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

associate principal

Mr Dermot English

"Streams into Rivers"

Early on Monday morning I was driving a van full of boys back to DLS from Hokianga in the north. As we drove we saw half a dozen different vans and school buses picking up students to take them, sometimes long distances, to get to school. All those families making sure their children were on time, with their equipment, with their lunch, so that they could make the journey to take part in their education. It’s like rivulets of young people joining small streams growing larger, then joining into rivers of students entering the front gates.

The same thing happens at DLS every weekday morning. As we approach the end of the year I would like to acknowledge all the effort that goes into getting each individual boy out of bed and fully prepared for a day at school. Many boys and their families have to try very hard to make that happen, because they know that it’s worth it. All the research shows that the more a boy is at school the better he does, so a huge thank you to all the whanau who contribute to the rivulets and streams that make up the river of boys who come in our gates each morning.

pastoral

Deputy Principal- Mr Elton Charles

We Are Who We Are Through Others

Regardless of the considerable impact of Covid-19 on our college, especially during term one we still managed to commence many activities as normality returned, and my grateful thanks go to the entire community for their patience and understanding.

The patience and commitment required by the college community in adapting to these challenges was unique in the history of our college, and everyone are to be commended for their leadership during those difficult times.

Our students were great, and their largely positive mindsets were greatly welcomed. At the start of the year, I had the opportunity to speak with our student leaders and pointed out how challenging this year was going to be and how a traditional college like ours heavily rely on events to build school spirit and to build a sense of belonging.

School assemblies, athletic days, camping, chapel services have been missing during the peaks of covid and, have only returned during terms 2 and 3. While we appreciate that they are back, there has been an opportunity to reflect to see how we could do things better.

One of the highlights this year was the year 9 camp that took place during term 1. This annual event was almost cancelled due to the restrictions which were placed on us. Fortunately, we were able to secure enough resources to enable this camp, and it turned out to be one of the best facilitated camps that we have ever had. A special thank you to Mr Rex and his team for making this work.

Another area that we are addressing is our schoolhouse competitions. This is an area which has the potential to further build on our college spirit and creating a feeling of true belonging. We look forward to this becoming more integrated in the years ahead.

To conclude this article, I would like to sincerely thank everyone for your contribution and support for making the pastoral care of our students a priority. Through you I can see the true spirit of ubuntu (an African word meaning we are who we are through others). This is especially important now as we are still working towards connecting.

Academic Year 7/8

Assistant Principal- Mr Herbert Tanuvasa

As the excitement of flag waving in our neighbourhood dies down, many proud Samoans, the wider Pasifika community, and in general, kiwis (who want to see the Aussies lose), would reflect on the Rugby League world cup and ask each other that question “What could Samoa have done better to win the final?”

Toa Samoa were excellent at the tournament becoming the first country outside the traditional big four (in 68 years) to reach the showpiece game of the world cup. A lot of fans would suggest this proves their excellence, particularly on various levels transcending rugby league. I am not disputing that fact, and how Toa Samoa has excited and united the Samoan community and their wider Pasifika brothers. I am saying if they had won that final, the term “excellence” would have been beyond question. To prepare for the next rugby league world cup the Pasifika teams need to ask themselves, “How do we go from excellence in making the final, to undisputed excellence in winning it?”

The simple answer? No stone is to be unturned.

An amazing league player is born into a league environment where no stone is unturned. Usually to parents who are rugby league fanatics living in a rugby league community. From birth the infant is immersed in hearing the TV in the background with family members watching live rugby league games overseas (at 3am in the morning!). As the child grows, he joins the local kids are emulating their league heroes in the back yard and when he reaches the age of 6, he is promptly put into the local team usually coached by dad. From there it is an upbringing of trainings and games with whanau and peers pushing him on. By the time the boy leaves school every opportunity to succeed as a league player would have been presented to him.

Can a boy become a world champion league player if he is born and raised in Peru? Highly unlikely. The sport of rugby league is yet to be played on Peruvian soil and the only rugby league game involving Peru was in 2019 against Uruguay (which was played in Australia with Australian born players). A Peruvian infant will most likely be raised by parents and community who dream about their son joining Real Madrid or Manchester United.

So, turning the question towards your son at De La Salle College; how does your son become excellent academically beyond question, as in the coveted excellence endorsed De La Salle Scholar?

Again, the simple answer…no stone unturned.

It takes a village to raise a child to reach the level of De La Salle Scholar. From birth the expectation of academic excellence must be prevalent in the family raising him. Academic achievement is an immersive culture and very much like rugby league culture, a family shapes their world around the children achieving high at an academic level. For a boy growing up he experiences this academic achievement culture in the choices his family makes, going to bed early to wake up for school, pushing 100% attendance, engaging in regular correspondence with the teacher, helping the boy with their homework, choosing the right schools, encouraging likeminded peer relationships, and celebrating academic success. Basically, the family prioritises education as one of their 3 top values.

If you are reading this there is a good chance that, like a rugby league parent who wants their boy to enjoy the game of league, you are wanting your son to do well in school at an academic level. I want to encourage you and say the teachers at De La Salle College are fully committed to helping your son achieve academic success. “No stone unturned” continued when you made the choice for your family to join the Lasallian network. We are very excited to continue to build on the great work you have done with your son and thank you for the privilege of being a part of his life, a privilege we do not take for granted.

In Christ we serve

In Christ