Senior School Newsletter Term 1, Week 3 2022
Pictured: Lucas Harrison (2021 PY) receiving a VCE Academic Excellence Award for achieving an ATAR of 99 or above.
From the Principal Dear St Kevin’s College Community On Monday we celebrated the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2021 at our annual formal Awards Ceremony and Assembly. This assembly was attended by our high achievers, outstanding co-curricular contributors and the Dux of 2021, Luca Di Conza. It was a joyous and moving occasion with our incredibly talented and driven students. The event was attended by our current Year 12 cohort and special dignitaries including 10 years’ past Old Collegian and high achiever, Gary Li (2012). Both Luca and Gary addressed the assembly and I share their inspiring words with you here. Please see the full list of our exceptional Award recipients in the Director of Teaching and Learning’s section. Blessings and Peace Mrs Deborah M Barker Principal 2021 College Dux, Luca Di Conza’s Speech Good afternoon Principal Mrs Barker, staff, award recipients, guests and men of the College. Firstly, I’d like to congratulate all my fellow class of 2021 on their achievements in what has been a tumultuous 24 months, particularly those recognised today for their hard work. I’d also like to thank on behalf of the students all the staff who invested so much of their own time last year to support the Year 12s. Despite all the challenges that online learning brought, your commitment to helping us perform our best was unwavering, and I extend my gratitude to all of you. To the class of 2022, I have been asked to share some advice to help you tackle the year ahead. For me, the key last year was consistency, Year 12 is a big year and every one of you is going to have your ups and downs. But even on the days when your motivation is low, it’s important to remember that there is a long-term goal you are working towards. Particularly in those last few months, I wrote the date of my last exam on a whiteboard on my wall as a small piece of motivation to remind me of my goals. But everyone is driven by different things, so find what motivates you and write it down somewhere so that on those days when you don’t feel like studying you have something to fuel you, even if an hour is all you can bare. Year 12 isn’t about who can do the most practice exams or write the most essays, embrace the best way you learn and stick to it, you will be rewarded for your consistency at the end of the year. Finally, after two years spent mostly at home make the most of this year, enjoy your weekends and holidays or the year will be gone before you know it. There’s plenty more to Year 12 than just academics, so take advantage of those opportunities. All the best for the year ahead gentlemen if you trust the process I’m sure you’ll do everyone proud.
From the Principal Keynote Speaker, Mr Gary Li’s Speech Good morning Principal Mrs Barker, Donors, Award Recipients, Parents, Staff and Year 12 Class of 2022 Can I start by saying it’s an absolute pleasure to be back at St Kevin’s speaking to you today. To the high achievers of 2021, congratulations. In any year, doing VCE is a formidable challenge. To do VCE during a pandemic is unprecedented. To do VCE well in a pandemic, as you have done, is outstanding. So, to all of you here today and to your teachers and your families, well done. To the current set of Year 12s, you are in for a spectacular year. 10 years later, I still remember the joys of Year 12, like the Newman College retreat, the Year 12 formal, and that very last time I got to sing the Power of Your Love. But what’s really stayed with me over the years was the camaraderie, the camaraderie between my fellow Year 12s, our teachers, and everyone in the St Kevin’s community who lent a hand along the way. With the benefit of 10 years of hindsight, it was camaraderie that saw us through that gruelling and intense year, and it was camaraderie that ultimately separated St Kevin’s from the pack. Be there for each other and you will succeed. 