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

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

13 May 2009                                                                                                 Newsletter No. 06/2009

Dear Parents and Boys

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

“FIRE / FIRE”

(Who To Believe?)

I have this mental image of a picture theatre where someone calls “Fire / Fire” – and people panic! The reaction is not based on any considered stand point – It is simply the reference (rational or irrational) to the words.

The Swine Flu epidemic, SARS pandemic, Y2K Bug and the financial crisis have to varying degrees a “Fire / Fire” reaction.

The debate in the world in recent times has  become less about what to believe and more who should we believe!

I am reminded of G.K. Chesterton’s famous quote: “When people don’t believe in God, they don’t believe in nothing. They believe in anything”.

Everyone is wary of the travelling salesman who promises snake-oil instant cures to long term problems. But I am still amazed at how isolated pieces of information gather momentum and distort the reality of the issue in hand.

What to believe …? Research data, scholarship analysis, seen on TV data, heard on the radio, at the BBQ scenario etc. are all factors in what to believe.

But Who to believe …?

We may have learnt truth at our mother’s knee and from our heart experiences. To me the belief in a personal loving unconditional God is “Who we should believe!”

Congratulations to all mothers recently on Mothers Day.

You may be interested in this YouTube linkage!

In His Peace

In this issue: 

• Upcoming events Congratulations BereavementsCell phone useChaos at School GateSpecial CharacterMiddle School ExamsMusicSport
• Health Clinic

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday 11 May

• Central Zone Cross Country

Tuesday 12 May

• 7G, 7W and first half of 7R to Hoane Waitii Marae
• BOT Finance Meeting @ 5.30pm
• Strings to St Mary’s and Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at SPC

Wednesday 13 May

• CIE Exams begin AS and IG Maths
• Y7B, 7J and second half of 7R to Hoane Waititi Marae
• Pompallier Shield at Marist College from 4.00 – 7.30pm
• 1st XI Hockey vs Auckland Grammar at AGS @ 5.00pm
• Premier grade Debate @ AGS @ 6.00pm

Thursday 14 May

• Year 10 Parent Teacher Interviews 6.00-900pm Hall – see separate sheet. This includes the PTFA Book Fair
• CIE exams - AS Biology, IG Mandarin and AS Physics Practical
• Duathlon Championships at St Kentigerns College

Friday 15 May

• L1 Geography Volcanoes Trip - Museum in the morning, One Tree Hill and Mt Eden  in the afternoon
• 9MAC Retreat - Friary
• 1st V Basketball vs Sacred Heart - YMCA @ 5.30pm

Saturday 16 May

• 1st XV vs MAGS @ SPC @ 2.30pm
• 1st XI vs Kings @ Simson Reserve @ 12.30pm
• All grade soccer begins
• Old Boys’ Luncheon (1939 – 1950) 12.00pm in the staffroom

Monday 18 May

• 9STV Retreat - Friary

Tuesday 19 May

• Work choice Day – selected Year 12 students
• 9BRN Retreat - Friary
• BOT meeting – staffroom @ 7.00pm
• Strings to St Mary’s College and Woodwind, Brass and Percussion at SPC

Wednesday 20 May

• Year 7-8 Mass in Period 2
• Assembly Year 11-13 in Assembly Time
• 9SMT and 9STR Retreat – Friary
• 1st XI Hockey vs Mt Roskill Grammar  @ 5.30pm @ Mt Roskill Grammar
• Year 7 Central Zone Soccer at Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill from 9.30am to 2.30pm

Thursday 21 May

• Year 9 Parent Teacher Interviews 6.00-9.00pm - Hall
• Year 8 Central Zone Soccer – Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill – 9.30am – 2.30pm

Friday 22 May

• Year 7 & 8 Social – Rugby
• 9HWE Retreat - Friary
• 1st V Basketball vs Onehunga @ YMCA @ 6.30pm

Saturday May 23

• 1st V vs Tangaroa College @ SPC @ 

     2.30pm

• 1st XI vs Sacred Heart College @ Simson Reserve @ 12.30pm

Thursday May 28

• Junior Music Night @ 7.30pm @  Auckland Grammar Centennial Theatre

Saturday June 6

• Choir Workshop @ SPC Music Department from 4.00 – 7.00pm

Sunday June 7

• Choir Workshop @ SPC Music Department from 3.00 – 7.00pm

COMING UP THIS TERM

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXAMS

Friday June 12

English (Periods 1&2)

Monday June 15

• Maths (Periods 1&2) and Reading (Periods 3&4)

Tuesday June 16

• Humanities (Periods 1&2) and Religious Studies (Periods 3&4)

Wednesday June 17

• Science (Periods 1&2)

N.B. Rotational subjects will be assessed during either Week 7 or Week 8

After School Tutorials

All tutorials will take place 3.30-4.30pm. Students will be expected to be at the tutorials for the duration.

