Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa
Good Morning everyone and thank you for attending this year's junior prize giving. 2018 has been a very rewarding year, but one that has been peppered with its share of challenges.
I think we all recognise the increasing pace that education is taking. Here at St Kevin’s, we are committed to providing the very best education possible, in a safe and nurturing environment. As we support our young people to grow and be able to deal with the turbulence of modern life, we recognise what a precious gift and moral compass our Gospel Values are. They are central to our Catholic Special Character, supporting us through the highs and inevitable lows that will eventually confront us.
The end of this year has been very difficult for our students, especially those in year ten and I wish to acknowledge the efforts that have been made by whanau in supporting students through what has been a confusing time. Year 10 can be a tough enough path without having to negotiate the range of emotions which come with a tragedy such as the one we have suffered this year.
Supporting our young people comes in a variety of forms. For some students, it's a listening ear, for some it's gaining opportunities to try new things. For others, it may just be being given enough quiet time for self-reflection.
In the 21st C we acknowledge that change is a constant which is ever increasing in pace and magnitude. Social shifts and technological advances mean that we are raising children in environments that are often alien to us, and our understanding of the world in which our students are engaging, bears little resemblance to the world they actually experience.
Supporting our young people comes in a variety of forms. For some students, it's a listening ear, for some it's gaining opportunities to try new things. For others, it may just be being given enough quiet time for self-reflection.
In the 21st C we acknowledge that change is a constant which is ever increasing in pace and magnitude. Social shifts and technological advances mean that we are raising children in environments that are often alien to us, and our understanding of the world in which our students are engaging, bears little resemblance to the world they actually experience.
At St Kevin’s we are keenly aware of this and we are making real efforts to ensure that those touch points are there for students. The development of the role of student advocate, the whanau group restructuring and the way in which we are handling the transition between counselling services are all pointed towards continuing to support students when they meet difficulties.
The introduction of our service award this year has been a huge success with an uptake of 150 students so far. We acknowledge this as a way we can encourage our students to give back to the community and improve their mental health as giving to others is a huge part of feeling better about ourselves.
I am pleased to announce that Mr Mathew Harris will be joining the teaching staff for 2019. Mat has been completing his Master’s of Teaching at Otago University this year and is about to commence his Masters of Counselling. We are thrilled to have him back on staff in a teaching role. Mat has been a wonderful support for the school over this last term and we have really appreciated his work with students and with the wider community.
As mentioned earlier, we want to place a very strong focus on Mental Health for 2019. This has come as a suggestion from prefects and is supported by data from around the country where this has been identified as a hugely important issue.
Student voice has placed this topic at the centre of our thinking for next year and is supported by staff. It's not saying that we have to get more diagnosis for our young people, it's about growing good habits of mind that can help them navigate study, family and their increasingly personal identities.
Ensuring that our students understand what are healthy practices and what are not, benefits everyone. For example, our natural reaction to someone having a bad day maybe to want to keep them home in bed, but the science tells us, that the opposite is true. A run around the block, getting the endorphins to kick in and engaging in tasks which help others are far more beneficial for mental health.
Helping our students manage and understand these ideas will increase resilience and give them strategies to help themselves into the future. As parents and caregivers, the role you play in encouraging engagement with others, involving students in activities and sport, modelling learning and being mindful of the good things in life is vital to the success or otherwise, we have here at school.
Over Christmas, enjoy the time you have with these great young people. Rest, regroup and we look forward to seeing you all next year, refreshed, relaxed and ready to do it all over again.
Nā reira
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
The introduction of our service award this year has been a huge success with an uptake of 150 students so far. We acknowledge this as a way we can encourage our students to give back to the community and improve their mental health as giving to others is a huge part of feeling better about ourselves.
I am pleased to announce that Mr Mathew Harris will be joining the teaching staff for 2019. Mat has been completing his Master’s of Teaching at Otago University this year and is about to commence his Masters of Counselling. We are thrilled to have him back on staff in a teaching role. Mat has been a wonderful support for the school over this last term and we have really appreciated his work with students and with the wider community.
As mentioned earlier, we want to place a very strong focus on Mental Health for 2019. This has come as a suggestion from prefects and is supported by data from around the country where this has been identified as a hugely important issue.
Student voice has placed this topic at the centre of our thinking for next year and is supported by staff. It's not saying that we have to get more diagnosis for our young people, it's about growing good habits of mind that can help them navigate study, family and their increasingly personal identities.
Ensuring that our students understand what are healthy practices and what are not, benefits everyone. For example, our natural reaction to someone having a bad day maybe to want to keep them home in bed, but the science tells us, that the opposite is true. A run around the block, getting the endorphins to kick in and engaging in tasks which help others are far more beneficial for mental health.
Helping our students manage and understand these ideas will increase resilience and give them strategies to help themselves into the future. As parents and caregivers, the role you play in encouraging engagement with others, involving students in activities and sport, modelling learning and being mindful of the good things in life is vital to the success or otherwise, we have here at school.
Over Christmas, enjoy the time you have with these great young people. Rest, regroup and we look forward to seeing you all next year, refreshed, relaxed and ready to do it all over again.
Nā reira
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
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