Thursday, March 29, 2018

Acting Principal's Message

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

It's been a big week for sport the College.  Of note our rowers returned to school following a very successful Maadi Cup regatta where every one of them did the College proud with multiple A, B and C final finishes.  Also competing last weekend, our Athletics team took on the best at the South Island Secondary Schools Athletics in Timaru.  Again, their representation of the College was exceptional with a long list of Top 10 finishes.

On a more social level the inter-House cricket wrapped up today and it's been great to see this fun lunchtime activity enjoyed by students.  Thank you to Mr Smith and our House Captains for organising the draws and wrangling the teams together.

Mr Olsen is on his way back from Germany this weekend having spent the past couple of weeks with a group from Outdoor Education New Zealand, showcasing the College and Waitaki District.   There has been a lot of continuing work on redevelopments in his absence, one being the turf redesign.  The survey has been revised, based on previous feedback, and I encourage you to take a moment and complete it again over the course of the weekend, before the BOT meet on Wednesday evening.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE REVISED SURVEY

Finally, please continue to keep in mind the changed format for parent/teacher interviews.  The 'student lead conferences' will take place on Friday 4 May and a booking code will be available soon for you to be able to make your appointment.

May God bless you all
Kerry Ryan, Acting Principal

Cuba Collection

A huge thank you to everyone who has kindly donated gifts and supplies for the Cubans rebuilding their homes and lives after Hurricane Matthew hit in October, 2016.  These have now been sorted and bagged and allocated to the travellers to pack.

Cricket Final

It was the last day of the inter-House cricket competition today.  Whyte and Treacy took todays games and it was Whyte who won the competition overall.  Thank you to Bethan Ardouin for grabbing a few photos.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Touring St Edmund's

It was a bruising encounter against the touring side from St Edmund's Ipswich (Queensland) when our U15 rugby boys faced off against a strong attacking side on Murray Field today. The boys were unable to break through the St Edmund's defense, but it certainly wasn't through lack of grit and persistence! Final score 27-10 to the visitors.CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE




An Emerging Talent

Emerging talent is fostered at St Kevin's and this year Liam Direen (Yr 9) took home the Emerging Talent Award at the recent Waitaki Sports Awards.   As well as taking out the competition on the squash court, Liam bowls them over on the cricket pitch in the North Otago primary cricket team.  He was also included in the Squash NZ national youth development squad.  As an aside ... he captained the North Otago U13 rugby team in 2017!

Scripture Reading 2018

Yesterday the annual SKC Scripture Reading competitions were held in the College Chapel.  Speech Therapist Mrs Colleen Blackmore proved to be a most competent adjudicator, and had the unenviable task of determining each year level winner (or in some cases winners!).  The results for each year level were as follows:
Year 9
1st Vince Vidallon
2nd Jesse Valpy
3rd Kaliopeta Katoa
Year 10
1st = Rhea Ratgali & Ethan Downing
3rd Joseph Spillane
Year 11
1st Bailey Collins
2nd Joel Kunnethedan
3rd Rogan-Joe Sloan
Year 12
1st Caleb Jopson
2nd Rata McMullan
3rd Nicholas Plieger
Year 13
1st = Molly Kay & Madeleine Harrop
3rd Quinn Hargreaves

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Running In The Family

Amy Coutts wasn't the only one running in her family this past weekend!  Millie and Hamish competed along side mum Sarah and younger brother Lachlan in the Mt Outdoors Southern Lakes Half Marathon and 10km run.  

Millie and Hamish took first place in their respective age groups (U18) 10km run.  Great effort team Coutts!

Have A Go

The final show of the Have a Go Day series was on at the Showgrounds over the weekend and a few of the equestrian girls competed, doing very well!!!

