Mountain Rd – Epsom – Telephone (09) 524 8108 – Fax (09) 524 9459

Email: admin@st-peters.school.nz     -  Website: www.st-peters.school.nz

Friday 28 August, 2009

Newsletter No. 13/09

Dear Parents and Boys

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

GREEN SHOOTS

(Where are they …?)

I am intrigued by the phase “Green Shoots” when it is applied to the economic recession and particularly the housing market.

The commentary is always about ‘Green Shoots’ (growth) nearly occurring. The message is always tentative and nearly always wrong!

It seems to me that economic commentators are waiting in hope rather than doing the analysis of when  growth should occur.

It is the same with boys and young men – They are always about “Green Shoots” as maturity happens on a linear sometimes exponential scale.

It is well known that in Week 3 of  Term 3 for Year 10 boys – high suspension and stand-down rates occur and spike throughout the country.

 St Peter’s is no exception.

It is as if the growth hormones about this time suddenly synchronize and (mis)behaviour occurs!

Year 13 boys mature markedly over the Christmas period.

It is the same in small ways for other levels of the school.

Unfortunately parents who are in the middle of the winter of discontent about their adolescent sons cannot see the ‘green shoots’ occurring.

Parents wait in hope!

Teachers wait in hope!

But “green shoots” of life in an adolescent boy always come through.

Isn’t it great spring is here.

In His Peace

In this issue: 

• Upcoming events
• Congratulations
• Bereavements
• Special Character
• Sports Update
• School Fee Payments

K Fouhy

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday 28 August

• 10Fin Retreat in the Pavilion

Saturday 29 August

• Grade Rugby Finals @ SCH

Sunday 31 August

• Tournament Week starts for Hockey, Soccer, Basketball
• 10BAR Retreat in the Pavilion
• Vision testing in the Middle School

Tuesday 1 September

• 10GAN Retreat in the Pavilion
• Vision testing in the Middle School

Wednesday 2 September

• Winter Tournament continues

Thursday 3 September

• Father and Son Breakfast in the College Hall @ 7.00am, tickets available from front office.
• Tournament Week continues
• 10KEL Retreat in the Pavilion
• Year 7-8 Reconciliation @ 5.30pm @ St Benedict’s Church
• Year 7 & 8 Interzone Cross Country @ Pukekohe

Friday 4 September

• Winter Tournament continues
• 10SML Retreat in the Pavilion

Saturday 5 September

• NZ National Concert Band Festival in Rotorua

Monday 7 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations begin

• PTFA Raffle closes today

Tuesday 8 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations
• 10WAG Retreat @ Franciscan Friary

Wednesday 9 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations

Thursday 10 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations
• Stroke Foundation Collection with Rotary - 10SMA from 11am – 2.00pm in Newmarket

Friday 11 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations
• Year 8 Humanities trip to Mangere Mountain from 9.00am – 3.00pm

Saturday 12 September

• Mass of Initiation @ 6.00pm at St Benedict’s
• 1st XV Dinner @ 7.30pm in the Hall
• 1st XI Hockey Dinner @ 7.30pm in the Pavilion

Sunday 13 September

• North Island Secondary School Ski Champs @ Turoa

COMING UP THIS TERM

Thursday 17 September

• Sports Photos all day

Friday 18 September

• Old Boys 70th Jubilee Function @ 6.30pm (Top Yard)

Saturday 19 September

• 1st XI Soccer Dinner @ 6.30pm

Monday 21 September

• Rugby meeting debrief for parents and boys @ 7.30pm in the College Hall

Tuesday 22 September

• Year 8 Eisteddfod @ 7.30pml

Wednesday 23 September

• Year 7 Eisteddfod @ 7.30pm

Friday 25 September

• Teacher Only Day, no classes

BEREAVEMENTS

Our prayers and thoughts are with these families at this time:

Jarred Hartnell – Uncle

Dylan and PJ Ah Van-Tolua - Great Uncle

Francis Moynihan Lavey – Great Aunt

James Glucina - Great Uncle

Christian Lee – Great Grandmother

If there are other close relatives who have suffered bereavement – please let us know.

CONGRATULATIONS

P Year 8 Cross Country Team who won the Central Zone Cross. Pierce Sheridan and Sam Pendreigh were both placed 3rd in their respective age groups. These boys will represent St Peter’s College in the Inter Zone competition in Pukekohe on September 3.

P At the recently held Auckland Winter Swimming Champs Andrew McEwan gained  medals in the 15 – 16 year age group, he won gold in the 200m butterfly, silver in the 200m medley and breaststroke and bronze in 400m the medley and 50m breaststroke.

P The following Year 8 boys we have been selected for the Auckland Roller Mills West Rugby Team who are playing their second game on Sunday 30 August: Michael Walsh, Lisati Milo-Harris, Joshua Plummer, Taylor Sommerville.

SPECIAL CHARACTER NEWS

(a)       Service Programmes

The St Peter’s Man is a man of Service

Years 9-11

Congratulations to Y9, 10 and 11 students for fulfilling their Service Hours for the year, and for handing in their Service Journals and Essays. Well done for loving and serving in your community.

Late Journals: If your journal is late, you need to complete it and hand it in now!

