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

in this issue

TERM 1 WEEK 4- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “A Great Example"

Associate Principal - "Fono, Fono, Fono"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral

Academic Year 7/8

Literacy Centre

2025 Athletics Day

Counties Manukau Regional Debating Tournament

Year 11 NCEA Parent Partnership

Experiencing Brotherhood at Year 10 Camp

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

“a great example”

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

Greetings,

It is mainly in smaller communities where good example is most notable and has the most power and influence.

Our De La Salle College community is the perfect place to set the “good example” for our young men.

Committed, concerned and talented staff in strong partnership with our parents as evidenced by attendance at Academic Counselling, Dedication Day Mass and Parent Partnership Meetings early this year, provide a strong foundation for our young men about what is right and what is good about our community. That is, staff, parents and students all working together to achieve highly in all areas of a young man’s education.

According to the belief of philosophers, both the practice and the love of what is right are easily communicated in community to the younger members, we see this in reality in our College from the “good example” of those adults and senior students who care for our young men.

Lately we have seen in our society the opposite of “good example”, sadly highlighted and occupying too much media time and space.

Sad consequences of spending far too much time on social media sites
Poor attendance record at school
Opting out of commitment to sports
Youth leaving their futures in the hands of others when they need to “own” their future

Our role as educators of our young men at the College is to show how negative to the growth of our students these “bad examples” are and provide our young men with a good example based on our belief and devotion to the examples we are given from the Gospels, our faith in God and our College leaders.

St Paul summed it up well when he wrote to the Philippians, “Keep on imitating me my brothers. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that has been set for you”.

In simple young men’s terms, the right example to follow is:

Be at school every day working to the best of your ability, we call that “Excellence.”
Be involved in a sports team at the College.
Live out our College Annual Scriptural phrase –“Let all that you do, be done in love.”
Be a witness of the College’s Catholic and Lasallian character.
Place yourself in the “Service” of others.
Represent your College, home and community with respect and honour at all times both in and outside the College
Treat everyone that you interact with, with respect and love.

We have had a great start to our year, the College is humming along smoothly and busily. The staff and students are enjoying teaching and learning in our new building, it is a wonderful asset to the College community.

There are many instances on display of “A Good Example” from our staff and young men, encouraging all students to follow them.

God Bless

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

FONO, FONO, FONO

MARCH 13, MARCH 13, MARCH 13

As part of bringing our community and school closer together the College will be holding a Fono event on the evening of Thursday 13 March in the school MPC. This event will be hosted by a group including school staff, students, parents and BOT members. The schedule for the event will be:

5.30pm arrival and snacks (provided by Old Boys Association)
6.00pm meeting begins
Presentations by parents/BOT members on the school strategic direction
Discussion and interaction
7.30pm finish

Whenever our community gets together it is positive, for example the Matariki event last year, our prizegiving's and Polyfest groups. Our focus is to build more positive community momentum with events and with direct feedback from parents and families about the school’s strategic direction as we head into the future. The more that our wonderful community is involved the more successful our school and our boys will be, so we would love to see you here to join in the future development of our College.

special character

Assistant Principal Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua

Dear Families,

Lasallian Leadership Seminar

Although 2025 is already in full swing, it was only last month, in mid-January, that three of our prefects—Head Boy Cyrus Holloway, Deputy Tony Ulberg, and Elijah Tia—had the privilege of traveling to Sydney for the Lasallian Leadership Seminar. Along with prefects from FDMC and JPC, they were accompanied by our Director of Student Leadership, Mr Wilson Felise. This annual event provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect with the broader Lasallian network across the region and brings back valuable insights that help shape their leadership styles within our community.

Dedication Mass

Earlier this month, we celebrated the College's annual Dedication Mass with Monsignor Bernard Kiely. This occasion was especially meaningful as families had the honour of presenting their sons with prefect badges, followed by a special blessing as they were commissioned as leaders for 2025.

Additionally, we took a moment to celebrate Br. Jack, who marked his 80th birthday at the start of the year.

Happy belated birthday Br. Jack!

Year 9 Retreats

Our Year 9 cohort recently completed their retreats in the Chapel during weeks 2 and 3, focusing on the theme of Brotherhood. This experience provided them with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith, the importance of the Blessed Sacrament, and their Lasallian identity.

Throughout the retreats, the boys were inspired by Br. Jack, Br. Naqash, and Br. Armir, as well as former students Mr Chad Tuli and Sam Vaotuua, who shared their personal experiences at De La Salle. The retreats were led by RE teacher Mr Tanu Ngan Woo and community leader Mr Anthony Ngan Woo, who guided the boys in reflecting on what it means to be a part of the Lasallian community.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

Online learning supports for Year 7 and 8 students

At the start of the Year it is important for us to highlight the online supports that all Year 7 and 8 students have access to for Mathematics, Reading and Writing.

