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

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Timing and Telescopes

On Friday last week we had a sacramental mass for 20 boys who received first holy communion and confirmation. Some of the family that came to support were old boys of the college, boys that had a number of issues when they were at school. They now have young families and are doing well in life, something that I would not have predicted at the time.

Sometimes the timing is not as we would like. We want them to mature when they are 15 but its not always the right time for the message of maturity to get through. Both teachers and parents have to trust that what each of us have done, and the respect that we showed each boy will pay dividends in the end. We may just have to wait a decade.

A telescope gives us a longer perspective. When boys are in trouble or failing at school it is helpful to try and take a longer view. Many parents now know that having issues at school does not define your future. If boys are aware of this they can be more honest about what they have done and have more hope for the future because the current problem doesn’t completely block out the sun.

Timing and telescopes give us perspective, we can see the longer game, be more patient and have more faith that doing the right thing and treating people well pays off in the end.

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

NCEA Exams have begun

A reminder to students to bring their Admission Slips to each exam. Over a quarter of exams are now digital exams. If your son has a [DE] on his admission slip he requires a laptop for the exam. If he needs to borrow one from school, please make sure he makes contact with his teacher before the exam to help us plan.

Welcome back to past staff member, Mrs Barbara Warender, who is our NZQA Exam Centre Manager. She is being well supported by other recent staff member Mr Marty Finch and old boys Mr Jordan Verma and Mr Anthony Hurst.

• Exams run through to November 28. Morning exams start at 9.30 am and afternoon exams at 2 pm and run through to 5 pm. We ask students to be here at least 30 minutes before each exam.
• A reminder that students must be in school uniform.
• If students need a study space the library is available before and after exams.

Year 9 and 10 Exams

Year 9 and 10 exams are in Week 7. The timetable is attached. The list of topics and exam format is also attached. These exams and assessments are the last chance to gain De La Salle Certificate points for the year.

De La Salle certificate assemblies for the year levels will be

• Year 9: Wednesday 26 November - period 4 & 5
• Year 10: Wednesday 26 November - period 2 & 3
• Year 7 & 8: Wednesday 3 December

Curriculum changes

As you may have seen in the media that the Ministry of Education have released the latest curriculum updates for The New Zealand Curriculum | Te Mātaiaho for all learning areas up until Year 10. The structure of the new curriculum spans 5 phases. Phase 1 – 4 cover Year 0 – 10. Phase 5 is for Year 11 – 13. It is important that we keep informed of changes, and give feedback where needed.

Why is it important to keep informed?

Curriculum statements should be more than just official policy; they should represent a broad societal conversation about what matters for young people to learn. They need to be bought to life in our classrooms, not be left in documents on the shelf. Our national curriculum must be aligned with the vision of creating confident and creative lifelong learners, and be implemented collaboratively with parents, educators, and education experts. National curriculum statements are essential for setting consistent standards and ensuring a baseline of knowledge across the country. We welcome the focus on foundational literacy and numeracy, and a focus on setting our students up for success with reading, writing and mathematics. However, there is a worry that if our curriculum becomes too prescriptive, or omits or minimises the things that make New Zealand unique, then there is a risk that me might lose something in the work that we do at De La Salle to create and deliver a curriculum that reflects, nurtures, and grows our community. Whatever your views, the first step is to inform yourself of the changes. Below are links to the latest releases.

De La Salle will be required to use the new English and Mathematics curricula for Phase 1 – 4 [Years 0 – 10] from Term 1 2026. The remaining Years 0 –10 content, including Science, Social Sciences, Health and PE, and the Arts must be implemented by Term 1 2027. Any remaining curricula are required by 2028, when the start of the new senior curriculum content begins in a phased rollout between 2028 and 2030. Year 11 content is required from 2028, Year 12 from 2029, and Year 13 from 2030. The current New Zealand Curriculum Framework remains in effect until 1 January 2027

You can view the Year 0 – 10 [or Phase 1 – 4] refreshed learning areas at https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/parent-portal/changes-curriculum-and-why-they-matter-your-child. They include English and Mathematics. More detail can be found at the following sites.

Year 9

https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/parent-portal/guide-new-zealand-curriculum-years-9-10/year-9-new-zealand-curriculum

Year 10

https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/parent-portal/guide-new-zealand-curriculum-years-9-10/year-10-new-zealand-curriculum

The other learning areas include;

• Social Sciences: Includes new strands including Civics and Society, Economic Activity, and rewritten Aotearoa New Zealand's histories.
• Health and Physical Education: Adds compulsory consent education to promote safe and respectful relationships.
• Science: Encourages students to investigate and explore the natural and physical world, including learning about notable scientists.
• Arts and Technology: Expanded content covers topics like indigenous art forms, music technology, coding, and design ethics.

Consultation is open for the NZC Years 0-10 draft curriculum. The Ministry of Education welcome your feedback and informed insights through to Friday, 24 April 2026.

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

The new curriculum has been released recently and there are quite a few changes that will be happening with Year 7/8 next year. Most of these changes are to do with reporting and the wording of curriculum documents. As a team we will adjust our teaching to line up with the new curriculum requirements but overall, there isn’t too much we would change. Our mission statement remains unchanged;

“De La Salle College educates boys in a Catholic environment of Love and Service.”

As humans we are never perfect, particularly when we are young and trying to navigate through our teen years. Teaching in 2025 is very different from when we were students back in the 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s (some of us were baby boomer students in the 50s). It is not easy to keep the Lasallian mission statement in a 2025 NZ classroom, so I always applaud our teachers and students for co-existing with so many modern-day challenges. Our students are bombarded with so much social media than even perhaps 10 years ago; it is almost impossible for them not to walk through our gates with a less than Lasallian outlook. At the same time our teachers are working hard to bring in a new curriculum and raise attendance levels. When these two perspectives collide, it can difficult to remember our mission statement of a “Catholic Environment of Love and Service.”

This is where I have to speak admirably of teachers and students, I see everyday at De La Salle who strive to follow the way of Christ. For almost two years I have been impressed with a young man in Mr Tagaloasa’s class (who despite being such a young man with the usual peer and hormonal challenges of teen-hood), constantly upholds his Christian values. His teacher, Mr Tagaloasa, also upholds every day the teachings of Christ despite being a new teacher which is challenging in itself. There are many others not just on our top floor, but also throughout the school, who despite the various global influences of 2025, endeavour to keep God at the centre of their actions. Every one of these individuals is an inspiration to those around them. A standing example of “…love and service”

As we unpack and move into the new curriculum in 2026 may it be done in a way that adds to our Lasallian mission statement.

In Christ

SENCO: Br Lewis Harwood

Nearing the end of term 2, Mrs Elizabeth Wilkins finished her wonderful teaching service at De La Salle College leading the learning support team to implement and deliver student-inclusive education for more than 10 years. At the beginning of Term 3, Br Lewis Harwood took up the Special Education Coordination role at the College working with the learning support team. Teaching English and Performing Arts, Br Lewis has taught and supported students across the world in a variety of learning and different cultural contexts. My teaching philosophy and motto is very much that –

every student matters and that every student has gifts that contributes to the learning paradigm of the classroom

Learning occurs at various paces and times – and as educators - every personality and learner must be engaged in this process”. Reading, writing, critiquing, sharing and discerning knowledge should always be relational – and a student can absorb inclusive learning across a visual, auditory and tactile experience”. In his role, Br Lewis will work with the Pastoral Care team, RTLB services, teachers and families to bridge learning programs and classroom support for students requiring additional learning and ESOL needs. You can contact him via email: HarwoodB@delasalle.school.nz