Principal's Message
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Tēnā koutou, St Ignatius Community,
On Saturday, we gathered for our annual Founders Mass, a moment to honour and celebrate all those who helped bring our college from dream to reality. We gave thanks for the vision and dedication of the Steering Committee, the local families, the Establishment Board, our foundation staff, and, of course, our very first students and families.
Every school has a founding story. But not every school has a founding story quite like ours. It began with the dreams of local families for secondary Catholic education to return to the area and a meeting at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in 1997. From there, the journey unfolded; a steering committee was formed, and for decades their efforts endured, faithfully working towards the vision of a new Catholic secondary school for our community, alongside the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland and many other supporters.
It is a story of faith, of hope, and of fortitude. It is the story of the flames of God flickering within the hearts of his people, gradually joining to ignite something extraordinary. Over the years, many hurdles appeared, moments when it would have been easier to walk away. But the faith and hope of our founders endured, with their faith and fortitude burning through the obstacles. They showed true hope not to give up on the dream.
Once the Diocese of Auckland purchased the school site, that faith continued. A small local group began visiting the site weekly to pray the Rosary. They did this for sixteen years. The collective faith within our founders remained strong, overcoming the many planning setbacks and giving light to the way forward. And finally, in early 2024, St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, opened its doors. All of those flickering flames in the hearts of those people had combined to create a great fire, consuming all of the problems and creating a wonderful college for our community.
We must never forget this story. It is our foundation. It reminds us that hope, faith, and fortitude are the very virtues upon which our community was founded. As we continue through the Easter season, remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, we also remember the resurrection of Catholic secondary education in our region, through the foundation story of our college.
May we continue to find God in our own hearts and in one another. And may we, like those who came before us, dare to dream, achieving more for ourselves and for others than may seem possible, going out to set the world on fire with the love of God.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Dean Wearmouth |
Catholic Special Character Review
The Board is pleased to inform you that our College had its first external review in Term 1 this year focused on the Catholic Special Character of the College. During the review undertaken by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, the reviewers interviewed many members of the school community, including staff, students, parents. They visited classes as well as other various aspects of school life. My thanks to all those who participated in the review. Special thanks however must go to our Principal Mr Wearmouth, our DRS Mr Grevatt and the College Chaplain Fr Eka for the significant role they play in ensuring that the College is genuinely Catholic and immersed in the Jesuit Charism. The Report is an outstanding affirmation of what the College has achieved in such a short time.
Below is the Catholic Special Character Review Report Summary:
St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College is very intentionally and systematically growing and accompanying ākonga to Find God in all Things and practise the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love and the Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Fortitude. The caring and nurturing environment provides extensive opportunities for ākonga to achieve their personal best and to grow in their faith journey. The Board, Principal and staff are to be commended for the outstanding holistic education, excellence in educational outcomes, engagement in Christian witness, formation and evangelisation, together with the lived traditions of faith that are all hallmarks of authentic Catholic education. The College is fast becoming the school of choice for Catholic families in the area. Our sincere gratitude for the welcome, courtesy, and manaakitanga we received, and for the openness of our discussions. The evaluation team is confident that the St Ignatius Catholic College’s leadership team, including the Board, Principal, and staff, are able to continue to strengthen and safeguard the Special Catholic Character of the College. Catholic Education Office staff are available to assist if required. It was a pleasure for the evaluation team to spend time getting to know the St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College’s community and witness the realisation of years of planning and
discernment.
We wish you every blessing for the future with the important work that you do.
The full report can be accessed on this link.
Linda McQuade
Presiding Member  Strategic Planning
From next month onwards the Board is undertaking a review to begin to develop a new strategic plan from 2026 onwards. We value input from our community around what we are doing well and how we can improve and would appreciate you taking the time to complete this short survey. All feedback is welcome and will assist with our planning process. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey. |
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The extract above is from the Gospel for Mass this Sunday. Jesus says this to his disciples as he prepares to go to his death on the cross; in many ways, this is his final instruction to his followers. It outlines one of the key aspects of being a Christian, becoming witnesses to Christ through our care and love for others, particularly other Christians. Our new Pope Leo XIV is an excellent example of this. One of his fellow Augustinian priests said that when he was a Bishop in Peru, he was beloved for his closeness to his people, especially poor people. The other bishops in the area used to call him “the Saint of the North” as he had time for all people. This is the mark of a Christian who is able to give a loving witness, and likely one of the reasons God has called him to the office of Pope. His example reminds us that our love for one another should be the hallmark of a follower of Christ and what people recognise as the essence of being Christian. Without it, people will struggle to take our faith seriously, and we become a counter-witness.
