Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinian's and Friend of the College

Congratulations to the students who were awarded Academic Blues and Merit Badges at our Excellence Assembly on Wednesday. It was a pleasure to be able to welcome a record number of students and their whanau to the Redcastle for the traditional afternoon tea. Thank you to Mrs Burton for the event organisation and our Home and School Committee for providing the hospitality. The awarding of 99 certificates for endorsement lifts the academic bar, but also challenges us as a College to continue lifting student expectations of achievement on the path from good to great.

Following on from our academic success we have initiated a radio advertising campaign looking to attract boarding students to the College. This initiative begins with a branding campaign in Central Otago, South Canterbury and Westland. Our best form of marketing is word of mouth, relaying our success stories and I encourage our community to promote the boarding hostel to friends and family.

This week our VPath students have commenced their vocational programmes at Aoraki Polytechnic. Mrs Jackson has been working with students to develop personalised courses that meet their career needs. Currently we have 21 people on Gateway courses which allow them all the benefits of the traditional school environment coupled with the flexibility to follow their career passion. Thank you to the guidance team for their hard work arranging  these courses and to our wider community for helping with student placements and quality mentorship.

Professional learning and development for Head of Faculties began this week. This capacity building is made possible by partnership between the College, Otago University and Ngai Tahu and is being funded by the Ministry of Education. We are also about to enter another partnership to build capability in the area of Talented and Gifted students. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of staff and university academics to keep us on the cutting edge of educational practice.

Finally, apologies to any caregivers who have been inconvenienced by the tree felling at the College exit. This is being carried out by Network Waitaki in conjunction with the College Foundation to protect the high voltage line into the North Oamaru substation which passes through the property and our own 11,000 Volt supply line. Logging should be finished next week.

May God bless you all
Paul Olsen, Principal

Leading The Academic Charge

St Kevin’s College continues to lead the academic charge in the region with another year of outstanding NCEA results.  The Dominican (Excellence) Awards assembly were held on Wednesday in the College Auditorium to recognise the academic achievement of 99 students who surpassed the benchmark required to gain a Merit or Excellence Endorsement in NCEA.  College Academic Blues will be awarded to those students who achieved an Excellence Endorsement.

• Of students sitting NCEA level 1, 86% passed with a total of 25 receiving a Merit Endorsement and 18 an Excellence Endorsement.  
• Of students sitting NCEA level 2, 76% passed and of those students who were completing a full level 2 course 82% gained level 2.  There were 22 Merit Endorsements achieved and 6 Excellence Endorsements.
• Of students sitting NCEA level 3, 76% passed and of those students who were completing a full level 3 course 85% gained level 3.  There were 21 Merit Endorsements achieved and 7 Excellence Endorsements.

Home & School AGM

HOME & SCHOOL AGM

Monday 3rd March, 7pm

In the College Staffroom

Supper will be provided and everyone is welcome to attend.

Athletic Champions 2014

Congratulations to our Athletic Champions for 2014.  They will be part of the team that travel to the Otago Athletic Championships in Dunedin on 8 March.

SENIOR BOYS: Cole Ryan

SENIOR GIRLS: Sydney Telfer

U16 BOYS: Thomas Pickles

U16 GIRLS: Francziska Yanzick

U15 BOYS: Angus Macaulay

U15 GIRLS: Rosie Pope

U14 BOYS: Ben McCarthy

U14 GIRLS: Jorja James

Principal's Comment

Kia ora Kevinians and Friends of the College

A resounding thank you to all the staff, Home and School Committee, students and parents supporters who have helped with the Athletics and Swimming sports which have been held over the last fortnight. The level of house spirit, community involvement and parent support reflect our commitment to living our Special Character values. Having sunny days and well prepared grounds and pool has added to the occasion and I would like to acknowledge the work of  Mr Watson and Mr Grant together with Fabian our Gapper.

Congratulations to the event winners and record breakers listed later in the blog. Your commitment to training and execution is a practical example that models excellence. Participation is also important and at a time when many schools are retrenching in these areas, it is pleasing to see these traditions continuing to inspire the younger students.