10 years ago, I was listening to this same speech. I’d just earnt my wings with Mr Arai, and as the ambitious hothead that I was, I was dead-set on ignoring local universities in favour of building rockets at MIT. Unfortunately, MIT was perfectly happy with me not building rockets for them. I will not lie, that was probably the first big failure in my life. It was abrupt. It was unexpected. It seemed unfair. And yet, 10 years later, I have now worked across 3 different multinational investment banks, across Hong Kong, London, New York and Sydney. I’ve financed European governments, built schools for the less fortunate, and built offshore windfarms. I’ve advised on corporate raids and takeovers and helped companies grow. You see, after failing to get into MIT, I found myself doing a Commerce degree at Melbourne University, one that I had previously wrinkled my nose at. But I approached it with only one thing in mind, to work as hard as possible, and to take advantage of every opportunity that came my way. I seized an early internship to work hard and show the firm what I was made of, invariably, that opened up another opportunity in Hong Kong. I took that and, again, I worked hard, harder, even and again, a better opportunity opened up in London, and then Sydney. Make no mistake, it has not always been fun pulling all nighters, sometimes for days on end, but what I am trying to say is this, life will not always go your way, and life will not travel in a straight line, but if you put it upon yourself to work as hard as you can, and to control what you can control, everything will be more than ok. You will be ok. And it is not by mere coincidence that I have been able to work as hard as I have, or achieve as much as I have. This ethos was instilled in me, entirely, I think, during my time here at St Kevin’s. The academic rigor and the boundless opportunities in sport, music, service and ultimately the fullness of life that you are all encouraged to strive and reach and grasp for here at St Kevin’s, these things do not leave you when you leave here. Have faith that you are all wellequipped for the road ahead of you. And finally, do not forget that it is a privilege to be here at St Kevin’s. It did not take me long during my first year at Uni to realise that our experience here is unique. As such, where possible, do find time to give back, it is telling, but not at all surprising to me, that even in a profession as clinical as mine, the most meaningful work has been the projects for climate, for disadvantaged communities, and for social impact. Do not forget the plight of others. So, in essence, work hard, have faith, and give back, and in 10 years’ time, may you all look back at your time here with the same joy that I have. Thank you
From the Faith and Mission Team WE ARE CALLED TO SERVANT LEADERSHIP Our College Assembly next week is a very important opportunity to present our senior Student Leaders (College Captains, Prefects and Officers) for 2022, with a Commissioning and Investiture Ceremony. Student leaders will receive their leadership badge, which were blessed at our Opening School Year Mass last week, by the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Reverend Werner Utri. Our Principal, Mrs Barker will Commission our student leaders and present these badges to the seventy-two Year 12 students who have accepted a leadership role at Monday’s Assembly. The important message for our student leaders, which was introduced to them last year, is the model of leadership that we recognise and promote in our College Community, that of a servant leader. To further understand the call to servant leadership, we begin by looking to servant leaders who came before us, as evident through the Scriptures. Notice three things as we read these short descriptions of their stories. First, that none of them represents what we typically think of as leadership material. Second, that God used different methods to call them. And third, that because of their devotion to God, they were able to exhibit remarkable servant leadership qualities, whether they knew it or not! We look to… Moses. He was an unknown, a sheep herder with a speech impediment. God called him in spectacular fashion: a voice from a fiery bush. But Moses refused the bait. Like so many of God’s chosen leaders, Moses was weak and afraid and downright stubborn before taking on the role. But in the end, he became a wonderful witness of God-ordained authority, a man in whom God powerfully revealed himself, a man through whom God gave the Ten Commandments, a man to whom a whole nation of people looked for guidance. His only qualification: he was devoted to God. Ruth. Ruth was another surprising leadership choice on God’s part: she was a nobody, a widow with no children or means of support. What’s more, she chose to live with another low rung on the social ladder, her widowed mother-in-law. But therein lay God’s quiet call to Ruth. Through her empathy with her mother-inlaw’s distress, her faithfulness in caring for her, and her tenacity in starting a new life in a foreign country, God