ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE

KILBIRNIE, WELLINGTON

NEWSLETTER 5/2012 Issue date: 24 August 2012

From the Principal.....................

Tena Koutou Katoa

Talofa lava

Warm greetings to you all

Catherine McAuley said….. “We should be as the compass

that goes round the circle without stirring from its centre

- our centre is God from whom all our actions should

spring as from their source.”

It has been from this SOURCE that I have observed many

wonderful actions from both staff and students to date

this term….

My thanks go to both the staff and students for the

preparation and professional manner in which we greeted

the Education Review Team, during the second week of

this term. We look forward to their report later in the

term.

Congratulations to all the students involved in the Ngā

Maioha o Te Rangikauia, the St Catherine’s College and

St Patrick’s College Kapa Haka group, combined with

students from St Mary’s College and Te Kura Kaupapa

Māori o Ngā Mokopuna.

The students all did their respective schools proud and

well deserved their placing of 15th

out of 43 teams. They

were ecstatic to find that they were placed the top team

out of the 6 teams that competed from the greater

Wellington region. The students worked incredibly hard to

prepare for their performance.

For those of us who were lucky enough to get tickets to

Les Miserable – wasn’t it amazing! Congratulations to

those students for the professional and stunning

performance.

I have been fortunate to attend the Catholic Convention,

here in Wellington – “Nga Taonga – Living Treasure” –

which was spread over three days. Along with

representatives from schools all around New Zealand, we

gathered together to honour our heritage, celebrate the

successes of the present and discuss creative ideas that

may embody the future. A standout lecture for me was

from Dr. Megan McKenna, an inspiring American

theologian, spiritual writer, storyteller and lecturer.

It has been a busy winter term for the girls, with senior

Assessment Week finishing last week. Senior Reports will

be sent out on Friday 21 September and follow up

interviews on Wednesday 26 September. I believe there is

much preparation and planning going on at the moment,

around the Year 12 and 13 Ball. I look forward to my first

St Cath’s Ball with great excitement!

My door is always open

God Bless

Mary Curran

Principal

Update on the possibility

of having a St Catherine’s

College BUS run in 2013: We have had a total of 23 students

(current students and students joining

the College next year) express interest in using a St Cath’s bus to

get to and from school – should our negotiations with a private

bus company prove successful. Interest has been expressed by

students living in Mt Cook, Brooklyn, Mornington, Kingston,

Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Southgate. The route to the school

would then be determined by whether there was a need for

further pickups at Berhampore and Newtown or Lyall Bay and

Melrose. The cost would be calculated on a par with the current

costs to the students travelling on the public transport system.

We will keep in touch with all parents who have expressed interest

as we have more to report.

If your family is interested in exploring this option but has not

yet contacted the College, please get in contact with me, as

soon as possible. Email: office@stcatherinescollege.school.nz

(with the words: “ SCC BUS 2013” in the subject line) or phone

939-8988.

Mary Curran

From the Director of RE..…….........

The Mercy spirit is alive and well at St Catherine’s College

with nearly $800 raised in a recent mufti day. The money

will be donated to Caritas to use in their African Food

Crisis in Sahel. Caritas and its partners are attempting to

forestall a looming food shortage as crops have failed in

the entire region and a famine is imminent.

The Mercy Crew will be working to challenge students

and raise awareness of people suffering because of their

beliefs or politics. This will take place during Human

Rights and Social Justice weeks later this term.

We celebrated a beautiful Mass on the Feast of the

Assumption. The entire College walked to St Patrick’s

College where we shared communion with the students

there. The Year 9s had a special Mass in the College

Chapel. We are most grateful to Mrs Jennings, her singers

and musicians, as well as those at St Pats, for making it a

memorable and enjoyable Mass. Our students also

fulfilled all their roles as readers, Ministers of the

Eucharist and participants in both the entrance and

offertory processions.

Be sure to ask your senior students what they have been

learning in their Religious Studies and Ethics classes as

they near their final assessment dates. It may result in a

good discussion at the dinner table. Also, our junior

students will be learning some examples of grace before

meals later in the term, so they will be able to lead grace

at your own dinner tables in the future.

