Ski Trip

Thank you to the parents and teachers who helped make the Sunday Ski Trip to the Remarkables an outstanding success. Over 60 students took the opportunity to ski or board in excellent conditions. A number of tired bodies marked a great trip.

World Youth Day

Our guest speaker at Wednesday’s assembly was Fr Martin. He shared with the College his journey to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. The Dunedin Diocese had a strong presence at this inspirational event and Fr Martin’s presentation of pictures and reflections brought it to life. It is our hope that some of our student’s will be motivated to attend the next gathering in three years.

Creative Southland Speech Contest

Congratulations to Henry More and Alannah Webster- Blair who were our top two placegetters in the first round of the Creative Southland Inter Schools' Speech Contest. They move on to Round 2 on September 2nd.

Religious Education Festival

Congratulations to those students who were awarded prizes for their entries in the annual RE Fair. The achievement of these student’s was recognised with a presentation of book vouchers at the Patronal Day Mass. The entries have been displayed in a number of the contribution parish churches. Thank you to Mrs Crawford for her work co-ordinating this event.

Results from RE Festival

Poster
Year 7: 1st Jack King; 2nd Sian Hughes; 3rd Equal Katrina Carpenter and Tanisha Morgan-Wohlers.
Year 8: 1st Ella Prendergast; 2nd Anna Marie Baker; 3rd equal Jayden Crooks and Christopher Lieshout.
Year 9: 1st Arpege Bragg

Display
Year 7: 1st Sophie McLean 7AD; 2nd Samuel Rillstone 7AD; 3rd equal Brodie Crooks 7AD and Josh Griffiths.
Year 8: 1st Dermot Hughes, Scott McDonald, Vaughan Mussen 8SM; 2nd Georgia Macdonald 8JS; 3rd equal Sean Goffin, Taylor Beckham 8KM and Robert Lindsay and Andrew O’Brien 8KM.
Year 9: 1st Alex Kitson, Joanne Taningco; 2nd Ashleigh Frewen, Ashleigh MacDougall 903; 3rd equal Shanice Dunn, Mechaela Bruce and Kaley Williams.
Year 10: Highly Commended Alex, Michael, Caitlin and Nick.

Written Research
Year 7: 1st Grace Dowling 7AD; 2nd Sean Bragg 7MO.
Year 10: 1st Meg Prendergast

Photomontage
Year 8: 1st Bonna Salomeo, Eilish Duggan, Danielle Shierlaw, Pagan Parkes 8SM; 2nd Katherine Edwards, Jacob Turnhout, Alex Keen, Cody Watkinson; 3rd Candice Dyer 8JS
Year 9: 1st Kerryn Olsen, Brittany Sinclair 903; 2nd Greta Melvin, Grace Dunn, Joe Lodge, Lucy Heenan, Sam Short, Shannon Haynes 901.
Year 10: 1st Lauren Archer

Illustrated Bible Passage
Year 7: 1st Brodie Vermeulen; 2nd Shontae Oudhoff; 3rd Fusi Maka

Technology
Year 8: 1st Taylor le Breton, Eleanor Morrison.
Year 9: 1st Izak Lal, Connor Harwood
Year 10: 1st Rebecca Lieshout, Holly Harrex

Video
Year 9: 1st Liam Hogan

Year 11 Quiz
1st equal Atrayl Elliot-Roderique and Megan Gooding.

Patronal Day

On Friday the 15th the College travelled by bus to St Theresa’s for the Patronal Day Mass. A special thanks to our celebrant, Fr Martin Flannery, Mr Tait our director of religious studies, Mr Menzies for the music and the senior student helpers. The feast of the Assumption of Mary is also the Marist Brothers feast day, so it was a pleasure to be able to welcome them as one of our founding orders. Thank you also to the many parents and friends of the College who were also able to attend. Students entered into a wide range of house activities during the afternoon. Fine weather helped keep spirits high for the outdoor sports. Thank you to staff, parents and community providers who arranged the afternoon activities. These foster the special character which builds the Verdon Family.

Staff Development

On Tuesday afternoon, the staff were able to undertake professional development with Australian educational consultant Dr Julia Atkin. Julia has been working with a number of staff as part of the Verdon-James Hargest-Southland Boys' High cluster. Linking values and beliefs to our work with teaching and learning was one of the key messages. This is a requirement of the revised national curriculum for all schools but it is especially relevant to Verdon College with our Catholic special character.

Hung up on Physical Education

Mark Scobie's year 12 students Jonathan Ryan and Sam Thurlow get hung and strung by Adventure Southland's Rope and Climbing Guru Jason Holland as they attempt abseilling inside during their PE lesson.