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

in this issue

TERM 4 WEEK 2- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “Let Perseverance Finish Its Work"

Associate Principal - "Twenty Dollars"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Curriculum

Deputy of Pastoral - The Power of Student Leadership: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

Academic Year 7/8

Literacy Centre

Intermediate School

Welcome to Lasalle Mr Wilson Felise

Year 10 Man of Service

Fiji Language Week

Stand Up Stand Out

Gateway & Careers

In Memorium- Vagahau Niue, Niue Language Week

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

“let perseverance finish its work”

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

I was reminded of our Scriptural theme particularly last weekend as I nervously watched the last 10 minutes of the All Black quarter final against the Irish.

Every player on the All Black team showed outstanding perseverance and the team were ultimately successful in repelling the numerous attacks on their goal line.

Not one player stood back or relented, perseverance proved to be their saviour.

Sport can be a great metaphor for life and the lessons that comes from sport must be recognised by our young men often.

Term 4 once again has snuck up on us and the realisation of the upcoming exams and end of year events is a clear and constant reality.

I spoke to the young men at our College Assembly last week about the need to be well prepared, planned and with learning targets clearly written down and referred to often, something which boys in general do not do so well.

One thing that we know about boys is that they, “over estimate their ability, yet underestimate the effort required to reach it.”

Hence the need for them to set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic goals leading up to their exams.

I also spoke to the boys about “pressure” being applied to them and how that “pressure” was a part of life that was not only reserved for young men preparing for important exams but experienced in many other ways and that pressure should be turned into a positive to motivate learning.

A huge strength of our College is the very effective Pastoral Care systems that we have that support our young men. All staff are aware that there will be added pressure particularly on our Seniors in the next few weeks and they have been asked to keep a close eye on boys and offer them the support both academically and pastorally if needed.

This term also sees our College community celebrate successes at the Year 13 Leaver’s Mass, Senior and Junior Prize Givings.

We invite our families to join us in the celebration of our boys’ Academic achievements, particularly the families of our Year 13 students as they bring their education at De La Salle to its conclusion.

I thank the staff and students who sacrificed time in their holidays to complete tutorials and workshops to prepare for the end of year exams, these extra opportunities are vital and I encourage every boy to attend further tutorials being offered by our staff up until their final exams.

Over the holiday break we also successfully ran another Kairos Retreat, our trip to Samoa, Camp Lasalle and the Techtorium programme.

The term has started smoothly with a definite scholarly focus among the staff and students.

All students are reminded that the College expectation is that they are wearing correct summer uniform.

Progress on the construction site

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

Twenty Dollars

Several years ago an old boy called Toko Fale, who is a very successful professional wrestler in Japan came in to school and spoke with about 300 Year 10 and 11 boys. Near the end of his talk he said, ‘I want to finish with an experiment, so I need one volunteer’. For a full minute no-one would come forward. Finally one boy stood up and came to the front. Toko pulled a $20 note out of his back pocket and gave to the boy saying, ‘Take your opportunities’. That was the experiment.

Since the last newsletter a lot of boys have taken opportunities, for example, by going on the Yr 12 Kairos retreat, helping at Camp Lasalle in New Plymouth, playing in the SOLs group at the SUSO event, going to holiday IT courses at Techtorium, doing learner licences and training for 7s rugby teams. There are always other opportunities coming up and its always the same criteria- just a decision to put ourselves out there, to risk failure or mocking and to stand up. I encourage boys and their families to take the risk, make the effort and stand up to take the $20.

special character

Campus Minister- Mr Niko Lomano

Camp Lasalle

At the end of term 3 leading into the school holiday break, Mrs Vaotu’ua and I had the opportunity to escort eight Year 7 students and two Year 12 leaders to attend our Annual Camp Lasalle.This year's camp saw us traveling down the line to our brother school; Francis Douglas Memorial in New Plymouth.

