Principal's Message

We have had an exciting week at Kavanagh. After the success of our Open Day on the 7th August, this last weekend saw Kavanagh College win the coveted Bishop’s Shield, and it wasn’t a close win but, instead, we finished on 37 points, 12 points ahead of Verdon College who were very competitive across all sections. It was an absolute pleasure being part of this team for the weekend. The interactions within the team and between the four college teams reminded me of our whānau connection as Catholic colleges. There are many staff who invested many hours in preparation of our students and the polish and performance lifted greatly because of this. I know that the staff involved will be looking forward to a well-earned break this weekend after a couple of busy ones! Congratulations to all the students who not only performed very well but consistently represented Kavanagh with pride and joy throughout the three days – I am a proud principal!

On Tuesday evening, our Year 7&8 Classics team of Josh Elliotte, Martyna Twardowska, Mina Suwanarusk, and Elijah Letchford Bullard, took part in the Dunedin-wide Classics Competition at Otago University. This team was leading at half time and eventually lost by just one point to DNI. This is a laudable achievement! Thank you to Ms Georgie Watts who co-ordinated this event as part of our gifted and talented programme.

It is great to be able to highlight wins and be proud of our results, but I have also been impressed with our college values shining within these events. The value of team is important at Kavanagh. Every day I see examples of our rangatahi, and our staff, working together to support and encourage one another with respect, and ensuring that those who need an extra bit of support, get it – justice and service.

I remember once being admonished by a mother after suggesting she might be feeling proud of her child after a significant achievement – she reminded me sharply that pride was one of the seven deadly sins. I think we may have been talking about different interpretations of pride! However, I am proud - I am proud of these young people I have seen achieving in the last couple of weeks, whether it has been at sports, the classics competition, being the ultimate host as a guide at open day, debating for the first time at Bishop’s Shield or when I have signed Good One cards. I am proud that our young people at Kavanagh recognise they have gifts, and they commit to using them. Practising their God-given gifts, continues to build on the strong foundation that they create at this age; the foundation of resilience, humility, service, respect for others, and understanding that failure is part of learning because there will be another opportunity to get it right next time.

Thank you to our chaplain, Fr Vaughan Hook, for celebrating masses with all our students on Monday in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for the Feast of the Assumption. Usually, we would also have our traditional Kavanagh Day on this special day of the Patron Saint of Aotearoa, however after having asked our school community to wear masks for the first four weeks, I did not feel it was right to then bring the whole school together to sing and celebrate together. Therefore, we have delayed our annual celebration this year to coincide with the end of the senior students’ year so we can also have a special final Kavanagh Day when we will acknowledge with all our current students the 33 years of Kavanagh College that have been.

All the best to our Jazz Combos who compete at the Jazz Competition tomorrow, and also to some our sports teams who are competing in semis and finals over the coming week.

Father, creator of all things,
we thank you for all the gifts you have given us.
We thank you especially for the individual
talents and interests
you have chosen to distribute to each one of us.
We are grateful for your gift of intelligence:
that we are able to think, reason and be thankful.

Jesus, our brother and redeemer,
show us how to use the Father’s gifts wisely,
just as you redeemed many people
through your love and concern,
help us to use our individual gifts to the fullest –
always in the service of others.
Encourage us to see the value in other people
and to convince them of their own worth.

Amen

(from All Hallows Catholic Church, California)