Principal's Message

Tēnā koutou St Ignatius community,

This week in school when we held a liturgy and All Saints Day to remember all those who have passed, it was a true sign of the Catholic character growing in the hearts of our community. Students entered the hall space in La Storta respectfully and participated reverently. In our Catholic tradition, during the month of November, we continue to pray for all those who have passed; please keep this tradition alive in your household. It is a wonderful daily reminder for what Jesus has done for us in his own passion and resurrection; we live in the promise of our own and the eternal life that awaits. It is also comforting for children to know that those who have passed can rest in the eternal light of our loving God.

Excitement is building for the St Ignatius' Got Talent next week and I encourage families to come along and support our students who will be performing. Tickets can be purchased on the door for $5 per person. Details for the event are further down.

After community feedback in our recent community surveys, we will be increasing morning break by 5 minutes in 2025; this means that the end of the school day will be 3:05pm. The rationale for this small change is to enable students to have the time they need to refuel for the remainder of the morning. We want to keep of those levels of excellence up throughout the whole of the school day!

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Dean Wearmouth

College Life

Sports

Week Ahead:

Friday 1st November

Yr 9 Girls Futsal
Training in La Storta
3.00pm

Monday 4th November 

Touch
Training on field after school

Boys Futsal VS Sancta Maria College
Pulman Arena
4pm

Girls Futsal VS Sancta Maria College
Pulman Arena
4:30pm

Tuesday 5th November

Touch
Boys Team VS James Cook
James Cook High
4.30pm

Boys VS Rosehill
James Cook High
5.30pm

Girls VS Mcauley
James Cook High
4.00pm

Girls = Bye
James Cook High

Wednesday 6th November

Basketball Training
La Storta
3:15pm

Volleyball Training
La Storta
3:15pm

Thursday 7th November

Volleyball
Girls
Semi Finals
Pulman Arena
4.00pm

Futsal Training
Y8/9 Boys
La Storta
12.50pm

This Weeks Results:

Our St Ignatius Touch teams went to James Cook for their first games of touch for the season. Both teams have had extremely dedicated coaches who helped to prepare them including a practise match over the long weekend. Although they didn't win their games, they showed great base of skills and teamwork to build upon throughout the season.

The Volleyball girls played against Sancta Maria and won both sets to take the overall win this week.

All Soul's Day Liturgy

On Wednesday, during house time, we had a student-led liturgy to pray for those who have died. It was a solemn occasion where we remembered those who passed away in our community in the past year. We give thanks for their life and the blessing they have brought to ours. Throughout November, the church asks us to pray for the Holy Souls. If you want us to do this, there is a box in the Companions of Jesus Chapel where you can place a name, and Mass will be said for them.

Ākonga Elective

Philosophy

It was Socrates who said 'The unexamined life is not worth living'.  Our group of deep thinking philosophers have certainly examined life in great detail during our elective time this semester.  

We have delved into some of the most important and challenging questions we can ask as humans and have wracked our brains for answers, explored theories, counter arguments and philosophical concepts in our quest to try and understand life more deeply. 

Katie Wisuthamak (9AM) writes:  
"Philosophy is an educational, and surprisingly fun class! It's really awesome to see everyone else’s perspectives on a certain subject (etc, what's the meaning of life, ) and it's fun to have wide ranging debates and discussions. The atmosphere during the philosophy elective is incredibly calming (in my opinion) which really helps to think about, for example, what a picture might mean and if there's a deeper question we could ask about something. Honestly it all feels like campfire talk! (which helps as we all sit in a circle!!)"

La Reina Weale (8AM) writes:
"By having a philosophy elective in our school, it allows students to really use the their intelligence, judgment and insightfulness by participating ingroup discussions, voicing our opinions and looking at concepts through all angles. My favorite activity in our philosophy group was to research and construct a presentation demonstrating a philosophical method of decision making. We all discovered many different methods like utilitarianism, natural law, situation ethics & many more. I found this to be a great activity, pushing us to learn about different philosophers, learning new philosophical vocabulary and putting it to use."

See some of the questions we explore in our group - maybe you'd like to have your own campfire philosophical discussions at home!

- How do we know if the world is designed or did it happen by chance?
- If God was at the touch of a button would you dare to click it?
- Would you rather live for a week in the past or the future? Why?
- If some prayers are answered and others are not does that mean that God is unfair?
- Is it scary or reassuring that God might be watching you?
- Some people say that deep down we’re all the same. Do you agree?

Nacho's News

Term 4 Volume 2, Issue 20 for 2024 is out now! Please follow the link at the bottom of this Newsletter to view.

