Kia ora

I extend a very warm welcome to you all for the new school year, with a special welcome to those families who are new to our school community. I am very appreciative of the warm welcome that I have received from so many - students, parents, old girls and staff - as I have taken up my new position this year as Avonside.

It has been exciting seeing the school year take shape. New students and staff were welcomed into the school community in a powhiri on 5 February and later that morning our student leaders for 2010 were presented with their badges of office at a special full school assembly.

In the classroom students have settled well into their learning programmes and we look forward to sharing their progress with you over the course of the year.

Much is happening beyond the classroom, as is reflected in this newsletter – with the annual swimming and athletic sports completed, and many other sporting codes and cultural pursuits getting underway. I am impressed not only by the number of students who are taking part, but also by their enthusiasm and talent.

I look forward to meeting you in the course of the year and to your ongoing good will and support as we strive to provide the very best learning environment for your daughters.

Kind regards

Principal

Special Dates to remember:

24/2 7.00pm Whanau hui

4/3 Yr9 meet the parents 9Kp, Lc, Wh, Fi, Bc

10/3 Yr9 meet the parents 9Gf, Le, Or, Rh, Pw

1/4 Term 1 ends

2/4 Good Friday

BOT Elections 7th May 2010

The dates are set: time to start thinking about what you can offer to the school as a Board of Trustees member. Remember, standing, nominating and voting are how we contribute to the governance of the school.

Trustees do not have to be parents of children of the school.

We will have four vacancies and will be calling for nominations from 15^th March 2010.

If you would like to sit in on the Board meeting please feel free to do so. The next one will be 24^th February at 5.30pm in the meeting room.

We look forward to hearing from you.

TERM DATES FOR 2010

Term 1 Mon 1 Feb – Thurs 1 April Good Friday 2/4

Easter Monday 5/4

Easter Tuesday 6/4

Term 2 Mon 19 April – Fri 2 July Queen’s Birthday 7/6

Term 3 Mon 19 July – Fri 24 Sept

Term 4 Mon 11 Oct – Fri 10 Dec Labour Day 25/10

Show Day 12/11

PLEASE make family holidays in school holiday times, not in term time. It is a MoE requirement that students attend school in term time.

School News in Brief

GRANTS

Late last year we applied for funding for new grandstands for our playing fields and were thrilled to receive $14,000 which enabled us to buy three new grandstands which now take pride of place on our back field. They are also portable so can easily be moved to the courts, pool etc. Thank you Canterbury Trust.

We are also thrilled to report that the Perry Foundation has granted us $7,000 for sports uniforms. This will enable more teams to wear our colours with pride and hopefully, success

Thank you to the Community Trust and Perry Foundation for two wonderful donations.

Senior Leaders 2010

We are delighted to announce our senior leaders for 2010.

Head Girl:

Caitlyn Dunn 13Nd

Deputy: -

Ngareka Bensemann 13Nd

Head School Council: Lauren Croft 13Cp

Deputy:

Nicole Taaffe 13Cp

Sport News in Brief

Entertainment Book

The AGHS Netball Club will be selling the Entertainment Book again this year:

Still $65

Forms will be available later in February.

NZ SI Athletic and Road Race Champs

Wonderful overall results from our team.

A gold medal in both the 3 person and 6 person Y9 3K Road Relay Race.

The team consists of:

Sophie Evans, Indiana Bayliss, Wallis Marshall, Emily Shaw, Adele Cotton, Laura Wyatt.

A fantastic effort girls.

2010 Swimming Champs

O16 1/2—Alex Laidlaw

U16 1/2—Sarah Russell

U15—Angeline Moneda

U14—Kelly Scammell

Records broken : K Scammell: 100m Freestyle; U14 Butterfly

Alex Laidlaw: O16 1/2 100m Freestyle

Sarah Kerr: AWD Breaststroke.

Rowing Results

The Rowing Squad has competed in the Canterbury and South Island Champs.

The U17 Doubles (Sinead Farrelly and Anna Low) gained Bronze medals. Well Done.

The U19 coxed Squad (Lauren Clark, Becky Hix, Sophie Davis, Jacinta de Haas, Olivia Schwass) won Bronze also.

The girls competed well with very good placings. They have put in hours of training and we can certainly look forward to more wonderful results.

Congratulations to the whole squad.

Thank you from the Technology Dept

The teachers and students from the Technology Dept would like to thank the following businesses who have generously donated goods to help us out over several years:

Mainland Foams, Millers Home, Dore’s For Floors, Resene ColourShop, Sliderlite Manufacturing Ltd, McKenzie & Willis Limited.

Should you wish to donate anything feel free to contact Karen on 389 7199 Extn 749. We would really appreciate any help you can offer.

Request from the Science Dept

If you have any old towels or good rags for cleaning, the Science Department would love to take them off your hands.

