Thursday, November 30, 2017

Balancing The Budget

Family Works Budgeting Service have been at SKC this week giving 9T lessons on Budgeting in the Real World.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Kayaking Skills And Safety

Our Y10 students have been getting into the kayaking swing of things with their skills and safety session in the pool, ahead of camp next week.  

ACCELL Success

Today Kachamas Mangmee and Paea Fifita received a certificate from their accelerated English Learning course, ACCELL. Over the year they have made great progress in their English on this special ESOL programme, which comprised of six lessons per week; three of those with an E-teacher in Wellington and all six with support from Ina.

Mr Olsen and Mrs Foster, the ESOL coordinator, were pleased to be able to present them with their certificates.
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Great Scott Fitzgerald! Gatsby Unleashed

It was a very funny start to the day!!!   The New Zealand Playhouse came into school today and performed a very entertaining production of 'Great Scott Fitzgerald! Gatsby Unleashed' to Year 10 students. This hilarious play featured bag wigs, pop culture references, and jubilant jazz hands to recreate the glamour and decadence of the 1920s, whilst also exploring the post-war state of the American dream.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The school year may be drawing to a close but our junior students continue to be extremely busy.   Thank you to our friends at the Confucius Institute for the wonderful awards evening held at Columba College last Friday, and congratulations to Paytin McKenzie and Lucila Mino Zubiri for their success at the prizegiving.


Yesterday I joined students at the Safer Waitaki Film Challenge.  The resulting films were extremely powerful and two teams from the College (the Crusty Crab Crew and the Freedom Flamingos) placed first equal.  Well done.  You can view all of the films at the Safer Waitaki website.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal



White Ribbon Ride 2017

Our Junior students welcomed the White Ribbon Ride back to the College today.  The ride has an annual stop at St Kevin's, to share their important message of standing up against and stopping the cycle of family violence.   This years campaign centres around respectful relationships.  "Respect is the behaviour we want instead of violence" - White Ribbon.  Thank you to all of the local and national riders for speaking with our students and staff today.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THIS YEARS VISIT


Thursday, November 23, 2017

Who Did It

It's Rural Schools Science Day!!   The challenge for the day .... to find out 'Who did it???'   A group of Y8 rural school students have been using science to find out who 'broke into' the Agriculture classroom!   With a range of suspects and evidence presented to them they put their forensic scientific hats on to solve the crime.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Message from Bridget Coughlan

Mr Fowler and a group of students traveled to Timaru last week to attend the funeral of Tom Coughlan. They were pleased to be able to meet Bridget Mackintosh (nee Coughlan) and she asked the boys to pop their caps on for a photo, as her dad 'would have liked that'.  Thank you for sharing it with us Bridget.

She said 'Dad was enormously proud of his association with St Kevin's as a pupil and in his governance role. You will be aware he served on the Board of Trustees from around 1977 to 1988 latterly as Chairman steering it through state integration and signing the paperwork for the introduction of girls. I made special mention of this in my eulogy because it showed Dad's commitment to education and that he understood that for institutions to succeed they must move with the times.  The fact St Kevin's College is such a successful school today was a source of great satisfaction to him.  It is clearly in good hands.'

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

ESOL Explorations

A group of ESOL students took a field trip to town today, to explore some of the things they have been learning about in their English language classes.


Graduation Dinner Tickets

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Congratulations, your student will officially graduate from St Kevin’s College on Monday!

You are warmly invited to our Graduation Dinner.

The Graduation dinner will take place on Saturday December 2nd. It will start at 6pm.  It will be held at the Manor Estate (formerly the Homestead) which has the following address: 140 Perth Street, South Hill, Oamaru

Tickets can be purchased at the school office and the cost is $40 per person.  Tickets need to be purchased by Monday 27th November (last day for sales as numbers will need to be confirmed)

Usually we ask that immediate family (parents) and students buy tickets first and that if there are any tickets remaining extended family can then purchase these.

