Otago Selection

Congratulations to Matt Brien and Alex Gonzales who have successfully been selected for the Otago U19 Basketball team.  From initial trials at the beginning of the year the squad were formed into an A and B team to play at a qualifying tournament in Dunedin, for Nationals in July.  The A team were successful and selected 12 players to travel to Nelson, with both Matt and Alex being a part of that 12.  They train every Sunday with two, two hour sessions.  All the very best boys!

SKC And The Southern Steel

Netball fans will be sure to keep an eye on past pupil Jane Watson as she takes her place in the line up for the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championship for 2016.  Good luck for the competition Jane!! CLICK HERE to follow the team's progress.

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

This weeks assembly continued the theme of sharing our College teaching and learning strategy with students. DOCERE: Diversity, Opportunity, Connections, Engagement, Relations and Enquiry.

This week the focus was on the opportunities available to students and how they can make the best use of them. Having a clear understanding of how to plan their vocational pathway is at the core of this and central to our careers advice. We are trying to move student's thinking from having to "name a particular job" to understanding their "skills, knowledge and personality" so they can find a vocational pathway they will be happy with.

For many students they have no idea about what they want to do. Seeing the opportunities and possibilities helps them on this journey. I would encourage parents to continue this discussion at home.

Thank you to Nadia Kerr who captured the photograph above as part of her practical art course.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

World Youth Day

World Youth Day (WYD) began in 1984 when then Pope John Paul II invited the“youth of the world” to come to Rome. Some 300,000 people turned up. And so WYD was born and became an international event to be celebrated every two to three years each with a different theme and each at a different locations around the world. Over the next couple decades WYD travelled around the Globe with the Pope saying a special Mass for those attending. And attend …people did in their millions.

In Christchurch NZ, Marion College got inspired and some of them wanted to go to WYD 2016 which will be held Krakow Poland. This idea however morphed into a wider conversation and a less expensive solution. Along with Cathedral Catholic Colleges, Marian resolved to host a WYD event on the joint Christchurch sites of both Marian and Cathedral Catholic Colleges. In August 2015, with kauri sourced from Christchurch‘s broken Basilica. The Principal of Catholic Cathedral College, encouraged the Year 12 Hard Materials class under the guidance of their teacher, to plan and construct a special cross using the wood from the broken Basilica. The cross was to be an identifiable symbol that would unite and inspire youth to be part of the 2016 “Year of Mercy” pilgrimage and “World Youth Day” event for Catholic Secondary Schools in the Christchurch and Dunedin Diocese.

On July 29 th to August 2 nd Catholic Cathedral and Marian Colleges are hosting a Companion event to the World Youth Day in Krakow for the Secondary School Colleges in the South Island. In cooperation with the other Catholic Colleges the gathering will a World Youth Day Experience Event in Christchurch for senior students from all Catholic Colleges of the South Island to join into the spirit of the World Youth Day.

After the Christchurch WYD Cross was completed it was blessed and sent on a journey around the South Island, which will eventually see it arrive back in Christchurch for WYD July 29 – Aug 1 2016. From the accompanying photos you can see that the Cross was a prominent feature at this week's SKC Assembly.

The Bishops of both Dunedin and Christchurch Dioceses have given their blessing and support for this endeavour. The Polish Ambassador has lent his full support to this event as has the local Christchurch Polish community. All Catholic Colleges in both diocese have had invitations to attend and so far the response has been very positive.

Smashing Squash

SKC was well represented at the Aoraki Squash Champs in Ashburton on Tuesday.  Thomas Pickles and Tannah Rintoul were unbeaten in all of their games, and spectators were treated to a great Girls final with Bree Louden putting up a good fight!  SKC #1 boys finished 3rd in the Plate Section and SKC #1 girls placed second in the Girls Champs.  Well done everyone!

