Principal's Message
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Tēnā Koutou St Ignatius Community,
This week students competing at the AIMs games have achieved outstanding results; well done to all who competed. Preparing for a tournament like AIMS takes a lot of effort, skill and time by not just the players but also the coaches, managers and parents. A clear aspect of our culture that has developed over the last few years is the willingness of the community to pitch in for the success of our students.
In our Catholic Ignatian tradition, a phrase we often use around school is ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’, sometimes shortened to AMDG. This means our efforts are for the greater glory of God. When we contribute to raise others up to their own personal excellence, to strive for their best and beyond then the efforts in our service truly are for the greater glory of God. It is easy to find God in those who, in the words of St Ignatius, ‘give and not count the cost’. So I extend the gratitude of our school community to all who have been involved in supporting our students to go to AIMs this week. You are an example of ad majorem Dei gloriam for us all.
Another great example of ad majorem Dei gloriam this week has been our inaugural ‘Spaghetti Evening’. The evening was developed to provide opportunities for our Year 10 families to spend some time together at school in an informal way. It was also developed to help families to learn how they can run the Examen in the home to grow closer as a family to one another and to God. It was great to see so many families in attendance and it was humbling to see the efforts made by staff and FOSI parents to prepare and run the event for the benefit of our Year 10 families. This humble service for others is a great example to our school community of working for the greater glory of God.
This weekend is a significant spiritual event for our college. The Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis is taking place and he will become a Saint. Blessed Carlo Acutis is one of our house patrons and a significant saintly example for all, radiating the greater glory of God through his life’s example. Please pray for Blessed Carlo Acutis this weekend and ask him to pray for your family as he joins the Communion of Saints of our Catholic faith.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam
Dean Wearmouth |
Not From the School Pulpit Series - A Fortnightly Reflection by Fr. Eka
Why don’t you build them a well?
Imaginative contemplation is a way to pray that Saint Ignatius developed for an encounter with God at a personal level. One time, I was imaginatively praying and spending time with Jesus in a village where the land was really dry. The people living there were without water and they were suffering. Witnessing this reality, I asked the Lord, “What can we do?”. He looked at me with much commanding love and said, “Why don’t you build them a well?”
This particular prayer took place over 15 years ago during my silent retreat, and yet I can still vividly remember the experience today and how I felt during and after the prayer. I was brought to tears, not of guilt or shame; but of joy and a sense of mission and purpose. It was one of the pivotal moments that moved me to follow and accompany Jesus along the way. Later on, after years of theology studies, I learnt a few more things about Jesus. However, what I learnt about him from books does not reach the same depth of intimate feeling of him that I experienced in prayers.
In Spanish, two verbs can describe the experience of knowing. Saber is to cognitively know things with the mind, like facts, skills, techniques or analysis; whereas sentir is to know something by affective means through a personal encounter - by our feeling, with our heart. In the Spiritual Exercises (Annotation #2), Ignatius believed that it is “not much knowing, but the inner feeling and relish of things that fills and satisfies the soul.” This does not mean that saber is discarded, but the deeper personal encounter with God is privileged.
This is what we hope for our ākonga. For example, the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) used for learning and formation at our school intends to engage both saber and sentir. Yes, the students experience many concrete activities and tasks to engage their minds and senses, from maths to outdoor education, or from playing chess to playing netball or rugby. More importantly, however, they are given the opportunities and the encouragement to reflect on their life experiences. School programmes like the daily Examen before lunch, Masses and other liturgies, and Friday journaling times allow students to sift through what happens in the ordinaries of life. They pause and reflect to pay attention to the movement of their souls and to realise that God is indeed in all things.
These realisations of their day-to-day encounter with God would hopefully propel them into action. Carlo Acutis, who is to be canonised on Sunday, learnt a lot about Jesus, but he fell deeply in love with Jesus through the Eucharist and the Adorations of the Blessed Sacrament. Then, he put his love for Jesus to action by evangelising the millennial way - through the internet. Carlo Acutis “built a well” for the younger generation; and its “water” became a gift to the world. Yet, he would humbly say, “Not me, but God.” The spark of divine love ignited in him the love that manifested in deeds.
