"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” Luke 6:27-28

There are times when we read Bible verses and we have the luxury of being philosophical and considered. Then there are times when our world comes crashing down around us and Bible verses can read like a bitter pill. LAC has had its share of tragedy over recent months and we have been required to respond, whether we like it or not.

The world is a strangely unfair place. The same poor choices may or may not have any consequences or tragic consequences. When confronted by such circumstances, a raft of emotions will swirl around us, anger being one of them. There is far less opportunity to be 'considered'.

The bitter pill is not only that we are called to love those whose choices have crushed us, but that we ourselves are no better. In a disturbing twist of truth, we are all sinners who have required Jesus to pay the ultimate price on our behalf. There is no equity in that either.

Ultimately, we are left to simply love one another. Each of us all in the same boat, all of us in God’s family.

Brendan van Oostveen, Principal

"Our heartfelt thanks.

To all of those who have helped the Woollaston Family during this difficult time, we wish to pass on our thanks. All forms of help, including the prayers, kind thoughts and words, and more tangible gifts, have been a real blessing. A special thanks to those who helped with the meal train over the past weeks. We have appreciated kindness and love that has been shown by the LAC community."

Greg, Stacey and Family

It gives me great pleasure to welcome both Mr Kofi Amoah and Mr Darren Ngarepa onto the teaching team for 2020. 

Mr Amoah, who is currently working as a volunteer dean in LAC House and Youth pastor at Palmerston North Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. Many, if not all of the students and staff, have worked with Mr Amoah for over two and a half years. He is a trained teacher who came to us from Canada. Mr Amoah will be filling the role of Chaplain as Mr Kevin Gredig retires at the end of this year. 

Mr Gredig has been at LAC for thirteen years, has worked in Adventist schools for thirty-two years and has over forty years of experience in schools. His legacy will cover a number of students and staff, but also the way we do Chaplaincy. His integrity and deeply-seated values have always allowed us to remain focused on the right things as a school. We wish him well in his retirement. 

With Mr Sam Rashleigh returning to teaching at Brisbane Adventist College, there is a need for a range of skills to be filled. Mr Darren Ngarepa, who is currently a PE teacher at Horowhenua College, has accepted a position as a PE teacher at LAC. Mr Ngarepa has been involved with sport at LAC for some time and we are excited by his addition to the teaching team.

We are anticipating announcing additional new staff in the near future. In particular the LAC House Senior Boys' Dean. This individual will be filling Mr Roy Henry’s role. Mr Henry has been with LAC for some eighteen years. His children were basically raised in the dorms and his commitment to the school has been a significant part of both his and his family’s life. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him on behalf of the hundreds, if not thousands of students that he has cared for like a father.

Brendan van Oostveen, Principal

NCEA Exams

NCEA Exams began on Friday, November 8th this year. There has been an excellent turnout this year and long may this continue. Please continue to prepare for your exams throughout the busyness of the next few weeks. Please also continue to check with your teachers for any study materials that they are able to provide you for the duration of the exam time. The link to 2019 exam timetable is below. 

The exam results are generally released in mid-January. Students are expected to login to their NZQA accounts and check their results there when the time comes. All the very best!

Tamar Aiono, Assistant Principal

Graduation

Year 13 Graduation took place at the end of Week 3, on the 1st & 2nd of November, with highlights scattered throughout the weekend. From a magnificent dinner shared with the graduates and their families to Roy Henry’s earnest and sincere talk; from the enthusiastic Praise and Worship group to the heartfelt testimonies shared at church on Saturday morning; the more informal celebration of Year 13 dormitory students by their boarding brothers and sisters. There were beautiful musical items presented, and appreciations were made to Mr and Mrs Henry for the significant impact made on students in their time at LAC. Every Year 13 student was involved in the preparation of the weekend and it was fabulous to see a host of skills come into play. 

The Graduation evening was a testament to the hard work, effort and contribution that the students have made to LAC. It was a celebration of their achievements and all they had accomplished, academic or otherwise, with every person being accounted for. Of the cohort, a high percentage achieved NCEA Level 3 and all but one were able to meet the goals they had set out for themselves this year. For this, we applaud and honour them. Thank you to all the staff who supported them in their journey. 

The LAC chaplain, Kevin Gredig, was our keynote speaker who shared his last words of wisdom, punctuated by a biblical high calling, to be the people that stand up and apart. 

The evening was a blend of laughter, formal celebration and a valuing of every student. 

Our Top Award recipients were:

2019 DUX - Lily Bull & Tuivulavula Unua

NZPUC Cup - Beaven Ganaii

Year 13 Citizenship - Beaven Ganaii

Pasifika Award - Beaven Ganaii

Paul Rampton - Tanner Ferreira

Year 13 Leadership - Rachel Jaboon

Year 13 Special Character - Emilia Sessa

Principal's Award - Amelia Tyrrell & Sophie Pigott

Tamar Aiono, Assistant Principal

Sun. 17 Nov: LAC House End of Year Dinner

Mon. 18 Nov: School Chapel

Wed. 20 Nov: Boarding Scholarship Application Deadline

https://www.lac.school.nz/boarding/scholarships/

Thu. 21 Nov: Y7&8 Cultural Day (12 - 2 pm)

Thu. 21 Nov: BoT Meeting (5.30pm)

Tues. 26 Nov: Y7&8 Orientation Day

Tues. 26 Nov: School Chapel

Thu. 28 Nov: Junior Music Concert (7 pm)

Sat. 30 Nov: LAC House Food Bank Drive

Sun. 1 Dec: LAC House Splash Planet Trip

Mon. 2 Dec: NCEA Exams End

Thu. 5 Dec: PB4L Celebration Day

Mon to Wed 9 - 11 Dec: Year 10 Work Experience

Mon to Fri 9 - 13 Dec: Year 7&8 Activity Week

Friday 13 Dec: Year 7 - 10 Prizegiving & End of Term