As a college, we see this every week in the nominations for the 485 award. It prompts our ākonga to reflect on how another person can be a loving witness of Christ; in this way, they can find God in another person - take some time reading some of the nominations further down in the newsletter as they are rich examples of this. This is why our Christian witness is so important: God is working through us to impact other people's lives to make us agents of His grace in the world. Which is why we encourage our ākonga to reflect on this not only in the 485 award but throughout the day. As an act of loving kindness can be easily missed in our busy life but for us as Christians it is important that we stop and reflect so we can find God in our day.
So this week, reflect on the people in your life. You might want to ask yourself these questions: Who do you know that has been a loving witness to you? How have you found God through them? Equally, it is important to reflect on our own actions: How have you been a loving witness to others? And how can you be the face of Christ to others in the future? Continually reflecting on these questions can help us develop a disposition to act in love for others, as it is through us that others can find God in all things. Reflective Question for Week 3
In what ways do we promote fairness and justice within our own household?
This term, as a college, we have a focus on the cardinal virtue of Justice. The weekly questions this term are consistent with this. They are designed for each person to take a turn sharing.
Here are some ways you could do this:
Find a time when you are all together - in the car, at the dinner table or in the evening before you go to bed.
Each person takes a turn answering the question while the others are listening - there are no right or wrong answers, as it is based on your experience.
Some things to think about:
It could be something you do, say or how you treat each other.
Keep it short and let everyone take a turn while everyone listens.
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Founder's Mass 2025
On Saturday, May 10th, the college celebrated our Founder's Mass to acknowledge those who helped establish our college. During the Mass, a plaque was blessed to honour the Joyce family and their contributions to the college and the Ignatian Foundation. Thank you to all who attended and Fr. Eka, who was the main celebrant of the Mass.  |
 Mother's Day Mass and Breakfast
On Monday the 12th of May we celebrated our Mother’s Day Mass in the Companions of Jesus Chapel alongside our community. It was great to see so many ākonga and their mothers attend the mass which was celebrated by Fr Michael Smith S.J. In his homily Fr Michael reflected upon life with his mother and the lessons he has learned in appreciating his mother, namely how children learn what you do; not necessarily what you teach. We are grateful to all of our mothers who attended the mass physically or were there in spirit. We would like to thank our staff and students who helped make this event a memorable one.
We ask our Good Mother Mary to intercede for our mothers as they seek to be the best examples of Faith, Hope and Charity.
More photos are available via the News link at the bottom of this Newsletter, or on our website under Recent News.
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Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisites – Week 4 Reminder
All Year 10 ākonga at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College will be sitting their NCEA Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite Assessments next week (Week 4). These assessments are an essential part of their NCEA journey, measuring foundational skills in Reading, Writing, and Numeracy.
Assessment Schedule – Morning Sessions Only:
Reading – Wednesday 21st May (NZQA will be on-site to monitor procedures)
Writing – Thursday 22nd May
Numeracy – Friday 23rd May
All assessments are completed online, and students must bring their charged device and charger each day. Assessment conditions apply, and students must be punctual and prepared.
Important:
Ākonga must have:
-Created and verified their NZQA login
-Checked their login details work correctly
- Followed College instructions for using the NZQA platform
Staff have been preparing students in class with digital practice and targeted support. We are proud of the focus and effort ākonga have shown.
We kindly ask families to:
-Ensure ākonga arrive on time and well-rested
-Remind them to bring their device and charger
-Speak with them about the importance of these assessments
-Contact us with any concerns about NZQA logins or access
Follow-Up for Absent Students:
Students who miss an assessment will be followed up the following week. A catch-up slot will be arranged, and Manutaki will contact families directly.
