CONFORTARE April 2013
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CONFORTARE April 2013 www.sacredheart.school.nz Cultural groups Another stellar year A successful term for record wins at ASB of academic results Sacred Heart College Polyfest 2013 at all levels of NCEA Cricket Confortare April 2013 | 1 Contents College News 3 Special Character 4 Academic News 5 College Sport 6 Performing Arts 9 International News 10 SHC Community 11 Development Foundation 12 Daniel Mahoney (Deputy Head Boy), Principal Jim Dale, Matthew Foote (Head Boy), In Profile 13 Sean Whitham (Deputy Head Boy) In Memoriam 14 Old Boys News 15 Our Winning Ways Craft an Imaginative Future Greetings to Marist Brothers, parents, students, Old Boys and friends of the College. nce again, I am proud to report continued improvement, achievement and advancement at our beloved College. On the cover Many of you will already be aware of the history-making achievements and successes generated by our highly talented scholars and my dedicated staff. Ipu Laga’aia, one of the leaders of the O Samoan Group, placed 3rd as Manaia • The College roll is at full capacity with waiting lists at all year levels, particularly in Years at ASB Polyfest 2013 7 and 9. • The new 1500-seat Auditorium is scheduled for a formal opening and blessing mid- September this year. Thank you to our advertisers. • Planning is already under way for Stage 2: a 250-seat theatre, music suites and a Knowledge Please support: Centre – a combination of Information Technology, books and research area, archives and APS Ltd teaching and learning areas. Fuji Xerox • Academic achievement in NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 is at a historical record-breaking high Initial Hygiene and a record number of Excellence and Merit endorsements have been attained (Academic Jasmax results for 2012 are chronicled in this edition of Confortare). Robert Burnes & Associates • Nationally Sacred Heart is achieving at a considerably higher level than all other Decile 8 Spacific Yearbooks schools and single sex boys schools in New Zealand in Levels 1, 2 and 3. Editorial and advertising enquiries • In sport, we compete, and succeed, locally and nationally in both summer and winter disciplines. Angela Little For a college of 900 Senior students, we are winning trophies and titles from colleges of 027 487 5048 2,000 to 2,470 boys. We are batting well above our weight. Such is the continued success of [email protected] our Sports Institute, our highly talented athletes and our dedicated and skilled coaches. • ‘Sounds in the Open’ – this was a musical extravaganza and a wonderful reflection of our Database changes rich musical talent at Sacred Heart. Lyn Luxton [email protected] • Polyfest 2013 – all three groups, Kapa Haka, Tongan and Samoan all achieved success at the 09 529 3743 recent 2013 Polyfest. The Fia Fia night was glorious. • And, best of all, our young Marist men are living their 2013 Pillars of ‘Family Spirit’ and Designer ‘Loyalty and Pride’. Each Thursday lunchtime sees over 400 boys attending voluntary Mass. Spacific Yearbooks St Marcellin is smiling in Heaven! Published by Yes, the tone of the College is very positive at the moment and the future looks wonderfully Sacred Heart College bright. However, as my 93-year-old mother would always remind me, “Laddie, pride comes 250 West Tamaki Road before a fall”. Glendowie, Auckland 1071 In our Marist way, we continue to strive for excellence, to cherish all our young men and to Ph 09 529 3660 seize every opportunity, now and in the future. Fax 09 529 3661 Onwards and Upwards www.sacredheart.school.nz ■ Mr JA Dale, Principal 2 | Confortare April 2013 ■ CollegeNEWS Board of Trustees Dear Parents and Guardians his is an exciting time for Sacred Heart College. The school has moved from strength to strength since the 1990s and Tis now performing to a very high level nationally, academically and in sport and has a diverse and wide-ranging cultural programme. Several of the long-standing parent New Staff trustees of the Board of Trustees have elected not to seek re-election in 2013. This leaves us with a substantial gap to fill in dealing with the The first day at school can be a governance of the College over the next three years and into the nerve-racking experience, and future. The term of the present Board ends and a new Board will take office on 6 June 2013. not just for the students. The key election dates are as follows:- hether a new teacher or an old hand, the • 2 May Nominations open butterflies can still take hold. But I think I • 16 May Nominations close speak for all the newcomers at Sacred Heart • 21 May Voting papers sent out College when I say that the powhiri the Kapa HakaW group performed at