in this issue
TERM 2 WEEK 8- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
Associate Principal - "Matariki"
Special Character - Ministry & Mission
Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum
Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral
Academic Year 7/8
Literacy Centre
Intermediate School
Thank you Fonterra
Old Boy Inspires Next Generation
Debating
Year 12 Students Tackle the Ropes at Kokako Lodge
Gateway & Careers
Notices
Enrol Now
Contact Us
associate principal
Mr Dermot English
MATARIKI
I have started interviewing families who want their boys to attend DLS in 2026. This is always a privilege as I get to hear the journey of the family which has led them to DLS. This often involves overcoming massive obstacles such as family illnesses and bereavements, shifting countries, financial hardship and the very hard-won achievement of goals such as studying for a degree while looking after five children. It is always humbling.
Matariki is a time to honour the dead, celebrate the present, and prepare for the new season. The families that I meet are doing these things constantly. Matariki was made for this community, as they excel at honouring the legacy of those who have passes away. The celebration of the present is one of the great things I have learned from my time at Lasalle. They are also setting goals and preparing for their sons’ futures, despite the difficulties of doing so.
It is a time to take stock. We have a Level 2 pass rate of 86%, a Level 3 passrate of 89% and a UE pass rate of 46%, which is above the national boys’ average for NZ. We also have very successful transition of all our boys out of school and into the world. The boys completed 10,000 hours of service in our community last year. We have recently completely rebuilt about 40% of the school. The list goes on. It is worth stopping at times like Matariki to acknowledge the successes both at school and in our own lives.
Thanks to all those who helped with our wonderful Matariki celebration this week. This is another great example of the strength of this community and its momentum.
Mānawatia a Matariki!
special character
Assistant Principal Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua
Tena koutou katoa whanau, Mānawatia a Matariki!
We reach this newsletter in a time of reflection, renewal and celebration with Matariki upon us. Thank you for being a community who gives so abundantly when we ask for your support! We had a wonderful Matariki festival last night that highlighted the importance of community and the blessings that come with unity.
Over the past 6 weeks we have had a raffle to fundraise for a delegation to go to Sydney in the upcoming July holidays. As a community you have supported 15 families and 4 staff to turn around over $19K in that time period to help with our cause.
The delegation are going to Sydney for LYG which stands for Lasallian Youth Gathering, an event for Lasallian schools in our district who will be focusing around the theme "Hearts Alight". This event celebrates our young, faithful people as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year. Rooted in 1 Timothy 4:12, we will be joining together to celebrate the gifts and talents we share collectively, becoming believers of good works and much more. The talents of our very own band EXODUS will be integral to this experience as they provide the music for the event.
What is the Lasallian Youth Gathering?
LYG will be a vibrant and joyful experience for secondary school students, featuring dynamic faith experiences, Lasallian community life, a live band, sports tournaments, engaging workshops, and inspiring keynote presentations. It’s an invitation to dive deeply into what it means to be a Young Lasallian today.
Thank you community for all the support for our efforts to go to LYG. There has also been a lot of support from our Lasallian community including Sir Br Pat and Br Jack, and Lydia Legg from the Sydney Provincial Office to make our delegation to Sydney possible. We have one more fundraiser coming up next week in the MPC please see flyer below. Bring the family, there will be food, fun, games led by our delegation and entertainment from our EXODUS band on the night. Hope to see you there!
Our kura's Pompallier Shield Waiata roopu were invited as special guests to Te Kura Katorika o Te Ripeka Tapu to sing their winning song for Matariki celebrations.
NZ Warriors NSW Cup star Kayliss Fatialofa, old boy of Holy Cross and De La Salle was guest speaker for the event.
Thank you to Whaea Gemma for the invitation and Holy Cross Papatoetoe for being gracious hosts. It was an honour to be part of another kura in our kahui's Matariki celebrations!
NOTICE: Sacramental Programme – Parent Meeting
We will be holding a meeting for parents who would like their son to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion).
- Date: Wednesday 31 July
- Time: 5.30pm
- Location: Staffroom
Please bring a copy of your son's Baptism Certificate to the meeting.
Sacramental classes for the boys will begin on Wednesday 7 August in the Chapel.
To register your interest, please email the following details to our Campus Minister Mr A Ngan-Woo at NganwooA@delasalle.school.nz
- Your full name
- Your son’s full name and class
- Your contact phone number and email address
We look forward to journeying with you and your son in faith.