During our stay, our boys had the chance to explore what New Plymouth had to offer- the aquatic centre, coastline walk, local museum, and more! Most importantly, they had the opportunity to make new connections among various other Years 7 students from other La Salle schools; John Paul College and Francis Douglas Memorial.

One highlight for me personally was being able to watch my younger brother's experience how great our NZ LaSallian network truly is, and their ability to confidently create friendships as the camp progressed. A big thank you to our very own Lasalle Brothers for funding this camp, further allowing our young men to venture out of their comfort zones. Also, to Anna Zsigovits-Mace who organized and hosted the camp this year camp, and to Mrs Vaotu’ua for all her work behind the scenes.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

SENIOR REPORTS

All Year 11 – 13 students will receive their End of Year Report next week. We will email later in week too as well as uploading to the KAMAR Portal.

We are very definitely at the business end of the year. We wish all our Year 11 – 13 students well with their preparations and study. Exam time is a great opportunity to test yourself against the best in NZ and show that we here at De La Salle are up to the challenge.

VISUAL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Thanks to our Visual Arts and Technology teachers who are very busy sending student work off to be marked by NZQA. Student work needs to be at NZQA at different times. Please make sure you have checked in with your Art teacher.

DVC Technology Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Technology Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Congratulations to the L1–3 students who completed their Digital Common Assessment Tasks [DCATS] this week.

NCEA Exams

All students will receive their NCEA Admission Sheet next week. Year 11 students have met with our Exam Centre Mangager Mrs Barbara Warrender – We welcome back Barbara who was a long serving teacher at De La Salle College. Students can check the exam timetable below and have a read through the Information Booklet here.

Ask your son to show you the exams he is enrolled in and check the rules for NZQA/NCEA Exams.

Students must

take their admission slip to every exam. The Admission slip must be face up on their desk during all exams. Do not write on it in any way, at any time. Keep your admission slip safe. If you lose your Admission Slip, tell us early so we can help you get a new one.

No Admission Slip = No Entry.

Remember to arrive early on exam day – at least 30 minutes before the exam starts. If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the official start of the exam you will NOT be able to sit the exam.
Morning exams start at 9.30 am and afternoon exams start at 2 pm. Exams are for a maximum of three hours. If you have an afternoon exam you may need to organise alternative transport.
Follow all instructions of any supervisor
You are not allowed to bring any watches or phones to exams and no paper – except for your admission slip.

In an exam you are not allowed to:

talk to, communicate with or copy another candidate’s work
communicate with the marker, including writing or drawing anything that could be viewed as offensive
leave the exam room within the first 45 minutes or the last 15 minutes of the exam
touch or open any emergency evacuation pack without the permission of a supervisor.

15 days till NCEA exams start!

Be prepared to do your best, Below are some study reminders. It is never too late to start. The best prepared have been focused on study all year. However, even if you have left it to the every last minute every bit of study will help.

Study advice

Go to all revision sessions available for your subjects.
Have up-to-date notes. If you don't, ask your teacher.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE Practise assessments and examination papers. Use the revision materials from your teacher or places like studyit.org.nz or the NZQA website.
Know what is required for each exam and each achievement standard.

Planning

Set regular routines of study.
Choose a quiet, airy, well-lit place to study.
Set study goals – make them specific
Daily goals [e.g. 1 hour study for GEO – extreme natural events]
Weekly goals [e.g. complete two practice papers for MAT]
Know your deadlines – exams dates/times and any last assessments due.
Make a study timetable
Do a small amount of study on each subject every night.
If you want an example of what a good study timetable looks like ask your teacher

Relax

Look after yourself
Have lots of breaks [e.g. break 10 minutes for every 50 minutes study]
Eat healthily, sleep regularly and exercise.
Reward yourself regularly.
If stressed, ask for help. Your teachers want you to succeed; ask them.

We hope all boys can keep focused in these last weeks and days. We know that you will do your families and school proud.

