Principal's Message
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Talofa lava St Ignatius aiga,
It was a true Blessing on Monday for our Samoan students to lead assembly and share their culture with the college community. The theme for Samoa Language Week was 'Tautua i le alofa, manuia le lumana’i', which means 'Serve in love for a blessed future'. What an excellent message this is and a message that we can all learn from. When we serve, we help others, however when we serve in love, we are helping to grow the kingdom of God in ourselves and in others. This makes a true difference to the world and how we see ourselves and others. The intention for what we do has the true ability to transform our actions from good to great. Ad majorem Dei gloriam.
Today was an example of right intention and acting in love when students brought in a gold coin donation to wear their own clothes for the day. This is what was happening on the surface. On a deeper level, students were doing this in love. They were asked to bring in a gold coin donation for wearing their own clothes to assist families in need through the Society of St Vincent de Paul, who the college will pass on the donations to. It was an act of solidarity and a practical way in love that students can help others. Through our rich diverse community and Ignatian Catholic faith tradition we are truly blessed to grow in spiritual and practical ways to become people acting in love; to become people for and with others.
Inveniens Deum in omnibus,
Dean Wearmouth |
Food Technology
In Year 8 Technology students are currently completing a Design Brief that states: "Our tuckshop, The Hungry Wolf, is starting to think about Christmas! They need to create a new healthy, Christmassy biscuit based snack to sell at lunchtime." Students have been given a basic biscuit recipe and are working in groups to add different flavours and variations. We are currently in the trial process and students need to present their completed, modified biscuit towards the end of the term.  |
Ākonga Elective
Coding
Pope Francis is the first Pontiff to ever write a line of code. He encourages all young people to learn to code, so they can use their talents for good. For now we are covering the basics, but one day our talents will be used to build amazing, helpful things.
In the coding elective we have been re-creating games using a programming language called Scratch. We made flappy bird and snake, among others. The great thing about making your own game is you can change the parameters to make the game easier or harder. For example with flappy bird we can make the bird smaller or larger, we can change the size of the jump, the speed of the bars, and how far apart they are. We can change the bird to a unicorn!
We added randomness so that we can play our own game without knowing what's coming next!
Here are the games:
bouncin' bear
Bouncin Bear by Sophia Orlowski
Instructions:
press space to fly high! dont hit the poles!
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/972406530/fullscreen/
Flappy Bird Adaptation
Press space to jump, don't hit the ground!
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1020357937/fullscreen/
Snake by Alyxia Ibarra
Press W, A, S, D to move the snake |
Behind the Scenes
Ākonga have been learning the art of stage makeup in Mrs Harrisons 'Behind the Scenes' elective this term. This week they have been applying the 'bruising' technique. Look out for some more special effects updates later in the term.
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Chess
Father Eka has sparked a new wave of enthusiasm at St. Ignatius by introducing students to the captivating world of chess. This timeless game, known for its strategic depth and logical rigor, has become a favorite pastime, engaging our ākonga in ways that are both fun and intellectually stimulating.
For those unfamiliar, chess is a two-player game played on an 8x8 grid, where each player commands an army of 16 pieces with distinct movements. The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, putting it in a position where it cannot escape capture. Chess is renowned for honing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and patience.
Students are eagerly participating in the Chess Ākonga Elective and even challenging each other to friendly matches during lunch breaks. This burgeoning interest has fostered a community of strategic thinkers, who enjoy outmaneuvering their opponents with clever tactics and foresight.
Did you know that in the 9th century, chess was banned in some parts of the world because authorities thought it was too addictive? Or that the first-ever artificial intelligence to beat a world champion was named "Deep Thought," a nod to the computer in Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"?
The ākonga at St. Ignatius are not only enjoying the game but also learning valuable life skills. They're becoming adept at thinking multiple moves ahead, weighing the consequences of their actions, and devising creative solutions to complex problems. Father Eka’s leadership in promoting chess is proving to be a delightful and educational experience, making St. Ignatius a hub for budding chess enthusiasts.
 Nacho News
Issue 5 out now! Follow the News item at the bottom of this Newsletter to check it out.  |
Sport
Basketball
Last week the Year 9 Junior boys won against Tuakau 33-28 and The U14 Rebels Black had a close loss against Onewhero 21-29.
This week it was a strong game by the Year 9 boys with only 5 players and no subs. Unfortunately we finished the game with only four players on court due to an injury. However, the players responded well and are now on a three game winning streak with a 75 -33 win against Hauraki Plains College.
The U14 Rebels Black team will be playing tonight. We wish them luck! |
 We are truly blessed to have such a talented cohort of ākonga/students and we are aware of their many successes and achievements both locally and at a regional and national level. We look forward to sharing regional and national achievements through our newsletter and Facebook page. There will be an opportunity to celebrate more local achievements through our Year Level assemblies which happen during the year. |
This week the following ākonga/students were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review in Week 10, Term 4.
Emma Ronald Year 7
Annika Kirsten Year 8
Tiger Bernabe Year 9
We celebrate these ākonga/students being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their work and actions. |
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Ākonga/Student ID Cards
This week all ākonga/students have been issued with a personalised Student ID Card. These will be used when ākonga/students wish to borrow a library book or if they need to sign out a Chrome book. These ID Cards can also be used for student concession and are also used to load an AT HOP card.
Ākonga students should take personal responsibility for their ID card. There is a replacement fee of $10 should ākonga/students misplace their student ID card. A replacement card can be ordered at student reception and the fee will be added to your account. Samoan Language Week
The 2024 theme for Samoa Language Week is 'Tautua i le alofa, manuia le lumana’i – Serve in love for a blessed future'.
