Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinian's and Supporters of the College

Passionate kapahaka challenges have echoed around the campus this week in preparation for Friday's Junior Performance Unit competition. This work is an outstanding example of student directed learning. The deeper learning that occurs is a tribute to the dedication of the Physical Education Faculty. As a College we have observed development in student leadership, teamwork, group work, tolerance and perseverance. I look forward to seeing the emerging leaders contribute to building a strong College family in following years.

On Wednesday the White Ribbon Riders were formally welcomed to the College. The article and images later in the blog show the warm welcome and strong links that are being made with our core values. Thank you to Sargent Jason McCoy, Mrs Helen Algar and the local riders who took the time to share this important anti family violence message with the students. It was fitting that Leslie Elliott from the Sophie Elliott Foundation shared her powerful experience about healthy relationships and we look forward to continuing this work with the Love Me Not programme.

This evening we are hosting the North Otago Pasifika Fono in the Auditorium. This is an opportunity to celebrate the success and achievement of our Pasifika youth. Thank you to Mrs Tina Dooley and Mrs Margaret Burton for facilitating this event.

Finally can you keep in your prayers Br Arthur O'Kane who has had a long association with the College and is currently not well, and also Jenny Dixon, wife of Russell, and June Campbell who are recovering from surgery.

May God bless you all this Advent Season
Paul Olsen, Principal

Junior Performance Unit

Today our Yr9 and Yr10 students filled the gymnasium with the cries of the College haka and the high energy of an aerobics/dance routine as they took on the challenge of creating a team performance for our judges.  A full breakdown of results will be posted on Monday but congratulations to everyone on some great performances.

Healthy Habits

BEING SUN SMART - SLIP, SLOP, SLAP AND WRAP

It’s not hard to be Sun Smart. Research has shown that too much UV radiation causes sunburn, which can lead to skin cancer, and those cancers can be deadly. UV radiation can also damage your skin in other ways, causing premature ageing and wrinkles.

In New Zealand we are lucky to have clear skies and little pollution, but that contributes to very high levels of UV radiation in our environment. Our weather is also changeable – a rainy morning may mean we might leave the house without the sun protection we need if the sun comes out later. And even if the sun doesn’t come out and temperatures stay low, UV radiation levels can still be high enough to cause sunburn.

That’s why you need to be Sun Smart, especially during daylight saving months (September to April), and between 10am to 4pm when the sun’s UV rays are strongest. And don’t forget younger children. They most definitely need to slip, slop, slap, and wrap, too. Nearly 80% of lifetime sun exposure happens after the age of 18, so it’s important to make sun protection a life-long habit, starting as young as possible.

Thank You Mr Mitchell

Representatives from the Oamaru Rowing Club joined staff at the College for a special morning tea to acknowledge Stew Mitchell and thank him for the invaluable service he has given to rowing at St Kevin's over the past 14 years.  He was presented with a commemorative plate by Reuben Mihaere, Adam Sew Hoy and Kalas Taukamo from the St Kevin's College rowing squad following personal tributes from Kate Mihaere, Kevin Kearney and Paul Olsen.

White Ribbon Ride 2014

Today the College welcomed the White Ribbon Riders as they called through Oamaru as part of their annual national ride.  This exciting initiative is a powerful reminder about the effects of violence on our families and communities, yet provides inspirational stories of change and courage.

In preparation for the visit our junior boys took to the kitchen yesterday, baking a chocolate oat slice for today's afternoon tea.  With the familiar loud rumble of motorbikes the riders (with Mr Olsen on board) were greeted with the College Haka from our Yr9 and Yr10 students before Leslie Elliott from the Sophie Elliott Foundation spoke to them about the significance of what the riders were doing nationwide.  The chocolate slice was served and while students took the opportunity to admire the bikes close up, Levi Emery got a birthday treat with a blat round the College on a bike!

VPath Success

Pasifika Success Talanoa Project Invitation

Principal's Comment

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College.

NCEA examinations and junior end of year assessments have progressed seamlessly this week. In between marking and report writing, staff are taking the opportunity to work on plans for 2015.

One of the major areas for development is an extension of the range of VPath courses being offered for seniors and the development of the FlexiFriday arrangements.

FlexiFriday will be of benefit to all seniors. Those heading to VPath courses and Gateway programmes will not have the issue of missing class and having to catch up and our academics will be able to focus on achievement standards that meet their needs in smaller classes. Thank you to the Heads of Faculty for there commitment to making this happen.

