St Kevin's College News and Reminders Term 3 Week 8

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

What a dreary end to another busy week at SKC. This week, we had our Sports and cultural photos and singing festival, and several students travelled down to Dunedin for Polyfest. Next week Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activity Exams. Plus, the school production of That's Life is in full rehearsal mode for next week's nearly sold-out shows! Grab your tickets below!

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! 

2024 School Magazine

Kia ora whānau and students,

All students have been invoiced for this year's school magazine/yearbook.

These need to be paid before 30 November 2024. We are only printing enough for those who have paid by this date.

If you do not require the magazine, please contact the school office to have the charge removed from your account. We will advise when these are ready to be collected.

Ngā mihi

Course Counselling for Year 11's bookings are open

Course Counselling bookings are open for Year 11s going into Year 12 for 2025.

It's vital for parents and caregivers to attend these events.

Subject selection for Year 12 and 13 students in 2025 will open in Term 3, Week 10, and close in Term 4, Week 1.

Please follow the link for booking times: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/75w48

Please note that Year 10 Course Counselling will be available in Term 4 Week 4. 

Year 10-13 Students sitting the LIT/NUM exam next week - 16th - 18th September

To earn your NCEA certificate, you need to earn 20 credits. This is your final chance for this year, so make it count!

If you are unsure whether you need to sit it, check with your English and maths teachers. 

You should be able to log in to NZQA at https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz to take the digital exam online. If not, see Ms De Souza in Room 16.

Bring a fully charged laptop or chromebook

Bring a simple calculator, pen/pencil and ruler for the Numeracy Exam.

A blank paper will be provided in the Numeracy Exam.

Bring your own headphones if you need to use Text-to-Speech (available for Writing and Numeracy exams only)

Please be punctual and wait on the steps in front of the auditorium at 850am.

You are not allowed to bring in any mobile phones or wear watches for the exam.

You will return to your timetabled classes after you have finished the paper. 

You are not allowed to leave the venue for the first hour of the exam. 

Dates: 

Writing CAA Mon 16th Sept 9 am (5 Credits)

Reading CAA Tues 17th Sept 9 am (5 Credits)

Numeracy CAA Wed 18th Sept 9 am (10 Credits)

Venue: Auditorium

Is your child keen to go to uni?

Here's the rundown on how University Entrance (UE) works from NZQA

WHAT IS IT?

University Entrance is the minimum requirement to go from school to a New Zealand university. Being awarded UE also opens doors to tertiary study in other countries.

Once you have met the requirements for University Entrance, it will appear on your Record of Achievement.

TO BE AWARDED UE, YOU NEED:

 NCEA Level 3

 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved subjects

 10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:

 5 credits in reading

 5 credits in writing

 10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:

 co-requisite Level 1 Numeracy unit standard 32406 or Te Pāngarau unit standard 32412, or

 certain achievement standards.

MORE INFO

To find out more about UE and NCEA itself, head to the NZQA website: https://bit.ly/46SUh6a

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.

Is my child well enough to go to school? (Advice from Ministry of Education NZ)

Is my child well enough to go to school?

We know that going to school every day is important for all students. But as a parent or caregiver, it can be difficult deciding if your child is well enough to attend school.

Here is some advice to help you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home, and when you should contact a health professional for advice. This advice is based off in-depth guidance prepared by Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, which you can view here.

Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school: guidance for parents and caregivers – Te Whatu Ora

My child has mild symptoms that are unlikely to be infectious. Should they attend school?

If your child tests negative for COVID-19 and they do not have any of the symptoms of concern outlined below, there are some mild symptoms that could be caused by a condition or reaction rather than an infectious illness that mean it is okay for your child to still be at school.

Examples include a happy energised child who has mild respiratory symptoms (cough, headache or runny nose) with no fever, their usual hay fever and allergy symptoms (sneezing, stuffy nose or an itchy face), or skin problems that are not infectious, such as eczema or insect bites.

Learn more about these symptoms here:

When a child has symptoms but can still attend school – Te Whatu Ora

If your child has any of these mild symptoms but is well enough to go to school, support them to go and let their teacher know.

When should I keep my child home from school?

You should keep your child home from school if they are:

-too sick to learn and need time to rest and recover 

-have symptoms of concern including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, skin infections such as school sores, a new rash or difficulty breathing

-have tested positive for COVID-19 (more information on symptoms, testing, and when it is safe to return to school, can be found below)

-a household contact of someone with COVID-19, they develop symptoms themselves and they are testing with a rapid antigen test over a 48-hour period to see if they present a positive result during that time

-have an infectious illness and have been advised to stay home by their local public health team or their healthcare provider.

If you have COVID-19 – Te Whatu Ora

Raising awareness around measles and MMR vaccine

Follow the link below to watch a series of animated videos covering various health topics, including women's and men's health, immunisations, and antiviral medications. 

These videos are available in multiple languages to accommodate your preferred dialect.

https://www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/resources/videos/health-videos/

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

SKC Singing Festival 2024 - September 11th

This past Wednesday, September 11th, we held our SKC Singing Festival in the Auditorium. It was a fantastic evening showcasing our school's array of vocals, and as you can see from the photos, the Auditorium was full of happy faces. 
Thank you, and well done to all who entered.
The results are as follows.

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Polyfest - 12th September

Congratulations to Te Kapa Haka o Hato Kewene for their outstanding performance at Polyfest in Dunedin last night!

Kā mihi nui to our kaiako Beck Ryan, and all our parent helpers. We couldn't have done it without you. 

We all had a fantastic evening and are keen to do it again next year.

