Principal's Message

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Last week when we introduced the new '485 Award' to be drawn in assembly, we were very impressed with our students and how they responded. The award presents an opportunity for students to make a nomination when they have seen one another demonstrating one or more of the 4Cs - Conscience, Competence, Commitment and Compassion. The nominations are filtered down and read out at assembly and then the winner is drawn from the postbox. The students wholeheartedly nominated in large numbers and the postbox was full by Friday last week.

When some of the nominations were read out in assembly, the students actively supported and celebrated the process and were very excited to discover the first winner of the award. Our first winner, drawn out by one of the students, was David Harrington, nominated by Kees Smith for demonstrating great commitment in PE and great sportsmanship.

What is important about this award is that students are considering where they have found God in one another throughout the school week and then willingly sharing this with our college community. The collective enthusiasm for finding and recognising God grows the Kingdom in our college. This means that God reigns in our lives and over our school community. Looking at the sheer number of new nominations for this week (see the photo below), the Kingdom of God can be seen in the here and now, flourishing amongst us at St Ignatius. We are finding God in all things.

Inveniens Deum in omnibus.

Dean Wearmouth

College Life

Curriculum

Science

Year 7 students are currently building Catapults during their Energy Transformations topic. Students have had two sessions of building and we will be testing these next week!

Food Technology

8M had their Cookie bake off competition on Wednesday where they had to modify a biscuit recipe by adding either fruit or vegetables elements and make them Christmas themed. We were lucky to have the Senior Leadership Team and Mrs Allan to judge. 8A will be doing their competition in a couple of weeks.

English

In Year 7 and 8 English, we have been working on speeches inspired by the themes of our recent novel study and Catholic virtues, respectively. Since our Year 9s delivered their social justice speeches in Week 4, we saw a great opportunity to invite some of the best speakers to present to the younger students. This fosters positive tuakana-teina relationships, where the younger students can learn from and be inspired by the older students, while the older students can develop their leadership skills and serve as role models. We are looking forward to listening to the Year 7 and 8 speeches this week!

Pictured: Georgia Turner (9D), Lauren Ryana Murillo (9D), and Kourtney Sublette (9G).

Sport

Basketball

The Under 14 Ramarama Rebels played against the Pukekohe Kings White at the Franklin Recreation Centre on the 14th June. Another great win 24-19. A very physical and close game this week, the team kept their focus and held on for a win. Congratulations!
Check out the new uniforms!

Netball

The college was selected for a visit from three ANZ Premiership players; Amorangi Malesala, Rahni Samason and Khanyè-Lii Munro-Nonoa. They talked to our Netballers about the importance of 5+ a day. They also ran through key movement in the NetballSmart Dynamic Warm-up, netball skills and a Q and A session. It was an incredible opportunity for our school as we continue to develop our Netball programme.

Our Netball teams played well over the weekend, with teams competing at Bruce Pullman park in Papakura, and at the courts in Pukekohe.
- Papakura Silver had a BYE
- Papakura Ferns had a BYE
- Papakura Gold played Kauri Flats and won 16-11
- Pukekohe Black played Pukekohe Hill and lost 4-11
- Pukekohe Ferns played Patumahoe Primary School and won 30-6

Tackle Rugby Tournament

This week we sent two teams to the Franklin Tackle Tournament.

Our boys under 65kgs team went well, winning the first two games against View Rd and Sandspit. Then had a really hard fought win against Bombay 3-2 , so 3 on the trot! We dropped the next game to the eventual winner Mangatawhiri, then came up short against Waiuku 1-2 in Game 5, By the end of the round we were second equal but sadly missed out on the final due to try countback! ( ironically Bombay got second whom we beat so go figure!) Then onto the 3rd 4th playoff, against Waiuku, this time round we really got stuck in and won 3-0. 

1st Mangatawhiri
2nd Bombay
3rd St Ignatius

St Ignatius girls made a composite team with Paerata School. This picture was sent in by Viewroad who said;

"Kia ora,
Just wanted to say thanks for a great day of girls rugby! Your team were great and we really enjoyed playing them."

The girls put in maximum effort and came away with a great result.
1st View Road / Pukeoware
2nd Tuakau College
3rd St Ignatius / Paerata

Rugby

On Saturday St Ignatius Under 14's played against Waiuku College and won 22-19 in a competitive and fairly played fixture.

Badminton

This was our first week entering teams into the Counties Manukau and College Sport leagues, playing weekly at Counties Manukau Badminton in Papakura. Gold and Bronze both had BYEs so it was the Silver team to start things off for Badminton. This team was composed o three Year 8 girls playing a team of 6 Year 10 Boys from Manurewa High School. They played with determination and grit. Both teams showed great sportsmanship.

