Principal's Message

Our Kavanagh students are very special! It has been a big week of sports and culture at school on top of end of term assessments and social justice activities in the community, but they keep on giving their best selves in what they do.

If you haven’t yet bought tickets to ‘Seussical’, you will be missing a polished, very professional performance that appeals to young and old with its timeless story, wonderful costumes, and acting, singing and dancing that would be appreciated in any musical theatre venue. Congratulations to our staff Performing Arts team and all our students who have put hours of work into this fantastic spectacle.

I accompanied our Senior Catholic Secondary School’s Sports Tournament teams to Gore where they competed in this now well-established tournament against the other three colleges in the diocese -St Kevin’s, St Peter’s and Verdon. The four schools joined together for Mass on Sunday morning before beginning two days of football, hockey, netball, basketball, and rugby. We were pleased to win three of the categories wile St Kevin’s College won the overall trophy. I appreciate the work and commitment of the staff, volunteers, parents and students involved in this tournament.

At the end of this term, Katrina Kerr-Bell leaves to take up a principalship at St Catherine’s College in Wellington. Katrina has been teaching at Kavanagh for nearly 25 years and she has had a big influence on so many past and present students in her various teaching and leadership roles, and through her pastoral care and performing arts influence.

Dave Dougherty has similarly influenced many past and present students and his craftmanship will be missed in the workshop technology area. Dave is retiring and he is looking forward to more time with family after 25 years at Kavanagh.

Both staff have served our college selflessly and we wish them well for their futures.

At our assembly last Wednesday, our leaving staff were farewelled by the students. We also took the opportunity to thank our college Kaumātua, Mr Richard Kerr-Bell, who is moving to Wellington with his family. Richard has served our college since 2014 in this role and we are presently in discussion regarding a new kaumātua to replace Richard in our college.

Warm wishes for special family time over the school holidays, and we look forward to seeing all our refreshed young people on May 3.

Warm regards