Junior Scholars Academy students took part in an engaging hands-on design session in Technology where each student created their own ergonomic pen using polymorph plastic. Throughout the session, students explored the characteristics of plastics, with a particular focus on thermoplastics, and discovered how these materials can be moulded and reshaped. Key learning was focused on ergonomics and how thoughtful design can improve comfort, efficiency, and usability when creating products for the human body. A thank you to Ms Batley, Ms de Thierry, and Mr McCullough for running this fantastic session.

Darius Henare-Vaihu, a Year 11 student at Avondale College, is quickly making a name for himself in the world of men’s netball. Already named Most Valuable Player for his club two years in a row, Darius is now preparing to compete in the Under-20 division at the NZMMNA New Zealand Men’s Nationals in Napier - an opportunity that marks another major milestone in his fast-growing career. His netball journey has also taken him to Dunedin, Christchurch, Taupō, and Northland - many of which were places he’d never visited before. It all began in intermediate school, when his sister and mum encouraged him to give netball a try. Initially hesitant, believing it was “more of a girls’ sport,” Darius quickly discovered a passion for the game that rivaled his early interest in rugby. Now co-captain of his team, Darius trains regularly - often late into the night - balancing his commitment to sport with schoolwork. He primarily plays Goal Defence, drawn to the thrill of intercepting passes and leaping for the ball. “I enjoy jumping and defending. I prefer it over shooting,” he says. His strategic mindset focuses on reading the game and creating space for passes, a skill sharpened under the guidance of his coach, Pili Apulu. "Pili pushes us hard and encourages us to join rep teams to grow our skills. We’re training more often now - games, training games, everything.” Through netball, Darius has learned valuable lessons, including the importance of humility. “One game, I headed in over-confident. We played Australia and we'd never encountered that style of play before - they were up by 20. Don’t talk too soon!” He draws inspiration from role models like his cousin Hikoi Paki and Nathan Wilson, the son of his Waitākere Under 20s coach, who plays basketball in the United States. “Nate comes back and makes netball look so easy,” Darius says. "He shows you how to use basketball techniques in netball and this has enticed many boys into joining the sport." In Darius's view, netball is technically more challenging than basketball. In netball, you only have three seconds to pass the ball, where as basketball, you have up to 24 seconds, and you're not able to move with the ball, you have to pass. Despite the demands of training and study, Darius remains focused and driven. He prepares for games by stretching and talking with his coach, and credits his parents for keeping him motivated.

Avcol's Symphony Orchestra performed at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and our Chamber Orchestra performed at the neighbouring St Mary's Chapel as part of the KBB Music Festival this week. The Festival is one of New Zealand’s premier youth music events, held each year since 1983, in a range of magnificent venues. It has grown into a vibrant celebration of musical talent, showcasing secondary school orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and chamber orchestras from over 50 schools across the greater Auckland region. Each group competes for awards and spots in the gala concerts. We look forward to hearing the results soon!

Returning to the Atrium and the corridors of Avcol is both a "surreal and a familiar feeling" for newly-appointed Music educator Tyler Diprose. Although he graduated from our school just four years ago, Mr Diprose brings an impressive depth of experience and expertise in performance music. A recipient of the Susan Smith Musical Excellence Award and the Gordon Cole Memorial Cup during his time at school, he went on to study a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland, and is a sought-after piano and bass player. Today, he hopes to give back to the school that nurtured his talents. "I'm having a blast teaching," he shares, "I love being able to guide kids from all sorts of musical backgrounds to understand what we're looking at in music." As a student, Mr Diprose was drawn to ragtime music and joined the Jazz Academy under Mr. Robinson. It was the improvisational nature of jazz that truly captivated him: “It’s not just mindlessly playing random notes,” he explains. “It’s playing something within the style and conventions, and linking it back to previous traditions. I will never stop learning about it." At Avcol he joined multiple bands, like "Gypsy Jazz", "Toby and the Rest” and "52nd Street Combo" who performed at Jazz and Soul nights at Avcol, and this year, has been playing for several bands, including "Lucas Kewell & Friends" and "House of Green Branches" alongside his Avcol cohort, for Auckland’s Creative Jazz Club (CJC). Seeing upcoming jazz bands like Swing 46, who recently won an award for Most Outstanding Jazz Combo, brings back fond memories. “I see little bits of them in me and that’s super cool,” he says. He especially enjoys working with students who already have a strong musical foundation, offering suggestions to help them grow. Mr Diprose acknowledges that some parents can be worried if their child pursues music at a University level, fearing there might not be job prospects on the other side, but that hasn't been the case for him. "You make your own opportunities in music. I've learnt to hustle for gigs and connect with people to get hired, especially on bass - people often need bass players. It's about knowing where you sit in the market." Deputy Principal Dr Julie Garner, who taught him in the Cambridge Music programme, is delighted that he's returned to Avcol.  “Mr Diprose was always articulate and able to appreciate and analyse music from a range of musical styles and genres," she shares. "Having started in jazz, he jumped into the deep end of double bass playing in the Chamber Orchestra and helped the group gain a Gold Award at the KBB galas. His extensive musical expertise will be a wonderful asset to the next generation of young musicians at Avondale College."