We look forward to celebrating the end of exams, your students graduation, your role as a parent/caregiver in making this all happen and wishing your student well for their future for a final time at the Graduation Dinner.

We have informed students that dress for the Dinner is semi-formal

Warm Regards
Marc Nyika
Senior Dean

Thank you from the Home & School

Home & School would like to thank the following for their donation/contribution to our monster raffle:
Presence of Harbour; Farmlands; Riverstone; Whitestone Cheese; Lowen Family; Debbie Sinclair; Blossoms Massage; Herbert Service Station; Craigs Poultry; Steam; Taste; McAtamney Family; Kaye Family; 0800 Mr Painter; Central South Island & Hunting; Andy Oakes and anyone else who donated to the prizes.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Hostel Happenings

Year 10 - Girls night out
This week the year 10 girls went out to the Habour and then to Portside Restaurant for dinner. A big thank you to Sarah for taking them.

Hostel Head Boy and Girl 2018
Congratulations to Quinn Hargreaves and Molly Kay who have been selected as Head Boy and Head Girl of the Hostel for next year.  Congratulations to Tama Wooldridge and Sarah Dodd who have been selected as their deputies.
  

Summer School Hit Targets

As summer school wraps up for another year it has once again been a huge success with a large number of students hitting their targets.  Our thanks to the teachers who have mentored students, and our office and careers support staff.  Special thanks to Matt Harris,  Mrs Fowler and Mrs Burton.

North Otago Irrigation Scholarship

Congratulations to Harriet Hanning who is the recipient of the North Otago Irrigation Scholarship for 2017.  Harriet was presented with the scholarship earlier this week, which has a value of $1000.  She will put it towards her veterinary science studies as Massey University next year.  Great news Harriet!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Bus Stop With A View

As part of the traffic management plan the buses now have their regular stop at the front of the Redcastle and students make their way up the now pedestrian only Chapel Rd.  This, along with the one way system before/after school and the support of parents dropping students either at the gate or over by the gymnasium, has made a significant difference to the congestion that was occurring as students were arriving at school.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Primary ITO Trades Academy Celebrates A Great Year

The last SKC Primary ITO Trades Academy for the year was held on Friday.  It has been a very successful year again, with Year 11, 12 and 13 Agriculture students enjoying the challenge of polishing their farm skills and gaining valuable knowledge and qualifications on the way.

We thank all the Agrilearn tutors for their time, wisdom and encouragement.  Thanks also to the farmers who have offered our students work experience placements.  We look forward to working with them again next year.  If you would like to know more about this programme, please contact Paula Eatherley by email peatherley@stkevins.school.nz or telephone 034371665.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Armistice Day Commemoration

Armistice Day remembers the signing of the armistice which ended World War 1 at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month back in 1918.  This momentous time in history was commemorated with a community service held in the Garden of Memories.  College piper Callum Bishop opened the service with Amazing Grace, setting the scene for a very moving occasion.

Thank you to Oamaru Captured for these lovely photos!
Father Wayne and Debbie Sinclair (Waitaki District RSA Welfare Trust)


Celebrated Kevinian And All Black Tom Coughlan Remembered

Tom Coughlan 1934-2017
Tom Coughlan came through the rugby ranks at St Kevin's in the late 40's, playing the the 2nd XV in 1949.   Following school, he went on to build a reputable rugby career in South Canterbury, including five games for the combined South Canterbury-North Otago-Mid Canterbury selections.  This meant games against the 1955 Wallibies, the 1956 Springboks and the 1959 Lions.  Between 1953 and 1961 Tom played in 14 all Black trials and played for the South Island four times (1955, 1957-58 and 1960).  In 1958 he ran out on Athletic Park as an All Black, playing his only test against Australia.

