Staff Profile- Ms Jo Walshe

Introducing Ms Jo Walshe!

Jo is our Assistant Principal and also teaches Art and Drama.

1. How long have you been at SKC?

I was here for 7 years way back when, and in this, my second time around I have been here 7 years again this time.

2. Where were you and what were you doing before coming to SKC?

I was working at Waitaki Boys High School teaching English and before that I was at Waimate High School as Head of English there.

3. If you could invite any 3 people to a dinner party who would you invite and why?

Mikhail Gorbachev - former Russian President because he was in charge of Russia during the transition from the USSR and what it is today and he would be fascinating. Craig Mawson will be pleased to know I used to have a picture of him on my wardrobe door when I was a teenager .

Robert Smith from The Cure - because I love their music and I love his poetic lyrics, and I will be a Cure fan until I die.

Jacinda Ardern - because she probably needs a break right now and my husband cooks a mean curry.

4. What do you do outside of teaching?

I am so boring. I love working in my garden, looking after my chooks and my aviary birds. I also spend a lot of time running around after my family and I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading. I read about three novels a week.

5. If you could have one super power what would it be?

I think flying would be really cool but then I think, I'm so lazy about running when I have two good legs, so I suspect I may just sit on the couch watching Grand Designs and my wings would be a waste of time. Also, being a chicken owner, I'd worry about getting red mite in my feathers.

At this point healing would come in pretty handy!

Logan Docherty wins Club Rower of the Year at Otago Rowing Awards

Congratulations to past pupil Logan Docherty who was recently named as the Club Rower of the Year at the Otago Rowing Awards!

Very well deserved for a fantastic season that involved victories over Australia and Canada for New Zealand and then going on to claim two Premier Lightweight titles and a silver medal at the National Champs.

Well done Logan!

Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice- 5th May

Today is the Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice.

Can you imagine what it would be like if it were a crime for children to go school? That was the law in Ireland when Edmund Rice, who was born in 1762, grew up. Edmund’s parents wanted their seven sons to have a good education and were taught in secret!

When he was 18, Edmund began working with his uncle, a wealthy businessman in Waterford. When his uncle died, he took over as head of the company.

Married to Mary Elliot, in 1789 he experienced her tragic death soon after she gave birth to their daughter. Deeply saddened by her loss, Edmund entered a time of mourning and he began to contemplate the next direction he should take in life.

He thought about leaving everything behind and joining a monastery. However, one day, as he was talking about his vocation and his future with a friend, a ragged group of poor boys walked by on the street. Inspired by the sight, his friend exclaimed: "What! Would you bury yourself in a cell on the continent rather than devote your wealth and your life to the spiritual and material interest of these poor youths?"

He sold his business in 1802 and opened a school for poor boys in a converted stable. He took on the mission of improving the lives of poor children through education. He founded his first school in Waterford, Ireland in 1802 and immersed himself fully in this mission.

National Sporting Calendar further suspended until 20th July

The board of School Sport NZ, in partnership with National Sporting Organisations (NSO’s) and event providers, has announced that due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, the National Calendar of Sanctioned Events will be further suspended until 20th July, the beginning of Term 3.

The link below gives a detailed version of the updates. Keep safe in your bubbles, keep active and do what you can to maintain skills and hopefully, we will see some sport soon!

http://www.nzsssc.co.nz/newsarticle/89720?newsfeedId=51035

Reporting an absence for an Online Student

A reminder for the process while we are learning online:

Option 1: Use the on-line form: https://www.stkevins.school.nz/connect/student-absence

Option 2: Text 021437176 with the student's name and reason.

Option 3: Ring the College mobile number 021437176 and leave a message with the student's name and reason.

Option 4: Email absences@stkevins.school.nz with the student's name and reason.

Redcastle News- New Edition

Check out the latest edition of the Redcastle News!

A Big Thank You to the Senior Journalists for this new edition which covers articles from life both pre and in lock down.

Click here to read:

http://williamfrogley.wixsite.com/redcastlenews

Principal's Comment

Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College,

As we all emerged blinking out of Level 4 lockdown on Monday, we have come to realize what our new normal has looked like over the past few weeks.  Our whole community has pulled together in an extraordinary way to ensure that our students continue to be catered for and that learning can continue.  Some highlights from the experience have been building and sustaining an effective online environment, seeing the students come up with lots of creative projects at home and seeing the way families have got involved in the learning.
Level 3 is a strange time for us, because even though students can legally come to school, the classes will continue to all be delivered in the online format and staff and students can only operate in designated bubbles.  
Our next challenge is looking at what systems and measures are going to be required as we move into Alert Level 2.  Like the rest of the country, we acknowledge that this is a tricky time of transition and watch the incoming guidance with interest. 
I thought I would share this picture of what has been Mr Carter's office for the past few weeks.  Like students, many of the teachers have battled the local wi fi.  Mr Carter's solution was a mobile office on the top of a hill!

Mr Carter's creative wi fi troubleshoot.

Finally, I would like to thank those staff and students involved in the creation of our virtual liturgy for ANZAC day, and encourage those of you who have not seen it yet, to pop online and check it out. 

May God bless you.

Ngā mihi Nui

Paul Olsen       

Student Profile- Emily McCoy

Introducing Deputy Head Girl Emily McCoy!

1. What are your interests?

My interests include playing hockey, coaching and reading.

2. What are your plans for next year?

I'm thinking of going to university and looking at studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English or maybe a pathway in Graphic Design. But still keeping my options open as I am not too sure yet.