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School Events

Coming up this term 

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
Friday 27th September - School Cross Country

School Production

St Kevin's College is proud to present - That's Life!

That's Life is a New Zealand created musical comedy where the fairy-tale world clashes with modern day. 

From teenagers in a modern day classroom to a variety of well-known fairy-tale characters, we follow the story of two young ladies - Cinderella and Sarah.

Sports

Coming up this term

Saturday 28th - 30th September - South Island & NZ Trapshooting

St Kevin's Football Prizegiving 

On Tuesday, 10th September, our three St Kevin's football teams, their management, and their families celebrated their 2024 season.

This year, we marked the introduction of capping for the footballers.

Special thanks go to
Jnr boys coach David Rzoska
Jnr boys manager Pamela Rzoska 
1st XI boys coaches Naill Gough and Rory McGeown 
1st XI boys manager Sam Growcott 
1st XI girls coach Ralph Davies 
1st XI girls Co-coach Stu Dowling
1st XI Girls manager Claire Elliott.

Dave Naldrett for helping us out with our Saturday reffing and photos.

And to our sponsors
•Oceania dairy
•Oamaru Stone 
•McDonald's Oamaru
•The Big O
•Nailing it 

THANK YOU!

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Art and Cultural Events/Dates

Coming up this term

Thursday 19th - 20th September - School Production - 10:30 am & 7:30 pm
Saturday 21st September - SKC Community Mass
Friday 27th September - Caritas Talent Show
Saturday 28th - 29th September - Edmund Rice Conference

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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’.

Community Events/Notices

Triple Threat North Otago Penguins Home Game - Saturday 14th September

Triple Threat North Otago Penguins Home Game Vs Checkers Canterbury

This Saturday, 14th September, at Waitaki Rec Centre, seated by 7 pm, 7.15 pm tip-off

Gold Coin Entry

See you there!

University of Otago's Pacific Islands Tertiary Information Evening - 19th Sep

Pacific Outreach Programmes & Community Liaison at the University of Otago's Pacific Islands is running a Tertiary Information Evening for students from Yr9 to Yr13 and their families from the Pacific Community in Oamaru.  It will be held at the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group Office at 22-26 Ribble Street, Thurs 19th September, from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

The purpose of this evening is to inform families in our community with aspirations of university for their children. We will discuss the changes now that fees-free is gone, the scholarships available, and the accommodation options. More importantly, we will highlight the support available to ensure a smooth transition. 

For more information, please get in touch with me by email or by phone.  
Petelō Sinamoni
P: 021 279 1085
E: petelo.sinamoni@otago.ac.nz
 
P.S. Anyone interested, RSVP for catering purposes.

JOT (Just One Thing) - 19th September

JOT (Just One Thing) will hold a community event on Thursday, 19th September, at The Business Hive Oamaru, focused on Slow Fashion.

They invite everyone to join them to swap, sell or show their preloved clothing, as well as provide practical demonstrations on how to ‘repair, repurpose and re-invent’ our wardrobe.

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

5-Day Teen Sailing Adventure! 30th September - 4th October

Embark on an Epic 5-Day Teen Sailing Adventure! 

Calling all teens aged 14-18! 

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey that blends adventure, skill-building, and lasting friendships.

An Evening with Chelsea Winter - 17th October

Don't miss an exclusive evening with the celebrated cookbook author Chelsea Winter. 

Hosted by Paper Plus Oamaru in conjunction with the Oamaru Lions Club for one night only.

All proceeds to Oamaru St John Ambulance

When: Thursday 17 October 2024
7:00 pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
Where: Loan & Merc, 14 Harbour Street, Oamaru.

Grab your tickets for just $20 at Paper Plus Oamaru, or email oamaru@paperplus.co.nz

Complimentary drink and nibbles on arrival.

Raffle on the night - bring some loose change.

Books are available to purchase on the night and have been signed by Chelsea! 
Eftpos available

Understanding Your Brain – Building Resilience & Maximising Learning with Nathan Wallis - 17th October

Join Nathan Wallis - Host of the documentary "All in the Mind," host of the TV series "Kids Don't Come With a Manual," and co-host of the TV series "The Secret Life of Girls," Nathan Wallis, Aotearoa's renowned neuroscience educator, has been captivating audiences over 250 times per year to sell out events in New Zealand, Australia, and Internationally.

Understanding Your Brain – Building Resilience & Maximising Learning:

The concept of building resilience in our children is more and more at the forefront of parents' minds. Academic success is, in fact, a result of resilience and can mean very little without it. In this summary of the evidence and research around what resilience looks like, how it's fostered and which environments do it the best, Nathan will break down for parents (in his usual' straight from the hip' humourous style) exactly what we can do to facilitate our children developing resilience, increase their academic ability and enjoy an overall better quality of life. We will look at how our brains work as a basis for understanding how to achieve this. Relevant to parents/carers for all age groups – from newborns to teens!

Thursday 17th October 2024 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

The event is now live on Eventfinda; here is the link:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/.../nathan-wallis.../oamaru

Timaru Ten Run Event - 26th October

Save the date, 26th October!

Timaru Ten Run Event

Levels Raceway, Timaru

There's something for the whole family! We're very excited to have expanded our event to 5 km and walks this year.

For the 5km and kids' races, we will give spot prizes to the best-dressed, so get that tutu or Spider-Man suit out if you want!

Events will be spread out over the morning. The 10km is split into two groups to avoid congestion, as it's the Levels Raceway Track.

Register now https://timaruten.nz/#events

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