blog

Excellence Breakfasts

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:02:17 +1200

To celebrate with the students who have already achieved Excellence credits this year we are hosting a breakfast with each year level and their families. The invitations have already been emailed out so if you have received one of these invitations we certainly hope you will be able to make it along to congratulate your son or daughter for their commitment to excellence. Thank you to those families that have already RSVP-ed. Remember you have until Friday 18 May to contact Kim Kindley at kkindley@ashs.school.nz or on (09)451.9201 to RSVP.

All three Excellence Breakfasts will be held at the school in Kowhai and Rimu Learning Communities from 7:30 am to 8:00 am on the following dates:

Year 11 Tuesday 22 May 2012
Year 12 Wednesday 23 May 2012
Year 13 Thursday 24 May 2012

Class Photos and Portraits on Line

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:50:19 +1200

My Class Photo Ltd has recently visited our school. Portraits and Class Photos are now available for sale at www.myclassphoto.co.nz

There is a special period running, if you place your order before the end of May 2012, the photos will be delivered to the students at school before the end of term 2, saving the courier cost.

My Class Photo produce traditional class photos but contemporary portraits with a clean background. A variety of print packages are available, please visit www.myclassphoto.co.nz and use your student ID number and date of birth to log in and purchase photos.

Any questions or queries, please contact My Class Photo Ltd directly at info@myclassphoto.co.nz

ASHS Ignites!

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:55:12 +1200

During the April holidays, ASHS hosted 110 teachers from around the country who attended 'Ignition' the unconference for excellence in education. What is an unconference?

"The Ignition Unconference aims to find pockets of excellence in schools (sometimes it’s the lone ranger, sometimes it’s a posse of teachers riding in the right direction), give them confidence that they have what it takes, build a team around them and give them the skills they need to take up leadership positions in schools, thereby spreading innovation in schools. What Ignition aims to do is to turn all schools into awesomeness incubators: high-tech, exciting, dynamic places that pump out the kind of entrepreneurs we need in New Zealand. We do this in a range of ways but our two flagship events are a series of evening ‘ignite talks’ over the course of the year and an annual two-day unconference called Ignition.

Ignition is an event run by teacher for teachers. We bring great educators together, host them at Albany Senior High School and have them share ideas on how to transform schools into the kind of 21st century innovation engines we need them to be. The difference between Ignition and other professional development that takes place in schools is that instead of helicoptering in external visionaries, we use the unconference format to give teachers the chance to lead, persuade, inspire, challenge, provoke and convince the other educators in the room. It’s a conversation and dialogue-based approach, and it’s strengths-based."

Learning Dialogues 27th & 29th March

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:46:39 +1300

We would like to welcome all parents to make an appointment for a Learning Dialogue on either Tuesday 27th March 1:00-5:00pm or Thursday 29th March 3:30-7:30pm. The appointment is with a tutor, but the person who will guide you through the process is your son or daughter.

What is a learning dialogue?

Learning dialogues are one way that tutors and parents can work together to support the learning of the students at Albany Senior High. A learning dialogue is a 20 minute, 3-way conversation about learning led by the student, and is an opportunity for them to take real responsibility for their learning and for identifying what is required for them to take their learning further.

How do I make a booking?

To make a booking, please go to http://schoolinterviews.co.nz/ and enter the code 2P9FX

Invitation-only Subject Drop In Bookings

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:59:34 +1300

Your son or daughter's tutor may contact you over the next week or so requesting you make a drop-in booking. Drop-ins are held with subject teachers and are happening on Tue 13th and Thurs 15th March 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Please make a booking by going to http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ and enter the code GU6LK

Students' School-Life Experience Survey

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:58:08 +1300

Students' school-life experience

To Parents of Albany Senior High School,

As part of our efforts to help our students improve their academic achievement and well being, our school will soon participate in important research regarding students’ feelings and thoughts toward school life. On behalf of the school, I fully support this study which is being undertaken by researchers in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland.

A better understanding of students' feelings and thoughts toward school life would help us to understand students’ needs, make school a better place and improve academic achievement and well being.

Your Child’s involvement:

As part of ASHS your child is invited to participate in the survey.
Participation in the study is completely voluntary and your child’s choice.
Your child will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding his or her feelings and thoughts towards school life.
The questionnaire will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.
Whether your child chooses to be involved or not will not affect any aspect of their schooling.
Your child may leave the study at any time without giving a reason.
Your child’s school grades in Maths and English will be released from the school database as part of the study.
Study information will be confidential and your child will not be identified in any report or publication resulting from this research.