Ākonga Achievement

Pippa Wilson

Congratulations to Pippa Wilson, who was selected to represent the New Zealand Pony Club at the recent Global Virtual Dressage Competition. As one of 24 riders from New Zealand, she competed against 9 different countries.
Pippa and her pony Minnie placed 8th in the individual event, which in itself is amazing, but in the mixed event for her level her team came first!
Congratulations Pippa on an incredible win!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Manutaki Certificiates

This week the following ākonga/student were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review. Due the long weekend they will be receiving their certificates in our assembly next Monday.

Year 7 -  Nikeel Naran
Year 8 - Max Orvington
Year 9 - Leo Bent

We celebrate these ākonga/students being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their work and actions.

Cura Personalis

2025 Option Selection Year 10

Option selection for our current Year 9 Ākonga moving into Year 10 will occur shortly. 

Please follow the link below to view the option booklet and begin your shared family discussion around the subjects offered.

2025 Option Selection Year 10

Note: That online option selection is not currently open. Further notification of this will be forwarded once the system is ready.

St Ignatius Sports Awards Ākonga Nominations

As we are now in the final term of 2024, we are excited to acknowledge the hard work and sporting achievements of our ākonga throughout the year at our first annual Sports Awards being held December 9th at 9.00am in La Storta.
We are calling for the nominations for the following awards:

Sporting Achievement Award - This award recognizes an individual athlete who has achieved outstanding success in representing their sport at a regional or national level outside of school during the school year.
https://forms.gle/oUhheoRtigaD4hHo6

Student Volunteer of the Year - Recognises a student who has made an impact through their volunteering or administration contributing positively to the wider sports community.
https://forms.gle/om7NJFnuWkyu87As5

Guidelines:
- The responsibility for nominations sits with the Whānau and Community of St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic.
- Ākonga may not complete nomination forms.
- Nominees must have been enrolled at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic for a minimum of 85% of the year.
Following a review of all nominations the final decision of the recipient for this award will be made by the Sports Department and Senior Leadership.

Please submit your nominations by 12th November 2024.

We look forward to honoring our outstanding athletes at this special event!

2025 SCHOOL PRODUCTION!!

Sign ups are now open for the 2025 school production of 'SHOWSTOPPERS: The Best of Broadway'. From Moana to Mamma Mia, Annie to Wizard of Oz, there is something for everyone in this production! Auditions for the production will be in Week 5 this term. Being involved in the school production will be a fun, exciting and rewarding experience, so if you would like a chance to be a part of performing in this show, book an audition time quickly!
Sign up on the Performing Arts google classroom page CODE: nrjmvf6

Note: Students should only sign up for themselves and be prepared to commit to turning up to the audition please.

Transition Events

We are preparing to welcome our 2025 new students over the coming weeks and look forward to supporting them in their transition to St Ignatius.  We will be holding a number of key transition events during this term.  Watch out for further details in your inbox next week.

Wednesday November 13, 3:30-4:30pm - a Transition Event for Year 7 2025 ākonga who are moving solo to St Ignatius from their current school or who are new starters in Years 8-10 2025.

Wednesday November 20 - 9am - 3pm- Transition Day for Year 7 2025

Wednesday November 20th - Transition Whānau Hui - 6-7pm

Inaugural College Yearbook

We are busy preparing our very first St Ignatius Yearbook.  It is so exciting to see all the amazing content included which records and celebrates our historic foundation year.  A $30 voluntary charge will be added on to your accounts and year book distributed to those who have paid in the last week of term.

Upcoming Events

First Reconciliation - Wednesday November 6th
St Ignatius' Got Talent - Wednesday November 6th @ 6.00pm
Grandparents Mass - Monday 11th November at 7:30am - See information below.
School Production 2025 Auditions - Mon thru Fri November 11th-15th see information below.
Last Day for Sport Award Nominations - 12th November 2024
Xavier House Mass - Wednesday 13th November
Teacher Only Day -  Wednesday 20th November
Year 7 2025 Transition Day - Wednesday 20th November
Confirmation Liturgy - Friday November 22nd @ 11.00am see information below.
Year 7 Quarry Trip - Monday and Tuesday November 25th / 26th
Immunisations Years 7 and 8 - Wednesday November 27th
Christmas Advert Liturgy - Monday December 2nd 
Year 7 Camp - Thursday and Friday December 5th / 6th
Thanksgiving Mass - Wednesday December 11th
Final School Day and Prizegiving Morning - Thursday December 12th

St Ignatius' Got Talent 2024!

