Junior Prizegiving

Junior Prizegiving was held this morning and with that another year at the College is over.  Congratulations to all of our class winners and in particular to Serena O'Brien who was awarded the Daniel Gillies Memorial Cup for Diligence and Determination, and Anna Taylor who won the SKC plate for Service to the College.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS

Activities Week Day Three

Kite making and posters were on the cards for our Y9 students this morning before a leisurely afternoon with popcorn and a movie; the water slide having been deferred until tomorrow due to the weather!

Disaster Day At SKC

Today is 'Disaster Day' for our Year 9's. With the help of our fantastic local Civil Defense and Emergency Response teams our Year 9 students are learning about the invaluable roles that these people play in an emergency situation. The day will culminate in a 'disaster' this afternoon with a variety of scenarios for them to work through and manage as a team.

Disaster Day - an educational simulation, with our thanks to the local Civil Defense and Emergency Response teams.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE DAY!

Year 9's Got Talent

Has Year 9 got talent??  Yes it has, and by the bucket load too!    This afternoon students and staff were entertained in the Auditorium by a fantastic selection of singers, skits and musicians.  But the winner of the day was in fact a film by Zane Trotter, Paige Powell and Eliza Baster.  Congratulations team!

p.s  A big thank you to our judges for the day .... Mark Whittet, Josh Cunningham and Meghan McCorkindale!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YEAR 9'S GOT TALENT!

Year 9 Activities Week Day One

To kick off Activities Week, Y9 students have been looking at the legend of E Toru nga Purakau O Moeraki, and the settlement of maori into the area.  Their challenge this morning?  To produce art panels depicting symbols from the story.

Santa's Helpers

Santa came to town on Saturday morning as the main street of Oamaru was packed for the annual Christmas Parade.  Among the many floats and paraders were Rudolf (Georgia Lightbody) and a rather odd looking Christmas tree (Riley Chandler).  It's great to see students enjoying the community festivities at this time of year.

Campers Away

What a great day to send our Year 10 students off to the Hopkins Valley for their annual camp and retreat!   Have a great week team.

Principal's Message

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The highlight of my week was the visit to the the pop up Arts exhibition. The Arts Faculty showcased stunning examples of music, digital art, sculpture, painting and drama captured on video. Thank you to Mrs Plunkett for having the vision to allow such amazing talent to emerge and flourish.

On Wednesday evening the Board of Trustees took a tour of the campus starting with the exhibition. They would like to formally congratulate the students on the creativity and quality of their work.

Following their visit to the exhibition, they looked at a number of other projects being undertaken around the College. These included the refurbishing of the top quad classrooms, the food room, and the newly commissioned weights room. They also discussed the redevelopment of the sand turf which now has reached the end of it's viable life. The Board later initiated the planning phase for a revamp of the turf area. We look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge from this project.

Finally I wish all the staff and students involved in camps and activity week, safe travel and hope that the weather is stable. Thank you to Mr Colins and Mr Nyika for the hours of planing and preparation that has gone into the camps and retreat. Thank you also to Ms Walshe and her team for the huge effort that has gone into the development of the Year 9 programme.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Weights Session

Mr Fowler took the hostel boys to the new weights room for a fitness session after school yesterday.  With the variety of equipment on offer and spacious areas it was enjoyed by all of the boys. 

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Year 9 students have been busy making Advent Calendars during Religious Studies class in preparation for Christmas. Sally Xie, Alyssa Colina, Sarah Jones, Ellen Swanson, and Lucy Hitchcock are happy to deliver their calendars to Glynis Kappely of Oamaru hospital.
The idea is to have the calendars available to children who may be confined to a hospital bed over the Advent and Christmas season. There are no children stuck in the Oamaru hospital but the staff there say presents from highschool students can often be a great boost for patients and their families in the Christmas Season.

Junior Arts Exhibition

Over the past week or so a group of Y10 students have been creating a 'pop up' Arts exhibition - A Year In Motion - which opened in the Library today.  Along with live music, there was a wide selection of photography, graphics work, film work, paintings and sculptures on display, and according to comments from those who joined us it was an incredibly successful event!  Well done to all the curators!!!

