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

in this issue

TERM 2 WEEK 6- COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

College Principal - “Great Men, 7 Years in the Making"

Associate Principal - "Cornucopia"

Special Character - Ministry & Mission

Deputy of Curriculum - Mid-Year Assessment Window

Deputy of Pastoral - Attendance

ICT - Term 2 Holiday Computer Courses

Literacy Centre

Ruby Tui at the Writer's Festival

MUNA- Model United Nations Assembly

Thank You for Your Service Mr Finch

Samoan Language Week

Kairos Retreat #12

Spoken Word 2023

Maths Corner

Careers & Gateway

Notices

Enrol Now

Contact Us

“great men, seven years in the making”

Mr Myles Hogarty

College Principal

Greetings,

The Catholic Jesuit Order were attributed with a similar quote to that above which said, “Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man”.

The Jesuit’s philosophy was that a child’s development from this young age had enormous effects on the rest of their life and that lifelong habits and learning were formed from an early age up until seven.

There has been much discussion over the Jesuit’s thinking and the debate about Nature vs Nurture still continues today with educationalists and child developmentalists both stating that it is their stance that has the most influence on how a young mind turns out.

One thing is very clear with respect to the education and formation of the young men of De La Salle College. I believe that starting their College life and education at Year 7 has many clear benefits for our boys, some I have listed below.

A thorough Induction into the College through the Lasallian Formation programmes, start of school year Retreat and on-going mentoring from Senior students, Old Boys and Staff.
Induction into the College expectations for Faith, Service, Community and Excellence at a younger age. Being taught the good habits that are required for success in an all-round education.
Seamless transition from Year 8 into their Secondary school year.
Additional support and a programmes on raising Literacy achievement through our Year 7 & 8 Literacy Centre.
Links with older students as Mentors and Leaders who assist and support our younger boys.
Being part of a large Catholic, Lasallian faith community and the experience of Catholic Lasallian tradition, ritual and spirituality.
Opportunities for Specialist teaching in Art, Sciences, Music, Language and Technology.
Familiarisation and access to College Pastoral Care Services to assist learning and student well-being programmes.
Links with the College Curriculum areas to assist a smooth transition and continuity of learning into the Secondary school.
Opportunities to engage in a wide range of academic, sports, music, cultural and faith opportunities.
By our very existence, we encourage the building of a sense of pride in being male.

Many reasons why we encourage families to enrol their son’s at the College as Year 7 students.

We believe that the 7 years at the College is the time required to form and create these “Great men”, which is the vision of the College.

The College in fact would like to increase the number of boys enrolling at Year 7 and decrease the number of boys entering at Year 9 for the very reasons I have mentioned above.

I encourage all families in our community with boys at Year 6 to enrol your son into Year 7 at De La Salle so that in partnership with you we can use the full seven years available to create these great young men.

Unlike the Jesuits, we believe that there is still much to mould and form in a young man’s learning and character after the age of 7.

I am also of the firm belief that by starting his College journey at Year 7, a student of De La Salle will receive an outstanding seven years of education, transitioning him well from a young boy into a fine young man.

Congratulations

To the College Music Group who were successful in winning through to the Regional Finals for the Smoke Free Rock Quest.
Debating Teams who are performing consistently with excellence in all their debates across Auckland, developing a very strong reputation as first class orators.
The Rugby and Basketball teams all featuring highly in their grades, all displaying skill, discipline and great Sportsmanship in their games.
The young men who represented the College at the Model United Nations Assembly.
The Year 13 students who had a wonderfully reflective Kairos Retreat last weekend.

God bless

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

"Cornucopia"

As you are aware there have been a range of interruptions to the school calendar this year. This has not stopped De La Salle from offering a wide range of opportunities to our boys. In the last 4 weeks here are some of the courses, events, activities and input that have been made available.

