Walshe and her team for their efforts in staging our Culture and Couture evening last night in the Auditorium. As a College we are always very proud of the diversity within our student body and to be able to celebrate their cultural successes with so many friends and family was an honour. Well done to all of the students who were acknowledged and to our Cultural Blues recipients and Premier Award winners, a special congratulations.

On Tuesday our Year 13 students gathered together at the Dean O'Reilly Lounge for the first of their celebrations as they come to the end of their time at the College.  The Rite of Passage is a time for them to reflect on how far they have all come since arriving at St Kevin's.  Thank you to Mr Mullally and Mr Farrell for facilitating a special evening for our upcoming graduates.

Next week continues with significant events for the College. We will welcome the 2015 Year 9 intake at our annual Orientation Day and we will also host the Mayor and other invited guests for the grand opening of our Equestrian Arena. It has been wonderful to see students utilising the facility already and practicing their displays for Friday's event.

Finally, with the College closed on Monday it is an ideal time for students to recharge before the final countdown to the first NCEA end of year examinations for 2014. I expect all of our students to take full advantage of the additional tutorials and study sessions that teaching staff are offering, both now and after the Senior Prize Giving on 4 November.

May God bless you all.
Kerry Ryan, ActingPrincipal

Year 13 Rite Of Passage

On Tuesday our Year 13 students gathered at the Dean O'Reilly Lounge for the annual Rite of Passage.  It is a night for them to look back on their time at St Kevin's College and reflect on their achievements and personal growth.  The evening marks the beginning of the end of year celebrations for our upcoming graduates, with the Senior Prize Giving on Tuesday 4 November and the Graduation Dinner planned for Saturday 29 November.  Thank you to Mr Mullally and Mr Farrell for co-ordinating the evening this week.

Senior Reports And The Beginning Of NCEA Exams


Senior reports are being sent home today.  Please note that NCEA examinations will begin on Monday 10 November, not the 12 as stated on the back of the reports.  Thank you.


Culture And Couture Fashion Show


Fashion images from the College Culture and Couture evening.  Congratulations girls on some amazing designs and beautiful work.

Culture and Couture



Last night the Auditorium was oozing culture as we celebrated that very diverse side of College life.  MC for the evening was Jai Narayan who teamed up with fellow Yr13 student Tessa Newton for one of the many performance items throughout the evening.  Included in the evening programme was a fashion show, featuring designs from the Yr 12 & 13 class of Textile Technology students.  We were delighted to welcome back to the College past pupil Rowan Newton who talked about her experiences studying Theatre Arts at Otago University and as Stage Manager at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin.  Our thanks to all of the students who performed items, and to Ms Walshe and her team for their organisational expertise.

Congratulations to all of the students who were presented with awards, and in particular to our Cultural Blues recipients and Premier Award winners:
CULTURAL BLUES
Isobel Ryan (Public Speaking)
Kaleisha Jones (Public Speaking)
Jaishiv Narayan (Dance)
Kyle Andales (Music)
Shaun Andales (Music)
Jack Sinclair (Music)
PREMIER AWARDS
Karen Austin Cup for Premier Cultural Female - Isobel Ryan
Jibi Kunnethedam Cup for Premier Cultural Male - Kurt Mordeno

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Squash Champion

His squash star continues to rise on the local courts!  Congratulations to Thomas Pickles (Year 11) who was named the Excelsior Club (squash) Mens A Grade Champion and Overall Junior Champion.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

As we begin the final term for 2014 there is a difference in the air of the College following the passing of Mrs Denece Rae during the school holidays. She was on staff at St Kevin's for twenty five years and a true Kevinian. We were honoured to have her family join us for Mass today where we remembered her together as a College.

A number of students and sporting teams competed at national events over the break and I extend my congratulations to Georgia-Kate and Jessica on their recent competition outings, leaving a number of boys teams in the wake of their shooting success. Our Top V Boys Basketball squad also found success during the holidays bringing home a silver medal from the 2014 A Secondary Schools National Championships. Well done to you all.

Senior students should be looking ahead to their end of year NCEA examinations and setting aside regular time for revision and study. There are some excellent study tips in the College student planner and staff are already beginning to hold additional subject tutorials. Students are encouraged to take advantage of every opportunity.

Finally, I thank you all for your patience at this time while our administrative staff work to ensure the continued flow of information home. I would also ask that you keep all those who have lost loved ones in your prayers.

May God bless you all.
Kerry Ryan, ActingPrincipal

Mrs Denece Rae - A True Kevinian


Many of you have had a smooth ride through SKC and don't even know why. Well I will tell you - reports,admissions,roll, timetables,absences,courses, correspondence,software etc etc all these things just happened. Its because of the lady who worked in the office in the library. Mrs Rae enabled all the things that flow underneath our school to work.