Thank you for supporting your child’s progress towards NCEA success. Sport
A Week for Firsts
This week marked a number of firsts for our new school. Facing off against established schools with big numbers and deep traditions, we embraced the challenge with heart and determination.
Our sporting culture is taking shape which was reflected in the positive spirit from our spectators at our home fields on Wednesday night. Their encouragement and respectful presence were a proud reminder of the community we have established.
What united us all was a shared love of sport. We showed up ready to compete, ready to grow, and ready to build something meaningful.
Rugby
We had our first home game on Wednesday against Tipene – St Stephen’s School, a well-practised and structured team. It was a privilege to host them as their first opponents in the Counties competition.
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Football
The Junior boys football team had their first game of the season against Alfriston Junior boys at our ‘home’ field in Drury. It was a tough battle for our boys in just their second ever game as a team. At half time the score was 0-0, half way through the second half Alfriston scored the first goal, this elevated the St Ignatius team and they struck back straight away with their first goal. Unfortunately it wasn't to be as Alfriston quickly got another two in just before the final whistle.
Well done Boys!
Big thanks to Drury Football Club for assisting us with a Home field for the season.
Orienteering
It was another gorgeous autumn day & plenty more learning was had at Auckland Champs for the year 7 & 8’s
We had a Year 8 girls team consisting of Emma Wattanapradit , Charli Fogarin, Clara Wielenga, Sian Balle, Azariah Stobart & Poppy Illston and one solo Year 7 individual Milly Marriner, representing the school
The girls team placed 6th out of 19 teams competing at the event. This team continues to impress & is showing plenty of promise.
For upcoming Orienteering events please click here
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Players Wanted
We still have spaces available on various boys teams,
Basketball (Year 9&10) - Training Wednesday, Games Thursday in Pukekohe
Rugby (Year 9 & 10) - Training Tuesday & Thursday, Games Saturday
Football ( Year 9 & 10) - Training Monday, Games Wednesday
Basketball Referee Wanted
Magis Knights - referee required for game days on Thursday
Upcoming events
Tuesday 20th May
Franklin Zone Year 7&8 Football Tournament
Wednesday 21st May
School Cross Country
Thursday 22nd May
Auckland Secondary Schools Individual Orienteering Champs
Thursday 29th May
Auckland Secondary Schools Duathlon
Wednesday 4th June
Auckland Secondary Schools Cross Country Champs
Sunday 8th June
Rogaine Champs (all year levels)
Thursday 12th June
Franklin Zone Year 7&8 Rugby Tournament
Training, Draws & Results
To keep up with our Sports teams check out our continually updated weekly Spreadsheets.
Week 2 and 3
Week 3 and 4
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 Ākonga Elective
Wildlife Wonders Club
Our nature enthusiasts have been exploring the beauty and complexity of God’s creation. As stewards of the earth, ākonga have been fostering a sense of appreciation and responsibility for wildlife. Through vibrant documentaries ākonga have engaged with the challenges faced by animals and habitats around the globe. From the untamed savannas of Africa to the hidden depths of the oceans, this elective is providing a window into the lives of wildlife.
“The Wildlife elective has been incredibly interesting, unique, and mind opening. We have seen Peacock Mantis Shrimp build borrows, Bees move hives, and Elephants travel across China. It has made me more appreciative and knowledgeable about all the different diversity and hardships that live and exist on our gorgeous planet.” - Madison Lowther.
  Ākonga Acheivement
John Glynos
Ākonga John Glynos has been competing in the Bowhunter Unmarked Archery Nationals over recent months. At a two-day event over Mother's Day weekend, he placed first, won the Bowhunters League trophy, and broke a national record - an impressive achievement highlighting his dedication and skill.
Congratulations John!  Ella Neels
On the 24th of April ākonga Ella Neels' cheerleading team competed in America at the Cheerleading Summit Championship against 51 other teams from across the world for the Level 2 Under 16 division, and placed in the top 16 to make it to the finals on day 2.
On day 2 the girls performed a flawless routine and learnt a fantastic result of 4th place in a incredibly hard division, representing their gym and New Zealand well - this was the first time NZ has been represented at the Summit before.
