Address: 282 Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland | Telephone: (09) 520 0602
E-mail: [email protected] | web: www.victoriaave.com
Dear Parents,
This is the last newsletter of the year. Although we still have a couple of significant events happening next week, it is right that we celebrate them in advance.
The end of year events held at VAS are very special. The Leavers’ Dinner is on tonight and there is an excited buzz running through the year 6 classrooms. The leavers’ activity day is next Wednesday at Cornwall Park. The children enjoy dressing up (devising a group chant!!) and participating in all sorts of challenges. Great fun to be had!
The Carol Service is being held on Monday night and will be absolutely wonderful. The singing and readings are being practised and from what I have seen already it will be a lovely evening in a beautiful venue. Huge thanks and congratulations to the organising team of Alison Laxon, Jane Cameron, Ally Young along with all the teachers. Hours of work in preparing, practising and organising have been put into making this a lovely event.
Thank you to the Board of Trustees, Bob Weston Chair, Nicky Hall, Dave Shields, Bridget Snelling, Anna Scott, Alison Laxon, current trustees and Michael Holloway and Katie Williams who resigned during the year. You have all worked very hard to ensure that the school is governed at such a high level. This has ensured that the high standard of education and community involvement has continued.
Huge thanks to everyone on the PTS. Shelley Cunningham continued the tradition of leading a fantastic team of people in organising so many events throughout the year. Everything I have attended has been well organised, fun and always a great fundraiser for the school. I know that many Friends of the PTS have also helped in many ways, so thanks to you too.
There are many VAS families (of year 6 children) for whom this is the last farewell. Their youngest child is leaving VAS, so their time with us is over. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful contributions to the school over many years. To all the families leaving Victoria Avenue School this year, thank you for your support of the school and I am sure you take away many fond memories.
We have some teachers leaving at the end of the year. Amy McGuire is heading overseas for an adventure. Nicole Nelson has won a position closer to her home on the North Shore as the commute is quite significant. Paul Rattenbury is another moving to a school closer to his home. He is going from a 45 minute commute to a 10 minute commute. Lavinia Robyns is leaving the classroom role to take on a position as RTLB (resource teacher of learning and behaviour) working with children with learning or behavioural needs. All four teachers have done an outstanding job and we wish them all the best. Thanks also to Kate Chisholm, Melissa Field and Andy Butler who opened the new entrant classes during this year and have done a fantastic job transitioning the new children into school.
We have appointed new teachers. Brittany Mills who comes to us from Epsom Normal School. Mike Hogg who used to teach at VAS is returning from his position overseas to take up the senior teacher position in the senior syndicate, Judy Chao and Kathy Ngan are both experienced teachers. The year 4 position is currently advertised so we will be informing parents as soon as an appointment is made.
So to all the staff; teachers, teacher aides and admin staff thank you all for your dedication and hard work with our lovely students.
Please have lovely restful holidays, drive safely and enjoy the precious time with your families.
Kind regards
Janice Adamson
2018 Classes
The class notifications will be sent home in two ways. All parents will get an email with the class their child is in, and you will also get a photo and bio about the new teacher. You will also be given a notice saying which class they are in which will be put in with the report. Children will meet their new teachers tomorrow so you can all have a lovely conversation after school.
You will notice that we will have four year 3 classes. We have a large cohort moving through the school so the board is funding an additional teacher to ensure the class sizes are kept down. All other year levels are staffed at almost exactly the teacher:student ratio as funded by the Ministry of Education. As a state school we have to accept every child who lives in zone regardless of how many we already have in a particular cohort.
Building Work During the Holidays
FINALLY! The work to remediate the subsidence which has affected rooms 15 – 18 will start during the holidays. It won’t be completed until sometime during term 1 so those classes have been moved for term 1. We have had to be very creative!
Room 15 Year 3 Classroom will be on the stage in the hall (yes, it is big enough!)
Room 16 Year 4 Community room
Room 17 Year 4 Library (all children will still be able to take books out)
Room 18 Year 4 Room 23 (large room beside the library with new ventilation system)
These spaces will be set up as proper classrooms with all the usual furniture and resources.
Rooms 7 – 12 are being reroofed during the holidays. No more leaks! Rooms 19 – 21 will be reroofed during the April holidays.
The exterior of the school is being painted during the holidays. Rooms 15 – 18 exterior will be painted during the April holidays after the building work is completed.
So the place will be a hive of activity! Families may still use the grounds as all the buildings will be fenced off.