Nga mihi nui
Live Jesus in our Hearts forever
curriculum
Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle
A huge thank you to all the families that donated goods for the PTFA raffles for our Matariki celebration. The response was fantastic. It reminds us that we should be doing more of this to both fundraise and to collect to support those in need.
The winning class in Year 7 and 8 was 7AND . The winning class in Year 9 and 10 was 9RUN and the winning class in Years 11 – 13 was 12HEN. These classes will receive a shared lunch in the last week of term.
Reports
Year 7 – 10 reports will be emailed next Wednesday 25 June. Copies will come home with students at the end of term 2.
A reminder that Year 10 students who sat the Common Assessment Activities for reading , Writing and Numeracy will be able to see their results on the NZQA website after 12 July.
Year 11 – 13 students will receive their reports before Academic Counselling next term.
Scholars in the Spotlight
We have some outstanding Scholars in the Spotlight for the end of term. Students from 10J and 10T have been working with Mr Nigel Hurst in Religious Studies on Te Rongopai – the Good News [Journeys of Freedom].
Mr Hurst has also interwoven our professional development goal of developing metacognition and reflection with students. Metacognition involves students demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of their own learning processes and how they relate to religious concepts and beliefs. It also involves connecting their personal experiences and perspectives with the broader religious landscape, and an understanding of their own faith journeys. Congratulations men and thank you Mr Hurst. Outstanding work!
pastoral
Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles
Why the Age Limit for Social Media Should Be Raised
Call for Parental Voice
This week, our Year 9 students took on a persuasive writing challenge: Should social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram raise their minimum age requirement to 16? Despite most students being just 13 or 14 years old themselves, an overwhelming majority supported the idea of raising the age limit. Their honest reflections were both insightful and eye-opening.
Many students acknowledged that while social media is entertaining and helps them stay connected, it also opens the door to pressures they don't always feel prepared to handle—cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, addictive algorithms, and constant comparisons. Several even admitted that they often felt worse about themselves after scrolling, but found it hard to stop. Others pointed out how social media affects sleep, focus at school, and mental well-being.
What stood out most was that these arguments came from the students themselves. They weren’t simply echoing adult concerns—they were articulating their lived experiences. Some even argued that raising the age to 16 would relieve them of the pressure to be constantly online or “in the loop.”
As educators, we see firsthand the impact of social media on our young people. But hearing our students advocate for stricter age restrictions suggests it's time for parents to be more vocal too. If our young people can recognise the dangers and call for change, then adults—especially parents—should feel empowered to speak up. Whether it's lobbying tech companies, supporting schools, or simply setting firmer boundaries at home, your voice matters.
It’s not about denying our children access to the digital world—it’s about protecting their right to grow up without unnecessary pressure, comparison, or exposure to adult content too early.
Let’s back our children’s call for change.
Academic Year 7/8
Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa
The end of Term 2 has arrived, and it has been full on assessments and reports for students and teachers. It has been so eventful these last few weeks I forgot what an busy term we had. Let me recap…
Kick-off: The term opened fast: Blake Trust brought their VR ocean adventure on Day 1, and then the next day the Year 8s headed straight to Brotherhood Camp for bonding challenges. It took a month for the Year 8 teachers to recover from camp so next year we will have it in Term 1.
Learning & service: Mathex squads trained hard and took the podium at a few of the events. Great work by the boys and teachers! Immunisations for Year 8 ran smoothly while Year 7s had a prep talk. Our Lexile word count is taking off and there have been a few special mentions coming up in our Man of Courage assembly on the last day. Special Character leaders met weekly to plan Catholic Schools Day liturgies and support parish Masses, underlining faith and service. I am not Catholic so was a bit under prepared when I attended one of these community masses and the priest got me up to speak. I have to say I enjoyed it! The enviro group worked hard enhancing are beautiful area around La Salle block.
Culture in action: Daily choir, haka/waiata house rehearsals and our first middle-school musical practices kept creativity high. Founder’s Day (16 May) featured the inaugural house haka competition—my old house Benildus took the win! To keep in line with authentic Polyfest traditions I did the usual after event voicing of my reservations regarding the judging. How did Benildus win? They stood in the same place and didn’t move as opposed to Miguel who changed places quite a few time lol!
Sporting buzz: Year 8 Open Rugby had us wrapping up our house and combined games which began our inter-school team selections; lunchtime hit-outs playing the U14 teams helped prep for the Week 6 tournament. It seemed word got out we were training against our Year 9 teams so in the end nobody wanted to play us! Our soccer boys represented us well at the South Auckland tournament, while wrestling and basketball trainings kept the boys busy after school. The Year 7 and Year 8 Marist Saturday rugby teams are doing very well, with their parent coaches creating a great environment for everyone to enjoy.
