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

in this issue

TERM 3 WEEK 8- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

Associate Principal - "Integrity"

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral

Academic Year 7/8

De La Salle Environment Group

DLS Robotics Club

A New Kind of Classroom- 9Technology

U14B Rugby On Top!

Suso Semi-Finals 2025

Gateway & Careers

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Integrity

One way of defining this word is consistency in actions aligning with words, that is, what we say is what we do. Our integrity is questioned when we profess a principle but don’t practice it.

If we say that we have standards that boys must meet in order to represent the College then we have to enforce those standards. If we say that the school is a safe space then we have to follow through on the discipline processes required to ensure that. If we say that we follow our cultural values then its important that we show respect, wherever we are, for example when supporting sports games, or sitting in a class with a relief teacher. What we say is what we do.

A boy being in full school uniform maintains the integrity of the College, that is he reinforces that we have standards and that we are united as brothers. The public judges a school on such issues. We are trying to form young men whose integrity is internal and not just based on fear of punishment. What we say is what we do.

One of many areas where the College does displays integrity has been in debating. There have been excellent results recently, winning the Junior Auckland Impromptu competition and finishing top eight out of over 200 teams in the seniors. They show their integrity by putting in the hours, being well presented and turning up. As a result, 19 of the boys will be on a trip to New York in February to attend the World United Nations Model Assembly. It is always a challenge, but we must keep trying to reach that place where we can say ‘What we say is what we do’

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

Senior Exams

Congratulations to our Year 11 – 13 students who completed their Practice Exams this week We are very definitely at the business end of the year. Exam time is a great opportunity to test yourself against the best in your class, school and the whole of NZ and show that we are up to the challenge here at De La Salle.

Senior students will get their end of year report in Week 2 Term 4.

Year 10 Literacy and Numeracy CAA in Week 9

Year 10 Reading - Tuesday 9 September Period 4 and 5 in

M7 and M8 for last names that start with a A - R
H4 if your last name starts with S - Z

Year 10 Writing – Wednesday 10 September Period 4 and 5 in

M7 and M8 for last names that start with a A - R
H4 if your last name starts with S - Z

Year 10 Numeracy - Thursday 11 September Period 4 and 5

D2 and D4 for last names that start with A – M
S12 and S13 for last names that start with N - Z

Students need to line up outside the classroom. Please make sure your son has his laptop and has logged on to NZQA. If your does not have a laptop, please make sure he has spoken to his homeroom teacher before the assessment to get a school device.

There will be some Year 11 and 12 students completing some catch-up assessments in the week as well.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Perseverance: Finishing Strong

As we move through Term 3, many of our senior students are fully engaged in preparing for their internal exams. This is an important time that calls for focus, discipline, and consistent effort. The work they put in now not only influences their grades but also builds the foundation for their success in the external exams at the end of the year.

Perseverance is about keeping at something even when it feels hard, tiring, or repetitive. Starting strong at the beginning of the week is easy; finishing strong at the end of the week is where real character shows. We have noticed that attendance sometimes slips towards the end of the week. This is where perseverance, commitment, and self-management are so important. Choosing to show up every day—even on the tougher days—makes a huge difference to both your learning and the habits you carry into the future.

Commitment means sticking to what you set out to do, even when you don’t feel like it. Self-management is about organising your time, balancing responsibilities, and making wise choices. When combined with perseverance, these qualities build resilience and determination—skills that will serve you well not just in school, but in life.

To our senior students: keep pushing. Every revision session, every practice paper, and every exam you complete is a step closer to your goals. To our junior students: look at the example of your older brothers. Perseverance isn’t just for exams—it’s about showing up, putting in effort, and seeing things through to the end.

As we head into the final weeks of Term 3, let’s all commit to finishing well. Be present, stay focused, and keep persevering. The true reward is not only in your results but in the character you build along the way

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

The last 2 weeks have been full on where we have begun finalising our curriculum for 2026. We will have a hybrid of what has been successful (LPF/PACT) and integrating Te Mataiaho (Curriculum Refresh) and its version of learning progressions. We had a fantastic Family Mass where the boys singing was superb, our Tree Planting ceremony in our new space behind our block, lunchtime Rugby League trainings, Cultural night practices, and our FYFOD Sports Camp.

The 2026 FYFOD sports camp had us again joining with Marist Girls (to make up our group of 40 students). We are very grateful for Marist College joining us and building this partnership (they invite us to their end of Year disco in Mt Albert). As most of you know we took to this FYFOD camp the students who had maintained their attendance and academic benchmarks. This was a decision based on our core values as well as the focus that we are a school, not a sports club. Education has values as its foundation; we want our athletes to understand the importance of striving for excellence in EVERYTHING they do, not just sports because as we know, everything is linked. To excel in many areas gives an athlete a broader approach when engaging in their specific discipline.

After our camp eligibility pool was cut in half and doing the “first in first serve” for payments; we arrive at FYFOD Sports Camp underpowered from an athletic perspective. After lunch we are immediately thrown into the fire with crushing losses in Ki o Rahi, Table Tennis, Climbing, and Checkers. This would set the scene for the rest of the camp as every night other schools would stand up and take medals ahead of us. After the evening medal ceremony both De La Salle and Marist would have their evening scripture and reflections where all the boys would share what they had learnt that day. As you can imagine it wasn’t a celebratory reflection as we had few medals to show from the days play. However, this is where the real success of the camp could be seen as each student shared a few new things that they had learnt that day! The difficulties of being in an environment where they were not on top challenged the boys both as a team and as individuals. De La Salle and Marist students had to search for strategies to overcome both the physical and mental disparities, consequentially developing solid character growth. Is this not the most important thing in life?

By the time Day 4 had arrived (and it was out turn to do our group performance on the stage) the student’s confidence to stand on their own feet as individuals had shifted significantly. Watching individuals perform in front of 7 other schools had to be one of my proudest moments of the year (our Cultural night pending lol). It was truly amazing and I am so so proud watching the students on stage!

Below is a video of our boys practicing as well as our orienteering group winning gold (the one event where our academic students showed up the rest of the camp).

In Christ

intermediate school

De La Salle Environment Group

The U14 Gold Rugby Team had a Creek Work and Planting Day on Saturday the 30th August. Thank you Whaea Michelle for organizing the day and cooking us a BBQ with your daughter afterwards! A great day was had out for all involved.

The young men involved were John Poutasi, OJ Lauano, Tumanako Faa'ui, Francis Lefono, Leo Muliaga Vincent Nimo, Ruben Rudolph, Hemi Timoti-Hohaia and special guest Fatai Havealeta. Thank you gentlemen for all your work.

The U14 Gold Rugby Team had a Creek Work and Planting Day on Saturday 30th August. Thank you Whaea Michelle for organizing the day and cooking us a BBQ with your daughter afterwards! A great day was had out for all involved.

The young men involved were John Poutasi, OJ Lauano, Tumanako Faa'ui, Francis Lefono, Leo Muliaga Vincent Nimo, Ruben Rudolph, Hemi Timoti-Hohaia and special guest Fatai Havealeta. Thank you gentlemen for all your work.

On Friday 29th August the Y7/8 teachers gathered before school to each plant a tree. They will be able to view their trees growing through their windows which overlook the site. Thank you for joining together in our redevelopment of the Creek.

dls robotics club

On Saturday 30th August, the DLS Robotics Club attended their first VEX Robotics Tournament, where they competed against 14 other teams from schools across Auckland. Despite this being their first time operating the robot in a competitive environment, the students brought their best and ended up placing eighth out of the 15 teams. This was a great opportunity for the team to meet other schools and learn from their experiences.

“Last week Saturday, six of us (Francis, Koga, Tali, Aaron, Dominique, and Wesley) from our year 10 robotics group were happy to represent De La Salle College in our first ever robotics tournament, where we would be going up against many experienced players, schools, and national players who have played for New Zealand. When the first match started, we all realised that this would be a long and tough day, as we saw many other robots around us that looked meaner and scarier than our own. We spent the entire tournament battling others back and forth, fixing any broken parts of our robot, and best of all having the time of our lives. All the times we stayed back sacrificing our break times for this final moment have had its benefits on us. Our robot, although it was our first time, was doing well. For the first couple rounds we had a record of three wins and one loss, making us 5th place overall, but moving into further rounds, we were constantly on edge with multiple losses and wins battling our record. It didn’t matter to us though, because after every loss or win, we kept a big smile on all our faces. At the ending of the tournament, our concluding rank was 8th out of many experienced schools, which I believe is pretty good for first timers. Overall, there was sweat, there was pressure, but in our eyes, there was a good time.

Testimony from Tali Kepu (10SPN)

A New Kind of Classroom

9 TECHNOLOGY

We at De La Salle Technology department, are increasingly turning to tools like Minecraft to bring lessons to life. The game’s open-world format is perfect for STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and encourages students to think creatively and independently.

“For many students, this taps into a learning style that’s hands-on and visual,” adds Mr Khan. “It’s especially powerful for those who might not feel confident in more traditional lessons.”

u14B rugby on top!

by Folau Lui Siaosi

Our 14B Rugby Team’s 2025 season was a journey full of challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments. At the start, none of us imagined that a few games later we’d be standing in the grand finale.

Training was tough — from fitness to weightlifting to ball-handling — and our preseason games were even tougher. We lost to Tangaroa College and then again to King’s, which left the boys feeling down and ready to give up before the season even began. But thanks to the guidance of our coaches, Mr Skipps and Mr Felise, and the belief we held in God, our families, and each other, we pushed through. When the season officially started, we faced Tangaroa again and although we lost, the score was much closer — proof that we were improving. From that game on, we never lost again.

Our biggest test came in the semi-final where we defeated St Paul’s and earned our spot in the grand finale against none other than Tangaroa College. The match was intense — with missed tackles, dropped balls, and plenty of hard running — and at halftime, we were losing 19–21. I reminded the boys that the game wasn’t over, and in the second half, we gave it everything we had. The final whistle blew with the score locked at 31–31, and we proudly shared the title with Tangaroa. Walking out of War Memorial Park, we weren’t just happy — we were proud of how far we had come together as a team. We were also happy with the fact we were the only rugby team out of our school to make the finals and win it.

suso semi-finals 2025

This year’s heats have been nothing short of inspiring with an incredible standard of talent across all four days! We warmly congratulate every student who took part and extend a huge thank-you to the schools, teachers, whānau, and wider communities who continue to uplift and champion our young artists.

Representing De La Salle College

Cyrus Holloway – Solo Vocals
John Faifili – Original Composition
Jarrell Taufao – Solo Instrumental
Psalms Vaotuua – Solo Instrumental
EXODUS – Band

Semi-Final Details

📅 Saturday 6 September 2025

📍 Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall

⏰ 9.30 am

💵 Free Entry

Come along, show your support, and celebrate the incredible talent of our rangatahi!

gateway & careers

Trades and Gateway Programme Update

Our Trades and Gateway programmes are off to a strong start this term, with students showing some commitment and growth in both practical and workplace settings.

Trades Programme

Our 13 Trades students have been working hard both in the classroom and in their practical learning. Recent activities have included writing essays on electrical issues as well as hands-on practical work wiring and testing light bulbs. The students are developing good skills and safe work habits that will serve them well in the future. Most are keeping up with their classwork, and a few are catching up on subject requirements with positive progress being made.

Year 11 Gateway Students

The Year 11 students have begun placements at McDonald’s across a number of sites. They are now into their second week, and all those who were visited last week received excellent feedback. The students are adjusting well to the expectations of the workplace and are building confidence in customer service and teamwork.

Year 12 Gateway Students

Our Year 12 students are currently placed at Woolworths, where they are working diligently across different departments. Stores have provided excellent feedback, noting the effort and positive attitude our young men are showing in their roles.

Year 13 Gateway Students

The Year 13 group is gaining valuable experience through their placements at Burger King. They are showing reliability, good work habits, and the skills needed to prepare them for their future employment and training pathways.

Across all levels, the students involved in Gateway and Trades are doing well. Their growing skills, positive attitudes, and willingness to learn are setting them up well for success