Lucy Hellewell - 1st turn out, 1st best pony club mount, 1st best combination, 2nd best paced, 2nd best mannered, 2nd best rider, reserve champion of hack class

Ellie Graham - 3rd turn out, 2nd best pony club mount, 2nd best combination, 1st best paced, 3rd best rider, 1st best mannered, champion of hack class

Kayleigh Gill - 1st best rider, 2nd turnout, 3rd best pony club mount, 3rd best combination, 3rd best paced, 3rd best mannered

Kayla Guyton - 1st best rider, 1st best paced, 1st combination, 2nd best mannered, 3rd best pony club mount, 3rd turnout, Champion pony class and overall champion pony

Anna Wallis - 1st turnout, 2nd best rider, 2nd best pony club mount, 2nd best paced, 2nd best combination, 4th best mannered, reserve champion pony

Brooke Clark - 1st best pony club mount, 1st best mannered, 3rd best combination, 3rd best rider, 4th best paced, 4th turnout, reserve champion standard bred class

SISS Athletics

The Athletics team headed to the South Island Championships on over the weekend and had a fantastic competition, with several Top 10 finishes.   Of note were Max Yanzick, Amy Coutts and Jed Jabagat.  Max placed 2nd in the 3000m (the winner was flying to France the following day for the World Cross Country Champs!!) gaining a new PB and also placed 4th in the 1500m, Amy gained a PB in the 3000m (placing 7th) knocking off about 44secs off her previous best, while Jed in the High Jump tied for 3rd but on count back placed 4th.

Other Top 10 finishes were:
Dodge Lofranco (U14 Boys) - 10th 400m, 8th Long Jump
Johanna Alegado (U15 Girls) - 9th 200m
Elisha Carter (U15 Girls) - 9th Javelin
Peleki Tangifolau (U15 Boys) - 7th Javelin
Breidy Johnston (U16 Girls) - 7th 100m, 10th 200m
Jaimee Trainor (U16 Girls) - 9th Shot Put
Cameron Dodd (Senior Boys) - 6th Javelin
Samuela Babiau (Senior Boys) - 10th Shot Put


Friday, March 23, 2018

Acting Principal's Message

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

This week we have been following our rowers as they compete at the Maadi Cup.  Conditions have been challenging on days but it has been very exciting to see both crews and individuals advance through the stages.  It seems timely to stop and acknowledge all of the parents and staff who regularly volunteer their time and energy, through coaching, managing, transporting etc, to support our students and enable them to be successful in whatever endeavours they pursue.  Like I said last week of those who have opened their homes to host our visiting students from Tokyo, Japan, it is this generosity that makes our College Community so special.

This coming Monday our visiting students from Tokyo will head home, but before they go the girls shared a great performance with us at the assembly on Wednesday and played a fun game of basketball against our students during 6th period to finish off the week today.  They have thoroughly enjoyed their stay here and I would like to thank our junior students in particular who have displayed our FIRE Value of Family, buddied up with them during class time and welcomed the girls into their friendship groups.

Finally, please remember about the new system for parent-teacher interviews.  These will now be formatted around a student lead conference, along with whanau teachers.  Students have begun looking at what they need to include in their conference and information was both emailed and posted home for parents and caregivers.  If you didn't get a copy in the post, we have spare ones in the school office.

May God bless you all
Kerry Ryan, Acting Principal

Hostel Happenings


Last Saturday Mr Rawson, Greg and Jule took a bus load of hostel students down to Dunedin to watch the Highlanders play the Crusaders. A great night was had by all and a number of the students were able to meet some of their favourite players.


Hostel Closed at Easter
Please note that the hostel will be closed on Thursday afternoon for Easter and reopen on the Tuesday after Easter at 2pm.

1st XV Trial Game

The 1st XV met up with the boys from Roncalli College last weekend for a pre-season trial game.  Thank you Marie Claire Kay for taking some great action shots to share.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Sharing Cultural Experiences

Our visiting students from Nihon University Buzan Girls' Senior and Junior High School were presented with certificates at assembly today. They also took the opportunity to perform for the College and shared two songs, Cosmos and Kikyuu ni notte dokomademo (Wherever riding in a balloon), and a Koi dance.  We wish them safe travels when they return home after the long weekend.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

South Island 7's

Winding down, post game! 
The U15 Boys have started the South Island 7's tournament with a bruising come from behind win over Nelson College 24-20.  Sebastian scoring after the final hooter from 60m out.   Keep it up team!