2018 Staffing
SENIOR SYNDICATE
Teacher | Miss Victoria Taylor | 6 | 1 | |
Teacher | Mr Mike Hogg | 6 | 2 | Senior teacher Years 5, 6 |
Teacher | Miss Nashta Hawke | 6 | 3 | |
Teacher | Mrs Tessa Fastnedge | 5 | 4 | Year 5 leader |
Teacher | Miss Jennifer Noone | 5 | 5 | |
Teacher | Ms Judy Chao | 5 | 6 |
MIDDLE SYNDICATE
Teacher | Mrs Megan Newport | 3 | 15 | |
Teacher | Mrs Kirsten Ngan | 3 | 19 | |
Teacher | Miss Dynelle Jamison | 3 | 20 | |
Teacher | Mrs Annie Wills | 3 | 21 | Year 3 leader |
Teacher | Miss Gabrielle Brabyn | 4 | 16 | |
Teacher | Mrs Ilona Lumborg | 4 | 17 | Senior teacher Years 3, 4 |
Teacher | Mrs Ally Young | 4 | 18 |
JUNIOR SYNDICATE
Teacher | Ms Brittany Mills | 2 | 7 | |
Teacher | Mrs Lee Kang | 2 | 8 | Year 2 Leader |
Teacher | Miss Samantha Holderness | 2 | 9 | |
Teacher | Miss Kathy Ngan | 2 | 10 | |
Teacher | Ms Bron Andrew | 1 | 11 | |
Teacher | Mrs Shelly Orange | 1 | 12 | |
Teacher | Mrs Lynn Morriss | 1 | 13 | |
Teacher | Mrs Nickie Marshall | 1 | 14 | Senior Teacher Years 0, 1, 2 |
SPECIALIST TEACHERS
Designation | Name | Responsibilities |
Teacher | Mr Jason Des Forges | ICT support; maths, robotics, coding, ICT GATE programmes |
Teacher | Mr Aniel Smith | PE, Sports |
Teacher | Mrs Carolyn Crook | SENCO, Reading Recovery |
Teacher | Miss Alison Laxon | Music, GATE programmes |
Teacher | Mrs Julie Hadlow | ESOL |
Councillors and House Captains
All the Year 5 students and all the teachers voted for the councillors. Children voted for the house captains. We are delighted to announce the councillors and house captains for 2018 at the leavers’ assembly tomorrow afternoon at 1.30pm. Note the change of time.
Other Events
Leavers’ assembly – 1.30pm – Friday 8 December, parents warmly invited.
Carol service at the cathedral 7pm – Monday 11 December
Prizegiving at Baradene – 1.3en.
Uniform Shop Opening
The second hand uniform sale which was scheduled for Friday 8 December, is cancelled due to the lack of available stock.
The shop will be closed the last Thursday of the term (14 December).
The shop reopens for the new year on the first Thursday of term one (8 February). It will also be open:
– Thursday 1 February 2018 – 4.00-5.30pm
– Friday 2 February 2018 – 9.00-10.30am
– Monday 5 February 2018 – 3.30-5.30pm
Dates for 2018
Term 1: Wednesday 7 February to Friday 13 April 2018
~ Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February ’18
~ Good Friday 30 March
~ Easter Monday 2 April
~ Easter Tuesday 3 April
Term 2: Monday 30 April to Friday 6 July 2018
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 4 June ’18
Term 3: Monday 23 July to Friday 28 Sept 2018
Term 4: Monday 15 October to Thursday 20 December 2018
~ Labour Day Mon 22 October ’18
Click Here to view our BLOG PAGE.
DRAMA/SPEECH LESSONS: Click here for information
MUSIC LESSONS: Click here for information on Musiqhub music lessons
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
FOR TERM 2 2017
Click here for details on these activities.
Also:
Click here for After School and Holiday Community Based Programmes and Activities for 2017
What’s Ahead?
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR ONLINE CALENDAR
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.30-10.50am
Lunch: 12.30-1.25pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.30-10.50am
Lunch: 12.30-1.25pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Term Dates for 2017
Term 4: Monday 16 October to Friday 15 December 2017
Term Dates for 2018
Term 1: Wednesday 7 February to Friday 13 April 2018
~ Waitangi Day Tuesday 6 February ’18
~ Good Friday 30 March
~ Easter Monday 2 April
~ Easter Tuesday 3 April
Term 2: Monday 30 April to Friday 6 July 2018
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 4 June ’18
Term 3: Monday 23 July to Friday 28 Sept 2018
Term 4: Monday 15 October to Thursday 20 December 2018
~ Labour Day Mon 22 October ’18
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
– half way up dragon drive in the old dental clinic
OPEN THURSDAYS only: 8.15-8.45am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website ~ Click hereSave
Lunch Orders
1. ‘Daily Lunch and Catering’ ordered through ezLUNCH: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Click here for term 4 menu and for Pita Pit click here.
Join ezlunch today and Place an order Sushi is available through Daily Lunch and Catering
2. Pita Pit: ordered through ezLUNCH: Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Join ezlunch today and Place an order
3. Subway: Wed and Fri – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Register to order online at www.subwayrialto.co.nz
School Dental Service
8b Ngaio St Orakei Ph5200603.
The dental team will be posting letters to all new entrants to our school as required.
Remember to ‘like’ Victoria Avenue School on Facebook.
NIT NIGHT TONIGHT!!
PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK FOR NITS – a number of classes have reported nits and if your infected child is not treated then many others will be!
Here is a link from NZ Health for info and treatment.
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/head-lice
Reminder school Banking is on every Wednesday
To join go to the ASB display/banking box in the foyer.
To download the app for free on iPhone or Android click this link. http://is.gd/3ffmjc
In case you missed it last week, Nick headed down to Canterbury for Art in a Garden and checked in with organiser and Remuera local Laura Forbes to find out more about this fantastic event
Posted by We Love Auckland on Sunday, December 3, 2017