Legacy Assembly, De La Salle Day Mass, Health Science Academy Trip, History Trip to Bay of Islands, Waihi Mine Geography Trip and Economics Trip, Young Enterprise Scheme Pitching event, Year 7/8 Readers/Writers Festival, Pompallier Shield in Whangarei, Smokefree Rockquest Competition, Mathex Competitions, Debating at three levels, Year 7/8 rugby trip to Manurewa, first Football game in two years, Basketball and Rugby started, Year 8 visit to Holy Cross Parish, Year 13 Kairos Retreat, Young Free & Pacific Leadership Year 11, Hilary Leadership programme Year 12 and Samoan Language Fono for Year 12/13. Added to this has been Pink Shirt week activities in homerooms and visiting speakers to different year levels in our Wednesday period 3 slot each fortnight.

A ‘cornucopia’ is defined as ‘an abundant supply of good things of a specific kind’.

In the midst of other distractions, because of the awesome efforts of our staff and boys who step forward to take things on, we have experienced a cornucopia of opportunity.

special character

Assistant Principal of Mission- Mrs Teuila Vaotuua

Dear families

Fa’atalofa atu ile suafa manumalo o lo tatou Alii Faaola o Iesu Keriso, Malo le soifua maua male lagi e mama.

Talitonu o lo’o manuia pea lo outou paia male mamalu ile alofa male agalelei o lo tatou Tapaau oi le lagi.

Manuia le vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa! Joseph Nansen, Father Martin Wu and Teuila Vaotuua

The 3rd of June marks the 70th birthday of De La Salle College Mangere. As a community we say thank you to God for his providence over the years and pray for many years to come. It is a time to ponder on our heartfelt gratitude to the De La Salle Brothers, for their vision to establish a Catholic College for young men here in Mangere in the heart of South Auckland.

Sir Br Pat Lynch, who was a founding student when the college opened in 1953 explained to the staff during a staff day last year, that farm surrounded the school which was originally a horse racing track. Otahuhu College had been a real friend to the College and instrumental during the initial stage of setting up, and Kings college had also provided sporting fixtures.

Because the early seeds were sown by the Brothers with a deep commitment to this community, today the college continues to draw on the strength of intergenerational loyalty from the community and ongoing growth. As we move forward may we always remember our humble beginnings and the purpose of the De La Salle Mission, and celebrate with joy the precious gift of our school in Mangere.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME

This week Br Jack and I met with parents whose sons will be starting to prepare for their Sacraments. We say that the Sacraments allow us to receive “Grace”, but it’s important to establish

“what is Grace?”

In the scriptures Grace is mentioned in God's Character: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (1 Peter 5:10). Therefore, in everyday life “Grace” can be made visible in our Character, since we are made in the image and likeness of God.

Furthermore, Grace is visible in our God given gifts which we all must share with others. Some examples of Grace include that it is an energy that brings about new life in difficult situations. Grace is hopefulness in dark situations and Grace is peace in a violent situation. God’s grace makes it possible for us to “live” in God’s love and “act” in God’s love whatever we endure.

For us, this is great news!! That our Sacraments allow us to access God’s grace so we can continue to have the strength to face every new day with a character like God.

Please continue to pray for the students who will be journeying toward Sacramental life, and their families. If you have not registered for the Sacramental programme but want your son to receive the Sacraments, please email me VaotuuaT@delasalle.school.nz

Vinnies Commissioning Mass

by Sam Vaotuua - Deputy Head Prefect, Special Character on behalf of Special Character and Service Prefects

Tuesday 27 May, our special character and service prefects Sam Vaotuua, JD Fili, Apoua Lilo, and Joseph Aiolupo Favea were fortunate enough to be able to attend a commissioning mass at St Patricks Cathedral alongside our year 12 leaders Romello Ngan Woo and Liam Aumareva and our junior candle bearer Noah Mati, coming together with all the Vinnies leaders from various catholic schools in Auckland.

This mass was a significant and special event for our leaders as they blessed our badges, and for God’s blessings and guidance upon us as the commissioned leaders for 2023. This was special for us as men of service, as the role of being Vinnies leaders expresses our school values of faith, service, community, and excellence through serving those within our community who are less fortunate as we are all God’s children. At this mass, we were heavily involved not only through the blessing of our badges but were also privileged to read God’s word through scripture, the blessing and carrying of our school banner, and the blessing of our Vinnies’ candle on behalf of our School.