As a community, we have begun to see potentials: the morning drop-bys to the Chapel to say “hello” to Jesus, the eager participation in collecting soft toys for children in foster care, the meaningful reflections shared by students at various occasions, the large number of students who offer to serve at the school events and student bodies. Our ākonga have gone more deeply than knowing things with only the mind. They have begun to recognise the love they receive; and respond to it by putting their learnt knowledge of love to action. As they grow more intimate in their relationship with the divine, we may hope they will hear and respond to a similar loving command from Jesus, “Why don’t you build them a well?”
For this, we continue to encourage them; and pray for them.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola… Pray for us.
Saint Carlo Acutis… Pray for us.
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Curriculum
Faculty of Religious Education Update
Religious Education at St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College delivers a programme based on the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' curriculum Tō Tātou Whakapono - Our Faith, provided by the National Centre for Religious Studies and in keeping with the Ignatian Catholic character of the College. The programme will focuses on giving our ākonga the knowledge, skills and dementor to “encounter the faith in which people believe and the gift of faith from God by which they believe” - Tō Tātou Whakapono - Our Faith.
Over the course of two years, every year level studies four overarching topics or strands of this curriculum. Meaning the units are two terms long. These strands are outlined below:
Te Atua God - which explores the nature of God.
Te Rongopai The Good News - which explores the Bible.
Ā Tātou Whakapapa Our Story - which looks at the history and formation of the Catholic Church.
Kia Noho Hāhi Being Church - encompassing how we should live our lives to the full as Christians, firmly grounded in the teachings of Jesus.
Having this two-year rotation allows us to have a broad and rich approach, which ensures we can spend time really getting to know a topic, rather than skimming over it. It has also be developed so that every two years our akonga are able to build on the skills already learnt.
Curriculum Update
Religious Education equips our young people to engage thoughtfully with questions of meaning, morality, and spirituality within a Catholic context, while fostering a faith that is lived in action. It is not simply one subject among many, but the foundation of the mission of a Catholic school: to form young people as disciples of Christ. All year groups have just recently completed their first round of assessment as part of their topics, all of which reflect this emphasis on discipleship and faith formation.
Learning Experiences
As part of an Ignatian education, we are committed to giving every student an opportunity to experience Religious Education in its many different modes. This includes opportunities to pray, create and reflect. Some examples of this are outlined below.
Prayerful Activities- Class Masses
Every class has the opportunity to plan and participate in an active role during a class Mass. These are often a real highlight for many students who are able to use their gifts and talents in proclaiming scripture, offering reflections, serving, leading music, and reading prayers of the faithful. It is also an opportunity for some students to try out these ministries in a less pressured environment.
Creative Tasks - Rosary Making
In Year 7, our students study forms of prayer. Included in the unit is the Rosary, during which they make rosary beads. This experience allows them to learn more practically about the prayer, while also having a beautiful keepsake.
Reflective Tasks - Application to our lives
Students are encouraged to offer their own reflection on the material. This includes how it is applicable to their lives. An example of this is below, where some of our Year 10 students have reflected on what it means to be made in the Image of God, which is studied as part of our Vocations unit.
What is “The Image of God?”
By Chris Thaliath, Aabel Jones, Tate Yorke 10G
Many, many years ago, the Bible says in the book of Genesis that every single human being, as well as the plants, animals and everything we see in this world, was made by God. But only humankind was made in God's image. It says that we were made to be like him, not in the way we look, but in the way we act. So we are not only made in God's image, but our soul/spirit reflects his own. Everyone is different and thinks in different ways; no one on this earth is the same. We all have our own unique personalities and characteristics. But we are all made in the image of God, no matter how different we may be.
How does it impact lives today?
The Image of God reminds us that every person matters, and it inspires us to live with kindness, fairness, and purpose. It’s a powerful idea that can help make the world a better place today. It can help build communities and relationships with others, it makes one stronger and more confident. It gives us a purpose to be kind and faithful to others. This can also encourage and inspire others to have a positive impact on our world today.