This week, the school learned about and enjoyed a unique aspect of Samoan culture thanks to the different activities and learning led by our Maori and Pasifika girls group. We have had numerous events during lunchtime that showcase our Samoan culture like a Samoan game called Lape and also learning a Samoan song and dance. We even presented in assembly this week and some of our group performed a tradition Samoan dance Loimata O le fiafia. This is a siva song about triumph and the challenges we face , but also how we overcome them.
Students have not only shown their respect towards the Samoan culture but also have shown a sense of being able to learn more in our activities, especially in song and dance and learning about the cultural significance of tradition for generations to come.
By Anne Finau 9FM
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Join St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College PTA
We are beginning the process of forming our Parent Teacher Association. This is a vital group in our community which will nurture and build relationships and support and develop life of our community.
If you are interested in joining please follow the link to complete and submit the form. There will be an initial meeting at school for those interested on Thursday June 17 at 6pm.
PTA Expressions on Interest Form  |
King's Birthday Public Holiday - Monday June 3rd
House Competition: Trash to Fash - Wednesday June 5th
Year 9 Leadership Training - Thursday June 6th
Parent Formation Evening Part Two - Monday 10th June
School Board Nominations Close - Friday 21st June
Matariki - Friday 28th June
Term 2 finishes - Friday 5th July
School Board Voting Closes - Friday 26th July
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St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College
School Board Elections
Parent Election Notice – notice to community
Nominations are open for the election of 5 parent representatives to the school board.
All eligible voters will receive a nomination form via email. Use this form to nominate yourself or someone in your community. You will also receive a nomination cover letter calling for nominations. Information on who is not eligible to be a board member is provided with the nomination form.
Nominations close at noon on Friday 21st June 2024. You may provide a signed candidate statement and photograph with your nomination.
The electoral roll is held at the school and can be viewed during normal school hours.
As nominations are received, there will be a list of candidates’ names kept at the school up until election day, which you can view.
Voting closes at 4pm on Friday 26th July 2024.
Karen Fromont
Returning Officer
St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College
485 Burtt Road
DRURY
[email protected]
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We Become What We Eat
Year 8 students had their first retreat last Thursday. They did different activities so that they could reflect about themselves and their relationships with their friends, their families and God. They were invited to recognise patterns of God’s presence and God’s gifts in their lives. The group also celebrated the Eucharist - a thanksgiving. Gratitude was the theme of the retreat. It was also an appropriate theme because our new school community is the fruit of persevering labour and countless deliberations of many over two decades. One could not deny that our school clearly bears the signature of God, in that it came into existence because of God’s gracious gifts. Since then, neither can we deny that God has always been the most important part of our school life.
The Feast Day of the Body and Blood of Christ falls on the same day of the Year 8 retreat. However, most dioceses, including in New Zealand, transferred the celebration to the following Sunday, so that more people would be able to celebrate the special day. The day is given a solemnity status to honour and celebrate Jesus, whose Real Presence is in the Eucharist that we receive. The tradition for the solemnity only began in the 13th century, but the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was adopted much earlier, as the New Testament already spoke about it.
These days, health and body-image experts have promoted the mantra, “We become what we eat.” This is an encouragement for people to eat healthily, so that their bodies will also become healthy. In the same way with the Eucharist, we become what we eat. By receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, we are nourished by Him who gave himself up for our sake, so that we can become more like Him. This understanding is an invitation to us, but also a challenge. What does it mean for us to receive Christ in the Eucharist? For us, the Body and Blood of Christ are not a symbol or a sign. Of course, if we are only using our senses, they would remain bread and wine. However, if we choose to believe in Him and to receive Him with faith, we enter and participate in His life, His divine way of being.
This participation in Jesus’ divine way of being is transformative. The Year 8 students have only begun their education at the school this year. By the end of their schooling here, we surely hope that most of them would have received the Body and Blood of Christ frequently in and outside school. We become what we eat. So, may our students be transformed to become other Christs in our world, made felt and visible by their words and deeds.
 Parent Formation Evening
On Monday 27th May, the school hosted a workshop on Focused Attention and the GROW Model by Fr Michael Smith SJ. After giving a brief introduction, the attendees could try it by acting out different hypothetical situations followed by a time of discussion. We look forward to the second session on Monday 10th June.
If you would like to attend session two, please register through the following link:
https://www.ignatius.school.nz/etickets/focused-attention-2-parent-caregiver-formation-evening Young Vinnies
Today we held our first Non-Uniform day to raise money for the non-for-profit charity Pro Love. Pro Love provides baby and toddler essential items to support mums, dads, caregivers and community organizations in need. Their motto is 'The Greatest of all is Love', 'Ko te mea nui Ko te aroha'.
Today we raised $520 with our gold coin donations, which is fantastic considering the size of our roll!
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A new consultation document prepared by the bishops as part of the Holy Father's Synod 2021-24 process has been sent to Rome.
This document, titled Towards October 2024, follows the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference being asked to establish a consultation process to discern responses to specific questions related to the Vatican’s Synodal Church in Mission report. That report was published after the First Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome last October.
National Catholic lay organisations, agencies of the bishops conference, religious, diocesan bodies, educational institutions, young people’s groups, parish groups and groups involved in previous synodal processes took part in the consultation, between February and April this year.
A statement about the document, and the document, are online here: https://www.catholic.org.nz/news/media-releases/synod-4/ |
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Nacho News Issue Five
Our school newspaper, Nacho News, has its fifth edition out now! Check it out! | |  |
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