Ākonga Elective

Creative Quests

Curiosity and creativity have been the focus behind the ‘Creative Quests’ elective. Ākonga took up the challenge to explore topics in a creative manner. Through participating in a range of activities, they gained an appreciation of aspects from Japanese culture. Working out Japanese body gestures was especially popular and everyone got involved. There was something to engage all Ākonga and there have been many highlights. Kinaesthetic learners enjoyed finding out about the does and don'ts of Japanese chopstick etiquette. They then tested their chopstick skills by picking up increasingly difficult objects and it was not so surprising that skills improved dramatically when Skittles were added to the challenge! Many enjoyed making origami daruma dolls, practicing calligraphy and drawing basic Anime characters. Visual learners were both amused and bemused by the outlandish colours and freedom of expression of Harajuku fashion.

Following on from group activities, Ākonga have had the opportunity to explore areas of personal interest. The range has been wide, with examples including the Qing dynasty, fashion through the ages, Mt Everest, French culture, Ancient Greece and more.

Nacho's New

Click on the News item link at the bottom of this Newsletter to check out this weeks edition.

Coding

Check out this awesome game by Kaden Balu (7XB). Use the arrow keys to collect all the money and get to the Hungry Wolf, before Mrs Bamber-O'Malley or Mr Raukura catch you!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Celebrating Ākonga

Manutaki Certificate

This week the following ākonga/student were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review in Week 7, Term 2. 

Year 7 -  Mae Arnett  
Year 8 -  Alisha Cha 
Year 9 - Ignatious Noue 

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

The 485 Award

Here are some great examples from this week’s 485 Award nominations.

Annika Adovas nominated Nacho Esquival for his commitment to do his work in class.

Madi Kennedy nominated Chaesi Alosio for cheering people up when they are down and including everybody.

Kees Smith nominated David Harrington for demonstrating great commitment in PE and great sportsmanship.

Daisy Bertram nominated Joslyn Allan for being kind to others and helping them when they are stuck.

Sophie Wynne nominated Simon Vicente for helping and supporting others with their RE presentations  and helping others in Maths.

Arthur Jones-Griffiths nominated Frian Pena for always showing compassion to people and also nominated Max Ovington for helping others both in and out of class.

Indiana Falanitule nominated Amaria Matia for buying another student noodles when they didn’t have enough money.

Clara Wielenga nominated Sian Balle for helping a girls who was lonely to feel included.

Chaesi Alosio nominated Peni Helu for being a role to model to everybody.

Rosaria Soo Choon nominated Lauren Hartland for asking others if they need help with their work in class.

However, the winner drawn this week is David Harrington!
David was nominated by Kees Smith for showing great commitment during PE and demonstrating great sportsmanship.

Well done David!

Cura Personalis

Madgalene House Mass

On Wednesday Magdalene House held its first Mass. Students from Magdalene House and their whanau, as well as Acutis House students were invited to reflect on the life of Mary Magdalene, and her loving witness.

House Competition

Trash to Fashion

This week we held our first 'Trash to Fash' House Competition.  Ākonga/students have been working in their Rōpū Kaiārahi over a number of weeks to plan and create their entry.

Our 'Trash to Fash' competition  highlights the creative transformation of discarded materials into stylish, sustainable clothing and accessories. This trend not only addresses the critical issue of waste in the fashion industry but also promotes a culture of sustainability and creativity.

The theme of our competition this year was 'Fashion with Compassion'.     Students in each Rōpū Kaiārahi group were tasked with designing and making an outfit which could include a hat, jacket, skirt, dress, shoes or trousers from recycled ‘Trash’ found in the school and home environment.

Our panel of judges looked at the overall design, mobility and choreography, sturdiness, design and creativity. Each House had an impressive set of entries which featured each of the judges criteria. However, the overall winner of this event was Xavier Barbier House.

Asian Languages Week

Celebrating Asian Language Week at Our School!

This week at St Ignatius, we immersed ourselves in the vibrant cultures and languages of Asia as we celebrated Asian Language Week. Our journey began with an assembly where we dug into the richness of Asian languages and their significance in our world.
During our assembly, we explored the diverse linguistic cultures of Asia, highlighting key languages such as Mandarin, Tagalog, Hindi, and many more. The Bible story during liturgy talks about Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit flew in and gave the apostles the ability to speak another language to spread God’s word. 
One of the highlights of our week was the lunchtime activity featuring Tinikling, a traditional Filipino folk dance. Students participated in learning the footwork and rhythmic movements that characterize this captivating cultural dance.    
Throughout the week, students were encouraged in some classes to try praying in an asian language. For example, making the Sign of the Cross in Filipino. Many asian students were given the opportunity to come dressed in their stunning traditional clothing on Monday. 
This week truly captured the diverse culture and richness of the student’s asian heritages. We deeply appreciate the amount of hard-work and support we were given during the assembly. We sincerely hope all students have learnt something new about their many fellow asian friends/peers.

