First four mo nths of living and studying like a Kiwi L-R: Nona Walpuski, Nguyen Minh Uyen, Caja Janitz, Ingrid Gjermundsen Hermansen Avondale College's international students come from all over the world and are a vibrant and important part of our diverse school community. This week we caught up with Nguyen Minh Uyen from Vietnam; Nona Walpuski from Germany; and Caja Janitz and Ingrid Gjermundsen Hermansen about how their journey as Avcol international students has gone so f

Please find below timetables for examinations as follows: Junior exams: NCEA exams: Cambridge exams:

The Avondale College Board acknowledges the government’s recent decision to remove the requirement from the ‘Education and Training Act’ (2020) for school boards to “give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi”. While we recognise this legislative change, we note that this does not change our commitment to Te Tiriti. Avondale College School Board commits to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi including by working to ensure our plans, policies and curriculum reflect tikanga Māori, m

Mr Stephen’s science lab was filled with wide eyed wonder (and bubbles!) last week as a group of curious tamariki from our Early Childhood Education Centre came over for a science showcase! The children explored what it means to be a scientist — asking questions, reading big ‘science words’, observing closely, experimenting, and discovering how the world around them works. The adventure began with biology, meeting Avondale College's friendly skeleton and learning about the am

An informal get-together for some former Avondale College students from the 1960s, held at the Henderson RSA on Saturday 8 November, was a great success. Twenty attendees enjoyed the chance to reconnect, share memories, and catch up with friends - some of whom they hadn’t seen in decades. Organised by Neville Exler for some of his fellow classmates from the 1960s school cohort, the gathering sparked plenty of reminiscing. Many brought along old school photos, while others che

From the Principal Avondale College School Board Update Upcoming events Centenary Time Capsule Challenge Little Scientists in the lab! First four months of living and studying like a Kiwi Students discover futures on Careers trip to Massey University Avondale Classmates Reconnect Noticeboard

One of HEART values at Avondale College is respect, and part of respect means recognising the people and traditions that came before us. To this end, we are creating a Time Capsule to capture what life is like at Avondale College in 2025, celebrating our people, culture and achievements, for our students to open in 2045. We're asking students and staff to contribute letters, reflections, artwork and poetry and getting them to film short video messages. We will also enclose it

The highlight of the International Students' activity programme this week was a trip to Weta Workshop, New Zealand’s world-renowned studio behind The Lord of the Rings  and Avatar  films. From learning how props and costumes are designed, to seeing the intricate models and creatures up close, the group gained a deeper appreciation for the blend of imagination and craftsmanship that goes into Weta's work. They even got to have a go at creating their own mini model film sets. F

In this Issue From the Principal Upcoming events Wearing uniform with pride, year round International students wowed by Weta Year 10 Drama Students visit UNITEC for “Our Town” Putnam County needs more boys! Encouraging the next generation of Drama students Noticeboard

Our Performance Academy students work hard all year to hone their skills in drama, jazz, classical music and dance, and now they're ready to showcase their talents to the wider community! When: Thursday 20 November, 6:30pm Where: Avcol Theatre Entry:  Gold coin If you have a Year 8 student attending Avondale next year, this is a great opportunity for them to see the amazing work that comes out of the Performance Academies. If they want to register for 2026, they can do so her

On Tuesday 21 October, 23 Year 9 students completed a full day Engineering workshop, sponsored and hosted by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). This opportunity arose from their achievement and enthusiasm for Year 9 Product Development Technology and a recommendation from their Product Development teacher. Each team was tutored by an engineer from various disciplines in the field. In the morning, students constructed and soldered an electronic circuit for thei

We’re proud to announce that six of our senior students have successfully graduated from the NZ Police’s Moana Project — a six-month leadership programme aimed at inspiring more Pasifika youth to explore careers in policing. Reflecting on the experience, Year 12 student Gideon Vaopunimatangi shared: "The Moana project was amazing. We were definitely taught some valuable lessons and fed some mean kai! The feeling of graduating the course is great but knowing we won’t get to se

As the school year heads into its final few weeks, our Garden Club students have been digging deep into sustainability and community care through their involvement with the Second Bite project. Second Bite, run by EcoMatters Environment Trust, is a food scraps collection initiative that transforms waste into nourishment for local gardens. Our students have been hands on in this process, helping divert food waste from landfill and turning it into compost for our school garden.

In this Issue From the Principal Upcoming events Senior Prizegiving Second Bite initiative nourishes the Garden Club Exploring Robotics at IET Moana Project fosters leadership skills for Pasifika youth Out and about with our International Students You're invited to our Performance Academy Showcase! Noticeboard

Earlier this week, we proudly celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of our students at the Senior Prizegiving ceremony.  Awards were presented to those who achieved top results across their subjects, alongside special honours for exceptional service and contributions to school life. We also acknowledged students who collectively earned over $130,000 in tertiary scholarships to support their studies in the coming year. A heartfelt thank you to all our distinguished guests

Avondale College has been gifted a very special instrument from the Notable Music Trust, a trust set up to nurture emerging artists and provide accessible music education opportunities across New Zealand. The first student given the opportunity to play the beautiful viola is Year 12 student, Fa’agalo Wells Collins. Fa’agalo has long dreamt of owning her own viola, but up until now, she has only played a modified violin. The viola is larger and heavier than a violin, with a de

Every year since 1945, Avondale College has produced Taikaka  – a beautiful, high-quality yearbook filled with the stories, photos, and artwork that capture the spirit of each school year. This year’s edition is extra special - our 80th Jubilee commemorative issue! Avcol families have the chance to secure their very own copy at a subsidised cost of just $25, including postage. It’s a wonderful keepsake that celebrates our students’ achievements, and a lasting reminder of this

It was a bittersweet moment farewelling our Year 13 students at a special assembly and picnic on Tuesday. Many have been with us since Year 9 and are now stepping out into the world as young adults. Ms Khan, Mr White and Mr Gray all addressed the students, sharing their personal journeys since graduating school and challenged the students to follow their passions and keep their options open. The Year 13 students warmly thanked their Home Room teachers and many photos were tak

Last week we celebrated Niuean Language Week with the theme of, “Fakatapunu, Ofania, mo e Fakaaoga e Vagahau Niue!” (“Elevate, cherish, and use the Niuean language!”). We held a concert in the PAC featuring a series of beautiful dances, including one by Head Girl Kenahemana Hekau and her sister Anoiha. On the Friday, students were encouraged to wear Niuean cultural accessories such as a Kahoa Hihi (shell necklace), Foufou (floral head piece) and Fiti (single flower). With mor

In this Issue From the Principal Upcoming events Sports Awards 2025 A fond farewell to our Year 13s Introducing our Board for 2026 Niuean Language Week Order your Taikaka Yearbook! Iconic blazer bequeathed to Avcol Viola a notable gift to cherish MIXIT Performing Arts Workshop Sports Results Noticeboard