The Music Department has been a busy hub this week as students have made the most of being able to play together once again! With before-school Performing Arts Academy Jazz and Classical classes, rehearsals for the Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Junior Strings Ensemble, Taikaka Orchestra, big bands, five jazz combos, the Gospel Choir, Contemporary and Soul Bands, individual and group music lessons in a wide range of instruments - not to mention all our timetabled junior, NCEA and CAIE music classes - there is a LOT going on! Our jazz musicians are working hard in the lead up to the National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga from 31 March to 1 April; this year 40 Avondale College jazz musicians will take part in the competition, competing as part of the Big Band, Stage Band, or one of the jazz combos. Avondale College's Director of Music, Dr Julie Garner, says all the teachers are loving working with so many enthusiastic, talented and committed young musicians. "The Music Department is a busy, vibrant, creative place to be, particularly when all the co-curricular groups get going – it is rare to have a corner of the department that isn’t being used in one capacity or another," she says. "We love that so many students choose to spend time outside of class here. They have a place where they can develop their creativity and confidence through playing music of all styles in groups with friends. The Music teaching staff are all excited about the performance opportunities that are ahead!"

Dear Parents and Caregivers We were very pleased to hear the Prime Minister’s announcement that Auckland is moving to Level 2 on Sunday, and we are looking forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday. Thank you again to families to have supported students with their learning over the past week. As we return to school, we will follow the same protocols that we have used previously at Level 2, with hand sanitiser available, regular cleaning of surfaces, separate desks, and no large assemblies. School photographs are scheduled for this week, and we will postpone some of the larger group photos. Teaching, learning and assessments will return to ‘normal’ as soon as possible next week, and teachers will work closely with students to make sure they are well supported and fully informed about important deadlines. Sport and other school activities will be re-starting quickly, including water polo on Sunday. Students should look at the Daily Notices carefully each day next week. Students should not come to school if they are sick, and should seek medical advice or call Healthline, 0800611116, if they have any COVID symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, cough or sneezing. Ngā manaakitanga Lyndy Watkinson Principal

The work of talented painter Anna Hiew is being featured in a touring exhibition of New Zealand's top 50 Level 3 Art Folios this year! Anna, who came first in Avondale College's NCEA Level 3 Art Painting course while in Year 13 last year, also gained a NZQA Outstanding Scholarship for her work, placing her in the top 0.3% of art students in the country! Exploring a theme of death, decay and new life, Anna says of her work: "Though decay is commonly associated with an ending, these processes can also be inversely perceived as symbols of new life and beginnings. In our consumerist culture, where we want the newest things that stand the test of nature, decay is seen as undesirable. I wanted to diverge from this general narrative by showing it in an optimistic regard. This, I would hope, would be a testament to one of the simple yet incredibly complex wonders of our world - showing how such an important aspect of our lives is so easily overlooked and under- appreciated." Avondale College's Director of Art Ms Emma Watt, and teacher Ms Sophie McMillan, attended the opening of the exhibition, which was held at Massey University's Art Gallery in Wellington on Monday 21 February. The exhibition will be touring New Zealand, arriving in Auckland in May. Find out more about the exhibition: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/subjects/visual-arts/top-art-exhibition/