Students can access Mathletics for mathematics outside of class. Students go to https://www.mathletics.com/nz/. Students have a Mathletics username and password.

Mathletics is the award-winning online maths programme to help students learn maths. Engaging, fun, and aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum.

Students can access Lexile through Scholastic Literacy Pro for reading. Students go to ScholasticLearningZone.com select New Zealand as Country and type in the code 97PD. Students have a Scholastic Literacy Pro username and password.

And soon students will have access to the Writer's toolbox for support with writing. Students go to www.writerstoolbox.com. All students will have a Writers Toolbox username and password.

Writer’s Toolbox is an educational writing programme powered by patented AI. Designed to help students master writing—without doing the work for them—Writer’s Toolbox gives real-time, individualised feedback at scale: in every topic, for every student, at their most teachable moments.

Please make contact with your son's teacher immediately if you have any problems with your son's usernames or passwords.

All of these digital products are well researched and tested by our teachers. However, it is important to make clear that while online learning provides valuable access to information and educational tools, it is our firm belief that they will never be a complete replacement for traditional methods of learning with pen and paper and physical books. Your son will also be challenged to read, write and do mathematics using books, pen and paper as they are still critical for deep understanding.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Year 10 Camp

A Journey of Challenge, Growth, and Camaraderie

This past Monday to Wednesday, our Year 10 students embarked on an unforgettable camp experience at Camp Adair in Hunua. Over the course of three days, the boys were pushed beyond their comfort zones, faced exciting challenges, and strengthened their bonds as a group.

From high ropes and team-building activities to bush walks and confidence courses, each moment was filled with opportunities for learning and personal growth. The boys showed resilience as they tackled physical and mental challenges, stepping up to support one another through every task. Whether it was conquering fears on the high-wire course or working together to complete group challenges, the spirit of teamwork and perseverance was evident throughout the camp.

Beyond the physical activities, the camp provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect outside of the classroom. Friendships were strengthened, new connections were formed, and the experience fostered a greater sense of unity among the year group.

A huge thank you to the staff and facilitators who helped make this camp a success. Your guidance and encouragement ensured that our students walked away with not just memories, but also valuable life lessons that will stay with them well beyond their school years.

The Year 10 camp was more than just an adventure—it was an experience that shaped character, built confidence, and reinforced the importance of teamwork. Well done to all the boys who took part!

ICT Academy

De La Salle College BYOD

(Bring Your Own Device) Information for Parents

De La Salle College has a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy to enhance students' learning experiences. To support daily educational activities and resources, all students are required to bring a personal device to school.

Device Requirements

To ensure compatibility with our digital learning platforms, we recommend a laptop with the following specifications:

Screen Size: 11 inches
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256 GB Hard Drive
Wi-Fi: 802.11n
Battery Life: At least 6 hours
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10
Protection: A carry bag to safeguard the device

Software Support

Each student will receive a Microsoft Office 365 license, giving them access to a suite of Microsoft Office products, a school email address, and 1TB of online storage. This will allow students to access learning resources both at school and from home. For subjects like Art Design, Computer Science and Technology, which require specialist software, the school provides access to labs and licenses for applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Grok Learning Platforms.

BYOD Policy & Online Safety

The use of personal devices on the school network is governed by our BYOD Agreement Policy. Parents and students must sign this agreement before accessing the school's Wi-Fi. The policy is available on the school's website.

We also encourage all parents to explore NetSafe’s Online Parent Safety Toolkit for valuable resources on keeping students safe online: NetSafe Online Parent Safety Toolkit. Links are provided to read the Toolkit in Te Reo, Samoan, Tongan and Chinese languages.

Our network is protected by Network for Learning (N4L), which ensures a secure browsing environment. Note that VPN software is not permitted, and device use in classrooms is subject to the discretion of the teacher.

PB Tech Portal

We have partnered with PB Tech to provide a dedicated BYOD portal featuring recommended laptops anddevices. For more information, visit: PB Tech BYOD Portal. The BYOD Recommendation for Students link is also available on the school’s website homepage.

Device Registration

To register your son's device, please obtain a registration form from the School’s IT Technician or the School Office.

Further Information and Advice

For further information and advice regarding BYOD, contact your son’s Homeroom Teacher or the School Office

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

Well done to all students who have come back prepared and ready to learn it is so exciting to see boys engaged in their classrooms! As teachers we never take for granted the privilege we have teaching your sons; grateful for the satisfaction we receive seeing them grow and succeed at De La Salle.