Barbara Cavanagh

Principal

If you have any queries or wish to know more please contact:

Adva Hayam-Jonas (Principal Investigator) Dr Boaz Shulfruf

Phone: 09 373 7599 ext 88510 Phone: 09 373 7599 ext 89463

Email: a.hayam-jonas@auckland.ac.nz Email: b.shulruf@auckland.ac.nz

THIS STUDY IS FUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND AND APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND HUMAN PARTICIPANTS ETHICS COMMITTEE ON JULY 2011 FOR A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS, REF. No. 2011/298. For any queries regarding ethical concerns please contact: The Chair, The University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee, The University of Auckland, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142. Telephone: 09 373-7599 ext 83711

2012 Start of Year Information

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:46:03 +1300

Welcome to 2012 at Albany Senior High School. For 2012 we will be having staggered start dates for each year level to allow each year group individual time with their tutor teachers and all their subject teachers.

STAGGERED START DATES FOR 2012

Year 13 Only - Tuesday 31 January 2012 in school uniform, ready for a 9:00 am start and a full day.
Year 12 Only - Wednesday 1 February 2012 in school uniform, ready for a 9:00 am start and a full day.
Year 11 Only - Thursday 2 February 2012 in school uniform, ready for a 9:00 am Powhiri and a full day. This new year level will be welcomed on to the school with a Powhiri and we welcome family and friends who would like to share this occasion with their Year 11 student.
Whole School - Friday 3 February 2012 in school uniform, ready for a 8:50 am start on a normal Friday timetable.

UNIFORM

We have a very attractive uniform that has been designed to suit and to respect the young adults who attend our school. We have one change to make for next year. Up until now there has been a black school jacket and a black school jersey. From the start of 2012 students may purchase and wear their own black jerseys and their own black jackets. We would like the jerseys and jackets to be in PLAIN black.

Please be ready for the new year. The Uniform Shop, at the school, will be open from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm on Thursday 26 January 2012 and Friday 27 January 2012.

We are very keen to focus on conversations with your young people that really matter. We want everyone to be comfortable. We want to build relationships between students and teachers that are a key to good learning. We do not want to be put in the position of uniform police. That will seriously damage the wonderfully warm relationships we have developed already and that the students are benefiting from. The uniform is very reasonable and we want your support to make sure your student is wearing it and wearing it well. That is the respect and support that you and your student can show us.

The students are older now so in the first week of term 1, 2012 if a student presents at school not in uniform they will be asked to go home and get the correct gear. I am sure that will not be necessary.

We have a very high expectation that every student at Albany Senior High School will be in uniform.

STATIONERY

The stationery list for 2012 is available by clicking here.

This list is a guide only as senior students have more input in to how they organise their course notes for the year. Some students may even prefer to bring along a laptop or netbook of their choice and this is certainly encouraged at Albany Senior High School. It would be advisable to delay purchasing stationery until students have confirmed their courses in the first three days of school. During these three days, they will also meet with their subject teachers where they will have the opportunity to finalise any stationery requirements.

We look forward to another extraordinary year at Albany Senior High School in 2012

Helping to Shape Education in Auckland

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:46:43 +1200

Sharndre Kushor and Asher Pilbrow - helping to shape education in Auckland

Following on from the Auckland Education Summit held earlier this year, Cognition Institure invited two of our students, Sharndre Kushor and Asher Pilbrow to a student forum to discuss the seven outcomes from the summit. The seven themes were:

Education is a vital part of Auckland's success
Education in Auckland is connected and collaborative
The early years are vital
All Aucklanders need learning to support Auckland's economic growth
Education is a shared responsibility
Education can draw on the strengths of Maori, Pacific and other diverste communities.
Smarter gains can be made

The students who attended were asked to think about and comment on these themes. Students' views are needed because Auckland Council is shaping the Auckland Plan, which includes priorities for education. During the course of the day, Sharndre and Asher not only got to share their views with students from other Auckland schools they also got to put in to practice many of the key competencies from the New Zealand Curriculum Document - managing self, thinking, relating to others and participating and contributing. Not to mention the part they have played in shaping the education aspect of the Auckland plan.

Colour@ASHS wins Resene Total Colour Awards 2011

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:53:48 +1200

Jasmax's use of colour is a winner.

The striking colours of Albany Senior High School - designed by Jasmax - has been awarded top honours in the Resene Total Colour Awards. Jasmax gave the school the choice of a neutral palette or a bright and bold option - bright and bold won hands down.

Colour is central to all aspects of the school, best summed up as a neutral tonal canvas with splashes of colour providing meaning to the vision of the school. 10 separate strong colours have been introduced, one for each of the 10 learning communities. All the school's colours are then brought together in the heart of the school, the entry foyer, where they are all represented in a larger than life pixelated wall that encloses the library. Here the colours represent the diverse aspects of the school coming together as one, new, exciting and thought provoking school.

For their use of colour in Albany Senior High School, Jasmax not only received the Resene Total Colour Education Award, they also recieved the top honour of the Resene Total Colour Master - Nightingale Award. The school community would like to congratulate Jasmax on their innovative, award winning design.