It was a proud moment to represent the school, our families, and answer God’s call to serve our community with these roles. We would like to give a special thanks to our families that came and supported us on this special occasion, the St Vincent De Paul Organisation for this privilege, and to our school for providing us with the ability to serve, we are all grateful and ready to continue our service to our school, community, and God this year.

FOUNDERS DAY MASS

A big thank you and well done to all those who made our Founders Day Mass a wonderful and celebratory occasion this year. It was very special to be able to honour the Brothers community and the teachers on the day, with St John Baptist De La Salle as patron saint of teachers.

Thank you to the prefects from our sister school McAuley High school for joining us this year with Deputy Principal Ms Langi. Also, to the NET Ministries team from the Auckland Diocese as well as Religious Education Advisor Lyn Smith for joining in the celebration.

Live Jesus in our Hearts forever

curriculum

Deputy Principal Curriculum- Mr Phil Doyle

Mid-Year Assessment Window

Week 8 will be our mid-year assessment window.

All students will be completing assessments of some kind. This is a good time to check your son’s Assessment Handbook and Calendar to see what is coming up for your son. Teachers setting exams will be sending home information about what students need to study for success.

We will be submitting work for students sitting the Pilot Level 1 NCEA Level 1 subjects Computer Science, Design and Visual Communication, Lea Faka Tonga and Vagahau Niue. Senior Science and Mathematics students will be sitting practice exams in most subjects.

We will also have a small number of Year 10 students completing the Common Assessment Activities for the new Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite. Students who do not achieve in the June assessment can attempt again in the October assessment window if needed.

SCHOLARS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Carter Kyd and AJ Telefoni 9D – Excellence in Social Science

The social studies learning area is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens. Contexts are drawn from the past, present, and future and from places within and beyond New Zealand. Carter and AJ have been looking at Sustainability. Mr Jeremic is very pleased with their progress.

Three of our Year 13 students were part of the First Foundation award celebrations recently. Manatu’ofa Mila, David Niko-Toleafoa, and Sam Vaotuua are this year’s De La Salle First Foundation recipients. They are a part of a group of nearly 1000 outstanding students First Foundation have supported over the last 10 years.

First Foundation recipients L-R Sam Vaotuua, David-Niko Toleafoa and Manatu'ofa Mila

If you’ve got big dreams. First Foundation will help you get there. They provide support, paid work experience and one-on-one mentoring to help students thrive at school, university, and beyond.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

Attendance

Have you ever thought about how important attendance is for a student's success in school? Being present in class not only helps students learn and retain information better, but it also teaches them important life skills like responsibility and punctuality.

Unfortunately, there are times when students struggle with attendance due to various reasons, such as health issues or personal problems. In such cases, it's crucial for parents to work with our school and ask for their help in supporting your child's attendance.

When parent support the school’s attendance initiatives, it can be a game-changer for both the student and the school. When parents are involved in their child's education, they can offer valuable insights into what might be causing their child's absenteeism and find ways to address it. They can also provide support and encouragement to their child, which can motivate them to attend school regularly. Moreover, when parents are aware of the school's efforts to promote attendance, they can help reinforce those efforts at home.

The school is taking several steps to involve parents in supporting attendance. One approach that we follow is to hold regular meetings with parents needing support. We can also provide resources and information to parents on how they can support their child's attendance, such as setting routines and schedules, monitoring their child's health, and communicating with teachers.

Overall, asking you as parents to help school support attendance is a win-win situation for everyone involved. It promotes a collaborative effort between the school and parents, which leads to better outcomes for your child. It also reinforces the idea that education is a shared responsibility between schools, parents, and students.

So, if you're a parent who is worried about your child's attendance, please don't hesitate to reach out! We are here to support you and your family every step of the way. And let's work together to ensure that your child has the best possible chance of success both now and in the future!

