B CAMBRIDGE AWARD FOR 1ST IN NZ SCHOLAR A fascination with figuring out how people’s minds work has paid off for an Avondale College student who has topped New Zealand in her Cambridge AS Psychology exam. Jesslyn Chen (17) was presented with her award at the national Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards Ceremony held at Eden Park on Thursday 22 February. Jesslyn says she was delighted by the news that she had come first in the country – especially as she had picked up the subject for the first time last year while in Year 12. “I didn’t think I had done as well as I had,” she says. “The first paper was pretty hard, but the second involved applying your knowledge, evaluating and using critical thinking skills and I was happier with that one.” Psychology teacher Mrs Grace Williams says that the award is well deserved. “Jesslyn worked really hard throughout the year. She should be very proud of herself.” Mrs Williams also has cause to be proud of her own self – Jesslyn is the second of her students to top the country in AS Psychology in the past two years.
TERM 1 WEEK 5 28 February 2018
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS' AND DEANS' CONTACT DETAILS YEAR 9 Dean
Mrs Aleishia Davis dva@avcol.school.nz Associate Dean Mrs Grace Williams wmg@avcol.school.nz Deputy Principal Mr Matt Bennett bnn@avcol.school.nz Dean
Mr David Dewsnap dsp@avcol.school.nz Associate Dean Miss Helena Pattison ptn@avcol.school.nz Deputy Principal Mrs Lynne van Etten vtn@avcol.school.nz
820 1702
820 1738 ext 539 820 1720
YEAR 11 Dean
Ms Rhonda Donaldson dsn@avcol.school.nz Associate Dean Miss Ashleigh Earwaker ekr@avcol.school.nz Deputy Principal Mrs Lyndy Watkinson wtn@avcol.school.nz Dr
820 1706 ext 560 820 1707
YEAR 12
Avondale College has a growing reputation for success in the subject area. Jesslyn is the sixth Avondale College student to have come first in New Zealand’s Cambridge Psychology exams since 2012 – with two also coming first in the world. Avondale College’s Psychology teachers take an active role in professional leadership within the subject area and in developing resources for other schools.
Dean
RECORD MĀORI ACHIEVEMENT
ext 534
YEAR 10
Mrs Naomi Parker prk@avcol.school.nz Associate Dean Miss Joy Yallop ylp@avcol.school.nz Deputy Principal Dr Terry Brown bwn@avcol.school.nz
“We hear from the universities that our courses really set up our students well for success in their tertiary studies,” says Mrs Williams. “The stage one Psychology classes are full of Avondale College students who are doing extremely well.”
820 1708
Dean
820 1710 ext 540 820 1728
YEAR 13 Mrs Megan Miller mrm@avcol.school.nz Associate Dean Mrs Pritika Patel ptl@avcol.school.nz Deputy Principal Mr Phil Hill hil@avcol.school.nz
820 1709 ext 542 820 1701
ABSENCE LINE absences@avcol.school.nz
820 1071
Avondale College's Māori students have good reason to feel proud of their academic success, especially following the release of achievement data for NCEA and UE. (Continued on page 3.)
14 - 17 MARCH
Javiyah Nikoia (Year 12); Olivia Jacobson-Pepere (Year 13); and Olivia Mallon (Year 11) - shining examples of Māori achievement.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.AVCOL.SCHOOL.NZ THIS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE ON OUR SCHOOL INTRANET WELCOME.AVCOL.SCHOOL.NZ