High Performance Programme

Did you know we have a High Peformance Sports Programme at St Kevin's College?

It aims to develop our top sports people and equip them with the physical, mental and emotional skills to improve their performance. Accountability, commitment, excellence and integrity are the key focus areas to develop this group of young people as not only athletes, but as people and students.

There is a Junior and Senior Programme and students are able to develop their physical fitness and sport specific skills during class time. As well as this, they cover important topics such as nutrition, injuries, recovery, tactical awareness, sports psychology, goal setting, interpersonal skills and leadership. Sport specific coaches are used to develop each students’ skills, and guest speakers also get to address the students when the opportunity arises.

Recently we were lucky to have Registered Dietitian Lou Fangupo come and talk to us about nutrition and how to fuel our bodies for training, games and recovery. Thank you Lou for sharing your expertise!

If you would like to learn more about the programme please contact our Head of Sport Craig Smith at csmith@stkevins.school.nz

Home and School Fundraiser- 'Dads in Drag'

The Home and School Fundraiser 'Dad's in Drag' being held in October are on the lookout for raffle donations!

If you have anything you are able to donate (particularly wine, chocolates or luxury items) please contact jwalshe@stkevins.school.nz

Acting Principal Blog

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The chapel was even more special today as Dominican Sisters Nola Gleeson and Mary Horn were with us for Mass celebrating the feast day of St Dominic. Sister Mary delivered the homily and outlined some of our recent histories, such as the arrival of the statue of St Dominic outside our chapel. She, of course, reflected on today's readings and got us all thinking.

The Obirin Japanese student trip is well underway, and students have been experiencing life in New Zealand along with intense English development at the SKC Language School. The team is doing a great job, ensuring the stay is enjoyable and valuable.

Around the school, there has been plenty of singing, debating and speech preparations. We are building up to the SKC Singing Festival here at school and Bishops Shield Competition at Verdon College later in the term.

Next week watch out for a Credit Summary Report for seniors as we get ready for those critical discussions during the Student-Led Conferences at the end of week 4.

Thank you for the whole communities support as the school settles into this relevant school term of endeavour, as so much preparation for next year is gained now.

I hope you have a pleasant and enjoyable weekend.

God bless 
Ngā mihi nui

Kerry Ryan

Does Music Affect your Concentration?

Does music affect your concentration? That's what our Year 12 Stats students were trying to work out today!

They tasked some of our Year 9 students with timing how long it took them individually to complete a word find puzzle both with and without music.

The internal is to find out how concentration affects the performance of a task.13/20 students improved in their results with loud music In the background! (and we mean loud- ACDC Thunderstruck to be exact!).

There were different groups from the Year 12 Stats class doing a similar experiment, instead with games on devices. Results here also showed that the majority of the students improved in the game with music playing.

Dunedin Symphony Orchestra Music Education Tour

At the end of last term we were lucky to have Jen Cattermole and Sandra Crawshaw from the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra music education tour come and visit us.

The tour involved a talk and workshop around one of the pieces the DSO is performing in August, called 'From the Southern Marches' by local composer Anthony Ritchie. Because the piece is about the history of Otago right from first contact between Maori and Pakeha, it uses Maori musical instruments (taonga puoro). 

They brought with them taonga puoro, for the students to listen to, learn about, and play. They also spoke to us about how the piece links to the history of the Otago region.

Hostel Happenings

New Chef
Last week we welcomed our new chef Bruce to the Dining Room team. Bruce is an experienced chef and baker and we have already experienced a number of fantastic meals that he has prepared. We look forward to many more.

Hostel Redevelopment
The builders have finished redeveloping one of the dormitories at the Boys' hostel and have just started work on another one of the dorms. Unit Two has had a new roof put on and earthquake strengthening work has been carried out. The bathroom and heating are also being upgraded. Work is scheduled to progress right through to the end of the year.