Ngā mihi,
The Religious Education Faculty
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Mathematics - Mathex
Congratulations to our Year 8 Mathex team that competed last week in the Franklin Mathex competition. They were victorious, taking out first place in the Year 8 section! This is the second year in a row our school has won the Year 8 trophy!
Congratulations to Samuel Speedy, Klay Dela Pena, Andy Nguyen, and Torito Esquivel Garcia.   Hui Koroneihana Ngāruawāhia
On Wednesday a group of ākonga joined a convoy, organised by the Auckland Diocese, and travelled to Turangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia to represent the school at the Koroneihana.
This year’s Koroneihana is deeply significant, marking the first coronation anniversary of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po after the death of her father Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Vll.
Paikea Maihi, Elysia Rollo, and Quinn Robinson shared their reflections on the day:
On Wednesday 3rd September, Quinn, Zoey, Elysia, and I attended the Koroneihana of the Maori queen. After waking up early to meet with other schools from the Catholic diocese we carpooled in Whaea Melanie's car, down to Turangawaewae Marae. Once there we caught the bus that took us outside the marae where we saw many schools, iwi, and members of the public lining up to head inside for the powhiri. As we were led into the marae I felt the mana of the Tainui haka powhiri. While watching the Koroneihana from a screen outside, Anahile and I offered our service to Waikato Tainui to hand out free sandwiches to everyone. After this we went right up to the front of the seating area to listen to the speeches of tribal leaders. Overall this was an incredible experience and I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to go.
- Paikea Maihi
Once we arrived at Tūrangawaewae Marae we entered the marae alongside other groups from the Catholic diocese. Upon entering we were met with people doing haka powhiri and karanga, this was an amazing experience and we will bring back what we learnt from this experience to our own powhiri. We walked directly past Kuini Māori and those doing the haka powhiri, it was cool to hear their haka powhiri and the power of their voices in person. We hope to return again for Koroneihana another year as it was an amazing event to experience in person.
- Elysia Rollo
When walking back through Tūragawaewae Marae gates, we were ushered toward the front area where the Māori speakers were addressing the Kuini Māori as well as the crowd. This experience was enriching to be a part of this celebration and to witness it first hand. Between every kai kōrero there was a waiata tautoko performed by different iwis. It was truly fulfilling to be invited as those representing the Catholic diocese, and an experience we will never forget.
- Quinn Robinson
  Ākonga Elective
The Reading Hub
Every Tuesday, students are invited to take part in The Reading Hub, which is an elective that is held in the Magis Centre. This elective provides a calm, supportive environment for quiet reading, accompanied by soft jazz music in the background. Some students enjoy the time to relax with a novel, while others use the peaceful atmosphere to study or complete homework using the resources provided. The Reading Hub is proving to be a valuable opportunity for students to pause, recharge, and nurture their love of reading.  | |  |
Young Vinnies Update – Supporting the Open Home Foundation NZ
Last Friday, our Young Vinnies team hosted a Wear Your Own Clothes Day with the theme of blue to support the Open Home Foundation NZ—a Christian child, youth, and family service that supports foster care children.Thanks to your generosity, we collected soft toys, stationery, and games to create birthday packs for children in foster care, helping them feel special and celebrated on their birthdays.
As a school community, we are incredibly grateful for every donation—big or small. Yesterday, Mini Vinnies counted a total of 485 donated items. Given our school’s address is 485 Burtt Road, we see God’s hand in this number! It is a beautiful reminder of our Jesuit motto, finding God in all things—even in the small details of life.
For me, this connects to an important lesson I’ve learnt through Religious Education: even the smallest act of generosity can make a big difference for those who are less fortunate. As Jesus reminds us in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Thank you once again for your kindness and support. Together, we are living out our faith in action.
– Ciara van Heeckeren (Vinnies Social Media Communicator)  Magis Centre
Ultimate UNO Champion of St Ignatius
Over the last week our Magis Centre (Library) has been holding an UNO tournament. Lunchtimes saw each year level play off to see who their representitive champion was.
