Since the 1960s, Ponsonby has been the first stop for Pasifika immigrants. A number of families have long standing connections to the suburb, even if they have moved to other areas. Principal Mark Rice says although a third of the boys are from outside Ponsonby, many local families have begun to send their children to the school.
In 2009, only seven boys enrolled in year 7. This year, 23 students enrolled, and of those 10 live close enough to walk to school.
"There has been a 20 per cent increase in the roll. The key reason for that, I think, is that academic achievement for the last three years has been steadily tracking up ... things are going well," he says.
The 2011 NCEA results shows a marked improvement, with just over 85 per cent of the school's students achieving level 3. Twenty per cent also passed with merit endorsements. That compares to 2010, when 63 per cent achieved level 3, and 2009 when the figure was 57.1 per cent.
Mr Rice attributes the improvement to the significant changes the school has had in its teachers, who he believes are more attuned to the students' needs.
The school has also implemented a plan based on very clear, basic principles: respect and responsibility.
"We have very high expectations of our students," he says, but adds that they also acknowledge some boys may err. "Boys stuff up. We believe in second chances. Once they start achieving, they get motivated to do better."
The $1.1 million block recently built on Richmond Rd also shows the school's commitment to education, says Mr Rice. "That new building that opened in August last year sent a clear message to the community that the school is investing in the future. The Marist Brothers and the Catholic Church made a significant outlay to upgrade the facilities here.
"The investments had an immediate return and people are bringing their boys in Year 7."
Mr Rice says there is also a strong community demand for values-based education. "We're certainly marketing ourselves in being a Catholic school," he notes.
But the staff also emphasise a holistic approach to education, and the small number of students means the boys have a real sense of brotherhood.
"Our sports programmes are really a key part of the school," he says. "We're the top rugby league school in the country and have been for many years. Our parents have a positive perception of sport in their sons' lives."
In 2010, Sports Auckland approved funding for a sports hub at the college, with senior students helping to run lunchtime and after-school sports trainings to encourage boys who weren't involved in sport already.
Another initiative this year is a services academy in which the boys work on qualifying for careers in the armed services, police, Fire Service, Customs and as paramedics. Mr Rice says the aim is to continue to grow the school and to improve its number of NCEA excellence and merit awards, while maintaining its edge in sports.
"We want to be the leading multi-cultural school in the city."
LOOKING TO LEADERS
There are a number of former students that the boys look up to, including Manu Samoa legend Peter Fatialofa, former All Black Bernie Fraser, and a proud past string of league stars in the incredibly strong league school
including Stacey Jones, Joe and Nigel Vagana, Jerome Ropati and Francis Mele.
John Palavi, 2010 head boy, is a rising star in league, captaining the Warriors Under 20 side in the Toyota Cup. The 19-year-old was named the club's Toyota Cup player of the year in 2011, and has signed full-time with the
Warriors until the end of 2014.
John won 21 academic and sporting awards while at school, plus has won a vice chancellor's award at Auckland University where he's beginning a degree in medicine.
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