St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 1 Week 9

Kia ora whānau and friends of St Kevin's College,

The end of the long days has come, this Saturday night don't forget to wind those clocks back an hour before you go to bed. It's been such a short week; summer sports are almost finished until the end of the year, and there is only one week to go before the holidays begin.
We have Senior Quads in Gore starting this Sunday, good luck to all participating.

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.
  

St Kevin's/St Joseph's/St Patrick's Parish
Media Release 5th April 2024

Cathconnect

Dear Families,

The Catholic Education Office, which collects fees for students in Catholic schools, is using a new system this year called Cathconnect. 

This system went live last night, generating an invoice for families for school fees. 

As the system is brand new and has to interface with an older manual system, not all information is accurate. 

Over the next month, the office will work through the system, ensuring that records are corrected.  

Until this is done, the Catholic Education Office asks that any issues be emailed to them at dues.cdd@cathconnect.nz so that they can work through them methodically.

Please do not use phone calls or messaging systems.  

Note: Cathconnect only delivers invoices, not statements, as the previous system did.  

Warm regards

Jo Walshe

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. 

School Photos are in!

PhotoLife has emailed their students' unique Key Codes so they can view and purchase 2024 School Photos online.
If they don't receive an email, please make sure to check their trash/spam folder.

Illness at the College

Dear Families, 

We are experiencing a stomach bug here at the College, which may or may not be related to Covid, which we are also seeing. 

Can we please ask that you do the following:

Please encourage students to use hand sanitiser over the next couple of weeks and, as always, wash their hands.

Keep students at home if they complain of flu-like symptoms or stomach bugs. 

Finally, continue to keep students at home for a minimum of 24 hours after a stomach bug. This includes sporting or cultural events. 

In this way, we can help to contain viral outbreaks such as the one we are currently experiencing.

A lack of relief teachers means that there is a risk of closing the College when Covid or other illness outbreaks occur. 

Thank you in advance for your help. 

Ngā mihi,
The SLT

SKC uniform shop

SKC desperately needs donations of any and all second-hand clothing for the SKC uniform shop. We especially need pants, shorts, white and blue shirts, and socks. Depending on their condition, we are able to buy back kilts, blazers, jumpers, soft shell jackets, and new PE tops.

Drop off at the shop on Thursdays (1-2 p.m.) or the main school office. 

For all inquiries, call Jane at 0211996525.

Sports

Coming up this term

Friday 5th - 7th April - SISS Athletics
Sunday 7th - 8th April - Senior Quads Gore

Rugby 

Rugby Registrations are now open.

If your son or daughter has not yet registered, please register at this link to register

We are also looking for people to coach the boys under 16.5 team and another coach for the girls under 15 team. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Justin Fowler at jfowler@stkevins.school.nz 

Art and Cultural Events

2024 National Youth Art Awards

The National Youth Art Awards entries will be open on 11th March. 

This award and exhibition are attended by schools throughout Aotearoa, and over 300 students and young artists entered. 

A new drawing prize has also been added this year, so there is plenty of opportunity and choice for any artist between 13 and 25 years old in 3 age categories.

Below is the entry form, with all the details. 

Guidelines for Attitude to Learning

General philosophy.

The purpose of ATL feedback is so that parents and students can have real time information about how students are engaging in each subject.

The overarching objective should be to have ‘no surprises’ for caregivers.

ATL numbers should cover how students are working generally in relation to:
How they are developing the habits of an independent life long learner.

This means: 

Teachers will be providing opportunities within classes for independent, differentiated learning opportunities.

ATLs will be used with the Junior reports. This will require additional weight to be given to ATL, meaning that periodically, a curriculum statement will be added to the ATL report. At the end of Term 1, the focus will be on setting goals and identifying learning challenges for the students so that we head things off before they become a problem.

Comments.

These should be specific and address immediate concerns or celebrate recent, specific achievements.  
These should provide caregivers the opportunity to be able to participate in supporting their student.
These should be brief and accurate. 
Only be provided for immediate and relevant issues.  

What ATL’s are NOT.

They are not a method for punishing a student.
They are not a forum for diagnosing medical or learning issues e.g. suggesting a student is dyslexic
They are not a place for long term guidance such as large general statements about learning.
They are not a report which you must feel compelled to write every fortnight.
They are not a replacement for Dean involvement, discussions with HoF’s, phone calls to parents etc.
They are not a ‘restorative chat’.