Mrs Rae joined the College Family in April 1989, 25 years ago, as a support staff member in the days of Brother Joe Lauren. As her children went off to school, she was coaxed back into the workforce at a time when technology was undergoing rapid and exciting change. The College needed someone to help with the myriad of changes that this brave new world would bring…

Helping in the library, reliving technology classes, moving from manual typewriters to electronic and then to the many word processors of the computer age. She was learning about Operating Systems MS Dos, Windows, WordPerfect and Microsoft Office when many were throwing up their arms in despair. They were all her domain. She was the Queen of Keyboard and the more recently our Network Manager and MUSAC database administrator. She kept up to date with the trends and had the happy knack of being able to reinvent herself as the circumstances changed. Always keen to learn, she had a quick wit and was as sharp as a tack.

Mr Olsen worked with her when he was DP here at SKC and being a self-confessed technology geek it made for a good start. They had plenty of good debates on the direction we should take to keep up with emerging trends. She made sure the College was always at the forefront of technological innovation. She even said to Mr Olsen and to me more recently “Well! Do you want to keep up with things or not! You’ll just have to get the gorse out of your pockets!”

She was never one to shy away from a challenge… and it has kept us in good stead. Not that we always saw eye to eye on every occasion but as you will know, Mrs Rae was of a “determined disposition” and most of you at one time or another will have seen the wisdom of seeing it her way early in proceedings.

Being the Network Manager meant that she had an office in the library. It was not everyone who had the gumption to tackle a first fifteen lock or prop when they were off task in the Library, but it was not a worry for our Mrs Rae. As Deputy Principal there were a number of times that I walked into a packed library that you knew was unnaturally quiet… only to get a report from Mrs Rae with her stern face: “Those lads were being clowns so I’ve just given them a sort out… and they wouldn’t be coming back for seconds if they know what’s good for them”

Many of you may not know but Mrs Rae was no stranger to the classroom and did her fair share of relief work. She enjoyed working in the class and helping students to get to grips with the emerging technology. Her classroom control was a given and her IT skills were second to none. While she was the first to admit she was not a teacher, you could tell that she was quietly pleased with her achievements and proud of the student and staff that she tutored and mentored.

Teacher qualified she may not have been, but coach she certainly was. Sports in general were her passion and netball was top of the list. Mrs Rae coached the A Netball team to success and was formidable in tactics and skills development. Her work on the courts and supporting her grandchildren at rugby, has built an enduring legacy for sport in the College. Her analysis of the weekends sporting roundup and her support for the underdog will be sorely missed.

We talk about our Special Character at the College and sum it up in our FIRE Values – Family, Integrity, Respect and Excellence.

…. you embodied these values and gave it all you had. You continued in service to the College over the last months, above and beyond anything that could be expected in the circumstances, even coming to school in your wheelchair. It sums up your commitment to a place you loved.

I am drawn to the words of The Irish Blessing:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May god hold you in the palm of his hand

Mrs Rae /Denece: You are a Kevinian at heart and you are truly one of our “Special Characters”. You will be missed and most definitely not forgotten.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

2014 A Secondary Schools National Basketball Championship


The school holidays saw the Top V Boys Basketball squad traveled to Palmerston North to defend their national title at the 2014 A Secondary Schools National Basketball Championships.  Their campaign started with force and a great win against Aquinas 64-61 saw a finals match-up against Kavanagh College.  The national grand final was fiercely contented but the boys, in the spirit of the Special Character of the College, acknowledged a better side going down to Kavanagh 64-56.  Well done boys on this fantastic effort, once again.  And a special congratulations to Hikari Shigenobu and Tiare Barlow who were named in the tournament team, and to Hamish Robertson who despite injury was our highest scorer, making 25 points.

Aiming High In The Holidays



Over 290 Secondary school students competed in the NZ Fish & Game South Island and New Zealand Secondary Schools Clay Target Championships 2014 held in Christchurch 27-29 September, again students from St Kevin’s College were amongst the top performers. Jessica Fraser had an impressive day in the South Island Girls events ending the day with Girls High Over all, 1st in Single Rise and third in points score. In the New Zealand Championships on Sunday Georgia Blair collected a Second Place finish in single rise and this teamed with her results in the points score event Georgia was selected to the South Island Representative team who beat the North island Team 120-115. Jessica was selected to the Fish and Game Regional team who were also successful against their reviles. The Weekend didn’t end there the third day of the event saw 100 Students compete in the South Island and New Zealand Skeet Championships in challenging weather conditions. The duo of Georgia and Jessica were in fine form with Jessica placing 1st and Georgia 3rd in the New Zealand Championships Girls Skeet. The pair finished impressively in 2nd place in the open 2 man team’s event only being beaten by one other boy’s two man team.