|
|  | | Term 4 is here! Summer uniforms are here! Warmer weather is here! Do you know what’s nearly here? One of the most significant events in the Young Marist calendar… the Awa Run 2024! 🏃♀️
On the 26-29th of November, six students from each school in the NNMS will be running down the Whanganui Awa - with each student covering around 50kms each. As well as getting super fit and speedy, students are raising funds for ‘Next Door,’ a programme that partners with remote communities to provide further educational opportunities for their rangatahi. You can (and definitely should) read more about the Awa Run and donate HERE.
We hope you all had a restful break and are feeling ready to squeeze the juice out of Term 4! Wishing our senior students all the best for their exam preparation and end-of-year school celebrations.
A huge welcome to Hayden Kingdon who starts as the Principal of Pompallier Catholic College this term. Hailing from St Peter’s College in Auckland, Hayden brings a wealth of knowledge, skill and passion to the role. Nau mai Hayden, we’re really excited to have you join our network.
Please get in touch if you’ve got anything you’d like to share, we love hearing from you!
Kia pai tō koutou rā!
The Young Marist Team ❤️
|
|  | | | | | | | FIRST EVER STAFF AND STUDENTS MINISTRY FORUM |
| We held our first ever Staff and Students Ministry Forum at Pā Maria last month. Year 11 and 12 students from St Pat’s Silverstream, Cullinane and Roncalli spent two days in the Capital, learning and chatting about prayer, liturgy and the importance of student-led ministry in schools. It was great to have such robust and insightful conversations (and to have the average age of forum attendees brought down too)! We’re really looking forward to holding more of these forums next year with students from other schools in the network. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hayden Kingdon starts as new Pompallier Principal |
| Along with Justin Boyle, Fr Mark and Seamus journeyed up to Northland to Pompallier Catholic College to attend the pōwhiri for their new principal, Hayden Kingdon. They were stoked to be there and wish Hayden good luck in his new role! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Fr Mark, Ange and Liv took a trip into the bush and up the hill to the beautiful Te Urewera to visit Chaz, and have a chat about our Neighbours programme and what it could look like in the future. With climate change being one of the most significant issues facing our world, it’s increasingly important that we’re learning, talking and doing something about it! As people, we need nature, land and waters for life, purpose and humanity; nature enjoys people for their aspiration, endeavour and friendships. Here lies an interrelationship between both beings which is needed for a just life - a concept that’s becoming increasingly important within our YMN programmes. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SILVERSTREAM SOCIAL JUSTICE DAYS |
| The Silverstream Chefs must have heard us coming, because we were lucky enough to have fried chicken burgers again for lunch (which if you read last months newsletter, you’ll know we are big fans of). Perhaps more importantly, we had another two Social Justice Days with Stream’s Year 12 students. Despite these days being in the last week of Term 3, we were stoked with the engagement and robust conversations we were able to have.
We don’t have any photos of the SJ days, but we do have one of the chicken burger. We might need to get our priorities straight but please see attached image. Jealous? |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | WHAT HAS OUR NETWORK BEEN UP TO? |
|  | HATO PĀORA HOUSE COMPSHouse comps is the most important event we have at kura each year. It's one of the many things that make our kura so unique, and House Comps is the perfect portrayal of our culture at school but more importantly as Māori. This event is about kapa haka and from Term 2 all the way through Term 3, the four houses, Tangaroa, Rongomātāne, Whiro, and Tāwhirimātea are continuously practicing during the weekends and nights to prepare for the stage. Year 13’s from each of the houses are to come up with a quality bracket and teach their house with help from the year 12s. Once House comp's day comes, the four houses will each have their own holding rooms in which they prepare themselves for their stand on stage. When the night comes, each house performs one by one in front of many whanau and friends, including 6 judges. However at the end of the night all that matters is who takes home the hardware and the bragging rights.
P.s. House Comps this year were won by Ngāti Rongomātāne.
(Written by Manaia Okwara) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|  | POMPALLIER’S RELAY FOR LIFE SUCCESS Pompallier Catholic College kicked off the year with its biggest project yet—the Northland Relay for Life, uniting students from Year 7 to Year 13. Senior students led the charge as well as special performance by DJ Risto added to the event’s success. Together, the school raised $21,000, which will be donated to Cancer Society, marking a proud achievement for the college and fostering unity throughout the school.
(Written by Mischy Disu) |
|  | MARIST COLLEGE SCHOOL FILM PRODUCTIONFor the past two years, Marist has been working on the school film production Chasing Stars. A full-length feature with 75 minutes of student-created work—from writing and acting to directing, music, costumes, and more, Chasing Stars premiered at the St Lukes cinema to a packed V-MAX theatre.
It follows Marama, played by me, Ava Crowe, a justice-driven teen, unaware of the darker side of Global Music (GM). When she overhears GM’s lies about funding charities, she becomes determined to expose the truth, stopping at nothing to right the wrong. Willow, played by Maddy Low, is the face of GM. She begins questioning her identity after giving up her fight against GM to protect her career. Now, she seeks to rediscover herself and join Marama in exposing GM’s secrets. Meanwhile, Aria, played by Kacee Conway, is a newly signed artist who remains unaware of GM’s corruption. After bonding with Willow and hearing whispers of the truth, she decides to leave her dream behind to follow Willow and find their own path.