All the best.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

The Power of Student Leadership: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

As parents, we all want the best for our children. We encourage them to excel in academics, participate in extracurricular activities, and maintain good attendance.

But have you ever considered the role of student leadership in your child's personal and academic growth?

Student leadership goes beyond just academic success, and it plays a significant role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Here at De La Salle College, we understand the importance of fostering student leadership. In fact, we are in the process of interviewing and selecting student leaders for the 2024 academic year. The selection process is not arbitrary; rather, it is a meticulous one that considers multiple factors, such as service, participation, extracurricular involvement, presentation skills, maintaining school values, and attendance, etc.

But what makes student leadership so crucial, and how does it benefit your child?

Developing Responsibility: One of the most apparent benefits of student leadership is the development of responsibility. When students take on leadership roles, they must manage their time, meet commitments, and make important decisions. These responsibilities teach them valuable life skills that will serve them well in the future.

Enhancing Communication Skills: Effective communication is a critical skill for success in all areas of life. Student leaders are often required to communicate with their peers, teachers, and even parents. This helps them become better speakers and active listeners, an invaluable asset as they move on to college and beyond.

Building Confidence: Leadership roles encourage self-confidence. When students are given the opportunity to lead and make decisions, they learn to trust their abilities. This newfound confidence can positively impact their academic performance and personal growth.

Promoting Teamwork: Being a student leader often involves working with a team. Students learn to collaborate, delegate responsibilities, and work towards common goals. These experiences lay a solid foundation for teamwork and cooperation in future career endeavours.

Exposure to Diverse Perspectives: Through leadership positions, students are exposed to diverse perspectives, opinions, and ideas. This broadens their horizons and helps them become more open-minded individuals, better prepared for a world that thrives on diversity.

Instilling a Strong Work Ethic: Leadership roles require dedication and hard work. Students develop a strong work ethic as they balance their responsibilities as leaders with their academic commitments.

The selection of student leaders at De La Salle College is not taken lightly. It is a comprehensive process that ensures that those chosen to lead are not only academically competent but also possess the qualities necessary to excel as leaders and contribute positively to the school community. Teachers and peers are integral in this process as they have valuable insights into the students' behaviour, dedication, and character.

By having students participate in the selection of their leaders, we empower them to take an active role in shaping the school's culture. This creates a sense of ownership and responsibility, leading to a more harmonious and supportive school environment.

In conclusion, student leadership is a crucial aspect of your child's high school experience. It nurtures skills and qualities that go beyond the classroom and into the real world. As parents, your support in encouraging your child to explore leadership opportunities and understand the significance of student leadership can make a profound impact on their personal and academic development. Together with the school community, we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow and preparing them for success in a diverse and ever-changing world.

ICT Academy

Term 3 Holidays Techtorium Computer Results

Senior students continued to participate in various Computer courses at the Techtorium Institute of Technology in Newmarket. Congratulations to the following students:

Level 3 Programming

Teahui Emanuela
Teinaki Emanuela
Luani Tupouniua

Level 3 Games

Judah Tuinukuafe-Matautia

Level 4 Cyber Security

Billy Peto
Caleb Seumanufagai
James Hunt
Seter Vaomotou
Chanel Leota
John Acaso
Paulo Uaisele
Tevita Fa’aui

Thanks to all students for your commitment to do additional courses in Computer Science during the school holidays.

Some Year 12 Techtorium students sitting their Computer Science Digital external exam

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

Welcome back everyone to Term 4 and pray your son’s holiday time has been restful and refreshing. In reality, holidays can be ever busier than the school term where everyone needs another holiday to recover from the school holiday! We would like to acknowledge our boys who may have had a sad holiday due to various reasons. We hope in Term 4 that these boys will feel support and comfort from their brothers here in De La Salle College.