Next Friday our junior students will present their Yr9 and Yr10 Performance Units in the gymnasium.  They have spent their physical education periods collaborating together and creating routines to share with other students and staff in a spirited inter-class competition.  It begins after lunch and I invite you to join us.

On Wednesday the College is looking forward to welcoming the White Ribbon Ride into Oamaru.  This very visual initiative tackles the issue of domestic violence in New Zealand and our students always make a very good impression on the riders in the way they present themselves and represent the values of the College when they visit each year.

Finally, as we move into the last three weeks of the school year, I encourage our junior students to make the most of the opportunities extended to them in the way of the upcoming Year 10 Camp and Year 9 Activities Week.  Thank you to the staff and volunteers who give up their time to make these events run so smoothly each year.

May God Bless you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Junior Equestrians

A small group of students from St Joseph's Primary School are visiting the College to get a taste of the Equestrian programme at St Kevin's.

Uniform Shop

UNIFORM SHOP - The last day for opening in 2014 will be Thursday 11 December from 12.45-1.45pm. Shelley and the team would be grateful for any donations of the boys blue shirts and the girls short sleeved blouses. Thank you.

The extra opening hours for January will be advertised on the Start Up Procedures for 2015 which will be mailed home at the end of term.

Truffle Sell Out

Home & School have now SOLD OUT of their Christmas Truffles!   We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported this fundraiser, in particular Southern Wide Real Estate, Bondini's and Fusion.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas - from Mandy and the team.

Thanks To A Rowing Stalwart

Thank you James at the Oamaru Mail for this lovely photo

Oamaru Rowing Club stalwart Stew Mitchell has been a consistent presence in the realm of College rowing since his return to Oamaru in 1997.  His association with the Oamaru Rowing Club began back in the 1956-57 season when he and some friends joined the club as a way of keeping fit during the summer for rugby.  Following success at a regatta at Lake Wakatipu Stew was approached by coach Russell "Rusty" Robertson and he cites his influence as being instrumental in the development of local rowing.  Work transfers saw him prominent in rowing clubs in Blenheim, Wellington and Christchurch before settling back into the local community at Kakanui and re-involving himself with the Oamaru Rowing Club.  It was during this time that the club changed it's focus to attracting students and his association with the College began.  For 14 years he has coached our rowing athletes and was the first coach of the Girls Rowing 8 which achieved consecutive Maadi success from 2009.  World medalist Johannah Kearney still refers to Stew as her first rowing coach.  His enthusiasm for the sport and the young athletes he has mentored over the years is reflected in the high regard to which he is held.  Stew is totally inclusive of all rowing athletes, seeing the diamonds in the rough and bringing out the best in them in order for them to succeed, whatever that level of success might be.  He has been instrumental in the rebuilding of rowing numbers at the College in recent years through his guidance and support of any students wanting to give rowing a go.  As you move on to your next adventure we thank you Stew, the success of our athletes is a reflection of your dedication and reward for your passion of this high level sport.

Cricketing Star

Thank you to James at the Oamaru Mail for this great shot of Amber in action.

Year 9 students Amber Cunningham is making her mark in the cricket oval.  She put on the North Otago U15 Girls colours in the weekend to match up against the Dunedin U15 at Milner Park.  Displaying superb bowling skill she took 4/12 off 6.4 overs including a Hat Trick, restricting the opposition to a total of 111.  She also posted an impressive 63 runs.  North Otago took the win by 6 wickets.

Principal's Message

Kia ora Kevinian's and Supporters of the College

The commencement of NCEA examinations has been the primary focus for senior students this week and it has been pleasing to see a number of them taking up the offers of tutorial support from teaching staff. Whilst Mr Dixon will be away next week our staff are always available to support students during this stressful and demanding time. Thank you to Mrs Potter and her team for the work involved in assisting the NCEA staff running the examinations.

Our junior students will have three days of examinations beginning on Monday.  Like our seniors, they are encouraged to come well prepared and ensure that they have everything they need before they enter the exam room.  This is excellent preparation of habits for College life in the senior school.

This week the College has had a presence at the Canterbury A&P Show and I was pleased to be able to join Mr Fowler for the last day and catch up with past pupils and greet prospective parents and students.

Year 10 Camp meetings have begun and parents and caregivers are encouraged to ensure that permission slips are returned (or e-permissions submitted) as soon as possible. This camp is often considered to be a highlight of a student's time at the College and I always enjoy the opportunity to visit the camps and assist with instruction.  Thank you to Mr Collins and those involved in preparing our Year 10 students for this experience.

