St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 1 Week 3
Kia ora whānau and friends of St Kevin's College,
This week at SKC, we had class photos taken and our new Year 9s, Year 12, and Year 13 Peer Support Leaders had their first session. On Wednesday, we held House relays. On Thursday, ten of our students attended the Aoraki Secondary School Tennis Championship in Timaru. Moreover, this weekend, several students are away attending the Edmund Rice Leadership Weekend. Additionally, our Volleyballers are participating in the SISS Volleyball games. Non-stop busy, busy.
This week at SKC
Hostel Lakes Trip
Last Sunday, 18th Feb, the hostel went to the lake for its annual trip. Everyone had a great day, and the weather was superb.
A huge thank you to the staff and hostel parents for their support, which made the trip successful!
Meet the Staff Evening
Last Tuesday, February 13th, we hosted a Meet the Staff evening. We would like to thank all the whanau who came and all the staff who spoke with our new skc family members.
Year 12 and 13 Peer Support Leaders
Wednesday, 21st Feb, our new Year 9s and Year 12 and 13 Peer Support Leaders had their first session. A stunning day for some fresh air and activities!
School Notices
- This is a friendly reminder that if students have appointments during the day parents and caregivers must let the office know beforehand. 03 437 1665 or 021 437 176.
- Also, students in Years 9-12 are not permitted to leave the school grounds during intervals and lunch breaks.
School Magazines
There is still a significant number of 2022 & 2023 School Magazines waiting to be collected from the school office.
If you have already paid for either of these yearbooks and have yet to receive them, please remind your child to pick them up from the office during break times or before/after school hours.
A statement regarding 'After Parties' for the families and public of North Otago.
In consultation with the NZ Police as part of their 'Prevention First' strategies in North Otago/Waitaki, we, as the Principals of St Kevin's College and Waitaki Boys and Waitaki Girls High Schools, would like to address the phenomena of 'After Parties' in our community.
'After Parties' are informal gatherings of young people following significant events on school calendars, such as Athletics, Swimming, Sports, Graduation and School Balls. These events involve alcohol, and frequently, alcohol is supplied to minors at these events.
We wish to make it very clear that none of the three secondary schools in North Otago sanction or have anything to do with the organization of these events. These are entirely run by the students themselves or parents and caregivers. None of the schools give permission for their names or brands to be used in any of these events, and no school resources are used.
We wish to caution parents and caregivers against running events of this nature for the following reasons.
Firstly, every year, significant school staff time and resourcing are put into dealing with incidents that flow on from these events, for example, sexual assaults, issues with motor vehicles and cases of assault or theft. Whilst schools do not condone or run the events, they inevitably end up having to give up their time to support young people in the resultant negative situations.
Secondly, with the rise in popularity of drugs such as MDMA and methamphetamine in Oamaru, it is naive to believe that just because students are not drinking too much (for example, some parties have a limit of four cans) that, they are not using other substances at these events or preloading to the point of being out of control or interacting with members of the public who are.
Thirdly, if school staff attend these events in their capacity as teachers, they place themselves at risk with the Teachers Council of NZ. Therefore, schools do not condone staff involvement at these events, narrowing the pool of available adults.
Lastly, we would caution the parents of caregivers running these events that the liability for students' well-being is squarely on the shoulders of those hosting. Any death or injury related to the party or the supply of alcohol to minors may result in prosecution.
Please support our young people by refraining from running these events.
Jo Walshe, Sarah Hay, Darryl Paterson
School Events
Coming up this term
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th February - Edmund Rice Leadership Weekend
Wednesday 28th - 29th February - St Thomas exchange
Sunday 3rd - 4th March - Taieri exchange
Tuesday 5th March - Year 9 retreat
Wednesday 6th March - WBHS exchange
Friday 8th March - Swimming Sports Day
Sunday 10th - 11th March - Roncalli exchange
Tuesday 12th March - SADD group meeting
Monday 1st April - Smallbore Postal Shoot
Sunday 7th - 8th April - Senior Quads Gore
Sports
Coming up this term
Friday 23rd - 25th February - SISS Volleyball
Wednesday 28th February - 3000m afterschool
Friday 1st March - Aoraki Senior Touch
Friday 1st - 3rd March - SISS Rowing
Tuesday 5th March - Aoraki Senior Girls Volleyball
Wednesday 6th March - Aoraki Equestrian
Thursday 7th March - Aoraki Senior Boys Volleyball
Saturday 16th - 17th March - SISS Touch
Monday 18th - 23rd March - Maadi Cup
Friday 22nd - 24th March - SISS Mountain Biking
Friday 5th - 7th April - SISS Athletics
Papakaio 8 hour Mountain Bike Challenge
SKC had four students compete last weekend in the Papakaio 8 hour Mountain Bike Challenge.