ICT ACADEMY

Director of ICT- Mr John Singh

Term 2 Holidays- Computer Courses

Following Term 1 successes, further opportunities are offered to Senior students to participate in Computer Courses during school holidays at the Techtorium Institute of Technology in Newmarket.

Computer courses offer exciting and ever-evolving pathways for students who are passionate about Technology. Students study a range of Levels 3 and 4 NCEA Computer Courses to get a real taste of what it’s like to study Computer Engineering at Tertiary Level.

Term 2 School Holidays Courses are listed below. All Course costs will be funded by the College.

To enrol - email singhj@delasalle.school.nz

Ruby Tui at the Writer’s Festival

by Albert Quilantang

A funny story to share. Saturday May 20th 2023. It wasn’t a great start to head into the city to see Ruby Tui at 10am. Two of our students were late and then the worse part was the horrible traffic we encountered on the way. Myself, Nikolao, Sonasi and Marcus were the students who were interested in wanting to listen to Ruby Tui share her life story and sports achievement. Unfortunately, we got there too late for the session to see Ruby Tui in person. However, Miss Kuresa shared about ‘silver linings’. That although we completely missed her entire session, when we arrived at Aotea Centre, we were told by the volunteers that we could stand in the queue for Ruby’s book signing and so we did. While we waited, we told everyone our sad story of getting there late! Then miracles of miracles. A kind woman gave us a copy of Ruby Tui’s book ‘Straight Up’ for free so we could have it signed. We were blown away by her kindness. Then the group told us to move up the line and be the first to meet Ruby and we did! So it was a blessing in disguise getting there late 😊

Meeting Ruby in person, she was so friendly, engaging, enthusiastic with a bright smile and she was very funny! We got to hold her Silver and Gold medals – they were heavy. She asked questions about our school and South Auckland. It was a great, fun day and even though it was short, it was action packed I thought. We got to enjoy the drive into town, meet a world famous rugby player and we got home safely. Thanks Miss Kuresa and Mr Wendt for keeping us company

muna: model united nations assembly

Over the 26/27 May, De La Salle College competed in the annual Model United Nations Assembly competition. De La Salle College entered three teams this year representing the nations of Kuwait, Thailand and Spain.

The teams did a lot or preparation and research leading up to MUNA. This year De La Salle College won:

Best Costume: De La Salle College (Team Kuwait – Y11 Inglis Tavu’i-Lemali, Tony Ulberg and Christian Fa’avae)

Most engaging speaker: De La Salle College (Team Thailand – Y10 Marques Tominiko).

Thank you to Margaret and Falaniko Tominiko for helping sponsor the MUNA teams this year.

Thank you Ms Knight and Ms Kuresa for supporting the teams over the weekend.

Well done to all the boys who competed for a solid MUNA this year.

Okusi Katao (Y10 debate team/MUNA team Thailand.)

thank you for your service mr finch

by Apoua Lilo- 13FIN

Year 13 homeroom teachers L-R Mr Endemann, Mr Skipps, Mr Finch, Mr Waugh, Mr Pilisi and Year 13 Dean Miss Puleiku

In early May, the class of 2023 had the opportunity to farewell one of our homeroom teachers, Mr Finch, who was retiring after teaching at our school for over 26 years. Mr Finch has been the homeroom teacher of 13FIN for the past 5 years and we are very grateful to him for the work he has done to support his homeroom and also the wider cohort who have had him as a teacher.

At his cohort farewell, Mr Finch shared a picture of his homeroom when they were only year 9 and reminisced on some of his memories with them. He also shared some important lessons and advice with us before the boys put leis on him and did the school haka as a sign of their gratitude and thanks for all his work for us over the years.

It was a privilege having Mr Finch as our home room teacher from 2019-2023. For four and a half years, Mr Finch has been a huge impact on our school life at De La Salle College. His encouragement gave us determination to be the best version of ourselves and the same could be said for the many students that came before us. On behalf of 13 Finch, faafetai tele lava sir for everything you have done for our home room. Your hard work and sacrifices never went unnoticed and shaped the school life we as your students experienced. We will always be grateful to have had Mr Finch as one of our greatest influences here at De La Salle College. Ia Manuia lou faamavaega.