Finally I ask that you keep Mr Dixon and his family in your prayers as Mrs Dixon undergoes surgery.

May God bless you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Perfect Presents For Christmas

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FUNDRAISER

The Home and School will be selling chocolate truffles at the Victorian Fete this Sunday from 10am until 4pm. Come along to see us and stock up on truffles for Christmas. We will be outside Presence on Harbour. They cost $5 for a packet of 12. See you there!

Jenna Best Dressed

Congratulations to Yr10 student Jenna Stuart who has been selected for the ASCNO Dressage Championship Team (Ashburton, South Canterbury and North Otago).  Trials were held at the beginning of October in Waimate and the team will compete in the South Island Dressage Championships in January next year.  Well done Jenna (and Johnnie too!)

Senior Text Books Due Back

SENIOR TEXT BOOKS ARE NOW DUE TO BE RETURNED!!!

Please make sure all Senior Text Books are returned by the end of senior exams or we will need to charge a fee so we can replace them. Thanks

Year 11 English
-The Hunger Games
-As the Earth Turns Silver
-Noughts and Crosses
Year 12 English
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-One Thousand Splendid Suns
Year 13 English
-Freedom Writers Diary
-The Great Gatesby
Year 11 Maths
-Gamma Mathematics
Year 12 Maths
-Theta Mathematics

International Squash Invitation

Thomas after taking the Oamaru Club's Junior Champion and runner up Men's A

Thomas Pickles (Yr11) has been invited to Sydney by Jason McLauchlan to train and play for a tournament at the end of the month.  McLauchlan, previously from North Otago, is very prominent on the Sqaush circuit in Sydney as a top coach at the North Shore Lane Cove Squash Club.  He is also the Director in charge of Events and Tournaments for NSW Squash.  

Thomas was invited to travel to Sydney after McLauchlan returned to compete in the recent Oamaru Open.  Thomas is extremely excited about the prospect of the additional training and experience that will come from the trip.  He leaves on 25 November and will receive daily training sessions before competing in a Lane Cove Tournament on the 29/30 November and then returning home.  Congratulations Thomas and all the best for the competition!

Year 10 Camp Information

Memories from 2013

The annual Yr10 Camp will be held during the last week of this term.  This camp is an extremely enjoyable experience for students and it often becomes the highlight of their time at the College.  The four days at camp will be spent in the Hopkin's Valley area (near Twizel).  There are three separate camps;  Huxley Lodge where students will have a retreat, Lake Middleton for water based activities and mountain biking, and Temple Stream where students camp overnight in tents and learn bushcraft skills.  Students spend a day at each camp, rotating to get a turn at each one.

A full outline of the camp activities, a gear list and permission forms can be viewed and/or downloaded by following the link or going to the page on our website:

www.stkevins.school.nz/permissions-portal/retreat  or CLICK HERE to view information.

Healthy Habits

Drinking too much - on a single occasion or over time - can take a serious toll on your health.  Here's how alcohol can affect your body:

NCEA Exams Begin

NCEA Examinations began for our senior students this week and will continue over the next couple of weeks.  Students should make sure that they have everything they need for their exam, including their admission slip.

Dingle Burn Adventures

A group of students and staff accompanied Tiana Mihaere to the Dingle Burn recently, helping her to complete her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award.  It was a wonderful trip enjoyed by everyone - even the weather was exciting!

Junior Exams And Teachers Meeting Reminder

A reminder to students and parents that due to a TEACHERS MEETING next TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER, there will be a PERIOD 3 START for students on that day. Junior students will go directly to their Tuesday morning exam - please follow the link below for the full Junior Examination Timetable. Thank you!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JUNIOR EXAM TIMETABLE

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinian's and Supporters of the College

Recognition of excellence and genuine celebration of achievement are all part of the motivational tool kit for effective teachers. They are "carrots" that publicly reinforce learning and encourage success. At St Kevin's, we use the full range: the Hillary and Sheppard Awards recognise the achievement of short term goals, the Dominican Academic Awards look at longer term academic success and the Celebration of Sport and Celebration of Culture and Couture recognise curricular excellence. Tuesday's end of year prizegiving Mass and Graduation is the premier occasion for the College community to publicly acknowledge the year's achievements. My congratulations to the many students who passed across the stage during the evening. In particular I wish to acknowledge our Dux for 2014, Georgia Holland.

