De La Salle College Newsletter

“A Catholic School for Boys in the Lasallian Tradition”

in this issue

TERM 2 WEEK 6 - COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “The past provides certainty. Our future is built on stone."

Associate Principal - "Transformation"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral

Academic Year 7/8

Literacy Centre

Business Studies Students Visit Mangere Town Market

World of Paleontology

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

“the past provides certainty"

Our Future is Built on Stone

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

Greetings, Over the last few weeks any visitor to De La Salle would have seen the staff and students participating in a range of rituals and symbolic acts that may have appeared unusual to most people in the ever growing secular city and world that we live in. Daily Prayer, the Rosary, Masses, the Angelus, Procession of our Founder on De La Salle Day, all deeply embedded rituals and tradition that form our Catholic, Lasallian faith. These rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church and our Lasallian heritage allow our students and staff to demonstrate their faith and they provide us with a link to a 2026 year old Catholic tradition and a 73 year old Lasallian one. The tradition of saying the Lasallian Prayer daily, singing our school song when we gather as community, giving Lasallian awards at Assemblies and participating in Masses give roots, stability and some certainty to young men to grasp onto and provides a foundation for their growth as young Christians. Building fine young men involves providing them with structure, certainties and traditions, in fact John Baptist De La Salle believed in a disciplined, person-centred approach to education which is the aim of the College today. Enrolment interviews for the students and families wishing to enrol at De La Salle in 2027 commence shortly. A question that I always ask of parents at the interview is, “Why do you want your son to be educated at De La Salle?” The common answer is that parents want their sons to receive a challenging academic education based on strong Catholic and Lasallian values, traditions and a deep spirituality that adds to their personal understanding of faith. Parents want their sons to be given a range of academic, sporting, musical, cultural and faith opportunities, these match completely with the Vision of the College for our young men.

Our students wear a College crest on their uniform, this incorporates the Catholic tradition of the Cross, the shield, the star and the fern, while our motto “Bonum Certamen Certa Fide”, challenges our young men to follow the advice that St Paul gave to Timothy of

Fighting the Good fight of faith.

These symbols and traditions are an ever present reminder to our young men that they belong to a unique tradition that is alive and living through them in the present.

At De La Salle we are proud of our heritage, our traditions and rituals, they are constants to the young men of the College, and are comforting in the fickle, social media dominated world we live in. Traditions and Ritual have a place in our modern world, young men need to know that their own stories have a link to the foundations of our Catholic, Lasallian heritage. They provide certainty and structure in a young man’s life. Last week, we hosted the Catholic Diocesan Evaluation team, who visited us for three days to review what we as a school are achieving to give our young men, staff and our families an encounter with Christ. This is a very comprehensive review which involved the team visiting our classes, speaking with our young men, staff, parents and the Board of Trustees. In two to three weeks time we will receive a report from the Catholic Diocesan team which I will share with you.

God Bless

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Transformation

Recently I have come across a number of boys who give me hope that transformation is possible. I don’t just mean for them but also for myself. I am thinking of 3 boys who for the last two years have had difficulty with following school rules and general attitude. This year they have been able to make a change and are on a much more positive path. I think of boys who had to leave other schools because of behaviour issues but have had a very positive time here at Lasalle and are achieving well. I think of some boys in our top sports teams who this year have made a decision to change for the better and have followed through. I think of a recent old-boy who I battled with for 2 years over presentation and attitude who came into my office earlier this year to say that he wanted to come and help the school in some way. That is transformation. Recently I had experience with a young man who got very worked up during an incident but by the end of the day was able to come to my office to say that he wished to apologize and that his behaviour didn’t show the type of person that he wanted to be. That is transformation. These boys give me hope. This brings me to last Sunday, which was Pentecost That was the day of a transformation that gave birth to the church that we still belong to 2000 years later. The Holy Spirit is the Advocate, always wanting what is best for us. The Holy Spirt gives grace to us, if we ask for it. Asking for it takes humility, the humility to admit that we can’t transform on our own. So what’s the point? We can be transformed, we can face our addictions, our self-interest and our fears, but we need humility and we need to ask for grace. That is what the Holy Spirit does for us.

special character

Assistant Principal Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua

Dear Families,

Founders Day

Our recent Founders Day was a beautiful testament to the enduring legacy of St John Baptist De La Salle and the Brothers’ community, who have faithfully served our school community for the past 73 years. It was especially meaningful to welcome our Brother Visitor, Br Peter Bray, whose presence served as a living reminder of St John Baptist De La Salle himself — a leader who took the time to visit, guide, care for, and nurture his community. The day was filled with immense pride, joy, and brotherhood, as our boys dressed in their finest to celebrate our Lasallian charism and spirit. It was heartening to witness the strong sense of belonging and reverence that continues to shape our school culture. We are deeply grateful to our celebrant, Fr Martin, who continually finds innovative and engaging ways to connect with our boys and bring the Gospel to life. We also acknowledge and thank the representatives from the Diocese, McAuley High School, and Marcellin College, along with our Board of Trustees members and families, who joined us for this special and significant occasion. A special congratulations to our Year 13 Special Character Prefects for their dedication and leadership in planning the day, and to all prefects involved in the liturgy. As this was your final Founders Day at De La Salle College, we are incredibly proud of your efforts, commitment, and example to the younger boys.