School TV

Bullying

Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships with the intention to cause deliberate psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social. It can happen in person or online via various digital platforms and devices and can be obvious or hidden. Bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Despite the efforts made to reduce bullying behaviours, the research tells us that one in four students still report being bullied every few weeks. However, not all negative behaviour should be considered bullying. The key difference is that bullying does not stop on its own. It’s important young people learn how to identify behaviours that are rude, behaviours that are mean, and behaviours that are related to bullying. 

Often the reasons for bullying can be complex. Some young people do it to get approval from others, some do it to regain control, whilst others may do it because it makes them feel safe. Supporting young people as they work through their emotions will help them unpack the motivation and reason behind the behaviour. 

In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers can better understand why some young people engage in bullying behaviours and what to do to support a child experiencing it.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information in this edition of SchoolTV. If you have any concerns about your young person, please contact their Dean or Esther, our Student Advocate, for further information or seek medical or professional help.
https://stkevins.nz.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying

Community Events/Notices

Weston School Rogaine

A family-friendly team event similar to orienteering but with a twist. You design your own course to suit your ambitions and abilities. Collect as many checkpoints as you can within the timeframe.

Saturday, April 6th, 2024

Register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/weston-school-rogaine-tickets-843455808027 

Follow updates on our Weston School Rogaine Facebook Page 
https://www.facebook.com/WestonSchoolRogaine

Veterinary Centre Whitehorse Big Easy event

Registrations are open for the Veterinary Centre Whitehorse Big Easy event on Sunday, 7th April.

Our event has a category for everyone, with courses for all ages and abilities. With a massive range of walking, running, and MTB events, competitors can go BIG or go easy. 

The great thing about the Big Easy is that 100% of entry fees go to selected charitable causes and to develop the awesome network of tracks in the Waimate District.

For updates, follow us on Facebook or our website.

Oamaru Bricktopia Show 2024

The Oamaru Bricktopia Show, the third LEGO Show to be held in the area, will be on April 13th and 14th, the first weekend of the school holidays. This year, the show will be held in the Scottish hall. 

We run a LEGO building competition for children, and we encourage them to create something to display at the show, and they could win a LEGO prize. Details are attached on the poster. 

There will be LEGO activities for kids and adults, as well as a display of LEGO models and wonderful creations from exhibitors.

This is a charity event, and the proceeds will go to the Oamaru Mental Health Support Charitable Trust.

Wild Dunedin Festival 19-28 April

This year's festival has 140 events and nature-related activities for all ages all over the city. 

With discounted deals on albatross, penguin and boat trips, kids go free at Orokonui Ecosanctuary and Larnach Castle, films, crafts, scientific talks, garden tours, a walk around Sutton Salt Lake and guest Suzy Cato; a lot is happening. 

Complete programme and bookings here http://www.wilddunedin.nz

Herbert Forest Walking Tracks Open Day

Sunday 21st April

Guided Walks through Swallows and Podocarp Tracks (1-4hrs)

Bring water, snacks, and sturdy footwear or boots.

Meet at 10 a.m. at the Middle Ridge Rd/Queens Rd junction in Herbert Forest. 
Follow the signs from the SH I Breakneck Rd turnoff.

North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club Inc.

Autumn Holiday Programme

Waitaki Museum Te Whare Taoka o Waitaki
Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 April 11 am – 2 pm
Drop-in holiday sessions are suitable for a variety of ages. Explore the clay crafts, design techniques, and fashions of Temuka Pottery with hands on activities for families.
museum@waitaki.govt.nz

Forrester Gallery
Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 April, 11 am-2 pm
Drop-in activities| no need to book| adult supervision required| free
Join educator Liz King in Under Pressure a Te Taiao| environment exhibition in the wonderlab.
Learn about our environment through art with a different activity each day.
gallery@waitaki.govt.nz

Totara Estate
565 Alma-Maheno Highway, SH1 8kms South of Oamaru
Saturday, 27 April 2024
1 pm – 4 pm Free entry
Have a go at digging, cleaning, sorting and analysing artefacts with assistance from a Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga archaeologist. 

Wear old clothes as water and dirt will be involved! 

No booking is required; just come along and join in. Food and beverages will be available for purchase on the day. 

We will go ahead, rain or shine, and if the weather is poor, activities will be moved to one of our historic buildings. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

https://culturewaitaki.org.nz/

Talk Teeth

Is your TEEN now at High School?

From Year 9, your Teen will see a local Dental Provider for their dental care in Otago. 

This remains FREE until they turn 18, even if they have left school.

21st Century Life Skills

This unique programme is designed to cultivate essential Life Skills

Open to 13-19 year olds.
April 20th-21st, 2024, at The Business Hive.
For more information and to register, go to https://amandafleming.co.nz/21stc-register.

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