April 2015
Achieve @ St Bernard’s From the Principal Kite ingoa o te Atua, o te Tamaiti, o te Wairua Tapu. Amene.
EASTER is the time of the resurrection Christ is risen
Two months before Martin Luther King was assassinated on 4th April 1968 he delivered a sermon to his followers. A tape recording of him preaching that sermon was played at his own funeral. These were his words: “Every now and then I think about my own death, and I think about my own funeral. If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize - that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards - that’s not important. I’d like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day, that “Martin Luther King tried to love somebody.” I want you to say that day, that I “did try to feed the hungry; that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison.” I want you to say that I “tried to love and serve humanity.” I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.” When reflecting in the time leading up to Easter let us pray and our response to the prayers will be: “hear our prayer.” Let us pray that we may discover what is really important in life. Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer. Let us pray that we may respect and value each person who comes into our lives. Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer. Let us pray that we may be willing to learn from others. Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer. Let us pray for those who will experience hatred, abuse, and violence this day. Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer. Let us pray for people of violence, that their attitude and behaviour may change. Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer (adapted from www.prayingeachday.org)
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE Peter Fava
New Classrooms The Board of Trustees are pleased to announce commencement of our latest building project. A brand new 4 classroom block has been commissioned with the successful tenderer being Building company Freear Philip Ltd. Work is to begin immediately with the construction zone to be set-up during the Term One holidays. Please note that a new traffic plan will be in place effective from 20th April 2015. It is very likely that drive on access will be prohibited. Please over the holidays consider other drop off and pick up arrangements using Waterloo Road; Witako Street; Anderson and Marina Grove and understand that there will be greater traffic congestion. Please be patient. If you have any questions please refer these to Mr Outtrim our Business Manager who will be managing the site and project on behalf of the College.
Special Character
Science
Special character events and days of significance on our Catholic calendar have continued to ensure that our first term of the year has been a busy one. Lent which is the build up to Easter began with an Ash Wednesday liturgy run by our Chaplain Ms Dickinson and the year 13 leaders. It was a sombre but moving occasion where the ashes were distributed on our foreheads and we made our individual promises to God about what we will do better during the Lenten season. Caritas this year is focussing on raising awareness around the devastation natural disasters have made on countries and in particular the Philippines. All Catholic schools are invited this year to participate in the Caritas Challenge where youth are encouraged to undertake an activity for 24 hours that brings them closer to the living conditions of those less fortunate. Under the guidance of Mr Sutherland some of our year 13 students attended a leadership day where they planned how this could work in our school. The students are currently planning this event which will take place early in term two.
ICAS. This is the International Competition for Assessment in School. This year we would like as many students to enter. It is available for each year level from Year 7 to 13. Your son will be bringing home an entry form. Entries need to be in by May so can you please return the confirmation slip and the $9 to the office. GNS Visit. 8 students were given a fantastic opportunity to visit GNS at Gracefield and to gain an insight into what is the current edge research happening right here in Lower Hutt. Thanks to Dr Karyn Rogers for facilitating it for all the colleges in the valley. Field trips. This year all form levels will be involved in at least 1 field trip. The Yr 13 science are currently investigating sedimentation of the Hutt River. The Yr 8 will be going on a recycling tour of the main facilities for recycling in the Hutt Valley. Thanks to the Hutt City Council for facilitating this event. Wanted: Thank you for the yogurt containers. Please keep them coming in. What we urgently need is the old film canisters. They are brilliant for our pop gun experiment but our students keep losing the lids. If you know where we can purchase these then please let Mr Higson know. If you have any spares at home then may we please have them. Workbooks. All senior subjects, except for 12 and 13 science have a workbook, which are excellent for homework and revision material. Senior students should be doing 2 to 2 1/2 hours a revision/homework/ study a day. When your son says there is no homework that is not true.
Our year 12 students this year once again volunteered to collect money for Catholic Social Services at Hutt City New World taking shifts throughout the day. Ms Dickinson was instrumental in organising the shifts and ferrying students back and forth. Our head students and special character captain attended the Marist Leadership Forum for leaders in Marist Brothers schools in Auckland recently. The emphasis of the weekend was on how to be servant leader in the community. Past Principal of St Bernard’s College, Brother Terence ran the weekend and our students have returned with the skills and confidence to not only lead the student body but to serve them.
Arts
Catholic teachers within the Wellington diocese celebrated their annual commissioning Mass and three of our teachers, Ms Emma Wallis, Ms Aimee O’Sullivan and Mr Greg Bourke were awarded with Catholic Special Character Foundation certificates for completing the “Teachers new to Catholic Schools” course last year.
