St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 3 Week 2
Kia ora whānau and friends of St Kevin's College,
Last Sunday, we had rehearsals for the School show That's Life!, which debuts at the end of September. Today, we ended the week with Student-led conferences and brilliant weather after a rainy start. On Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm at Mitre 10 Mega, our SKC Under 15 rugby boys are holding a sausage sizzle, and our Top 5 Basketballers are hosting a carwash fundraiser from 10 am to 3 pm at Repco. These are all to raise funds to get our teams to tournament week at the start of September, so please come and support our students.
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 3, 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.
Otago University applications for 2025/6
Some essential application form links if your student is looking at attending Otago University, plus a checklist to help prepare a smoother process if applying for Scholarships.
Entrance Scholarships - open 1st July, close 15th August.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/future-students/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships
Residential Colleges - open 1st Aug, close 30th Sept (we recommend it be done by mid-Sept).
https://www.otago.ac.nz/accommodation
Introducing Mr Griggs - Food Technology Teacher
I have 40 years of hospitality experience, starting as a kitchen hand during school holidays. As I desired to travel the world, I decided to gain my chef qualifications, which took three years back then. In my early twenties, I moved to Australia to further my career. Over the next two decades, I worked in and around the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
After the Christchurch earthquakes, I transferred to China and worked my way up to General Manager of 5-star hotels. After six years, I returned home to New Zealand and decided to go into business for myself, and I purchased The Last Post Restaurant here in Oamaru. Six years later, I sold my business and decided it was time for me to make a change. The position of Food Tech teacher became available here at SKC, so I thought to myself that in one form or another, I have been training/teaching people for most of my working life, so why not give it a go?
Teaching in a school environment is totally new to me, and the challenge it brings is nerve racking but exciting. I now look forward to now sharing my hospitality and life skills with the students and staff here at SKC.
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
This week at SKC
School Production - "That's Life!"
Rehearsals are currently taking place for our school show, "That's Life!"
The cast and band had a busy day at the College on Sunday.
The show will take place on the 19th and 20th of September, with a matinee at 10:30 am and an evening session at 7:30 pm on both days.
Stay tuned for more details as the dates approach.
Good luck to all involved over the next few months!
School Events
Coming up this term
Wednesday 7th August - Aoraki Junior Maths comp
Thursday 8th - Friday 9th August - Year 13 PE Ski Camp
Wednesday 14th August - Otago University visit
Friday 16th August - Waitaki Careers Expo
Friday 23rd - Friday 30th August - Assessment Week
Friday 30th August - SKC Junior Maths comp
Monday 2nd September - Teacher Only Day
Tuesday 10th September - Sports and Cultural photos
Monday 16th - Wednesday 18th September - Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activity
Tuesday 24th September - Mural project trip
Wednesday 25th September - Year 7/8 SKC Maths comp
Thursday 26th September - Year 11 retreat
Waitaki Careers Expo - 16th August
Waitaki Careers Expo will be held in the WGHS school hall on Friday, 16th August.
There is a public session from 1:30 pm to 2.15 pm, and we encourage students and whanau to attend if they wish.
They will have groups in health, the rural sector and further education.
Around 40 different displays will be there.
Sports
Coming up this term
Tuesday 6th August - Aoraki Boys Badminton
Thursday 8th August - Aoraki Girls Badminton
Sunday 11th August - Aoraki Trapshooting
Friday 16th August - Aoraki Table Tennis
Monday 26th August - Aoraki Snow Sports
Saturday 31st August - Friday 6th September - Tournament Week
Sunday 8th September - Smallbore InterIsland Shoot
Saturday 28th - 30th September - South Island & NZ Trapshooting
Girls' Football XI Fundraiser
The Girls' Football XI is fundraising for Tournament week.
They are holding car washes to raise funds
- Saturday 31st August
9 am to 3 pm at the BP2GO garage next to McDonald's
Car washes cost $10 per vehicle, including a free hot drink from the garage barista.
We will also offer a full service, which will take an hour and cost $80 per vehicle, including an inside and outside clean. These need to be booked with Ralph Davies 021682461
Thank you for your support!
Under 15 Rugby Sausage Sizzle
On Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm at Mitre 10 Mega, our SKC Under 15 rugby boys are holding a sausage sizzle.
$3 a sausage.
Come on down to support the boys!
Top V Basketball Carwash Fundraiser
SKC Top V Basketballers are hosting a carwash fundraiser this Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm at Repco.
It's $5 per carwash, and all proceeds go to the tournament week.
Thanks for your support!
Art and Cultural Events/Dates
Coming up this term
Thursday 8th August - North Otago Matariki Hui Ako
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th August - Bishops Shield
Thursday 15th August - Sponsor a child mufti day
Thursday 12th September - Choral festival
Thursday 19th - 20th September - School Production - 10:30 am & 7 pm
Saturday 21st September - SKC Community Mass
Saturday 28th - 29th September - Edmund Rice Conference
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
Anxiety
Most young people today experience anxiety at some point in their life. Sometimes that slight rush of anxiety that occurs prior to an exam or sporting event, can enhance their performance. However, experiencing too much anxiety, over long periods of time, can be extremely damaging to their health and wellbeing. There is a difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ anxiety.
Statistics show, that the psychological health of young people today is far worse than it was a generation ago. This is having an adverse affect on children in both primary and secondary levels. Some of their issues of concern include stress, school, study, body image and friendship.
Families need to be aware of the warning signs of ‘bad’ anxiety. There are preventative measures families can implement as well as teaching young people the skills to cope more efficiently with their anxiety.
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 Anxiety edition of SchoolTV
Community Events/Notices
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