Principal's Message
|
Tēnā koutou St Ignatius community,
This week we were delighted to welcome Fr Quyen Vu, the regional Provincial for the Society of Jesus, to the college. During a special assembly to welcome Fr Quyen, we listened to scripture from the Acts of the Apostles and reflected on the determination and commitment of the apostles to build the early church, building the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Fr Quyen gave an inspiring address to the college and we were honoured to hear all about his missionary life, particularly about his time building the Kingdom of God through education in places like Timor Leste and Cambodia.
In 2022, I met Fr Quyen for the first time at the Jesuit Provincial gathering. At this meeting, Fr Quyen wanted me to know that the Jesuit order was committed to supporting the college in our establishment but also offered his personal support and the support of many others in the order. I found God in his commitment to our new college and to the mission of the Catholic Church. It is through the commitment of Fr Quyen that the college is blessed with the presence of the Jesuit Order and having Fr Eka and Fr Michael missioned to assist us in the establishment of our Catholic Ignatian character. Through Fr Quyen we have been truly strengthened to grow the Kingdom of God here at the college.
There are hallmarks of the Kingdom of God in a place that can be observed. Some of these hallmarks are joy, justice and peace. It is through Fr Quyen and the support of the Jesuit order that we have seen these hallmarks growing and flourishing in our community. Long may our relationship continue to grow, so that we continue to flourish as a place filled with joy, filled with justice and filled with peace.
Inveniens Deum in omnibus,
Dean Wearmouth
|
Term Four Ākonga Assessment Week |
Please be aware that our end of year assessment week for ākonga is coming up early Term Four.
This is scheduled for Week Three (October 28th - November 1st).
Ākonga will be assessed in their core subjects of Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences.
Revision and study material is available within each classes 'Google Classroom'.
 Sport
This weeks results:
Monday
Futsal
Y9 Girls vs Papakura
0-7
Thursday
Girls Volleyball (First Game of the Season)
Match 1 Papatoetoe - BYE
Match 2 Sancta Maria - Win 2-1
In their first game of the College Sport competition, some of the girls were stepping onto the Volleyball court for the very first time. With a strong start we won the first set but lost the second.
They came together for the third set, with a determination and a desire to finish strong. Their teamwork paid off as they clinched the win, delivering an exciting triumph that thrilled both the players and spectators. The team was assisted by Travis Baldwin who is supporting our Volleyball programme and learning how to officiate the game.
Week Ahead:
Friday 18th
Futsal
Training - Y9 Girls in La Storta at 3:15pm
Monday 21st
Boys Touch Rugby
Training on School Field after school
Tuesday 22nd
Volleyball
Training after school
Tennis
Franklin Zone Tennis Team
Counties Tennis Centre
9am-3pm
Wednesday 23rd
Boys Touch Rugby
Training on School Field after school
Basketball
After school in La Storta
Thursday 24th
Girls Volleyball
Game 1 Strathallan
Pulman Arena
4.00pm
Game 2 Sancta Maria
Pulman Arena
4.45pm
Futsal
Y8/9 Boys Training
La Storta 12:50
 Curriculum
Science
Year 9's have been learning about simple machines. A practical lesson on how pulleys work and how they make lifting easier took place in the catering area using a swing! This was an 'uplifting' lesson!
  Ākonga Elective
Taekwon-Do Elective: Building Confidence and Skills
This semester, our Taekwon-Do elective kicked off with a fresh new group of enthusiastic ākonga, who gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays under the guidance of Mr. Raukura. The students have been focusing on simple self-defense techniques, learning to protect themselves while developing valuable life skills. Working with a partner has become a key element of the sessions, helping students build confidence and improve their teamwork. These foundational exercises not only strengthen their physical abilities but also promote trust, communication, and self-discipline. We are excited to see the progress this group will continue to make throughout the semester! Keep up the great work, ākonga!
 | |  |
Coding
Torito Esquivel Garcia has made this phenomenal game. He recreated the ground floor of our school in Scratch, including the uniform as you can see! Which teachers will you find in this game?