Getting Arty

Y13 Art students and Snr Hospitality students had a day of all things arty yesterday during a trip to Dunedin. Art School/Culinary Arts School .... tick! Street Art Trail .... tick! Dunedin Art Gallery tour and hands on classroom .... tick!!!! Thank you to the team at Art School and Culinary Arts School for taking us round and to John at the Art Gallery for an amazing experience!!! Some of our pieces on already on their website -CLICK HERE to have a look!)

(Suzanne Emslie who is nearing the end of her time at Art School is exhibiting work at Glenfalloch Gardens .... check out this story from the ODT.  http://www.odt.co.nz/entertain…/…/377967/family-affair-video )

BOT Election Results

ST KEVIN’S COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEE ELECTION

Declaration of Parent Election Results

At the close of nominations, as the number of valid nominations was equal to the number of vacancies required to be filled, (6), I hereby declare the following duly elected:
Michelle Sintmaartensdyk
Steven Bolstridge
Louise Dyson
Eugen Dupu
Brent Baillie
Bridget McAtamney

Declaration of Staff Election Results

At the close of nominations as there was only one valid nomination received I hereby declare:
Russell Dixon duly elected.

Sue McErlane
Returning Officer

Well Spoken

The tradition of strong public speakers continues at the College with some great representation at the local Oamaru Performing Arts Competition over the weekend.  Special congratulations to Ceilidh Brookes who took home the Neil Ghilchrist Trophy for Open Speech Section, and also to Anna Craig who gained first place in a number of categories - Bible reading 16 years and under, Oamaru Mail Challenge Cup, Test Open, Recitation ( not humorous ), Reading at Sight, and Test (16 years and under).  Anna also gained second place in the Character Recital (16 years and under), and was given second (VHC) for Poem (NZ author) and Character Recital in Costume.  For the most points score (16 and under) Anna was the recipient of the Thomas Bracken Challenge Cup.  Well done to you both!

Bright Shooting Results

 

A fine day for shooting before the rain set in! Well done to Jessica Fraser and Sean O'Brien who competed in the Canterbury school shoot over the weekend. Jessica placed 3rd in the Single Barrel, 1st in Skeet and Ladies High Overall. Sean got 1st in Single Barrel and 2nd in Single Rise. What a great set of results!

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

On Monday we celebrated national Catholic School's Day with a combined school mass. It was inspiring for our students to join with St Joseph's in such a majestic setting showcasing the 120 year old Basilica's architecture. Thank you to Murray Pearson and Kerry Ryan for organising the mass migration of  the school. Thank you also to St Joseph's for being such welcoming hosts.

Yesterday, the local Catholic School Principals' gathered to meet with the Bishop at his annual forum. The two key points I wish to share from the meeting are firstly our ongoing commitment to ensuring our catholic values are being lived within our schools and secondly our commitment to working with other schools locally in Communities of Learning (COL). St Kevin's is part of the Oamaru COL.

Today was Edmund Rice, our founders Feast Day.  It was a pleasure to be able to host the Edmund Rice Reflection Group from our parish. On this special day I ask that you to keep the Christian Brother's in your prayers along with local woman, Helen Mulheron, who is currently working in India keeping alive the work of Edmund at the margins.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Edmund Rice Feast Day

At today's Mass staff and students celebrated the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice, who's life of service saw the founding of the Christian Brother organisation.  Thank you to Father Wayne for your words on the Holy Trinity, and to Mrs Foster and Mr Farrell for leading the music.

Drive To Survive 2016

Along with students from Waitaki Girls and Waitaki Boys High Schools, our Y12 students took part in the Drive To Survive programme which was held at the Waitaki Recreation Centre yesterday.  This is just one of many programmes delivered to young people by DARE Foundation, the New Zealand Police Education Officers and other specialist agencies.  Our thanks also go to Elton Crane, WDC Road Safety Co-ordinator, and our local rescue services for delivering this important programme.

Hostel Trust Parent Representatives

A reminder for our Hostel Parents.

We are looking for expressions of interest from Hostel Parents to join the Hostel Trust as a Parent Representative. If this this something that you would be interested in then email Jo Ann Van der Salm (Hostel Trust Chair) and introduce yourself. Please refer to the letter sent last week for contact information.