Year 7 Winner: Adline Lijo
Year 7 Runner Up: Emmalyn Maddren & Cybastian Silla
Year 8 Winner: Ruben Norris-Ruru
Year 8 Runner Up: Mario Nasa
Year 9 Winner: Nacho Esquivel-Garcia
Year 9 Runner Up: Paul Stirrup
Year 10 Winner: Zander Lim
Year 10 Runner Up: Frankie Frost
Today these students battled it out for the overall Ultimate UNO Champion of St Ignatius title, and after a tense and exciting game we had a winner.
Congratulations to Nacho Esquivel-Garcia!!!   | |  |
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Ākonga Achievement
Daniel Dumper
Daniel Dumper and the Fencibles U15 team have claimed the 2025 Northern Region Football Championship League title, covering teams from Bombay to the Far North. After finishing in the top three for the past two seasons, 2025 was their year!
With 11 wins, 3 draws, and just 2 losses from 16 games, they topped the table, outperforming some of the strongest clubs across the greater Auckland region. A fantastic achievement for the team!
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Student Representative on the Board of Trustees
At the close of voting we are pleased to announce that Thomas Eyton-Fa'afiu (10AM) has been voted to the School Board as the Student Representative.
Congratulations Thomas!  Parent / Ākonga / Kaiako Interviews Term Three
Our Parent / Ākonga / Kaiako Interviews for Term Three are scheduled for September 16th and 17th from 2pm - 6:30pm.
Note: Students will finish at 12:50pm both days and buses will be rescheduled for this earlier finish.
You are warmly invited to book an interview time with your child's respective teachers. If your child's report reflects a successful term and curriculum levels are appropriate for their year, it is not necessary to book.
If you have concerns about progress, your child's current curriculum level or another pressing matter, please follow the process below.
Click the link provided:
BOOKING LINK Follow-up information: Our Year 9 and 10 Presentation Evening and the Year 11 Academic Structure for 2026.
A warm thank you to all of our parents, families and caregivers that attended the presentation evening on Tuesday 2nd September. We acknowledge your strong support for the college academic vision and ensuring that all ākonga are truly given the opportunities to reach their own personal Magis.
As promised, a link to the presentation can be found here: Year 9 and 10 Presentation Evening
Included on the slideshow is a link to a digital copy of the A3 Year 11 Academic Structure. |
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Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – Week 10
We’re excited to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) in Week 10! This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to honour and promote the Māori language and culture.
Here’s what’s planned for the week:
- Monday: Whole School Assembly with a focus on Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
- Tuesday: Misa Māori/Whole School Mass at 9:00am
- Thursday: Te Reo Māori Lunchtime Activity for students
Throughout the week, we will also have a display wall celebrating Te Reo Māori. We welcome contributions from students, staff, and whānau. If you have something you’d like to share, please email it to Mrs Thorby at [email protected] by Wednesday, 10th September.
 Help Us Celebrate our Cultural Festival – Term 4
Our school is home to over 50 cultures – what an incredible gift to celebrate!
In Term 4, we’ll be holding a Cultural Festival to honour and share the richness of our community.
We’d love for parents, whānau, and caregivers to be part of the planning. If you would like to share aspects of your culture with our students – through food, music, dance, art, stories, games, or activities – we’d love to hear from you!
Come along to our planning meeting. Follow the link to confirm your attendance.
NEW DATE: Tuesday 9th September
TIME: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
PLACE: Magis Centre Year 10 Spaghetti Dinner Evening
Last night marked our inaugural Spaghetti Evening, where Ākonga and their whānau gathered in La Storta for a delicious meal prepared by volunteers from FOSI, staff, and students. The event aimed to introduce families to Ignatian practices, such as the Examen, and facilitate spiritual conversations through reflective questions. It was a memorable evening, filled with meaningful discussions over a plate of spaghetti. Below are some of the feedback comments from the parents of Year 10 students.
The Spaghetti evening for Year 10 students and their families was a beautiful example of the kind of community spirit our school encourages. Held in a candlelit La Storta, the event invited students to serve their parents dinner—complete with wine and conversation. We were gently nudged out of our comfort zones with a series of questions and a group examen. It was a gentle and grounding way to end the evening, reminding us to be present, grateful, and connected.