There is still a small group of students who have yet to purchase their stationary or bring to school a laptop and I encourage families to get these as soon as possible. Yes, the cost of living in Auckland is high and the struggle is real, but outside of our basic living requirements, our children as minors under our care, should first and foremost be the number one priority: particularly their schooling. Home and school combined can have a 60-80% influence on the development of a young person.

Parental Influence (40-60%) – This includes genetics, home environment, discipline, values, education, and emotional support. Parents shape a child’s worldview, behaviour, and moral compass.
Peers and Social Environment (20-40%) – Friends, school, and social interactions play a significant role, especially during adolescence.
Media and Culture (10-20%) – Television, social media, books, and societal norms influence attitudes and beliefs.
Genetics (Varies, ~20-50%) – Traits like intelligence, temperament, and mental health risks are inherited but shaped by environment.

This is why we need to be consistent everyday with the basics; breakfast, punctuality, attendance, stationary/laptop. We are fortunate that the government is helping with school lunches. Having these essentials will ensure a step in the right direction for all students.

Our commitment as Year 7/8 teachers to your son is to constantly raise our levels. This is especially noted with our 2025 school goal:

To create independent learners through deliberate acts of teaching”

The years responding to Covid we had to focus heavily as a school on “deliberate acts of teaching”, compensating for the constant disruptions. Staff took professional development with writing and most recently maths. Now in 2025 we are moving towards deliberate acts of teaching that shift students towards having ownership with their learning. This requires transparency from teachers regarding their teaching and learning process in order for students to have a deeper understanding of what is going on in their classrooms. For teachers it is shifting from being predominantly a provider, to being a facilitator of sorts. It is interesting to note that St Jean Baptiste De La Salle, in his book “The Conduct of the Christian Schools”, implores teachers to avoid dominating the classroom.

We look forward to our journey as a teaching faculty, creating independent learners in De La Salle College. As I mentioned to my team this week “Most teachers are giving out fish rather than fishing rods”. We want to be a school that not only teaches learning, but how to learn.

In Christ

literacy centre

2025 athletics day

by John Faifili- DLS Media Team Prefect

On February 21st, De La Salle hosted one of its most anticipated events of the year, Athletics Day. This event brought together the school’s four houses, Benildus, Mutien, Miguel, and Solomon, in a spirited competition that showcased both athleticism and the deep sense of brotherhood that defines our school.

From the start, the energy was high as students competed in a range of events, all striving for the ultimate title of 2025 Athletics Champions. However, one of the most electrifying moments of the day was the house chants. Each house proudly performed, displaying teamwork, unity, and school spirit. In the end, Miguel House (Yellow) emerged victorious, earning the title of “Best Chants” and going on to claim the overall championship.

A huge thank you to the teachers, student leaders, and media team who helped make the event a success. Athletics Day was a true reflection of this year’s school theme: “Let all that you do be done in love.

Thank you to the following students who captured content on the day through photos and videos:

Isaac Ete Ah-Ken
John Faifili
Cole Te Rite Wharekoka
David Morris
Joseph Malele
Noah Mati
Adeesha Fernando
Zach Olivo
Julius Faifili
Siosaia Sinisa
Kobe Setu
Daniel Dublin
Gabriel Mananghaya
Zacharius Palelei

Counties Manukau Regional Debating Tournament

On Saturday 22 March our college hosted the annual Counties Manukau Regional Debating Tournament organized by New Zealand High Schools Debating Society.

Our teams have been training every Thursday in the lead up to this competition.

It is an honour to announce that Year 11TLG Anthony Pelenato, Year 11VER Steve Roberts and Year 13LIN Cadell Armstrong were selected for the 2025 Counties Manukau Regional debate team who will go to Wellington later this year to compete in the NZ High Schools Debating Nationals against the best of the best throughout New Zealand. The team will receive professional coaching and training in the lead up to Nationals. Massive congratulations to Cadell, Anthony and Steve.

This year, in a fierce showing between AFF De La Salle and NEG Ormiston Senior High School in the grand finals, a huge congratulations to Year 13LIN Christian Fa’avae, Year 13LIN Cadell Armstrong and Year 13HUR Sione Mafuahingano, our 2025 Counties Manukau Regional debating champions.

Well done to Ormiston Senior College for the amazing show down!

Well done to the team of Year 11WEN Leroy Lauvao, Year 11VER Steve Roberts, Year 11VER Frankie Truong and Year 11UFI Iosefo Tominiko for placing 3rd this year, just missing out on the grand finals.