It was a fantastic day had by all.
Rikki and Oscar entered a team with 2 other boys and came in 3rd in the youth division.
Ryland entered solo and managed to do 6 laps, which was epic.
Charlotte entered a team with 3 waitaki boys in the youth division and managed to do 11 laps.
Owen Elliott, year 10, helped on the day as part of the track crew doing maintenance and marshalling, and he also led the 2 children's races.
From the left, Rikki Butson year 9, Oscar Collett year 9, Ryland Lane year 9 and Charlotte Elliott year 11
Great effort by St Kevin's kids
Aoraki Secondary School Tennis Championship
Ten of our students attended the Aoraki Secondary School Tennis championship in Timaru yesterday, 22nd Feb.
All of them enjoyed the day playing tennis with other schools and learned that they have to improve their skills to be ranked higher among other schools.
Art and Cultural Events
Thursday 29th February - Year 11 Art trip
Thursday 28th March - Sponsor a child mufti day
Public Holidays
Monday 25th March - Otago Anniversary
Friday 29th March - Good Friday
Sunday 31st March - Easter Sunday
Monday 1st April - Easter Monday
Tuesday 2nd April - Easter Tuesday
Fundraising Events
Hungry Horse Cafe - Te Tgakau Nui (SKC Home and School) Fundraiser
Hungry Horse - a cafe run at the Oamaru Race Course
We need helpers for the Hungry Horse on the following dates:
Wednesday 6th March 12 pm -7:30 pm
Sunday 24th March 10 am -6 pm.
Students are welcome to help for Service Hours.
If you can provide support please let Sam Growcott know -0212931158 or email tengakaunui@stkevins.school.nz.
Request to hold a Fundraising Event
If you wish to hold a fundraising event for school sports or recreational activities please follow the appropriate channels by completing this form.
Community Events/Notices
Bushtown Waimate Veteran Champion Axemen
Bushtown Waimate Hosts Veteran Australian & New
Zealand Axemen Test Series & Historic "Steam Up" Rally
Come along and enjoy this unique opportunity to see ex-world-champion Australian
& New Zealand Axemen in Action here in Waimate at Bushtown Heritage Site!!
Some 60+ Veteran Axemen will be competing in an exciting Trans-Tasman
Test Series competition, combined with a historic annual "STEAM UP" event
featuring traditional sawmilling by steam, vintage machinery, Edwardian heritage, and
much more! A family day out! Follow the event on NZAA and Bushtown's Facebook
FRIDAY 8th 4th March pm - 7 pm: Gold Coin Entry donation
Woodchopping competition - 1st Test of 3 Test Series
(Licensed Bar + Food Stalls)
+
SATURDAY 9th March 9.30 am - 5.30 pm $20 Adult Kids Free
SUNDAY 10th March 9.30 am - 5.30 pm $20 Adult Kids Free
Woodchopping competition - 2nd & 3rd Test Series + Steam Up Rally
with traditional sawmilling by steam - vintage machinery & engines
Military display + Edwardian Heritage + Traditional Crafts + Kids
Activities - Trailer Rides + Food & Drink Stalls No dogs plea
Repair Cafes - March
Are you a qualified electrician?
Can you fix bikes, mend clothes, sharpen tools, fix jewellery or do general repairs on woodwork, furniture or other household items?
Or are you just passionate about the right to repair and would like to help at a great community connection event?
To register your interest, email:
Musac Edge portal and app guide
We have an updated guide on how to use the Edge caregiver portal/app that allows you to view school information about your child(ren), and to pay school bills online if your school supports this. The portal & app gives you quick and easy access to the information for the children in your care and can receive announcements and notifications from the school. Please view the guide here
Got any News to Share?
We love celebrating our students' success. Photos are always a bonus; please email these as Facebook messenger compresses the quality!
Please let me know via email any relevant news we could share - srees@stkevins.school.nz
You can follow St Kevin's College on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Have a great weekend!
Ngā mihi
Shane Rees
Communications and Events