WELCOME TO FRANCIS DOUGLAS MEMORIAL COLLEGE

2010 here we come!

After experiencing an indifferent but nevertheless rejuvenating summer, we are about to begin another cycle in assisting parents to develop the next year level groups of our young men.  In doing this we are confident in the environment this school provides but well aware of the need for perpetual effort since good schools do not thrive merely on their reputations...God helps those who help themselves! Last year’s students were issued with a challenge to strive more for excellence. 

As an incentive, students in Years 11 and 12 were informed that those who obtained Excellence Endorsements would receive an Academic Colours award at our special assembly on 30 March.  This was initiated because, while it was conceded that our pass rates for NCEA are exceptional and superb, our levels of Merit and Excellence endorsements had been disappointing when compared to other Decile 8 schools.  While not all students are academically gifted, these poor statistics unambiguously pointed to an attitude of complacency among those who could have done better. It is therefore heartening to announce that a Level 1 we obtained eight Excellence Endorsements compared to four in 2008.  Those students were: Jarrod Bakker, Joe Bracegirdle, Scott Busing, Jonathan Carey, George Grainger, Hadley Northcott, Kieran O’Donnell and Joshua Walsh.  This number is more than the 2008 national average for Decile 8 schools (2009 figures are not available yet).

At Level 2 we obtained six Endorsements compared to four in 2008.  Once again, this figure is above the 2008 Decile 8 national average.  Successful students were: Tane Clement, Luke Duthie, Simon Gray, Aniket Mehendale, Lance Molyneaux and Troy Stevenson. I am grateful to these students for the lead they have given. Their good example undoubtedly assisted their peers to reach a little higher also.
 

As a school, we welcome your prayers and assistance in this new year as we launch into our next 50 years strongly placed with the legacy the Brothers have left us.

St John Baptist de La Salle – pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts – forever
Martin Chamberlain

Recent Additions To Our Web Site

• 2010 Start Up Information for Families
• 2010 Handbook For Boarders
  
• How to purchase Stationery for 2010
• The Senior Prize List for 2009
  
• The  Br Bill Diaries recording Br Bill's time in Sudan
• The Subject Handbook is now able to be accessed through this site.
• Our 2009 ERO Report 

Br Declan, the last of the De La Salle Brothers living in community at FDMC. 

The graph below shows the overall NCEA results for FDMC students in 2009. Click on the graph for a link to an enlarged image.