A YEAR IN MOTION .... CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE OPENING

A Year In Motion is open to view during morning interval and lunchtime tomorrow - Thursday 1 December.

Beach Trip

The hostel boys took a trip to the beach on Sunday, exploring around the Kakanui and Campbell's Bay area.  What a great way to unwind before the end of the school term.

Graduation Dinner

 

On Saturday evening our Graduating Class for 2016 gathered together for one last time, as they were joined by staff and family for the traditional Graduation Dinner at The Manor.  Guest speakers for the evening were past pupils of the College, Christian and Summer Robinson.  After their own graduation in 2005 Summer studied a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Christian a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.  They spoke about their journey into the world beyond school and challenged students to list their own goals and the things that are important to them, and to look at how the two lists relate with one another.

In a lighthearted part of the evening our Top Six presented SKC Scrolls to each of the Graduates, with much hilarity and laughter!   Thank you to Mr Nyika and his team for organising the evening and to our Graduates .... all the very best with your future paths, don't forget to come and visit!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT

Hostel Farewell Seniors

As seniors come towards the end of their NCEA examinations, the hostel girls took an evening out for some fun when they farewelled the Year 13 girls.  

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The last of the NCEA examinations will be held next week.  Thank you to all of our junior students who have been considerate of seniors sitting exams while moving about the College and in particular around the Auditorium and upper quad areas.

 

This week we were privileged to welcome the White Ribbon Riders and while the weather meant that the visit was moved into the Dining Room, the acoustics of the space simply added to what is always a very special occasion.  Thank you to Seth Humpries and Xavier Kahukura-Davis for leading our student haka and to Polly Harper for speaking on behalf on the College.  Thank you to the local White Ribbon Ride coordiantors for once again including St Kevin's in the ride itinerary.

The inaugural meeting for the Appointment Committee for the COL (Community Of Learning) was held this week and we are looking forward to the benefits that this will bring to our community.  Both myself and Steven Bolstridge (BOT Chair) are part of the committee which will appoint a local principal to lead the COL in 2017.

Finally, today we greeted the Year 9 students who will join our College family in 2017.  Orientation Day can be a nervous day for some, but thanks to the senior students who acted as tour guides and the staff who worked with the students throughout the day, the relaxed and welcoming tone of the day proved very successful.  Thank you in particular to Ms Walshe and her team for the work that goes into preparing for this day each year.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Junior Performance Unit

Over the past couple of weeks our junior students have been creating and practising routines for the Junior Performance Unit.  This is part of their PE curriculum and is always fiercely contested!  Thank you to all the senior students and staff who have offered advice and guidance, our fabulous judges and congratulations to 9T and 10T who were the victors on the day!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE ACTION!

NO Irrigation Company Scholarship

Congratulations to Meg Knowler, who is the recipient of the North Otago Irrigation Company scholarship.  Meg is off to Lincoln University to undertake a diploma of agriculture before heading to Tauranga's Bay of Plenty Polytech to complete a degree in marine and environmental science.  She is hopeful that her studies will lead her to work with the Department of Conservation, or similar.  Well done on your scholarship Meg, and all the best in your studies.

White Ribbon Ride 2016

The weather may not have played it's part today the it didn't dampen the warm welcome that was extend to the White Ribbon Riders as they arrived at the College today.  Riders travel the country to raise awareness and speak out against family violence in our communities, and share inspirational stories of courage and change, in the lead up to White Ribbon Day on 25 November.

The South Island team of riders were greeted in the Dining Room with a passionately performed College haka before students and staff were asked to think about their own relationships, with their friends, their families and with others in our community.  Are they positive and encouraging?

Once again we extend our sincerest thanks to White Ribbon NZ for including the College and our students in the important initiative.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WHITE RIBBON NEW ZEALAND WEBSITE

White Ribbon Ride Ready

Mrs Fowler and our junior students have spent the afternoon making some yummy slices ahead of the White Ribbon Ride visit to the College this coming Thursday.    The riders are due to arrive at approximately 1.20pm and, as has now become the tradition, will share an afternoon tea hosted by our juniors.

