Dear Parents/Caregivers
Happy New Year! I hope that all of our students have had a great summer break with their whānau and friends, and are refreshed, ready for the year ahead. We are looking forward to the 2023 academic year starting next week and want to take this opportunity to provide all families with some important information and reminders before students return to school next week. This information can also be found on our school website.
HEART values
Our HEART values are intrinsic to the daily life of our school community. As we begin the academic year, staff and students will be discussing and connecting with our values of Honesty, Endeavour, Atawhai, Respect and Tenacity. We welcome parents having conversations at home about what these values mean to your family, and how students can demonstrate them in their preparation for the academic year and in their everyday actions throughout the year.
Academic Excellence
We are extremely proud of the learning and qualifications gained by our students during 2022, in both the NCEA and CAIE pathways. End-of-year examination results showed Avondale College students’ focus on excellence in their learning, as pass rates continue to be impressive, with exceptional outcomes for both individuals and cohorts of students. We look forward to building on these successes in 2023.
Start Dates and Times
For Year 9 students, and new students to Avondale College in 2023, the academic year starts on Thursday 2 February, at 9:50am. Students should gather outside the Stadium, ready for the welcome pōwhiri at 10am. Families are invited to join us for this pōwhiri, which will last for approximately 30 minutes. Year 9 orientation runs for Thursday and Friday (8:55am start) and school will finish each day at 3:15pm.
Year 13 students' academic year also starts on Thursday 2 February, at 9am in the Stadium. On Friday, school will start at the normal time of 8:55am and students should go directly to home rooms. Each day, school finishes at the usual time of 3:15pm.
Year 10, 11 and 12 students start the academic year on Friday 3 February. Year 12 students start at 10am and should meet in the PAC. Year 10 and 11 students start at 11am, with Year 10 students meeting in the Stadium and Year 11 students meeting in the PAC. School finishes at the usual time of 3:15pm.
School will be closed for Waitangi Day on Monday 6 February. On Tuesday 7 February, all students will commence their timetabled classes for the year and bell times will run as usual.
Bell time change for Wednesdays in 2023
This year there will be a later start time for students each Wednesday. Every Wednesday, the usual start time will be 9:10am and students will go directly to their period 1 class. This time will allow for teachers’ professional learning and development. Bus times will be unchanged and the Library will be open to any students who wish to utilise it before Period 1 commences.
Subject changes for 2023 and Re-enrolment/Course Confirmation for seniors
Timetables, classes and staffing are almost complete for 2023. A small number of senior students may need to change a subject or finalise their timetable and they will need to attend re-enrolment/course confirmation. Year 13 students are asked to come in at 10:30am (until 1pm) on Tuesday 24 January. Year 12 students are asked to come in at 1:30pm (until 4pm) on Tuesday 24 January. Any other students requiring course changes, including those in Year 11, should come in to school between 9am and 1pm on Wednesday 25 January. Students are not required to be in school uniform when they come in for course confirmation.
All subject changes are managed by the Deans:
Year 11 Dean: Miss Hannah Stewart H.Stewart@avcol.school.nz
Year 12 Dean: Mr Tom Bishop T.Bishop@avcol.school.nz
Year 13 Dean: Miss Emma Prior E.Prior@avcol.school.nz
Uniform
It is important that all students start the new academic year wearing correct school uniform and meeting the high standard of personal presentation that is expected of Avondale College students. Please support your child to ensure that, where appropriate, they are clean shaven, have removed any piercings beyond a single gold or silver stud or sleeper in each ear lobe, and that hair is clean, tidy and natural in colour. If new uniform items are needed for the start of the academic year, please visit the College Shop before school starts. More information regarding shoes that can be worn at school and the full Avondale College uniform is available here.
'Family Connection' - Avondale College's Parent Portal
If your contact details have changed, or if you would like us to use a new email address or phone number to contact you, please update these on our Family Connection parent portal, or contact our Enrolment Officer, Kim Lawrence: datateam@avcol.school.nz
Year 9 parents will be sent their login details for Family Connection shortly, along with their unique family code which will be used as a reference when paying school accounts.
We very much look forward to welcoming students to Avondale College over the next couple of weeks, in particular those who are joining us this year, and to seeing them make positive progress with their learning – both academically and with co-curricular activities, in 2023.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the College.
Kind regards
Lyndy Watkinson PRINCIPAL