Language & identity: Samoan Language Week (Week 6) brought an ‘ava ceremony, a legendary staff lunch, and I reflected on how bilingual brains are “multi-dimensional.” Our Matariki event was a great success despite the cold and as a staff we sang a very cool song, “ Toku reo toku ohoho”. We are going to use this song in our Term 3 Middle School Musical!
A lot of students have been getting sick so hopefully when we start Term 3 we would have finished going through the viruses, and therefore be ready for a great term at De La Salle!
I finish off this term with the beginning of our prayer “Let us Remember we are in the Holy presence of God” to remind us to also remember those who have left us to be with our Heavenly Father. Our prayers are with those who are grieving, but we also want to state strongly that these families are always in our thoughts. We have not forgotten the pain in our community.
In Christ
intermediate school
Planting for the Future 🌱
Mr D Anderton- Environment TSAR
A heartfelt thank you to Cate, Baxter, Nick, and Jordan from Enviroschools for their guidance, support, and encouragement as we celebrated our very first Matariki planting day alongside a group of our students and staff.
Their leadership helped create a meaningful and memorable experience – and what a day it was! The weather played its part beautifully, and the boys thoroughly enjoyed being out in nature, connecting with the whenua and giving back to our local environment.
Our creek waterway is looking fantastic thanks to everyone’s efforts. Even the pūkeko were quick to investigate the changes, adding a touch of nature's own approval to the day! A big thank you to all the junior and senior students who took part on the day.
Ngā mihi nui to all involved – this was a special way to honour Matariki and our shared responsibility as kaitiaki of our environment.
Thank You, Fonterra – Mānawatia a Matariki! 🌟
De La Salle College and the PPTA would like to extend a sincere thank you to the incredible team from Fonterra for their generous support and mahi during our Matariki Festival.
A special shoutout to Mr Lionel Pereira – Regional Sales Manager, for leading the way. The Fonterra team collaborated with Mr Hawkins and the Technology Faculty to prepare and serve a delicious Bread and Butter Pudding and Potato Bake – both of which were a hit with everyone who were lucky enough to purchase a tray!
Your contribution helped make the day even more special as we celebrated Matariki through community, culture, and kai.
Ngā mihi nui, Fonterra
Old Boy Inspires Next Generation
Mr M Skipps- Year 9 Dean
On Wednesday, we had the privilege of welcoming back one of our own – Johnnie Timu, CEO of Brown Pride NZ and proud member of the Class of 2023. Johnnie returned to De La Salle, alongside co-founder Peter Fa'alili to speak with our young men about the importance of Service with Purpose.
In his powerful talk, Johnnie reminded the boys that true service is not just about ticking boxes, but about giving with intention and heart. He shared openly about his journey, his time here at De La Salle, and the pride he holds in being a product of our school. "You don’t need to go to the flashest school to make it," he told the boys.
"You just have to work hard and believe in where you come from.
Our students appreciated the chance to connect with Johnnie during the Q&A session, where they got to learn more about his interests, his business, and the inspiring community work he leads through Brown Pride.
Thank you uso, for coming back to share your story, your wisdom, and your heart with the next generation of Lasallians. Your example reminds us all that greatness begins with purpose, pride, and service.
debating
Mr O Wendt- Teacher in Charge
Wednesday night was the final round (Round 5) of the Senior Opens debating competition hosted at DLS.
Motion: THW ban fast fashion.
AFF DLS 1 (Year 12 1st Teinakitea Sionetama, 2nd Okusi Katoa and 3rd Elijah Wilson) vs DLS 2 (Year 11 1st Damien Kalolo, 2nd Motusaga Paleso'o and 3rd Lelava Sauioge).
Winner: DLS 1
This places Elijah, Teinakitea and Okusi at Rank 1 of their bracket in the Senior Opens division who have gone undefeated on 5-0 this season giving the team a strong chance to break for the Auckland top 16 competition next term.
Last week Monday (9th of June) was the Junior Opens debating finals at Tangaroa College.
Motion: THW implement a tax on products high in sugar.
NEG DLS 1 (Year 10 1st Jireh Pita, 2nd Fagamanu Aoelua and 3rd Joseph Malele) vs AFF DLS 2 (Year 9 1st Alosina Siligi, 2nd Ma'umagaisiva Su'a and 3rd Feingafono Samiu.)
Winner DLS 1.
