Dear Kevinians and the St Kevin's Community
There is one thing about teaching in a school such as St Kevin's College and that is time seems to 'whiz by' and before you know it we are into winter sports. The end of Term 1 is swiftly approaching and the school is gearing up for the SCT [Senior Catholic Tournament] to be held at St Peter's College, Gore. Netball, rugby, hockey, basketball, football will be in competition with Kavanagh College, Verdon College, Roncalli College and of course, St Peter's College. I would like to thank the work done by coaches, administrators, parents and Mr Ryburn and Miss Casey in preparing our teams to travel. We look forward to hopefully seeing the trophy return to us this year.
The week started with a visit from Peter Leuenberger, Deputy Executive Director EREA. He was visiting our school to further connect us with the Australian Edmund Rice Network. I feel he was suitably impressed with what we are doing here in Oamaru and discussed many of the opportunities that we will progressively avail ourselves of through EREA. [Edmund Rice Education Australia]
Otago University visited to discuss courses with our senior students, making me think even more about time moving fast. It seems as if our Year 13 students were just recently in Year 9 and now they are planning their university courses.
Reconciliation was held in the Chapel on Wednesday and Mr Olsen delivered a fine liturgy on what reconciliation is all about. Thank you to Father Wayne for performing the ceremony. Thursday saw careers in the school again with a visit by the "Defense Bus" and students had the opportunity to find out what is offered by our Armed Forces in the area of careers.
Sister Madeleine joined us to adjudicate the Senior Scripture Reading competition this week and I congratulate all those who gained a place. She was very impressed by level of public speaking at the College, as was on display at the Race Unity Speech Awards where Isobel Ryan took first place. Congratulations.
Finally, we finished the week with the whole school working on the new haka. Seeing the girls involved makes it truely special. Facing 400 keen SKC students will be a great sight. The haka is really coming along and the students travelling to SCT will be performing it for the first time in front of our fellow southern Catholic schools.
Finally, good luck this weekend to our Equestrian team and students at South Island Athletics.
Before we know it term 2 will begin.
May god bless you
Kerry Ryan
Firewood for sale!
Congratulations to the St Kevin's Equestrian Team who competed at the Taieri District Pony Club competition on Saturday. With a 4.30am start the girls and their families drove through the early hours and rain to compete in Show Jumping, Dressage and Games. While the weather for the event was poor, the spirits were high with the team winning the "Turnout Trophy" for professionalism and grooming and Georgia Sillibourne came 4th in her class. Our thanks to the North Otago Pony Club for their kind lend of the hat covers and brow bands.
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Congratulations to Head Girl Isobel Ryan on her success at the Race Unity Speech Awards which were held on Friday evening in Timaru. As the first place winner for the Aoraki region Isobel will head to Auckland to compete at the national competition on the 12/13 April. Her speech was centred around the Treaty of Waitangi and how we as a nation of people can come closer together. Mark Whittet and Jino Kunnethedam also competed and whilst they didn't place, they spoke very well and the College is very proud of their efforts.
