Principal's Message

Tēnā koutou St Ignatius community,

This week I would like to take the opportunity to thank all families who contributed to our community feedback survey. Your responses have been collated and shared with the full board; they will greatly assist in the strategic forward planning that will be taking place over the coming months. Here are some of the themes from the collated survey results:

For our Catholic Ignatian character, the focus on Finding God in everyday school life is valued by parents, students and staff alike. The school motto, gifted to us by the Jesuit Order, truly guides our way of proceeding in everyday life and it is consoling that so many of our community value this.

For Matauranga Maori, it is important for our families that we grow and maintain iwi relationships so that we are connected and can continue to grow and honour local tikanga Māori in our school.

For Teaching and Learning, families, staff and students overwhelmingly expressed their gratitude for the high standards at the college and how these enable every member of the community to thrive and reach their personal excellence. All members of the community also expressed how important our elective programme is for school life and for cura personalis, providing students with opportunities to extend themselves and thrive alongside the academic programme. Students are keen to see more sporting facilities; these will come by the end of the year and continue to develop.

For Community, opportunities to engage with the college are important for the family, with the examples of FOSI, parent teacher interviews and whole school events like Masses and House competitions. As a college, we were very pleased to receive this feedback and encourage partnerships to keep forming through the many opportunities we offer for families to engage.

Overall, the survey results show that together as a community, we have all contributed to the establishment of a high quality school that we can be exceptionally proud of. Staff, students and parents are grateful how we have all come together to achieve this so rapidly and through our continued strategic planning, we aim to continue our growth towards excellence in the coming years; finding God in all things.

Inveniens Deum in Omnibus,

Dean Wearmouth 

Catholic Character

Not From the School Pulpit Series - A Fortnightly Reflection by Fr. Eka

Faith and Science: A Harmonious Pursuit of Truth

In our more secularised world, the realms of faith and science are often presented as conflicting. If you follow the logic of science, then you cannot believe in God. They cannot coexist! Yet, for most Catholics these realms are not opposite, but complementary. They are paths to understanding the profound mysteries of existence. Indeed, the Church has been engaged in scientific disciplines, like geography, geology, linguistics, meteorology and astronomy for millennia. This perspective is also deeply shared by Ignatian spirituality and implemented in the Jesuit approach to mission.

Our school motto, “Finding God in All Things,” encourages us to seek God’s presence not only in sacred texts and spiritual experiences, but also in the pursuit of knowledge and in the natural world. Athanasius Kircher SJ, a 17th-century Jesuit scientist, worked in the area of geology and medicine. He risked his life to measure volcanic craters and advanced a theory about Earth’s interior that was accepted by leading scientists of his time. Christopher Clavius SJ, a brilliant Jesuit mathematician and astronomer in the 17th century, played a crucial role in the Gregorian calendar reform. In more recent times, Pierre Teillhard de Chardin SJ, a Jesuit paleontologist and theologian sought to reconcile evolutionary theory with Christian faith, seeing the unfolding of the cosmos as a journey towards Christ. 

The view that science is a valuable tool for understanding the universe and its workings allows us to explore the intricate mechanisms of God’s mystery of creation, from the smallest particles in our bodies to the vastness of the cosmos. In the fourth week of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, retreatants contemplate that mystery with the hope that it would invoke our greater gratitude for the intricacies of the workings of God’s creation as a sign of God’s immeasurable love for us. Pope John Paul II suggested that faith and science belong to “two different orders of knowledge which cannot be superimposed on each other”, and therefore require respectful investigations. He emphasised the two orders could establish a beneficial dialogue, “for both reason and faith derive from the same divine source of all truth” (Fides et Ratio, 1998). Science provides the “how” of the universe, faith contemplates the “why.” Faith provides the context and purpose for our understanding of the universe, elevating scientific discoveries beyond mere facts or coincidences, to a deeper appreciation of God’s wisdom and love.

As a school community, we strive to foster a courageous dialogue between faith and culture, by integrating faith and reason in our educational mission and addressing challenges posed by new scientific discoveries in light of Catholic teachings. We are very privileged to have the opportunity to host a Jesuit scientist, Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ, who is the Director of the Vatican Observatory and dubbed as the Pope’s Astronomer. He will be presenting a talk on the issue of faith and science to our ākonga on Friday next week during a special school assembly.  We will also be joined by some student representatives from a number of Catholic schools in the diocese. May this opportunity open our horizons and allow us to find God in more things.

