Phenomenal results! Avondale College is delighted to announce that our students have been awarded 57 Scholarships from the NCEA programme, including 6 'Outstanding', across 19 different subjects. 24 were awarded to Year 11 and 12s. Our warmest congratulations to all recipients.

L-R: Shivam Mehta, Oscar Cao, Shrihan Bobbala, Xincong He, Louis de Biaiso, Remi Baudet Avondale College has once again celebrated a remarkable year of Cambridge success, with students earning a Top in the World placing, four Top in New Zealand placings, and three High Achievement Awards in the November 2025 Cambridge International Examination series. The results reflect the depth of talent across the school and the dedication of students who consistently push beyond expectations. Leading the achievements is Year 12 student Oscar Cao, whose exceptional performance saw him awarded Top in the World for IGCSE Biology, alongside Top in New Zealand for both IGCSE Physics and IGCSE Chemistry. Strength in the arts was also on display, with Louis de Biasio (Year 12) achieving Top in New Zealand for IGCSE Music. In languages, Remi Baudet (Year 12) earned Top in New Zealand for IGCSE French, drawing on both school learning and practice at home. Avondale’s strong reputation in digital technologies continued this year, with Shivam Mehta (Year 12) gaining a Top in New Zealand and Srihan Bobbala (graduated) and Xincong He (Year 13) receiving High Achievement Awards in New Zealand in Information and Communication Technology. Principal Mrs Watkinson says the school is immensely proud of the students’ achievements and the dedication behind them. “At Avondale College we talk a lot about striving for personal excellence. These students embody this through their perseverance and determination. They set ambitious goals, they work with purpose, and they inspire others around them." The students will be acknowledged at next week’s Scholars Assembly and will also attend the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards evening held at Pinehurst School next week. Our scholars in their own words Oscar Cao Top of World Biology, Top of NZ IGSC Chemistry & Top of NZ ICSCE Physics "I've been aiming for this since I was in Year 10. It's about putting little amounts of effort every day and it adds up over the years. I studied ahead of the syllabus, and over time I saw how the sciences and maths interlink so beautifully. This achievement, in internationally recognised qualifications, will hopefully help me get into a top university in Australia, or even Cambridge University, where I'll likely study Chemical Engineering." Remi Baudet Top of NZ, IGSCE French "It's all a matter of practice. My father speaks French but the majority of my knowledge has come from school. I practiced with my dad and closer to the exams I trained myself to think in French rather than English, which was tricky at times. I think it'll be easier to travel and potentially learn a third language in the future." Louis de Biasio Top in NZ, IGSCE Music "I did a lot of revision for exams, not just for music, so it was surprising for me to place. I do a lot of music inside and outside of school so that definitely helped me to score higher as a lot of the theory part I already knew." Shivam Mehta Top in NZ for Information & Communication Technology "Consistency is everything. Stay consistent and things will go well for you. I studied for hours most days. It feels good to put that the effort and come out on top. My friends are all proud of me. In the future I might study ICT or engineering, and this achievement will make the Universities see potential in me." Srihan Bobbala High Achievement Award for Information Technology "It's about understanding what the paper's asking and honing down on those specific skills. Certain questions have certain styles and patterns, and it's easier to work with them once you recognise them. I'm grateful to my parents who have encouraged me and given me the time and space to do well." Xincong He High Achievement Award for Top for Information Technology "Something I heard from Mr Kucio, my ICT teacher, was 'you cannot speak French after watching TV shows in French, you have to practice it and speak it.' I believe this applies to many things, and practising past papers is how you find your weaknesses. Mistakes and struggle are part of the journey. I am glad and proud to have this achievement under my belt."