Last weekend I attended the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Gold Award 2014 presentations in Christchurch. I was privileged to support Kelisha Jones and past pupil Kieran Ryan who had their awards presented by the Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Other celebrations held this week have been the very successful Hostel Dinner and the International Student Dinner. These are an opportunity to thank staff for their time and effort as well as farewell our leavers. The formal leaver's Graduation Dinner is held after NCEA examinations conclude.

Thank you to the Home and School Committee who met on Monday and distributed $14,000 to projects through out the school. This Saturday, the team will be making truffles for sale at the Victorian Fete, to be held the following weekend. Please take the opportunity to purchase some if you are at the fete.

Finally it was a pleasure to be able to have our senior students pass over the mantel of leadership to the those selected for the 2015 school year. Congratulations to:
Head Boy - Brady Kingan
Head Girl - Sydney Telfer
Deputy Head Boy - Michael Lockley
Deputy Head Girl - Ilaisipa Tahaafe
Deputy Head Boy Special Character - Jack Sinclair
Deputy Head Girl Special Character - Julia Fauth

My sincere thanks to the leaders of 2014 for a job well done.

May God bless you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Hawke Cup Selection

Thank you to Brayden from the Oamaru Mail for this great action shot.

Congratulations to Year 12 student Brady Kingan who has successfully been selected for the North Otago Hawke Cup Team.  He has also gained selection to the Otago U17 training squad following some exceptional form.

Mana Pounamu Awards

Congratulations to Gypsy-Mae Harihona-Harrison and Merekite Wahitapu who are the worthy recipients of the Mana Pounamu Teina Award and Mana Pounamu Tuakana Award (respectively).  They were joined by family and students from the College at a special Award Ceremony in Dunedin last Friday evening and were again acknowledged during our own Senior Prize Giving held earlier this week.  Well done girls, you are wonderful Kevinian role models.

Mana Pounamu Teina Award - Gypsy Mae

Mana Pounamu Tuakana Award - Merekite

U15 Touch Rep

Year 9 student Ben McCarthy has kept a tight lid on his touch rugby success.  After a fantastic showing at a qualifying tournament last Sunday where he was name the MVP of the tournament, Ben has been selected for the Otago U15 Touch team.   He is the only local student to have gained a place in the team.  Congratulations!

St Kevin's College Senior Prize Giving and Graduation Ceremoney 2014

Last night we celebrated the academic success of the College at our Senior Prize Giving and Graduation Ceremony for 2014.  The evening began in the Chapel with a Mass and once again Father Wayne offered wise words during the homily.  The graduating students lit their graduation candles before processing out and gathering on the Chapel steps for the traditional recreation of the photo that was taken as Year 9 students.  After moving into the Auditorium the graduating students, staff and invited guests were piped in by College pipers Natalie Preston and Chris Olsen, after which the academic awards were presented.  Congratulations to all of the students who were recognised during the evening, but in particular to Georgia Holland who was named Dux of the College for 2014.  Well done!

Part of the evening programme saw the announcement of the College Top 6 students for 2015. Congratulations to:

Head Boy - Brady Kingan

Head Girl - Sydney Telfer

Deputy Head Boy - Michael Lockley

Deputy Head Girl - Ilaisipa Tahaafe

Deputy Head Boy Special Character - Jack Sinclair

Deputy Head Girl Special Character - Julia Fauth

Sporting Blues Presentations
Basketball: Hamish Robertson, Matt Brien, Joshua Botting, Tiare Barlow, Hikare Shigenobu, Kazuho Kobayashi, Kyle Andales, Shaun Andales, Gray Doppenberg, Alexander Gonzales, Keegan Anderson
Rowing: Charlie Wallis

Academic Awards: Year 11 (Level 1)
Skyla Blair, food technology : Brittany Kerin , religious studies : Rose McCarth, physical education : Rory McNab, material technology : Emma Middlemass , agriculture, business studies, English (Allen Cup), science : Alice Newberry, alternative English : Jazmin Parker, fabric technology : Ashley Pink, geography : Natalie Preston, numeracy : Glyn Siggleko, music : Max Stewart, graphics, history, mathematics : Sinamaru Whippy, information technology : Francziska Yanzick, art
Emma Middlemass, 1st Aggregate Year Eleven Rotary Club of Oamaru Prize