For those interested in finding out more about what Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ does, here is an amazing video

College Life

Curriculum

English -  Auckland Readers’ Cup Success – A Strong Debut!

For the first time, St Ignatius College proudly entered a team into the Auckland Readers’ Cup competition — and what a debut it was! Held at Dilworth College, the event brought together some of the brightest literary minds from Year 9 students across Tāmaki Makaurau. Our team, the Loyola Literati, rose to the challenge with determination, teamwork, and a deep love of reading, placing an impressive 3rd overall in this highly competitive event.

Each of our five students read six books in preparation for the quiz, which tested their comprehension, memory, and critical thinking skills across a range of challenging questions. The team was made up of Lillian Hewitt (team captain), Sophie Wynne, Simon Vicente, Nic Madelozo, and Lennon Barillo — all selected for their passion for books and their dedication to reading.
We are incredibly proud of the way they represented our kura — not only through their knowledge but in their collaboration, poise under pressure, and their obvious enjoyment of literature. Ka rawe, team!

Physical Education

Jumping June Success - $5738 raised for The Heart Foundation!

Last term, our Year 7 and 8 students took part in Jumping June, a heart-healthy fundraiser that had ākonga skipping for a great cause — and their efforts truly paid off!
Together, they raised a massive $5738 for the Heart Foundation, supporting heart research, health education, and community support across Aotearoa.

Special congratulations to our top individual fundraisers:
Klay 8D – $500
Patrick 7I – $305
Sonja 7S – $280

The top fundraising classes were:
7I (Year 7) – $1185
8D (Year 8) – $995

Both classes have earned a well-deserved pizza lunch!

Every student who raised $10 or more will also receive a prize for their efforts.
We are incredibly proud of the way our students showed compassion, teamwork, and service to others through this event. Ka mau te wehi!

Mathematics - Year 9 Number

Number is the strand in Mathematics that we spend the most time on in years 7-9.  It involves the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, decimals, and integers. It also involves Miss Clark's most favourite thing in the world.... fractions!! (my favourite thing apart from sleep, cheese and my children).

9G know that Number is all about games and competition.  We love to battle! In these photos we are playing Statement Snap. To play you need to know what factors, multiples, prime numbers, square numbers and triangular numbers are.

If you want to play statement snap, here's the link!
https://nrich.maths.org/problems/statement-snap

Andrea Clark
Head of Mathematics Faculty

Dance

Last Friday Maddison represented St Ignatius of Loyola in the Velocity Interschools Dance competition held at the Dew Drop Centre. Over 15 secondary schools and dance studios competed in group and solo performances to a sold out crowd and we are delighted to announce that Maddison came second in the solo category for her original self choreographed contemporary dance.

Well done Maddison!

International

China Trip

In the second week of the school holidays, a group of 22 students, alongside Mrs Hartland, Ms Bell, Mr Williams and Mr Benge, embarked on a truly transformative journey to China as part of the Global Youth Ambassador Programme (GYAP). Over two remarkable weeks, our ākonga embraced every challenge, every opportunity, and every cultural exchange with curiosity, respect, and a deep sense of aroha.

From the moment we touched down in Shanghai, our students demonstrated the Ignatian values we hold dear: courage, leadership, service, and reflection. Whether mastering the art of soup dumpling etiquette, the discipline that is involved with seal engraving, or helping Chinese students learn rakau, our students were outstanding ambassadors for Aotearoa New Zealand and for our Catholic kura. They are all now experts with chopsticks, too!

We began our adventure at an international youth camp in Zhangjiagang, where students took part in an array of cultural, linguistic, and sporting activities. They learned calligraphy, seal engraving, Chinese painting, sand art and kung fu. They played intense games of badminton and table tennis, and navigated daily life in 38-degree heat with good humour and resilience. Each evening concluded with reflections and the Examen — a moment to pause, give thanks, and grow spiritually.

One highlight was a trip to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East.” Whilst in Suzhou, our group wandered the ancient canals, explored temples, marvelled at the Lion Grove Garden, and practised their Mandarin with market stallholders.  This was an opportunity to explore "Old China" before we moved to the modern delights of Shanghai.  Suzhou was like stepping into a living postcard — everywhere we turned, there was striking architecture, ancient temples, traditional costumes, the sound of music and bustling streets, the smell of food cooking, and the constant honk of scooters weaving their way through the crowds. It was an absolute feast for the senses.