It has been a very quiet, settled start this term as the boys moved into their routines. Quite a contrast to the excitement nationwide with the election, rugby world cup, cricket world cup, and locally, flags coming out again for the rugby league pacific series. Despite having a settled Term 4 start at De La Salle, there is a growing buzz of excitement with the senior prizegiving awards approaching in Week 3. Our Year 13s will be farewelled, an emotional time. The boys will look back on their years here, reflecting on their “body of work”. Are they happy with their time here? Do they wish they could have done things differently?

Also reflecting on things done would be the Irish, French, Fijian, and Welsh rugby teams. The players in those teams will be reflecting on their quarterfinal losses for a very long time to come, maybe for the rest of their lives. All 4 teams will wish they could go back in time and done things differently, maybe kicked instead of passed or tackled Mounga instead of watching Jordan? Our ability as humans to reflect (coupled with our inability to travel back in time) can often be a burden if our past is littered with regrets.

This is why I enjoy working with our Year 7 students. As teachers, we have the advantage of seeing the various possibilities and outcomes for the boys as they start their time at De La Salle College. We desperately do not want the boys in the future to look back and wish they had done things differently. Boys lack the hindsight that adults have, so their decisions can sometimes be detrimental to their future, some of them life lasting. For our Year 7 boys today in De La Salle it is decisions that affect their secondary school development. For our Year 13 boys finishing De La Salle it is decisions that affect their tertiary studies or workplace future. May we all rely heavily on the wisdom of Christ to help guide our boys into making decisions in the near future where they won’t have regrets

In Christ

literacy centre

intermediate school

Year 7&8 Man of Courage Assembly Term 1 2023

by Elijah Tuala

Recipients for Man of Courage certificates

Due to the many events at the end of last term, the year 7 and 8’s held a special assembly last Friday to present awards for brothers in each class in the following categories:

Man of Community – most involvement in school life.
Man of Faith – consistently demonstrates Lasallian spirit and school values.
Man of Service – most service hours completed so far.
Man of Courage – strives for excellence in all areas of school life.

A special afternoon for special people indeed, it was nice to be able to acknowledge and celebrate those who work hard and earn something they all deserve, and I’m sure that with enough effort, those who didn’t get an award will surely aim to receive an award for Terms 2 and 3.

Here are the recipients for Man of Courage certificates

Welcome to Lasalle Mr Wilson Felise

The College welcome Mr Wilson Felise who joined us at the start of Term 4 having previously taught at St Mary MacKillop Catholic School. Here's a brief introduction:

It’s been a huge privilege for me to return to De La Salle. I am a proud old boy (Benildus house) and this is a great opportunity to give back to my lasallian family and our community.

Quick Fire 3

Rugby or League supporter and what team? Growing up I’ve played both union and league but league has always been number one for me. I’m a proud supporter of St George and Queensland during State of Origin.
What is your favorite thing about working for De La Salle College so far? what I’ve enjoyed the most so far is just being surrounded by the young lasallians and seeing that the school spirit and brotherhood is still strong.
Name someone you admire and why- I’m going to name three. My nana, my mum and my wife- they are all educators who have served our people, our communities and our lasallian family in schools across South Auckland. All have made sacrifices to allow me to be in the position I am in today and I will always admire their values and hard work.

YEAR 10 man of service

Wednesday 18 October, the Year 10 cohort came together to honour the remarkable contributions of students who dedicated their time to serving both the school and the community. These diligent students committed more than 20 hours to various service activities, and, in recognition of their selfless deeds, were presented with certificates and a one-of-a-kind De La Salle key ring.

In accordance with our Catholic tradition, service and community involvement transcend mere acts of kindness; they are deeply ingrained in the fundamental values and teachings of our faith. These principles draw inspiration not only from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ but also from the legacy of our founder, St. John Baptiste De La Salle. De La Salle devoted his life to the service of others, propagating love, compassion, and selflessness.

Once again, these students have underscored the profound significance of service and are an exceptional reflection of our Lasallian charism.

