St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 2 Week 6
Kia ora whānau and friends of St Kevin's College,
Hello Friday! This week, we had our Juniors in Dunedin for the Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament, several students on a Marine Science trip, and today, we farewelled Rachel Fowler, who has been at SKC for the past 14 years.
School Notices
- This is a friendly reminder that parents and caregivers must let the office know beforehand if students have appointments during the day: 03 437 1665 or 021 437 176.
- All students in Years 9-12 are not permitted to leave the school grounds during intervals and lunch breaks.
All Year 9-11 students must get caregiver consent to sign out during school hours. Caregivers can email or call the office to provide consent and reason for the absence. Students cannot sign out until the caregiver is reached.
Attendance Matters
As we venture into Term 2, it is an excellent time to check in on your school attendance.
Every day matters!
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.
SKC Moke Jackets
The uniform shop is now selling wind and semi-waterproof SKC Moké student jackets.
These lightweight jackets have 90% Duck down lining, so you know they'll be toasty warm.
Available now from the uniform shop for $90.
Comes with its own bag and packs down for minimal space.
Farewell Rachel Fowler
Rachel Fowler, a long-serving teacher, had her last day with us today.
Mrs Fowler has been at SKC for 14 years and has had a massive impact on student learning during that time. She relieved at the school initially and then took over as our Food Technology teacher, which she has been doing for over 10 years. She has put a lot of time and effort into students as part of the course and has given students valuable life skills in her area of expertise!
She has also been heavily involved in several sports, most notably Netball, where she has been a Teacher in Charge and coached various teams in the school.
Mrs Fowler, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your hard work and dedication over the years. Your contributions to our school community, both in the classroom and on the sports field, have been invaluable. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Ngā mihi nui
St Kevin's staff, friends and family
Sibling Enrolment at St Kevin's College
Dear families, please ensure that enrolments for siblings of students already attending St. Kevin's College are submitted prior to the enrolment cut-off date.
Having a sibling at the college does not guarantee automatic entry. Please ensure that application forms are completed and sent to the school office in a timely manner to avoid disappointment.
Domestic applications for 2025 day students close on Friday, 5th July, 2024. Families will be notified of the outcome of their applications during Term 3, 2024.
Late enrolments will be placed on a waiting list, and contact will be made if space is available.
Ngā mihi
The Senior Leadership Team
St Kevin's College
NCEA study tips from students
Here are some handy NCEA study tips from students for students; please share them with your student/s to help them prepare.
Meet students, hear their study advice and learn about the tools they use for success in NCEA exams.
Ngā mihi
Past few weeks at SKC
Marine Science Class-Karitane and OPERA visits
Over the last fortnight, the International Marine Science class has been fortunate to have the opportunity to engage in two outstanding educational opportunities. The first was down to Karitane, where we were lucky to strike perfect weather for the Karitane Maori tour waka-ama expedition on the Kariatne inlet and River. Under the guidance of our Educator, Chris Wilson, the students first learned to paddle before setting out up and across the river mouth. Chris was an excellent storyteller and engaged the students in hearing about the history of the land and the people who first lived in the area. We visited the site of a very special "Pou" before carrying on and adding to the restoration planting of the dunes—the students, by planting nikau and harekeke, left with a tangible link to this land.
Last Friday, we visited The OPERA (Otago Penisula Eco Restoration Alliance)and were again fortunate to have an excellent Educator. The students were taken to the site of the main coastal forest restoration on the Penisula. They were lucky to see two hoihos on the beach and many fur seals. A further opportunity to see hoiho was at the penguin rehabilitation centre.
Links for these two very worthwhile activities are https://www.karitanemaoritours.com/ and https://theopera.co.nz/
School Events
Coming up this term
Tuesday 11th - 13th June - Year 11 Geography trip
Saturday June 15th - SKC Formal
Monday 24th June - Thursday 27th June - Cambridge Practice Assessment Week
Term 2 Holiday Dates
Friday 28th June - Matariki
Sports
Coming up this term
Sunday 9th -10th June - Otago Secondary Schools Netball
Tuesday 11th June - Mercy Cup
Thursday 13th June - Aoraki Open Basketball
Tuesday 18th June - Aoraki Junior Boys Basketball
Wednesday 19th June - Aoraki Junior Girls Basketball
Sunday 23rd June - Aoraki Netball
Monday 1st -5th July - Waitaki Week
Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament - 5th June
The Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament took place on Wednesday. It was hosted by Trinity Catholic College in Dunedin. Students from Verdon College, St Joseph's Primary, Trinity Catholic College, and St Kevin's College competed in their respective age groups. The tournament included basketball, netball, hockey, and futsal.
An outstanding day of sports!
Some fantastic results from our teams with SKC tieing for first!
Junior Boys Basketball team with former St Kevin's student Jack Andrew
On Wednesday, 5th June, while our juniors were at the Edgar Centre for the Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament, the Junior Boys' Basketball team had the opportunity to take a photo with Jack Andrew, a former St. Kevin's student who was training at the Edgar Centre.
Jack is an Otago Nuggets basketball team member who competes in the NBL. He has also played for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian National Basketball League.
Thank Jack!
Art and Cultural Events
Coming up this term
Monday 10th June - Big Sing
Thursday June 20th - Scripture Reading
Play It Strange Songwriting Competitions
Play It Strange is well into the year's national secondary school songwriting competitions, but there is still time to enter!
Peace Song Competition – closes 30th June.