The students also took part in leadership-building activities and contributed to a beautiful final performance at the camp’s closing ceremony. They danced, sang, and led a powerful haka that brought our hosts and many of us to tears. Throughout the journey, they consistently showed kindness, manaakitanga, and maturity. One camp director shared that the majority of the parents of the local Chinese students had phoned in to commend our tamariki on their helpfulness and grace.

After farewelling our generous hosts, we travelled to Shanghai for sightseeing and shopping, navigating the bustling streets like seasoned travellers.  We visited famous landmarks such as The Bund, Yu Garden, and the Oriental Pearl Tower, as well as adventures in bartering at the AP Markets — where our students proved impressively assertive negotiators!  Another massive highlight was the day spent at Shanghai Disneyland — a magical reward after a week of growth and learning.  We arrived at 8.30 am and stayed til the very end - leaving the park at 9.45. The "Tron" ride, the "Roaring Rapids", "The Pirates of the Caribbean" and the 15-minute firework and light display on the famous Disney Castle are experiences that will remain with them forever. 

At every stage, this trip offered moments of reflection, joy, personal growth, and unforgettable connection. From shared meals around a lazy Susan to spontaneous outdoor pilates sessions under the stars, it was an experience that shaped our young people in profound ways.

We will be offering this opportunity again next year and hope to make it an annual tradition. We are working on the details now and hope to get that out to the community as soon as possible.

A collection of photos from the trip are available on our website under Recent News, or via the News link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Ākonga Elective

Improv

Improvisation is the art of creating drama spontaneously, without the aid of scripts or rehearsals.
In Mrs Harrison’s Improvisation elective, students have been developing the key skills needed to succeed in this fast-paced and unpredictable theatre form — including thinking quickly, making and accepting offers, building on others’ ideas, and embracing the golden rule: never say no!
It’s a fun, challenging, and often hilarious experience, and students have thoroughly enjoyed the wild, random scenes that have emerged from their creative risk-taking.

Ākonga Achievement

Ava Latu, Loisi Liava'a, Anne Finau, Eva Coe, and Leila Pahulu.

Earlier this month, 5 Tongan girls from St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College trialed for Auckland Tonga Netball for Year 7, Year 8, U14s and U16s. These girls also play for the schools AIMS 2025 and Ignatius Red 2025 netball teams.

Today, we are excited to share that all girls were named in the Tongan Netball squad!

Congratulations to the following ākonga:
Ava Latu - Year 7 Tonga netball team 
Loisi Liava'a - Year 8 Tonga netball team
Anne Finau - U14s Tonga netball team
Eva Coe - U14s Tonga netball team
Siale (Leila) Pahulu  - U16s Tonga netball team

The girl's will be training for the Pacific Cup Championships in Auckland, in the month of October, 2025. 

'Ofa atu moe lotu.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

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: Kadisha Fetu'u
Year 8: Eva Amstad
Year 9: Ella Hitch
Year 10: Norma Stephens

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:

Saxon Cooper nominated Tai-o Nieuwenhaijsen for showing commitment to his work and not getting distracted in class; and also helping Saxon in the subject.

Rosaria Soo Choon nominated Hannah Mackintosh for showing compassion when she helped Rosaria with her math work.

Loisi Liava’a nominated Emma Wattanapradit for showing compassion and conscience for being a caring and friendly team player in netball and wherever she is.

Tate Yorke nominated Chris Thaliath for showing compassion for helping him with class work and guiding him through a slideshow.

Faustina Finau nominated Olivia Pennington for showing compassion when Olivia helped her with understanding some math problems.

Peyton Haufano nominated Je T’aime Bradley for showing compassion when Je T’aime helped a student who was sad after failing a test.

Isabel Maynard nominated Ava Lilly for showing conscience by picking up rubbish even though it was not hers.

Emereziana Lautua nominated Diogo Fernandes for showing compassion when he helped a Year 7 student with their blazer collar, so that the student could look better.

Simone Paterson nominated Ben Hunter for showing conscience when he took the initiative throughout the China trip to ensure others stay in a group and helped include those who may have felt left out.

Our winning nomination this week was:
Peni Helu nominated Marco Omandam for showing compassion when he helped Peni with his math work.
Congratulations Marco!

