Our Technology classrooms are busy as always, with students engaged in a variety of theoretical and hands-on learning. Just to touch on a few classes, this week junior Soft Materials students are making prototypes for sweatshirts, Year 11 Product Development students are making wooden stools and trays, and Year 13 Carpentry students are creating chess boards inlaid with wood, complete with laser cut acrylic pieces. Meanwhile upstairs, senior Design & Visual Communication students are using Autodesk Inventor to create 3D designs for a toy car, senior Hospitality students are developing their skills in the kitchen, and junior Food Technology students are on a mission to gain their very first set of five NCEA Level 1 credits as they unpack the importance of nutritional dietary requirements.

Former Avondale College musician Reuben Jelleyman is a composer based in Paris, currently studying towards a Masters degree in composition. His composition Klein Fountain was named as a finalist in the 2021 APRA Silver Scroll Award, in the SOUNZ Contemporary Award division which celebrates excellence in contemporary composition. Although he was not the winner of the category (announced two weeks ago), being nominated as finalist is a huge recognition for the talented composer in his home country. "Written for four members of Paris chamber music group Ensemble Intercontemporian, Reuben Jelleyman’s outstanding composition Klein Fountain is greatly inspired by French computer music pioneer Jean-Claude Risset, as are most of his compositional ideas. The title Klein Fountain refers to Felix Klein's bottle, an object representing four spatial dimensions and an example of a non-orientable surface, perfectly translated in this work for flute, prepared piano, percussion (including the use of a loud-haler), and cello." (https://www.apraamcos.co.nz )

Two Year 12 Avondale College cricketers, Hiruni Peirus and Poppy Whitfield, attended a leadership programme on Saturday 19 March that was held in conjunction with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The programme comprised a 120 -minute workshop delivered by Women in Sport Aotearoa Co-founder Sarah Leberman that focused on ‘exercising leadership’. The session encouraged personal exploration of individual values, strengths and passions and how these can be applied in the sporting context. Both Hiruni and Poppy, along with the other attendees from other secondary schools, were then treated to some Eden Park hospitality in the afternoon while they watched one of the cricket matches live on the field. “The leadership programme was an amazing experience!" said Hiruni. "It was very motivating! I learnt that leaders aren’t just those that are in positions and in fact there is a leader within each one of us. Believing in your values and speaking up for what you believe are all part of that inner leader. This programme encouraged me to think about my values and my passions and what steps I can take to achieve my goals for my future." More information around the leadership programme can be found here: 20 Kōhine from Tauranga and Tāmaki Makaurau join the Bats for Six programme | WISPAWISPA (womeninsport.org.nz)

School will finish at 12:30pm for all students on Tuesday 5 April, to enable our Junior Parent Teacher meetings to take place between 1:20pm - 7pm. School buses have been booked to depart at 12:30pm on this day, with the exception of the NZ Bus Service to Glendene. Junior Parent Teacher meetings are for students in Years 9 and 10, their parents and their home room teacher. The meetings will be 15 minutes long and will allow students to highlight things they’re enjoying at school, as well as give home room teachers an opportunity to summarise students’ reports and look at next steps for improvement. Parents can choose to make their appointment face-to-face or online, and bookings can be made via Family Connection. Students are spending time at school preparing for these meetings and we hope to see as many junior students’ parents as possible on Tuesday 5 April. Parent Teacher Meetings for senior students will take place in Term 2. If you need help setting up or accessing your Family Connection account, please contact: familyconnectionsupport@avcol.school.nz

The first baskets of the year have been scored on our new outdoor basketball courts! The custom courts are part of the transformation of our inner courtyard area, which has seen new pathways and seating installed over recent months. Students can now enjoy shooting hoops at intervals and lunchtimes with their friends, inspired by the HEART values surrounding the surface.

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Junior Parent Teacher meetings will be held on Tuesday 5 April. They are for students in Years 9 and 10, their parents and their home room teacher. The meetings will be 15 minutes long and will allow students to highlight things they’re enjoying at school, as well as give home room teachers an opportunity to summarise students’ reports and look at next steps for improvement. To make a booking: Log in to Family Connection and select 'Book a Teacher Interview' (If you need help setting up or accessing your Family Connection account, please contact: familyconnectionsupport@avcol.school.nz) Click on the time slot you wish to book and save by clicking 'Complete and send confirmation' You will receive a confirmation email with the details of your booking Meeting online The confirmation email has a link to the online MS Teams meeting with the teacher When it is time for your interview to take place, click the 'Join Meeting' link in the email to take you to the online meeting You do not need to have MS Teams on your device to access this meeting - you can open the meeting on your browser. Find out more about joining a meeting without a MS Teams account. Meeting in person If you wish to come into the school for the interview, please complete the form via the 'click here' link in your confirmation email to indicate you will attend in person. All in-person interviews will take place in A and C blocks. Please arrive at the Atrium at least 10 minutes before your appointment time – this is the large glass front that is visible as you enter the College through Gate 1. At the entrance there will be a map with information about where the teachers are located, as well as staff and prefects to guide you. Making an alternative booking If the meeting times are fully booked, or if a suitable time is not available, click here to request an alternative appointment with another teacher. We will contact you to arrange this. Senior Parent Teacher Meetings will take place in Term 2.

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Early in the morning of Wednesday 16 March, 13 OED went to the Mt Albert pools to learn about scuba diving in preparation for our trip to Goat Island later in the term. This activity is linked to our safety standard and gives us an awesome opportunity to learn new skills and the safety rules around it. Many of the students found it challenging to have to think about breathing and using new equipment, but took to it like pros. We look forward to learning more skills next week before hitting the ocean and seeing what the marine reserve has on offer. Ms M Goldthorpe, Director of Taurewa and Outdoor Education

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We have been advised by Ritchies bus company that again this week, their No. 1 run to and from Avondale College will not be operating due to Covid-19 and driver shortage. Number 1 Bus (Ritchies): Opanuku Rd to Avondale College. Start from corner on Opanuku Rd & Henderson Valley Rd, via Henderson Valley Rd. Across Great North Rd into Aldermann Dr, Sel Peacock Dr, Edmonton Rd, Strid Rd, Te Atatu Rd, Great North Rd, Rata St, via Ash St, Rosebank Rd, Aspen Rd, Victor St, Avondale College Gate 2.