Next week we formally celebrate our outstanding NCEA achievements.  The Dominican (Excellence) Awards Assembly will be held on Wednesday 26 February in the College Auditorium to recognise the academic achievement of 99 students who surpassed the benchmark required to gain a Merit or Excellence Endorsement in NCEA. College Academic Blues will be awarded to those students who achieved an Excellence Endorsement.
Of students sitting:

•  NCEA level 1, 86% passed with a total of 25 receiving a Merit Endorsement and 18 an Excellence Endorsement. 
•  NCEA level 2, 76% passed and of those students who were completing a full level 2 course 82% gained level 2. There were 22 Merit Endorsements achieved and 6 Excellence Endorsements.
• NCEA level 3, 76% passed and of those students who were completing a full level 3 course 85% gained level 3. There were 21 Merit Endorsements achieved and 7 Excellence Endorsements.

This excellent series of results is a credit to the hard work of both staff and students and a reflection of the values based education at the College. I am incredibly proud of the gains that we continue to make as a school community and with over double the number of Excellence Endorsements at Level 1 on previous years these results confirm St Kevin’s College as the leading educator in North Otago. 

Finally, I would like to reiterate the College's position on community organised parties. The College does not organise or condone these gatherings. They are private functions outside the jurisdiction of the College. As a school with Family and Integrity as our values, I urge parents to check out the details personally and make an informed decision appropriate to their circumstances.

May God bless you all

Paul Olsen, Principal

Dominican (Excellence) Awards Assembly

Dominican (Excellence) Awards Assembly

Wednesday 26 February 

1.10pm in the College Auditorium

We invite our College Community to join us for a special assembly to recognise those students who have surpassed the benchmark in order to achieve Merit or Excellence Endorsements in NCEA.  

Athletic Sports Day

It's been a great day at the College for the 2014 Athletic Sports Day with an array of house colours to bolster the spirits of students competing for house points and places in the College Athletics team, which will travel to the Otago Athletics Competition in Dunedin next month.

Aoraki Tennis

Last week a team of 12 students traveled to the Aoraki Tennis Tournament and the mixed doubles team came away with a second placing for their efforts!  Thomas Pickles, Akena Frisby, Max Stewart and Kate Caldwell were presented with their certificates at assembly this week.  Congratulations.

Cavalcade 2014

Nicole Dowling and Georgina Wallis took to the saddle and joined other riders on the annual Cavalcade.  There was time enough for a quick photo on day two at Trotters Gorge.

Swimming Sports And Champions

The results are in for our Champion Swimmers for 2014!  There was a great house spirit at the Swimming Sports last Friday and the weather was exceptionally kind on the day.  The Championship Swimmers competed on Tuesday after school to give the last lot of points and confirm placings.  

Congratulations to our Champions for 2014:

SENIOR BOYS - Josh Macaulay

SENIOR GIRLS - Isobel Ryan

U16 BOYS - Regan Holland

U16 GIRLS - Francziska Yanzick

U15 BOYS - Angus Macaulay

U15 GIRLS - Georgia Dyson

U14 BOYS - Jaxson Piner

U14 GIRLS - Molly Kay

Flying The SKC Flag

It looks like a fine day at the Maniototo Show.  Fergus Smith, Scott Weir and Sara Gunnarsdottir accompanied Ms Walshe to Ranfurly to fly the St Kevin's flag, following on from a great visit to the Southern Field Days in Waimumu by Mr Dixon, Ms Taylor and Logan Chandler last week.  Keep an eye out for the SKC banner at the North Otago A&P Show this weekend!

Port Macquarie Pacific Coast Slam

Basketball at St Kevin's College is continuing to go from strength to strength.  Following in the footsteps of Yr13 student Helena Graham, two of our new Yr9 students also traveled to Port Macquarie as part of the U15 South Island Team which competed in the Pacific Coast Slam in January.  Georgia Oakes, Laura Preston and their team mates came 5th in their division, beating the North Island team.  Congratulations girls!