By Skylar Vibal(8AM) and Annie Yu (8XB)

For more photos follow the News link at the bottom of this Newsletter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is important for all ākonga/students and makes a significant contribution to the academic and personal development of everyone.  However, we recognise that there may be times when factors beyond our control mean ākonga/students may be dropped late to school.  In these cases we need a note from parents/caregivers informing school about this and explaining the reasons.  Any ākonga/student who arrives late to school without a note from parents/caregivers may receive a consequence aligned to our restorative model.  

Ākonga/students who receive more than 2 unexplained lates during a week (either before the school day or during) will be given a lunch time service opportunity aligned tour restorative model.

Parents/caregivers can contact the school using the school ap or via email ([email protected])

School Nurse

The school nurse will be onsite daily from 10am until 2pm, but if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email her on [email protected]
Some of the daily services the nurse will provide here in the school clinic will be first aid, rheumatic fever prevention which includes routine throat swabs for sore throats, bacterial skin infection treatment, acute asthma care and working with families on referrals to wider community teams as needed. 

For each year 9 student, a comprehensive holistic assessment, which includes growth checks, vision and a basic ear exam is completed. 

The nurse would like to reassure parents that she will not give any medication without parental consent first, but if any parents are concerned about her services, including throat and wound  swabs or throat lozenges, please email her on [email protected]

Uniform Shop Updates

The Uniform Shoppe has moved to Pukekohe (7A Glasgow Road).  We recognise that this requires a longer journey for some of our families to visit the shop.  However, we believe that the new location will provide an improved service which is of benefit to all our community.

 BYOD Device Reminder

Please kindly ensure that your son or daughter is actively bringing an appropriate laptop or device each day for classroom use. As a BYOD school it is essential that this is occurring daily and that the device is functioning and charged.

Ākonga are often appearing in class with devices uncharged or with a low battery. We recommend that they pack their charger daily to ensure this does not occur.

Refer to our College Website for information around recommended devices and our philosophy behind device use: BYOD 2024 

Ākonga also signed a Digital Citizenship Agreement at the start of the year around their responsibilities as a device user at St Ignatius. Please review this with your child.

Upcoming Events

Year 8 Readers Cup - Monday June 24th
Arts Showcase Evening - Wednesday 26th June
Cross Country - Whole School - Thursday June 27th
Matariki Break (no school) - Friday June 28th
Term 2 finishes - Friday 5th July
School Board Voting Closes - Friday 26th July
Term 3 Starts Back - Monday 22nd July

Arts Showcase

'Illuminations' - A celebration of the Arts at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College.

The Arts Faculty are excited to present a night of performances from ākonga in Art, Dance, Drama, Music. The evening will be full of work that ākonga have developed throughout the year and also a chance to hear our 7 and 8 English speech finalists. Secure a ticket via the school website -no cost involved.

Community Notices

Catholic Character

The Heavenly Treasure

“What do you find most valuable?” Let’s imagine for a moment that Jesus is asking us this question. The Gospel reading for today tells us about the time when Jesus tells his disciples not to store up treasures on earth, but in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21). We generally know that earthly wealth can be useful in many ways. However, amassing it to ensure great measure of life comfort can become all-absorbing, and in fact, an enslavement. So, what exactly are these “heavenly treasures” that Jesus talks about? Some would say they are the goodness that we do to each other and the virtues we demonstrate in life: the generosity, the mercy, the love that we share with one another. Or also, our abstinence or reduction of our consumption - living simply. Can these actions accumulate our heavenly “bank account balance”? 

At St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, our students are learning about human virtues, but not from a secular perspective. It is not enough for them to do good deeds. Permeated in their academic and non-academic activities at school and beyond is the learning of the one true “heavenly treasure,” and that is a relationship with God. “For where our treasure is, there will be our heart also.” (v. 21). When we set our attitude and our behaviours – our heart – on God; when we have faith in God, we learn to differentiate and appreciate the Giver, much more than the good gifts that we receive. 

By doing all the virtuous deeds, we have become good gifts for others. More precisely, we become the earthen vessels of God’s gifts to the world. We don’t become the source of those gifts, only the witnesses of God’s love. With that in mind, we don’t need to be all-absorbed or enslaved by our hidden ego demanding us to always be good, generous, merciful and humble. Instead, we can rightly give credit to the Giver. We can simply become more alert of God’s work in ourselves. We can then become more grateful recipients of God’s gifts, and actively use them so that more others can also store up that one true “heavenly treasure” – a deeper relationship with God.

News