De La Salle College Newsletter “A Catholic School for Boys in the Lasallian Tradition”

in this issue

TERM 3 WEEK 4- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “Celebrating Mary, the Mother of Christ"

Associate Principal - "Student Leadership"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Strengthening Pathways

Academic Year 7/8

Literacy Centre

Intermediate School

Faith & Service- Year 7 & 8 Bible Study Sessions

Young Enterprise- Shadow A Leader 2024

Gateway & Careers

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

“Celebrating Mary, the Mother of Christ”

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

On Thursday the College celebrated the Feast of the Assumption in a wonderful Mass at the College. Father Thomas once again challenged our young men to hold fast to the hope that was shown by Mary when she showed unconditional love and support for her son.

Our celebration of the life of Christ’s mother was a genuine expression of the College’s Catholic character and an opportunity for our staff and young men to be participants in and experience the rituals and traditions of our 2024 year old Catholic faith community.

Creating Great men of Faith, Service, Community and Excellence at our College involves providing them with experiences in our Catholic heritage. The symbols and traditions that were experienced by our young men on Friday were an ever-present reminder that our Catholic faith is alive and living through them in the present day.

I was impressed by the way our students and staff took ownership of the Celebration and the reverence and respect for the celebration by our young men demonstrated that they certainly have a sense of occasion for our traditions and rituals.

These Catholic traditions and rituals have a necessary place in the lives of our young men. They have prominence at the College and in our modern nano-second world, they are constant pillars in the fickle, rapidly changing society our young men experience.

The rituals, traditions and symbols our young men constantly experience in their daily lives at the College give them a foundation and roots to their faith, cultural backgrounds and links to global Lasallian traditions.

Our celebration of Mary’s life was also a strong reminder to our young men of the unconditional love and support that our young men receive in their lives from their own mothers, many of whom are the “glue”, the “rock” in our young men’s families.

We are finishing Week 4 of the term and all Year Levels are preparing for Exam/ Assessment Week in Week 8 of this term.

The Exam week will give our young men the opportunity to practice and show their learning under the same conditions that they will be doing in their end of year final exams.

All students will receive their Exam timetable and their teachers will be briefing them on what they will be assessed on over the week.

Parents please discuss with your son what he needs to do to prepare himself for his assessments. There are many after school tutorials and workshops being offered by the College staff to help our young men if they need to get that extra help. The College Library will be open until 4.30pm each day for students to complete Homework or study for their assessments.

Thank you to the Year 10 and 12 parents who attended the Parent Partnership Meetings this week to give Parents valuable information on Subject choices, Options and Careers and Tertiary studies as their sons prepare for next year’s programmes.

Congratulations to our Senior Open Debating teams who reached the semi-finals of the Auckland Secondary Schools competition, reaching the semi-final is an outstanding achievement from a competition comprised of up to 80 teams. We wish them all the best as they attempt to qualify for the Auckland finals.

Congratulations to our Year 8 Mathex Team who won the Mathex competition held at St Peter’s College and our Year 7 Team who placed third, great results.

Winter sports are coming to the end of their season with several teams competing in play-off games in their competitions. Attendance at every practice, total commitment, discipline and sportsmanship will be required to progress to the finals.

The Olympics have been inspiring and I only hope that our young men learn from watching these outstanding athletes is that success requires hard-work, sacrifice and 100% dedication and a belief that you can achieve excellence.

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Student Leadership

by Deputy Head Prefect, Culture & Arts- Michelangelo Rasch

Our year 13 leadership team has worked towards the goal of improving the brotherhood within our school. As a leadership group we know we've been successful if we've changed at least one person's life for the better. The biggest thing for our leadership team is understanding that we are the biggest role models for our younger brothers at this school.

