Newsletter - 2 Apr 2026

From the Principal

Kia ora koutou,

As we come to the end of Term 1, it is worth pausing to acknowledge what a busy and productive term it has been. As seen through our newsletters our students and staff have been involved in a wide range of learning opportunities and events, and it has been wonderful to see the energy, commitment, and engagement across our school community. At the same time, this term has also been a tough one, with challenging events unfolding both in Aotearoa and in the world around us. I want to sincerely thank our parents and wh膩nau for your continued support, understanding, and partnership during this time.

It has been very encouraging to see our attendance data continue to show excellent improvement this term. This reflects the commitment of our students and families, as well as our team of Deans and Mentors, so thank you again for all your support of these initiatives. As we head into Term 2 and the colder, wetter months, we do ask for your continued support of good attendance and continuing to work with us to ensure our students remain safe, well, and maintain positive attendance habits. We also recognise the increasing costs facing families, including travel and daily expenses, and want to reassure you that we are here to support however we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance or guidance.

A reminder please to all parents that no outside unhealthy food / takeaways are to be delivered to school for students. We have a healthy school food policy and as such no takeaways / junk food / deliveries / uber eats are able to be dropped off for students. Lunch is available for all students for free each day so no student needs to go hungry if they do forget their lunch on a particular day. If takeaways / junk food are delivered to the school office then they will be kept there for the remainder of the school day and the student can collect the food at 3.15pm.

Something that has been particularly pleasing this term has been our recent ERO review visit, and we have just received a very strong and positive ERO report some highlights from which include:

Our school’s success in creating an inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environment for its diverse community of learners.
Students make significant progress over Years 9 and 10, and by the end of Year 10 most students are achieving at or above expected curriculum levels in literacy and numeracy.
A large majority of students in Years 12 and 13 achieve National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Levels 1, 2 and 3.
Students report feeling a powerful sense of belonging at the school, supported by a rich curriculum that provides a wide range of learning experiences and teachers who create positive, purposeful learning environments.
Leaders foster a culture committed to quality teaching and improving equity and excellence in student outcomes.

The report also recognises the school’s clear strategic direction, strengthened by a Board and leadership team who share a unified vision for student wellbeing and personalised excellence. Effective teaching practices are becoming increasingly consistent across the school, and pathways into, within, and beyond AV头条 are well planned to support student aspirations. With regular attendance improving and systems for monitoring progress becoming more robust, AV头条 is well positioned for continued improvement. These ERO findings affirm our school as a community working together with commitment, optimism and purpose - living our vision of inspiring caring, curious, and courageous learners. The full report will be available online shortly.

One of our key focus areas as a school this year is Literacy and ensuring all our students attain NCEA Literacy and the reading and writing skills they need for academic success. You will see later in this newsletter a schoolwide Academic Spelling Competition or “” for term 2. This is a challenge you might like to do as a wh膩nau over the holidays to help your child get ready for this event.

This term we also farewell some valued staff members and welcome others to our community. We say thank you and farewell to Mr Mike Clyne, our Deputy Principal, who is moving on to Ormiston Senior College. Mike has made a significant contribution to our school over the past four years, and we wish him every success in his next chapter. We also farewell Ms Claudia Teague and thank her for all her hard work and dedication over the past six years. We are grateful for all she has given to our school and wish her safe travels and wonderful experiences as she begins her overseas adventure. At the start of next term, we are pleased to welcome Mr Tim Hardie as Assistant Principal, who joins us from NorthWest College and Westlake Boys’ High School, and Ms Richele Coleman from Manurewa High School, who will be joining our Social Sciences team. We look forward to the strengths and experience they will bring to our school.

I wish you all a blessed Easter and a well-deserved break - may it be a time of rest, renewal, and joyful moments with family and friends. Please take care and travel safely, and I look forward to welcoming you back refreshed and ready for Term 2.

Ng膩 manaakitanga,

Louise Addison | Tumuaki

Student Leaders

Term 1 at AV头条 has been a steady start to the year, some events that our amazing leaders have run have been a major success. For example, the Amazing Race was a chance for new students to explore the campus alongside their parents, watch performances, and meet with their assigned mentor teachers. Athletics day was also a great opportunity for our students to show their physical capabilities, which did not disappoint, participation was high.