A Year In Motion

A dedicated group of Y10 students have been hard at work in the lead up to a special pop up art exhibition which will be held in the library next week.  Along with Mrs Plunkett they met with Liz King from the Forrester Gallery who offered advice on how to curate an exhibition, and began the task of selecting pieces from the variety of Y9 and Y10 work available.  

Titled 'A Year In Motion', this student driven exhibition will have its Grand Opening on Wednesday 30 November at 1.40pm, and will also be open to view on Thursday 1 December during interval and lunchtime.

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Last Friday evening I traveled with Ms Sun, Ms Peng and our students to the 2016 Chinese Prizegiving. I was delighted to accept the award for Best Confucius Classroom on behalf of the College.

         

Congratulations go to four of our our junior students who were recognised with excellence awards - Tia Hunter, Theo Van de Klundert, Clark Ewing and Trish Chikowore.

This week the junior examinations have kept the student body engaged. Thank you to the staff who have volunteered to help as reader/writers, helping to unlock and assess learning that would not be visible using traditional methods. Staff are currently marking papers and beginning to write reports.

As a boarding school, the seismic events of the week have kept the hostel and property staff very busy. Student safety after the initial tremor, monitoring the tsunami alert and reassurance were our focus. The damage assessment has thankfully not identified any issues, allowing us to continue with NCEA examinations without the disruption that occurred in other parts of the country.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered loss and disruption in the latest quakes.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Lead Up To White Ribbon Ride

Next Thursday at approximately 1.20pm we will once again host the White Ribbon Riders as they make their way through Oamaru.  As a co-educational school fostering and highlighting healthy and balanced relationships with friends and family is one of the important life skills that students take on board.

In the lead up to the visit, and as part of a Digital Art unit on 'displacement', Jonte Kydd-Law, Lewis Weatherley and Niveek Wilson have put together a poignant presentation. Check it out.....

Examinations Well Under Way

Students are now half way through the NCEA examination period, with Level 2 Biology and Level 3 History being held this morning.  We remind students to take care of themselves during this stressful time, and to eat and sleep well!  A big thank you to all of the staff who have supported students and made themselves available for extra tutorials.

Weights Room Takes Shape

There's been a lot of banging and crashing going on under the dining room recently and the emerging new weights room looks to be well worth the noise!  With just the finishing touches to go, the generous space and variety of equipment available will be a great asset to the College Community.  A big thank you to Mr Grant and his team for their hard work!!

Pythagoras Takes Over

You may be forgiven for thinking that random triangles have appeared all over the College, but in reality they are very particular triangles.... Pythagoras triangles in fact!   Mrs Sutton's maths class have put learning into action, making instructional videos on the Pythagorean theorem!

Science Day

Today we were joined by nearly 30 students from our surrounding country schools for Science Day!   They were set a CSI challenge to analyse and collect evidence using different scientific experiments, and then present their findings to solve the crime!  

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Congratulations to the students who have taken the opportunity to work on internals during our extended tuition period for seniors. The benefits are tanglible and will ensure that students have the entry requirements for their chosen pathway. Central to the success of this programme are our dedicated staff. Thank you for your committment to working with these students to unlock their potential.

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of science and agriculture teacher, Mrs Jean Hesselin, to Mrs Almbler's maternity leave position. Jean has held a number of leadership roles in science faculties and with NZQA marking. She comes to us from James Hargest High School. Mrs Phillippa Sutton has also been confirmed in her role as a mathematic and science position.

I would also like to acknowledge the appointment of Mr Darryl Paterson as the new Rector of Waitaki Boys' High School. We look forward to welcoming Darryl to the district and working along side him in the Whitestone Pathways Community of Learning.

Congratulations to Polly Harper, who has won her class at the Christchurch show this week. This impressive shot of her in action shows both her talent and tenacity. It is great to see our equestrian students beginning to stamp their mark on some of the most prestigious events.

