Principal's Message
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Tēnā Koutou St Ignatius Community,
This week we have been Blessed with a visit from Fr Stan Lim from the Jesuit Province. Fr Stan attended assembly on Monday and gave an inspiring address to the school community of faith, being committed and seeing things through. It was a very good reminder for our school community about how we should seek the Magis in everything we do.
It has also been a truly heartening experience this week checking in on the technical preparations for our school production in La Storta. The sheer effort and skills that are going into the production is a true privilege to observe and I urge families to purchase tickets for remaining seats for the performances next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is a high quality event that is suitable for all ages and will be a wonderful experience, providing brightness and warmth in the middle of winter.
During assembly, we also held a special liturgy to mark Matariki. Matariki is a time to remember, to gather, and to look ahead. In te ao Māori, Matariki marks the turning of the year; a moment to honour those who have gone before us, to give thanks for the present, and to set our hopes and intentions for the future. This fits so well with our Ignatian tradition of pausing, reflecting, being grateful and allowing the light of Christ. We are called to journey from the darkness into the promise of light, both in the world around us and within our own hearts. Matariki and Ignatian spirituality together remind us that God is with us in the quiet, in the turning, and in the hope of new beginnings. May we continue to walk together towards the light of Christ, finding him in all things.
Inveniens Deum in omnibus,
Dean Wearmouth |
Not From the School Pulpit Series - A Fortnightly Reflection by Fr. Eka
We are what we eat.
Last weekend, after their Confirmation, over 40 ākonga and 4 staff members received their First Holy Communion at their local parishes. This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ). This is a good opportunity for us as a community to reflect on the significance of receiving the Body and the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Many health and body-image experts promote the mantra, “We are what we eat.” I think this is actually a good encouragement for people to eat healthily, so that our bodies will also become healthy. However, with so many competing choices in our world, we can be confused more than ever about what is actually good nourishment for us. Take bread, for example. I am still struggling to know which bread on the supermarket shelf is actually the best for my health. Whom should I listen to? All advertisements tell me that their bread is the best.
In the fifth century, St. Augustine promoted advice along the lines of “we become what we eat” but in a deeper sense. By receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, we are nourished by Him who gave himself up and died on the cross for our sake, so that we can become more like Him. This is an invitation to us, but also a challenge. For Catholics, the Body and Blood of Christ are not a symbol or a sign. Of course, if we were only relying on our physical senses, the Body and Blood of Christ at the Eucharist would remain just bread and wine. However, Catholics who choose to truly believe in His presence in the Eucharist and to truly receive Him with faith, can enter and participate in His life, His divine way of being.
 By receiving the bread – blessed and broken, the cup – poured and shared, we say ‘Amen’ – “I agree”, “I consent” – to become like Christ: blessed, and yet broken; with blood poured out and shared in love. It is how God’s love expresses itself – in hope, in faith and in loving service. Hence, in the Gospel story of the feeding of the multitude, Jesus tells his disciples, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” These people needed to be nourished, yes, by physical food, but that is not enough. They need nourishment of something deeper.
“We are what we eat.” Through the Eucharist, our participation in Jesus’ divine way of being must be transformative. Just as earthly gifts of bread and wine at the altar are transformed into Christ; we who receive the Body & Blood of Christ would be transformed to become Christs in our world, made felt and visible to others by our words and deeds.
When many people, especially our young generations, can often find themselves lost or paralysed in today’s world full of so many competing and confusing choices, our own transformation into Christ must provide a clear and appealing advertisement. Or in the Gen-Alpha language, we must become an influencer to the multitude who desperately need the true nourishment: the living Christ. In our words and deeds, may they recognise Christ being truly present in their midst, and they can truly receive Him in their lives.
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Matariki Liturgy
On Monday we held our annual Matariki Liturgy to mark the rising of the Matariki cluster of stars and the Māori New Year. Together we lit nine candles, one-by-on,e to represent each of the stars, and reflected on each ones significance.
'There is a time for everything, a season for every purpose under heaven. God hade made everythiing in harmony with the divine.' (Ecclesiastes 1)  |
Food Technology
In assembly on Monday Mr Wearmouth acknowledged a great example of the good amongst us, by honouring and acknowledging the students who gave up their time last Tuesday evening and early last Wednesday morning to help Mrs Allan with the catering for our staff, guests and students to ensure we all had something delicious to eat after the Sacramental Mass. These students gave up their time for all of us, not seeking reward. This is being the face of Christ for us.
Lauren Hartland
Joslyn Allan
Daisy Bertrum
Sophie Wynne
Rafabella Forsyth
Neeve Wharfe
We also acknowledge the incredible work of Mrs Allan. It is easy to find God around us, in our midst when we tune in. Thank you to Mrs Allan and these ākonga for this selflessness.