This week some of the year 12 PE students held a fun staff versus students volleyball game, which had a massive audience that filled out the gym. A number of different sports are getting underway, specifically basketball, netball, rugby, badminton and lawn bowls. Practices for the biannual school production, Footloose, have also started and will be performed by students in Term 2, week 6.

At the beginning of March, we had the opportunity as Head Students to attend Selwyn College's head student conference. We spent the day bonding and building valuable connections with student leaders representing schools from all around Auckland, and we made a lot of new friends. It was also very interesting listening to guest speakers Dave Letele and Brie Elliot share their stories and how they relate to us as leaders. We left feeling very inspired and we hope to bring some of what we learned into our leadership roles this year. Overall it was a fun day and we're very much looking forward to attending another one at Epsom Girls in Term 2.

Claudia Kouka and Sahib Dhaliwal | Head Students

From the Teaching and Learning Team

Our first reports for the year will be sent home shortly, giving you an overview of your child’s Ownership of Learning and their current academic progress in each subject. These early reports are designed to start a conversation about how your child has settled into their courses and what their next steps might be.

To support these conversations, we will be holding a Parent Teacher Evening on Thursday 23 April, from 2.00pm – 8.00pm. Each conference is a 15鈥憁inute meeting with your child’s mentor teacher to discuss their report and how they have started the year. All conferences will take place in the bottom of E鈥態lock, organised by year level.

Bookings for mentor conferences will be made online, and a separate email has been sent to caregivers with full details about how to access the report and book a time.

From the Pastoral Team

Online safety

Recently we had the Police into AV头条 presenting to us about online digital safety. The programme ‘Say No to Nudes’ centres on catfishing and digital sextortion. It was presented to the Year 9 and 10 cohorts and will be rolled out to the rest of the school next term. The students were engaged, asked a lot of questions and were horrified and intrigued by the lengths people will go to try and get money off unsuspecting young people. If you have any concerns at all about your child’s safety online, please go to the New Zealand Police website where you can find the same presentation, watch it yourself and use it to open up a conversation with your own child.

We would also like to remind all members of our community that the same standards of behaviour we expect in face-to-face interactions apply equally in online spaces. Respect, kindness, honesty, and responsibility are essential at all times, whether communication occurs in person, in writing, or through digital platforms. Learners are expected to engage appropriately, use respectful language, acknowledge the perspectives of others, and uphold our school values when interacting online. Inappropriate behaviour such as hurtful comments, exclusion, harassment, or misuse of digital tools will be addressed in the same way as it would be in a physical setting, as online actions have real-world impacts.

Attendance

As the cooler months approach, winter often brings with it an increase in colds, flu, and other seasonal illnesses. To help protect everyone’s health and maintain a positive learning environment, we kindly ask wh膩nau to keep students at home if they are unwell.

When children attend school sick, it increases the risk of illness spreading to others. Rest and recovery at home helps students get back to good health faster. If your child is unwell, please notify the school office as soon as possible. Absences can be recorded by phone, email, or through Schoolbridge.

The Stepped Attendance Response, and the emails you receive are designed to support families to make sure that every student is safe, accounted for, and able to fully engage in their learning when they’re ready to return.

From Sommerville School

We've had a busy term back in the Sommerville Satellite.

We've loved our sports modules this term including soccer, hockey and athletics. We had our first ever Sommerville Athletics Day at Due Drop Event Centre in Manukau in week 8 and it was a huge success. One of our main focuses this term has been life-skills and students have been participating in a range of life-skills programmes, including budgeting, self-care and cooking- which is definitely a favourite! We are always so proud of our amazing learners and their ability to- be flexible, take risks and push themselves beyond their comfort zone. We are excited for a relaxing school holiday!

School Events

Athletics Day

On Tuesday 25 February, we held our annual School Athletics Day at Lloyd Elsmore Athletics Track. The sun was shining and the weather couldn’t have been better, making it a fantastic day for the event.