• Monday May 25 – Humanities
• Tuesday May 26 – Maths
• Wednesday May 27 – English
• Wednesday June 3 – Religious Studies
• Thursday June 4 – Maths and Humanities

CONGRATULATIONS

Damian Thompson, Robert Gorrie, and Frazer Lewis-Smith who achieved 100% in the term one French Exams.

Thomas Taylor who came first in the Year 10 term one exam with 94%

To the following librarians who received their badges and acknowledgement of services to the Edmund Rice Library.

Sehan Jayetileke (Head Librarian);  Adam Yukich, Eugene Narayan, Romulus Swanney and Kenny Keppel being promoted to Senior Librarians.

The following 13 new librarians received their badges Joshua Taylor, Rohan D'Souza, Daylyn Concessio, Nathan Sharp, Fred Ponifasio, Avi Prasad, David John, Jayanth Miranda, Jason Sharma, Zachary Williams, Daniel Danilo and Amadea Abrogena.

Special mention and thanks to Rohan D'Souza the first Year 8 student to become a librarian, to Cameron Matamua, Tutungata Ama, Erinc Yikar and Callum Martin for their extra dedication to their library responsibilities.

Extra special thanks to Mrs Rosita Murray.

BEREAVEMENTS

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

Patrick Tuipulotu – Grandmother

Christopher Oleva – Great Grandmother

Daniel & Nilolas Gambitsis – Grandmother

Rowan Hanif  Year 12 who died suddenly at home on Wednesday. R.I.P.

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

INAPPROPRIATE USE OF CELL PHONES

There was an incident last term whereby a small number of boys were involved in downloading inappropriate material onto their mobile phones from the internet. The boys involved were punished.

We know you share our concern that this incident strikes at the heart of the efforts we all make to ensure our boys enjoy the best environment for healthy growth.

There are a number of things parents can do which will help.

• Speak to your son about this matter and the appropriate use of phones in all respects.
• Consider if your son actually needs to take a phone to school. If not take it from him.
• Check the contents of your son’s phone in regards to downloaded images.
• Consider downgrading your son’s phone by removing internet access.

Thank you for your attention to this issue and your continued support.

CHAOS AT THE SCHOOL GATE

St Peter’s College will be entering into an initiative with the Auckland City Council called “Chaos at the School Gate.” This initiative has been implemented to reduce traffic congestion and danger to students around the College gates particularly after school.

Auckland City Council traffic wardens will be targeting drivers who do not comply with the parking laws around the College and will be issuing parking infringement notices.

As always, student safety is our first priority and we ask parents to consider the safety of our students if they are picking them up from school.

Parents are asked not to enter the College grounds to pick up boys after school, but make arrangements to collect boys further away from the College.

SPECIAL CHARACTER NEWS

(a)       SERVICE PROGRAMMES

‘To Love and to Serve’ Years 7-12

All students in Years 7-12 should be well underway with their Service Programme hours. SPC students have been active in many areas of the community, including volunteering at sporting events, the school fair, St John Ambulance work, coaching junior sports teams, work through local parishes and many more. Students who have not begun their service programme should plan to immediately. Speak to Mr Kingdon in the Religious Studies department for service ideas.

Well done to the students of St Peter’s for fulfilling the school motto, ‘To Love and To Serve’.

(b)       SPC 70th JUBILEE MASS

A big thank you to all members of our community who participated in our 70th Jubilee Mass on May 7th. This was a big community event and a mile stone for our College. Thank you particularly to the following student groups and parents for their significant contribution:

• SPC Music Department
• SPC Kapa Haka Group
• SPC Samoan Group
• SPC Tongan Group
• Mr Hayden Kingdom for his organization

MUSIC NEWS

(a)       JUNIOR MUSIC NIGHT

Thursday May 28

At Auckland Grammar Centennial Theatre, 7.30pm. Parking in Auckland Grammar grounds is permitted except for Gate 1. Entry by gold coin donation. All Year 7 involved. Groups from year 8 and 9 to be advised.