This places Joseph, Fagamanu and Jireh at Rank 1 of their division on 4-1 this season giving the team a strong chance to break for the Auckland Top 16 competition next term.
Well done to our Junior and Senior orators for a great debating season who have represented our college with mana and humility this year.
As this concludes the debating season, special thank you to Miss Phillips, Mr Stowers-Tualega, Ms Tanuvasa and Ms Kuresa for supporting in what has been a strong year of debating! Well done again to all our orators across all debating divisions!
God bless
year 12 students tackle the Ropes at Kokako Lodge
Mr J Keane - Head of Faculty PE
This week, 81 Year 12 Physical Education students from De La Salle College are heading out of the classroom and into the trees at Kokako Lodge, as part of a challenging and rewarding outdoor education programme.
The three-day ropes course experience is part of the students' NCEA Level 2 Physical Education achievement standard. During their time at Kokako Lodge, students will engage in a range of activities including high ropes, low ropes, team challenges, and risk management tasks in a natural bush setting.
“This course is more than just physical activity,” said Mr. Keane, Head of Health and Physical Education. “It’s about leadership, trust, teamwork, and building confidence outside your comfort zone.”
Each student has the opportunity to earn 6 NCEA credits across two standards:
- 470 / 473 Demonstrate safe practices for participation in high ropes course activities
- 2.6 – Demonstrate understanding of risk management strategies when participating in outdoor and adventurous activities
The programme not only assesses physical performance and decision-making, but also encourages students to reflect on their own Hauora (well-being), using models like Te Whare Tapa Whā to explore mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth.
The lodge, located in the Hunua Ranges, provides a safe and inspiring environment where students are supported by qualified instructors and school staff. Safety briefings, daily reflections, and team-building sessions are woven throughout the programme.
As the students navigate rope bridges, balance beams, and problem-solving challenges high in the canopy, they’re not just earning credits — they’re building resilience, connection, and self-belief.
De La Salle is proud of its students for taking on the challenge, representing the College with pride and positivity.
gateway & careers
Gateway and Trades Update – End of Term 2
It has been an encouraging and productive Term 2 for our Gateway and Trades programmes at De La Salle College.
We are proud to report that all students involved in the McDonald’s Gateway placements were successful, completing both their practical work and assessments to a high standard. Their commitment and performance reflect their readiness for the workforce and the values we uphold at De La Salle.
Our second group of Countdown students has now completed their in-store practical placements. Their final assessments are scheduled for Week 9, and we’re looking forward to another group of successful completions.
Enrolments are now open for Term 3 McDonald’s and Countdown Gateway programmes, and we encourage students to get in early, as places are limited.
As we look ahead to Term 3, we begin with Year 13 work experience placements and assessments for part-time employment, giving our senior students valuable insight and preparation for life after school. We are also planning to run another Health and Safety course, which will provide essential workplace readiness skills for our young men.
The Pre-Police Preparation course continues to go from strength to strength, with strong attendance and high levels of engagement from students who are exploring this important career pathway.
The Year 13 Barbering Course is nearing its completion. The focus now shifts to final assessments, where students will demonstrate the practical skills they’ve developed over the term. This course has been a highlight for many and a great opportunity for hands-on learning.
Meanwhile, attendance and focus have picked up significantly in the Year 13 Trades class, particularly in Electrical and Building. Students have recently completed a unit on the Impact of Social Media on Teenagers in New Zealand, which included both a written essay and an oral presentation to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.
As we come to the end of Term 2, the commitment and effort from our students have been very encouraging. We look forward to building on this momentum as we move into the second half of the year.
notices
ENROL NOW
De La Salle College
A Catholic School for Boys Year 7-13 in the Lasallian tradition
Creating great men of Faith - Service - Community - Excellence
- Strong Catholic Character and Lasallian traditions
- Dynamic teaching staff
- Strong academic achievements
- High expectations of every student
- Caring and Supportive Pastoral Care team
- Extensive co-curricular activities
For enrolment enquiries contact Mrs Bianca Leau
Phone: +649 276 4319 ext 816
Email: enrolments@delasalle.school.nz
Website: delasalle.school.nz/enrolments
contact us
Connect with us
Website: www.delasalle.school.nz
Facebook: De La Salle College, Auckland , La Salle Collegians (NZ)
College app: SchoolAppsNZ
De La Salle College
81 Gray Avenue
Mangere East
Auckland 2024
NEW ZEALAND
+649 276 4319
Credits:
De La Salle and the PTFA thank all our Homeroom Teachers and Students for the items / donations collected for the Matariki Festival. Mānawatia a Matariki! 🌟