Obirin Visit 2016

For 3 weeks in July, Oberin High School Students from Japan will visit us this year. They will arrive around 5pm on Tuesday 26 th July and stay 21 nights, attending school on weekdays, away on arranged excursions on Saturdays 30 th July and 6 th August, and home with you for the last weekend, before departing around 8.15am on Tuesday 16 th August.  Would you like to have a Student from Japan’s Oberin High School to live and have fun with your Family for this time?

If your family may enjoy this opportunity, have chat about it at home as a school representative is currently telephoning SKC Families to arrange homestays for these Students.  This is always a significant undertaking for the College and your support in hosting our overseas guests is always appreciated - numbers need to be finalised by Wednesday 25 May.  Contact Leanne in the office if you can help - lwolfe@stkevins.school.nz

This will be a fun time for everyone and you may make a lifelong friend.   

Top Shot

Duck shooting season may have opened just this month but Jessica Fraser shoots clay targets all year round.  She competes in the secondary school competitions which culminate in the Nationals as well as club competitions where she competes alongside her father.  She was in Invercargill on Sunday where she took first place in the Seniors Points Score, second in the Senior Single Barrel and high over all.  Well done Jess!!

1103 Steps

Just over a week until Matthew Cullimore and his Volunteer Firefighter team mates tackle the 2016 Sky Tower and the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge and its 1103 steps and 51 floors! It's the final push and the guys have done an amazing fundraising effort. Click here to check out this ODT story.

New House Flags

We have four houses named after the founding brothers of St Kevin's and want to refresh our flags with a modern yet timeless design.  We thought it important to include reference to tangata whenua being a bi-cultural nation and wanting to raise the awareness of Te Ao Maori within our school.

One of our past students (Lucy Tyrell) came up with the initial concept sketches of the flag designs and they have been refined further since.

Each flag has a Maori design that we thought represented the character of that house worked into the letter:
Clancy - Koru = new life / the natural world
Magee - Mango pare = strength
Treacy - Koru / kowhaiwhai = whanau /whakapapa
Whyte - Pikotoru and matau = community / baskets of knowledge / prosperity

We are now looking for constructive feedback through consultation with the College community and invite you to email your thoughts to colllege@stkevins.school.nz (please refer to the House Flags in your email subject line)

CLICK HERE to view the images as a PDF document

Catholic Schools Day 2016

St Patrick's Basilica was full to bursting when the College boarded buses and headed to Reed St to join staff and students from St Joseph's to celebrate Catholic Schools Day. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Mass, but in particular Father Wayne for hiw wise words and Mrs Leanne Brookes for her musical accompaniment.

Holding Court

 

Deputy Head Boy Mark Whittet is taking to the stage with actors from the Repertory Theatre in their upcoming play "Holding Court".  It runs from 18-22 May and Mark's thespian challenge ... to create the character of young criminal Liam.  The play is about the Government's plan to shut down a small district court, and a local judge and lawyers' attempts to prevent that.   We wish Mark and the rest of the "Holding Court" cast and crew the very best for the season.

Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults - or you can get a deal on block bookings of 10 or more.  Phone 434 8868 or email tickets@oamarurepertory.co.nz

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

It was a pleasure to meet so many parents last Friday at our first full school Parent - Teacher evening for the year. The caregiver turnout was excellent and demonstrated the community commitment to supporting student engagement and learning. Thank you to staff and parents for such positive and productive dialogues. We will also look at increasing the number of interview slots to take into account the increasing roll.

Open Day activities in the Confucius Classroom

Yesterday we held our annual Open Day. Both the afternoon and evening sessions were very well attended. Thank you to staff and the Home and School team for your support. We already have a number of enrolments for the 2017 intake and I would encourage people to get their paperwork in quickly to avoid disappointment. We plan to cap the intake at 100 students and four classes to ensure that we do not exceed our maximum roll.