Head Prefects: Lola Kelleher & Marco Li Senior Prefects L-R: Chipor Cheng, Rudra Patel, Maddie Tomilap, Marco Li, Lola Kelleher, Savindi Dissanayake, Gideon Vaopunimatagi, Ryhana Khan Prefects (in alphabetical order) Aena Setia   Akeliana-Faith Leauga   Alex Hutchinson-Jones   Andrew Pedrezuela   Ashleigh MacBride   Atapana Falefatu   Ava Phipps   Caitlin Fox   Carlos Tausi   Celena Jones   Christina Wright   Clarissa Paulus   Collins Faagalo Wells   Danielle Gaviola   Ella Eketone   Ethan Haver   Farjad Habib   Felix Wong   Fuyuka Shen   Galvin Alquetra   Giriraj Kumar   Harrison Cao   Hena Chauhan   Hriday Bansal   Isabella Ly   Jerrico Unasa   Jeram Patel   Jerome Nuuola   Jessie Jackson   Leila O'Loughlin   Maia O'Neil   Mana Keefe   Maria Siologa   Matthew Tauro   Max McCulloch   Neha Jaiju   Nikita Clarke   Niket Saini   Noor Al-A'raj   Poppy Homan   Prisha Parikh   Richard Tagiilima   Rose Elijas   Ruby Gardiner   Sabrina Wang   Sally White   Samantha Dai   Tanya Gupta   Tina Phung Tulsi Patel   Victor Hu   William Ogle-Parsons   Zoe Canlas

In this Issue From the Principal Introducing our 2026 Prefects Simply outstanding: Avcol students top world & NZ in Cambridge results Join in @ Avcol Get ready for Athletics Day tomorrow! Coming in 2027... Introducing the Guidance Team Wearing uniform with pride, year round Sports News

Next Thursday 12 February is the School Athletics Day. This is a whole school event with everyone expected to get involved in the various events taking place on the day. Year 9 and Year 10 students are expected to wear full PE gear, and seniors may wear plain black and white sports gear. There is limited shade on the field, so students should wear a hat, sunblock and bring a water bottle. Students will be given more information in Home Room time next week. Information will also be posted on the Student Hub - please refer to this information or ask your Home Room teacher if you have any questions.

We operate a Health Clinic onsite at the College which means students can book in and see a nurse the same day, without having the need to miss too much class time. The service is totally free and confidential. HEADSSS Assessment Between Lead Nurse Pat Hutchinson and the team, the nurses meet every Year 9 student to complete a "HEADSSS" assessment. This involves checking a student's height and weight, completing an eye and hearing test, and recording blood pressure. They also ask students if they have any allergies or medical conditions for which they take medication. "We write any medical alerts in the student management system so appropriate staff are aware." During the HEADSSS assessment, they have a conversation with the students checking in with how school is going, and inform them of the services available, such as the two doctors, guidance counsellors, and a physio who visits frequently. Making an Appointment Students can make an appointment by walking into the clinic (located opposite the library), sending a message via Teams, or emailing the Health Clinic . Parents are welcome to book on behalf of their child, though students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health — "this is an important step in preparing them for managing healthcare independently post-school," says Pat. While most issues can be managed onsite, anything more serious is referred to parents with the recommendation to visit Accident & Emergency. The clinic can also provide food when needed, with support from the Whare for morning tea, and works closely with the Guidance team to organise food parcels or assist with mental health concerns. Pat's top tips for health & wellbeing while at Avcol: Drink lots of water. This helps to prevent common ailments like headaches. Growing bodies need 8-10 hours of sleep a night. If your device is distracting you from sleeping, it's a sign to put it in another room! Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Stay vape, drug, & alcohol free. Speak up if something's troubling you. We're here to help!

We welcome all parents/caregivers of Year 9s (and students!) to our Year 9 Students Information Evening on Tuesday the 10th of February at 6pm in the school atrium. This will be an opportunity to find out more about what we have to offer our community in terms of activities, support, curriculum, our Family Connection parent portal and the online services that are available to you. The Principal will welcome families at 6pm, and then Home Room teachers look forward to meeting you. The Year 9 Deputy Principal, Mr Gray, and Year 9 Deans will also be available.  Limited parking is available at Gate 1, with additional space at Gate 3. We look forward to meeting you and further developing our relationship with you!

We started off the new school year with a pōwhiri to warmly welcome our new students, including our Year 9s, students of other Year levels joining us from other schools, and our international students from all around the world. The pōwhiri was led by our kaumātua, with new students welcomed by our staff and Year 13 cohort. We were delighted that so many whānau were able to join us and we look forward to seeing you at events for parents over the coming weeks.