We had a record level of participation this year, with students getting involved across a wide range of events. Track events included the 100m, 200m, 300/400m, 800m and 1500m races, while field events featured High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put and Discus.

Alongside the competitive events, we also ran jump-and-go activities and non-competitive races. These events contribute to wh膩nau points and give everyone the chance to get involved and have a go, regardless of experience.

As always, the relay races were a highlight of the day and had everyone on the edge of their seats. Cooper Wh膩nau took out the overall relay win after some exciting races.

Results for the Day	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Participation	Cooper	Sheppard	Ngata	Hillary
Event Results	Cooper	Sheppard	Ngata	Hillary
Overall Results	Cooper	Sheppard	Ngata	Hillary

This year we also introduced a Wh膩nau Chant Competition. Wh膩nau leaders created their chants and students practised them in the lead-up to the event. It added a great atmosphere to the day and it was awesome to see the enthusiasm and wh膩nau spirit on display. Congratulations to Cooper Wh膩nau for taking out the chant competition.

Also, a huge congratulations to our Overall Athletics Champions:

Junior Girl: Ximena Lara Silva	Junior Boy: Nikau Light
Intermediate Girl: Chanlika Sok	Intermediate Boy: Logan Knezovich
Senior Girl: Ane Tetawa	Senior Boy: Conrad Purcell

A big thank you to the staff who helped make the day run smoothly, and to all the students who took part and represented their wh膩nau.

Wh膩nau Spelling Bee

The 2026 Spelling Bee was a hotly contested event, showcasing the determination and talent of our students. Students demonstrated impressive spelling skills as they worked through a series of increasingly challenging words.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our Wh膩nau leaders and the community committee for their ongoing support and assistance in organising this event.

A special thank you goes to Mr Thomson for the organisation and for selecting such a demanding range of words. These certainly pushed our students to perform at their very best and added to the intensity of the competition.

Congratulations to Hillary Wh膩nau, who emerged as the overall winners of the 2026 Spelling Bee.

SpellQuest

In order to expand on the Spelling Bee and its success we are going to have a schoolwide spelling competition in Term 2. This will involve all students working on learning the key academic words for their year level and then a full school spelling test during Extended Mentor time.

To support this, the spelling list for each year level is attached to this newsletter and will be sent out to all students this week. The holidays would be a great time to work together as a wh膩nau on the spelling list for your child.

Please find the spelling lists that students will be challenged on or at the end of this newsletter.

Give it a go week

Over the past two weeks, the 2PESH class planned and ran a Get Up and Go event aimed primarily at Year 9 and 10 students, with other year levels joining where possible during Break 2. Students participated in a variety of activities, including Volleyball, Badminton, and Basketball, demonstrating leadership, teamwork, and enthusiasm. Four of the Year 12 PE students also focused on staff wellbeing, designing fun activities for staff during Break 1 in the gym. The event concluded with an exciting staff vs student volleyball game, and it was rewarding to see both staff and students actively engaging, having fun, and building connections throughout Weeks 9 and 10.

Mrs Davies | HOD of PE

Barista Gateway Work Experience

Our Year 13 Barista students have successfully completed their hospitality training, as well as their work experience placements at local cafés. Through this experience, they gained 14 credits while developing practical, real-world skills in a professional environment.

We would like to thank Goldstar Training and our local cafés for providing their establishments as a place of learning and for supporting our students.

EOTC TRIPS

Year 13 – Business Spark tank

A group of five Year 13 students took part in the Young Enterprise Spark Tank event, where they had the exciting opportunity to present their product idea to a panel of eight experienced mentors. Throughout the event, the students rotated between mentors, confidently pitching their concept and explaining the purpose, target market, and unique features of their product.

Each mentor offered valuable feedback, and suggesting ways the group could improve their idea, marketing, and overall business strategy. The experience challenged the students to think critically, communicate clearly, and adapt their approach based on real-world advice.

The group are now working on improving their product and have gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in a competitive business environment.