(b)       CHOIR WORKSHOP

Saturday  June 6 from 4-7pm and Sunday June 7 from 3-7pm in the SPC Music department. This is only for those taking part in the Big Sing competition on Monday June 15 - (no trebles)

(c)       GENERAL

Every Monday and Wednesday 7.45am Senior Concert Band rehearsals.

Every Tuesday at 7.45am Senior Orchestra

Please remember that to go to St Mary’s the transport departs at 7.30am.

SPORT

The winter season is underway and once again St Peter’s has excellent participation across a range of sports. These include:

• 12 Rugby teams
• 13 Soccer teams
• 6 Basketball teams
• 4 Hockey teams
• 4 Squash teams
• 6 Table tennis teams
• 6 Badminton teams

Being a member of a school sports team brings responsibility. Your sons are required to:

• Attend meetings promptly
• Attend practices on time
• Wear the correct playing uniform with pride
• Have a responsible and positive attitude
• Once your sons have entered into a sport they are committed to that team for the entire season.

Other points to note;

Cancellations

Listen to 1ZB, 89.4fm, on a Saturday. Cancellations are read out at 7.10am and then on the half hour from there. Secondary School Rugby or Soccer will be read out at the start of the cancellation. If unsure be at the venue on time. It is very unlikely that rugby will be cancelled.

Draws and Results

Draws and results for all codes are posted on the school website by Wednesday every week. Go to www.st-peters.school.nz

Domain

At times the domain is closed for training. However, boys are not to assume that the Domain is closed without seeing their coach or manager.

We look forward to a season filled with positive experiences.

FIRST TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the following boys for being selected First team captains for their respective codes;

Rugby            Francis Saili

Soccer            Andrew Van Ross and Ethan Galbraith

Basketball       James Glucina

Hockey           Bernard Ashman

SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

The school cross country was run at the Domain on the 29th of April. The results are as follows;

Junior Boys

1st – Michael Paget

2nd – Gregan Schwenke

3rd – Dennis Kay

Intermediate Boys

1st – Samuel Hines

2nd – Robbie Compston

3rd – Lawrence Hull

Senior Boys

1st – Joel Taylor

2nd – Daniel Coll

3rd – Riley Coll

1st XV WIN HIBERNIAN SHIELD

The 1st XV defeated Sacred Heart, 22 – 7, in the first round of the competition. In doing so the team won the Hibernain Shield and gained a four try bonus point. Stand out players included Zachary Moimoi, Michigan Lam and man of the match Conrad Lam.

Unfortunately the side went down 3 – 10 to Kelston in the weekend in an intense and physical encounter. The First’s had a wealth of territory and possession in the final quarter of the match but were unable to convert this into points. Kelston’s defence was very impressive. Nepia Fox-Matamua and Bryn Hall had excellent games. Ben Lam was the player of the day.

The side has their first home match of the season against Mt Albert Grammar on Saturday. 2.30pm kick off. Get along and support the team.

Zac Moimoi on the charge against Sacred Heart College

1st XV Haka versus Kelston Boys High

SENIOR C4 SOCCER TEAM

Congratulations to Mat Kearns on his 2 goal man of the match performance in our 3-3 draw with One Tree Hill College. Goal also to Cameron Hill. An excellent start to the season!

1st XI Player of the day Isaac Fitzgerald climbs high against Auckland Grammar

1st XI Catalin Onc evades the Auckland Grammar tackle

HEALTH CLINC UPDATE

Physiotherapy ACC related injuries free

• Make appointment with nurse at interval time - Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1pm - 2pm
• Please update your contacts with the school office.
• All conditions & medications must be brought to our attention for the safety & wellbeing of the students.

FOR SALE @ HEALTH CENTRE

• Strapping tape for sports injuries $5
• Antiflam (small Container)           $3

WHITE CROSS REMUERA

This A&M clinic at the Green Lane round-a-bout will see our students if they are injured at school FREE. The Radiology department will do FREE X-rays. This is only for our students injured at school.

DENTAL

For those students turning 18 this year,

you will have to PAY for your own dental work from now on.

Get an updated list of dentists who will treat you  FREE from the Health Centre. This is now your responsibility.

OPTICAL

If you are 15 yrs or UNDER

You may qualify for a subsidy on your glasses or treatment

Find out from the Health Centre