- Loreisha van Heeckeren
It is truly a wonder to see God at work in the lives of our school community. We were then given the opportunity to try this ourselves with the question cards around our table. After dinner, Father Michael gave us a talk about the Examen, the school motto of Finding God in All Things and glorifying God by our actions rather than words. He spoke of the role of fathers' in the domestic church, and I was touched hearing his personal story about his own father while growing up in Dunedin. Both our children at the table then led the Family Examen and shared their experiences of their daily Examen at St Ignatius. I could not be more proud of Leila and Therese, and to see them grow in such faith and trust in God in such a short time at St Ignatius (it feels). We then shared with each other and our new friends some of the things that we were grateful for, perhaps something that we had been thinking about or troubling us, even our aspirations. I felt these seemingly day-to-day happenings might be lost to the noise of the world most times, and we may actually lose a chance to connect with the Holy Spirit in our lives.
- Jason Wong
Spaghetti Night offers up another opportunity to put that into practice with our Ignatian families. Whanau use the dinner table for their place of "examen" and conversation; but not all can do it given the busy-ness of life. Through curation and planning by the College, the Year 10 students served parents dinner; they engaged in conversation with other families at their table; they examined their day; and learned through guest speakers like Ben Speedy and Fr Michael Smith some ideas of 'how' examen can work at home in the little things we do in line with the school motto of Finding God in All Things.
Thank you to the College, FOSI, Year 10 parents for a memorable evening. Year 9 families will have their turn soon. Please sign up for it; it's a lovely family evening - as one father said to me on the night: "the fleeting moment of sitting with my children fills my cup...if the school can help me with that then why not come to Spaghetti night and every other event at the college."
- Peter Fa’afiu
This is the first of these evenings. Next term, the college will host this again for the Year 9s, and we look forward to welcoming those families on Thursday, 6th November.
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Winter Wellness Challenge
This week's Winter Wellness Challenge was to either use screen-free technology or exercise using a mode of transport (e.g. bike or scooter) for at least 30 minutes per day.
Congratulations to Lauren Hartland and La Reina Weale who each won a Family Pass to MOTAT.  |
Monday 8th September - Year 7 Science Blake VR
Monday 8th September - Carlo Acutis Canonisation Mass
Monday 8th September - FOSI Meeting @ 6:30pm
Tuesday 9th September - Fathers Day Mass and Breakfast @ 7:30am
Tuesday 9th September - House Magis Lip Synch Competition (Students to bring House Colour T-Shirt to change into)
Wednesday 10th September - Aubert House Mass 2:10pm
Thursday 11th Septemeber - Talent Quest auditions morning tea and lunch
Thursday 11th September - Term 4 Cultural Festival Whānau Meeting @ 5:30pm
Friday 12th September - Talent Quest auditions morning tea and lunch
Monday 15th September - Māori Language Week
Monday 15th September - Reports T3 sent
Monday 15th September - Monday Mass - The Feast of St Robert Bellarmine
Monday 15th September - Franklin Basketball Year 7&8 Boys
Monday 15th September - Term 3 Celebration Assembly @ 9.00am
Tuesday 16th September - Ākonga / Parent / Kaiako Interviews 2-6:30pm (students finish at 12:50pm)
Tuesday 16th September - Franklin Basketball Year 7&8 Girls @ 9.00am
Tuesday 16th September - Māori Language Week Mass @ 9.00am
Wednesday 17th September - Ākonga / Parent / Kaiako Interviews 2-6:30pm (students finish at 12:50pm)
Thursday 18th September - Last Day of Term 3 (students finish at normal finish time 3:05pm)
Please note Teacher Only Days:
Term Three - September 19th
Term Four - October 22nd
- November 12th
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No Community Mass
There will be no community Mass this Monday, 8th September, as the school will be celebrating the Canonisation of Carlo Acutis. However, the community is welcome to attend the Father's Day Mass on Tuesday, 9th September, at 7:15 am in the Companions of Jesus Chapel. |
Summer Sports
Summer is getting closer, which means it’s time to switch from our winter sports codes to our summer sports codes. It’s fantastic to see many ākonga signing up already.