Yesterday the first of the 2016 NCEA external examinations was held in the Auditorium. The bulk of the exams occur over the next fortnight. Examinations for juniors are also on the horizon. Mr Dixon our Guidance Counsellor is available to help suppport students to manage the pressure that can develop during the examination season. With this in mind I would ask you to keep all our students in your prayers at this stressful time.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal

Check And Connect

Our Y10 students have been catching up with the Vocational Pathways team, looking at subject choices for next year.  Mathew Harris, Mrs Burton and Mr Dixon have met with each of our Y10s during the week as part of our Check And Connect days and along with the Vocational Pathways Planning Evening (held earlier this term) it opens discussions at home about course options.

Extended School For Seniors Proven Success

A number of Senior students have been able to take up the opportunity to gain the last few additional NCEA credits needed ahead of the exams which began this week.  With the help offered by staff, the Extended School programme has been a great success.  Students have not only gained credits to help them reach their educational goals, but this success has given them a sense of self achievement and more importantly confidence ahead of their exams.  Thank you to all of the teachers who have given their time so successfully!

Year 10 Camp

Our Y10 students are preparing for their upcoming Camp and Retreat which will be on during the last week of term.  This is always an extremely enjoyable experience for students and is often reflected on as one of the highlights of their time at St Kevin's.  

The four days at camp are spent in the Hopkin's Valley area near Twizel.  There are three camps, each with a particular focus, and students rotate around the camps to get a day at each.

Lake Middleton is a great spot for a variety of activities on offer.  Students enjoy water skiing/biscuiting, kayaking, swimming and mountain biking, as well as orienteering and fun group activities.  Huxley Lodge is where we have our Retreat and it's focus is on the students, their peers and has an emphasis on small group challenges to create a positive and reflective atmosphere.  Temple Stream is a tent over-nighter where students learn bushcraft skills like river-crossing and first aid, as well as enjoying the amazing natural environment of the area on short day tramps.

Y10 Camp is an important feature on our College calendar and has been run very successfully for many years.  The activities are designed to challenge students and build their confidence in an environment that is supportive and ensures an enjoyable experience.  A team of Y12 students join camp staff as helpers and it's little wonder that there is always an influx of applications thanks to great memories from their time as a "Y10 Camper".

If you have any questions or concerns please contact:

Mr Collins - acollins@stkevins.school.nz

Mr Nyika - mnyika@stkevins.school.nz

Top 6 For 2017

At our Senior Prizegiving last week the Top 6 for 2017 was revealed to our College Community.  As is now the tradition the current Top 6 handed over their pounamu one by one to the incoming leaders.  We look forward to another exciting year working alongside our student leadership team at St Kevin's!  

Alex Gonzales (Deputy Head Boy Special Character), Ella Hitchcock (Deputy Head Girl Special Character), Kalas Taukamo (Deputy Head Boy), Harriet Hanning (Deputy Head Girl), Adam Sew Hoy (Head Boy), Holly Malcolm (Head Girl)

With such a sound student body at St Kevin's, there was a depth of candidates and we express our sincerest gratitude to all those who put their name for consideration.  

Luck Of The Irish

Catching up on the morning headlines!! Mr Farrell was a very happy Irishman at school today after their historic win over the AB's yesterday.

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to last Wednesday's Graduation Mass and Prizgiving ceremonies.  The warmth of reception and friendly family feel of the occasion makes it a pleasure to host.  Congratulations to the prize winners.  Thank you to our many sponsors and thank you to to Ms Walshe, Cathy Keep and their team for ensuring that the evening ran so smoothly.  The evening culminated with the announcement of the premier academic awards.  It was an honour to present Mitchel Lowen and Emma Middlemass with the Dux and Proxime Accessit awards.

The evening also represents the changing of the guard for student leaders.  My heart felt thanks go to this year's senior leaders for the genuine hard work and committment that they have shown in all aspects of their positions.  Welcome to the new team of leaders.  We wish you every blessing in your new roles.

Last Friday evening I joined whanau and friends of Seth Humphries and GypsyMae Harihona-Harrison, to support them as they recieved their Mana Pounamu awards in Dunedin.  The evening was a showcase of young talent and leaderhip for local Maori.

As the year comes to a close for seniors, we ask that you keep them in your prayers as they battle examination nerves.  We also ask that you keep Mrs Burton and her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of Margaret's mother who passed away on Wednesday.

May God bless you
Paul Olsen, Principal