The Coughlan family have been regulars on the school role from it's early days and Tom was part of the group that established the Foundation in 1979 (or Board of Governors as it was previously known).  He chaired this group in the mid to late 80's. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom's Coughlan's family at this time.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Last Friday evening Mr Fowler, Mrs Clapperson, Mr Smith and I joined with students and whanau to support our nominees at the Aoraki Sports Awards in Timaru. 
Pictured are the nominees and winners. Congratulations to Anna Craig (trap shooting), Tiana Mansfield (swimming), Georgia Vickers (volunteers award) and Amber Cunningham (cricket) who won their categories.

This week we farewelled our leavers at the Graduation Mass and Senior Prizegiving, and Hostel High Tea. Thank you to the Hostel team for the opportunity to share this occasion in the festive spirit.
Thank you to staff, students and families who made the annual Graduation Mass and Senior Prizegiving such successful event. It is one of the highlights of my position to be able to honour our award winners and acknowledge the work and contribution of our who community.

As NCEA examinations have now started, we wish our candidates all the best. Examination times are always associated with added pressures and stress. If you or anyone in your family needs some support around examination issues, feel free to call our guidance team lead by Mr Dixon.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Capturing Graduation Mass and Senior Prizegiving

Mrs Buckham had her camera at the ready to capture some wonderful moments from Monday evenings celebrations.



Our 2017 Graduating Class

A group of Year 13 students....ready to step out beyond the Redcastle gates but forever Kevinians.


Hostel Happenings

Hostel High Tea
On Monday evening we celebrated the Hostel High Tea. This is a formal occasion where we farewell our departing Year 13 students and we recognise senior student achievements. A big thank you to the parents and family of our students who were able to attend.
Hostel Awards
Cultural Award - Madeleine Harrop
Service Award - Brittany Weir
Sports Award - Ellie Monk
Academic Award - Jess Conlan


Weston Fireworks
A number of students enjoyed a fire works display on Friday night at the Weston Fireworks.

Otago Touch
Congratulations to Year 9 student Jasmine Emery for being selected in the Otago Under 14 Girls Touch team. Well done Jasmine.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Deer Farmers Trust Scholarship

Congratulations to Briar Swanson who is the grateful recipient of the South Canterbury and North Otago Deer Farmers Trust Scholarship. This will help with her living and study expenses when she begins her farming Cadetship at Coleridge Downs Station next year.

Graduation Mass And Senior Prizegiving 2017

2017 Dux of St Kevin's College, Holly Malcolm
Congratulations to all of our 2017 Graduates and Senior Prizegiving winners.   A special congratulations to Emma-Kate Newlove who won the Karen Austin Cup for Premier Cultural Female and Eli Winders, recipient of the Jibi Kunnethedam Cup for Premier Cultural Male.    The ultimate awards were presented to Adam Sew Hoy who is this year's Proxime Accessit to the Dux and Holly Malcolm, winner of the McKone Cup and the 2017 Dux of St Kevin's College.

Thank you to Mrs Plunkett for capturing all of those special moments!  Keep an eye out for more photos from Cameron Yeoman and Mrs Buckham.


SENIOR ACADEMIC PRIZEGIVING LIST

CLASS PRIZES
LEVEL 1
Breidy Johnston – Religious Studies
Faraz Hussain – English (Allan Cup), Information Technology
Hunter Tyrrell – Alternative English
Hannah Cunningham – Mathematics
Megan Shea – Numeracy
Bridget Hunter – Agriculture
Rata McMullan – Science, Art, Geography, L2 Mathematics Algebra
Katarina Green – Practical Science
Brylee More – Physical Education
Sophie Fox – Material Technology
Lily Hill – Design & Visual Technology
Joshua Gibson – History
Kayleigh Gill – Business Studies
Jacinta Richardson – Music
Meg Collinson – Drama
LEVEL 2
Sarah Dodd – Religious Studies
Rebecca Whittet – English, Media Studies
Tandia Gooch – Mathematics Statistics, Biology
Caitlin Middlemiss – Physics
Levi Sherman – Chemistry, Design & Visual Communication, L3 Mathematics Calculus, L3 Physics
Sarah Dodd – Agriculture, Geography
Laura Preston – Physical Education
Tony McCone – Material Technology (Mitre 10 Prize), Vocational Pathways
Rhiannon Johnston – Fabric Technology
Caitlin McCoy – Senior Community Science
Eli Winders – Art
Madeleine Harrop – Drama, Music
Anna Craig – History
Brytnee Firman – Business Studies
Georgia Oakes – Senior High Performance Sport
LEVEL 3
Ami Wallis – Religious Studies (Teschemakers Prize), English, Design & Visual Communication, Fabric Technology (Ivy Pollard Memorial Prize)
Ceilidh Brookes – Media Studies, Drama
Holly Malcolm – Mathematics Statistics, Chemistry, Biology (Teschemakers Prize), Physical Education
Ella Sanderson – Agriculture, Geography
Jayde Pickworth – 1st= Art (SKC Cup)
Emma Fox – 1st= Art (SKC Cup), Classical Studies
Amy Hunter – History
Jacqui Malcolm – Economics
Sisifatea Sete – Information Technology
Sebastian Russ – VPath Hospitality