Monday, March 19, 2018

Multiple Ribbons At The Palmerston Show

The Palmerston Show was on at the weekend and a few of our equestrian riders took the opportunity to compete.  Although not representing the school, as you can see, there were so many ribbons they almost wouldn't fit around the horses' necks.  Well done girls!!  Results were:

Kayleigh Gill - 2nd Turnout, 2nd Best Rider, 1st Best Paced, 1st Open Hack, 2nd Best Maiden Hack, and Champion Overall.

Nikita Sewhoy - Reserve Champion in the Standardbred Class, 2nd Best Rider, 3rd Best Presented, 3rd Best Pony Club Mount, 4th Best Paced, 4th Best Mannered, Clear 50cm Jumping Round, Clear 60cm Jumping Round.

Anna Wallis - 1st Best Rider, 1st Best Mannered Pony, 2nd Best Matched Pairs, 3rd Open Show Pony, 3rd Turnout, 4th Best Paced Pony, 4th Maiden Pony, 5th Best Pony Club Pony.

Lucy Hellewell - 2nd in Best Mannered and 4th in.Best Rider riding a horse at its first outing.


Visitors Settle In

The girls from Nihon University Buzan Girls' Senior and Junior High School have settled into the College and are having a great time making new friends.  They are only here for a short time, but we thank the families who have been hosting the girls during their stay. 


Maadi 2018 Underway

Maadi 2018 is underway and the team looked very smart as they lined up for the parade yesterday.  Logan Docherty has had a solid start with a 2nd place in his heat in the U17 Boys Single Sculls and you can follow the whole team at http://rowit.nz/mads2018/results?cn=stkv

Friday, March 16, 2018

Acting Principal's Message

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

This week we welcomed a group from Nihon University Buzan Girls' Senior and Junior High School to St Kevin's.  They are already embracing being part of the College and I would like to acknowledge and thank all of the families who have opened their homes to host the girls during their stay.  It is this generosity that makes our College Community so special.

At assembly on Wednesday students were introduced to the new system of parent interviews that we will be using this year.  These will be with whanau teachers, with students leading the conference (interview).  Information and answers to questions have been emailed home today and a physical copy of the letter/information will be posted home next week.  Keep an eye out for it and please contact whanau teachers if you have any additional questions.

Mr Olsen is overseas for the next couple of weeks with a group from Outdoor Education NZ.  He has been showcasing the College and the wider Waitaki District, but he is still keeping an eye on his Year 9 IT class with a Skype call yesterday from Germany!

May God bless you all
Kerry Ryan, Acting Principal

The Growing Field Of Genetics

Last night Mrs Sutton and four students attended a Genetics Otago open lecture at Otago University. The speaker was Dr Laura Boykin, a senior TED fellow and winner of the International Gifted Citizen Prize in 2017. Laura heads the Cassava virus action project, in Eastern Africa. This is a network of researchers, farmers and industry people, collaborating to use a pocket DNA sequencer to improve the management of cassava viruses in east Africa.

This really opened their eyes to see both how science and technology can combine to solve a huge humanitarian problem. They were very lucky that afterwards Laura took considerable time to talk to our students and inspire them to see what can be possible.​

ProMed NZ First Aid

The Gateway students were learning about First Aid and achieving NCEA credits yesterday through a First Aid course with ProMed NZ. Simba was offering her assistance!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Aoraki Record Smashed

The Aoraki Athletics team headed up to Timaru yesterday and had an outstanding day!  Of note was the efforts of Max Yanzick who not only came first in both the U16 Boys 1500m and 3000m but smash the Aoraki record in the latter by 9 seconds (also taking 22 seconds off his PB).  Other Aoraki titles went to Hamish Coutts in the U14 Boys 800m, Peleki Tangifolau in the U15 Boys Javelin and Breidy Johnston in the U16 Girls 100m. 