Samoan language week

by Sae Eteuati Muliaga- Deputy Head Prefect - Culture and Arts

As part of our initiatives for the Culture and Arts Portfolio, we wanted to add to our language week celebrations by sharing some food with our younger brothers as a way to give back. We asked the prefects to contribute whatever they could to prepare a morning tea of Panikeke and Koko Samoa to share with the student body, our meaalofa (gift) from us Prefects and Year 13s to acknowledge this important week and also our culture.

To execute our plans, half of the prefects set up a stand outside D2 decorated with red and blue balloons and a Samoan flag, whilst myself and the rest of the prefects worked in the food-tech room to prepare a whole pot of koko Samoa from scratch. The panikeke was kindly supplied by the prefects and their families!

By interval, we were ready to give out panikeke and a cup of koko Samoa to our younger brothers! Our first language week contribution was a success! I’d like to extend a special fa’afetai to the staff who helped out - Ms Puleiku, Mr Endemann and Mrs Salanoa. Also, to my fellow prefect brothers who worked to set up our stand, make the koko, order and collect the panikeke and to everyone who contributed somehow to our celebration, your efforts are appreciated. I’d also like to say a huge fa’afetai tele lava to the parents who helped make sure our plans ran smoothly, fa’afetai mo lo outou titi faitama ma le lagolagosua e tusa ai ma le fa’amoemoe a le fanau.

Ia manuia tele le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa!

Mr Endemann and Mr Ngan-Woo

Kairos Retreat #12

by Venezia Gaugau

Last weekend, a group of us year 13 students were blessed to take part in the Kairos retreat from 26-28May. "Kairos" is a Greek term that means "God's time." The retreat aims to give participants a one-of-a-kind opportunity to reflect on their connection with God, deepen their faith, and build a greater sense of community. The Kairos retreat usually lasts a few days and takes participants away from their daily surroundings, providing a focused and immersed experience. The retreat consists of a series of speeches, conversations, personal reflections, prayer, and various activities aimed to promote contemplation, spiritual growth, and connecting with other participants.

The Kairos Retreat allowed me to connect with God on a deeper spiritual level and build a closer bond with my fellow brothers. The retreat provided a wonderful opportunity to ponder and realize the beauty of living according to God's timing (Kairos). Hearing stories from our teachers and also our brothers also provided me with strategies to overcome some of life's challenges. In a non-judgmental setting, we were able to open up and share our personal stories, our struggles but also our triumphs. This sharing fostered trust, empathy, and understanding among the participants.

Overall, I would strongly encourage both students and staff to attend the Kairos Retreat when it is available. It presented me with a transforming experience that encouraged my spiritual growth, deepened my understanding of faith, and assisted me in developing a sense of community and support among those of us who attended.

I want to thank Miss Puleiku for organising the retreat, as well as the other staff that sacrificed their time too, such as Mr Nansen, Mr Folau, Mr Futialo, Mrs Ainiu and Mr Ngan Woo for their assistance in making this retreat a reality. I also want to thank the student leaders Patolo Taito, Sae Eteuati Muliaga, and Taka Pailate for their assistance. Finally, I'd like to thank the Christian Valley Camp for accommodating and catering for us. This unforgettable experience would not have been possible without the staff and students that wanted to help.

spoken word 2023

by Marlon Tuipulotu

Spoken word this year has been a bumpy ride but also a very fun, enjoyable and worthwhile journey. We started our journey this year at the beginning of term 2 with a team of eight people which consisted of myself, Peseta Fesili, Roger Maligi, Paea Tuineau, Jeremiah Teu, Kingston Niu, Pita Vea and Poulivaati Manisela. Half of us had already experienced the spoken word journey last year and it was exciting to have some of our other brothers join us for the first time. Spoken word helped us to re-connect with one another and build stronger bonds but also to learn how to put into words some of the struggles and experiences we have had as young men in South Auckland. Spoken word helped us speak from the heart, express our feelings, and improve our writing skills.