Jenny O’Brien

Director of Religious Studies

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral)…………………….........

Multicultural Club With just a few weeks to go until Tu Tangata, the girls

have almost finished learning their items and the

“polishing” will begin. A good group came in on the

Teacher Only Day and they taught and learnt the last part

of the sasa. Tu Tangata is on Thursday 27 September at

the Opera House. As usual, tickets will be on sale at

Ticketek that week and they always sell out. This year

there are more colleges performing and our kapa haka is

providing the powhiri. Please note: ST CATHERINE’S

DOES NOT GET TICKETS TO SELL: you have to buy your

own from Ticketek.

The new costumes are being made. However, we have

some more fundraising to do to finish paying for them.

We have an opportunity to work at the Stadium at the

game between Wellington and Southland on Sunday 2

September, beginning at 2.30pm. We need 10 adults (this

is not suitable work for our girls as they are too young to

work in a bar). If you are able to help please contact me

at the college as soon as possible. We must have 10

adults, otherwise we lose the opportunity.

Chris Jarratt

Deputy Principal (Pastoral)

English Dept News…………………..

After the recent practice examinations, the teachers of

the senior English classes would like to remind parents

that students have access to a number of very useful

notes, powerpoints and links for their literature topics,

through Moodle. Please encourage your daughter to

make active use of the site - we endeavour to put as much

material as we can there for students to develop

independent study habits. The Year 13 English site has

particularly extensive material available. An evaluation of

student use of the site has shown that those who actively

use it have achieved better results overall, particularly in

Year 12. If you have any queries about using Moodle,

please contact Mrs Ryan (9398988, ext 812).

Mrs Ryan and Mr Kaulback

Science Dept News…………………..

This term we have had a record number of entries in our

annual science fair competition that is run in conjunction

with the chemistry topic taught in Year 10. Miss Sepie

and Mrs Perry (a Science and Maths teacher visiting our

school to run Maths extension classes) judged the entries.

Very highly commended (and first place):

Eva Malthus and Anna Cacace (10BG) - who investigated

the levels of iron present in breakfast cereals and

compared them to the data printed on the boxes.

Highly commended:

Amy Campbell an Martha Mallon (10BG)

Sophia Basile and Lauren Duggan (10BG)

Rachel Allen and Josephine Dawson (10CL)

Joy Chan and Danielle Di Leva (10CL)

Commended:

Alicia Print and Angela Bailey (10BG)

Nekea Lafoga and Helen Jamel (10CL)

Liz Hill

HoD, Science

Economics News……………………….

Cynthia Feaunati and Karishma Patel attended the

University of Canterbury scholarship economics workshop

on Saturday 11 August. They learnt how to apply their

economic knowledge, in context, to the scholarship essay

topics.

Kim Earney

Economics

Geography Dept News..............

Trip to Samoa 2013 As a result of a very successful trip to Samoa in July 2011,

we are planning to again take a group in July 2013. This

trip will be to collect data for two Level 3 standards in

Geography.

The trip will go in the first week of the July school holidays

(end of Term 2). We intend to do this trip only every two

years as there is a lot of organisation involved. Because

of this, I am offering to take the students who will be doing

Year 12 Geography in 2013 as well as those doing Year 13

Geography. They must have met the requirements for

that subject by passing at least 12 credits in 2012 with

some being from an external Geography examination. I

will not take students who are new to the subject unless

they have seen me by week 4 of Term 3 and meet the

requirements set for students new to the subject. The

trip has been costed at a maximum of $1200.00 including

airfares, accommodation and transport, but not including

spending money. This would also not include the cost of

a current passport if your daughter does not have one.

Obviously I have no control over airfare increases and this

may cause a slight change to the total.

I will be calling a meeting of parents to discuss the trip

soon. In the meantime we have entertainment

books and mulch for sale and lots of other fundraisers

in the pipeline.

Gill Willis

HoD Geography

Materials Technology News.........

At the end of last term, a group of St Catherine’s girls

made “Bags for Botswana”. These will be sold to raise

money for Sr Angela of the Cross and the Passion sisters in

Botswana.