3. What have you been doing to keep busy in your isolation bubble?

In my bubble I have been spending my time with my family, doing some jobs around home and doing exercise to keep active.

4. Any words of wisdom?

Take one day at a time this is new for everyone so be kind, keep healthy. But most of all look after yourself and make time to do something you enjoy.

5. What is something you have achieved that you are most proud of?

The achievement I'm most proud of is getting into the Southern Hockey Under 18 team and being able to go the National under 18 tournament in Wellington.

Sights set high – on the FBI- Kayla Guyton

Past pupil Kayla Guyton is a step closer to her dream career as an FBI agent, securing academic and rugby scholarships at Washington State University.

The four-year scholarships cover most of the cost of her degree in criminology and psychology.

All the best Kayla!

Read the full story here:

https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/sport/sights-set-high-on-the-fbi/

Staff Profile- Justin Fowler

Introducing Mr Justin Fowler! Justin is the Director of Boarding, teaches Junior PE, is the 1st XV Rugby Coach and the 2nd XI Cricket Player/Coach.

1. How long have you been at SKC?

I am into my 10th year now

2. Where were you and what were you doing before coming to SKC?

Before coming to St Kevin's I was living in Christchurch and teaching

3. If you could invite any 3 people to a dinner party who would you invite and why?

Donald Trump - I would like to take the opportunity to give him some advice.

Marcus Tullius Cicero - He was a Roman orator, lawyer and politician who lived in the 1st century BC. Cicero stood up for what he believed and was able to argue his point effectively and often at great personal danger. Things went pretty well for him until he was murdered and had his body cut up on the orders of Mark Anthony. I admire his courage and determination. It would be good to have a chat with him.

Don Bradman - Regarded as the greatest batter in Test Cricket history. I would like to get some batting tips from him. I am keen to push for selection in the 1st XI. Currently, I need all the help I can get to impress the selector (Mr Smith).

4. What do you do outside of teaching?

I am pretty busy with Sport. I help organise junior cricket in North Otago. I play cricket and coach a rugby team here at school. I am also keen to help and support my own kids as much as I can. I have four children that play cricket and basketball, three of them also play rugby and one plays netball, my daughter is also getting more involved with horses at the moment. That keeps me pretty busy all year round. Not much time for too much else.

5. What's your greatest sporting achievement?

I played for a few junior rep rugby teams when I was growing up in Canterbury but my greatest sporting achievements would be in coaching. I was an assistant coach/manager of the CBHS 1st XV that won the national title in 2006 and SANIX world title that same year and another moment I am proud of was taking the St Kevin's 1st XV to the National co-ed schools Top 4 championship in 2014. That was a great result for a school our size and to lose the semifinal to a last-minute drop goal was hard to take.

I also take a great deal of satisfaction in seeing former students/players that I coach continue to play sport after they leave school. I like to think I have played a small part in them enjoying the sport enough that they want to continue playing at whatever level when they leave.

6. If you could have one super power what would it be?

The ability to hit a cricket ball to or over the boundary. For some reason, I have not been given that superpower, unlike a lot of other people around. Maybe it is still coming. I wait and hope.

NCEA Update for Parents/Caregivers

While the school environment has changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to assure parents and caregivers that students learning and achievement will not be compromised during this time.

Please see below some common concerns and reassurances from the College and NZQA.

1. What can parents/caregivers do if you are worried about your young person’s
learning?

• Remember you are not expected to be your young person’s teacher.

• Support and encourage your young person to keep engaged with their learning, and their classmates.

• Let us know if you have any concerns or questions about NCEA assessment and how your young person is getting on.

2. Evidence from changes made to assessment following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes showed that:

• More flexible assessment opportunities do not affect the expected performance or the credibility of the results.

• Schools already make decisions about NCEA assessment to meet the needs of their students. The flexibility of NCEA will also allow us to meet students’ needs now.

3. Students can still get their NCEA – Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Vocational Pathways, University Entrance, Merit and Excellence grades, and endorsements

• We are making sure that any changes we make to learning and assessment programmes will still enable students to get credits, achieve their qualifications and awards.

4. Your young person can still do assessments, although there may be changes to what they will ‘hand in’ and how:

• Assessment could include:

- Work done on the computer, work done on paper. Your young person can complete activities on paper or in workbooks and keep these to hand in later or keep in a file or portfolio.

- Practical or physical work. This could include technology, art, design, science, and performance work that students record or hand in later.

• NCEA internal assessment does not have to be done under test conditions so teachers have ways to assess these remotely, where this is possible.

• Assessments requiring supervision can be deferred until the alert level permits.

5. Teachers know a student’s work is their own and can check that work is authentic by:

• Having checkpoints or milestones for big assignments

• Checking plans, drafts, notes and working

• Using digital tool features such as revision history, plagiarism checkers, and ‘googling’ content

• Talking to the student to check the depth of their understanding.

Please remember you are always able to contact the College or your child's Whanau teacher if you have any concerns.

No School Monday 27th April and Tuesday 28th April

Today is ANZAC Day but we will recognise the holiday on Monday. There is also a teacher only day on Tuesday, so this means you have a four day weekend. Your teachers will also be taking a break but will be back online with you on Wednesday the 29th of April.

"God of love and liberty, we thank you for the peace and security we enjoy. It was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war.
We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain,
but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come."

📷: Isaac Steel showing his respect by lighting his house up in red last night.