They were the highest scoring and placing team from the southern hemisphere
Congratulations Ella!  |
Manutaki Certificates
This week the following ākonga/student were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review.
We celebrate these ākonga/students being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their work and actions.
Year 7 - Zaria Colbran
Year 8 - Grayson Mills
Year 9 - Isla McKay
Year 10 - Ben Hunter
 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:
Katie Wisuthamak nominated Kourtney Sublette for Compassion as she always helps her in Math and Science whenever she is stuck
Braiden Aspinall nominated Tom Chamberlain for Compassion as he always helps me in Math and is understanding when I find things difficult
Frankie Frost nominated Therese Wong for Compassion as she is always a kind and compassionate friend who is always there for me when I need her
Declan Anderson nominated Diogo Fernandes for Prudence as he picked up rubbish at lunch time
Nacho Esquival Garcia nominated Deanna Fermin for Compassion as she showed compassion as she bought me an ice block as I had forgot to bring my money to school
Loisi Liava’a nominated Luke Kiutau for Commitment as he encouraged everyone they encountered during cross country to push to get faster lap times
Eva Amstad nominated Olivia Cha for Compassion as she was kind and listened to her when she was sad
This week our winner was Emmalyn Maddren, who was nominated by Janine Amposta for Compassion, as she helped her learn the final dance number of the production when she missed a rehearsal.
Congratulations Emmalyn!
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 Careers Evening Reminder – Tuesday 27 May 2025
Students can Book Now for Careers Presentations!
A reminder that our upcoming Magis Pathways Careers Evening is taking place on Tuesday 27 May 2025 at La Storta, beginning at 5:15pm.
This event is designed to support our families and their Year 10 ākonga as they continue developing their individual Careers Kete and prepare for subject selection and future pathways.
The evening will include important information on NCEA, NZQA requirements, and University Entrance, followed by presentations with a wide range of parents and community volunteers, who will be sharing insights into their careers, industries, and professional journeys.
One parent / caregiver is invited to attend with their child.
Booking Your Spot
Students can make their bookings by:
Visiting the 'School Interviews' website and entering the event code: mz3rv, which will take them directly to Step 1 to enter their details.
Students must choose the NCEA, NZQA requirements, and University Entrance presentation
They can then choose from a series of career presentation options assigned to various classrooms with presenters. They can make two choices and nominate attendance in either Session 1 or Session 2.
The Booking Link is below:
https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/mz3rv
We look forward to seeing many of our families and students at this important event, and thank our parent volunteers for supporting our ākonga on their journey of discernment and discovery.
New School Nurse
We are delighted to introduce our new school nurse Tayla Jones
I am the school nurse here at St Ignatius, and I’m excited to be part of this wonderful community. My background is in neurosurgical and paediatric nursing, which has given me a strong foundation for supporting the health and wellbeing of children. What I’m most looking forward to is meeting and getting to know all of the students, and being there to help them with their health needs throughout the school year. In my first year at St Ignatius, I hope to make a positive impact by improving health outcomes for our students and settling into the school community. Outside of work, I’m a proud mum to three young children—Grace, who is 5, Levi, who is 2, and Zoey, who has just turned 1!
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I can be contacted on the following email if you would like to discuss any health related matters for your child/ren here at St Ignatius:
[email protected]
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Uniform
Thank you for your support in moving into our Winter Uniform. Please note that Ākonga/students not in the correct uniform are required to have a note from home explaining the reason for the discrepancy and when it will be corrected in a timely manner. The note should be handed to the Manutaki for approval by 9:00am on the day concerned for a uniform pass to be issued.
Ākonga/students not in the correct uniform who come without a note will be sent to the office. Home will be informed and ākonga/student may return to class once the issue has been rectified.
Repeated incidents involving incorrect uniform will require a meeting with ākonga/student and whānau to sign a ‘continued conditions of enrolment’ agreement. Attendance and Punctuality
School starts at 8:45am with Rōpū Kaiārahi. Ākonga/students who arrive after school has started should report to our Student Reception and sign in. It is expected that ākonga/students' lateness is explained either with a note, through the school app or with an email to [email protected].
