Girls Novice Four Win Gold at the Maadi Cup!

Well done to the Girls Under 18 Novice Four for winning a National Title at the Maadi Cup today.
The crew of April Linares-Fontona, Ruby Bradley, Jaimee Trainor, Annie Metcalfe and cox Ruby Macaulay were convincing winners and led from start to finish. Well done girls. We are all very proud of you. A big thank you to coach Owen Gould and all of the parents and whanau for supporting the girls.

Click the link below to watch the race at approximately 6h 15m 30s and the medal ceremony at 6h 45m.

Maadi Cup livestream

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Visiting our Mandarin classes on Thursday were Associate Professor Janet Yu, Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute at Canterbury University and Rosa-Jane Whitcombe, Bilingual Administrator. It has been exciting to see the Mandarin language classes become embedded in our College curriculum with the support of Amy and Cindy, our Mandarin language assistants.

Thank you to Mrs Nola Tipu and her team from Rūnanga o Moeraki, who hosted our Year 11 students for their Marae visit yesterday. We will share some more photos from the visit next week.

Finally, all the best to our Maadi finalists:

• U17 Girls Single. Event 22 - today at 3.30pm, Hannah Cunningham. 
• U18 Girls Novice Four.  Event 45 - Saturday at 2.30pm. Annie Metcalfe, Jaimee Trainor, Ruby Bradley, April Linares and cox Ruby Macauley. 

May you have a calm lake and safe travels.

Manaaki te atua ia koutou

Ngā mihi nui

Paul Olsen, Tumuaki

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Retreat Week

Last week was Retreat Week here at St Kevin's College! Each year group attended a one day programme, led by the Christchurch Diocese Youth Mission Team, based out of our Chapel. The team leaders took students through a series of different activities, aimed at discovering Christ in their world.

We really enjoyed the Catholic Youth Ministries' approach to sharing contemporary Gospel focused messages, like how we can 'be the change' we want to see in the world. Thank you to everyone from the team for running these awesome sessions!

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Christchurch Memorial Wall

The giant card and paper chain filled with all our thoughts and prayers for the Muslim community and people of Christchurch, has been laid among the thousands of flowers and offerings at the memorial wall in Christchurch. 

We collectively raised $363.60c through the gold coin donation, which has been donated to the Give a Little page, for victim support.

Thank you to everyone for your efforts. We continue to hold all those affected in our prayers.

Hostel Happenings

Helping the Parish

A big thank you to a group of Hostel students, that helped the local parish with some landscaping work last Sunday, at the Basilica. This was the second time this year that students have gone down to the Basilica, to give the parishioners a hand. Great work!

Highlander's Match
The Highlander's match was canceled last Saturday, due to the horrific events in Christchurch. The Hostel will be looking to reorganise a Hostel trip to one of the upcoming matches.

Otago Anniversary Weekend
A reminder that the Hostel will be closed from 4pm today to 2pm on Monday, due to the Otago Anniversary weekend.

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

As the College stood in silence at 1.32pm today as a mark of respect for those lost in the Christchurch mosque shootings, we collectively found it difficult to come to grips the events that have occurred. It has been a difficult week. We have all, however, drawn strength from the outpouring of love and displays of solidarity from all corners of our nation. The sense that good will triumph over darkness has been overwhelming. As a Catholic community, we take our inspiration from the Gospel message of hope which is based on unconditional love for one another, regardless of race or creed. We pray for healing and for unity within our community. The paper prayer chain and the giant card created by the students, have been linked with the Waitaki Girls' chain and will be added to the memorial wall in Christchurch this evening. Thank you to the Christchurch based retreat team who have left their own families and friends at this difficult time, to support us this week. We will post some photographs of the retreats next week.

This morning the College farewelled a long-serving and respected support staff member, Mrs Rose Watt. In a career spanning 22 years at the College, Rose has been a teacher aid with learning support and, more recently, our Laboratory Technician and Technology and Arts Technician.

The students gave Rose a resounding haka as a mark of respect and appreciation. We wish Rose and her husband Peter every blessing as they look forward to having more time to connect with family.

Thank you to our senior student leaders who supported the students of Kavanagh College yesterday, as they mourned the loss of their much-loved Principal, Mr Tracy O'Brien. A memorial mass was held at Kavanagh College to acknowledge and celebrate his life.

             

Finally, our best wishes go with our Maadi team who are travelling to Lake Karapiro, in preparation for next week's competition. Safe travels.

Manaaki te atua ia koutou

Ngā mihi nui

Paul Olsen, Tumuaki

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Sports Update

Its been a very busy time in the world of sports this week! The Waitaki Sports Award was held on Monday evening at the local Rec Centre, where Tarona Taafaki and Camden Burge won 'Emerging Talent' awards for their numerous, exceptional achievements.

Congratulations for the outstanding achievements at the Kavanagh College Interschool Match, SISS Rowing Regatta, SISS Athletics Qualifiers, Jennian Homes NZ Track & Field Championships, NZ Division II Swimming Championships, Geraldine Multi Challenge and Papakio Mountain Bike Race.

Please see our SKC Sports Facebook page for more specific details...far too many to mention here!!

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Konnichiwa!

Yesterday, students from the Buzan school, who have been visiting our school this week, were presented with certificates in assembly, celebrating their successes during their time here at St Kevin's.

The students then performed some Japanese songs and dances for us. Thank you girls, it was wonderful to see!

Thank you to Isla Harrington and Riya Tennis, student photographers, for capturing this event.

One thing the students have been getting up to this week is putiputi (flower) making, out of harakeke (flax). Māori traditions were followed and a kakakia (prayer) was said before the harakeke was cut, to thank Papatuanuku (earth mother), Ranginui (sky father) and our tupuna (ancestors). The girls then gave their finished putiputi to a friend, as the first one always has to be given away.