2025 COUNTIES MANUKAU REGIONAL PRIZE GIVING:

Year 10PIL Joseph Malele
Year 9FAR Ma’umagaisiva Su’a (on two weeks training!)
Year 11WEN Leroy Lauvao
Year 12TAN Elijah Wilson

Most promising speaker overall:

Year 11VER Steve Roberts

Highly commended:

Year 12HEN Leato Collins
Year 13HUR Sione Mafuahingano

Regional Team Counties Manukau:

Year 11 Anthony Pelenato
Year 11 Steve Roberts
Year 13 Cadell Armstrong

2025 Manukau Regional Champs:

DLS 3

Year 13's Cadell Armstrong, Sione Mafuahingano and Christian Fa’avae.

Winners of Counties Manukau Regionals

Massive thank you to Miss Phillips and Mr Stowers-Tualega for helping to facilitate and organize the day. To Mr Jeremic for running economics workshops for the team in preparation which came in clutch! Our awesome DLS Media Team (Year 13 Cole, Isaac and John F) for coming in to document the day. To our legendary debating alumni Juan Koti, Gabriel Toreja and Jacob Tominiko for coming out to support the team.

Huge congratulations to all of our La Sallian orators who represented our college with mana and for what was an amazing start to debate season 2025!

God bless,

Mr Wendt

YEAR 11 NCEA parent partnership

NCEA ma le Paskifika workshops help Pacific learners, parents and communities understand NCEA

De La Salle College recently hosted a successful Year 11 NCEA Parent Partnership evening, bringing together parents, students, and key representatives to ensure a smooth transition into the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system. The event, attended by 50 parents and their sons, aimed to provide essential insights into the structure, expectations, and opportunities that NCEA offers.

The evening was designed to help parents and students gain a clear understanding of what lies ahead in their academic journey. The transition from Year 10 to Year 11 is a significant milestone, as students begin their first year of NCEA Level 1. To support them, the school organized an engaging session that included expert speakers, personal experiences, and informative discussions.

One of the highlights of the evening was a heartfelt speech from guest speaker and De La Salle old boy, former Deputy Head Boy Deverrel Samasoni. Drawing from his own experience with NCEA, Deverrel shared valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of the qualification system. His words resonated with the students, as he emphasized the importance of time management, perseverance, and seeking support when needed.

Adding to the evening’s value, representatives from the Ministry of Education were present to provide expert guidance on how NCEA operates. They explained the credit system, the importance of internal and external assessments, and the role of literacy and numeracy requirements. Their presence reinforced the school's commitment to ensuring that both parents and students have access to accurate and relevant information.

Throughout the evening, the engagement between parents, students, and presenters was strong. Parents took the opportunity to discuss their concerns, seek advice, and gain a better understanding of how they could support their sons through this crucial stage of their education.

Experiencing Brotherhood at Year 10 Camp

"One Brotherhood, One Heart, Forever La Salle"

by Dominique Manio & Elijah Tuala

Camp Adair wasn’t just a school trip, it was an important experience filled with bonding and unforgettable memories. The main emphasis of the camp was growth, challenge, and strengthening the brotherhood we shared as a year level.

On Monday 24 February, we arrived to the chapel area to meet up to go to camp. After a short briefing with our dean, we were off to camp on the bus. When we arrived, we assembled at the shaded area of the dining hall and were split into our homeroom camp groups. Many of us did not want to be in homeroom groups because we did not really know some boys well. But over the three days, we got to know our cabin really well and came back feeling like brothers.

Surrounded by trees and fields, we took on the many challenges that forced us to overcome our fears, strategize and learn the true values of brotherhood through the many activities we did such as the Leap of Faith, Multivine, Waterslide, Skit and Dance performances, Raft Building, Time Capsule and many more. We built trust with our fellow brothers, tested our cooperation and pushed ourselves to the limit.

Through these challenges we shared meals, late night talks, made smores and sung around a campfire with inspirational speeches from the staff, and as we did this, we grew closer. Year 10 Camp wasn’t just about having fun, it was about building trust, leadership, and unwavering support to our fellow brothers.

As we packed up and headed home, I realized I wasn’t just taking back memories—I was taking back a stronger sense of unity with my fellow year 10 brothers.

"One Brotherhood, One Heart, Forever La Salle"

wasn’t just our camp theme... it was a reality we lived.

A massive thanks to our year 10 dean, our homeroom teachers and all the other staff who worked tirelessly to make that camp experience with our year level, an amazing experience!

notices

Tuesday 4 March, 6-8pm in the College MPC

Visit any of 4 Libraries in the Mangere-Otahuhu local board and borrow 3 items from the Paskifika collection and go in the draw to win!!

Mangere East Community Centre & Library present: Makete Pasifika for Youth, entirely FREE for youth to set up a stall. Youth keep 100% profits made! Contact details are on the flyer

Want to earn badges for service hours?- sign up here