Dear Parents

Firstly I would like to share with you the success of some of our top students regarding Scholarship awards. Some of these awards carry a significant monetary value and are highly sought after. In a previous newsletter I have covered some of these achievements, but it is important to convey the number of scholarships that our Year 13 boys have obtained.

James Doyle won a Canterbury Rugby Scholarship to Lincoln University, Young (Willie) Vea and Matthew Howley won scholarships to AUT University and Dany Rassam and Robin Iskander won scholarships to the Massey Symposium. Incidentally, Liam Winter won the Dux award for 2009, so his trip to Ireland for winning the Irish Essay Competition did him no harm. What is very pleasing about these senior boys this year is that they researched the scholarships on offer and organised themselves to go after them. Christopher Rahardja received a University of Auckland Scholarship; Chelsea Tevaga an Auckland University Chancellor’s Award and Peter Yoo an Auckland University Alumni Scholarship.

Perhaps it is worthwhile to look in a little bit more depth at some of the boys’ achievements. Hussam Gabrial, who is a Year 13 Prefect, has won a Transpower Neighbourhood Engineers Award worth $2000. These awards have been sponsored by Transpower since 2003 and are open to all primary, intermediate and secondary schools in New Zealand. The aim of the awards is to create a greater awareness of the engineering profession and encourage innovative thinking in the areas of engineering and technology. Hussam’s winning project was a temperature controlled window opener and he is looking at filing for a patent on the design and getting in touch with some investors or companies to attempt to develop and market this as a product. He is hoping to study mechatronics engineering at the University of Auckland. Hussam also received the Robert Ned Covich Scholarship from the Catholic Schools Board which is worth $2500 every year for the next three years.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Jonathan Lee of Year 11 and Sung Min Lee of Year 12 received the highest marks in New Zealand for their Year group in the 2009 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Mathematics Competition sponsored by the University of New South Wales. Jonathan won this competition in Year 9 and Year 10 and has now won it again in Year 11. Jonathan and Sung Min will be presented with medals at a ceremony at the Aotea Centre on 15 December. This was the first time that Sung Min had entered this competition and both boys are as delighted with their achievements as we are.

REMINDER

Wednesday 9th December – Mass – 11.15 am

Thursday 10th December – Prize Giving – 1.45 pm

NATIONAL STANDARDS

There has been some intense media coverage of the introduction of the National Standards for Years 1-8, so I thought I would outline in simple terms what they are all about. In an effort to raise the levels of numeracy and literacy in our New Zealand youth, the government has set National Standards and schools are expected to ensure that their pupils achieve them. There is some opposition from unions and teachers who feel that this will lead to over-testing and unhealthy competition as schools focus on results at the expense of “Real Education”. Then there is the fact that teachers have enough on their desks with the introduction of the new curriculum. I do feel that they may have rushed the introduction of the standards, but that is only one view.

However, as far as Rosmini is concerned, we have already set our standards and have a system in place for testing to see how our students are going. Then we follow this up with a very strong literacy and numeracy programme. In short, we don’t see any problem with the standards, but we appreciate some teachers concerns that they don’t evolve into some unfortunate league-like competition between schools which could prove to be counterproductive to learning, as was the case in England.

In summary then, all schools will have a benchmark, or standard, that students must try to achieve in numeracy and literacy. It will mean more paperwork but it will also give teachers another tool in assisting dialogue with parents.

WORLD VISION

Rosmini College was recently awarded a World Vision Silver Award as the school managed to raise $10,300 for this year’s 40 Hour Famine Appeal. Year 7 student, Jack Green received a special award for raising $790. Head Boy, Peter Yoo, and Senior Prefect, Dany Rassam, along with Rosmini College’s Catholic Character Group were the student organizers of this year’s 40 Hour Famine Appeal. Dany would like to give special thanks to the Finlay and Pivac families who provided sausages for the fund raisers.

SCHOOL PRODUCTION

In April 2010 the boys, and some girls from Carmel, will be performing the musical, Joseph’s Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Several students have already auditioned but there are still some places available for singers, stage performers and technical crew. If you are interested please see Ms Smith.

STATIONERY

Included with this newsletter are stationery lists for the boys in Years 7, 12 & 13 for next year. You can also download these from our website, www.rosmini.school.nz should you lose them.

STAFFING

We are sad to be farewelling some excellent members of staff this year, but we are fortunate that we have been able to secure some very good replacements. Brian Strang, HOD English, is off to the South Island – Queenstown no less, where he has family. Brian has given sterling leadership in his four years at Rosmini and we will miss him, but nevertheless wish him well. Jun-Yi Yeh is off to Sydney to join her fiancée, and again she made a great impression on our Asian language students. We also farewell Trudi Barr, who joins her fiancée in Melbourne. Trudi has really put the Rosmini Hospitality programme on the map, and although we will sadly miss her we wish her well.