The best way to stay up to date is by checking the Sport Classroom regularly for notices about trials and trainings.
This is what tour 4 C’s look like in our summer sports:
Compassion: Support and encourage your teammates.
Conscience: Follow the rules and show good sportsmanship.
Competence: Practice your skills and embrace learning new sports.
Commitment: Attend trainings and give your best effort.
Remember to communicate with Sports Coaches and Managers, bring the correct equipment, and be ready to play.
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North Island Secondary School Equestrian Championships
The North Island Secondary School Equestrian Championships is a highlight of the secondary school equestrian calendar with dozens of schools and hundreds of riders competing. Our school riders; Milla Fogarin, Charli Fogarin, Tamsyn Minchin, Hannah Mackintosh, Summer Morton and Pippa Wilson competed well demonstrating skill, dedication, and fantastic teamwork against the best young riders in the North Island.
Special congratulations to Summer and Milla, who made an impressive return after significant rehabilitation with their horses. Their dedication to their horses’ wellbeing allowed them to compete successfully and kick off the season on a high note.
The team was 17th out of 79, even without a full squad and 3rd place overall in dressage.
Additional Results -
Summer Morton
Dressage: 7th
Hannah Mackintosh also had strong performances:
Dressage: 1st and 8th, 10th Overall
Arena Eventing: 15th
Show Jumping: 2nd and 2nd
Show Hunter: 7th
4th out of 64 riders in Pony Jumping 60/70
29th out of 328 riders for Best Performed North Island Dressage Combination
53rd out of 152 riders for Best Performed North Island Show Hunter Combination
Tamsyn Minchin had an outstanding week across multiple events:
Dressage: 2nd in her first test, 1st in her second, and the second-highest points scorer among all dressage riders.
Arena Eventing (65 Pony): 2nd
Games: 6th
Last week myself and five other students rode for our school at the North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Championships in Taupo. The competition was intense, with heaps of schools and really good riders competing. Our school ended up 3rd overall in dressage out of about 80 schools, which is an awesome result, and a few of us got some really good individual results. I feel so proud to have represented the school and cannot wait for more years to come.
- Tamsyn Minchin
 AIMS Games – A celebration of our Individual Athletes
Competing as individual events, our athletes proudly represent our school at the AIMS Games. Traveling down on their own can be challenging, but their determination, skill, and achievements shine brightly. We celebrate their courage and effort as they embody the spirit of our school! We look forward to celebrating the success of our teams in next week’s newsletter!
Gymnastics -
Our gymnastics team had a fantastic competition, with strong results across the board. Mario Nasa took out a gold medal in the Artistic boys open level 4 event, while Michaela Arnet competed in Artistic girls open, step 5 finishing 12th overall with a stand out performance in her floor routine placing 3rd. She also competed in trampoline open novice, an event she doesn't usually compete in, finishing 7th equal. Then finished off her week in the Tumbling open event placing 4th. Hazel Gault competed in Artistic girls open, step 3 and finished 8th equal. Congratulations to all our gymnasts for their skill, dedication, and excellent performances!
Swimming -
AIMS Swimming 2025 was a huge success for Isla Shields and Indi Allison, who each competed in seven events over four days. Isla achieved 100% personal bests, while Indi set five new PBs even after a morning cross-country event! Both swimmers also earned qualifying times for next year. Fun, laughter, and lasting memories made.
Cross Country -
This year, Indi Allison and Sian Balle competed in the cross country at the AIMS Games; there were over 600 athletes competing in this event. Both athletes finished mid pack in their respective groups. It was a tough course in challenging wet and slippery conditions, with limited passing opportunities.
We are proud of their achievement.
Orienteering -
This was our first year competing in orienteering, and Poppy Illson made an impressive debut. Introduced to the sport at the start of the year, she embraced the challenge and finished 17th out of over 100 Year 8 athletes. We are especially proud as she competed on her own, showing courage, determination, and great skill!
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Upcoming events
Keep on eye out on our week ahead document for upcoming fixtures and results
Week ahead
Upcoming trials
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As our school grows so does our need for exceptional people to join our staff. We currently have a number of vacancies listed here. |
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