Level 3 Tourism

Year 13 Tourism students recently visited Auckland Zoo to deepen their understanding of sustainable tourism and the evolving role of zoos in the modern world. During the visit, students took part in an engaging workshop led by zoo educators, where they explored how conservation, education, and visitor experiences are balanced in a sustainable way. Following the workshop, students had the opportunity to explore the zoo, observing firsthand how these principles are put into practice.

AV头条 Jazz Band Camp

On Sunday 8th March we took 21 students away to our annual Jazz band camp. This year we stayed at Karanga Camp, Henderson, a short 15 mins from Bethels Beach. This camp primarily focuses on learning the band's pieces for the year. It is a great opportunity to introduce new members to the band and grow new friendships within the group. The band rehearsed for hours each day under the wise counsel of band director, Hamish Arthur. Every year I am impressed with how far the band comes in such a short few day. We do manage to get out and see the local area. A trip down to Bethels Beach and a walk along the beautiful coastline is always a highlight.

A big thank you to Mr Reynolds and Miss Benjamin for their amazing help on this camp as well. We look forward to showcasing the band later in the year. If you are free on Friday 15th May, the band and other soloists will be performing at the Uxbridge Theatre in Howick as part of the Free Lunchtime Concert Series. We might see you there.

Mr Holmes | HOD Music (and a big thank you to you too Mr Holmes from all the staff and students involved!)

Round the Bays

On Sunday, 8th March, a group of students and staff took part in Round the Bays which is an 8.4 km run around the waterfront. For all the students involved, it was their first time doing the event.

It was an early start, with a 6:50 am meet at school to make sure we arrived on time. The weather couldn’t have been better, which made for a great day out.

The students put in a solid effort and should be proud of themselves for giving it a go and finishing the course. They wrapped things up with some well-earned sushi at the finish line.

Thanks to Miss Benjamin, Mr Parker, Ms Boni and Mr Fischer for organising and supporting the group throughout the day.

Book of the Week

Welcome back to another Book of the Week!

This week we’re featuring The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton in the Closet by Claire Hatcher-Smith. This fun and endearing story follows Mizzy, a determined young teen with Downs Syndrome, who becomes caught up in solving an old family mystery. I love a good mystery novel, and it’s refreshing to read one that isn’t dark or heavy yet still packed with clues and twists. Check it out if you are looking for an enjoyable and heartwarming read! It is currently on our New Book display.

Tara Holland | School Librarian

Sport

Winter Sport Update

With summer sport coming to an end, we are now holding our musters and trials for winter sport teams.

These have been going really well so far, and we’ve had a large number of students keen to get involved in sport this year. It’s fantastic to see so many students wanting to take part and be involved in school sport.

To allow us to run all the teams we are hoping to enter, we do need support from our wh膩nau – particularly when it comes to officials. We are currently looking for people who may be able to help referee some of our basketball teams or umpire our netball teams.

Basketball games are played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while netball is played on Wednesday afternoons. If you are able to help with any of these, please get in touch with me at [email protected].

We are looking forward to an exciting start to the winter season, especially with so many students keen to get involved.

Auckland Secondary School Athletics Championships

Following our school athletics event, a number of students qualified to compete at the Auckland Secondary School Athletics Championships, which was held on Tuesday, 17th March.

There was a huge number of students competing from schools all over Auckland. Our students gave it their all, and a special mention goes to Caroline Fetokai for placing 5th in Auckland in the Junior Girls Shot Put.

Well done to all our athletes for their hard work!

Auckland Lawn Bowls Pairs Tournament

On Tuesday, 24th March, 12 students represented AV头条 at the Auckland Lawn Bowls Pairs Tournament. Many were introduced to the sport through our K艒whiri Akonga programme, which runs on Wednesday afternoons at school, making this a great opportunity to put their developing skills into practice.

The day had a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, with heaps of laughter and plenty of positive moments throughout. It was great to see students building connections, with new friendships forming both within our group and with players from other schools.

Our students showed excellent sportsmanship across the tournament and should be proud of how they represented the school. Congratulations to all participants.

Many of the players are now keen to take part in another tournament later this year.

Notices

Click below to download the lists for .