Friday, December 13, 2013

Principal's Comment

Kia Ora Kevinian's and Friends of the College

This week the college campus has seemed rather deserted as our Year 10 students have headed to the Ohau region for their camps and retreat, leaving only the Year 9 students on site for their activity week. I have had the pleasure of helping with the abseiling activity at the South Temple Gorge during the first part of the week and have been back at school to see the final section of the activity week. It was a great opportunity for the staff and I to get to know our students in these settings outside the formality of the classroom. After viewing some of te challenges of the week, I am confident have a fine young group of potential leaders in our junior school.  Later in the blog there are postings with images of these very successful events.  I would like to this opportunity to formally thank our staff, parents and community supporters for the time and help they have so generously given over the week. Without the commitment and dedication of staff and helpers these programmes would not be able to run. Thank you to Mrs Walsh and Mr Brand for coordinating the Year 9 and Year 10 weeks respectively.  Thank you also to Mr Collins for ensuring that the Risk Management considerations have been covered so competently and the Religious Studies Faculty for the coordination of the Year 10 Retreat.

There are a number of staff appointments and movements that I would like to share with the College community at this time.

  • Congratulations to Mr Tony Mullally who has been appointed to the position of Director of Religious Studies. This position is one of the key roles in a Catholic College and the caliber of applicants was extremely high. We are blessed with a wealth of talent in this area within the College.
  • The College Hostel farewells Mrs Ryan, Dean of Girls' and Mr Seddon, Dean of Boys'. We sincerely thank you both for the outstanding support you have given the College and we wish you every success as new chapters in your lives unfold.
  • As a result of the appointment process for the DRS position created by the retirement of Mrs Austin, an English position is being advertised. I hope to fill this vacancy early in the new year.

We ask you to keep Mr Rooney in your prayers as he faces challenging health issues. We ask every blessing on him as he continues his treatment. We also ask your prayers for a number of staff and students who are struggling with the loss of loved ones in this advent season.

As this is our final emailed blog for the year, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please take the opportunity to enjoy the break and return to the College reinvigorated in February 2014.

Advent Blessings to you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Murihiku Servant Leadership Award


Congratulations to Year 12 student Parewhero O'Brien-Harrison on being awarded the Mentors Choice Award for Outstanding Leadership at the Murihiku Servant Leadership Camp, being held this year at St Peter's College in Gore.  

Thirty two students from Verdon College and St Peter's College joined Parewhero, Georgia Holland and Helena Graham for the five day camp and they will  bring back a wealth of leadership skills as they head into Year 13 in 2014.  Well done Parewhero!


Year 10 Camp


Looks like fish may have been on the menu at Lake Middleton!  Our Year 10 students are away on their annual camp and retreat and Mr Ryan sent in a few pictures to share from the sunny shores and also from the abseiling at Temple Basin.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Kickin' It With Year 9 Activities Week


Our Year 9 students have been kickin' it during Year 9 Activities Week, with a bit of beginners taekwando from local instructor Paul McGeown and past pupil Dominic Houlihan.  They were at the College as part of Year 9 Activities Week and along with Ten Pin Bowling and some creative art activities, students have been kept busy.  The very popular Year 9's Got Talent was coupled with baking (a big thank you from the staff for a delicious morning tea!) and concluded with a community project, a beach cleanup.  Thank you to all of the staff and friends of the College who have helped with activities over the course of the week.

Principal's Mobile Office

Mr Olsen may be away on camp with our Year 10 students, but the office is never far away!  He is sharing is abseiling expertise with students at South Temple Gorge.

Top Shot


Congratulations to Georgia Blair and Jessica Fraser on their medal winning trapshooting performances at the New Zealand Youth Games which were held in Hamilton over the past weekend.  Georgia came away with a bronze medal in the ladies' point score and Jessica also took a bronze in the ladies' trench.  The girls then paired up to win a silver in the ladies' team trench event.  What a great effort!  Well done girls!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Principal's Comment

Tēnā koutou Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Last Saturday evening, the Graduates of 2013 met at the Homestead for a final dinner, after their NCEA examinations. It was a pleasure to be able to welcome back ex-pupil, Detective Inspector Dylan Ross as our guest speaker. Dylan's message around goal setting and persistence was well received. He was an eloquent and thoughtful speaker who clearly captured and inspired our graduates, staff and families. He is a credit to his family and the College. Many thanks to Dylan, Mr Mullally and the Senior Management Team for a splendid evening.

As the penultimate school week draws to a close both staff and Year 10 students have been hard at work preparing for the camps and retreat next week. The College pool has been booked out for kayak lessons and an excellent spell of fine weather has made learning how to exit the kayak a much more pleasurable experience. A big thank you to Mr Grant our caretaker and Fabian our GAP student for managing our school pool. This is a much more complex process in these days off health and safety regulations and so it is pleasing to have competent people responsible for the meticulous preparation of this facility. Thank you to Mr Haig and Mr Brand for their kayak instruction.

