I hope that you have all had a relaxing and refreshing break. Thank you to staff who have been in with students for NCEA work, World Scholar's Cup and the Duke of Edinburgh Tramp. We welcomed some International students this week as well as some new domestic students. We look forward to a busy Term 4 and the final celebrations at the end of term. Arts, Service and Sport are all celebrated in the first few weeks as well as a L2 Drama Production. The focus for our seniors in this first 3 weeks needs to be on NCEA achievement and helping them to cross the line with their credits. There will be some who will need to come back in during study leave to do this. We are not running a formal programme as we did last year, but will still identify these students and work with specific subjects where appropriate. Feedback from our recent board consultation with students has teachers as one of the things they love about Avonside and feedback from the AWE survey shows that one of the things we love as a staff is each other and collegiality and support. Whilst as educators we always strive to improve what we do for students, this sense of collective efficacy and support and the impact it has on student wellbeing and achievement is something to manaaki us into Term 4. See you Monday 9th in staff briefing and enjoy this weekend. Catherine

Staff Updates

Some appointments were made during the holidays. 

HOLA Learning Support - Patrick Price (from AGHS Careers Dept) starts October 24th. We will farewell Natalie Malan on Friday 20th October.

HOLA Social Sciences 2024 onwards - Jane Turner (joins us from Hornby High School)

Acting Head of Visual Art 2024 Term s 1 & 2 - Zara Dolan (Zara returns to us to cover Ros's Maternity. Zara was HOD Visual Art at Avonside before leaving us to pursue her art and study. We are thrilled to have her back. 

Acting Head of Languages 2024 - Morganne Jaffry 

Joel Milburn (HOLA Maths) joins us in November

Matt Vernick (HPE) is granted another year leading Disability programmes with Basketball NZ. 

Congratulations to Lee Monk who passed her NZ certificate in Education Support (LSA) through Open Polytechnic (with an A+ for some papers).

Welcome back to Nicole Armstrong who rejoins HPE for Term 4 after her maternity leave. Naomi Munroe remains with us for Term 4 as Sam Spence leaves us in week 4 to her army reserve training.