Principal's Comment

Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin's College,

This week has been rather condensed with Otago Anniversary Day on Monday and Otago wide professional development for secondary teachers occurring on the Tuesday. The focus of the Teacher Only Day was to gain a shared understanding of the newly aligned NCEA Level 2 standards, directly from the national experts. The professional discussion and new resources that have been shared on the day were appreciated and will insure that St Kevin's College keeps abreast with curriculum and assessment developments.

This weekends Bishop's Shield Competition which is being hosted at St Kevin's this year, was showcased at our Wednesday Assembly. Both Junior and Senior Drama's took centre stage, with performers having the chance to become comfortable acting before an audience of peers. We wish the students and staff every success and cordially invite our community to join us over the weekend. On Saturday evening, the Bishop will celebrate Mass in the College Chapel at 7pm. I look forward to meeting parents and whanau during the course of the weekend.

The All Blacks Road Show and the Maadi Cup rounded out a week of academic, sporting and cultural endeavour. Our best wishes go to our rowers in the finals on Friday and Saturday as they compete in the Maadi Cup Regatta at Lake Ruataniwha, the Bishop's Shield team and the Athletics team who are competing at the South Islands this weekend in Nelson. We also have kayakers at the Nationals next week and Geography and Physical Education Field Trips as the term concludes. We pray that everyone involved achieves to their potential and they have safe travel.

Please continue to keep Mr Ryan in your prayers.

May God Bless You All

Paul Olsen, Principal

Maadi Cup Progress

( Hot off the satelite - Boys U18 4+ lightweight placed first in their B Final giving them a top 10 medal finish and the 5th fastest time overall)

During the past week the St Kevin's College Rowing Team have been competing at the Maadi Cup Regatta held at Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel. The week has produced a mixed bag of results but several of our crews will be competing in finals today. We wish them all the very best for their races today and congratulate them on their representation of the College.

(Johannah and Caitlin Kearney with coach Owen Gould proudly wearing the silver medals they won in the Girls U18 doubles)

(The Girls U16 8+ show a promising future to place 4th in the B Final at 2.30pm this afternoon)

Rugby Road Show Visit

The Webb Ellis Trophy came to town along with the team from the Rugby Road Show and students and staff were excited to have a special visit to the College during Period 1 yesterday. Some light heartened competition gave Tina-Marie Oakes and Matt Brien the rare opportunity to put on the white gloves and hold the trophy for a treasured photo, and Tim O'Malley "haka-ed" his way to some new boots for the upcoming season. Our Argentinian Yr13 trio of Facundo Briones, Gaston Bazan Montalbetti, Nicolas Plaza Crespo also got a close up look at the Webb Ellis Trophy ...

Bishop's Shield Team Preview

The Bishop's Shield Junior and Senior Drama Teams gave the College a sneak preview of their performances for this weekends competitions. With all elements of the event coming together Mrs Austin and her team would like to thank the families who will be hosting a billet from one of the visiting schools and also Mrs Linda McClelland and the Home & School for catering the weekend.

Good luck to everyone who is competing and we look forward to sharing the results next week. The St Kevin's College Bishop's Shield Team are:

Junior Drama: Sydney Telfer, Meghan McCorkindale, Brittany Caldwell, William Gourlay, Jack Sinclair

Senior Drama: Lori Kingan, Shannon MacMillan, Oliver Stewart, Jamal Vira, Henry Ahomana

Junior Debating: Jino Kunnethedam, Karan Ratgali, Scott Ruddle

Senior Debating: Jibi Kunnethedam, Sam de Buyzer, Albert Hailes

Junior Scripture: Tiana Mihaere

Senior Scripture: Molly Farrell

Prepared Speech: Tarantaise McLeod

Impromptu Speech: Sean Hand

Bishop's Shield Weekend Programme - click here

Tug of War Video Footage

The Tug of War continues today but as was evident at last weeks round, the full strength of the student body was committed to their House honour, with each year level given a "best of three" chance.

Principal's Comment

Dear Parents and Friends of St Kevin's College,

This week our Year 11 students have been away on their annual Retreat at the Waihao Marae near Morven. College Retreats have a different focus depending on the year level and in the case of our Year 11 class it was an opportunity to look at building relationships with their peers and others in a Maori setting. Outdoor challenges are very much a part of the retreat and our thanks to Miss Casey our Year 11 Dean and her team for the time and energy they direct into the programme.

There has also been a mix of sporting and academic events on during this past week, including the postponed Kavanagh Exchange and the Annual Aoraki Junior Maths Competition. We have also had a group of athletes represent the College at the Otago/Southland Secondary Schools Competition and the Special Character that all of our students exhibit while they are away on behalf of the College is to be commended.

Our best wishes go with our rowers as they compete in the Maadi Cup Regatta at Lake Ruataniwha this week.

Please continue to keep Mr Ryan in your prayers.

May God Bless You All

Paul Olsen, Principal

Staff v Students Tug of War

The mighty strength of the teaching staff at the College was too much for Senior Students at the eagerly anticipated Tug of War Competition between staff and students held yesterday in front of the Auditorium. Inter-House competitions are being held on the sports field today ... watch this space for results!

Bishop's Shield Billets

Once again St Kevin's College is proud to be hosting the Annual Bishop's Shield Competitions and are looking forward to welcoming students from Verdon College, Kavanagh College and St Peters.
As always this is a large undertaking by the College and any families who are able to help with hosting visiting students for the weekend are asked to please fill in the form linked below.
Billet Offer Form

Portobello Marine Experience

Our Year 13 Biology students are away putting theory into practice at the Portobello Marine Laboratory, incorporating an overnight stay at Quarantine Island in the Otago Harbour. Students look forward to this trip every year and our thanks to Miss McLennan, Mr Ryan and Mr Olsen for offering their scientific expertise in facilitating this trip.

Sports Strapping Course

This course is aimed at all our coaches / managers /parent helpers and will be a great help and kick start to the Winter Sports Season.

Wednesday 28th March

6-8pm

In the School Staffroom

$5 charge payable on the night.

The course will be taken by Mike Stewart from Oamaru Physio

Please register with Denise in the Gym dmore@stkevins.school.nz

437 1665 ext 737

Otago Southland Athletic Championships

The team of athletes headed to Invercargil last weekend to compete in the Otago Southland Secondary Schools Athletic Championships, with twelve qualifying for the next round of competition in Nelson. All of our athletes competed well and good luck to the following students as they head to the South Island Champs!

U14 Girls

Fran Yanzick - 3rd 1500m / 2nd 800m

U16 Girls

Merekite Wahitapu - 2nd Long Jump

Tessa Newton - 3rd Long Jump

Senior Girls

Salena Xie - 4th Shot Put

Sam Robins - 3rd 800m

U15 Boys

Cole Ryan - 4th 800m / 4th Discus

U16 Boys

James Armstrong - 2nd Javelin

Isak Gunnarsson - 4th 100m / 3rd 200m

Senior Boy

Michael Hannigan - 3rd High Jump

Ashley Miller - 5th Discus

Rodney Bungard - 3rd 100m / 4th 400m

Jack Allan - 5th 400m / 3rd 200m

Rugby Shirts for 2012

This season all rugby shirts need to be numbered.

Players will need to purchase their shirts from the College Uniform Shop by Thursday 29th March.

The cost for a 2012 Rugby Shirt is $120.00