MUSIC NEWS – TERM 1 It has been a busy term settling into the routines and expectations of St Bernard’s College. The Mass and Jazz bands have started strongly and their weekly practices are productive and fun. A small group of ukulele players have started meeting on Thursday at lunchtime in the Music room – anyone interested is welcome to join in. Senior students are busy composing and preparing their first performance of two pieces for NCEA assessment (7pm, Tuesday 31 March here in the Music Suite). Wellington Orchestra Festival for Year 7/8 Students Parents of students who learn an orchestral instrument are encouraged to email me (mhorner@sbc.school.nz) with their son’s name, instrument and an idea of level (how many years have they been learning?) so that we can gather a small troop of instrumentalists to join this festival in June. It is a case of signing up and learning some music before we join a large group of players (around 200 in 2014!!) for a day of workshops and a concert in June. It would be great to have some students participate in this and report back to the rest of the school. St Bernard’s College Choir This group meets on Friday at lunchtime in the Music room and prepares songs for performance. Performance opportunities include busking, localised tours and performances, presentations at school events as well as regional events. The choir is currently singing a variety of music from that of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to the Everley Brothers to … just about anything!! All students are welcome with no auditions and an ‘all-comers welcome’ policy!!!! Student Groups A number of student groups meet regularly to play – there’s a Year 9 Rock group and another of older students. See Ms Horner if you’re interested.
Fr Patrick Bridgman was welcomed to the St Bernard’s community with a morning tea with Religious Studies staff and Senior Management. It was a great opportunity to get to know Te Awakairangi’s new parish priest and discuss our ongoing and future relationship.
Vacancy for Clarinet and Saxophone Lessons The clarinet and saxophone teacher does have room for one or two more students – it would be great to get a beginner started. If you think this might be you, contact me!! (mhorner@sbc.school.nz)
Sport Athletics On Wednesday 25 February the annual SBC Athletics Championships were held at Petone Rec. Participation was even over all house groups and this year Pompallier came out on top. Congratulations to the following boys who set new records Cameron Forsyth Yr7 800m 2:46.03, Phelan Rona Yr7 High Jump 1.33m, Long Jump 4.47m, Khya Wilson Yr8 100m 13.65, Jacob Cherry Junior (U14) Long Jump 5.30m, Daniel Goldsworthy Youth (U15) 1500m 5:04.85 St Bernard’s College took 52 students to the Hutt Zone Championships on Wednesday 11 March and from there the following 8 students qualified for the College Sport Wellington Regional Championships on Wednesday 18 March. – Jacob Cherry, Uso Brown, Ollie Burton, Quentin Daniel, Willie Fine, Brad McEwan, Daniel Goldsworthy, Devante Tuhaka.
1st Place Year 7 Phelan Rona
Pompallier
Year 8 Khya Wilson
Marcellin
Junior Jacob Cherry
Pompallier
Youth Usoaliinofolelei Brown
Ignatius
Intermediate Bree Henderson
Pompallier
Senior Scott Travis
Chanel
House 1st Pompallier
560
rd
3 Marcellin
510
4th Chanel
471
2 Ignatius
Swimming The SBC Swimming Championships were held on 16 March. Individual Champions Max McGuinness, Yr7 Paddy Roberts, Yr8 Jack Charleton, Junior Braden Longstaff, Youth Michael Schutz-Tala, Intermediate Mataio Pou, Senior Ignatius House Champions
595
nd
Touch Rugby We had 3 teams entered into the Junior Boys Hutt Valley Touch competition during term 1. Well done to all teams, final placings: Division 1- SBC 1 placed 2nd Division 3- SBC 2 placed 1st & SBC 3 placed 5th The Sports Department would also like to say thank you to all parents for their support and encouragement during term 1 and to those who have volunteered their services as a coach or manager, your dedication is greatly appreciated.
Golf We had one team entered into the College Sport Wellington Hutt Valley competition which was placed first at the end of the season. The following boys competed at the Hutt Region Interschool This qualified the team to compete in the Philips Cup final against Swimming Sports on 30 March. other schools from the Wellington and Northern regions. Although Well done to : we did not place in the teams event Riley King placed 2nd in each of Paddy Roberts, Josh Carey, Callum Coyne, John Genova, Max McGuinness, Keanu Templonuevo, and Conor Stewart who could the Boys Individual Gross and NETT Championships. Other team members were Bradley Searle, Daniel Searle and compete in up to 3 individual events and a Yr 7/8 Relay at this event. Austin Campbell. All boys can be commended on their performances and congratulations to those who placed in the top 3. Football. Max McGuinness Yr 7 Boys 100m Freestyle; 2nd We will have 6 teams this year. Three senior and 3 junior. Paddy Roberts Yr 8 Boys 50m & 100m Freestyle; 3rd Paddy Roberts, Max McGuinness, John Genova, Conor Stewart We will have a team in the Capital Football Hutt Valley competition. Yr 7/8 Boys 25m Freestyle Relay; 2nd It will be playing in the 14th Grade. Their season starts on Saturday 18th April and the following week they will play on Monday 27 th April ( Monday of ANZAC weekend). Monday is now a holiday because ANZAC day falls on the weekend.
