Principal's Message
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Tēnā Koutou Katoa,
This week the school settled down to a pattern of daily life of prayer, experience and the pursuit of personal excellence. The week also marked the commencement of our student/ākonga electives on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. It was great to see all students/ākonga enjoying themselves in the opportunities that they have selected to do. This type of selection of healthy activity to follow interests and passion is intentional formation by the college. It prepares students/ākonga for adult life when they will be free to continue to make these choices, it provides an opportunity for students/ākonga to delve deeper and develop skills in areas of interest alongside the academic programme. However, most importantly it helps students/ākonga to understand that as a community we are concerned with everybody as whole people and want to provide opportunities for growth and development. This approach is affirming for young people, showing true value for the range of interests and abilities for all, helping us to find God in ourselves and in others with similar and different passions.
Next Thursday 29th February we invite all parents and caregivers in to the college to be toured around by your child(ren) and meet the staff, more details are further below in the Newsletter. There is also an opportunity for your wider family to come into the school on Saturday 6th April, again more details are below.
Look out for an email coming through to you today containing your child(ren)'s first weekly excellence report, we are committed to every member of our community pursing their own personal excellence and keeping you up to date with your child(ren)'s efforts. When we truly push ourselves we begin to discover new things about ourselves and what we can do, we become renewed and affirmed. This is where we discover that we can always become greater and that we can always become the greater Glory of God. We find God and begin to discover who we are created and called to become. The greater glory of God. Ad maiorem Dei Gloriam.
Ngā manākitanga,
Dean Wearmouth |
Exciting Co-Curricular Programme Kicks Off at Our College!
This week marked a significant milestone for our college as we launched our much-anticipated co-curricular program. The energy on campus was palpable as our ākonga/students eagerly delved into their selected Ākonga Electives, immersing themselves in a diverse array of activities chosen by our passionate staff. Designed to complement our students' academic journey, this enriching co-curricular program takes place every Tuesday and Thursday, offering a multitude of opportunities for personal and academic growth. With a focus on holistic education, the activities aim to foster academic excellence, nurture personal development, cultivate empathy, and build resilience.
From the arts to sports, community service to music, our students have a wide range of options to choose from. Whether it's delving into the world of coding with our Coding Club, showcasing their talents on stage with Musical Theatre, mastering the art of self-defense with Taekwon-Do, exercising their minds with Quiz Masters, or unleashing their creativity with the Art Club, there truly is something for everyone.
As we embark on this journey, we eagerly anticipate the weeks ahead, filled with the promise of growth and development for each individual program.
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A central feature of the Ignatian charism is the phase Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. This means ‘For the greater glory of God’. This week we have been celebrating ākonga in each year level who have demonstrated one of our 4 C’s (Competence, Compassion, Commitment and Conscience). We celebrate them being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their words and actions. They were acknowledged in their year level assembly and will receive a House Point.
Year 7
Ivy Kilian (Competence)
James Santos (Competence)
Evony Burford (Competence)
Mario Nasa (Commitment)
Nagorry Perelini (Commitment)
Alphyne John (Commitment)
Azariah Stobart (Commitment)
Loisi Liava’a (Commitment)
Albertus Lautua (Commitment)
Emma Ronald (Commitment)
Jemimah Rwothomio (Commitment)
Klay Dela Pena(Commitment)
Giarn Ruby (Competence)
Year 8
Chaesi Alosio - (Conscience)
Lennon Gabriel Benliro (Commitment)
Lauren Hartland (Competence)
Veda Anaruj (Commitment)
Raiden Dawinan (Commitment)
Grace Tucker (Commitment)
Lily Bain (Commitment)
Amaria Ma (Conscience)
Chelsie Farrell (Commitment)
Oliver Kiutau (Commitment)
Year 9
Elias Contreras (Commitment)
Cullen Wright (Commitment)
Norma Stephens (Conscience)
Ignatious Noue (Commitment)
Pippa Wilson (Compassion)
Hayley Thomson (Conscience)
Aidan Todd - (Commitment)
Peyton Haufano (Conscience)
Anne Finau (Conscience)
Thomas Eyton Fa'afiu - (Compassion)
Olivia Fitzpatrick - (Commitment)
Arjun Bal - (Commitment)
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Weekly Excellence Reviews
This week you will receive the first of your Weekly Excellence Reviews which gives you an overview of how your child/ren has been working towards their personal excellence in all their subjects. Details of the criteria are explained in the review.
Should you wish to discuss the Weekly Excellence Review further please contact your child/s Manutaki:
Year 7 Manutaki: [email protected]
Year 8 Manutaki: [email protected]
Year 9 Manutaki: [email protected]
Ākonga Expectations on Buses
At St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, we emphasise the importance of demonstrating the 4 C's: Competence, Conscience, Compassion, and Commitment, in all aspects of student life, including bus travel.