Instructions:
Bob has forgotten his science book and left it in the locker. Help him get to his locker so he can get to class without a problem.
Use W A S D keys to move around
Click on a key when you are next to it, to collect it
Click Q to drop an item (you can only hold one at a time)
Click on doors with the same colour key to open them.  Ākonga Achievement
Sam Newby
Congratulations to Sam Newby, who came Second Place in the New Zealand Wrestling Championships. He achieved the silver medal in the Under 41kg division.  |
Manutaki Certificiates
This week the following ākonga/student were recognised by their Manutaki for having received an outstanding Weekly Excellence Review in Week 10 of last Term.
Year 7 - Ashna Smith
Year 8 - Skylar Vibal
Year 9 - Aidan Todd
We celebrate these ākonga/students being more fully alive and reflecting the greater glory of God through their work and actions.  485
Each week students are given the opportunity to nominate fellow students who have been displaying our school values.
The top nominations this week are:
Ethan Steadman nominated George Moody for showing commitment by helping him when he was struggling in soft materials because he kept helping until he was finished
Ivy Killian nominated William Griffin for showing conscience for stepping up to the role of runner and showing great commitment.
Saskia Balle nominated Annabelle Shields for showing conscience by helping a teacher in the hall during lunchtime.
The winner is Aidan Todd who was nominated by Drew Liefting for showing compassion by helping him with his homework on the bus.
Well done Aidan!  |
Lost property
Please note that lost property will be displayed in our hospitality area for student collection on Thursday and Friday of Week 2. Any unclaimed items after this time will be rehomed or disposed of accordingly. |
Ākonga Leadership Applications
‘Love ought to manifest itself more in deeds rather than in words.’
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)
Ākonga have been finding out this week about Leadership roles which our current Year 8 and Year 9 students can apply for. The image below shows the range of opportunities open to everyone. However, Year 8 and 9 are invited to apply for the roles of House Captain and House Leader.
You can follow the link below to see the application information. Ākonga interested in applying can collect the packs from Student Reception. All applications should be submitted by 3pm Friday October 25 to student reception. Please note applications are paper submissions.
We look forward to accompanying ākonga on the next step in their leadership journey!
Ākonga Leadership Application Pack 2025
‘The Gospel tradition plainly indicates that the most distinctive aspect of Jesus’ teaching on leadership is his emphasis that a leader is essentially a servant’
(Lavery & Hine, 2013)
 |
|
Sport and Group Photos Tuesday October 22
On Tuesday we will have our official Sports/Group photos in school. Ākonga/students will have the photos taken in full school uniform unless they are on the School Netball and Rugby teams where they will wear the official sports uniform.   Loving for Life
This week we have had the Loving for Life programme running for our Year 8 students. This is an informative course that not only help students understand some tricky topics around love, but also discusses things like how people should treat you, self worth, and how to be the best version of themselves.
|
Upcoming dates
Group Photos with Photosmart - Tuesday 22nd October
Theatre Trip Year 7 - Wednesday 23rd October
House Time 'Tug of War' - Wednesday 23rd October
Student Leadership Applications due - Friday 25th October
English Faculty Year Level Assessment
Looking ahead
Assessment Week (End of Year) Week 3 Term 4 - October 28th to 1st November
St Ignatius' Got Talent - Wednesday 6th November 6pm in La Storta
Grandparents Mass - Monday 11th November 7:30am - This is a ticketed event.
School Production Auditions - Monday 11th November to Friday 15th November
Xavier House Mass - Wednesday 13th November
Teacher Only Day - Wednesday 20th November
Year 7 2025 Transition Day - Wednesday 20th November
Confirmation Liturgy - Friday 22nd November 11am - Due to limited space, these tickets are limited to the whanau of those students receiving the Sacrament.