Cura Personalis

Year 10 Taster Day

On Tuesday 22nd July, our Year 10 ākonga took part in an exciting milestone for St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College – our first Year 10 Taster Sessions. This event was designed to help our students make informed choices for 2026 as they move into NCEA Level 1 and prepare for the diverse range of courses our college will offer.

Throughout the day, students were able to ‘taste’ a variety of subjects, experiencing first-hand what future learning might look like in areas such as Geography, History, Dance, Drama, Design and Visual Communication, Mathematics with Statistics, English Literature, Science with Biomedical and Engineering contexts, Agricultural and Horticultural Science, and Hard Materials Technology. These sessions not only introduced ākonga to new learning opportunities but also encouraged them to ask questions, consider their strengths and interests, and begin mapping out their pathways through senior schooling and beyond.

This is an exciting phase in our college’s life. As we prepare to welcome our first senior ākonga, we are committed to offering a broad, future-focused curriculum that reflects both the needs and aspirations of our students. The Taster Sessions were an important step in helping our Year 10 students gain the insight and confidence they need for their subject selection process. We look forward to seeing the pathways they choose as they continue their Ignatian journey into the senior years.

Winter Wellness Challenge

This week's Year 9 Winter Wellness Challenge focused on healthy eating. Students needed to eat a healthy balanced meal that included all five food groups. Congratulations to Kaylee Smith, this week's challenge winner, who received a $50 Pak n' Save voucher from Pak n' Save Pukekohe.

Senior Kapa Haka Group Launching at St Ignatius
Thursdays | 3:30 – 4:30 PM | Starting 31 July

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Senior Kapa Haka Group at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, beginning in Week 3 of Term 3. Practices will be held every Thursday from 3:30pm – 4:30pm, starting on Thursday 31st July. This new rōpū is open to all students across the College, regardless of previous kapa haka experience. It provides an exciting opportunity for ākonga to deepen their understanding of Te Ao Māori, strengthen their knowledge of tikanga, and develop confidence in performing arts.

Looking ahead, this group will form the foundation of a competitive kapa haka team for our kura, representing St Ignatius with pride at future events and festivals. It will also play a key role in supporting cultural leadership within our College.

We encourage all interested ākonga to come along and get involved in this vibrant new initiative. For more information, please contact Katarina Turu-Heretaunga, our Kapahaka Tutor (027 371 4447). Ākonga who attend and express interest will be added to the group.

Cook Islands Language Week

As part of our celebration of Cook Islands Language Week (3–9 August), we are creating a special display at school to honour and showcase our Cook Islands community.
We would love your support and contributions to help bring this display to life! If you have any items, photos, or family information you’d be happy to share, please contact us. All contributions should be given to Mrs Thorby by Monday 28 July. For further details, please email: [email protected]

Watch this space for more details about our special Cook Islands Language Week assembly!

Tongan Language Week

This year we will celebrate Tongan Language Week from the 17-23 August.  The 2025 theme for Tonga Language Week is ‘Ko 'etau lea, ko e fe'unu mahu'inga ia ki he mo'ui 'a e Tonga - Our language is the lifeline strand for our Tongan culture’.
As part of our celebration of Tongan Language Week Celebration (17-23 August), we are creating a special display at school to honour and showcase our Tongan Community.
We would love your support and contributions to help bring this display to life! If you have any items, photos, or family information you’d be happy to share, please contact us. 
 All contributions should be given to Mrs Thorby by Monday 28 July. For further details, please email: [email protected]
Watch this space for more details about our Tongan Language Week Activities!

Upcoming Events

Grandparents Mass - Monday 28th July @ 7:30am
Pre-AIMS Games Rippa Rugby Tournament (ACG Strathallan) - Tuesday July 29th @ 8:45am
Year 7 and 8 Franklin Zone Netball Tournament - Tuesday July 29th Pukekohe Netball Center @ 9:30am
Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola - Thursday 31st July
Year 9 Theatre Trip - Friday 1st August depart 9.00am sharp
Special Assembly - Vatican Visit - La Storta Friday August 1st @ 9.00am
Year 10 Art Trip - Thursday 7th August depart 9.00am sharp

Please note our 'Teacher Only Days'
Term Three - September 19th 2025
Term Four - October 22nd 2025 

Ākonga Assessment Week
Please note a calendar change for all ākonga. End of Year Assessments for all ākonga occur Week 3 Term Four. Not Week 5 Term Three as previously shared.