Obirin High School Welcome

This morning we welcomed students from Obirin High School as they begin their stay here in Oamaru. A group has been hosted for a short stay at SKC for the past 9 years (with the exception of 2011 due to the earthquakes both here and in Japan).

The students will be part of the College Community for just under three weeks and we say a big thank you to those families who have opened their homes to host them during their stay. They will study English language, join their SKC 'buddies' in classes and enjoy educational excursions around the district.

Acting Principal's Blog

Kia ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College

The first week [term 3] of school has ended on a high. We have supported our catholic charity Caritas with a school mufti day and our 1st XV playing the curtain-raiser for the Ranfurly Shield game. Also taking the field our very own Year 10 Dean and PE teacher -Sam Tatupu coming off the bench for North Otago.

In assemblies this week, we have chosen to focus on Excellence. It is the start of a busy academic term students should be mindful of targets that were set earlier in the year. The next Student-Led Conferences are approaching in week 4, where discussions should be around three things. What was the original plan, have I worked toward the goal and what is there left to do to reach my goals. This is valuable for all concerned. Teachers and Caregivers need to support students, but students are actually in charge of their own learning, it is an active process with all involved.

We look forward to seeing everyone at these meetings.

On another note, the Bishop Shield teams are well into preparation for the big competition at Verdon College Invercargill during the weekend 9th to 11th August. We shall watch with interest and hopefully see some excellent results but also see the comradery of our fellow catholic schools and connections for our students being bolstered.

This weekend we welcome the arrival of the annual visit from our friends at Obirin High School Japan. Special thanks to families hosting students and to Mrs June Campbell for her preparations to make these students stay a success.

I hope your weekend is restful.

God bless 
Ngā mihi nui
Kerry Ryan

Max Smith Wins U18 Canterbury Cross Country Championships

Congratulations to Max Yanzick for leading all the way and taking out the U18 title at the Canterbury Cross Country Championships at Halswell Quarry on Saturday!

Max will now get to compete at the NZ Cross Country Championships in Wellington on the 4th August. All the very best Max!

Ranfurly Shield Visits St Kevin's College

We had the Ranfurly Shield visit us at school today! North Otago has a shield challenge against Otago this Friday at 2.05pm at Whitestone Contracting Stadium. Our St Kevin's College 1st XV play the curtain raiser at 12 noon against South Otago High School!

School will carry on as usual, but if students would like to attend, you will need a signed note from your parents for your Dean, and the usual sign out procedures will apply.

Friday will also be a mufti day with proceeds going to Caritas. Please remember your gold coin donation to be collected at Whanau Time on Thursday.

Go North Otago! (Especially Mr Tatupu!)

Jack Andrew Selected for Steven Adams High School Invitational Camp

A big congratulations to Jack Andrew who has been selected for the annual Steven Adams High School Invitational 2019.

The Programme will bring together 48 of New Zealand’s most talented senior male and female high school basketballers in a week long camp. They will learn both on and off the court what it takes to achieve a scholarship to study and play basketball in the US, as well as the commitment to play at the highest level.

Throughout the high performance camp Jack will be working with some of New Zealand’s leading coaches and mentors including Steven Adams.

The camp concludes with two Nationally televised games on Sky Sport just before the NBL semis and finals on the 20th and 21st of July.

Steven Adams High School Invitational
Girls Game Sky Sport
12:10pm 20 July

Steven Adams High School Invitational
Boys Game Sky Sport
3:10 pm 21 July

St Kevin's College vs Waitaki Boys High School Rugby Interschool Match

A tough battle out their today on the field, which didn't go our way. 37-18 doesn't reflect the SKC effort. Congratulations to Waitaki Boys on your win.

We are proud of our boys, and proud of our supporters, our old boys and old girls, and how they conducted themselves.

It has been a great week, with lots of school spirit shown throughout. SKC took wins in 8 of the 14 fixtures, which is an awesome result! Well done to all of our teams, coaches, managers, parents and supporters.

Thank you to our photographers Michelle Buckham (crowd), Sarah Clapperton (game).