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship – Alex Gonzales, Jacqui Malcolm, Holly Malcolm, Amy Hunter, Ella Hitchcock
University of Otago Maori & Pacific Peoples’ Entrance Scholarship – Tivinia Misiloi, Kalas Taukamo, Reuben Mihaere
University of Otago New Frontiers Excellence Entrance Scholarship – Kimberley Dyster, Diane Vidallon
Victoria University Excellence Scholarship – Ami Wallis

SPECIAL AWARDS
The Rotary Club of Oamaru 1st Aggregate for Y11 – Rata McMullan
The Rotary Club of Oamaru 1st Aggregate for Y12 – Levi Sherman
Champion House Academin (John McCarthy Cup) – Magee House
Y13 Christian Leadership (Br C Marlow Cup) – Alex Gonzales
Y13 Christian Leadership (Br BJ Lauren Cup) – Ella Hitchcock
Most Outstanding Pasifika Female Leader – Tivina Misiloi
Most Outstanding Pasifika Male Leader – Esafe Tokai
Te Mana Wahine Whakatipu – Tivinia Misiloi
Te Mana Tane Whakatipu – Seth Humphries
Mana Pounamu Teina Award – Tiana Mansfield
Mana Pounamu Tuakana Award – Kalas Taukamo
Ryan Moynihan Memorial Affability Award – Alex Gonzales
Otago Polytechnic Principals Leadership Award – Jayde Pickworth
Dominican Tertiary Awards – Whitney Cleveland, Tivinia Misiloi, Jessica Conlan, Kalas Taukamo, Leam Ryan, Brittany Weir, Alex Kircher
North Otago Masonic Charitable Trust Scholarship – Amy Hunter
Altrusa Margaret Crombie Memorial Tertiary Award – Ami Wallis
Zonta Award for Young Women in Public Affairs – Ami Wallis
Primary Industry Trades Academy Trophy – Briar Swanson
DJ Mulheron Sciences Cup – Holly Malcolm
Gary Speer Prize for Service to Mathematics – Amy Hunter
Junior Application & Participation (Langley Plate) – Caleb Jopson
Senior Application & Participation (McCarthy Plate) – Alex Gonzales
Junior General Excellence (Bill Nolan Cup) – Serena O’Brien
Senior General Excellence (McKechnie Cup) – Ella Hitchcock
College Captains (Teschemakers Trophy) – Holly Malcolm
College Captains (Bill Higgins Memorial Trophy) – Adam Sew Hoy
Proxime Accessit to the Dux (McKone Cup) – Adam Sew Hoy

Dux of St Kevin’s College (Br MM O’Connor Plate) – Holly Malcolm

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Aoraki Sports Awards 2017

On Friday night we had the honour in celebrating our SKC athletes and their successes at the Aoraki Sports Awards in Timaru.
NZ Honours
Polly Harper - Equestrian
Iessha Mansfield - Swimming
Brylee More - Touch Rugby
Anna Craig - Trapshooting
Category Winners
Amber Cunningham - Cricket
Tiana Mansfield - Swimming
Anna Craig - Swimming
Georgia Vickers - Student Contribution to Sport

Summer School Kicks Off

Summer school begins today.  Following on from the success of last year's programme students checked in this morning with Mrs Burton in the Library before dividing into small hubs of students and meeting up with their staff mentors to work on gaining additional NCEA credits.