Year 12 Reminder

Due Dates and instruction

Service Hours Sheet due on or by the last day of term, September 24.

Hand completed Hours Sheet into the student academic centre. Place in your class’ file in your Year Level’s Service Box.

Blank Service Hours Sheets can be obtained from the Academic Centre.

PTFA RAFFLE

 Thanks to those families that have already supported this fundraising effort.

It is intended to have a “ring–a–round” next Tuesday evening to remind students if there has been little action!

 It is important that books that are not going to be sold be returned next week for re-distribution. This will ensure better success.

EDMUND RICE OLD BOYS SCHOLARSHIP

Applications for 2010

Each year several Scholarships are awarded to Year 13 students at St Peter’s College. The criteria is as follows:

• Students must be going on to Tertiary study, and must meet criteria to gain entry to the degree course at University/Polytechnic
• Financial Need
• Contribution to the school community

If interested in applying, please collect an application form from the Careers Department. Closing date: Wednesday 23rd September

SCHOOL FEE PAYMENTS

If you are paying your school fees by the internet, automatic payment or branch deposit, please make sure you son’s student number or surname is entered. We are receiving payments which we are unable to identify without a reference number or name. Please check your fee account to ensure any payments you have made have been credited to you. Many thanks. If you have any questions phone Ann Valk on 524 8109 ext. 7366.

EASY GYMNASIUM 

FUNDRAISER

We have sent a letter to you extending an offer from Michael Overend Photography for a portrait session valued at $395 plus two 150mm x 200mm prints valued at $195 each, total value of the package being $785 all to you for just a minimum donation to the school of $50.00. “It seems too good to be true”  - but it is true and there is no catch!!

Your donation goes direct to the school. Your names and contact details go direct to Michael Overend Photography’s studio that arranges a consultation appointment for you with Michael prior to the Portrait session.

There is no other cost unless you decide to purchase further prints.

The offer closes Friday September 25. Your donation goes towards the purchase of much needed new equipment for the new gymnasium!!

SLEEPING BAGS REQUIRED

A group of old boys of St Peter’s College are organizing a sleeping bag for the homeless evening. This means giving out sleeping bags to many of the homeless (men) sleeping in the streets of Auckland.

To this end we are looking for 10-15 sleeping bags which can be donated and given away.

Please look among your cupboards and garage and if there are any available.

If you have a sleeping bag to donate please  hand into the main office for Mr Fouhy.

OPEN ADVANCED DEBATING

This years event included schools from Albany to Pukekohe and over 100 students. Teams were of a high calibre and while our teams did not make the final eight, one speaker has won the second best speaker in the competition. This is tremendous considering the number of excellent speakers in this competition.

SPORTING UPDATE

(a)     Four rugby teams through to the finals

The 2A’s, 2B’s, 4A’s and 6B’s have progressed through to the Finals of their respective grades.

The 2A’s semi-final against Kelston was a thriller. At full time the scores were locked at 12 – 12 all. In extra time Blake Hall calmly slotted a penalty to secure a 15 – 12 win. The 2A’s dominated territory and possession for much of the game. Kelston defended well and benefited from a 90m intercept try to stay in the game right till the end.  Hooker, Ryan Smith, had an excellent all round game. Captain, Danny Pio, was powerful in defence and attack and led the team superbly.

The 2B’s overcame a determined Kings College side, 18 – 9, in their semi-final. A late converted try to Matthew Considine sealed the win. Stand out performers for the 2B’s included Shaun Ginders, Joel Taylor and Derrick Lewis.

A fiercely determined display from the 4A’s saw them beat a previously unbeaten Sacred Heart side, 15 – 10. A huge second half defensive effort from the 4A’s was the catalyst for the upset. Leading the defensive effort was Stefan Patrick, James Trezevant-Miller and Jake Morrow.

The 6B’s also caused somewhat of an upset in defeating, St Kentigern’s 27 – 17. In two previous encounters this season St Kents had come away with the spoils. The 6B’s turned the tables on Saturday with their best game of the season thus far. Joseph Vaea was outstanding in the number 10 jersey. He scored a crucial try in extra time. The score was locked at 17 – 17 after regular time. Joshua Bing, Matthew Bruce and Michael Niupopo all had very good games.

Get along and support the teams on Finals day

2A vs Kings @ Sacred Heart, 10.30am

2B vs Glendowie @ Glendowie, 12.00pm

4A vs Auckland Grammar @ Sacred Heart, 12.00pm

6B vs Avondale @ Tamaki, 9.15am

(b)     Tournament Week

All the best to our First Teams from Soccer, Hockey and Basketball who are competing in Tournaments next week.

Soccer – Nationals in Nelson

Hockey – Founders Cup in Ngatea

Basketball – Northern Regions tournament at North Shore Events Centre.

(C)     Junior Cycling Team

The Junior Cycling Team of Zac Williams, Chad Elliston, Isaac Simpson and Jason Pinto are making big improvements at the Auckland Secondary Schools Time Trials which take place every Sunday morning at the Waterfront.  They are looking forward to a strong showing at the Auckland Secondary Schools Cycling Champs taking place September 4 - 6. In late September they will be travelling to Palmerston North for the Nationals.

Good luck to the team for these upcoming events.