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 Production - Show Stoppers: The Best of Broadway
With our first major production opening next week our ākonga are hard at work with dress rehearsals. The set, lighting rigs, and sound systems are all set up, costumes and makeup perfected, and stage crew working like a well oiled machine. We can't wait to share this amazing achievement with our community next week!
Get your tickets today at eventfinda and support this incredible mahi by our staff and students.
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Mathematics - SuperTMatik Mental Maths Competition.
Earlier this year 40 students entered the finals of the SuperTMatik Mental Maths Competition. This global competition sees tens of thousands of competitors in 9 age categories worldwide as they see who can answer 15 maths questions in the quickest time.
All of our participants achieved outstanding results scoring in the top 1000 of their division - that is the top 10%. In addition to that, 12 students achieved in the top 0.05% which is amazing indeed. Congratulations to all participants and very well done to the 12 students listed below:
Aiden Sunil - 14th out of 49626
Jaeden Barillas - 18th out of 49626
Klay Dela Pena - 22nd out of 49626
Torito Esquivel Garcia - 44th out of 41688
Tiger Bernabe - 46th out of 32562
Ashleen Kaur - 46th out of 41688
Kees Smith - 51st out of 38610
Daniel Scott - 55th out of 38610
Ben Smith - 65th out of 41688
Samuel Speedy - 68th out of 41688
Simon Vicente - 80th out of 38610
Marco Omandam - 81st out of 32562
 PE - Jumping June
Our amazing Year 7 & 8 students are taking part in Jumping June – a fun and active way to support the Heart Foundation. Over the past few weeks, students have been learning skipping skills in PE and exploring heart health and compassion in Health class.
They’re also fundraising online to support life-saving heart research Every dollar raised makes a difference – and there’s even a class pizza party up for grabs!
TOTAL SO FAR: $4,873.00
7I $1,185.00
7M $885.00
7S $875.00
8D $545.00
7A $383.00
8A $380.00
7G $310.00
8G $225.00
8M $85.00   Ākonga Elective
Exploring Innovation in Wearable Arts
Our Wearable Arts elective has been a journey of creativity, experimentation, and resilience this semester. Despite a number of stop-start moments, ākonga have embraced the opportunity to explore a wide range of materials and techniques in their artistic process.
Ākonga have trialled both machine and hand sewing methods, working with unconventional materials such as newspaper, zips, rubbish, peacock feathers, and even chip packets. The elective has become a space for innovation—where mistakes are part of the learning, and experimentation leads to exciting discoveries.
A standout initiative came from Year 7 ākonga Hazel Gault and Ava Zimmerman, who developed a method for fusing chip packets by ironing them into a durable sheet. This recycled material has since been transformed into a striking corset and a skirt currently in progress.
One group created a beautiful dress entirely from newspaper, showcasing impressive creativity and design skills. However, when they discovered the material couldn't be sewn together effectively, the team had to pivot and rethink their design completely—an experience that demonstrated both flexibility and problem-solving in action.
Although the initial plan was to enter the Eye on Nature Wearable Arts competition run by the Beautification Trust, we unfortunately did not complete any full costumes in time for submission. We hope to revisit this exciting opportunity in the future.
Overall, the Wearable Arts elective has been a fantastic space for ākonga to get stuck in, get creative, and let their ideas flow. It’s been inspiring to see how they’ve approached challenges with enthusiasm and imagination—turning everyday materials into extraordinary expressions of art.
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Ākonga Acheivement
Aidan Tod and Leila Pahulu
Over the weekend ākonga Leila Pahulu and Aidan Tod participated in the CrossFit College Youth Games. The competition was done in teams of 3. Leila, along with teammates from her gym FMFC, represented St Ignatius of Loyola, AGGS, and Baradene College. This is the first time our school has been represented in this sport.
Aidan competed with his team mates from Westcoast Fitness Waiuku.
There were 108 teams in from around the North Island. Leilas team placed 10th in her division, and Aidan’s team placed 11th in his division.
Congratulations Aidan and Leila!  |
Manutaki Certificates
The following ākonga were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review. We celebrate these ākonga being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their work and actions.
Year 7 - Shircel Anne Nunez
Year 8 - John Paul Feagaiga
Year 9 - Max Ovington
Year 10 - Ella Neels
 485 Award
The 485 Award celebrates students finding God in one another. This award is for students to nominate when they find God in one another. We had many nominations again this week and it was a pleasure for senior leaders to read through the nominations.
Our top nominations this week are:
Joelan Laud nominated Nacho Esquivel Garcia for Compassion as he picked up rubbish after people had left theirs during a year level assembly
Saskia Balle nominated Zander Lim for Conscience as he helped a student when he was feeling stressed about the upcoming RE assessment
Jamie Barillas nominated Frankie Frost for Compassion as she is always supporting others and bringing hope in and out of class
Oliver Kiutau nominated Elijah Koaneti for Commitment as he is committed to the school rugby team and is always humble
Anne Finau nominated Therese Wong for Commitment as she is dedicating her time towards her studies and the school production
Liz Dang nominated Skylar Vibal for Conscience as she assisted her in an assessment when she needed help
Kara Whitehead nominated Isabella Porter for Compassion as she is so good on the bus and really kind to everyone
Paikea Maihi nominated Stacey Al Hadad for Compassion as she went to the Magis Centre at lunch and helped her friend with homework
This weeks winning nomination:
Christopher Afoa nominated Jonathan Ruka for Commitment as he committed to his school work while also helping others at the same time. Congratulations Jonathan!
