Week 4, Term 1 2018

Hello everyone!

Technology started this week with the students travelling to Kirkwood on the bus.  This continues for the rest of the year, so just a reminder for the children to be at school by 8:30am on Tuesdays.

We have been discussing the Winter Olympics during reading.  It is really important all students are reading every night - trying to find out a cool fact about the Olympics is a great thing to do!

Monitors and duties have been outlined with the students and they have chosen everything they would like to do for the year  - these will be allocated to the students this week.

Today is the start of Chinese New Year and we are lucky enough to have some Lion dancers perform for us at lunchtime to bring good luck and fortune to them and us.  If you would like to know more about the Lion Dance, please click here.

Watch this space - the Huxster mountain bike event has been approved.  Mrs Moore will be sending home a notice with more information next week. It is in early April at McLeans Island.

Students may bring their togs for swimming in the school pool on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  The current dodge ball champion is Ella - can she maintain her crown??

Term costs will be coming out soon. These will include our Top Team event, Attitude speaker, Swimming lessons (for the end of March), and Technology - I hope I have included everything!

Trials for our Lit Quiz teams will be held next week. If you enjoy reading and read widely, this is for you!

Mr Rodger has shared a great website to practise maths on
https://maths.prototec.co.nz/

Have a fabulous week everyone.

Test Post

This is a test post as I've adjusted our blogger address to read 2018 rather than 2016.

WANTED!!! Media team members

Are you a creative thinker?

Do you have a strong interest in digital media?

Do you have exceptional written language skills?

Are you a fabulously confident communicator who loves the stage?

Are you passionate about our Avonhead community and eager to showcase our people?

Are you an excellent coordinator who has a talent organising people and meeting deadlines?

If you are any of the above then…..

Applications are now open for the 2018 Media Team.

In your application you need to tell us WHY you would be a fabulous addition to our team and what skills and experience you have to offer.  Your can choose what form your application will take.  It might be a short video clip (if you are showcasing your presenter, videography or editing talents) or it could be in the form of a letter or CV (if you are showcasing your written language).

Applications must be submitted to mdempsey@avonhead.school.nz no later than Wednesday 21st February.  If you are submitting a video clip then this needs to be uploaded to Google Drive (with link emailed).  The media team coordinators and your teachers will then meet to discuss your applications and suitability for the role.

Week 3, Term 1 2018

What a great start to the term you have all made!

We have had a great week of leadership activities - listening to some inspiring speakers and taking part in some team building.  We learnt that leadership is about having strong values, clear communication and respect for others.  Leadership comes in lots of different forms.  One that really stood out for me is leadership can simply be standing up for what is right.

Week 3 sees our reading, writing and maths rotations beginning.  Students may work with different teachers in each of these subjects.

On Tuesday, technology begins.  Students, please ensure you are at school by 8:30am.  If you have not returned your Kirkwood technology form, please do so on Monday.

Some other reminders:

• Hats are needed everyday this term to help protect against the sun.
• Togs may be brought for lunchtime swimming.
• All stationery should be at school now.  It needs to be named - we will add the subjects over the week.
• A personal reading book is needed at school everyday - please visit the library if you do not have something suitable.
• Please return any forms that you haven't already - Photo consent (for most, this was done during the interviews), Kirkwood technology forms, HPV form, ICT Responsibility use agreement (for those who have had it sent home as we do not have it on record)

Have a fantastic week everyone.

Week 2 - Leadership Week in the HQ!

After our Powhiri to welcome new staff and students in the hall on Monday, we kicked off our leadership week with a guest speaker from ATTITUDE.  The senior students had a workshop on "Who Am I?" led by Emma.  She got us thinking about different personality types and their strengths and weaknesses.  She had a heap of humour in her presentation which we all enjoyed.  She challenged us about how we can help and support others that are different to us - a great life skill to have - and how to be the best kind of person we can be.  Emma had some great top tips that are now on our FYI wall in the HQ.

Next up we had Mr Rodger, our team leader.  He talked about different leadership styles and top tips for being a successful leader or growing our leadership tool box.  We can all be leaders if we choose to be.  He talked to us about a variety of notable leaders from all around the world and finished with his own leadership journey.

Finally we had Sports Canterbury in the afternoon who ran "Top Team" with us.  Talk about fun!  Check out some of the challenges and tasks we had to do....

Our winning top team group!  Congratulations!

Welcome Back!

Hello everyone and welcome back to Term 1 for 2018.  If you are a past family you may want to unsubscribe from receiving these blog updates from the Senior HQ!  Welcome to all our new HQ families.  The teachers have been busy planning an exciting term, attending 'teacher only days' here at Avonhead with our staff and the Russley School staff and preparing for conferences this week.  We are really looking forward to seeing all our students - we have 131 with us this year.  Pop in and say hi to us during the first few weeks if you'd like to - we enjoy seeing parents (even if the kids aren't that fussed with you coming in)!  Thanks to everyone who has booked a learning conference with us - they are a great way to ease nerves, meet your child's home room teacher, hear about our progamme and set some goals for the first half of the year.  Contact your child's home room teacher if you still need to arrange an interview time.  Thanks and watch this space for our next update!

Week 9 - Our Final Week of Term 4 and of 2017 in the Senior HQ!

We've started this week off with a hiss and a roar - wall displays are coming down and the tote trays are being cleared out.  Thanks to all of our fabulous helpers today who got stuck in and helped.  We also got into the hall for our first prize giving practice over there.  We are sounding great if I do say so myself!

This evening we had our annual Year 8 Adrenalin Forest evening which a load of our Year 8 students enjoying the challenges of the high ropes course followed by a good old kiwi BBQ in the reserve.  It was great fun and Vicki Smith managed to get some great snaps - here are a few!

Other reminders for this week:

• Tomorrow is the 'Tough Kids' event at the South Brighton Domain.  Senior HQ students are taking part along with Team 5/6.  Students need to be at school for the roll at 8.30am sharp as the buses leave at 8.40am.  Our race time is 9.30am.  We will return to school in time for lunch and the afternoon classes as usual.  Please remember to bring a complete change of clothes, towel and plastic bag as you WILL get wet and muddy.  I've also suggested a rain jacket in case the rain predicted does arrive.  Students can wear their sports gear, mufti or a dress up if they plan to enter the dress up category.  A drink bottle and big lunch is also expected!
• Wednesday lunch time the Student Council, House Captains, Kapa Haka Leaders and HQ teachers have their annual McDonald's lunch.  Notices went home today with the students this event applies to.  This is paid for by the council and is a thank you for all the hard work during the year by the students in these roles. 
• Thursday evening we have our Senior HQ Prize Giving.  This kicks off at 6pm sharp and is always a packed house!  Get there early to secure your seat.  We anticipate the prize giving running until 7.30pm all going to plan.  It is expected that ALL of our Senior HQ students attend this event.  Friday morning is then optional and school finishes at midday on Friday for those students who choose to come along.

We wish all our HQ families and students a very Merry Christmas and a safe, relaxing summer break.  Thanks for your support over the past four terms.  We look forward to seeing our amazing Year 7 students back next year for another action packed year in the HQ!

Happy holidays everyone........Mrs Moore!