The Nuns have very minimal provision but have set up a

Day Centre for 24 children orphaned by AIDS, giving them

2 meals a day for 2 days a week. They want to do 5 days a

week, double the number of orphans and set up a proper

pre-school for them.

Diane Sweet, Textiles

Music Dept News........................

Mass Musicians

Thank you so much to all of the musicians who helped our

simultaneous Combined Masses to happen. The music

really added to the celebration of the masses. Students

who played an instrument or sang were: Bronte

Fitzgibbon, Monica Filemoni, Sophie Halliday, Lagi

Aukusitino, Petula McPhee, Nanako Suzuki, Charyne

Sundgren, Amy Campbell, Miwa Ochiai and Moana Leota.

How to Support Your Musician

If your daughter is learning a musical instrument there are

a few simple things you and your family can do to support

her. In order for a musician to improve they simply MUST

practice! This can be a challenge for all of the family –

especially if your daughter has chosen a loud instrument!

Here are a few things that can help:

� Have a space set up where your daughter can play

her instrument. It is a good idea to have a music

stand in this space.

� Have a set time when your daughter does her

practise each day.

� Gently encourage your daughter to practise during

the chosen time. (It’s a fine line – I know!)

� Ask to hear what your daughter is learning

occasionally – take a genuine interest.

� Know what day and time your daughter has her

lesson each week.

� Encourage her to talk about her weekly lesson and

her instrumental/vocal teacher.

� Ensure your daughter keeps all of her music in a

folder so she can be organised for her lessons and her

daily practise.

� Remind your daughter from time to time that she is

special and clever because she plays a musical

instrument! Not everyone can do this.

Amy Jennings

HoD, Music

Other College News....................

• Debating

Once again our debating teams have experienced a

successful year. Both the Senior Premier A and Senior

Premier B teams completed their final rounds with wins,

and the Senior Premier A team (Rachel Duignan, Grace

Jansen and Julie Vidal) just missed out on making the

quarter-final round by one point. Both of the Junior

Certificate teams have progressed through to the octo-

final round in their competition and are working hard to

prepare for the debate. By the time this newsletter

reaches you, the debate will have been held and we will

know if we have made it through to the quarter-finals.

Congratulations to Jasmine Arora, Raisham Dahya and

Zakiya Nowicki-McCulloch (Junior Cert 1) and Elisha

Prasad, Merhawit Gebremikel and Shaynell Barboza

(Junior Cert 2), and huge thanks to Julie Vidal, Ms Walsh

and Mrs Ryan for coaching the girls! Congratulations to

Ms MacIver’s Junior Premier team who are through to the

quarter-finals of their grade.

• National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka

Competition

Ngā Maioha o Te Rangikauia, the St Catherine’s College

and St Patrick’s College Kapa Haka group, combined with

students from St Mary’s College and Te Kura Kaupapa

Māori o Ngā Mokopuna, left Wellington on Sunday 22 July

and travelled by bus, first to Auckland, to stay overnight

at St Mary’s, Ponsonby with Jane Holloway, and then on

to Whangarei, to compete in this prestigious competition.

The people of Ngati Wai hosted us on the marae,

‘Whakapaumahara’ in Whananaki. They were lovely,

friendly people who showed us wonderful hospitality. The

local primary school came up to watch out final dress

rehearsal, one of the Kaumatua helped us prepare the

harakeke for their kakahu (costumes) and Matua Nupere

did a mean job getting ink stains off school shirts!

The students worked incredibly hard to prepare for their

performance, often rehearsing and drilling late into the

night. They also took time out of their rehearsals each

day to complete schoolwork set for them by their

teachers.

The Whanau who accompanied us were amazing. Their

efforts in the kitchen ensured everyone was extremely

well fed and their time and expertise with sewing

machines, feathers, makeup and harakeke ensured our

rangatahi looked incredible!

The performance was spectacular. Although we were a

small group of 33 (most other groups had a full

complement of 40) and were not dressed as the others

were in the traditional piupiu and pare, the students all

did their respective schools proud and well deserved their

placing of 15th

out of 43 teams. They were ecstatic to find

that they were placed the top team out of the 6 teams

that competed from the greater Wellington region.