Finally, I have received notice that Brother John O'Shea, who has been serving on the College Foundation, is retiring and returning to Australia. We wish him every blessing and thank him for the work that he has done to support the College. He will be replaced by Brother Frank Perkins who worked at the College in the 90's.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Thumbs Up For Fitness

Thumbs up for the first fitness session for the SKC Snr A Netball Squad (SKC Platinum and Steel teams). Athletes were put through their paces this morning by their Snr A "Personal Trainer". Well done to all the girls and great to see members of the SKC Bronze team joining in.

Aotearoa United Nations Youth Declaration

If you ever wanted to make a difference but weren't quite sure where to start, try joining the United Nations Youth New Zealand.  Along with 191 other young people from around the country, Ella Hitchcock (Y12) had the opportunity to travel to Auckland in the school holidays to take part in the Aotearoa United Nations Youth Declaration.  Held at the Auckland School of Business the Youth Declaration is a process for young people to make a real difference.  The delegates were divided into 14 focus groups and set with the task of writing seven value and policy statements about their group.  Ella was in the Law and Order focus group.  After the statements were presented the delegates debated the policies and their merits before they were passed on to the relevant Government Department's Youth Development programme, with the chance of being put on the "official" table for discussion and possible policy change.  What an amazing experience Ella!

Want to know more about the UN Youth New Zealand?  Click here to go to their website.

Basketball Starts With A Bang

It was a great start to the season for our Top V Basketball teams with wins for both the boys and the girls.  The girls won over Waimate 45-7 with Sophie Brien and Ashley Pink top scoring with 11 points each.  The boys took the win over OBHS 84-82 with Alex Gonzales scoring 24 and Matt Brien 37. 

Drive To Survive 2016

DRIVE TO SURVIVE 2016  -  At the Waitaki Recreation Centre, Thursday 19 May

Outline of the day:

• P3 10.50-11.20am
• 11.20am Early lunch in the Dining Room, Roll call before boarding buses
• 11.40am Buses meet students at the Dining Room
• 11.45am Depart St Kevin's.

Drive to Survive programme:

• 12-12.15pm - Students arrive at the Rec Centre and are seated
• 12.15-12.45pm - Crash Scenario
• 12.45pm - Group is divided into 3 smaller groups
• 12.50 -1.15pm - Workshop 1 
• 1.20 - 1.45pm - Workshop 2
• 1.50 - 2.15pm - Workshop 3 (following which the groups come back together)
• 2.20 - 3.00pm - Final whole group session is held.  Final question time, evaluation and wrap up.  Students leave the Rec Centre.

Departure 3.00pm

• Bus students can board buses at WGHS for departure
• Students with cars can depart from WGHS
• Students with other plans, eg walking, can depart from WGHS
• Rest of students board the bus for return to school.

DARE Foundation in partnership with NZ Police and other specialist agencies have developed a number of programmes that are delivered by Police Education Officers nationwide.  One of theses is DARE to Drive and Survive.  Some of the content/workshops may upset some students so Victim Support will be there on the day if any students become upset, as well as our school Guidance Councillor.

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The mild weather and autumn colours make a stunning backdrop for our return to the College for Term 2. The week commenced with a belated memorial commemoration of ANZAC Day. Thank you to Chaplain, Fr Wayne, the Waitaki Combined Schools Firing Party and the Waitaki District Pipe Band for your valued contribution to the occasion.

Later in the week the annual Cross Country was held around the College grounds. Thank you to both staff and students for the enthusiastic manner in which you engaged with this hotly contested House event.

Today we end the week with our first Parent-Teacher meetings in the College gymnasium. I look forward to catching up with caregivers and encourage you to contact your son or daughter's Dean if you are unable to attend and need some additional feedback.

Finally, all the very best to teams having their first games in the winter sport competitions. I encourage students who have not signed up, to consider joining a team. It is a great way to keep fit, make friends and learn to be more tolerant and supportive of others.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Cross Country 2016

We had a great day for the annual cross country yesterday.  Congratulations to all those who tackled the gully climb and horse paddock fences!

