The FDMC Foundation
  • What's Going On?
  • The Old Boys' Blog
  • The Foundation
    • Foundation Goals
    • Become a Foundation Member
    • Foundation Projects
    • Funding The Future
  • FDMC History
    • The Early History
    • Father Francis Vernon Douglas
    • De La Salle Brothers
    • The Brothers at FDMC
  • Photo Galleries
    • Photos From The Early Days
    • 1960's Photos
    • 1970's Photos
    • 1980's Photos
    • 1990's Photos
    • 2000's Photos
    • College Captains
    • FDMC From The Air
    • 50th Jubilee Photos
    • Photos From the 60th Gathering
    • Sports Photos >
      • The NPBHS Game
      • 1st XV Photos 1959 - 1979
      • 1st XV Photos 1980-1999
      • 1st XV Photos 2000-2019
      • 1st XI Photos
      • Athletics Sports
      • Swimming Sports
    • Activities Photos
  • College Magazines
    • 1960's Magazines
    • 1970's Magazines
    • 1980's Magazines
    • 1990's Magazines
    • 2000's Magazines
    • 2010's Magazines
  • On Reflection
    • Staff Reflections >
      • Our Foyer Painting
      • Graham Blanks
      • Graeme Mustchin
    • Student Reflections
  • College Culture
  • What's Going On?
  • The Old Boys' Blog
  • The Foundation
    • Foundation Goals
    • Become a Foundation Member
    • Foundation Projects
    • Funding The Future
  • FDMC History
    • The Early History
    • Father Francis Vernon Douglas
    • De La Salle Brothers
    • The Brothers at FDMC
  • Photo Galleries
    • Photos From The Early Days
    • 1960's Photos
    • 1970's Photos
    • 1980's Photos
    • 1990's Photos
    • 2000's Photos
    • College Captains
    • FDMC From The Air
    • 50th Jubilee Photos
    • Photos From the 60th Gathering
    • Sports Photos >
      • The NPBHS Game
      • 1st XV Photos 1959 - 1979
      • 1st XV Photos 1980-1999
      • 1st XV Photos 2000-2019
      • 1st XI Photos
      • Athletics Sports
      • Swimming Sports
    • Activities Photos
  • College Magazines
    • 1960's Magazines
    • 1970's Magazines
    • 1980's Magazines
    • 1990's Magazines
    • 2000's Magazines
    • 2010's Magazines
  • On Reflection
    • Staff Reflections >
      • Our Foyer Painting
      • Graham Blanks
      • Graeme Mustchin
    • Student Reflections
  • College Culture
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

The Old Boys' Blog

10/30/2014 0 Comments

Another Long Server

Picture
Next up on our portraits of long serving staff is Mr Peter Smith. Peter arrived at FDMC in 1984 and like most staff who have been around awhile at the College he has taught in many different areas. The last decade has seen Peter as our Mr Computing, a thankless task when the network is not working properly!
0 Comments

10/28/2014 0 Comments

News Worthy

0 Comments

10/24/2014 0 Comments

Celebrating The Hostel Life

Picture
Tonight sees the second annual dinner to farewell the Y13 hostel group. It is a time to look back over 5 years of hostel life and recall the events and characters that make up a boarding experience. Pictured above is one of those "characters" in a hat that we may not see tonight!
0 Comments

10/23/2014 0 Comments

Cracking On

Picture
Good weather and hard work has seen the new Science Lab block make very good progress. This shot is taken from the main block stairwell over looking the new buildings. Recent old boys will note that the Y7/8 shade area has moved sideways to accommodate the new structure.
0 Comments

10/21/2014 0 Comments

Satch Is On His Way

Congratulations to recent old boy Satch Pryor on getting a rugby league contract with Queensland Manly to play in next seasons Queensland Cup. Just another step up the ladder for a talented athlete. No pressure but we are looking forward to seeing who becomes our first FDMC Kiwi player.
0 Comments

10/20/2014 0 Comments

Paying A Visit

Picture
A very welcome visit to the College today from past Principal Br Tim Peter. Br Tim is in town for a few days and catching up with all those friends he made during his two tours of duty at FDMC during the 80's and 90's. He is currently in community in Brisbane and working in adult education for the under underprivileged.

As you can see from the image above Br Tim is very well and in good spirits and retains his great affection for the College, a place he had a key hand in shaping in it's current form and spirit.
0 Comments

10/17/2014 1 Comment

From The Walsh Collection

Picture
The College Archives have been the recipient of a number of magazines, photos and documents from the late Leo Walsh (thanks Mark). Amongst the photos is the one above which has no title, caption or individual names.  If you can enlighten us a little please leave a comment with some details.
1 Comment

10/16/2014 0 Comments

Teaching The Teachers

Picture
The following is part of Br Bill's latest letter from South Sudan. It always puts our every day issues in to a more real perspective.