We celebrated with a hakari that evening, being treated

to freshly caught and smoked eel and a very tasty hangi,

before heading back to Wellington via a night on a marae

in Tokaanu.

Congratulations to all the students involved: Jasmine

Governor, Summah Te Kahika-Heemi, Leitisha Pohatu,

Laura Brockway, Jakarna Eagle, Rebecca Moriarty, Saasha

Riddell, Manuhuia Ward, Tiarna-Lee Jacobs, Unity Brown

and Tira Lee-Kirk. And a big thank you to all the Whanau

involved in this event. It would not have been possible

without the input of you all and our tutors, the very

talented Kereama Te Ua and Ria Hall.

Library News………………………… In our usual way at St Catherines College we like to

celebrate Library Week and International Week together

and again this year it is the energy and enthusiam of the

student librarians and the International Club members

that make it such a successful week and a great showcase

for the library and all the diverse cultural groups we have

here at school. Activities going on in the week of 21-24

August include a showing of the movie "Hunger Games”

followed by a quiz set by the librarians.

All week a competition runs which matches staff

members with their favourite books or objects. On

Wednesday the International Club is running a 'fear

factor' style competition between staff and students at

Student Assembly, may the person who can eat the most

wasabi win!!!!

And to finish the week the famous and well-loved Miss

SCC pageant kicks off on Friday amidst the whole school

dressed in international mufti.

Sophie Jolliffe and Lisa Lorenzen

Librarian ESOL

Careers/STAR News……………….

CAREERS

An invitation to Parents/Caregivers of Year 13 leavers:

Continue discussions at home with your daughter about

her future plans. At this time of the year the application

process for further study should be underway and your

daughter will need your assistance with this.

The Breakout database for scholarships and grants can be

accessed at school and we encourage our Year 13’s to

search this database. Parents who would like to search

Breakout on behalf of their daughter please contact me

and I will arrange a time for you. Some application dates

have already closed so now is the time to search.

Tertiary Providers Open Day: Friday 31 August

The following institutes invite you to their Open Day:

Victoria University, Massey University, Sir George

Seymour National College of Airline, Travel & Tourism,

Travel Careers & Training, Yoobee School of Design

(Natcoll), Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, Travel Careers &

Training Ltd, NZ Fashion Tech, WelTec (City Campus)

showcasing Degrees only, NZ School of Music.

Ask your Year 13 about her plans and how she will spend

her day. A letter will be sent home regarding this day.

Just The Job www.tvnz.co.nz/justthejob

Series 6, Episode 10 was aired early this year. Spend 25

minutes and watch careersNZ take a Year 13 student

through the process of helping him find his ‘dream job.’

There are tips on writing a targeted CV and cover letter,

also interview tips.

GATEWAY

Senior students will soon be asked to consider whether

they would like to apply to be a Gateway student in 2013.

Gateway is a work based learning program which can help

your daughter gain work experience in a career of her

choice. She will ‘work’ one day a week for 10 weeks and

during the year it is possible to gain credits towards a

National Certificate if one is offered in the area of her

choice.

If you think this may be something that would suit your

daughter but need to know more about the Gateway

program please phone me on 939-8988 X 822.

Ellen Castle

Gateway,Careers, STAR Coordinator

Sports News……………………………

Football The 1st XI Football team played in the Final of the Wellington

Division 2 league on Wednesday 15 August against Upper Hutt.

The girls worked hard all game and with 10 minutes left to go

were winning 4-0. Upper Hutt scored 2 goals in the last 10

minutes but it wasn't enough to make a difference to the end

result; 4-2 to SCC. With this result it means the team were

unbeaten in all 13 games they played. It has been a great season

with all players giving 100% in every game and teams

commending us on how nice it has been to play against such a

friendly team. Congratulations to the players: Vivian Khosho,

Petula McPhee, Maxine Sprey, Rachel McLeod, Moana Wooles,

Josie Lampen-Smith Kozyniak, Kathryn Prince, Matha Mallon,

Jean Lampen-Smith Kozyniak, Georgia Bellve, Katlo

Makgabenyana, Galya Taylor, Madison Callender and Catherine

Hills. The girls will now play in a Regional Final on 29 August in

the last game of the season. Thanks to all the parents who have

helped with transport and have been a great support on the

sidelines for the team.