Grandparents Mass

The College invites all grandparents and grandparent figures of students to a Grandparents' Mass on Monday, 28th July, 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. This will be a ticketed event to help with the catering. Tickets are available free of charge on the College website.

Sport

The Road to AIMS Games

As we reach the final stretch before AIMS Games, we pause to acknowledge the incredible commitment from our AIMS whānau. From raffles and car washes to bake sales and more, the fundraising efforts have been a testament to the determination and shared vision of our teams. These experiences not only strengthen team bonds but reflect the spirit of service—developing ākonga to be people for others, much like the parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us to act with purpose.
We are also grateful for the support received through sponsorship. These contributions are deeply valued as they help our ākonga strive toward their goals.
A heartfelt thank you to our coaches, managers and supporters who continue to guide and grow our athletes. Your dedication is deeply appreciated. We are well down the road to AIMS and ready to head into the tournament strong.


Year 7 & 8 Hockey Franklin Zone Tournament
On Tuesday, three Year 7 and 8 mixed hockey teams went to Rosa Birch Park in Pukekohe to play against other Franklin schools.
Our teams had never played together before, but everyone was excited and ready to give it a go.
Team 1 played in the A grade and won all their pool games. They made it to the final against Waiau Pa School. At full time the score was a draw. After five more minutes of play, the score was still even. A goal countback was used. Goals scored and goals against were the same, except for one goal difference against St Ignatius. The final result was called a draw for first place. It was a close and exciting game with great effort from both teams.
Teams 2 and 3 showed great attitude and gave their best. Many were new to hockey and quickly learned how to work together as a team.
Thank you to all the parents who helped with transport and supported the teams on the day. A special thank you to Poppy and Claudia from Pukekohe High School who came along to referee.

Sports Camp
We are pleased to share that all boys’ places have now been filled, but we are still looking for more girls to join us for this awesome experience. If you enjoy being active, meeting new people, and challenging yourself in a fun and supportive environment, this is for you!
Letters of confirmation will be sent out next week.
The estimated cost of attending camp is $350, which includes accommodation, meals, transport, and all activities.
To express your interest, please complete the following form:
Click here to submit your expression of interest

Upcoming events

Keep on eye out on our week ahead document for upcoming fixtures and results 
Week ahead 

Good luck to our swimmers; Annabelle Shields, Elysia Rollo & Paikea Maihi who will be competing in the NZSS Swimming Champs this weekend. 

Sports Musters
Entering teams into competitions is subject to the amount of student interest in each code as well as appointing coaches, managers to these teams and allocated registrations.

Musters will be advertised on Google Sports Classroom, Notices and/or the newsletter

Table Tennis 
Bowls 
Weight lifting
Orienteering 

More information to follow - 
Badminton
Volleyball
Cricket
Touch
Tag Tournaments
Waterpolo
Year 7 & 8 Athletics 

If coaching or managing any sports code is of interest to any of our wider school community we urge you to contact our sports team or fill out the following form 
Coaching or Managing Expression of interest form

Sponsor Acknowledgment

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:

Thank you to Michael Faulkner from Baker's Delight Pukekohe for providing all the bread for next week's St Ignatius of Loyola Feast day celebrations. We are greatly appreciative of this huge contribution!

Community Notices

Youth Alpha

Youth Alpha is arguably one of the best resources out there for young people to learn about the reasons for their faith, ask questions, and discuss their struggles and beliefs in an environment which welcomes it, alongside other young people their age. 

For ages 13+, the Pukekohe Youth Ministry will be running these short video and discussion group sessions every Friday evening of Term 3 (starting from Friday 25^th July) from 5:30-6:45pm in the St Patrick's Parish Hall. 

Open to everyone, no matter what Church community you are part of!

Here is the promo video if you want to take a look! - 
https://youtu.be/OCdnlAxeVS4?feature=shared

If interested, please email [email protected]

Inspiring Girls Expeditions and the Antarctic Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington are happy to announce our third expedition and welcome applications from students throughout New Zealand.

Girls on Ice offers secondary school-aged girls the opportunity to join scientists, outdoor specialists and artists on mountain expeditions within NZ.
The expedition is free, and all gear is provided.

Read more about the programme and apply on our website: Girls on Ice New Zealand — Inspiring Girls Expeditions
Watch our 2025 expedition video on You Tube
Support your young science-enthusiasts to apply online: Girls* on Ice Aotearoa New Zealand - Inspiring Girls* Expeditions
Applications close August 17.

News