Special Character Review

We were privileged to host Monica Johnson, Jan Waelan, and Phil Mahoney for our recent Special Character Review. Over the course of three days, the review process provided a valuable opportunity for reflection as leaders, while also engaging students, staff, and our wider community in meaningful dialogue. It was a significant time to celebrate the many strengths and achievements of our Special Character, while also identifying authentic opportunities for continued growth and improvement as we move forward together. We are grateful for the affirmation, insights, and guidance shared throughout the process.

Upcoming Events

31 May – Samoan Mass in the MPC to open Samoan Language Week. All schools with Gagana Samoa classes have been invited to attend. Please join us this Sunday!
4–5 June – Year 12 Retreat at LOGOS
19 June – Kāhui Mass at St Anne’s
2–4 July – KAIROS Retreat

Sacramental Programme

Families wishing to register their son for the Sacramental Programme are invited to email Anthony NganWooA@delasalle.school.nz. Further information and registration details for the programme, beginning in Term 3, will then be provided.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

Welcome to this week’s 2-Minute - Parenting Tips and Tricks! from Our Kids Online The Good Will Cup - One of Life’s Greatest Lessons. It’s the invisible cup your kids don’t even know they’re carrying — but it holds the power to shape every relationship they’ll ever have. Friendships. Family. Future partners. Understanding the Good Will Cup helps them pour into others, build connection, and handle conflict like a pro. It’s simple. It’s powerful. And once they see it — they’ll never unsee it.

Literacy and Numeracy CAA Tests

Congratulations to all of the Year 10 to Year 13 students who completed a Literacy or Numeracy CAA test in the last two weeks. The boys worked hard, and it was clear that some good preparation was done. NZQA release the results of the Literacy and Numeracy CAA by July 20. Students will be able to see their results on their MyNZQA login and the KAMAR portal from the start of term 3. The next round of assessments is at the end of term 3 from 8 – 19 September. We have started planning for all those students to be entered already. For example, Year 9 and 10 are currently being assessed against the Learning Progressions for Literacy and Numeracy using PaCT. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact your son’s homeroom teacher. NCEA Progress Mid-term is a good time to check in with your son about his progress towards NCEA. Our targets are the following 2026 Targets

Year 11 NCEA Level 1

Previous years have shown us that a Year 11 student on track to achieve would have 20 credits at this time of year. As of 15 May, the average number of credits per student is 23. This is good progress. There are a large group who will achieve NCEA Level 1, as long as they achieve the Literacy and Numeracy CAA.

Year 12 NCEA Level 2

A Year student should expect to have 25 credits at this time of year. As of 15 May, the average number of credits per student is 28. The focus for all students in 2026 is to target students for extension and acceleration. While credits are important we want to also improve the quality of credits achieved. As always ask your son how they can get a Merit or Excellence grade.

Year 13 NCEA Level 3

A Year 13 student should expect to have 25 credits at this time of year. As of May 15, the average number of credits per student is 23 towards a target of 60 credits Year 13 students are also being asked to show how they will meet the University Entrance literacy requirements and identify which 3 subjects they are on track to achieve 14+ credits. This year when asked, 72% of Year 13 expressed a desire to achieve University Entrance.

Year 7 – 10 De La Salle Certificate

At De La Salle College we want our students to participate fully in school life and to aim for excellence in the classroom. Students can gain points for academic achievement as well as good scores in their Weekly Notes, service and participation in the wider school. To achieve a De La Salle Certificate, a student needs an overall total of 80 points and should have around 30 points at this time of year. Has your son completed his service? Is he a part of a team or club or group?

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Student Voice Highlights Positive Culture at De La Salle College

Earlier this term, students from Years 7–9 participated in a Student Voice Survey designed to gather feedback on their experiences at De La Salle College. The survey focused on key areas including wellbeing, safety, belonging, teaching and learning, attendance, and student voice. A total of 146 students took part in the survey, with results painting a very positive picture of life at the college. Overall, students reported feeling safe, supported, connected, and engaged within the De La Salle community. One of the strongest themes to emerge was the sense of safety and belonging students experience at school. An impressive 86% of students agreed that they feel safe at school, while 89% said they feel that they belong at De La Salle College. In addition, 84% reported feeling respected by both teachers and peers. Students also showed strong awareness of support systems within the school, with 82% saying they know who they can talk to if they ever need help. Relationships between students and staff were highlighted as a major strength of the college. In particular, Homeroom teachers continue to play a significant role in supporting students pastorally and academically. A remarkable 96% of students agreed that they feel supported by their Homeroom teacher. Teaching and learning also received positive feedback. Students acknowledged the support they receive in the classroom, with 88% agreeing that teachers provide clear instructions and engaging learning opportunities. Additionally, 89% said teachers help them when they are struggling with their learning, while 86% indicated that they understand which areas of their learning they need to improve. The survey also reflected the school’s continued focus on attendance and engagement. Encouragingly, 94% of students agreed that good attendance is important for learning, reinforcing the message that regular attendance remains a key factor in student success. Students identified several aspects of school life that they value most, including positive relationships with teachers and peers, sports opportunities, faith and school values, and supportive learning environments. At the same time, the survey provided valuable insights into areas where the school can continue to grow. Students highlighted the importance of continuing to strengthen confidence in bullying reporting processes and maintaining a strong focus on student engagement and wellbeing. The findings from the survey will be used to help inform ongoing pastoral care systems, teaching practices, student wellbeing initiatives, and future school improvement planning.