We encourage students to carry a mobile phone to stay connected with parents and guardians, especially in case of any unexpected situations while traveling to and from school. Additionally, we want to remind parents that if a student inadvertently boards the wrong bus, our Bus Controller will promptly notify parents, and it is expected that parents will collect their child from the last drop-off point on the route they are on.
Ensuring the safety of our students is our top priority. Therefore, we kindly request parents to review bus safety procedures with their children, particularly emphasising the importance of safe boarding and disembarking from buses. Many students may not be familiar with the names of streets or bus stops, so we ask for your assistance in ensuring that your child knows which stop they need to depart the bus.
Please also remind your child to ensure they bring all their belongings with them when they get off the bus each day.
We appreciate your cooperation in reinforcing these expectations with your child to ensure their safety and well-being while traveling on school buses. If you have any questions or concerns regarding bus transportation, please don't hesitate to contact the Bus Controller [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support.
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Parent and Caregiver Formation |
How to help your son or daughter thrive at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College (and in life)
A TIME OF CHANGE: The transition of your son or daughter to the new St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College brings many changes, including new routines and ways of learning, working with more teachers, changes in expectations, and new friendships. This can be an exciting, but also a daunting, time for your son or daughter. Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping their children to flourish in meeting these challenges.
WHO WE ARE: St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College is a safe and caring community that embodies the Jesuit charism, where God is at the heart of learning, loving and serving.
FORMING YOUNG CATHOLICS: As a college, we cooperate with parents and caregivers in the Catholic formation of their children. We see this mutual responsibility as central to fostering the Catholic character of our new school.
WE WILL OFFER: A series of early-evening parent and caregiver gatherings in 2024 — two per term. The first will be in March.
DATE: Monday 18 March 2024, 6.00pm - 7.30pm.
TOPIC 1: What does it mean to be a Catholic College?
SPEAKER: Revd Dr Michael Smith SJ
* Getting to know one another and beginning to form a college community.
*What is the mission and vision of the college?
*How do we understand the Catholic Church?
* What do adolescents most need from their parents and caregivers?
PROCESS: Each evening will typically consist of (i) a thirty-minute input, followed by (ii) a
time of prayer and reflection, and then (iii) a time of sharing in small groups.
Please fill in the following document to register:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kXAMXgyCIIJsgZwsnfVev0lcNhYKhziLtJZi-pw7NlY/
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Year 9 Retreat - Thursday 29th February - All Day
Meet the Teacher - Thursday 29th February - 5pm to 7pm
Athletics Day (Massey Park) - Friday March 15th - All Day
Parents Formation Evening - Monday March 18th - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Community Open Day - Saturday April 6th - 9:30pm - 12:30pm
House Parades - Tuesday April 9th - 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Parent / Ākonga / Kaiako Interviews - Wednesday / Thursday 10th-11th April - 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Teacher Only Day - Friday April 12th - All Day
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Drury Junior Rugby Registration Dates
Wednesday 28th Feb 3.30-5 and Wednesday 5th March 3.30pm-5
Drury Rugby Club 10 Tui Street Drury
Boys and Girls ages 3-13 all welcome
Online registration also available
Contact Mel for any information on 021 281 7649
If you are linked to a community group and would like to advertise an event in our newsletter please email: [email protected] |
“And on this rock, I will build my Church”
After the school entered a more normalised mode of operation last week, the students and staff are getting familiar with the rhythm of our new school as a Catholic community. Alongside all Catholic schools around the world, the school community embarked on a Lenten journey. We had our first Stations of the Cross at Wednesday lunchtime to mark our reflections, prayers and repentance.
On the feast of the Chair of St. Peter last Thursday, the Gospel reading tells us of Jesus’ conversation with his disciples. Referring to himself, he asks, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” as he knows many people do not know who he truly is. It was Peter who responds with a conviction, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We know that Peter himself was a man of courage. He jumped out of a perfectly floating boat to greet Jesus on the water; he drew his sword in a heartbeat when threatened; yet he also denied his beloved Lord three times, out of fear. He was a mixed bag.
Life is like that. There have been times when we felt the worst, either because of what we have done or what have happened to us. There have also been times when we felt we have been wonderful and triumphant; when we felt loved. That’s just how we are, not just a single snapshot of a life photograph, but a continuous movie reel of life. At school, this is what we always try to remember when we encounter one another, staff and students, that we are all a mixed bag of good and bad experiences; and that we are all accepted and loved by God.
Now, like Peter, we are also called to build the kingdom of God. Recently, our staff members attended a professional development session on “Family as a Domestic Church,” led by Fr. Michael Smith SJ. Perhaps, it is also a reminder to all families, that we are called to be the rocks upon which God’s Church is built, despite the mixed bags we carry: the faith and commitment, but also the contradictions and inconsistencies; the joy and triumphs, but also the losses, the sadness and the defeats. In this Lenten season, we can look more deeply in the mixed bags of our personal lives, and ask what we could and would offer our families, the school community, the wider Catholic Church community and the world.
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