Laura Heil, PE Teacher

1st XI Final Played Upper Hutt for the Division 2 Final

Won

Playing in the Wellington Regional Final against Tawa. Good

luck! Great achievement

Badminton Congratulations to the following teams for winning their

Wellington Zone finals and made it to the Regional Finals:

Senior A, Senior B and Senior C teams; Junior B and Junior D

teams.

The Junior A team came runner up at the Regional Competition.

The Junior C team came runner up in their local competition -

well done.

This has been one of our most successful Badminton seasons to

date, a great reward for all the hard work and total commitment

throughout the season. Now that Winter Sports are wrapping up please ensure you return your

sports uniforms. All outstanding uniforms will be billed to accounts by

10th September.

�����

SCHOOL ORGANISATION

PPTA UNION MEETING -- Thursday, 30 August,

1.30pm. As a result, there will not be normal scheduled classes after

lunch on that day. (Your daughter has been given a notice to take home

regarding this.)

IMPORTANT COLLEGE DATES TO NOTE IN TERM

3 and TERM 4: A printout of the College Calendar for the

remainder of Term 3 and Term 4 is attached. Please make sure you

check this regularly for upcoming events.

SCHOOL FEES: We rely on you paying your annual school and building donation and

activity fees. Please could I encourage parents to make a real effort to

pay these. This money allows us to provide your daughter with better

resources and more opportunities. Should you be struggling to pay

these, please contact our Bursar and we can make arrangements for the

amount to be paid off. The College does have eftpos, and internet

banking facilities are also available. Should you wish to use the

internet banking option, please contact the Bursar to discuss.

STUDENTS REQUESTING LEAVE

DURING TERM TIME: Any student who has plans to be away from school during term time

should submit a written request to the Principal before making travel

arrangements etc. We do not encourage any student to be away from

school at any time, except when they are ill.

Community News…………………..

Sarah Lilli Fund concert Saturday, 1

st September, 3.30-5.00pm, Queen Margaret College Hall, 53

Hobson Street, Thorndon (see separate flyer for further details).

Miramar Tennis Club Open Day 2012 Miramar Tennis Club new season begins with an Open Day on 26 August,

11am to 1pm. Registrations will be taken or you can register online at

www.mi9ramartennis.org.nz. The club is located at the north end of

Miramar Park; enter from Darlington Road. Meet the coaches and enjoy

a fun morning. More info available from: miramartennis@xtra.co.nz, or

phone the club on

388-3629.

Kilbirnie Tennis Club - Junior Tennis General

Registration Day/Interclub Trials Kilbirnie Tennis Club will be holding registration and interclub trial days

on Sunday 26 August and Sunday 2 September 2012, 10.00am – 11.30am,

Crawford Road, Kilbirnie for the 2011/2012 season. Come along and

check out our coaching and development programme for 5 - 17 year olds.

For all queries please contact Michelle - mckibbin@xtra.co.nz

Gluten Free Food & Allergy Show Is on at the TSB Bank Arena, Queens Wharf, Wellington on 25/26 August.

These are NZ’s only exhibitions dedicated to delivering ideas and

solutions for allergy and intolerance issues.

2012 Calendar of Sporting Events …. coming up Winter Sports Tournament week (Netball, Hockey and Football) 3

rd Sept – 7

th Sept

Summer Sports Season for Term 4 15th

October – 30th

November

Road Race Champs 19th

September

St Catherine’s College Sports Awards 20th

September

Senior Volleyball commences 21st

September

Junior Tennis, Volleyball, Waterpolo and Touch will commence Commence in Term 4

College Sport Sportsperson of the Year Dinner 4th

November

Junior Volleyball Tournament 9th

– 10th

November

Junior Touch Tournament 15th

November

Junior Bowls Tournament 20th

November