used this poor, female outsider to continue the family line of Jesus Christ. Her only qualification: devotion to God. Mary. It goes without saying that the mother of Jesus was a leader with the heart of a servant, but sometimes the strengths with which we are most familiar become the strengths we overlook. And so, we consider this young girl’s God-given qualities, qualities that enabled her to say yes to God: the inner resolve required for her to give herself so completely to a call. The grit required to endure the ridicule of her townsfolk and the suspicions of her fiancé. The courage required for her to give birth on the cold, hard ground, and then flee for her family’s life to another country. Her qualification: devotion to God. Peter. Passionate, impetuous Peter responded to Jesus ‘call without a second thought’. He literally dropped what he was doing and went. In the years that followed, his devotion to Jesus was reckless and rash. It was Peter who leapt out of the boat to meet Jesus walking on the water; it was he who cut off the guard’s ear when Jesus was arrested. It was also Peter who denied knowing Jesus just hours before his death. Certainly, no one would have voted him Most Valuable Player of the discipleship team. Except Jesus, who knew that Peter’s faith was as wide as the sea and that his heart was wholly open to the indwelling Spirit. Peter’s only qualification: devotion to Jesus Christ. These men and women lived on society’s margins. They did not expect their calls to servant leadership. Their responses were as varied as their personalities. Stubbornness, simple faith, wonder, passion. But their allegiance to God enabled them to say yes. Like those who have gone before us, our student leaders, too, are called to servant leadership. To be co-workers with Christ, tasked with pointing others to the kingdom way of life. Mr John Abrahams Director of Faith and Mission
Omnia Awards
NEW STUDENT PHOTOS YET TO BE TAKEN
James Luck - Year 7
For being a kind and caring friend when a classmate was unwell
Oliver Lunn - Kearney
For giving up his time to cox and coach the 10B Rowing team
Hugh Johnson - Year 8
For his care, concern and action to assist a friend in need
Frank Sun - Kenny
For warmly welcoming new students in Kenny House
Michael Werden - Rahill
Demonstrating leadership within the Year 10 play rehearsal program
Thomas Ball - Year 9
For his welcoming nature and general care for fellow students
Alexander Smith - McCarthy
For initiating welcome sessions for the new Year 10’s in his Tutor Group
Mr Anthony Johnson - Staff
For his tireless efforts coordinating contractors and campus works over the break and ongoing
Leo Ponto - Cusack
For his excellent effort and achievement in a recent science practical activity
Daniel Di Mauro - Purton
For his continued appliaction toward both his academics and his Rowing commitments
From the Director of Teaching and Learning Monday’s Academic Awards Ceremony, for the Class of 2021, was a special occasion. It was wonderful to not only celebrate the 2021 Academic Prize Winners, but to share the vast array of opportunities our students have in which to excel. Once again we congratulate the class of 2021 on their fine achievements. Ms Hannah Kollmorgen Director of Teaching and Learning
AWARD/PRIZE The Br Purton Accounting Prize
James Coloretti
The Br Chapman Biology Prize
Tak Heo
The Business Management Prize
Connor Joyce
The Br Kenny Chemistry Prize
Thomas Ackland John Hynes
The Economics Prize
Luca Di Conza
The JP Bourke English Expression Prize
Dominic Morelli
The Br Cusack French Prize
Emile Ambrosi
The Br Tevlin Geography Prize
Dominic O’Leary
The Global Politics Prize
Benjamin Tricarico
The Ancient History Prize
Andrew Mathieson
The History Revolutions Prize
Sebastian Conidi
The Information Technology Software Development Prize
Sam Cantwell
The Japanese Prize
Oscar Abe
The Br Hughes Legal Studies Prize
Dominic O’Leary
The Literature Prize
Ned Dwyer Alexander Xing
The Mandarin Prize
Dominic Morelli
The Further Mathematics Prize
James Coloretti Tom Davidson
The Mathematical Methods Prize
Joel Kruger
The Br Marlow Prize for Specialist Mathematics
Oliver Hoy
The Media Prize
Nathan Nguyen
The Music Performance Prize
Sebastian Poon
The Physical Education Prize
Joshua Hardy
The Physics Prize
Luca Di Conza
The Psychology Studies Prize
Angus Truong
The Product Design and Technology Prize
Daniel O’Malley Harrison Raffaele
The Spanish Prize
Domenico Conidi
From the Director of Teaching and Learning The Br Duffy Studio Arts Prize
Cameron Serpell
The Br Breach Theatre Studies Prize
