PiperISSUE 50 OCTOBER 2013 Old Collegian Grant Dalton Tenacious, ethical, dignified - we’re proud of you! A MAGAZINE FOR THE Saint Kentigern SAINT KENTIGERN COMMUNITY College 36 College 'A Champion Mindset' his term was first coined in 1998 by Dr Allan Snyder, Director of TCentre for the Mind at The University of Sydney. 'Great achievers have a vision that they will succeed and sometimes even see the steps leading to their success. So, in my opinion, what makes a champion, and I mean a champion in the broadest sense, is a champion mindset. And, if you have done something great in one field, you are more able to do it in another. Your champion mindset is the transferable commodity and not the skill itself. It is our mindsets which ultimately limit our expectations of ourselves and which circumscribe our boundaries. It is our mindsets which determine whether or not we have the courage to challenge others and to expand our horizons.' At Saint Kentigern we celebrate each student’s uniqueness and recognise that each has something new and different to offer. We encourage them to have the courage to confront and challenge conventional wisdom and urge them to constantly seek to expand their horizons. We encourage resilience – the ability to bounce back from disappointment, to learn from their mistakes and come back the stronger for it. A challenge will look and feel different to each of us, especially to our young people who face greater challenges in 2013 that we all did in the past. Today’s 95 Years of Service students have a wealth of opportunities to choose from, both at school and in their local community, and sometimes put themselves under pressure by taking oday the College recognised four members of staff who between on too wide a range of activities. Some are content to give things a go and Tthem have given 95 years of service to Saint Kentigern: English and enjoy the experience for its worth, but others have an innate drive to take it to Horticulture teacher, Mr Richard Fullerton was acknowledged for 20 a different level; the desire not just to do their best but to be the best ahead of years, whilst Head of Year 7, Mr Kevin Taylor; Director of IT, Mr Walter all others. Natural talent plays a part in ‘being the best’ but hard work and a real Chieng; and PE Teacher, Mr Malcolm Cowie have each given 25 years. desire to achieve is the most telling factor by far. This is the Champion Mindset. Twenty five years ago in 1988, the College had 48 staff, the Whether the drive to succeed is in their academic studies or the co- administration team comprised three secretaries and the roll was just curricular activity of their choice, what is incredibly important to me is that over 900 students. Jump forward to 2013 and the combined College each student is encouraged by all around them to be the very best that staff has grown in excess of 200 and the number of students has they can be, to set their sights high and have a personal goal that provides a doubled. personal challenge – one they need to strive to achieve. Kevin Taylor said he was asked, ‘How can you do the same job every Great achievements are measured in so many ways and for some this may day for 25 years?’ His response mirrored that of the other three, ‘It has be the trophies they have won – a tangible reminder of their efforts. For not been the same job.’ Change has been a constant throughout their all, though, it is that sense of personal achievement, of striving to improve, to time; each has worked for three different Headmasters, they have seen reach that goal and to feel a sense of fulfillment through hard work and focus as huge growth in the roll, in staffing and in developments on campus. that should be their driver – this is something that can be shared by everyone. They have seen girls arrive and settle to find their place in a former all boys’ college and been a part of the huge change that ever-evolving IT At this ‘business’ end of the year, our focus is on academic goals and our systems have brought to teaching, learning and administration. It is the staff will continue to guide, encourage and support each student from Year ever-changing work environment that has inspired them over the years, 7 to 13 to reach and exceed their individual goals. along with the remarkable camaraderie and support amongst the staff Our students’ talents are many and varied. The opportunities we offer and their daily dealings with courteous, highly motivated students. them are equally many and varied. Many do well in their field but in any Chairman of the Trust Board, Dr Bruce Goodfellow closed by saying endeavour there are always those who rise to the top – our champions. that there is a growing number of long-serving staff and it is staff such as Fides Servanda Est these who are the backbone of Saint Kentigern; committed, passionate people who are driven to do the best job possible for our students. Steve Cole Head of College Saint Kentigern Excellence Award for The MacFarlan Centre 37 t is with great excitement that we learnt that our newest College Ibuilding, the MacFarlan Centre, was awarded Excellence at the Property Council New Zealand, Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2013, held in June. The Property Industry Awards are New Zealand’s most prestigious property industry awards and have been running for more than 15 years. The Awards celebrate excellence in commercial property development and attract submissions from the country's top commercial property developments with entries going through a rigorous three month judging process that include detailed reviews of the developments and site visits by the judging panel. The MacFarlan Centre houses management, administration and student services at the entrance to the College campus and includes the new senior student café, a Year 13 common room, and an indoor New Learning Commons seated area for Year 12 students, in addition to space intended to visionary concept in academic learning spaces opened in June this accommodate any future expansion. A year, breathing new life into the former administration block at Dedicated to the Reverend Dr Adam MacFarlan, the first Headmaster the College. The new Learning Commons, adjacent to the library, is a of Saint Kentigern, the building was officially opened by the Governor technology-rich environment with a variety of study spaces that can be General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae in March 2013 at the adapted to suit teaching and learning across all subjects and year levels. 60th Anniversary Jubilee celebrations, after an 18 month construction ‘The key driver was to make it innovative, accessible, flexible and multi- period. Elizabeth MacFarlan, the late Reverend’s wife, was also present purpose which is perfect for differentiated work groups, collaboration and to cut the ribbon. team teaching,’ says Head of Library and e-Learning, Alison Derbyshire. The nomination for the award was put forward by RTA Studio, the The original concept of the Learning Commons was to develop fresh architects who designed the MacFarlan Centre. The Coffey Education thinking to promote best teaching and learning practice. Year 7-13 and Arts Property Award was proudly received by Mr Eric Shiels, teachers can book the flexible use facility and use it as a classroom, Trust Board General Manager, and Mr Greg Noble, Property Manager, collaborative space, performance space or for self-directed learning. The at a black tie gala award ceremony attended by over 1,000 at the large open space with customised furniture means that teachers have the Viaduct Events Centre. option of moving the furniture around to suit their teaching needs and Mr Shiels said that the award was a great honour for the College tailor to their class requirements. Other bookable rooms in the space and the Trust Board staff were just buzzing at the news. He said it include two seminar rooms for student use such as project work, practice was a wonderful surprise as there were a high number of quality presentations, council and student meetings. submissions. The development reflects Saint Kentigern’s commitment to engaging in ‘We’ve known that it’s a fantastic building of quality and substance the digital society and providing the best and most relevant teaching and and it works very well. It’s a real sense of achievement that this is learning practice to prepare students for life in the 21st century. now industry recognised,’ said Mr Shiels. The latest technology specifically features Toshiba and Apple Mac touch Mr Shiels commented, ‘Prior to the opening of the MacFarlan Centre, screen desktops, Microsoft Windows 8 operating systems, an interactive our previous administration building had been remodelled nine times projector and wireless headsets and display screens for audio recordings in eleven years to accommodate growth. The opening of the Centre and movie viewings. has now upgraded our amenities and also allows us to grow further The open plan learning environment also enables the teaching staff to learn as an organisation in the future. ‘ from each other as well. ‘Whenever a teacher comes in with their class I Much attention was paid in the design phase to ensure that always learn something new,’ Ms Derbyshire adds, ‘their feedback has been connecting walkways and access routes to the building were well overwhelmingly positive and the venture has been such a success.’ located and of an appropriate scale. In addition, numerous planters The building is open from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, when have been created around the building to complement the hard students can use the space to study before and after school and at lunch materials of the structure.