Dear Parents and Caregivers, Last night’s announcement that Auckland is back at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for this next week is one that none of us wanted. Thank you very much for your support in following the instructions given by government, and for keeping your children at home. Avondale College will be closed from Monday 1 March to Friday 5 March, inclusive. Due to the change in alert levels, all meetings, practices and events scheduled over the next week are cancelled. This includes the Year 13 Taurewa Camp, Avondale College Athletics Championships, Swimming Championships, the Girls Touch Tournament and Year 9 Parents Information Evening. Learning at home This week, students are expected to continue with their learning at home. Teachers will interact with their classes using Microsoft Teams and/or email as the primary forms of communication. We are aware that for some aspects of learning, hard copy materials may be preferable, and opportunities to collect these will be provided early next week (details to follow). Over the past two weeks, Year 9 classes have had an introduction to our digital systems, and they should all know their login details, as well as how to use Microsoft Teams and school-based email. Further information is found in the Instructions for Distance Learning: https://www.avcol.school.nz/post/instructions-for-distance-learning If your child has any difficulties with digital access they should contact our IT team through servicedesk@avcol.school.nz. Avondale College has a limited supply of laptops for students to use at home. Over the past few weeks we have issued those to students in Year 11, 12 and 13, who we were aware had no access to a device at home. We are in the process of issuing further laptops to some Year 9 and Year 10 students. If your child does not have access to a device at home and you would like to apply to borrow a laptop from school, please contact Mr Hill, Deputy Principal, hil@avcol.school.nz for an application form. Children who need to attend school in Year 9 and Year 10 The only students who may come onto the school site over the next five days are children in Year 9 and Year 10, for whom no alternative care arrangements can be made. If your child needs to attend please email the relevant Deputy Principal: Year 9 - Mrs McNaughton: B.McNaughton@avcol.school.nz Year 10- Ms Joynes: E.Joynes@avcol.school.nz Students may not come to school if they are sick. Students attending school must wear a face mask. Physical distancing will be required during class time and breaktimes. Students must arrive by 9am, and they will be dismissed at 3pm. Students should report to the Attendance Office in E block. Students must bring their school books, stationery, lunch, a filled water bottle. The canteen will be closed. Students will be working independently in supervised classrooms, on work set by their class teachers or generic Year 9 and Year 10 learning. Their usual class teachers will not be at school. Student Wellbeing Over the time that we are at Level 3, we encourage our students to play a full part in family life, and to go for a walk or do some exercise outside every day. Our Guidance Department and Deans are available for parents and students if you have any concerns, and their contact details are on our website. Communication with school The best way to contact school at this time is using email. A full list of staff names and email addresses is on our website, under Our School > Our Team. Subject-specific questions and concerns should be sent to the subject teacher or Director. We will carefully follow the most up-to-date advice and guidance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education so that we can confidently make informed decisions about our next steps. We will have the safety and wellbeing of our school community as a priority. Further information will be sent to students and their families using email and our school website. I wish you all the best for the next few days. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Kia haumaru te noho. Lyndy Watkinson Principal

Issys Tobia-Pita, in Year 11, broke the NZ Under 15 record in the snatch, clean and jerk and total, at the Auckland Weightlifting Champs, with a 65kg snatch and a 75kg clean and jerk and a 140kg total! She also came first in the Junior 76kg and 2nd Place in the Senior 76kg! Congrats also to team mate Sophia Howsam who won 1st Place in the Junior 55kg, and 2nd Place in the Senior 55kg!

Meet our Head & Deputy Head Prefects! Avondale College is delighted to announce our Head Prefect team for 2021, led by Maya Pinto and Jayden Fatu Uili. Congratulations to these outstanding leaders: (L-R): Nuala Edmundson (Deputy Head), Aariz Ali, Roshni Oberoi (Deputy Head), Aiden Wachter (Deputy Head), Maya Pinto (Head Prefect), Jayden Fatu Uili (Head Prefect), Myah Eketone (Deputy Head) and Luke Vopel (Deputy Head) (Deputy Head).

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this afternoon, school will fully reopen tomorrow, Thursday 18 February. Students should report to their Home Room class. My thanks go to our teachers, many of whom have been able to provide digital learning activities and online support to their classes over the past three days. From tomorrow, teaching will return to our classrooms and Distance Learning will not continue. The wearing of face masks is not compulsory in schools; however, we strongly support students, staff and parents who choose to wear masks around school, while using school buses and in our community. Masks are compulsory on public transport. Our College Shop has a supply available for purchase if needed. Under Level 2, staff and students will be asked to use hand sanitiser every lesson, surfaces will be regularly cleaned and we will use floor markings for physical distancing in places like the College Shop and Attendance Station. We all need to work together to keep our school a safe and healthy place. Schools are not considered public places, and so many of the Alert Level 2 restrictions do not apply to us. We will follow our Alert Level 2 Safety Plan and adopt a ‘common sense’ approach: • In the first instance we will not have large assemblies • Where possible we will try to be one metre apart, with desks separated in class • Hand sanitiser and cleaning fluids will be easily available for all • Water fountains will only be available for refilling water bottles; the fountain spouts will be turned off We are awaiting information from College Sport about summer sports resuming, and will publish that as soon as we are able. Students should not attend school if they are unwell or have any COVID-type symptoms. If you have concerns or questions regarding this please contact Healthline 0800 611116. We are very much looking forward to welcoming staff and students back to school tomorrow. Ngā mihi Mrs L Watkinson PRINCIPAL T 09 820 1704 E wtn@avcol.school.nz W www.avcol.school.nz Victor Street, Avondale, Auckland 1026, New Zealand

Students interested in signing up for sports teams for 2021 should fill out the online forms on the Sports Hub on the Sharepoint intranet site. (You will need your AC number and password to log in). Information about each of the sporting codes is listed on the relevant page, but if you have any further questions, please email sports@avcol.school.nz If you are having problems logging on to the Avcol network, email servicedesk@avcol.school.nz Once back at school, students are welcome to visit the Sports Department office (upstairs in the Stadium) during break times to find out more and sign up in person if they would prefer to. Online forms will close next week on Wednesday 24 February.