Meitaki Maata to everyone who took part in ‘Epeoma o te reo Māori Kuki Airani/Cook Islands Māori Language Week! Thanks particularly to our Aspiring Pasifika Student leaders: Salia Kingi, Honor Sanelivi and Aydan Vaega-Phillips for coming up with the programme. The activities throughout the week helped students and staff connect to te reo Māori Kuki Airani, Cook Island students were able to share their knowledge and experiences about their language and culture. Kahoot Quiz Congratulations to the Whānau Home Room Class for winning the prize. Thank you Salia for creating the quiz. ‘Ei katu workshop  It was awesome to see students and staff take on the challenge of creating their own ‘ei katu. The vibrant colours and flowers came together to make a beautiful crown. Thank you to our Aspiring Pasifika Student Leaders for leading the workshop with our ‘ei katu making experts Mrs Liupuhi and Mrs Lokeni. Special mention of Zayden and the Kaura family for sharing your ‘ei katu with us, meitaki. Artwork Competition Thank to all the entries, it was hard for our judges Mr May and Mr Abraham to select a winner. Congratulations to Lukas Tamulis in Year 11 for winning the competition. Concert The lunchtime concert was a beautiful way to end an eventful week. Meitaki to all our performers Jadarose Kapsin-Mani, Manea Maruariki, Aria Monaghan, Isla Uhila and the girls! Not to mention our lovely MCs: Aylah Taihia, Nive Kopa and Gideon Vaopunimatagi, they stepped up to MC and did not disappoint, keeping the crowd engaged. Thank you to our parents and families, Aunty Hamida Kapsin-Ali for your help with the display and your continuous support. Final thank you to Manea Maruariki and family, especially little brother Cairon for doing the traditional Cook Island call at the start of our concert. Ms G Alai Director of Pasifika Student Achievement

In this Issue From the Principal Upcoming events Cook Island Māori Language Week Mr Diprose returns to Avcol KBB Music Festival Net gains: Darius earns his place on the tournament courts Junior Scholars investigate moldable plastics Now's a great time to clear out your wardrobe! Waipapa Ōhanga Rau visit International students visit Sheep World Avcol alumna re-selected for Silver Ferns Teachers VS Prefects netball game Sports Results Noticeboard

Avondale College’s Scholar's Academy was honoured to host Alisa Pham, a truly extraordinary young academic whose journey has inspired people across the country. Alisa first made headlines as New Zealand’s youngest-ever university student, enrolling at just 11 years old. Alongside her adopted sister Vicky Ngo, she completed five years of high school in just 10 months, and has now graduated with a Bachelor of Communications from AUT. At 15, Alisa is pursuing two Master’s degrees: one in Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence at AUT, and another in Psychology through Harvard University’s online program. Her academic interests span AI, psychology, media, and cybersecurity, and she currently works as a research assistant at AUT. She’s also the founder of Ozone Points, a digital platform that promotes environmental sustainability through tree- planting and carbon tracking. With her remarkable intellect and impressive list of achievements, Alisa story sounds to be unrelatable to most people—but her journey has been anything but smooth. Alisa has faced and overcome immense challenges: societal prejudice against migrants, periods of homelessness, financial hardship, and complex immigration battles— including the threat of deportation. These experiences have not only shaped her character but ignited a deep passion for youth empowerment, educational equity, and social innovation. During her visit to Avondale College, Alisa shared her journey with students, offering insights into the power of curiosity, determination, and community support. She encouraged students to embrace challenges, lead with empathy, and take initiative in shaping their futures.