Junior
and senior teams have been finalised. The college has an expectation that players complete the season even if they are disappointed with the team they are in. College sport games start in either week 2 or 3 of term 2.
Training
Canoeing Congratulations to Ethan Moore for his following achievements: NZ Surf Life Saving Championships, Gisborne -2nd Ski Race U16 Men, 2nd Ski Relay U19 Men, 4th Double Ski U19 Men Under 16 Men Central Region Ski Champion Canoe Sprint Nationals and Oceania Championships, Lake Karapiro – 2nd, U16 Men K1 500m, 2nd U16 Men K1 200m, 2nd U18 Men K1 100m Wellington High Performance Team.
days. These have been formalised and all players are expected to attend all trainings. These will be immediately after college and will usually go to around 5.00pm. Players will need to bring running shoes in case the fields are closed and the training will be on the tar seal. We have two teams (14th grade and J2) being coached by senior students. Can the parents of these team players please actively support and encourage these two young men as they commence their coaching careers.
Coaches.
PFS News The PFS meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7.30pm in the school staffroom and we would love to have you join us. It is a great way to get to meet other parents and get first-hand knowledge of school happenings.
Pacific Parents Weltec May 6th at 6pm The SBC Pacific parents and students are invited to visit the Engineering Technology Faculty for a ‘Hands On’ introduction to their courses.. Weltec wants to encourage more Pacific students to become engineers. Come along and see what they have to offer. A bus will leave SBC at 5.30pm to take us all there.
Mufti Day
Term Dates Diary Notes April 27. ANZAC Day 28. Chanel Feast Day - Board Meeting Term 2 May 20 April to 3 July 2. -O’Shea Shield Term 3 5. Pompallier Feast Day 20 July to 25 September 8. Staff Special Character Day -School Term 4 Closed 12 October to 8 December 15. Workday 16. Open Day 21. SBC Cross Country FREE 26. Board Meeting Doctor’s consultation at June 4. PFS Meeting St Bernard’s College 6. St Marcellin Champagnat Feast Day Plan to be as fit and healthy as you 26. Preference Enrolments Close can be!! 30. Board Meeting Appointments with our school nurse July Alex Ferrier-Kerr are 2. PFS Meeting Tuesday mornings Term 1 27 January to 2 April
Appointments with our doctor Dr Beena Hegde are Wednesday afternoon 570-0883 or 560-9250 (College office) ---------------------------
Free Dental Treatment
The mufti day held on the 20th March raised
offered by Graeme Yee Dental Care, 66 Bloomfield Terrace, Lower Hutt, 566-1119
$1060.00 Which was donated to UNICEF for the victims of Cyclone PAM
Uniform Shop
This free treatment is available to all secondary students until their 18th birthday. All new patients, students and parents are welcome. If you have any questions please feel free to call on the above number.
Wellington School of Cricket April 2015 Holiday Programmes Intermediate Programme (ICP) The ICP is recommended for cricketers 10-14 years of age who want to improve their performance. 13th April through to the 17th April Westpac Stadium 1pm – 3pm. Cost:$170/- per player. To enroll please send the details requested below to ivan@firebirds.co.nz. Please include your name, date of birth, address, phone number and ICP. Wellington School of Cricket Ph; 04 471 2157 Mobile: 021 894 338Email: ivan@firebirds.co.nz
Normal Opening Hours Monday 8.15 to 9am Wednesday 10.30 to11am Thursday 12.30 to 1.30pm We apologize for the inconvenience caused by not being able to purchase uniform items. We are working hard with our suppliers to remedy this. We will let everyone know through the daily notices when these items do arrive.
Contact Details Physical/Postal Address 183 Waterloo Road Lower Hutt 5010 New Zealand
P:04 560 9250 F:04 560 9251 E:office@sbc.school.nz W:www.sbc.school.nz
Sponsors of the St Bernard's College Newsletter
Preferred method of payment school fees The school prefers all school fees to be paid directly to our bank account. This is a safer means of payment that provides a reliable trail. Our bank account is ASB Queensgate 12-3142-0164653-00. Please include your son’s first name and surname, and your phone number in the reference fields. Receipts are issued for all payments and given to students in class. If you are facing financial difficulties please contact The Business Manager. Thank you .