The theme of peace and non-violence may be interpreted broadly from inner personal peace, peace in the home and among families, to peace between people worldwide.
All winners will have their songs recorded in a professional recording studio and released as Spotify albums.
The first prize will be a 1:1 mentor session with our guest judge, Jordan Luck and a $500 Rockshop gift card.
Year 9 – 13 Songwriting Competition – closes 31st July
All winners will have their songs recorded in a professional recording studio and then released onto Spotify albums.
First prize winners will receive a 1:1 mentor session with our guest judge, Ladi6, a $1000 Rockshop gift card, and a $10,000 recording and PR music package thanks to NZ on Air.
Te Reo Māori Award
Any song entered in any competition will also be eligible for our Te Reo Māori Award, formally known as the Junior Maioha Award. All winners will have their songs recorded in a professional recording studio, and the first prize will win a 1:1 mentor session with our soon-to-be-announced guest judge!
All competition winners will also be flown to Auckland to perform at our Annual Awards at the end of the year.
The recording and performance quality of the entry are not taken into account during the judging process.
Entrants need to upload their original song and lyric sheet into our online portal.
Enter now: https://www.playitstrange.org.nz/competitions
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
Raising Boys
Many families will attest to the fact that most boys are active, loud, rambunctious and prone to rough play, but this should not affect how a family acts towards their son. The male brain is distinctly different in its development. A boy’s physical maturity is often at odds with his mental and brain development.
Societal beliefs about how to raise boys can sometimes influence their adult carers. Although we are not determined by our biology, it is a factor. It is important to support boys in their natural tendencies and nurture their strengths and abilities. Teach them the skills they need for their future and to develop a healthy identity. It is important for boys to have a role model they can connect with and acknowledge who they are. One of the most important determinants for a boy’s development is how secure they feel growing up.
In this edition of SchoolTV, families will gain a better understanding into some of the more complex issues relating to raising boys.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your young person, please contact our Pastoral Care Team for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Raising Boys edition of SchoolTV
Community Events/Notices
Waitaki Residents Survey Now Open!
Have your say and be in to win $500!
The Waitaki Residents Survey is now open. We’re asking for your opinion on how Waitaki District Council has done in the last year, and by filling out the survey you go in to win a $500 Prezzy Card.
Our resident's survey lets us know what you think and helps us work better for you in the future. You can find the survey on the Waitaki District Council website or at letstalk.waitaki.govt.nz
Thank you for helping us to help you!
Gappers Car for Sale
SKC Gappers Sabrina, Jonathan, and Yadah want to sell their car before they leave for home at the beginning of July.
Hyundai TB 2006, Light Blue
Price $2,200 to $2500 (negotiable)
Current WOF and Registration (WOF expires on the 7th of August 2025)
254,134 km on the clock
It comfortably seats three and has ample luggage space. It is a very reliable car that has taken us around the South Island sightseeing.
Extra Brake oil is available if needed.
If you are, or know anyone interested, please make contact with Yadah on 0220823988
Strapping Workshop
Sport Waitaki is holding a strapping workshop with Mike Stewart (Physio) on Wednesday, 3rd July.
Come along and learn some simple strapping techniques from Mike, which you can take back to your team.
Waitaki Boys Auditorium on 3rd July. Starts at 7 pm
$20 cash (this will cover the cost of the tape you will use on the night)
The Big Sing - 10th June
The Big Sing is a regional secondary school choral festival that takes place in 10 centres. It involves around 8,000 students from over 200+ schools, supported by their families and communities.
The Big Sing has been taking place for over 30 years and is New Zealand’s largest choral event. Singers enter regional competitions held in Auckland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki, Manawatu/Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough/Nelson, Canterbury/West Coast, Otago, and Southland.
Otago & South Canterbury | Dunedin Town Hall
Gala Concert: 6.30 pm on Monday 10 June
Gala tickets > https://bit.ly/3KvMHUN
Waged $20 · Unwaged $15 · Students (university & school) $10 (service fees apply)
https://nzcf.org.nz/events/nzcf-events/big-sing
Mattering Audition Call - 8th June
MATTERING - a Brechtian Political play by Dr Delia Baskerville
Attention youth actors/singers:
Delia invites students to audition for a role in her play and to be part of an ensemble.
The audition will be held in St Luke’s Hall, Wharfe St., Oamaru, on Saturday, 8th June 2024. There is a group audition (10 am - 11 am), and individual audition times will be between 11:00-12:30 or 1:00 to 3:00. You can still audition even if you do not sing.
Rehearsals will be timetabled between 3 and 5 in term two and the first week of the July school holidays.
Dress Rehearsals and performances will occur from Monday, 15th July, to Saturday, 20th July, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Please contact Delia if you are interested - baskervilledelia3@gmail.com – so she can send you a monologue and/or song to prepare.
Winterfest 2024 - 15th - 18th JULY
WINTERFEST 2024 is HERE!
We have some cool stuff planned!
Not only are we going to Cardrona, an internationally renowned ski field with various jumps, but we also have options for activities in Queenstown (gondola, luge & aquatic centre). Plus, we have a live band and guest speakers from all over the USA who will be with us for the four days. Bring the gear listed below, some good mood, and let's have some fun! To top it up, games, laughter, dance, music, movie night, fun speakers & staying up late (don't show parents this bit) are a few of last year's highlights that will carry on. You might have heard a rumour about a tradition of jumping into the freezing lake on the last day morning-not wrong ;-)
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
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