Louis Prandolini
The Visual Communication Design Prize
Oscar Abe
VCE Academic Excellence Awards For Achieving an ATAR of 99 or above
Luca Di Conza Dominic Morelli Ned Dwyer Dominic O’Leary Angus Truong Domenico Conidi John Hynes Oscar Abe Oliver Hoy James McNair Ryan Cox Lucas Harrison
The Victor McMahon Performing Arts Award
Louis Prandolini
The Ruby Tout Public Speaking Award
Alexander Xing
The Nettlefold Champion Sportsman Award
Lachlan Peel
The Frank McDonough Award For Courage and Perserverance
Finley Pennisi
The Edmund Rice Medal Awarded for the full use of one’s gift in the academic, cultural and sporting life of the College, together with an active concern for the disadvantaged
Samuel Close Richard Wang Ned Dwyer Ryan King Liam Foldi Matthew Adams
The Ken Ogilvie Memorial Prize Awarded at the Principal’s discretion to senior students whose contribution to the quality of life at St Kevin’s College has been substantial
Luca Di Conza
Proxime Accessit
Dominic Morelli
Dominic Morelli Lucas Harrison
Ned Dwyer College Dux
Luca Di Conza
The Alan Shelton Memorial Prize (SKC '39) For outstanding endeavour to develop scholastic and sporting ability and qualities of leadership within the College
Nicholas Baré
Class of 2021 Academic Awards Ceremony
Class of 2021 Academic Awards Ceremony
St Kevin’s College Foundation St Kevin’s Foundation Dinner 2022 The St Kevin’s College Foundation Inc. has remained active during the last two years but is looking forward to now escalating its activities back to pre-COVID times. One wonderful way for the whole community to be involved is to attend the Foundation Dinner. All your family and friends are most welcome and we hope that all Members, current and future families, interested friends, old collegians and previous attendees gather on the night. By attending this event you are supporting the work of the St Kevin’s College Foundation. Our purpose is to raise funds for the College’s Bursary Program so that young men from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds have the opportunity to attend St Kevin’s College and so families needing financial support may be assisted. It is not a Foundation that doubles as a Building Fund to build College infrastructure but it is purely philanthropic for the benefit of the bursary program. New families to the College are particularly welcome as a wonderful way to meet other families as they start their St Kevin’s journey. Those who may wish to learn more can do so on the Foundation website within the community pages of the general College website. Also the Trybooking site has for sale raffle tickets for prizes drawn on the night. You do not have to book for the dinner to purchase raffle tickets. We look forward to seeing as many as possible on the night on Wednesday 6 April at Leonda in Hawthorn where our special guest will be Olympian Peter Bol who has a wonderful story of endeavour and seizing opportunities to tell. Peter has gone from Khartoum to Toowoomba, Perth and now Melbourne where he competes and trains with the St Kevin’s Amateur Athletic Club and represented Australia in the 800m Final at the Tokyo Olympics. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/BWGIN
Annual Foundation Dinner Date Venue
7:00pm Wednesday 6 April 2022 Leonda on the Yarra 2 Wallen Road, Hawthorn
Cost
$195 Includes three-course meal and drinks
Bookings
https://www.trybooking.com/BWGIN
Dress Enquiries
Cocktail attire foundation@associations.stkevins.vic.edu.au
Parking is available in the onsite carpark. For seating preferences (tables of 10) and groupings, please email foundation@associations.stkevins.vic.edu.au
SPECIAL GUEST: PETER BOL Olympian Peter Bol has a wonderful story of endeavor and seizing opportunities to tell. Peter has gone from Khartoum to Toowoomba, Perth and now Melbourne where he competes and trains with the St Kevin’s Amateur Athletic Club. Peter is an accomplished middle distance runner who holds the current national 800m record and in 2021, he became the first Australian athlete in 53 years to make it to the 800m final at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Music News Ensemble Rehearsals All ensembles have now commenced and rehearse each week. Considering the special COVID conditions in place for the first 4 weeks of the term, large groups have split and been rehearsing in smaller sections. We look forward to recommencing full rehearsals as soon as possible, but these smaller rehearsals have still been very worthwhile. Ensembles are preparing for performances at assemblies, Open Day, festivals and concerts.