Academic Awards: Year 12 (Level 2)
Shaun Andales, information technology : Georgia-Kate Blair, fabric technology : Bryony Brown, mathematics (algebra & calculus) : Brittany Caldwell , agriculture : Julia Fauth, art : Georgia Haggerty, physical education : Alexandra Heaphy, mathematics (statistics) : Tyler-Rose Hunter, business studies : Joshua Jarvis, graphics : Brooklyn Johnston, drama, food technology : Eva Liardet, music : Georgia Malcolm, English, religious studies : Tiana Mihaere, history : Anthony Newton, alternative English : Laura Pickles, vocational pathways : Matali Singh, chemistry, physics : Rajinald Singh, material technology (Mitre 10 Prize) : Sydney Telfer, biology : Lily Webster, geography
Georgia Malcolm, 1st Aggregate Year Twelve Rotary Club of Waitaki Prize

Academic Awards: Year 13 (Level 3)
Kyle Andales, music : Emma Cullimore, media studies : Nicole Dowling , agriculture : Brodie Flannery, material technology (Mitre 10 Prize), physical education : Helena Graham, food technology : Georgia Holland, classics, history, mathematics statistics, religious studies (Teschemakers Prize) : Bridgett James, biology (Teschemakers Prize) : Christopher Kearney, physics : Rebecca Lockley, graphics : Tessa Newton, drama : Caitlin Pope, art sculpture : Hamish Robertson, geography : Tessa Robertson, fabric technology (Ivey Pollard Memorial Prize) : Isobel Ryan, art, English : Kevalee Sriutaisuk, chemistry, economics, mathematics calculus (also DJ Mulheron Cup for Sciences)

Special Awards
Treacy House, Champion House Academic Achievement (John McCarthy Trophy)
Magee House, Champion House (Redcastle Cup)
Kaleisha Jones, Year 13 Christian Leadership (Br C Marlow Cup)
Logan Chandler,Year 13 Christian Leadership (Br BJ Lauren Cup)
Merekite Wahitapu, Ryan Moynihan Memorial Affability Award
Logan Chandler, Otago Polytechnic Principals Award
Erin Mitchell, North Otago Masonic Lodges’ Scholarship
Melanie Grasmueck, Altrusa Margaret Crombie Memorial Tertiary Award
Gypsy-Mae Harihona-Harrison, Mana Pounamu Teina Award
Merekite Wahitapu, Mana Pounamu Tuakana Award
Isobel Ryan, University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
Ilaisipa Tahaafe, Most Outstanding Pasifika Female Leader
Kelepi Funaki, Most Outstanding Pasifika Male Leader
Thomas Pickles, Junior Application and Participation (Langley Plate)
Lucy Tyrrell, Senior Application and Participation (McCarthy Plate)
Jino Kunnethedam, Junior General Excellence (Bill Nolan Cup)
Isobel Ryan, Senior General Excellence (McKechnie Cup)
Isboel Ryan, College Captains Teschemakers Trophy
Christopher Kearney, College Captains Bill Higgins Memorial Trophy
Kevalee Sriutaisuk, Proxime Accessit to the Dux (McKone Cup)
Georgia Holland, Dux of College (Br MM O.Connor Plate)

Equestrian Arena Grand Opening

There was a brief interlude in the stormy weather on Friday, just in time to deliver sunshine and blue skies for the official opening of the Equestrian Arena.  A crowd of invited guests were welcomed by Mr Ryan before Father Wayne gave a blessing.  The Mayor, Mr Gary Kircher, then spoke and cut the red ribbon, opening the gates to allow Mr Baxter Smith the honour of being the first rider into the officially opened arena.  Guests were treated to a balance exercise display by Ingela Anklew (Tutor) and young Miss Bridie McGeown, followed by a pattern riding exercise from Ella Sanderson, Monique Sage, Georgia Sillibourne, Caitlin Middlemiss, Roshni Crow and Casey Gordon.  An afternoon tea in the College Staff Room rounded out the afternoon, with a special cake made by Mrs June Campbell just for the occasion.  Our sincerest thanks to all of the people who have supported this development:  The St Kevin's College Board of Trustees, Alan Grant, Ingela Anklew, Kelepi Funaki, Logan Chandler, Mark Watson, Avimore Irrigation, Grey-Smith Contracting/Awamoa Bins, PGG Wrightson Ltd, Placemakers-Geoff Brown Building Supplies, Whitestone Contracting, Michael Wills Contracting, Nick Stanger-Stanger Fencing, Will Sillibourne, the Craig family, Liam Perriam, Lukairnn Holden, Road Metals Ltd and Peter Murdoch Transport.