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First Holy Communion
Last weekend we had 45 ākonga and 4 staff receive the sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time at their respective parishes: St Mary's Papakura, St Anne's Manurewa, and St Patrick's Pukekohe.
Congratulations to you all.
   Support Our First-Ever School Production! – Sponsorship Opportunities
We are thrilled to announce that St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College is preparing for our first ever school production – Show Stoppers: The Best of Broadway!
Our amazing students are working hard to bring this spectacular show to life, and we’re calling on our community to help make it truly unforgettable. We are seeking businesses, families, and supporters who would like to sponsor the production. Funds raised will go towards costumes, lighting, set design, props, and other production costs.
Sponsorship Tiers:
Bronze – $250
Business advertised in the school newsletter and production programme
Silver – $500
All Bronze benefits + 2 complimentary tickets to the show
Gold – $1000
All Silver benefits +
4 complimentary VIP tickets
Social media shout-out
Framed certificate of appreciation
Verbal acknowledgement at the show
Opportunity to display signage at the venue
Do you own a business or know someone who might be keen to support the arts and our students? We'd love to hear from you!
For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact:
Janine Baker
Fundraising Coordinator / Production Team [email protected]
Ngā mihi nui! Together, let’s make Show Stoppers a night to remember! |
Tuesday 24th - Thursday 26th June - Show Stoppers: The Best of Broadway
Wednesday 25th June - Magdalene House Mass 2:10pm
Friday 27th June - Wear your own clothes day to support Young Vinnies collection for the St Patrick's Parish Food Bank (see below)
Friday 27th June - Last day of Term 2 - Reports sent out
Please note ‘Teacher Only Days'
Term Three - September 19th 2025
Term Four - October 22nd 2025 |
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Celebrating Composite Team Success and Strong Partnerships
We are proud to acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of our students and the incredible support network that allows our ākonga to thrive in sport through the formation of composite teams. Composite teams are made up of students from different schools that enable full team participation where numbers may be limited.
We are particularly grateful for the time and effort the coaches and managers put in to build functional, respectful relationships with other schools. These partnerships require additional communication and coordination and goodwill by all involved.
Celebrating Our 2025 Composite Sports Teams:
Hockey: St Ignatius and Kingsgate School
Rugby: St Ignatius, ACG Strathallan, and Taamatanga o Pukekohekohe
Water Polo: Anika Lee (St Ignatius & St Mary’s College)
Orienteering: St Ignatius & Pukekohe High School
No matter what colours we wear on the day, whether representing St Ignatius, forming part of a composite team, or representing another school these students are wonderful examples of collaboration in action, and we are proud of how they represent themselves, their teams, and the values of our school.
 Fast 5 Hockey Team Advances to 11-a-Side Format
Our Fast 5 hockey team has teamed up with Kingsgate School for the second round of competition, transitioning to an 11-a-side format. This week, they played their first match against Strathallan, ending in an exciting 1-1 draw.
A big thank you to the management teams for their collaborative efforts in bringing schools together and supporting our players throughout this next phase of the competition.  Calling for Hockey Gear & Road Bikes!
We’re gearing up to put together a few Year 7 & 8 hockey teams for a one-day event on Tuesday, July 22nd. To help our players get ready, we’re on the lookout for hockey sticks and shin guards. If you have any spare equipment you could lend, donate, or sell, we’d love to hear from you!
Additionally, some of our students are in need of road bikes. If you have a bike gathering dust that you could lend, donate, or sell, please get in touch.
Your support helps make these opportunities possible — thank you!
Theresa Knight
Trainings, Draws & Results
To keep up with our Sports teams check out our weekly schedule.
This is updated regularly be sure to check for updates.
Weekly schedule
Upcoming events
Tuesday 22nd July
Franklin Schools 5 a-side Hockey Tournament - Year 7 & 8 Mixed teams
Tuesday 29th July
Franklin Schools Netball Tournament - Year 7 & 8 Girls & Boys teams
Venue, Pukekohe Netball Centre.
AIMS RIP Rugby pre AIMS Tournament - Venue, Strathallan School.
Tuesday 5th August
Auckland Road Race Champs - year 9 & 10 (entries close Monday 23rd June)
Franklin Group Day Cross Country - year 7 & 8 Qualifiers from School Cross Country
Transport help from parents will be required for these events please email Theresa Knight
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Please support our sponsors.
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