Music Association Meeting Monday 21 February, 7:30pm The Music Association is holding its Term 1 meeting by GoogleMeet on Monday 21 February, commencing at 7:30pm. All parents interested in supporting the Music program across the College are encouraged to attend this meeting and join the Music Association. The link for the meeting is https://meet.google.com/ ggu-dmva-kfe
It is important that students monitor their emails, Music Office – C305 as this is an important method of communication between the music staff and students at the moment. Parents or students with Music enquiries are encouraged to contact Ms Andrea McDonald (Music Administrator) at the Music Office email music@stkevins.vic.edu.au or by phone on 9832 4941. Students are welcome to call in before school, at recess, at lunchtime or after school.
Careers News Students at all year levels are currently discovering the increased level of academic pressure associated with the jump from one year to the next. This has not ever been more apparent than in 2022 when all students have had the majority of the past two years in isolation, learning online. Without normal socialisation opportunities, the academic rigour of the physical classroom and the associated drive for excellence which is energised by teachers and peers, some students may be finding it difficult to focus. It can also be confronting for current Year 12 students to be asked to verbalise their career interests and potential pathways after completion of their VCE. Those students who have taken up the opportunity to have a Careers Meeting thus far exemplify the range of current mindsets with some focussed on one career outcome, and others having no real idea! We hope that all discussions will provide context and direction for pathway research, no matter what the starting point. It is important that Year 12 students, no matter how advanced their thoughts, commence their pathway discussion and research now, so as to be in an informed position when they are making decisions later in the year. The Careers Department is more than happy to help with this process. Year 10 families have received an email about the Career Avenues online testing which will take place on Thursday 24 February from Periods 1 to 5. The results of the testing provide students, families and the College with valuable information upon which appropriate and informed VCE subject selection will be based. Year 10 appointments with students and parents will take place in Term 2 and can be booked from 20 April. Items of note in the Careers News this week include: •
Dates to Diarise in Term 1
•
Deakin University Bachelor of Health Sciences – New Public Health Major
•
Career in Veterinary Nursing
•
RMIT Virtual Tours
•
Studying Sports Media at Holmesglen Institute
•
University of Sydney Events in February & March
•
Federation University New Courses Introduced in 2022
•
Monash University New Bachelor of Criminology and Policing in 2022
•
Data Science and Information Systems Degrees in 2022
•
Universities in Western Australia
Please see http://www.stkevinscareers.com/?page=newsletter for more details. Ms Horstman, Ms O’Sullivan & Mrs White
Sport Fixture
Results
Senior School Sport Another big week of sport across the College with teams playing all over Melbourne as well as interstate with our 1st and 2nd VIII rowers racing at the NSW Championships. Parents/Guardians and boys should now be getting back into the rhythm of Saturday sport. A reminder that boys must be in attendance at training as well as their Saturday games. If a boy cannot attend a training session, parents/guardians must inform their son’s coach prior to the session and seek permission to miss that training. Of course, if a boy is sick/injured and cannot attend that is a different proposition. Uniform Boys are allowed to wear their PE uniform home from sports training. No other variation of the College PE uniform is acceptable. Likewise, there are NO HOODIES which are official items of College uniform, and as such, are not to be worn to Saturday sport or to any PE class. Please refer to the official Bob Stewart Uniform list. Winter Sport Changes Final changes of sport for winter sport will be accepted until Friday 25 February. A change of sport form is available on the Sports Portal Page. No late changes