As a leadership team we have run many initiatives and activities aimed at completing our goal. These include

Homework Club
Mentoring of Year 7 & 8
House Competitions
the new ie/lavalava for Year 13
a bucket hat as part of the uniform and
taking over the full running of school assembly

Although the planning and bulk of the work is done by our prefects, the success of our leadership team is also largely due to the co-operation and support from our teachers and students. Our Year 13 brothers supporting our many initiatives and teachers constantly aiding and encouraging us to do more.

special character

Assistant Principal Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua

Catholic Caring Foundation Mass

A Celebration of Service

Last week, students from schools across the Auckland Diocese gathered for the Catholic Caring Foundation Mass. This special event honored students who have made exceptional contributions to their colleges and communities through service. The De La Salle College recipients were:

Troy Sanday: Recognized for his outstanding services to the College and Community.
John Paul Schmidt, Jozanam Emani, Caleb Williams, and Anselm Nakaora: Honoured for their dedication to Special Character services within the College and Community.
Fonteyn Olofai: Acknowledged for his contributions to Liturgy Music

FRONT L-R Caleb, Jozanam, John Paul & Mrs Vaotuua BACK L-R Anselm, Troy & Fonteyn

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Catholic Caring Foundation, whose generous support continues to enrich our College. During the Mass, we also took a moment to remember the late Frank Heffernan, a dear friend of De La Salle College. Frank's legacy of generosity and love will be cherished always.

THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION MASS:

Honouring Our Lady

Every day at De La Salle College, we pause at noon to pray the Angelus, a moment to reflect on Mary’s “yes” to God. The Feast of the Assumption, one of the most significant Marian celebrations in the Christian calendar, commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed body and soul into heaven, having been the first Disciple of God.

This year, we were blessed to have Fr. Thomas Parker from Holy Cross Papatoetoe celebrate the Feast of the Assumption Mass with us. The ceremony was a beautiful tribute to Our Lady, the Mother of the Church. We give thanks to our Blessed Mother for her powerful intercession in our lives and for her enduring example of faithfulness and discipleship to God.

COMMUNITY MASSES

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Mrs. Kuresa, Mrs. Olive, Mr. Anderton, along with other staff members, senior students, and Year 7 & 8 students, for their dedication to attending Mass within the local community.

We deeply appreciate this wonderful initiative, originally started by the Junior school many years ago, which continues to provide students with the invaluable opportunity to celebrate Mass alongside the local community.

As you continue your journey to the remaining parishes, we wish you all the best on your hikoi.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

Exams and Workshop sessions in Week 8 Term 3 September 9 – 13

Year 11 – 13 students will have a week of practice exams, assessments and workshops in Week 8. The timetable is attached. Students have leave to study at home during the week. Remember study leave is a privilege and students who are not studying will be asked to remain in school. Exam sessions are up to three hours and may require students to check their travel plans. Students are required to remain in the MPC or at workshops for a minimum of two hours unless instructed otherwise. Students should leave the school grounds promptly to return home after exams to continue study for their next exam. Year 11 – 13 students will be able to study quietly in the library before and after exams.

NZQA timetable

Year 11 – 13 students can also start planning for the real thing in November. The NCEA Exam Timetable can be found here.

Below is the senior timetable for week 8 of this term.

Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities [CAA]

Year 11 students will be completing the Reading, Writing and Numeracy/Mathematics assessments in Week 8 and 9. Year 10 students who have been selected to attempt the Reading, Writing or Numeracy/Mathematics assessments in Week 9.

A reminder that students need access to a laptop to complete the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities [CAA]

Options for 2025

Many of you will have started the conversation about options and course selection at Academic Counselling meeting with your son’s Homeroom Teacher and at Parent Partnership meetings.

A reminder that students in Year 9 to 12 need to select their Options for 2025. Student option choices will close Week 9 Term 3 –September 20

Student Option Selection is accessed through the KAMAR Portal http://parent.delasalle.school.nz Once you have logged in you should select the Option Selection 2025 link. You can make changes and save as many times as you like on the KAMAR Portal up to September 20. There are copies of the Options Booklets saved on the school website under the Academic section – Subject Selection.

Scholars in the Spotlight

Jireh, Patrick, Dominique with Mr Hawkins- Head of Technology

Jireh Pita- 9BRE
Dominique Mano- 9BRE
Patrick Unasa- 9WAU

These gentlemen have been working with Mr Hawkins, HoF Technology after school to cook meals for people in the community. This is part of the partnership Mr Hawkins has with Kura Kai. Kura Kai support secondary schools to encourage the practice of “Manaakitanga” in our rangatahi and teach us the value of “Caring for their Community”. Kura Kai ask our young men cook meals and then to look for whānau, kaumatua and tangata that need help within our community and to use Kura Kai as an offering to help those they see in need.