One of our very active Old Boys who has contributed fully to Rosmini in the time he has been here is Steve Wright, and he joins his fiancée in the United States/London. We look forward to his return when his fiancee’s studies are complete.

Christophe Canniveng, our French master, is off to St Cuthberts as their HOD French, and they are very fortunate to acquire his services. Life for Christophe and his family will become much easier with a huge cut-back in travelling time.

Mike Cumin has requested and been given leave of absence for 12 months.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF 2009

These are always a personal selection and no doubt I will have omitted some highlights that would have appealed to others. Nevertheless here are some of my highlights from the year.

The opening and blessing of the new Gym and the generosity of parents and Old Boys who contributed to the project so generously. I was delighted to see so many Rosmini supporters of past years at the opening and the surprise and honour of having this marvellous facility named after me.

The 1st XV winning the North Harbour Championship, defeating Massey in the hard-fought final.

The overall success of the Rugby teams, with two Championship wins (1st XV and 6th Grade) plus four other teams making their various finals.

The growth of Hockey in the school, with 7 teams in the school and the 1st XI winning the North Harbour Division.

The continued success of the 1st XI Cricket team who are winning some great games against strong traditional schools. Also the success of the Year 7 & 8 Cricket Team who made the final of the Auckland-wide Milo Cup.

Badminton – quiet achievers. Senior A and Senior C teams won their North Harbour Secondary Schools Championships.

The production of Twelve Angry Men – a very professional performance.

The splendid Senior Prize Giving evening, with excellent addresses from our Chairman, Mike Taylor, and Head Boys, James Doyle and Peter Yoo, and the outstanding solo singing performance from Mario Saseve.

The outstanding sporting success of Gareth Anscombe and James Doyle in a variety of codes.

Although detailed earlier, the brilliant success of the Year 13 boys who netted a fine ‘catch’ of scholarships.

The continued influence of Old Boys in the college, both on the Board and on the teaching staff.

The outstanding performances of Jonathan Lee and Sung Min Lee in the ICAS Mathematics Competition, detailed above.

Liam Winter securing a trip to Ireland as the prize for winning the Irish Essay Competition and then going on to being named as our Dux for 2009. His essay is a credit to him and a joy to read.

The continued support of the school by our Proprietor, Bishop Pat Dunn.

The giant strides we have made in improving our boys literacy and numeracy, largely due to the work of two outstanding HODs, Brian Strang and Peter Newall.

THANKS

There is no doubt that the school year seems to go very swiftly, and with that in mind I would like to thank a number of people in my final epistle for 2009.

Firstly, the boys and staff who are the life-blood of Rosmini – it has been a good year, with an excellent Year 13, Prefects and Catholic Character Group. As a school is only as good as its teachers, I have to say that we have a very dedicated and professional team.

To the PTFA, my sincere thanks for your generosity and support.

To the Board of Trustees, chaired by Mike Taylor and ably assisted by John Mayhew, Andy Coupe, Sue Emmitt, Bob Haddon, Gary Whetton, Shayne Doyle, Tony Mullins, Martin Allison, Owen Hughes (Teachers’ Rep) and Joseph Bergin (Students’ Rep) - we deeply appreciate the time, guidance and expertise you all devote to the college. To Father Craig Dunford – thank you for your pastoral care.

To the Senior Management Team of Gus Bell, Nixon Cooper, Owen Hughes, Patrick Gale and Mike Thornley – thank you for all that you do.

To Isobel, Sandra, Lynda, Helen and Trish, and of course, Hugh Richards, for the tremendous zeal and devotion that you bring to Rosmini. To my top seven boys this year, James Doyle, Peter Yoo, Chelsea Tevaga, Ben Doyle, Gareth Anscombe, Noor Lammoza and Chris Rahardja, for your gifted leadership of the student body.

To all of the above, and the generous parents and Old Boys, I wish you a Very Happy and Holy Christmas.

T J GERRARD

PRINCIPAL

STOP PRESS

Congratulations to Chase Collins of Year 9 who was placed 3rd in the 13 and Under division in the New Zealand Skateboard Nationals which were held in Christchurch recently.

AUCKLAND COMMON FUND LIMITED

ATTENDANCE DUES SPONSORSHIP SCHEME

A new scheme – called the Attendance Dues Sponsorship Scheme – has been created this year to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of attendance dues. The new scheme is operated by the Auckland Common Fund Limited.

The primary purpose of the new sponsorship scheme is to allow parents facing financial hardship another option to seek relief where they may be reluctant to approach their school community for help. The scheme is available to parents/caregivers of preference students attending all Catholic integrated schools in the Auckland Diocese.

The existing financial hardship scheme – operated by your school – is also available to parents facing hardship and we do encourage families facing financial difficulties to please contact your school office.

If you are facing financial hardship and wish to apply for assistance with the payment of attendance dues under the new sponsorship scheme, you are invited to phone in confidence, either Niki Vernon (Ph. 360-3058) or Carol Krebs (Ph. 360-3069) at the Auckland Diocese office.