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!

Term 4 Week 8, 2017

Happy Summer!!

Only two more weeks left of school! Can't believe how fast this term is going! The end of term means  several exciting end of term events. Along with each event is a notice that has gone home. Notices and money are due in to the classroom teacher ASAP.

The events to keep note of are:

Tuesday, week 8: End of term house event in the afternoon. The house captains have been working away creating all sorts of fun games and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Friday, week 8: Waltham Pool day! The whole HQ will head to Waltham pools for a day of fun in the sun -- hopefully! Please bring appropriate clothes for the weather and lots of food to snack on throughout the day. There is a field, court and a big pool for us to enjoy. Please bring your notice and $9 to secure your spot.

Monday, week 9: All years 8's have been invited to Adrenalin Forest! This will happen after school. Everyone is expected to arrange their own transport but to make things easier, discuss carpool options with friends who live in similar areas. Barbecue is provided! Your notice and $30 is required as soon as possible so we can let the venue know how many people to expect.

Tuesday, week 9: Tough kids! Get your costumes ready this weekend and make sure your notices are in so you can race in this exciting event.

Tuesday, week 9: HQ 3 formal dinner at 6 pm.

Thursday, week 9: Senior prize giving! 6 pm in the hall. See you there!

I believe that's all for now, stay tuned!
Have a great weekend and enjoy this weather!!

Term 4 Week 7, 2017

The final three weeks of term are here!
Remember tonight is the school disco! The senior disco starts at 7 pm and goes until 10 pm. See you there!

Wednesday, November 29th is the Pegasus Triathlon beginning at 10 am. Good luck to those students participating in that race!

A note that all library books must be returned to the library ASAP. Teachers have notices for those students who have overdue books so if you are not sure, please ask your homeroom teacher.

The FWA Christmas Picnic evening is being held at Avonhead School on Thursday.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Cheviot students visit the Senior HQ!

Today in the HQ we welcomed Miss Dodge and her class of Year 7 and 8 students from Cheviot.  They came to visit Avonhead School to experience a day in the life of the Senior HQ!  So after our students returned from technology we welcomed them with a hui.  We had a home room session and each class had some Cheviot students in with us to take part in technology challenges, science experiments and student demonstrations.  During lunch time, our Senior HQ students started up some games to challenge the Cheviot crew.  Cricket and touch were the top two.  Our visitors also enjoyed some time on the senior playground and hanging with our students on the field.  After lunch we did our usual silent reading and Te Reo sessions, which our new friends joined in with.  To wrap up the day, we had an almighty game of capture the flag.  We had a blast and have made some new friends along the way.  Who knows....maybe next year our new crew of  Year 7/8 students might be able to go and visit Miss Dodge and the students in Cheviot for a day in the country!  Thanks for the great day Cheviot!

Latest Movies Featuring Our Senior Students!

Hello families.....

Check out our latest movies featured below from recent school events, all compiled by our talented media team.  This is one of our extension groups available to Year 7/8 students.  The Avonhead Primary School news bulletins are regularly in our school assemblies on Monday afternoon for the whole school to see!  Check out the links below.

Diwali afternoon across the school.......

Our latest Avonhead Primary School news bulletin......

Term 4 Week 4, 2017

Welcome back to regular school routine! I hope everyone has had the chance to catch up on their sleep after a busy week of camp.

Today we had the school wide market day. There were so many great goodies being sold. It was clear that everyone put in a lot of work to their products! Excellent work everyone!

Next week we will be welcoming two guests into the HQ to share their expertise with us. On Tuesday Annette Pau'u will be working with the Te Reo group to do Harakeke weaving. On Thursday Richard Brunton will be sharing a presentation based on our Inquiry Unit - Healthy You.

Summer tournament is on Wednesday for those involved.

On Friday afternoon, the school will be celebrating Diwali through the creation of various arts and crafts. The seniors will be working as Tuakana with the year 3/4's. If you have any old CD's or 2L plastic bottles, please bring these into school at some point next week to use for these crafts.

Please bring any overdue library books to the library ASAP!

Enjoy your weekend!!