The boys are seen here with their Carbonara meals ready to go. The recipe is attached. Well done gentlemen.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Strengthening Pathways

The Importance of Parent-Teacher Partnerships

This past Tuesday, we hosted an essential Teacher-Parent Partnership meeting for the parents of our Year 10 students. This gathering was a crucial step in guiding our students through their subject selections, which will play a pivotal role in shaping their career pathways and academic futures.

Parents attending parent partnership meetings

Why This Meeting Matters

The decisions made during this stage are foundational. As students prepare to enter NCEA Level 1, the choices they make now will impact their academic trajectory and, ultimately, their career opportunities. The discussions held during the meeting aimed to equip parents with the knowledge and tools needed to support their children in making informed decisions about their subjects and career paths. By collaborating closely with our educators, you gain valuable insights into how each subject aligns with various career options, helping to guide your child toward a path that best fits their interests and aspirations.

The Power of Parent-School Collaboration

Engaging in these partnership meetings is more than just attending a scheduled event; it is about forging a strong connection between home and school. When parents are actively involved in their child’s education, it fosters a supportive environment where students feel encouraged and understood. This partnership not only enhances the decision-making process but also reinforces the importance of education in your child’s development.

Your involvement helps ensure that our educational strategies and support systems align with your child’s needs and goals. It also provides a platform for open communication, allowing us to address any concerns or queries you might have regarding your child’s academic journey.

Outside providers showcasing what there is to offer

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, we encourage you to remain engaged and to continue participating in these valuable discussions. Your support and involvement are instrumental in helping us provide the best possible education for your child and ensuring that they are well-prepared for their future endeavours.

Thank you for your commitment and active participation. Together, we can make a significant difference in our students' future success.

ICT Academy

Techtorium Computer Courses

Congratulations to the following students for successfully completing Computer courses during the July School Holidays at the Techtorium Institute of Technology in Newmarket.

LEVEL THREE PROGRAMMING

Angelo Dsouza
John Laufoli
Lesuni Lokotui

LEVEL THREE GAMES

Korey Donaldson-Witehira
Samuela Alatini
Sione Nisa
TJ Emanuela

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

FIRST PLACE!!! On Tuesday our Year 8 boys was invited to compete in the Central Auckland Mathex Competition (held at St Peters College) and won! Big ups to their trainers, Ms Kuresa, Mrs Olive and Juan Koti. Well done also to our Year 7 boys who came 3rd in their year group. Next Year we hope those Year 7 boys will do even better and bring home first place! Finally, well done to the parents who worked hard at home with their son’s mathematical development.

At the other end of the curriculum scale, on Wednesday I walked into Mr Kumar’s technology class and his students were finding solutions around technical problems with their robot building. This was mathematics at an advanced level, as the problem was a practical one with real life robot creation, which means a multitude of variables. Looking around the room I recognised a few of the Year 13 boys having excellence endorsement as Year 12s. Were these same boys also part of the Year 7 Mathex team in 2018?

The successful progression of a student throughout their years at De La Salle College may in part be due to a student’s personal resilience and fortitude, however, it cannot be ignored that a student’s success is largely a result of a connected community. Family, school, peers…everything is connected. As our Year 7/8 boys move upwards through the school, we the staff at De La Salle College will continue to make sure their connections contribute positively to their learning journey as young men.

In Christ

literacy centre

The Green Chair with Br. Mark McKeon

Ms Chapman and Br Mark

Ms Chapman, Br. Mark McKeon and Elijah Tuala

intermediate school

Year 7 & 8 Community Mass

by Ta’utapu Tonga

I have attended three of the Community Masses this year. I do this because I want to honor my Grandfather who attends Mass every Sunday at my parish of St Joseph’s and St Joachim. I also want to honor God for my faith and the blessings of my family. It is really good that by attending our Community Masses, we practise our College values of Community and Service (and we get service hours for it). One of the cool things is seeing my school friends at church on a Sunday. It’s different from when I see them at school. I like that we visit other parishes because I always go to my own church. It’s nice we get to see new people and more of our students at other parishes. I hope to attend the remaining Community Masses this term.