At the end of our assembly, we also acknowledged out 2023 Man of Service award which was presented to a dedicated student who had completed 200 hours of service this year. This student’s unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on our school and community is inspiring. This award not only acknowledges their outstanding contribution but also serves as a reminder of the profound difference one person can make when they invest their time and energy in helping others. They have set an exemplary standard for all of us to follow.

This award was presented to Tevita Lutui in 10VAI who was part of the Mate Ma`a Tonga Rugby League New Zealand volunteer team that assisted with the Tongan-based Rugby League Team “Maui Fusi Fonua” that travelled to New Zealand from the Saturday 14 - Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Tevita Lutui 10VAI recipient of the overall Year 10 Man of Service award for 2023

A huge thank you to our Year 13 Service Portfolio Leaders for 2023, Mr. Rex for MC’ing our assembly, Niko Lomano our Campus Minister for assisting our leaders with their presentation, Ms Teiotaata Iobu for organising our certificates, Ms Dromgool for designing our key chains and Man of Service trophy, our interim deans Mr. English and Mr. Charles and our year 10 homeroom teachers (Mr Tan, Ms Gani, Ms Shingade, Mr Vailahi, Mr Lin, Mr Rex and Mr Tuiasau).

The recipients who were presented awards:

Year 10

YEAR 11 FOU Hsa

Leadership Bose

by Elijah Tia Year 11HSA

On Friday the 13th of October, the Year 11 Health Science Academy visited the Bubblegum Youth Hub run by South Seas as a part of a Leadership Bose. Throughout the day, we participated in many ice breakers and learnt many different things. We were given the chance to share our story with our peers, and learn about ourselves and others. We learned more about conversing with each other and how to respond, and how to create a safe environment for others to share their story.

This workshop was beneficial for developing communication and leadership skills which will help us in the future as school leaders and also help us once we have finished school. I want to thank Mrs Kumar, Mr Ufi, the Science Faculty and the Health Science Academy for organising this and giving us the opportunity to attend this wonderful workshop.

fiji language week

by Troy Sanday 12GTS

Fijian Language Week holds importance to me for various reasons. This week meant a lot to me, as celebrating it allows me to reconnect with my roots, keep my cultural identity alive, and spread awareness about Fijian culture and language. Moreover, it's a chance to share my traditions, creating a sense of community and belonging among all who participate.

Somethings that we did to connect with our Fijian roots during the week, was a School assembly where we got the opportunity to Speak the language and perform a Traditional Fijian meke for the students along with a Fijian hymn. Furthermore, the flag raising ceremony was also done with staff and students while the national anthem was being sung. We then got to finish the week off with some nice Fijian food, a liturgy to close off the end of Fijian language week at school and lastly a Kava ceremony.

stand up stand out

excerpt taken from Our Auckland

The winners of Auckland Council’s Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO) competition have been announced!

This weekend’s SUSO Finals Showcase saw 26 diverse acts give it their all in front of a sold-out Auckland Town Hall across five categories: dance, solo instrumental, group vocal, solo vocal and bands.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, is proud of the opportunity SUSO provides to Auckland rangatahi / teenagers to showcase their talent.

“Whakamihi / congratulations to all winners! It’s fantastic Tāmaki Makaurau has so many exceptional young artists, many who graced the stage during this year’s SUSO competition, and we eagerly anticipate their continued growth and success,” he says.

“I’d like to thank the entire SUSO team for their commitment in bringing another phenomenal show to life and their continued support to uplift the next generation of Auckland artistry. Arts, culture and performance add to our city’s vibrancy.”

Stand Up Stand Out (SUSO) is Auckland’s premier music, and dance competition, featuring secondary-school talent from across Tāmaki Makaurau. From 1200 students representing 25 secondary schools, seven outstanding acts claimed top honours in their respective categories.

De La Salle College took home two major awards with Psalms Vaotuua taking out the solo instrumental category, while soul/R&B band Encore proved to be the best of the bands.

SUSO judge and recent Pacific Music Awards winner Sam V is proud of the winners announced at this weekend’s Finals Showcase.