From The Boys

The adventure started on Saturday morning and lasted for sixteen awesome days. We flew to Shanghai and from there Wuhan where we stayed for five days on campus at the University of Science and Technology. We were accompanied by teachers and students from schools in Christchurch and Dunedin as well as student volunteers from the University in Wuhan who were all so amazing and glad to be there. Living on campus was nice, we got to freedom roam around and find our own dinner while speaking the language to the locals. From Wuhan we went to Huanggang where we meet up with students from the middle school who we partnered ​​up with and were sent out to spend a day with. Took the night train to Beijing and there explored iconic places like The Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China. Shanghai was our last destination and our last place to blow our money which we all succeeded in, inside a massive underground shopping mall. The trip was busy, fun and interesting, with a good bunch of people to share fantastic memories :-)

Thomas, Max, Karan, Trent, Joel

TeenAg 2016

It was a glorious autumn day in Geraldine last Sunday, for the Aorangi regional final of Teen Ag. St Kevin's had four teams competing against over thirty others; Ella Sanderson and Holly Malcolm, Harriet Hanning and Amy Hunter, Lucy Hellewell and Bridget Hunter, Briar Swanson and James Kingsman (WBHS) Students were supported by their families and all had fun, competing successfully. Amy and Harriet made it to the final round. No teams qualified for the nationals this year, but all four teams were in the top half of the rankings.

Another highlight of the day was seeing the Caldwell family, Brittany, Kathy and James, and Georgia Malcolm volunteering as judges in the Agri Kids competition for junior schools. We congratulate Waitaki Valley school for winning this event.

If any students want to join the Teen Ag club, please see Holly Malcolm (Chairperson) or Mrs Eatherley. The club would welcome any ideas for activities, farm visits or guest speakers.

Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge

As many of you may be aware Y13 student and volunteer firefighter Matthew Cullimore is taking on the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge at the end of this month.  As part of his fundraising efforts Matthew completed the Cross Country course kitted out in 25kg worth of firefighting gear!  Phew!

SKC Open Day

Riding High

Well done to the team!  They took out the Fair Play Award at the Palmerston A&P Society's One Day Event for Secondary Schools.  They also came second in Turn Out (Presentation), Caitlin Middlemiss won her dressage section and Logan Gibbons placed second in hers - great effort girls!  Congratulations are extended to the team from Waitaki Girls High School who won the overall event.

Pentecost Sunday and Catholic Schools Day

Celebrate the Birthday of the Christian Church!   St Patrick Parish Oamaru, welcomes all who would like to join them on Pentecost Sunday (15 May) at 9.30am Mass at the Basilica in Reed Street to celebrate the 2016th birthday of the Christian Church. You are warmly invited to join them for a bring a plate/pot luck morning tea and entertainment in St Joseph’s Hall after Mass.

On Monday 16 May the College will be joining students from St Jospeh's Primary School to celebrate Catholic Schools Day with a Mass at St Patrick's Basilica.  Keep an eye on this Blog or the Facebook page for more details about this.

Chinese Adventures

Did you do anything exciting during the holidays?  A trip to China was on the cards for Trent Bell, Karan Ratgali, Max Stewart, Joel Klenner and Thomas Pickles as part of our ongoing relationship with the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury.  The boys left NZ on Saturday 16 April and arrived home this week.  As with previous groups, it looks like they had an amazing experience .... watch this space for a write up and more great photos from their adventure!

ANZAC Day Commemorations

With ANZAC Day falling during the school holidays our commemorations took place on Tuesday with the College community gathering in the Chapel for a special liturgy.  We were once again joined by Mr Kevin Howard (an Old Boy of the College) and following a procession to the Grotto and Magee Memorial Lawn a wreath was laid in front of the Roll of Honour.  Thank you to the Combined High Schools Firing Party and Guard, and members of the Waitaki District Schools Pipe Band for being part of our commemorations.