Tou gh Guy & Gal Challenge Year 12 and 13 Outdoor Education students from our school recently put their skills to the test at the New Balance Secondary Schools Tough Guy & Gal Challenge in Kumeu. The event, held at the Kumeu Showgrounds, offered a challenging 6km course packed with obstacles designed to push participants to their limits. Our students navigated a rugged terrain that included swamp crossings, a spiders' web net climb, and tunnels, all while battling a significant amount of mud. This experience was a perfect real-world application of the resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they've been developing in their Outdoor Education classes. Beyond the physical challenge, the event also provided an opportunity for students to earn NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 credits, linking their muddy efforts directly to their academic curriculum. Notable placings include: 6th overall in the "guys'" race: Landan Bell (Year 13) out of 996 males. 6km in 27m50sec 17th overall in the "guys'" race: Nathan O'Neill (Year 12) out of 996 males. 6km in 31m11sec 15th overall in the "gals'"' race: Claire Klippert (international student). 6km in 36m29sec

In last week's Heartbeat we mentioned the superb performances of our music groups at the Auckland Secondary Schools Jazz Competition at the Birkenhead RSA. The finals were held last weekend, with an Avondale College band named in the top four of both the Combo and the Big Band competition. When the results were announced, we were delighted to see Avondale's Five Spot combo awarded a silver, and our Blue Note combo, Birdland combo and Big Band all received gold awards. However it was jazz quintet Swing 46, made up of close friends Alex Hutchinson-Jones (drums), Andrew Pedrezuela (guitar), Rose Elijas (vocals/saxophone), Felix Wong (bass), and Max McCulloch (keyboard), who took out the highest honour of "Most Outstanding Jazz Combo." They were also graded at "platinum" level, meaning they are performing at a University standard. Swing 46 beat stiff competition from other finalists from Rangitoto College and two groups from St Kentigern's College at the Birkenhead RSA on Sunday to secure the top prize. “There’s a specific feeling you get when they call your name - you gasp,” says Rose. “Going up and getting your award, it feels really good.” The group has performed in a number of competitions since they were put together by Director of Jazz Mr Robinson in Year 10, including the National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga, where last year they were given a 'bronze' grading. “That really fuelled our determination this time round,” says Felix. "We wanted to prove we could do better than bronze." This year the group were awarded gold at Tauranga - and the award for 'Best Band Concept'. Max won 'Best Combo Keyboardist' and Rose 'Best Combo Vocalist'.  “This year was our comeback,” adds Andrew. “And it was certainly much more than that. I’m really proud of all of us.” L-R: Alex Hutchinson-Jones (drummer), Andrew Pedrezuela (guitar), Rose Elijas (vocalist/saxophonist) Felix Wong (bass) and Max McCulloch (keyboardist) In the lead up to Auckland Jazz Competition (which is the largest secondary jazz competition in New Zealand, with 41 combos competing this year) the group rehearsed their set 3-4 times a week, at lunchtimes, after schools and on weekends. Felix believes that since their Term 1 competition in Tauranga, the group has grown in musical ability, confidence, and connection, and that this was likely recognised by the judges. After their performance of jazz charts "Canvas," "Midnight Sun" and "Jazz Crimes," keyboardist Max was also named one of the Top 3 Musicians of the event. Judge Stephen Morton-Jones praised his complex soloing, intelligent note choices, and ability to go beyond the chord changes. "They were talking about this person as 'a great soloist', saying 'they really understand jazz' and I didn't realise they were talking about me until they called my name," he says. “This is because Max doesn't have a big ego," explains Rose. "He’s quiet, professional, and incredibly talented." When asked who leads the group, the answer was unanimous: Rose. As the sole female member in a band, she embraces her unofficial leadership role with a gracious and sisterly approach: "Sometimes I have to bribe them with Coke to get them focused!” she shares. “They’re always improvising on their instruments—it’s hard to get them to stop!” Alex says their friendship will keep them playing together long into the future, and they will stay together simply because "we're good!" “We appreciate each other as people just as much as fellow musicians," says Andrew. "We share a love for this genre of music and there's so many more opportunities to explore every type of jazz." Swing 46 will be next performing at the Whau Talent Quest on Wednesday at Kelston Boys High School. Come and support!