Fundraiser – Matakana Botanicals
This week you will have received information about this in your school bags. Click here for the Matakana Botanicals gift box brochure.

Junior Schools Athletics Day
Tuesday 5th December 2017

ASB Supporting Success in Your School
Due to the success to date of the ‘Supporting Success in Your School’ scheme ASB will continue to support Victoria Avenue School with the School Sponsorship Voucher until 30 July 2018. The school is awarded a $500 voucher for each customer that mentions VAS and this offer when taking out lending of $250,000 or more (see voucher for further terms). This offer is available to friends and family of the school community as well as parents and teachers. A copy of the voucher is available to download at the ASB website:
www.asb.co.nz/documents/promotions/supporting-success-in-your-school-voucher.html

‘BAGS FOR GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD’ COMMUNITY CHOICE PARTNER
The school has been selected by The Warehouse to participate in a Community Choice Programme that provides financial support to not-for-profit community groups and organisations. A fund is raised through their customers purchasing a 10cent shopping bag in return for a token, which is then placed in a voting booth (or forgo the bag). At the end of a 6-month period the fund is divided among 3 participating partners based on their percentage of tokens, with the VAS share being put towards much-needed refurbishment of outdoor playground equipment. The VAS voting booth is situated at The Warehouse store in Newmarket and the period runs from August 2017 until January 2018. Please spread the word among friends and family!
If you know of any other loyalty schemes and grants that can benefit the school, please contact Amanda Dick on [email protected]

Due to constraints on space as a result of building works, spots for music lessons with Musiqhub in term 1 of 2018 will be limited.