They would also welcome any ice-cream containers they you no longer need.

Contact Allison Roberts, Science Technician: 389 7199.

International Dept—Homestays

required for our international students. Good, caring families for short and long term. Prefer AGHS zone with an interest in different cultures.

Please contact the International Office on 389 7199 or email shood@avonside.school.nz with your details

Pre-Loved Uniform Sale

There are still a selection of second hand uniforms available for sale at the office.

Cash / Cheque / Eftpos

available

Sorry, no credit.

If you would like to sell a uniform please bring your clean garments to the office with name, address and price clearly marked. We charge 20% on sale of uniform.

Some blazers are now available

Old Girls’ Association

The Old Girls’ extend a very warm welcome to new members and welcome you to their meetings. Four meetings a year.

Life Membership $40

Annual Membership $10

For further information please contact

Patricia Turner,

President 980 7932.

Parent Teacher Association

With the start of the new school year, the PTA will be saying farewell to some long standing members and be very keen to see some new, keen faces.

Learn more about your daughter’s school and join the PTA. We hold ten meetings a year on the first Monday of the month at 7.00pm. The meetings are held in the meeting room.

Great people: working to help your daughter and the school.

Contacts:

Donna Manning 383 8383or

Debbie Powell, 385 2221.

We would love to welcome you to our meetings.

See the back page of this Tatler for information on our AGM.

From the Students

Each year one-hundred-and-fifty-six students sacrifice two weeks of their summer holiday to attend the Rotary Science and Technology Forum or “Geek Camp”, and we were both fortunate enough to take part in this life shaping and unforgettable experience.

The forum was jam packed with academic programs ranging from nuclear physics to medical sciences, organised by various universities across Auckland, which allowed us to see and experience first hand what the universities have to offer. Living in Auckland universities O’Rourke hall and attending lectures gave us a taste of university life.

The Forum wasn’t solely based on the academic, our evenings and days off were filled with a variety of different social and sporting activities, these included early morning sporting activities, highly competitive volleyball tournaments, a disco, beach day and a chance to explore Auckland with our new found friends. Technical options gave us a chance to see the applications of science and technology in our society including TVNZ and Hyperbaric Health Care.

Nothing could have prepared us for the whirlwind of fun, valued knowledge and life long friendships we gained from attending Forum 2010. There was no favourite program or recreation activity, I guess its one of those cases where you’d have to have been there, and we’re glad we were.

Lauren Croft 13Cp

Nicole Taaffe 13Cp

Obituary to Jacqueline Walkey—1964-2010

The Avonside community was saddened this week by the death of Jackie Walkey who taught English and Drama at Avonside from 2000 until 2010. Jackie had been seriously ill for some time.

Jackie was much loved and respected at Avonside by her students and colleagues as an innovative and committed teacher. Her imagination coupled with her considerable expertise in direction and the theatre arts produced many fine and memorable performances from her students. Her leadership and drive nurtured Drama as it grew and prospered over the years to become an integral and important part of the Avonside curriculum.

Beyond the curriculum she added that special Walkey touch ensuring that all school productions were of the highest quality and stamped with professionalism. Her feel for what was right and proper in period drama especially, and her knowledge and expertise of all genres was a quality that those who worked with her will sadly miss; we will also miss the tireless support and long hours she gave to Avonside.

Her many students, past and present, are unanimous in praising Jackie as they reflect on how she touched their lives and in some cases launched a career or life-long interest. In the 2000 school magazine, in a write-up of her first production at Avonside, Jackie said, “I hope to see my drama students of today pursuing their dreams tomorrow.”

Break a leg for Jackie girls. We will miss her.

The Dressing Room

NEW AND USED LABEL CLOTHING

Buy & Sell on behalf

Label Clothing, Shoes & Accessories

A fabulous range of Ballgowns, most are priced at $100

Ph: 377-0219

515 Madras St. Cnr Madras & Cannon Sts

Hours. Monday - Friday 10am-5.30pm

Saturday 10am-3pm

Learn to Tap Dance!!

NZAMD Tap for those aged 2 to adult—exams—competitions—annual concert—fun—fitness—great prices—rhythm—co-ordination—personality—presentation—friends!

Located at Avonside Girls’ High School.

Look at www.bedazzledbeatz.com for information.

Lucy Ambrose

Director

Bedazzled Beatz School of Dance

INVITATION TO PTA AGM—ALL WELCOME

Date: 1st March 2010

Venue: AGHS Meeting Room

Time: 7.30pm

Agenda: Election of Officers and brief PTA meeting

Supper provided

We would love to see new parents / caregivers, as some of our long standing members will be leaving as their daughters have moved on. Our meetings are always brief, productive and informative.

SMART THINKING

SMARTER RESULTS