the start of term was as calming • 30 May Voting closes • 5 June Counting/Results as it was stirring. Their joyous and beautiful welcome onto • 6 June New Board of Trustees take office the school grounds and as we entered the Chapel was done with verve and passion, a credit to the whole school. It was a I would ask interested parents to put their names forward to spiritual embrace that enveloped us all. be parent representatives. Past school Board experience and/or commercial and business experience are useful but not essential. Once inside the Chapel Mr Jason Renau, on behalf of the Common sense, an ability to work co-operatively and a commitment tangata whenua, provided the mihi of welcome to new students to the furtherance of the interests of Sacred Heart College and the and staff. Mr Gus Leger replied on behalf of the manuhiri, giving goals of the Marist Brothers are vital, however. our thanks for the welcome and support we had been shown. With speeches from Principal Jim Dale and Year 12 student Ben Recent Board-driven building initiatives include the Auditorium, Gatting, we were given insight into the Special Character of Performing Arts Centre and teacher accommodation, which are seen Sacred Heart – a family and community who stand firm in the as important priorities in the new term. All of these projects are teachings of St Marcellin Champagnat – and how he envisaged dependent on funding and the approval of the ‘Proprietor’, Sacred a Catholic and Marist school should be, the Pillars for the year Heart College Limited, who have taken over responsibility from the being ‘Family Spirit’ and ‘Loyalty and Pride’. Marist Brothers in the last year or so. The finances of the College are in very good order. For myself, I can add only this: after more than a decade overseas, this was the return home I could never have expected In closing, I would like to mention three things to parents generally. but deep down in my soul I know I needed. The pride I felt The first is Sacred Heart College is not a ‘drop-off and pick-up’ at the for my country and its rich cultural heritage was one I did not gate type of school. It is one where traditionally parents are involved fully appreciate or comprehend until the boys delivered this in the school community whether as helpers, coaches or volunteers, symbolic welcome. It was a moment of pure beauty. Sacred as was so superbly demonstrated at the recent College Fair. It was Heart has truly brought me home. heartening to see so many new parents participate and I urge you all to become involved in some way or another. You will benefit a great ■ Mrs Rachel Vaughan deal from this contribution. The developments made around the College are funded through the building portion of the invoice you receive from the College each term. We are not funded in the same way as a State school. We have to pay for our own infrastructure, which it is why it is so vital for parents to pay and pay on time. These payments are tax deductible. Finally, I wish to record my thanks to my fellow trustees who have indicated they intend to resign at the end of the present term – Dr Catherine Fisk, Mr Martin Devoy and Ms Anna Friis. They have each made an immensely valuable contribution to the College and its students for which I thank them most sincerely. ■ Mr Brendan Lawler, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tangi-Boye Mitchell and Mr Gus Leger Confortare April 2013 | 3 ■ SpecialCHARACTER Passing on of the Candle of the College, Dominic addressed the students with eloquence, congratulating Matthew Foote, Sean Whitham, Daniel Mahoney and the Prefect body on their leadership roles for the year. He reminded all of us that we must not forget to do the small things in our lives that help us work towards our larger goals. After wishing the school well on its 2013 journey, Matthew Foote spoke to the school for the first time in his new role of Head Boy for this year. Matthew spoke from the heart, and told the school how humbled he was to be given this role. He thanked Dominic for his contribution to the College and his guidance on what it means to be a Marist man and a leader in our Dominic Bolton hands candle to Matthew Foote sacred college. Matthew called upon the Year 13 cohort to relish in the leadership that has been handed to them and to lead the school n Friday 15 February, students from Years 11 to13 took following our 2013 Pillars of ‘Family Spirit’ and ‘Loyalty and Pride’. part in one of the College’s sacred traditions known as The Prefect group then signed and recited their pledge, promising to the ‘Passing on of the Sacred Heart Candle’, a pivotal uphold the trust that has been placed in them and serve the school moment in the school’s calendar early in the year.