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

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

It's August and wow, I know I keep saying it but...where has this year gone?

Only a few weeks until our school show Man Of Steel, I hope you have your tickets, if not you better get in quick, the link is below! 

Unfortunately, our Senior Photography trip was postponed due to snow and closed roads on Wednesday, but that didn't stop our Aoraki Maths competition, our students had a fantastic time!

After being delayed until Thursday, our Caritas Civvies Day was a tremendous success. Finally, good luck to our students competing in the Bishops Shield Competition this weekend.

School Notices

• Up to date ATLs have been published and are available to view through the Edge app
  
  
• 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.

School Board Parent Representative Positions

We are taking expressions of interest for two parent representative positions that have become available on the Board. One position is until the midterm board elections and the other is until the tri annual elections. If you are interested please contact Eugen Dupu (Presiding Member), with your CV (or your nominated person(s)) and expression of interest letter, to edupu@stkevins.school.nz or enquire at the school office for further details before 7th August 2023

Whanau Reading Initiative

Would you like the chance to win $1000.00 for your family or $500 for your students at the end of the year?
Hopefully, that got your attention! Over the past year, we have been thinking about the problem of how to support families to develop their student's reading abilities. For most families with students of secondary school age, reading is something that is done by the student independently and it can be a struggle to get them to engage. We invite families who would like to participate in this programme to collect a copy of the booklet from the office. There are 20 activities in the booklet which range from ice breaker conversation starters to how to analyse text. The activities are designed to be able to be used with any reading material your student is interested in. Once you have worked through the activities, please date and sign the back page so your student can register for their reading badge at the office and go into the draw for themselves and their family at the end of the year. This is a first attempt. Feedback is welcome!

School Events

Friday 11th August - Student-Led Conferences
Thursday 17th August - Otago Uni Course planning
Friday 25th August - Monday 28th August - Hostel Closed
Monday 28th August - Teachers Only Day
Sunday 3rd September - Tuesday 5th September - Yr 13 Tourism trip
Tuesday 5th September - Cambridge information evening
Monday 18th September - Friday 22nd September - Assessment Week 

Caritas Civvies Fundraising Day 3rd August 2023

The inaugural Caritas Civvies Day we held on 3rd August was a great success. 

The SKC Caritas volunteers reported a welcome rush of last-minute donations, including receiving several much-appreciated $20 notes. 

We raised a total of $521.06 to help cbm combat Nigerian River Blindness.

A huge thank you from the Caritas Crew for the generosity of students and staff. 🫶

Aoraki Maths Competition 2nd August 2023

SKC had a fantastic time at the Annual Aoraki Mathletics Competition on Wednesday. 

Teams of 4 students (from Year 9 or 10) attempted to answer as many of the 20 questions available in the fastest time. 

Teams have to have well-developed mathematics strategies, teamwork, cooperation, think about possible tactics and run answers as fast as humanly possible, which makes it a great spectator sport! 

The photos show some of the SKC teams who participated with great enthusiasm. 

Well done to all who attended.

Student Led Conferences

This round of Student Led Conferences will continue with the same format as SLCs in Term 2, where you can meet with your young person's subject teacher.
 
Here is how a meeting with a teacher will look:
1) Teachers will act as mentors and guides for the discussion about your student. The student will still lead the conversation.

2) The teacher will guide and focus the conversation. The teacher will summarise decisions and planning.
 
Student Led Conferences are on the 11th August from 12.30 pm-7 pm. 

The school will be closed in the morning to allow teachers to prepare for these. 

Feel free to contact teachers with any queries if you are unable to meet on the day. 

Please use the following link to make your bookings:

https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/4msyk
 
The staffroom will be available for Whanau to use in between bookings.

Musical Production - Man of Steel - Tickets now on sale

Man of Steel is an action-packed musical spoof and a spectacular show of heroically super proportions. This musical is the entertaining battle of our Super Hero and Heroine over the evil Countess Olga and her motley henchmen. It is full of fun, with fast-moving action and larger than life characters.

Dates: Thursday 24 August 2023 & Friday 25 August 2023

Sporting Events

Monday 28th August - Saturday 2nd September - Tournament Week
Tuesday 5th September - St Thomas Exchange

U14 Netball Development Camp

U14* Development Afternoon
Sunday 6th August
1.30 pm-5 pm

*U14 must be Year 9 and above

Location 
Waitaki Recreation Centre
43 Orwell Street, Oamaru 9400 
Oamaru 9400 

Cost 
$30 per player

Payable into the North Otago Netball bank account
02-0940-0031851-00

Each player needs to ensure they have eaten before each session. Arrive with their drink bottle & appropriate clothing and footwear.

Registrations close Friday 4th August

Cultural Events

Friday 4th August - Sunday 6th August - Bishops Shield

Thursday 24th - Friday 25th August - School Show

Thursday 7th September - Choral festival

School TV

Surviving the Final Year

It’s no secret that the end of school can be a huge source of anxiety for both young people and parents alike. 

It is important to prepare a student’s brain for success. Studies show there is a clear link between students taking care of their health, and their overall productivity during the final year of school. Understanding how best to support your young person’s health and well-being during this time will help them perform at their best. The brain has a lot going on, so understanding how it works will help them get the most out of their brain power.

 Acknowledge that not all stress is bad. The art is in finding the right balance. Having the right amount of stress can encourage students to be at their optimal level of alertness, and improve behavioural and cognitive performance. It helps tune their brain and focus.

In this Special Report, families will be presented with a number of strategies on how best to support their young person during the final year at school.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your young person, please contact the Pastoral Care Team for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Community Events

2024 Fully Funded Outward Bound Courses for students with disabilities

Enrolments are now open for the following Outward Bound courses for secondary school students with physical disabilities. These courses run once a year in January and April.

These courses are fully funded. The only cost to students is getting a pre-course medical done by a GP and getting themselves to and from Picton via bus, ferry, personal vehicle or air.

These 6-8 day courses are based in the Marlborough Sounds. Students build confidence, resilience, and make new friends through activities such as sailing, waka ama, ropes course, and camping.

YOUTH HORIZONS 2024

A 6 day course for youth with an intellectual disability (16-21yrs)

Sat 6 – Thu 11 Jan 2024

(Supervision on flights from Auckland and Ferry from Wellington is provided for this course)

LEAPS & BOUNDS ACTIVATE 2024

An 8 day course for physically disabled youth (13 to 16yrs) to attend with a parent or caregiver

Sun 7 - Sun 14 April 2024

YOUTH ACTIVATE 2024

An 8 day course for physically disabled youth aged 16-17 years

Sat 20 - Sat 27 April 2024

To find out more see www.outwardbound.co.nz/adapted or contact us:

Email: adapted@outwardbound.co.nz

Freephone: 0800 688 927

Request to hold a Fundraising Event

If you wish to hold a fundraising event for school sports or recreational activities please follow the appropriate channels by filling out this form. 

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 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