Dear Parents and Caregivers While we await further news regarding Alert Levels, please find attached information regarding how your child can access the work set by their teacher should we need to make a full move to Distance Learning in the coming days. Please check with your child that they can access their school email and Teams; while most students will be familiar with these from last year, some students new to the school might need your help accessing these for the first time. Should your child need further assistance with logging in to the school network, please contact servicedesk@avcol.school.nz Regards Dr Terry Brown ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL DDI: 09 820 1728 E: t.brown@avcol.school.nz

Dear Parents and Caregivers, Many of you will have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening, that Auckland will be at COVID Alert Level 3 for the next three days. Avondale College will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday (15-17 February inclusive). Due to the change in alert levels all meetings and events scheduled over the next three days are cancelled. This includes the Avondale College Athletics Championships and Year 9 Parents Information Evening. The next few days provide a good opportunity for students to review the course information and introductory work that they were given by their teachers last week. Many teachers will make contact over the next few days with work for students to do at home. We realise that many Year 9 students may not yet be confident accessing our digital systems, so any work for them will be copied to their parent / caregiver email addresses. Contact details for all of our teachers are on our website. The primary point of contact with school is through your child’s year level Dean. Study and learning priorities for the next few days should be: 1. Review classwork from last week and make sure it is all complete. 2. Complete any homework or assignments that were set. 3. Check your school email for any work from your teachers. Some students may also have access to Microsoft Teams to complete school work. 4. Choose a book to read, for example the novel your English class is doing this year, or a book relevant to your study topics this year. 5. Do some exercise each day. Children of essential workers in Year 9 and Year 10 The only students who may come onto the school site over the next three days are children of essential workers, who are in Year 9 and Year 10, and for whom no alternative care arrangements can be made. · If your child needs to attend please email the relevant Deputy Principal: Year 9 Mrs McNaughton B.McNaughton@avcol.school.nz Year 10 Ms Joynes E.Joynes@avcol.school.nz · Students may not come to school if they are sick. · Students attending school must wear a face mask. Physical distancing will be required both during class time and break times. · Students must arrive by 9am, and they will be dismissed at 3pm. · Students should report to the Attendance Office in E block. · Students must bring their school books, stationery, lunch and a filled water bottle. The canteen will be closed. · Students will be working independently in supervised classrooms, on work set by their class teachers or generic Year 9 and Year 10 learning. Their usual class teachers will not be at school. Over the next few days we will carefully follow the most up-to-date advice and guidance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, so that we can confidently make informed decisions about our next steps. We will have the safety and wellbeing of our school community as a priority. Further information will be sent to students and their families using email and our school website. I wish you all the best for the next few days. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Ngā mihi Lyndy Watkinson Principal

Tuesday 16 Feb 7pm in the Theatre (Victor St Entrance) Parents and caregivers of Year 9 students are warmly invited to join us at this informative evening next week. Meet our Principal, Deputy Principals and Deans; learn more about our curriculum, activities, support and services; meet your child's home room teacher, and more. We look forward to seeing you there!

A very special gift has been received by Avondale College from former student Ivan Hunter, who attended Avondale College from 1962 to 1966. Now based in the USA, Ivan has spent the past twenty years building Jaeger trumpets and this week has donated one of his instruments to the College. Ivan says the gift is inspired by the principle of legacy. "I look back with gratitude on my time at Avondale especially on the musical activities which have shaped and enriched my life," he said. The trumpet will be loaned to a worthy student musician each year, and the inaugural awardee is Year 13 trumpeter, Zennah Shin-Kelso. Zennah is a member of the Avondale College Big Band, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Combo and Soul Band, and has come through the Avondale College Performing Arts Academy. Keep an ear out for Zennah and this special trumpet at Avcol music events this year!