Year 7 Camp - Wednesday 4th - Friday 6th December
Grandparents Mass
The College invites all grandparents and grandparent figures of students to a Grandparents' Mass on Monday 11th November, 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. Due to limited space in the Companions of Jesus Chapel, this will be a ticketed event. Tickets are available free of charge on the College website.  Confirmation Liturgy
St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College invites the families of the students being Confirmed to join us on Friday November 22nd, at 11:00 a.m., as Bishop Steve confers the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a full-school Liturgy in La Sorta (the College Hall).
Due to limited space, these tickets are only for families of those students receiving the Sacrament.
Please note that this will be a liturgy without communion.
Spaces are limited, so you need to reserve a ticket.  |
Hi my name is Lizzie Yorke, I originate from the UK and have lived here in NZ for the last 19 years. My husband and I have two boys here at St Ignatius, Tate in Year 9, and Reid in Year 7, and we reside at Glenbrook Beach.
I first got involved with my boys' previous schools PTA as a way to meet new people and to have an understanding of how kiwi schools work. It wasn’t long before I found myself in charge of their Calf Club Committee and the PTA.
Jumping on board at St Ignatius was a bit of a no brainer for me as again I found myself not knowing too many people. Contrary to what my hubby thinks, PTA doesn’t stand for “parents to avoid” so pop along to a meeting - we’re not that scary I promise!  | | Just a reminder about our events coming up- we'd love to see you at some of them!
29 November 2024, Year 7 and 8 Neon Fiesta
10 December 2024, Christmas picnic
21 February 2025, Year 7 and 8 social event/disco
28 February 2025, Pickleball night
09 May 2025, Quiz Night
Any questions, please contact [email protected] |
|
On Humility
The school has entered the final term of its very first year. As a new school, we have achieved a lot: the development of our facilities, our programs, and above all, our ākonga. It is probably something that we can be proud of. However, what is this pride about? In their RE classes, some Year 7 students recently asked why pride is considered one of the deadly sins in Catholic teaching. After all, we are often proud of our accomplishments, awards and accolades.
In the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, there is a Meditation on the Two Standards. In this, the retreatant is invited to consider or imagine a battlefield (prior to his conversion, the young Ignatius was very familiar with battles). On the one side, there is Christ as the supreme commander of goodness; on the other, Lucifer, the mortal enemy of human nature. Christ calls and desires all people to come under the banner of his Standard. Christ’s Standard was counter-cultural in Jesus’ own time, in Ignatius’ time and is also in our time. To fully choose Christ’s Standard, we can learn to take three steps: to choose poverty over riches, insults and contempt over worldly honour; and humility over pride. That’s a lot to take in, but let’s focus on the last one.
 Pride can distract us from focusing on God. It blocks our sense of gratitude for what God has done for us, and even push us away from God. Its opposite, humility, grounds us on the knowledge of who we truly are before God. For example, despite his great mission in the Church, Saint Paul never forgot who he was and what he had been prior to becoming Jesus’ apostle. He spoke of himself as the least of the apostles as he had previously persecuted Jesus’ followers (cf. 1 Cor. 15:9). For that, he even considered himself as the greatest of sinners (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15).
It can sometimes feel natural to be proud of the wonderful things we or our loved ones have achieved. However, if we desire to stand under the banner of Christ’s Standard, we can consider alternative points of view. Instead of pride, we can have gratitude. Instead of focusing on ourselves, our abilities and our hard work, we can focus on God who has given us the graces to be strong, to be courageous, to persevere, to be committed to our shared mission.
Things can become difficult and challenging even for the most successful institutions and persons. In those moments, rather than relying on ourselves and our abilities; or blaming others or the unfortunate circumstances, we can be prompted back to God as the giver of all good gifts. We can pray for a special grace of fortitude, so that even in the midst of the most difficult challenges, we are able to see hope.
Challenges can become opportunities that help us realise that our reliance on God’s love is fundamental. They invite us into the mystery of humility. In this mystery, God’s flock grows. Our students are God’s flock who will be witnesses of the Good News, standing firmly under the banner of Christ’s Standards, following in the footsteps of Saints Paul and Ignatius; and many others. It is something for which we can truly be grateful.
|
|
|
