Principal's Message

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” – St Therese of Lisieux

One of the great things about working, teaching and learning in a Catholic school is that we talk openly about love, respect for and service of others with the foundation of Jesus Christ’s teachings as our bedrock. This is what gives us our ‘why’. 

We spoke yesterday at the Year 7-10 assembly about achieving small steps and goals and doing the little things well. Many of you may have seen the YouTube video that has been doing the rounds for a few years now called “If you want to change the world, start off with making your bed” – a speech by Naval Admiral William McRaven, who talks about the importance of starting every day with this one task completed which allows you to continue on with the day knowing you can achieve other small goals as the day goes on. I see our goal of loving and serving one another just like this. It is often the smallest things we do for others that can make a huge difference for others. All of us need this reminder at times, adults and our junior students. And, hopefully there were also a few more ‘made beds’ in your homes this morning as a spinoff from assembly!

Our senior students are in their practice exams until next Tuesday and, hopefully, they too are ‘doing the little things well’ which this will take them confidently into NCEA externals in November. Please continue to encourage a strong study ethos at home so our young men and women can capitalise on their year of learning.

We are very sad to say goodbye to Mrs Emma Harris, our HOD English, who has only been with us a short time, but during which she has had a significant impact in this learning area. We congratulate Emma on her promotion to Assistant Principal and wish her all the very best as she moves into senior leadership. Emma will finish at Kavanagh College next Friday. I am pleased to announce that we have appointed Mr Brent Ford to Emma’s position and he will begin at the start of 2020. Brent is currently the HOD English at East Otago High School and he has led a number of literacy initiatives within his current school. We look forward to him continuing the great work that Emma has begun.

Next Tuesday evening, in the college gymnasium, we will be hosting the Dunedin Catholic Kahui Ako Cultural Evening from 6.30 – 7.30pm. Our Kavanagh families are warmly invited to attend this evening and support our contributing schools and our own kapahaka group.

Let’s keep on top of the little things – uniform, homework, language and respect for self and others – by home and school working together, and have a wonderful spring weekend.

Ngā mihi nui