Dominic Colaco, Finn McGregor, and Karthik Padma have returned from Florida this week after representing Avcol at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships - regarded by many as the "Olympics of the tech world." Finn achieved 7th in the world for Microsoft PowerPoint, and Dominic achieved 10th in the world in Microsoft Word; an incredible achievement in a competition that attracts over one million competitors worldwide. The competition itself was held at the Hilton Orlando, where over 190 finalists from across the globe gathered to put their Microsoft Office skills to the test. “We were among the youngest there,” said Dominic, who is in Year 9. “Most of the others were in late high school or early university, which made being there feel even more awesome.” The competition challenged students to apply their skills in a real-world scenario. They had to create a document, PowerPoint presentation and collate data for a nonprofit called Limbitless Solutions, which designs prosthetics for people with limb differences. “They gave us a set of criteria, but left it vague enough that we could interpret it creatively.," explains Finn. "That made it really interesting.” Finn believes that working on a practical case study helped solidify his learning: “It’s one thing to know the tools, but applying them to something meaningful really helps it stick, which will be helpful for when I'm employed one day." After nervously completing the test in a room full of competitors, the trio had to wait a full day for results. They spent that time exploring Universal Studios, braving rollercoasters and soaking up the Florida 43 degree heat. Another highlight was visiting the Kennedy Space Center, where they saw the legendary Atlantis shuttle. Dominic and Finn were absolutely thrilled when they had heard they had made the top 10 in the world for their respective applications. The experience has given the team a major boost in confidence and a clearer sense of what to expect next time. “We can now pass that intel back to Mr Prasad to help train the next cohort of Avcol students,” said Dominic. Looking ahead, Finn predicts that Microsoft PowerPoint will evolve with more AI functionality, making it even more powerful and intuitive, while Dominic hopes to see a simplified version of Microsoft Word developed, so younger students can begin learning the basics even earlier. Avondale College would like to acknowledge Zeph Morgan and the team at ACE for their support of our students.

What began as a passing interest in social volleyball has quickly grown into a full- fledged passion for Year 13 student Jean-Luc Dewerse, who recently returned from his second tournament in Xiamen, China. Due to the continued Covid lockdowns in his junior years of high school, the team he had joined up with 'just for fun' disbanded. He found himself unexpectedly stepping up to play with the senior squad, which helped him to up his understanding of the game. By the following year, he started playing for the Waitakere Rebels club, and something clicked. He wasn’t just playing anymore—he was hooked. “I started getting addicted to it,” he says. At the Auckland Champs that year, his team placed 12th. They packed up and left before the awards ceremony, not expecting to hear any positive results. But a week later, Jean-Luc got a message from Director of Sport Liz Page: he’d been selected for the New Zealand tournament team. “I couldn’t believe it,” he recalls. “That was when it hit me—maybe I wasn’t half bad at this!" Last year's season was a really "tough" season with the national team, but it revealed to him just how deep his commitment ran and how far he was willing to go to keep chasing the sport he loves. Competing internationally has brought a raft of new challenges—having to adapt quickly to time zones, different cultures, food, and training schedules. Despite being 6 foot tall, Jean-Luc insists he's "short" in the volleyball world. In his latest tournament in China, the shortest hitter on the winning team stood at 6'6", and across the net, his direct opponent was 6'9". Many of the international teams have professional students who get paid salaries to train six hours a day. "Needless to say, we got smacked,” he laughs. "But it was still a fantastic experience." Back home, he's deep in club season with beach tournaments lined up for summer. His sights for next year are on earning a scholarship to play volleyball in the US or Canada.

Our two Avcol teams kicked off the season with a stellar performance at the first TYP Theatresports match last week, going head-to-head with Mt Albert Grammar and Kaipara College—and coming out on top. Team Ho Ho Ho, featuring Alice Strom, Mia Mave, and Gideon Vaopunimatagi, and The Divas, decked out in fabulous floral '70s-style gowns, made up of Arlo Lorien-King, Finn Hall, and Liam Presling, both delivered hilariously entertaining performances (Avcol student Lizard Wright graciously volunteered to be a part of another school's team as they were one player short). One highlight was the "Furniture" game, where Team Ho Ho Ho earned 10 out of 10 for entertainment value. In this game, Gideon had to physically become pieces of furniture throughout the scene—think lamp, couch, and coffee table, all while staying in character and telling the story of losing a passport on the way to the airport. Another crowd favourite was "One Voice", where Arlo and Finn had to speak in unison at all times - while pretending to be on a first date jumping off the Sky Tower. Much laughter ensued! “We work so hard to be in this club and really love what we’re doing," says Alice, "we love it when students support us as fellow students and their families support us on stage!" 🗓️ Catch the next match at the Avcol drama rooms on Tuesday, 26 August at 6pm. It promises to be another night of laughter, surprises, and top-tier student talent. Pre-loved dresses for sale Before the match and during the intermission, there will be a range of gowns (no longer required by our drama department) for purchase by koha.