St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 3 Week 4
Kia ora whānau and friends of St Kevin's College,
When you think it's warming up, we are quickly reminded it's still winter.
This week, we had a Sponsor a Child Mufti Day (Civves Day). Our 1st XV boys travelled to Methvan to play Mt Hutt 1st XV, Otago Uni Visit, UC course planning, and today is the Waitaki Careers expo at WGHS. We also have all four of our Basketball teams playing in the semi-finals, so we wish them the best of luck. Next Friday is the start of Assessment Week; there is a link to the timetable below.
Principals Post
Principals Post 16th Aug
Kia Ora Kevinians and Supporters of the College,
Next Friday, our senior students will be beginning their exam leave. This will last from the 23rd to the 30th August and will be followed on the following Monday by Teacher's Only day.
This timing seems very odd, so I am taking this opportunity to explain it to you. Firstly, our teacher's only day is a mandated TOD. We usually choose to take this on the Monday of Tournament Week as that is usually a disrupted week anyway.
With regards to the timing of examinations, by adding the IGCSE in Year 11, we are now bound to the same timelines as the rest of the countries in the world that undertake Cambridge examinations. The Year 11 Mathematics examination will be held on the first day of Term 4, as it is on the same date all over the world. As we are also offering NCEA examinations in selected subjects, we are combining both sets of exams in our upcoming derived grade examinations. In order to have enough time and space to create derived grade examinations for both systems, we have had to take the Friday of next week as well as the following normal Term 3 examination week. By pushing these forward, we are ensuring that we are allowing a greater period for revision and study leading up to exams than usual. We believe that this, added to the purposeful use of the study periods we have provided all year for students, will enable them to meet their potential in either system and across all year levels.
This week, we received the results from the Cambridge English Literature course, which we embarked on last year as a trial run. The results were excellent. Of the small group who sat (18 students), 16 of them achieved a B or above (a D is a pass in Cambridge), with 3 of them achieving A star results, which ranks them as the best in the world at their level.
Earlier in the week, the SLT put together a pack for Year 11 students with the examination timetable, a letter from myself and a wall planner study guide to help support students to create a study plan.
If your Year 12 or 13 student would like a copy of this planner, please ask them to pick one up from the office.
I would like to thank Lorena Marshall for this beautiful shot. You will see more of her amazing work in our school magazine. There are still a number of these that have not been collected from last year, so if you have paid for one as a family, please ensure it is picked up from the office.
Have a lovely weekend.
God Bless
Jo
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.
Te Ngakau Nui helpers needed - 18th August
Te Ngakau Nui is looking for helpers at Hungry Horse Race Course Cafe on Sunday, 18th August.
10:00-12:30 pm preparing food, selling food etc-
12:30-3:00 - Selling food,
3:00-5:30 - selling food, clean up.
Anyone interested in helping, please contact
Sam Growcott 0212931158
tengakaunui@stkevins.school.nz
Senior exams 23rd - 30th August
Senior exams start next Friday, 23rd August, and finish on Friday, 30th August. Cambridge exams are green, and NCEA exams are yellow.
Seniors are allowed to wear mufti for these exams.
Attached is a link to the timetable: https://bit.ly/3yOWRgO
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
Recently at SKC
Aoraki Junior Maths comp - 7th August
Last Wednesday, 7th August, several of our juniors travelled with students from WBHS and WGHS, alongside teachers, to Timaru for the Aoraki Junior Maths competition.
Congratulations to all who participated!
Bishops Shield 9th - 11th August 2024
Congratulations to our 2024 Team, which finished second place by one point! Your unity and teamwork were exceptional, and we are extremely proud of each and every one of you.
You consistently displayed our FIRE values, and your hard work, dedication, and team spirit were on display all weekend.
Well done to our Senior Drama and Junior Debating teams, which won their events.
Further congratulations to Lloyd Fellowes, who placed first in Prepared Speech; Bridie McGeown, who won Best Speaker Senior Debate; Tara Bennenbroek, who won Best Speaker Junior Debate; and Jarrel Casitas, who won Most Promising Senior Drama Performance.
Year 9 Science
It's been a busy time in Science!
Year 9 students have been studying the Human Excretory system and participated in a kidney dissection. Year 10 students have examined food tests to identify protein, fat, glucose, and starch.
These topics give students a grounding in the Biology concepts they will need for iGCSE for students in Year 11.
School Events
Coming up this term
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
Sports
Coming up this term
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!
Oamaru Rowing Club Open Day - 8th September
Oamaru Rowing Club is holding their Open Day on 8th September, 9.30 am - 1 pm, down at the Esplanade, so come along to learn more about rowing in North Otago!
For further information, they can contact the club at oamarurowingclub@gmail.com
Art and Cultural Events/Dates
Coming up this term
Wednesday 11th September - Choral festival
Thursday 12th September - Polyfest
Thursday 19th - 20th September - School Production - 10:30 am & 7:30 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
Body Image
Young people today are more focused with their body image than those in past generations. This is partially influenced by the media and their social connectivity. Encouraging our young people to have a healthy body image in childhood, can lay the foundations for good physical and mental health later in life.
A recent study highlighted that body image is one of the top three concerns for young people. Over half of girls in high schools have tried to lose weight. One-third of teenage boys wanted to be thinner and another third wanted to be larger. Young people need to understand that their body shape and size is not a reflection of their health or success. Families and schools need to work together to help young people understand that everyone is born with their own ‘body-suit’.
In this edition of SchoolTV, families will learn how to encourage their young person to have a positive body image and why it is so important to their mental health.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV. If you have any concerns about your young person, please contact the Pastoral Care Team for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Body Image edition of SchoolTV
Community Events/Notices
Funduro MTB Event - 17th August
You want to take advantage of it - enter now for some fun on bikes!
Saturday 17th August, Herbert Forest
Follow the link: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=357303
Summerjam Family Fun Day! - 7th September
Waitaki Community Recreation Centre
Saturday 7th September 2024
9 am - 3:30 pm
Waitaki Community Recreation Centre
Schools Alpine Competition Trans-Tasman Schools Winter Festival 2024 - 23rd to 27th September
The Schools Alpine Competition aims to provide young ski and snowboard enthusiasts with a platform to showcase their skills, foster sportsmanship and promote the sport of skiing and snowboarding.
This event serves as a gathering of talented skiers and snowboarders aged from 8 to 13 years of age and provides an exhilarating, supportive atmosphere while at the same time fostering healthy competition.
More details in the PDF attached below
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