The inaugural Talent Quest will be held on Wednesday 6th November 6pm in La Storta! Come and support our ākonga as they perform their talents in the hope of being crowned as our first St Ignatius' Got Talent winner for 2024.
Tickets $5 at the door (Eftpos only as we are a cashless school).

Grandparents Mass

The College invites all grandparents and grandparent figures of students to a Grandparents' Mass on Monday 11th November, at 7:30 a.m. Tea and Coffee will follow the Mass, and students will have an opportunity to give their grandparents a tour of the school before the beginning of the school day.  Due to limited space in the Companions of Jesus Chapel, this will be a ticketed event. Tickets are available free of charge on the College website.

Confirmation Liturgy

St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College invites the families of the students being Confirmed to join us on Friday November 22nd, at 11:00 a.m., as Bishop Steve confers the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a full-school Liturgy in La Sorta (the College Hall). 
Due to limited space, these tickets are only for families of those students receiving the Sacrament. 
Please note that this will be a liturgy without communion. 
Spaces are limited, so you need to reserve a ticket.

PTA News

Hi, my name is Tanya Honiss. My husband and I have lived in the Franklin area for 16 years and we have one son who is enjoying Year 8 at St Ignatius. Although I have never been on a PTA before, I have previously been involved with a pre-school committee and have helped with various community fundraising events. I thought joining the St Ignatius PTA would be a good way to meet people within our school community and to be able to help out where I can, hopefully having fun while
doing it!

Just a reminder about our events coming up- we'd love to see you at some of them! 29 November 2024, Year 7 and 8 Neon Fiesta 10 December 2024, Christmas picnic 21 February 2025, Year 7 and 8 social event/disco 28 February 2025, Pickleball night 09 May 2025, Quiz Night Any questions, please contact [email protected]

Catholic Character

Baptisms

On Wednesday 30th October, after school, we celebrated the Baptisms of Tamsyn Bennett, Rémy McGilloway, and Peyton Haufano in our school chapel, The Companions of Jesus Chapel. Fr Eka was the main presider, but he was also joined by Fr Robert Steele, the Parish Priest of St Patrick's Parish in Pukekohe. The school is proud of Tamsyn, Rémy, and Peyton for making this next step in their faith journey and we will continue to support them in their faith journey to receive the remaining Sacraments of Initiation in November. More photos of this event are available via the link in the News section at the bottom of this Newsletter.

Rupert Mayer SJ

Among all saints in the Catholic Church, Rupert Mayer is not very well-known. Growing up in his native city of Stuttgart in Germany in the late 1800’s, he was considered a courageous but stubborn young man. He desired to become a priest from a young age, and he subsequently did. He later joined the Jesuits in Austria already as a priest at the age of only 24. He saw two World Wars. He worked as a front-line army chaplain in the first one, costing him his leg. After that, he was known as an indefatigable pastor in and around Munich. 

With the rise of Hitler’s National Socialist movement, Mayer saw the falsehoods it was propagating. He saw through the lies that the movement was telling ordinary people and that they were contradictory to Catholic beliefs and principles. Despite the huge pressure to comply or be silent, Mayer spoke his views freely from and beyond the Church pulpit. He quickly became an enemy of the Nazis and his persistent opposition caused serious conflicts with the powerful Gestapo. He was arrested multiple times and was sent to a concentration camp near Berlin and later confined to a Benedictine abbey in the Bavarian Alps. He remained there until he was liberated at the end of World War II. He died not long after, on November 1, 1945, after having a heart attack while saying Mass.

As young as they are, our ākonga are already faced with important decision-making moments. They need to learn to navigate through the intricacies of the web of relationships, social expectations and their conscience. Peer pressure, for example, can often be overwhelming for young people. As a result, it is easier to follow the crowd and do the thing that their conscience is rejecting. It is therefore our responsibility as a school community to provide them with good learning opportunities in multiple facets so that they can learn about the realities of the world; but more importantly so that they can experience God. 

From their relationship with God, like what Mayer had, may their conviction and discernment to choose the right things become strong. Not all will be given the title saints of the Church. However, in living the experience of Love, we are drawn into it and we become the bearers of the message of life to the world, even if it comes with great costs. That is the spirit of a true saint. This is the spirit that is at the heart of our school; and at the heart of all our relationships. This is the spirit that St. Ignatius tells us in the prayer, “Take Lord, receive all that I have, all that I am. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.” (cf. Spiritual Exercises §234).

All Saints of the Church and all of the faithful departed, pray for us.

Community Notices

News