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

in this issue

TERM 1 WEEK 2- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “New Year. New Start "

Associate Principal - "Dedication"

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - Pastoral

Academic Year 7/8

Notices

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“new year, new start.”

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

Greetings,

A beautifully warm and settled summer break has meant that we are able to start our new year with plenty of energy as we focus on our College Scriptural theme for 2025. 'Let all that you do, be done in Love."

The College year has started smoothly with all students in classes by Period 2 on the 30th January, prepared for learning and with the message that the classroom has top priority in the College.
Our new building is open and all 19 classrooms are being used, it is a great addition to our College and our young men are very excited to have moved in.
Demolition of the old Band C buildings is nearly completed, with the completion date for this new landscaped area on target for the end of term one.
We have formally welcomed our new Staff and students with a powerful Powhiri, guided by our local Kaumatua Matene Cooper.
All students had their first Academic Counselling meeting last Friday with their Parents and Home Room teacher to set targets and goals for their learning this term, another indication of the priority of learning.

As we start the year it is important that we remind ourselves of the key priorities that we have as a College.

"Creating independent learners through deliberate acts of teaching."
The number one priority is the focus on the importance of learning in the classroom and excellence as seen by, "The daily habit of doing your best."
Young men engaged in their learning and all College activities, representing De La Salle in Sport, Music, Culture and deepening their Faith
All students completing the required Service hours for the benefit of others in our community.
Actions which only raise the reputation of our College, our cultures and families.
Our families engaged with the College in partnership in the important job of creating Outstanding men of Faith, Service, Community and Excellence.
All students attending school every day, on time, wearing correct uniform with pride.

A smooth, busy start to the year, but one which we are well planned for and which is expected.

I would like to welcome the following New Staff to the De La Salle College community.

We offer these new staff members our warm greetings and welcome them to our Lasallian community.

Finally, thank you Parents for having your son ready for the start of the year, the holidays are over, school routines and structure are back in place. From my discussions with our young men, they are glad to be back in class and certainly enjoying the educational opportunities that are offered at De La Salle.

God Bless

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

DEDICATION

On Tuesday we celebrated our Dedication Mass. There was also a Dedication mass in the evening for teachers at all Catholic Schools in the Diocese. To dedicate the year means to set the purpose, to set the focus, to dedicate ourselves to specific outcomes and values. It is awesome to be in a Catholic school where this can be done with religious ritual and in the context of the Gospel message. We are dedicating ourselves to have another year focused on Gospel and Lasallian values and on the values of our families and cultures, to keep that focus, not to waver or be distracted or turned back. It is a statement of intent.

I am dedicating my year to discipline and peace. I will try to be more disciplined about my health, time management and emotions. If I can do that I hope that I will have a year with more peace of mind, and more trust that I am in the right place doing what God wants me to do.

The school’s dedication for the year is to do all that it does in love (1Cor 14:16).

What are you dedicating this year to?

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

NCEA Achievement 2024

We are extremely proud of all our students who achieved their NCEA Certificates last year. We congratulate our senior students, families, and teachers.

In 2024, we saw a drop in achievement rates at Year 11. This is in line with the trend nationally as well and is closely tied to difficulty with eth new Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessments. However, we are very pleased to say that we have been able to maintain high rates of achievement at NCEA Level 2 and NCEA Level 3 with pass rates of well over 80% at both levels. In 2024 we saw our highest ever NCEA Level 3 pass rate of 86%. Importantly we saw achievement rates that exceed local and national rates.

Some students are still working to improve their results before results are confirmed by NZQA. We are hoping to see even more boys achieve NCEA Level 1, 2 ad 3 as well as Endorsements. Students have until 28 February to complete any 2024 work. If you know of any school leavers who need help, please get them to contact me or our Careers team urgently.

We remind students again that they can order their NCEA Certificate from the NZQA website. Students use their student logins to look at results online. The ‘My School Entries and Results’ screen will show all their 2024 results. While they are there, they should also order their NCEA Certificate from NZQA under the ‘Order Documents’ tab. NZQA does not send you your certificate unless you ask. Your first copy is free.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Welcome Back to a New Year at De La Salle College

Kia Ora, and welcome back to another exciting year at De La Salle College. We hope you had a restful break and are ready to make the most of 2025. This year, our theme is "Creating Independent Learners Through Deliberate Acts of Teaching."

What does this mean for you as a student? It means taking ownership of your learning—coming to class prepared, asking questions, managing your time wisely, and using feedback to improve. Your teachers are here to guide you, but your success depends on your effort and willingness to engage.

School is more than just the classroom. There are countless opportunities to get involved—sports, music, cultural groups, leadership roles, and service projects. Make the most of these experiences to grow as a person and connect with others.

Attendance remains a major focus. Being present and on time every day is the first step to success. This year, we continue with STAR (Stepped Attendance Response), which means:

⭐ Regular attendance is expected of all students.

⭐ If you start missing school, we will check in with you and your family.

⭐ Ongoing absences will lead to further support to help you stay engaged in school.

Parents, we need your support—please ensure your son is at school every day, on time, and ready to learn. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, achievement, and success together!

ICT Academy

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

Welcome Back to 2025!

Kia ora whanau, warm greetings to all our Year 7 and 8 students, families, and staff.

As we step into the new school year, we do so with great excitement and anticipation. This year marks a historic moment for our Year 7 and 8 students as we settle into our brand-new learning environment on the top floor of our state-of-the-art building. This space is not just a change of scenery—it’s a game-changer. With modern furniture designed for collaboration and innovation, every classroom is now equipped with cutting-edge smartboards to enhance teaching and learning. We are blessed to have such an incredible space where excellence can flourish. A big thank you to all the families who came up to our top floor for parent interviews. You were able to see the privilege we have been given to be in this prime location with fantastic views!

The transition into Year 7 is always a significant milestone, and to help with this, our new students took part in an unforgettable sleepover and a trip to the pools. This was a chance to bond, get to know their classmates, and begin their journey as Lasallian brothers. It was a night filled with fun activities, team-building challenges, and a powerful reminder of the community we build together. Being the youngest in a secondary school can be daunting in the first few weeks, so it is good to hear how Taye, a Year 7 student from last year deal with feelings of fear and apprehension.

And now for the big news—something we have been working towards for a long time. Our Year 8 students will experience Camp Brotherhood, an adventure designed to challenge, inspire, and strengthen the bonds between our students. Taking place in the first week of next term, this camp will push our young men to grow in confidence, leadership, and resilience. It is an opportunity for them to live out the Lasallian values of faith, service, community, and excellence in the beautiful outdoor setting of Port Waikato. Students will get a small taste of what they will experience as senior students, the Kairos retreat.

As we begin 2025, we encourage all our students to set goals, embrace challenges, and make the most of every opportunity. We are excited to see you grow, achieve, and thrive in our new space and beyond.

Let’s make this year one to remember!

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

In Christ