There are a number of minor building projects currently underway at the College. These include the establishment of a Religious Education Faculty office in the locker area off the Redcastle Room, opening up of the old dark room in the Art Suite and a rearrangement of office space in the Administration Quadrangle. These alterations will be ready for the new school year.

The position of Director of Religious Studies at the College has been advertised and the Board of Trustees will hopefully be in a positions to make an appointment for the new year.

Tessa Robertson and Hamish Moynihan have left for India on the Edmund Rice Network Immersion Programme which involves volunteer work at the Mother Teresa's house in Calcutta. Our best wishes go with them on their work.

Finally, please keep Mr Rooney, who is currently in hospital, in your prayers.

Advent blessings to you all
Paul Olsen, Principal


Thursday, December 5, 2013

Year 10 Agriculture Down On The Farm


The Year 10 Ag Class took a trip down to Moeraki Downs Sheep Farm to get a taste of the rural lifestyle lending a helping hand to Nevelle, Kate Caldwell's dad, helping him out with some drafting, drenching and crutching.  Some got right out of their comfort zones having never been near a sheep before!  But some were eager to hook into it.  We also had a visit at Mrs Eatherley's farm looking at her donkeys, highland cattle, goats, chickens and alpacas.  She also told us about the limestone crusher.

We also had time for a paddle in the sea and a good feed of fish and chips, before heading into Weston to Jessica Fraser's farm, taking a look at the calves they only got a day before!

The Year 10 Ag class had a great day out and about exploring the rural lifestyle.  Thanks Mrs Eatherley, Nevelle Caldwell, Mr Fraser and Mr Farrell.    

by Natalie Preston

Past Pupil Top Of Class

Congratulations to past pupil Samara Halkett who has finished at the top of her second year nursing class for 2013.

Samara graduated from the College in 2011 and is studying at the Southern Institute of Technology.

Edmund Rice Immersion Experience


Hamish Moynihan and Tessa Robertson are in our thoughts and prayers as they leave for the Edmund Rice Immersion Experience to India. Once again, St Thomas of Canterbury have offered our students  a place on this life changing trip. Hamish and Tessa have been attending preparation meetings with the staff and students of St Thomas of Canterbury. The highlight of the trip is the time spent in Calcutta and the places the group will visit include Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata, Goa and Mumbai.

What To Bring For Year 9 Activities Week

HERE IS A LIST OF EVERYTHING OUR YEAR 9 STUDENTS WILL NEED TO ENJOY: 
YEAR 9 ACTIVITIES WEEK!
Monday
Money for the movies
Packed lunch
Togs and a towel
Tuesday
Clothes you can ‘kick’ in ie sports gear.
Packed lunch
Wednesday
Packed lunch
Anything you need for Year Nine’s got talent.
Thursday
Water proof clothes you can wear to the beach.
Warm clothes
Togs and towel
A packed lunch
Friday
Tidy, clean uniform for prize giving.
A good singing voice
A positive attitude towards your classmates.
Fun in the sun from 2012

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Southland Swimming Medal


Congratulations to Year 9 student Angus Macaulay who picked up a bronze medal at the Southland Swimming Championships held in Invercargill.  Angus made 5 event finals and won his medal in the Mens 14/15yrs 200m Freestyle in a time of 2:10.33.  

Well done Angus!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Pacific Coast Slam Tour

Congratulations to Year 12 student Helena Graham following her selection to the U17 Girls South Island team which will travel to Port Macquarie NSW, Australia, for the Pacific Coast Slam Tour.  

In between exams she has been working hard training and attending camps prior to departure across the Tasman in early January 2014.  The tour runs from 8-19 January and will be invaluable experience, enabling Helena to take her game to the next level.  Well done!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Year 10 Camp Preparations

Preparations for next weeks Year 10 Camp and Retreat got under way today with the first class hitting the College swimming pool for kayaking lessons with Mr Haig and Mr Brand.  Safety first!  So first order of business, how to call for rescue if you overturn ... second order of business, how to rescue yourself.


Graduation Dinner 2013


The 2013 Graduation Dinner was held at the Homestead on Saturday evening and it was wonderful to see so many staff, parents and caregiver come together for the occasion.  Past pupil, Dylan Ross, was the guest speaker for the evening and in a moving tribute the Year 13 boys performed a final haka for Mrs Austin who retires at the end of this school year.  From everyone at the College, our sincerest best wishes to all of our Graduating Class for 2013.

More Images From The Junior Performance Unit