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Ways to Wellbeing

Last week some of our Year 13 students were busy organising a wellbeing hui, to see how we can improve wellbeing in our school. We are looking for opportunities to engage with positive mental health strategies, to work as a family by having older students mentor younger students, and show that it is cool to be kind!

A poll was held to gather all students' ideas and give everyone a chance to be heard. Ideas were then voted on and narrowed down later in the week.

This is a completely student led initiative and a special thank you goes to Cara Anderson, Deputy Head Girl, for all your hard work in this!

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Rest in Peace Mr O'Brien

Some more sad news this morning as we discovered that Mr Tracy O'Brien, Principal of Kavanagh College, passed away last night. As a sign of respect and aroha for one of our fellow Catholic schools, Seth Humphries, our Head Boy, organised to do a whole school haka for Mr O'Brien.

Thank you to our students Jaimee Trainor, Ellen Swanson and Rebecca Dodd, for this great idea. It's wonderful to see how caring and thoughtful you are.

Please keep Mr O'Brien's wife and children in your thoughts and prayers, as we will too.

Our Love and Support

Today we delivered the flowers, gathered from the gardens of our students, to the Islamic Centre in Oamaru, to show our love and support for all those affected by the horrific tragedy that happened in Christchurch.

We continue to keep everyone in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. 

St Kevin's in Solidarity

It is an extremely sad time for everyone, as we think of the tragedy that happened in Christchurch last Friday. A prayer service was held in our chapel today, to commemorate the people who lost their lives and those who were injured. We hold in our hearts all those who were affected, specifically the families and communities who were directly affected.

As a family and community, it is vital that we all pull together, to love and support each other in this difficult time. We will be collecting flowers, making a giant card for everyone to sign and a paper chain filled with our thoughts and prayers, to take to the Oamaru Islamic Centre. We will also be having a gold coin collection, that will be donated to the 'Give-A-Little' page, to support the families of all the victims involved.

We offer the support of our guidance and pastoral staff, to anyone who may need help during this time.

Hostel Happenings

Bushwalk

A number of students made the most of the fine weather last Saturday and went for a walk through the bush, up at the reservoir. This is a great spot and the fact that it is only a short distance from the hostel, is a real bonus. A big thank you to Stephen for taking the students.

Highlanders v Crusaders Match
A large group of hostel students will be showing their true colours this weekend, as we head down to Dunedin for the Highlanders v Crusaders match. These matches have been great over the last few years and we are looking forward to another great battle tomorrow night.

Otago Anniversary Weekend
A reminder that next weekend is Otago Anniversary weekend and the Hostel will be shut from Friday (22 March) afternoon at approximately 4pm until (Monday 25 March) afternoon at 2pm. There is no school on Monday.

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

Congratulations to the students representing our College at the Aoraki Secondary Schools Athletics competition held on Wednesday. Max Yansick's 1st place in the 3000m was outstanding. His new record of 8. 55. 55 will take some beating. Thank you to Mrs Clapperton and Mrs Plunkett for their organisation.

This afternoon, the College took time during period 6 to discuss ways that we can improve wellbeing at St Kevin's. This has been an initiative lead by the student leaders and Year 13. During the week a list of areas to work on were put forward for consideration and then refined, ready for discussion today.

Thank you to both staff and students for the commitment you have shown to building a schoolwide culture that supports wellness. We cannot tackle every challenge, but we are making a genuine attempt to improve systems and structure for the better.

Finally, all the best to those keen trampers heading off into the hills for their Duke of Edinburgh adventurous journey. Hopefully the weather will hold and you will have an enjoyable trip, without too many blisters.

Manaaki te atua ia koutou

Ngā mihi nui

Paul Olsen, Tumuaki

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Sports Update

It was a lovely sunny day for the Aoraki Athletics competition yesterday! Congratulations to all those who placed in their events. Our smashing sports coordinator, Mrs Clapperton, has written a list of all the winners on our SKC Sports Facebook page! All the photos can be found there too, here are some of the highlights...

Max Yanzick placed 1st in 3000m, with a record breaking time of 8. 55. 55!

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Ashes to Ashes

During last week's Mass we commemorated the Christian holy day, Ash Wednesday. Father Wayne, our school chaplain, blessed the ashes of the burnt palm from last Easter.

The ashes were shared as crosses upon the foreheads of our students and staff, as a sign of God's forgiveness for our sins, dating back to the 5th century.

Thank you to Anna Taylor, student photographer, for capturing this special occasion. 

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Stop...Hongi Time!

Today we welcomed students from Buzan Girls' High School in Japan, with our school haka and a traditional Māori waiata. We look forward to having these students in our school for the week, learning all about their culture and showing them ours!

Thank you to Georgina Huston, student photographer, for capturing this powerful powhiri. 

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Wanaka A+P Show

A special thank you to Megan Shea, head girl of the hostel, and her dad, Gerard Shea, for helping out at the Wanaka A+P Show last weekend. Also thank you to Fiona Shea, Megan's mum, for sending in this photo. It's wonderful to have such active participation from students' parents and caregivers.

Pictured above from left to right: Mr Baxter, Mr Fowler, Megan and Gerard.

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>

Happy Campers

Here are some of our Year 11 students away on their P.E camp last week in the Ahuriri region.

After hiking all day and visiting beautiful waterfalls, they camped out for 2 nights and cooked their own food...campfire style! 

Check out the video one of our students, Ben Dyson, made by following this link... https://gopro.com/v/nrJyw2PLBgNGE

Keep up to date with College news by visiting our News Blog >>