Principal's Message

Master of the Game: Self-Control on and off the Field

What a spectacular month of sport it has been! Our community is still buzzing from The Hurricanes clinching the Super Rugby Pacific Championship. While loyal fans cheered them on in a sea of yellow and black, the real magic happened long before kickoff. Behind the scenes, hours of gruelling, unglamorous hard work laid the foundation for victory. Yet, what truly defined their championship status was their self-control in celebration—they proved that legendary athletes are, above all, humble winners.

This exact spirit was alive and well at the recent Catholic Schools Netball Tournament. Our school team faced fierce competition, walking away with a mixed bag of wins and losses. However, the scoreboard only told half the story. Our girls shone brightest through their flawless display of self-control. They played fairly, celebrated their victories with humility, and took their losses with immense grace. They beautifully embodied the wisdom of Matthew 20:16:

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

In sport, as in life, character is not measured by the trophy you hold, but by how you conduct yourself in the heat of the moment. Self-control is the ultimate game-changer, and we can all practice it in different roles:

As a Player: It means managing your own energy and emotions. True self-control is pushing through fatigue to support your teammates, maintaining focus on the game plan, and choosing discipline over shortcuts when the pressure mounts.

Against the Opposition: It means respecting the whistle. Even when a call feels unfair or a opponent provokes you, true athletes show strength by walking away, playing cleanly, and offering a handshake at the final whistle.

As a Spectator: It means being the positive energy in the stands. Cheering passionately for your team while maintaining absolute respect for the referees and the opposing players is the hallmark of a great supporter.

Whether we are roaring from the sidelines like loyal Hurricanes fans or contesting an intercept on the netball court, self-control transforms us. Let’s continue to carry this powerful value into all our winter sports, remembering that true victory lies in how we play the game.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nikolai Solia

Principal

Chess Tournament 

by Jack, Aaryan, Eng Dara and Brady.

Today we played at the Inter Regional Intermediate Chess Tournament. This was held at Hutt International Boys School in Trenthem. There were a lot of other schools competing to win the right to represent Wellington at the Nationals in Auckland. It was a very new and exciting experience for us. The clocks were tricky to navigate and our opposition were really good at the game. We had a mixed bag of wins and loses but overall we had a lot of fun! We look forward to the next chess tournament!

Sports

 SFDS Swimming Sports Results 2026 

Congratulations to all students who participated in our 2026 School Swimming Sports. It was fantastic to see everyone giving their best effort, showing great sportsmanship, and cheering on their classmates. A special congratulations to our placegetters. The first two swimmers in each event have the opportunity to participate in the Southern Zone Swimming Sports on Tuesday 1 September at Kilbirnie Pool. Those who will be attending will receive further information closer to the time. 

Year 5 

25m Freestyle: Boys: 1st Aron M, 2nd Freddie M, 3rd Christian B, 4th Achilles G Girls: 1st Lina PG

50m Freestyle Boys: 1st Aron M, 2nd Christian B, 3rd Freddie M Girls: 1st Lina PG

25m Backstroke Boys: 1st Freddie M, 2nd Aron M, 3rd Christian B, 4th Seth F Girls: 1st Lina PG

Year 6

25m Freestyle: Boys: 1st Liam W, 2nd Frank W, 3rd Magnus W, 4th Otto T  

50m Freestyle Boys: 1st Liam W, 2nd Frank W

25m Backstroke Boys: 1st Liam W, 2nd Frank W, 3rd Magnus W, 4th Otto T

Year 7

25m Freestyle Boys: 1st Declan W, 2nd Roscoe J, 3rd Michael P, 4th Tenysin T Girls: 1st Arija J, 2nd Millie M, 3rd Harriet M

50m Freestyle Boys: 1st Declan W, 2nd Roscoe J, 3rd Tenysin T

25m Backstroke Boys: 1st Roscoe J, 2nd Declan W, 3rd Tenysin T Girls: 1st Harriet M, 2nd Millie M

Year 8

25m Freestyle Boys: 1st Nunzio U, 2nd Noah W, 3rd Jack C, 4th Eng-Dara L Girls: 1st Harper M, 2nd Florence W, 3rd Victoria M, 4th Lily RR

50m Freestyle Boys: 1st Nunzio U, 2nd Noah W, 3rd Jack J Girls: 1st Harper M, 2nd Lily RR, 3rd Bella RR, 4th Florence W

25m Backstroke Boys: 1st Nunzio U, 2nd Noah W, 3rd Jack C, 4th Eng-Dara L Girls: 1st Bella RR, 2nd Lily RR, 3rd Victoria M, 4th Florence W

A huge thank you to our staff, whānau, and supporters who helped make the day a success. Well done to all our swimmers for their enthusiasm, determination, and excellent sportsmanship!

PSL

PSL Disco Thank You

The PSL would like to extend a huge thank you to the SFDS community for your support of last week's school disco. It was a fantastic evening, with a great time had by all, and we are thrilled to share that we raised $1,186!

A special thank you goes to our amazing PSL team who continually come together to organise these wonderful events for our school community. Your dedication, time, and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.

Big thanks to DJ Danny on the Turntables !

We would also like to acknowledge the parents who generously volunteered their time on the night: 

Candice, Lauren, Harlee, Carola, Thuy, Maria C, Sophie, Courtney, Cat, Maria N, Jo C, Sarah P, and Sam W and our amazing Year 8 Helpers! We truly couldn't do it without your support.

And to anyone we may have accidentally missed, please know that your help was equally valued and appreciated.

Thank you all for helping make the disco such a successful and enjoyable event!  Our next event will be the Matariki Evening here at school! If you would like to help out then just send us an email and we will find a job for you! psl.sfds@gmail.com 

Dates to Add to Your Diary

Our  SFDS Events Calendar is the best way to stay up to date with everything happening at school — including PE days, special events, and other important dates. You can find the calendar by clicking on the link above or either on our school website or through Hero.