Consequences aligned to our Restorative Practice approach to college life will be applied to any cases of continual unexplained lateness. |
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Book Character Week: Bigger, Better, and Back in Week 7!
We are excited to announce that Book Character Week is officially back on the St Ignatius College calendar. Please note that it has moved from Week 6 to Week 7
Following the huge success of last year’s parade, we’re thrilled to be bringing this much-loved event to life again — and this time, the prizes are even bigger and better!
There will be prizes awarded for:
Best Dressed Individual in Years 7, 8, 9, and 10
Best Dressed Duo
Best Dressed Group (up to four students)
Best Dressed Teacher
Best Dressed House
As this is also a house competition, duos and groups competing for house points must be from the same house, so gather your friends and get creative together! Remember, to be eligible to win, your character must be from a book.
Whether you’re coming as a daring hero, a mischievous villain, or a beloved classic character, this is your chance to celebrate the joy of reading, show your creativity, and earn points for your house. You’ve got to be in it to win it!
We can’t wait to see the incredible costumes on parade in Week 7. Start planning now — the adventure begins in the pages of a book!
Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week
The 2025 theme for Samoa Language Week is ‘Ia malu lou sā. Folau i lagimā – A well-grounded self, is a successful self’. We will celebrate Samoan Language Week during Week 6 this term (June 2 - 6).
Want to be involved?
As part of our celebration for Samoan Language Week, we will be creating a special display at school to honour and showcase our Samoan community. The display will include photos, artefacts, and family names, as well as a map of Samoa highlighting where our Samoan families come from. We would love your support and contributions to help bring this display to life. If you have any items, photos, or family information you would be happy to share, please let us know.
All contributions to be given to Mrs Thorby by Monday May 26. For further details please email [email protected]
We will hold a further family meeting on Monday May 19 5:30 - 6:30pm in school if you would like to be involved in the events planned for this week. To confirm your attendance please complete the following form: Samoan Language Week Family Meeting Seeking Homestay Families
We are thrilled to announce that St Ignatius College will be welcoming 40 Japanese students this August as part of our growing cultural exchange programme. Following the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Japanese students who visited us earlier this year, interest in visiting New Zealand has soared — so much so that many of their friends have now signed up to experience our warm hospitality and Kiwi way of life for themselves!
These visiting students are friendly, sociable, polite, and respectful, eager to immerse themselves in New Zealand culture, practise their English, and build lifelong connections. Their enthusiasm and gratitude make hosting them a truly rewarding and memorable experience.
We are now seeking homestay families to host these students for two weeks. The school provides generous remuneration, and all transport to and from school is fully organised, making the process simple and convenient for our families.
Opening your home is a wonderful way to share in a cross-cultural exchange, foster global friendships, and give your own whānau an enriching experience without even leaving your doorstep.
If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Mrs Hartland at [email protected]  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! |
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Year 10 Camp
Year 10 Camp parent help final call: Wednesday the 19th Nov 2025 to Friday 21st Nov 2025 (2 nights)
There will be limited spaces for parent help on the camp so please email Mr Williams if you would be interested in attending. Being a parent helper will require you to run activities and provide general support to both teaching and camp staff. Email: [email protected] |
Samoan Aiga Meeting - May 19th 5:30 - 6:30pm
Monday Community Mass Monday 19th May 7:30am
Franklin Zone Football (Y7/8 - 48 students) Tuesday 20th May 8:30am
Mauri Tau Programme Tuesday 20th May
House Magis - Trash to Fash Preparation Wednesday 21st May
Year 10 Literacy Co-Req P1 and P2 - Reading Wednesday 21st May
Year 10 Literacy Co-Req P1 and P2 - Writing Thursday 22nd May
Year 10 Numeracy Co-Req P1 and P2 - Numeracy Friday 23rd May
Combined Parent & NCEA Information Evening | Career Sessions for Ākonga: Tuesday 27 May 2025 5:15pm
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Quiz Night!
The first FOSI Quiz Night, held on Friday 9 May, was a huge success! | |  |
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Mother's Day Mass and Breakfast 2025
On Monday the 12th of May we celebrated our Mother’s Day Mass in the Companions of Jesus Chapel alongside our community. | |  |
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