of sport will be accepted after this date due to final team numbers needed to be provided to the APS for fixturing. Team of the Week This week’s Team of the Week goes to the 1st VIII Rowing Crew who raced at the NSW Championships on the weekend claiming a silver medal behind The King’s School Sydney with the Shore School in 3rd place. The crew rowed a time of 5.51 which is the fastest recorded time by a St Kevin’s College crew. It was a fantastic final with the SKC crew leading and only getting rowed past in the last 100m. In the heat the 1st easily beat the only other Victorian entry Scotch College to make the final. On Sunday, the Captain of Boats, James Hart raced in the Schoolboy Single Scull race and won by a commanding 24 seconds, the biggest margin of any race at the regatta. A massive effort by James and the crew and augurs well for the Head of the River on 26 March. Mr Tom Courtney Dean of Sport
Parent Events Attention Year 12 parents - Welcome Dinner Please join the Year 12 families to celebrate the start of what is hoped will be an exciting year ahead for our boys. Date: Friday 25 February Venue: Glover Family home in Glen Iris (addressing invitation) Time: 7:30pm Price: $35 per head, includes a Thai dinner and BYO drinks Bookings: via Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/BXIGT RSVP: Monday 21 February For any queries please contact Emma Simpfendorfer 0412045819 or emmasimp@icloud.com SAVE THE DATE - St Kevin’s College Mother’s Day Cocktail Evening Proudly brought to you by the St Kevin’s Mothers’ Association Date: Thursday 28 April 2022 Where: River’s Edge (located in the World Trade Centre) Time: 7:30pm - 11:30pm Cost: $80 per person (7:30pm-10:30pm 3hr drink package including canapes, 10:30pm-11:30pm a cash bar will be available) * Invitation to be sent out on 15 March 2022.
St Kevin’s Towels All Towel Purchases to be made through the Trybooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/BUYBC ORDERS WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 31 2022 until term 4. These towels come embroidered with your son’s name. They are only available for purchase in Term 1 and 4 and can take around four weeks to be delivered to the College once ordered. Please note: these towels need to be washed in cold water as they pill easily. Washing in cold water will help but may not eliminate the pilling.
Music Association Music Association Meeting The first meeting of the Music Association will be held by Google Meet on Monday 21 February at 7:30pm. New members are always welcome to join this enthusiastic group of parents interested in supporting the Music program of the College and we look forward to meeting you online.
SKC Music Association
Here is the code for Monday’s Meet: https://meet.google.com/ggu-dmva-kfe
SKC MUSIC ASSOCIATION Music education enriches the lives of our students by providing an avenue for self-expression and creativity. It has been shown to enhance intellectual development. We recognise how St Kevin’s College Music has grown from being the domain of a talented few, to being a mainstream activity. There are now approximately 600 St Kevin’s students participating in over 35 ensembles. The SKC Music Association have been active over many years supporting St Kevin’s and their wonderful music staff. Please consider joining.
Who?
The SKC Music Association consist of interested parents and Mr Simon Harris (Dean of Music).
When?
There is an Annual General Meeting in Term 3. Usually there are 4 committee meetings a year. These have been held online using the Google Meet platform.
Why?
To promote and foster a community of St Kevin’s parents and students interested in producing and appreciating beautiful music. To raise funds and help support the Music Department to continue its strong growth and development. The Music Association also contribute funds to aid in the purchase of instruments for use by the boys at St Kevin’s. Provide support during Music events through the year by helping serve drinks, cater, setup and pack up venues.
How?
Please consider joining our Music Association by emailing us on SKCMusicA@outlook.com. Alternatively contact Ms Andrea McDonald (Music Administrator) on 98324941 or music@stkevins.vic.edu.au.
Simon Harris Dean of Music
Alexander Poon President
Melanie Fasham Secretary