A huge thank you to everyone involved—the cast, crew, and everyone who came out to see it in the cinema! Check out the trailer above!
(Written by Ava Crowe, Student Director) |
| | | |  | | | | Nedd Brockmann’s Charity Run Liv has been loving keeping up with Nedd Brockmann’s Charity Run. He’s the guy who ran across Australia in 2022, and at the time of writing this, he’s currently attempting to break the world record for the fastest time to run 1,000 miles. He does it all to raise money for people experiencing homelessness which makes him even cooler. Go Nedd! |
|
| Awa Run Fundraising Fr Mark is really looking forward to seeing which school in the network will raise the most amount of money for the Awa run. Do with that what you will. I’d personally interpret it as donating to or ramping up your fundraising efforts. As far as the leaderboard goes, the top 3 schools currently stand: St Bede’s, Marist College, and Hato Pāora. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NotionOk for all those who love organisation I am loving Notion! It is such an easy online diary resource - you can have a tab for home, work, Summer planning - whatever! And you can sync your calendar. It’s a great little widget (so thanks Liv for getting me on to it). |
|
| BriWhen I initially asked Bri for her monthly recco, she said she had none. However, after some prompting, she’s given you not one, not two, not three, but four! First up, a couple of TV series to choose from: ‘Nobody wants this,’ and ‘Heartstopper.’ Coming in hot at third, she’s got ‘The Girls Uninterrupted,’ podcast, and last but not least, she’s been loving homemade Reuben bagels (NOT to be mistaken with sandwiches). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | When I was 5, I used to beg my dad for shoulder rides back to the car in the cold, wet winter weather after a game of ‘First Kicks’ soccer. His strength amazed me every time as he scooped me up, hoisting me onto his broad shoulders with ease. His calloused hands held my legs firmly, steadying me as I swayed above him. He’d wrap me in his oversized hoodie, at least ten sizes too big, while he shivered in the biting cold, just so I could stay warm.
This year, during Social Justice programmes with Year 12s, our team has been collectively surprised by how many young men and women alike believe toxic masculinity is one of society's biggest issues.
While helping run one of these programmes, I thought it would be an interesting litmus test to ask the group what they believe a man is. Words such as ‘tough’ were thrown around profusely. As the discussion drew to a close, with the bell about to ring and release the students for games of handball and trips to the tuck shop for hash browns, someone raised their hand firmly. “What do YOU think a man is?”
Admittedly, I was a bit taken aback. I mean, I am meant to be a man after all; how hard should answering this really be? But, as someone who has grappled with the concept of masculinity for a large portion of my life, I struggled to find the right words. Without really consulting my brain first, my mouth opened and said, “my Dad.”
There was a brief pause as these students understandably had no clue who Rod Lohrey from Darfield was. I was left with no other option but to explain my choice.
The truth is (and not to toot my own horn) there was no better answer.
You see, my dad was raised in a generation that taught him strength was often found in silence, where a hug from a father was a rare and unusual occurrence.
However, my dad used to dance at my cricket games whenever I hit a boundary. He stops in his tracks whenever he sees a baby out in public so he can speak to it. My dad gave up drinking the moment I was born and hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol since. I found it funny, as I referred to stories such as this, that none of these related to him being ‘tough’.
The truth is, my dad is the perfect example because he is both selfless and vulnerable.
Back when my dad gave me shoulder rides, I was in awe of his strength, eager for the day I’d be big enough to do the same. Now that I’m 21 and making him give me a shoulder ride would likely send him to the hospital, I realise it wasn’t his physical strength that made him masculine—that fades. In fact, it was the quiet, selfless act of giving me his hoodie, telling me how proud he was, and letting me be warm while he braved the cold. That moment showed me that being a man is about more than just strength—it’s about putting others first and embracing vulnerability.
As I reflect on these moments with my dad, I realise that helping and educating young men today means challenging the narrow, outdated ideals of masculinity many of them are taught to follow. True strength isn’t about being tough or emotionless; it’s found in vulnerability, kindness, and the willingness to put others first.
If we want to help young men grow into better, more compassionate adults, we need to show them that masculinity isn’t defined by dominance or stoicism, but by empathy, selflessness, and the courage to break free from societal expectations. Just as my dad unknowingly taught me, it’s about leading by example, teaching through action, and showing that real masculinity is rooted in care and connection.
Is this the example we are setting for the young men in our Network?
P.S. Love you Dad.
|
| |  | That wraps up our October issue of Marist Mail!
Whether you’re studying, working, serving, ministering or just relaxing, remember that time goes so quickly and everything is temporary. We have so much to be grateful for every day. Also, life is fun and meant to be enjoyed.
Righto, enough of us trying to be inspirational and motivating! Enjoy the rest of your week, and please drop us a line if you’ve got anything to share.
Ngā Manaakitanga, the Young Marist team.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