“‘I’m so fortunate to have been able to witness so many of our young talented tamariki do their thing”, he says.

“A huge congratulations to our winners (and all participants) for showcasing and sharing their artistry with everyone. I’ll be eagerly following their journeys!”

Stand Up Stand Out is an Auckland Council initiative, in partnership with Auckland Live, Rockshop and Auckland UNESCO City of Music. The programme is an important development pathway, promoting songwriting, dance performance excellence and a culture of music within Auckland schools.

The total pool of prizes is split between acts placing first and second in each of the five categories and the ‘Best Artist’ and ‘Best Original Composition’, as decided by a panel of judges.

The prize pool consists of gear and vouchers from Rockshop, mentoring from industry professionals, studio hire, and time with music producers to record a track.

gateway & careers

As we get closer to the end of the year, things don’t get any slower. With exams coming soon there is an opportunity for our young men to excel and especially year 13s, leave our school well.

Gateway has continued and we are waiting for a number of assessments to be completed by Service IQ. Hopefully this will be back to us in the next couple of weeks.

Ms Nayagar was busy during the holidays with Drivers Licence and scholarships. we got a100% pass rate for learners licence. Students attended many short courses at Techtorium, NZMA Hospitality and Health courses.

During this time I was in Thailand and Beijing reflecting on how good our school and committed our staff are to our young men.

Students have been given many opportunities to apply for scholarships including ST VINCENT DE PAUL& HUGO TRUST, TOLOA and Tertiary education scholarships for year 13’s

in memorium

Vagahau Niue - Niue Language week

We remember Mrs Phyllis Richmond-Rex or Mama Fili (as known by her Lasallian family) at this time of the year as we celebrate Vagahau Niue- Niue language week. Loved and missed by many.

notices

In Term 4, it is expected that all students, from Year 7 to Year 13, adhere to the summer uniform dress code. We kindly request the assistance of parents in ensuring that this uniform standard is upheld.

Please note that all the necessary uniform items (with the exception of shoes) are available at our uniform shop, which operates between the following hours throughout the day 8.00am-2.30pm

Additionally, we strongly recommend and encourage all students to wear sandals as part of their summer uniform.

Should a student encounter any difficulty in complying with the uniform requirements for any reason during the term, we kindly request that a note be provided to the school explaining the situation.

We greatly appreciate your co-operation in adhering to our school uniform policy.

Applications are now open!

For information regarding Toloa Secondary and Tertiary scholarships please click here:

https://www.mpp.govt.nz/funding/toloa-secondary-school-scholarships/faqs/

https://www.mpp.govt.nz/funding/toloa-tertiary-scholarships/

Register at MPP's online funding application portal to select the open funding rounds, then choose the Toloa scholarship year level you wish to apply for and submit your application.

Applying for MPP funding: How To Guide

The deadline is approaching for those who are applying for scholarship applications.

The opportunity to secure this scholarship is just around the corner, Monday 30 October 2023 and the Ministry of Pacific People's want to ensure applicants have enough time to complete their Toloa Scholarship applications thoughtfully. We strongly recommend that you take some time in the coming days to finalise your applications to avoid any last-minute rush or technical difficulties.

To make the process as smooth as possible, here are some quick steps to follow:

Review the scholarship requirements and guidelines on our website to ensure you meet all the criteria.
Carefully complete all required sections of the application online form, providing accurate and complete information.
Double-check your uploaded supporting documents, such as transcripts, school reports, proof of citizenship status or reference letters, to ensure they are legible and relevant.
Don't forget to proofread to present your best self.

Remember, there is support throughout this process. If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please feel free to reach out to the Toloa team at toloa@mpp.govt.nz or technical difficulties please email: katoatoa@mpp.govt.nz

Your education and future are important to us, and we want to help you succeed.

Register your interest to be a rugby coach for 2024 in all grades: U12 to First XV. Please email Mr Hakeagatoa hakeagatoau@delasalle.school.nz

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