Other top 10 finishes came from:
Jasmine Emery (U14 Girls) - 100m 5th, 200m 2nd, Long Jump 3rd
Harriet Heaphy (U14 Girls) - 400m 4th, 800m 4th
Peta Katoa (U14 Girls) - Discus 3rd
Jed Jabagat (U14 Boys) - 100m 2nd, 200m 4th, High Jump 2nd
Dodge Lofranco (U14 Boys) - 400m 3rd, Long Jump 2nd
Liam Prouting-Gardener (U14 Boys) - 3000m 2nd
Johanna Alegado (U15 Girls) - 100m 2nd, 200m 3rd, High Jump 4th
Aria Packer (U15 Girls) - Long Jump 5th
Krystalee Sheehy (U15 Girls) - 400m 5th, 800m 5th
Elisha Carter (U15 Girls) - Javelin 2nd
Peleki Tangifolau (U15 Boys) - Shot Put 4th
Breidy Johnston (U16 Girls) - 200m 2nd
Jaimee Trainor (U16 Girls) - Javelin 4th, Shot Put 3rd
Amy Coutts (U16 Girls) - 1500m 4th, 3000m 2nd
Cameron Yeoman (U16 Boys - Discus 4th
Caitlin Middlemiss (Senior Girls) - Long Jump 4th
Amber Cunningham (Senior Girls) - Shot Put 2nd, Discus 2nd
Laura O'Brien (Senior Girls) - Shot Put 3rd
Cameron Dodd (Senior Boys) - Javelin 2nd
Samuela Babiau (Senior Boys) - Shot Put 5th, Discus 3rd
Thanusha Podiappuhami (Senior Boys) - Triple Jump 4th

Home & School AGM

The SKC Home & School had their AGM on Monday evening and Dianne Mills was once again elected to head the team and continue in her role as Chairperson. Alongside her are Paula Brien as Treasurer and Rachel Jones as Secretary. All of our parents are welcome to come along to the Home & School meetings and there are some exciting ideas on the table for 2018! We'll let you know when a meeting is coming up so you can pop along. Here's a little bit about our Chairperson:

Dianne Mills - This will be Dianne's third year heading the Home & School but she has been an active member of the team for longer than that with the second of her teens now in Year 12 - wow, times flies!!  Why did you want to be part of the Home & School?  "The reason I joined the Home & School committee was to meet new parents of the school and also see how I could best help out with fundraising. Also I found out it was also a good way to see what is happening at the school. It is a great way to get together on a social level with both parents and staff of the school."

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Visiting Japanese Students Arrive

This morning we welcomed a visiting group of students from Nihon University Buzan Girls' Senior and Junior High School, in Tokyo Japan.  They are at St Kevin's for the next couple of weeks and will have ESOL lessons as well as spending time in the classroom with their SKC buddies.  A big thank you to all of the host families who have opened their homes to the girls during their stay!

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Interhouse Cricket

There's nothing like a little bit of inter-House cricket while the weather is still warm!  Following on from last Thursday where Treacy and Clancy took out the first round, today was the turn of Whyte and Magee to take the win.  This Thursday will see Clancy vs Treacy and Whyte vs Magee.



Monday, March 12, 2018

Car Boot Bonanza

Set up and ready to go!   The weather played its part on Saturday at the Home & School Car Boot Sale, one of their fundraising events for 2018.  Thank you to everyone who came along and supported the team!  