Year 7 & 8 MATHEX COMPETITION

by Joshsea Tuaoi and Jerome Keresoma

As Year 7 students, this is our first time ever experiencing a Math competition called MathEx.

we’ve had several trainings to get ready for the competition. We worked in teams to find answers to equations and word problems. One of the best things about MathEx was placing top three in every single competition. It was cool working with my teammates and learning each other’s skillset with their Math knowledge. The opportunity to compete against other schools was also something exciting.

Joshsea

I enjoyed going to Point England and St Peters for the different competitions and the best part was beating them. The training was fun with other students because you get to work in a team environment. It was cool hosting the South Auckland competition at our school as ambassadors of our College. We didn’t have to travel but visiting other schools was just as good.

Jerome

Joshsea and I want to thank prefect leader Juan Koti and Mrs Olive for being our wonderful MathEx coaches. They sacrificed their morning teas and lunchtimes for our training sessions when we know they are super busy themselves!

The success of our Year 7 & 8 teams would not have happened without their formidable support and encouragement. On behalf of our Year 7 & 8 MathEx students … THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Faith & Service

Year 7 & 8 Bible Study Sessions

We are continuing our work with our Bible study sessions this term. This is with the Year 7 and 8 students at DLS. We have these sessions every Wednesday at 8.00am in the College chapel. In our last session, we dived into the story of David and Goliath, exploring how bravery and faith can help us face our own giants. The boys were engaged in the discussion, sharing their own “giant” challenges and brainstorming ways to tackle them with a positive mindset.

We wrapped up our session with a lively team game and a bonding activity. It was an awesome reminder of how faith can be both inspiring and fun. Looking forward to our remaining bible study sessions this term.

young enterprise

Shadow A Leader 2024

by Head of Faculty Social Sciences- Mr M Jeremic

One of our 2023 Prefects, John-Paul Schmidt was elected to participate in the AUT, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law sponsored programme called “Shadow a Leader”. John-Paul had a wonderful opportunity to spend one day following Cisco executive director and her team on a typical day in the office. He gained in-depth exposure to meetings, executive decision making and collaboration activities undertaken by the Cisco executive team.

Well done, John-Paul for being ambassador for De La Salle School and for being courageous and embracing opportunities offered by Young Enterprise Programme.

gateway & careers

A very busy couple of weeks with the Careers Department working with our students as the term is ending for exams in the next four weeks.

Many students who are requiring support in both Careers and Gateway are actively working to finish subjects, checking credits and plans to gain especially NCEA level 2 and 3.

Mrs Nayagar is working tirelessly with students with scholarships and preparation is very time consuming.

Drivers Licenses are continuing as well as CVs so very much to do before the end of the year.

Gateway is going really well as we have had students at McDonalds, Forklift, Warehouse, Countdown and Work Experience with Woolworths E store. These are going well except for some absences with some students.

The Trades men are going well and all of the students are on track to get their level 3 Certificate in Construction as well as all looking to get their level 3. Still lots more work to go but we are very pleased where we are at this stage of the year.

notices

We invite you to marvel at the hard work of our young artists and celebrate them by attending our Art Exhibition! Be inspired by their unique perspectives and creativity. Open to Staff, Students, Whanau, Friends, and the Community Thursday 22 August 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM 📍School Hall

The Reuben O’Neill Bursary has been established by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland to assist in making Catholic education available to some families and their children who otherwise would be unable to receive a Catholic education. The Reuben O’Neill Bursary has been established to honour Reuben O’Neill, who has been an exceptional volunteer and supporter of Catholic education throughout his lifetime. Reuben O’Neill is a husband, parent and grandparent and was recognised by Pope John Paul II in 1989 receiving a papal knighthood for his services to the Catholic Church of New Zealand. Reuben is proud of his own Catholic education and has worked faithfully to make Catholic education accessible to as many people as possible, through building the Common Fund Cooperative, developing new schools, and improving the standard of existing schools across the Diocese of Auckland. Whānau/families can apply at primary or secondary levels. Eligibility criteria include a desire for Catholic education for their child, and financial benefit to their family. Students of any year level can apply for the scholarship.