ICT Academy

Introducing SchoolBridge

SchoolBridge is the central sign in point for our school providing easy access for Parents/Caregivers, students and Staff.
Student Absence Reporting feature is available now for parents to use.
SchoolBridge can be used from any web browser and also available as an app for mobile devices.

Web Sign in Instructions

Go to our school’s homepage https://delasalle.bridge.school.nz/ and click the SIGN IN button
Click on your account type: Parent/Caregiver
You can sign in using the email address you have registered with the school
Contact the school office or email comms@delasalle.school.nz for support

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

It is Friday afternoon as I write this after yet another big week for our Year 7/8 students! Before I get into those details, I must mention how in our SLT meeting this morning, Mr English shared how he would be attending the funeral of one of our parents. Only a couple of weeks ago a few of us were attending the funeral of another parent. I want to express my condolences to the whanau of our students who are grieving at this time, and to also acknowledge those who have lost loved ones earlier this year. When our students mourn, the question becomes: Is school a safe place for them when they are grieving? We as adults can ask the same thing of our workplaces, is it a supportive environment during our time of loss? Unfortunately, the bigger the workplace or school, the higher the probability for those around to be indifferent to people who are grieving. De La Salle College has a roll close to 1000, so yes, it is very easy to not know what everyone in the school is going through. We are fortunate enough to have very committed counsellors backed up by a very robust pastoral care systems). It is well known that the mental wellbeing of our students is crucially important to how they do in De La Salle College. Speaking of mental wellbeing. Personally, as a Generation Xer (leaning closer to Baby Boomer) I tend to be quite old school in my approach with strict expectations on my students that would probably not be amiss in a boot camp lol! When I look at St Jean Baptiste De La Salle’s writings and his expectations of teachers; yes he was strict. However more often than not his strictness was tempered with an undeniable overriding sense of compassion. I have had a student teacher in my class for the last 5 weeks and I cannot help but notice his “Lasallian” virtues, a genuine compassion for the students. This basic Christian fundamental virtue of compassion for others, is it something we need to keep in mind as teachers and parents when dealing with our students/sons amidst all the changes in the NZ curriculum and its associated pressure/stress? As I look at all the things happening up here on the top floor of the S Block I continue to be very proud of the work the teachers are doing to facilitate a good sense of wellbeing amongst the Year 7/8 students. The Enviro group with Mr Anderton is faithfully improving the school every week, the choir with Mr Tagaloasa, the recorder group with myself, the Mathletics group with Ms Olive, Media group Ms Kuresa, the road patrols with Ms Felise, Leadership group with Mr Brown…there is a lot happening each week and we haven’t even mentioned sports! However, yet again none of this fantastic wellbeing is to be celebrated if we cannot cater for those who are struggling with their wellbeing. As we celebrate and enjoy King’s Birthday weekend, let us be mindful of Jesus’s parable of a righteous king’s advice to his subjects.

“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

In Christ

literacy centre

business studies students visit mangere town markets

Senior Business Students used an opportunity to showcase their business projects around main stage area in the Mangere Town Centre shopping area. The boys engaged with their relevant target market audience asking questions about their product, validating their pricing, seeking efficient promotional methods and appropriate selling channels to help them figure out their next step to make their business project more appealing and successful in the market. The projects’ basic descriptions are listed below including the link to their Instagram page that have more detailed information and options how to purchase the product. Embracing the positive atmosphere, they boys also joined the Zumba class that was happening at the same time (see the photo). We are grateful to Vicki Hau, the Mangere Town Centre markets manager, for providing this opportunity to the boys.

world of paleontology

Year 9 Science Presentation

All year 9 students in week 5 had an exciting opportunity to explore the fascinating world of palaeontology through a special visit from an educator from the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The presentation introduced students to the science of fossils, prehistoric life, and how scientists uncover evidence from the past to better understand Earth’s history. Students learned about different types of fossils, extinct creatures, and the important role palaeontologists play in discovering and interpreting ancient remains. The session also explored New Zealand’s unique prehistoric history and the methods scientists use during fossil excavations and investigations. The interactive presentation sparked curiosity and enthusiasm among students, with many asking thoughtful questions and engaging in discussions throughout the session. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world science and careers in geology, biology, and museum research. We thank the educator from Auckland War Memorial Museum for delivering such an informative and engaging session for our Year 9 students.