Friday, March 9, 2018

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

On Monday, our teaching staff attended a region-wide professional development day in Dunedin. The focus was on keeping current with developments in NCEA assessments. National moderators from all the major learning areas lead the workshops. At assembly, I made the point that even as adults we need to be constantly learning. Being a life-long learner needs to be a habit we develop. A habit that is fostered by reading, nurtured by curiosity and encouraged by questioning. Mr Herbst and Mr Bristow are encouraging students to increase the amount of reading they do, to help develop their skills. Student librarians are recommending books and issuing them at morning break and lunchtime. As a caregiver, you can help us by encouraging reading at home and inquiring about the books being read. The more students read, the wider their vocabulary becomes and the better they will be able to write and express their ideas.
Thank you to the many people who have already given their feedback on the turf redevelopment. If you are yet to share your thinking please click on the following link which directs you to a survey that will allow you to have input into the final design for this work. The survey closes on Wednesday 14th of March.

May God bless you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Introducing Our New Equestrian Tutor

Introducing Janelle Gibson

Alongside being a part-time registered Nurse, I currently teach the Equestrian Programme at St Kevin’s College. I have 23 years riding experience with my main focus being on Show Jumping and Eventing. However, I am experienced in a wide range of different Equine Industries.

I currently compete to CIC2* level Eventing on a self produced ex-racehorse, with the hopes that we will soon step up to CIC3*, the pinnacle of the New Zealand Eventing scene. I have ridden successfully on the International stage on 2 occasions representing New Zealand. At the age of 16 yrs I sat and passed my Pony Club A Certificate; making me one of the youngest in the country to have ever done so. I have coached at local Pony Clubs and at private clinics for 10 years. I am an accredited NZPCA C+ Certificate Examiner and have attended numerous high performance training/coaching academies. In recent years I have started my own Equestrian business in which I hold private coaching clinics throughout the lower South Island, as well as providing schooling and sale on behalf services.

I have a broad knowledge of all things Equine as horses were always an integral part of my upbringing. My mother and father have run a successful thoroughbred racing stable for the best part of 35 years. In more recent years I have become involved heavily in Harness Racing through my partner and his family's leading trotting stable, based here in Oamaru. This racing establishment has upwards of 40 horses in training, and allows for educational opportunities for St Kevin’s College students to attend.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Home & School

The Home & School team are often the un-sung workforce behind the scenes at many school events and the funds they raise through the work they do is invested back into the College for the benefit of all of our students. Remember to come along to the AGM on Monday 12 March, 7pm in the Staffroom, but in the meantime here's the first installment on some of the fantastic people behind the SKC H&S:
Shelley Kerin - a long time parent of the school and Uniform Shop volunteer maestro who will be hanging up her last jacket and kilt now that all of her teens have flown the coop! She says "There are a lot of things that I’ve really enjoyed about working in the Uniform Shop, but what I always liked best was meeting the new Year 9 students and their families when they first come to the College, they’re always so excited and it's great to share that with them!"

Cuba Collection Update

A huge thanks to the Veterinary Centre, who have kindly donated dog food to the Cuba Collection. There are many homeless animals on the streets; though there are lots of animal-lovers in Cuba too there are often just not enough resources to go around. Thanks, too, to everybody who has donated goods so far. Your generosity and thoughtfulness are much appreciated.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Portobello Finds

It's been three days of investigative study for our Level 3 Biology students!  Their annual trip to the Portobello Marine Laboratory concluded today following the successful sampling, investigation and analysis of the coastline in the Otago Harbour.  Thank you to the laboratory staff for once again, welcoming our students!


Monday, March 5, 2018

Great Build Up To Maadi

SKC Rowers had a fantastic weekend at the SISS Rowing Regatta in Twizel.

U17 Boys Single Sculls 5th A Final Logan Docherty
U18 Girls Coxless Pair Oars 7th A Final (Rylee Bell/Sophie Brien)
U18 Coxed Four 6th A Final (Rylee Bell/Froukje Edzes/Caitlin McCoy coxed by River Cunningham)

Silver Medalists:
Hannah Cunningham U16 Single Sculls
Gemma Dowling and Connie Metcalfe U18 Novice Double Sculls

An awesome weekend.... now the final push to Maadi Cup.