In this Issue From the Principal Nau mai, haere mai: welcome to the Avondale whānau Welcoming our new staff Year 9 Parent Info Evening More top tips for newcomers! Introducing: the Health Clinic Athletics Day next Thursday Careers Noticeboard Noticeboard

We are looking forward to welcoming students to Avondale College in 2026. Please find below important information for each year level. Stationery Stationery lists for each year level can be viewed here , and include information about bringing your own device (BYOD). Should you wish to purchase stationery from Warehouse Stationery in-store or online, Avondale College has lists available with them. Please note that back-to-school pricing starts early January. Uniform The College Shop is open from Friday 16 January . Appointments are required - book online via our website or using this link . Whānau Handbook Our Whānau Handbook contains key information for 2026, including staff contacts, accounts information, bus routes, bell times, uniform, school rules for behaviour and more. Parent Portal Access In early February, new families will be emailed login details for Family Connection , including your unique family code for school payments. Start of School Timing 2026 YEAR 9 First Week Monday 2 February:  Students meet in the Stadium (Rosebank Road entrance) at 10:30am . They will be introduced to their homeroom teachers and then taken to their homeroom class. Pōwhiri:  12pm in the Stadium. Families are welcome; please gather outside the Stadium around 11:45am. Orientation activities will run until 3:15pm . School buses will operate as normal. Tuesday 3 February:  Report to homeroom at 9am  for the second day of orientation. Wednesday 4 February:  Timetabled lessons begin. Friday 6 February:  Waitangi Day (school closed). YEAR 10 First Week Tuesday 3 February:  Meet in the Stadium at 9am . School finishes at 3:15pm . Buses run as normal. Wednesday 4 February:  Timetabled lessons begin. Friday 6 February:  Waitangi Day (school closed). YEAR 11 Re-enrolment Students will receive an email with approved subjects for 2026. If overseas in January, contact support@cyclone.co.nz  for email access. If fewer than five subjects or requesting changes, see your Dean on Friday 23 January, 9am–1pm . Uniform not required. First Week Tuesday 3 February:  Meet in homeroom at 10am . Finish at 3:15pm . Wednesday 4 February:  Timetabled lessons begin. Friday 6 February:  Waitangi Day (school closed). YEAR 12 Re-enrolment After NCEA/Cambridge results (mid-January), students will receive an email with approved subjects for 2026. If overseas in January, contact support@cyclone.co.nz  for email access. If fewer than five subjects or requesting changes, attend re-enrolment on Thursday 22 January, 1:30pm–4pm in A20–A22 . Uniform not required. If you are unable to attend the re-enrolment session on Thursday, a catch-up session will be available on Friday morning, 23 January. First Week Tuesday 3 February:  Meet in the Stadium at 10am . Finish at 3:15pm . Wednesday 4 February:  Timetabled lessons begin. Friday 6 February:  Waitangi Day (school closed). YEAR 13 Re-enrolment After NCEA/Cambridge results (mid-January), students will receive an email with approved subjects. If overseas in January, contact support@cyclone.co.nz  for email access. If fewer than five subjects or requesting changes, attend re-enrolment on Thursday 22 January, 10:30am–1pm in A20–A22 . Uniform not required.  If you are unable to attend the re-enrolment session on Thursday, a catch-up session will be available on Friday morning, 23 January. First Week Monday 2 February:  Meet in the Stadium at 10:30am . Finish at 3:15pm . Tuesday 3 February:  Report to homeroom at 9am . Wednesday 4 February:  Timetabled lessons begin. Friday 6 February:  Waitangi Day (school closed). We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday and look forward to a successful year ahead.

During the last week of term our kaumatua joined us to bless our refurbished Art Block as our Art Department staff start moving back into the building. The complexities of the building meant that the 6 month project ended up taking just over a year, but the wait was worth it! The ground floor has been reconfigured to create a gallery style corridor connecting the main entrance to all of the classrooms. Removal of one set of interior stairs has created significant additional floor space on both levels, and the toilets have been fully upgraded. Alongside the changes to the building, every room has been painted, re-floored and refitted creating light, bright and well-equipped learning spaces for our students. The Art Block will be fully open for teaching and learning from the start of the 2026 school year.

In this Issue From the Principal Blessing of refurbished Art Department Celebrating our Juniors' achievements at Prizegiving Celebrating our Avcol stars at the Whau Youth Awards Apps with Impact: Inside the Business Cup Challenge Start of School Info for 2026 Noticeboard