It is a good problem to have. We need more dormitories and more staff accommodation in Yambio where there are now four, full-time classes of pre-service teacher training in action. There are two semesters per year and the programme extends over two years – thus, for four semesters. At the beginning of each semester there is a new intake. Initially, we projected four streams to be our maximum enrolment but with the indefinite closure of our Malakal campus – a consequence of the senseless civil strife in South Sudan - we are planning on expanding our Yambio campus to six streams. There are many young men and women keen for higher education.

Unfortunately, I cannot say they are all avidly keen to be teachers. Yes, the two classes undertaking practice teaching in the schools at present are very enthusiastic but the reality is that South Sudan teachers are very poorly paid (less than US$100 per month on average). So we know that many graduates will seek other jobs that are better paying. In one respect, that can be discouraging but the fact that we have prepared them well for whatever they undertake is very encouraging. The student teachers are very grateful for the opportunity they are receiving. In years to come, no doubt, teaching will be better remunerated and a higher percentage of people will be educated. At present, it is still less than 50 per cent of children in South Sudan  that receive the opportunity to go to  school at all.

An unfortunate, graphic statistic for South Sudan is that a fifteen year-old girl has more chance of dying in child birth than of completing her secondary education. Some new good schools, such as Loreto in Rumbek, are changing that. Last year, the Loreto girls gained the top results of all the secondary schools in South Sudan. Solidarity makes a special effort at affirmative action and offers teacher training to each class of Loreto graduates. There is a great need in South Sudan for more educated women. At our Teacher Training College in Yambio, we endeavour to encourage as many girls as possible to train to be teachers. Currently, however, we have 25 female students in a student population totalling 91. Too few girls have the secondary qualifications to begin teacher training.

Our academic staff in Yambio are very diverse in nationality and background. Sr Margaret Scott RNDM from New Zealand is the Principal while her Deputy is Sr Margaret Sheehan FCJ from Ireland. Br Methodius from Ghana is a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There are two Comboni Missionary Sisters: Sr Sandra Amado from Brazil and Sr Carmita Cabrera from Ecuador. Trish Palmer is a lay woman from Australia while Sr Pat is a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, USA. Brother Joseph Alak is a De La Salle Christian Brother who was born in Juba, South Sudan, but joined the Brothers in Egypt. All of these men and women, from different traditions, live happily together in one religious community. The Irish Christian Brothers also have a community in Yambio and Brother Odongo from Kenya also works in the College training teachers. It is a healthy mix of vision and skills.

So it is that we varied persons stand together in solidarity to encourage the young men and women in the College, from diverse tribes, to live together in peace and mutual respect.  The obvious happiness of the students and their good relationships is evidence that this is working well. Clear expectations are set for the students and we have found that very quickly they take a real pride in who they are and what they are achieving. We have been blessed with financial assistance from many donors in establishing the College and delivering programmes with our current major partner being Caritas Austria. Caritas Austria also sponsor our agriculture programme at Riimenze, about 30 kms. from Yambio. That farming project provides significant quantities of food for the Yambio College. Our goal is long-term sustainability for the good of the people of South Sudan.        
- Br Bill

0 Comments

10/14/2014 0 Comments

The Writing Is On The Wall

Picture
As we near the last few weeks of the school year for the seniors the house points display, donated by the Y13 students of 2012 is telling a familiar story. The Red Terror has been hard pushed by the Yellow Menace but it looks like they may just get there for another year.
0 Comments

10/13/2014 0 Comments

Making Progress

Picture
While staff and students have been away on holiday the builders have been beavering away at our new classrooms. The concrete bases have been laid on both the science and art rooms sites (art room seen above), so it won't be long before some actual structures will be taking shape. The work is a constant source of interest to both students and staff, with one or two science teachers showing definite signs of excitement. 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    FDMC Foundation Facebook Page
    FDMC CricHQ Site

    Picture

    An Old Boy's Card

    Picture
    Picture
    Want us to display your business card? Email it to us here.




    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    RSS Feed

    Author

    The FDMC Foundation exists to keep old boys aware of their old school and give them the chance to stay connected.

Picture
The FDMC Foundation
C/O Francis Douglas Memorial College
201 Tukapa Street
​New Plymouth
FDMC College Website
De La Salle Schools NZ