We prepared for the ‘Word: The Frontline’ competition amongst other commitments and went to the regional heat on Wednesday 24 May at Mangere Arts Centre. We had written three poems – one about mental health, another about stereotypes and a third poem about disappointing our mothers. We wrote and memorised our poems within a short time frame, but all the effort and hard work paid off because we got it done, went up on stage, and performed our poems to a huge crowd.

We were nervous as we got up to perform but our brotherhood and our support for each other helped us to perform to the best of our ability and give the crowd and judges a good show. While on Kairos retreat, we got the bad news that we did not advance to the semi-finals. We were very disappointed about this result but when we thought about it, all that mattered is that we got up on the stage to perform! We could have given up when things got too busy or we lost two of our group members or when struggling to write our poems or memorise our lines, but like that famous saying goes, it’s not about the points, it’s about the poetry.

We participated and did not give up and that is something to be grateful for and proud of.

I express a huge thank you to Miss Puleiku for always sticking by us, through thick and thin. Thank you to the boys for another memory I will cherish forever. Another for the books I would say. Although our journey in ‘Word: The Frontline’ competition has come to an end, we are still planning to continue with spoken word this year as we prepare for ‘Stories from the Southside’, our De La Salle College Spoken Word Showcase. The De La Salle Poets Spoken Word group has not had a chance to put on this showcase for a couple of years due to covid but now is our chance to bring it back and bring our stories forward to our own frontline. Watch this space!

maths corner

Mathematics Teacher- Mr J L Marcelo

Here is the third mathematics puzzle, only 3 questions to be in to win a prize! https://forms.office.com/r/QEZsRvPvbs

South Auckland Math Challenge

“Competing at the SAMC - South Auckland Math Challenge was a fun and challenging experience that encouraged our students to think outside of the box whilst enhancing their individual skills. The competition trained our ability to communicate effectively, process new information at a faster rate and collaborate with each other to problem solve. Our teams represented the school with excellence by competing to the best of their ability, respecting other students, showing great humility, and remaining humble after the challenge. I enjoyed the new experience, taking full advantage of the unique opportunity to learn and grow. I look forward to participating again in upcoming events and improving our results even further.”

by Lucas Vaaga- 10K

“On the 24th of May, last week Wednesday, teams of year 9 and 10 students competed in the South Auckland Mathematic challenge held at Tangaroa College. Both year 10 teams placed in the top 3, team A came third and team B came second. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Tangaroa college prefects and as we waited for the challenge to begin, we would just laugh and crack jokes so none of us would be nervous and we would have fun while we’re at it. It wasn’t the results we wanted but we came top 3 out of 20 but overall I really enjoyed this experience.”

by Mala’e Ufi- 10R

careers & gateway

As the year progresses, it is time for our year 12 and year 13 students to start thinking about their future careers and tertiary education options. The Careers and Gateway programme at our school is designed to help students explore different pathways and opportunities that are available to them.

Our students have been busy with various activities and programmes through the Careers and Gateway programme. Recently, some students went on a trip to MIT to see the Nursing School and gain insights into a career in healthcare. The visit from Auckland University was also a great opportunity for students to learn about the university's programmes and courses.

In addition to academic pursuits, our students have also been working on acquiring practical skills. Some students have received their learners or restricted driver's licenses, which is a significant milestone for their personal and professional development. Our Barista course has also been a huge success, and we are planning to offer more courses such as the

media course in radio
kitchen hand course at Sky City during the holidays

As we move further into the year, it is important for our students to start planning for their future and exploring different career options. We encourage all students to take advantage of the resources and programmes available through the Careers and Gateway programme.

Thank you for your continued support of our school and our students.

OPEN DAY

notices

This Tech Week, encourage your child to innovate and explore new skills with a free tutored coding session. Students aged 9 to 18 can learn to code games, websites and apps in a free one hour session with Coding NZ. Sessions are available at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm weekdays, so pick a slot and book today at codingnz.com/signup.

Open to all Youth

Held Every Wednesday from 7.30 to 8.30 am in the Science block

Year 13 ball - Save the Date

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