Friday, November 3, 2017

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

It was a pleasure to be able to support Kalas Taukamo and Tiana Mansfield as they received the Mana Pounamu Tuakana and Teina Awards last Friday evening in Dunedin. Mrs Plunkett and the other students who accompanied us were inspired by the calibre of students who received awards. I was very pleased that we could for the first time perform the school haka in support.
On Saturday evening I attended an outstanding performance of "Our Town" by our drama students. I  left feeling that drama within the College is in great heart. Thank you to Ms Walshe for the time and energy that she has put into this event which is the culmination of an NCEA assessment.
Thank you also to the fabric technology students who displayed their work on the stage before the performance. The garments being modelled were of the highest quality and showed creativity and skill.

On Wednesday, the weekly assembly was handed over to our senior student leaders. They took the opportunity to thank the staff and students for their support while at the school. The College performed a haka to the seniors at the conclusion.

Finally, this evening Mr Fowler, Mrs Clapperson, Mr Smith and I will be supporting our nominees at the Aoraki Sports Awards to be held in Timaru. We wish everyone all the best for the event and safe travel.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Hostel Happenings

This week is the last full week of school for the seniors as they finish on Monday. A reminder please that senior students need to vacate the hostel within 24 hours of their last exam, or when they finish summer school if that is applicable.

High Tea
The Hostel High Tea and Prizegiving starts at 5pm on Monday followed by the end of year Graduation Mass and Prize Giving for senior students at 7pm.

Duke of Ed Tramp
This is on this weekend and a number of hostel students are involved in this. This is a great opportunity for hostel students to get out into the bush for a tramp.

Planning for next year
A reminder please that if students are not returning to the hostel I need to be notified before the end of the year.

Plans have been drawn up for the amalgamated hostel on the current boys' site and funding has been approved to start this work. More details on this exciting development will be sent out to parents in the near future.

Enjoy the weekend.

Teacher And Student

Kaylee Bell is at the College this afternoon performing a free concert for students.  Our own Mrs Foster taught Kaylee music at Waimate High School!

Public Health Nurse Visits In School

Public Health Nurse - Verena Birchall is available to see students every Tuesday in the second Sickbay at the College between 12.30pm and 1.30pm

If you are having any mental of physical health issues or questions you can come and see Verena at this time each week.

You can contact Verena via her cellphone 0272238468 anytime during the week or email her at
Verena.Birchall@southerndhb.govt.nz.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Project Runway 2017

Our Textile Design students showcased their garments before the Senior Drama production on Saturday evening.   Every year students are given a brief and they work extremely hard exploring concepts which forms a design for which a hand made pattern must be created!  Fabrics are printed to give each piece a unique and individual touch.  This year the Year 13 students were given the brief "Modern Moroccan" and the Year 12 students "Modern 60's".  Well done everyone on some amazing designs!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF THE WONDERFUL GARMENTS CREATED THIS YEAR!

Mana Pounamu Awards 2017

Congratulations to Kalas Taukamo and Tiana Mansfield who are the 2017 recipients of the Mana Pounamu Tuakana Award and Mana Pounamu Teina Award. They were joined by Mr Olsen, Mrs Plunkett, friends and family at a special awards evening which was held in Dunedin on Friday. The Mana Pounamu Young Achievers’ Awards was brought about through the vision of the late Tāua, Alva Kapa, a local Kāi Tahu educator. It was named as such because it was first held in the Year of Mana Pounamu (2001) and is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arai-Te-Uru.   The awards ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the achievement of rakatahi Māori in secondary schools across Otago.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING