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

in this issue

TERM 3 WEEK 10- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

Associate Principal - "Self Deception"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral

Academic Year 7/8

Year 8 Auckland Interzone Rugby League Champions 2025

Young Enterprise - Toa Tape

Auckland Schools Debating Prize Giving

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

front cover- Michael Fe'ao- first ever recipient of the Sonny Fai Memorial "Keep the Faith" shield, Coaches Award, First XIII Premier Boys Rugby League donated by the class of 2005

this page- 1st XV sports recipients for varying achievements

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Self Deception

Nau mai ki te huritau tuarima o te wiki reo maori. Ko te reo kei reira te ngakau o te ahurea. He iwi Moananui-a-Kiwa te reo Maori, he reo moana te reo.

Te Reo Maori is a pacific language. Where it differs from other pacific languages is that it is specifically connected to the whenua of Aotearoa. Other languages come from other lands and are strongly connected to those lands. Te reo is from this land, which is all the more reason to promote its use. Many of our boys come from primary schools that use te reo constantly, and we want that to continue at this school. I encourage you to use te reo as much as you can. Ka nui ake te whakamahi ka pai ake ko

On Saturday staff and students from our three schools DLS, JPC and FDMC met together at Waitomo. We were addressed by Br Peter Bray, the Visitor for ANZPPNG, and a former Principal of this college. He shared some of his experience of being in charge of Bethlehem University in Palestine, a De La Salle University 500 metres from where Jesus was born. He challenged us about self-deception, that is when we are blind to how our actions affect others, as students, staff and as leaders. It’s hard to accept that others might be right when they criticise us, that maybe we do the things that we judge others of being guilty of, like being angry, or careless, or lazy, or not listening. Br Peter spoke as someone who has lived in a war zone for 15 years, so he spoke with authority. Our challenge is to take the time out, to pray, to be honest with ourselves. How does our behaviour affect others and how does it affect the College? Do we add to it or do we take away? Mahi a tatou mahi ki te whakanui i te mana o te kura

Nga mihi nui for all the efforts made by staff, parents and boys this term and all the very best for the holiday break.

special character

Assistant Principal Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua

On Tuesday 27 August, we gathered with our Year 7 & 8 families to celebrate the Feast of St Monica. St Monica is remembered as the mother of St Augustine, one of the great Doctors of the Church, and as a woman of deep prayer and perseverance. Her relentless prayer for her son when he was an unbeliever reminds us of our own call to pray for those we love, that they may discover their true calling from God.

We are grateful to the families who joined us for this special celebration and to all who continue to hold your sons, grandsons, and nephews in prayer as they discern their path and grow into who God is calling them to be. A special word of thanks to Fr Robert for celebrating Mass with us, and to Sir Br Pat and Br Jack who were present for this annual occasion. Our boys expressed their gratitude beautifully, singing with full hearts throughout the liturgy.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

With school exams and the Literacy and Numeracy CAA over our focus turns to the end of year exams. There are just over six weeks until NZQA exams start for Year 12 and 13 students and seven weeks for Year 11. That is only 3 full weeks of class time!

Year 12 students will most likely start with Mathematics. For Year 11 it will be English. Exams run throughout November, with the last exam for De La Salle on Friday 28 November. You can get a copy of the exam timetable here or attached

End of Year Senior Reports will be coming out at the start of Term 4.

We will send a NCEA Summary with your son’s Weekly Note this week.

There are some other important dates coming up for Year 11 – 13 in the next few weeks. Visual Arts and Technology will also be collecting evidence for portfolio assessments due early in Term 4 and will be submitted before October 22 [Year 11/NCEA Level 1] and October 29 [NCEA/Level 2 and 3]. All subjects will have set hand in dates prior to this to make sure students work is presented in the best possible way to external markers.

2026 Course Selection is closed

All Year 8 – 12 students have selected their options for 2026. Great job making tough choices. We will now get back to you with clashes and changes where necessary..

De La Salle Certificate

You will receive an update on your son’s progress towards the De La Salle Certificate with you son’s Weekly Note this week. Friday 26 October is the last day for all Faith, Service, and Community points to be added. Make sure your son passes on all service hours to his Homeroom teacher

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

The “Why” Behind Our Support at De La Salle College

At De La Salle College, we often talk about the importance of the “why.” Why we do things matters just as much as what we do. For us, the “why” is simple: we want to see every young man in our care grow into a respectful, capable, and compassionate Lasallian who makes a positive difference in the world.

Why We Support Our Children

As parents, caregivers, and teachers, we share the responsibility of guiding our young men. Supporting them at school is more than just checking homework or making sure they get to class on time. It’s about showing them that we value their education, that their efforts matter, and that they are not alone in the challenges they face. When a young man sees that home and school are working together, he feels more confident, more accountable, and more motivated to succeed.

Your encouragement—whether it’s attending a school event, asking about his day, or setting clear expectations—strengthens the message that learning and growth are priorities. That’s the “why” behind our partnership with you.

A Message to Our Students

For our young Lasallians reading this, the “why” is at the heart of who you are becoming. You are not just at school to pass classes—you are here to build character, resilience, and brotherhood. The De La Salle way challenges you to ask yourself: Why do I give my best? Why do I respect others? Why do I keep going even when it’s tough?

The answer lies in your identity: you are a Lasallian. You carry the values of faith, service, and community. That “why” should remind you that your journey here is not just about yourself—it’s about preparing to serve others and to lead with integrity.

Together, let’s keep our eyes on the “why.” It’s what unites us as family, as teachers, and as students in the Lasallian tradition.

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

It is the end of Term 3! The best term of the year with the least amount of commitment. So why do we as Year 7/8 teachers load up the term with so much stuff lol!

Service

How can we be Lasallians if we do not serve?

I was so proud watching our Year 7/8 students and staff serve the community at our Cultural Night on Thursday. Only a small handful of students have seen the production in full. Rehearsals were done in sections and during the evening the students waited in classrooms until their call up. The teachers were monitoring things backstage in order for things to run smoothly. Even though the Year 7/8 students never got to watch the Cultural Night performances, they were more than happy to have their families attend and enjoy the evening.

The Apostle Paul said, “…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Acts 20:25

While there is much more I could share about the many contributions our team has made this term, time does not permit it. As I write this late on Friday afternoon, I offer my apologies for the brevity.

Before closing, I want to take a moment to acknowledge those in our community who may be facing challenging circumstances. Please know that you are in our thoughts, and we stand with you.

The video for the Cultural Night will come out early next term - watch this space! God bless, keep safe.

Have a great break

In Christ

Year 8 – Auckland Interzone Rugby League Champions 2025!!

De La Salle Year 8 Rugby League Team

A massive congratulations to our Year 8 Rugby League team for winning the Auckland Interzone Rugby League Tournament!

The boys faced some tough opposition throughout the Champs of Champs competition, but their determination and resilience shone through. After two earlier attempts this year to win an Auckland Intermediate title, the lessons learned became fuel for success — and this third opportunity turned into the ultimate motivation.

The road to the final wasn’t easy. The boys earned a gritty 2–2 draw against a strong St Paul’s side, in round robin and then battled hard in a close 5–4 semi-final win over one of the favourites Henderson Intermediate. In the final, however, the team showed their true class, storming to victory with 12 tries against Pt England — the surprise package of the day after they had upset tournament favourites Manurewa Intermediate in the semi-finals.

Special mentions go to:

Captain Tyson Bourne Matagi, Amos Tapuosi, Craig Fotofili, Khyden Smith, and Xander Toailoa – who led fearlessly in defense and with powerful runs up front.
Vice-Captain Fonua Latu, Vitolio Ha’ungatau, DJ Roberts, Tevita Moa, Yachvilli Falemoe, and Michael Veukiso – who were constant attacking threats in the backs and defended superbly with aggressive tackling.
Halves Joshua Fonua and Warren Mikaele – who directed play with skill, setting up tries and standing tall in defense.

Most importantly, this was a true team effort. Every single player stepped up, combining individual talent with teamwork, unity, and determination.

This victory is a proud moment not only for their success on the field, but also for the effort they put into the classroom. To represent the school in the rugby league team, the boys had to meet clear expectations — improving reading mileage, work in the classroom and homework standards. This balance of academic and sporting commitment will continue to set the standard for future Intermediate sports teams at De La Salle.

We extend a huge thank you to the parents and supporters — for cheering on the team, providing food, water, snacks, and encouragement that helped the boys perform at their best at the tournament.

Finally, this win is one for our wider South West Zone and De La Salle community. Rugby League is one of the most loved sports in our area, and these boys — representing clubs across South Auckland — have developed their talents over many years to achieve this special milestone.

Congratulations once again, Year 8 – Auckland Interzone Rugby League Champions 2025!

Captain - TYSON BOURNE MATAGI
Vice-Captain - FONUA LATU
JOSHUA FONUA
WARREN MIKAELE
VITOLIO HA’UNGATAU
TEVITA MOA
KHAYDEN SMITH
AMOS TAPUOSI
CRAIG FOTOFILI
DJ ROBERTS
MICHAEL VEUKISO
YACHVILLI FALEMOE
XANDER TOAILOA

Young Enterprise - toa Tape

Students promote business on Niu FM

Kohen Masoe and Folau Sii at Niu Fm

Our Young Enterprise students continue to shine venturing into new networking opportunities. On 11th August, the Toa Tape Business Studies Group was invited to promote their business “Toa Tape”, that make rugby stapping tape, using air vawes of the Niu FM radio station. Two representative of the group, Kohen Masoe and Folau Sii spoke with radio hosts Regan and Sia about their business idea and their future intentions to grow their business further in 2026. This is how Kohen described his experience.

Last week, Folau Sii and I had the amazing opportunity to travel out to Manukau for a radio interview with NiuFM about our business, Toa Tape. It was an exciting experience from the moment we walked into the studio. At first, we were a little nervous, since it was our first time being interviewed live on air, but the hosts made us feel comfortable right away. They asked us about how Toa Tape started, what inspired us to create it, and how it blends culture with performance through its unique designs. We were able to explain not only the benefits of kinesiology tape for sports performance and injury support, but also the meaning behind the Polynesian-inspired patterns that make Toa Tape stand out. Sharing our story in that setting gave us a real sense of pride and reminded us of how far our business has come. The whole experience gave us confidence in our speaking skills, helped us connect with a wider audience, and was amazing exposure for Toa Tape. Overall, it was an unforgettable opportunity that we’ll always look back on as an important part of our school journey.

Auckland Schools Debating Prize Giving

On the 18th of September was the annual Auckland Schools Debating Prize Giving held at St Kentigerns College where members of our debating team were acknowledged.

2025 Junior Opens Grand Champions 🏆: Year 10 Joseph Malele, Jireh Pita, Fagamanu Aoelua and Nathaniel Motufoua.

2025 Impromptu Cup Novice Champions 🏆: Year 11 Iosefo Tominiko and Frankie Truong.

From 350 teams across over 60 schools in Auckland, the following students ranked in the top 10 of their respective grade.

Junior Opens Top 10 Speaker Awards 2025 🏆

7th best speaker: Year 10 Jireh Pita
3rd best speaker: Year 10 Fagamanu Aoelua
2nd best speaker: Year 10 Joseph Malele

Advanced Opens Top 10 Speakers 2025 🏆

9th best speaker: Year 11 JJ Tai Su’a
5th best speaker: Year 13 Cadell Armstrong
3rd best speaker: Year 12 Leato Collins

Well done to all our prize recipients for what has been a fantastic, 2025! Special mention to coach Juan Koti and coach Manuia Fox-Romia for your unwavering support and coaching of our teams this year.

God bless,

Mr Wendt.