Going for GOLD

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:44:23 +1200

Scientists for sustainability - Jun Bing and Alec Wang

The Royal Society of New Zealand state that you don't 'achieve' a Gold CREST award - you 'earn' a Gold CREST award and Jun Bing and Alec Wang have certainly done that! CREST awards are given for 'creativity and research in science and technology' and it has taken the boys 3 years to finally earn gold. Their award winning project has seen them develop a filter that extracts carbon dioxide from car exhausts and they have had to go through a lengthy process involving research and development and field trials. Their results have been thoroughly scrutinised by a panel of experts from The Royal Society during a very intense presentation from the boys. Environmentally, their project has huge implications and the boys are going to continue to develop the filter to make it a viable proposition for car manufacturers. The Royal Society are crediting Jun and Alec with being awarded the first official 'Team' Gold CREST award although the society has awarded one other 'trial' one. As this is also the first Gold CREST awarded at Albany Senior High School, the school is justifiably proud of Jun and Alec.

Diplomacy is Alive and Well@ASHS

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:13:48 +1200

Off to The Hague - Year 13s Sam Crosby and Charlie Lin

For the second year running Albany Senior High School has had not one but two students selected to attend the The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) at the beginning of 2012. Congratulations to Year 13 students Sam Crosby and Charlie Lin who will be part of the 16 strong contingent to represent New Zealand in The Netherlands in January.

Both keen debaters, Sam and Charlie became interested in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) in 2010. With the help of one other student they successfully organised a Model United Nations Assembly for fellow Auckland secondary school students. Based on the Cuban Missile Crisis this successful event was held at Massey University earlier this year. Both students then attended a national MUNA held in Wellington where they were selected to be one of the New Zealand delegates.

Sam and Charlie are both keen on politics and are commited to having the youth voice heard by being on the youth councils for local boards. As their trip in January will also take in visits to some of New Zealand's Consulates in Europe it will be an ideal opportunity for these two students to see the diplomacy required for this career path. Although, judging by their results so far, diplomacy is already one of their strong points.

Alcohol and Your Teen

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:41:23 +1200

Alcohol and Your Teen

-Dispelling myths, sharing strategies.

Parenting teenagers can be challenging at the best of times and issues around alcohol make it even more so.

Albany Junior High School and Albany Senior High School invite parents and caregivers to a Parents' Evening to discuss issues and concerns around young people and alcohol.

The evening aims to provide information around teenagers and alcohol, dispel myths and enable parents to discuss strategies regarding the best way to support their teenager.

Venue: Albany Senior High School

Level 3

536 Albany Highway

Date: Wednesday 7 September 2011

Time: 7:15 pm - coffee and chat

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm - meeting and discussion

A panel consisting of:

Rebecca Williams, Director Alcohol Healthwatch
Sharon Lynds, Clinical Team Leader, CADS
Bruce Pilrow, CEO Parents INC
Rod Bell, CEO Blue Light

will be available to answer questions and provide factual information.

All parents in both the junior and senior schools are encouraged to attend this informal evening.

To download a copy of "Myths and Facts" click here.

Godspell!

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:33:48 +1200

Prepare ye for GODSPELL, the beloved classic from Stephen Schwartz, the Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning composer of WICKED and PIPPIN. Enjoy all the good gifts of one of the most enduring shows of all time as it comes to Broadway in a brand new, intimately staged, one-of-a-kind production. Raise your spirit with the Tony®-nominated score filled with the popular hits Day By Day, Learn Your Lessons Well and Turn Back, O Man.

This timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love has touched the hearts of countless theater-goers all over the world and now you can join the celebration as a spectacular ensemble of Broadway’s best performs the greatest story ever told. So come sing about love - at GODSPELL.

The cast, band, lighting and sound crew are all students of ASHS.

Show Dates:
Tuesday 23rd August @ 1.30pm, 7.30pm
Wednesday 24th August @ 7.30pm
Thursday 25th August @ 7.30pm
NO SHOW FRIDAY
Saturday 27th August @ 7.30pm

Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students, $5 for ten year-olds and under.
Tickets now available from the school reception, or call 09-4519065 to order!
Door tickets are subject to availability.

DIRECTOR: Trevor Sharp
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Naomi Webster
CHOREOGRAPHER: Laura Patterson

ERO Report

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:13:41 +1200

We are delighted to present our first ever ERO report. The report will be available on the ERO website soon, but in the meantime we attach a copy here for you to read.

Out of Zone Enrolments

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:11:25 +1200

Albany Senior High School will be accepting out of zone enrolments in Years 11, 12 & 13 for 2012. For more information about enroling out of zone please click here.

Keen to Enrol for 2012??

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:30:08 +1200

To enrol and discuss your course selections for 2012, individual appointments can be made for the week starting Monday 22 August 2011. Interview times are:

Monday 22 August 3:30 - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 23 August 3:30 - 6:00 pm
Wednesday 24 August 3:30 - 8:00 pm
Thursday 25 August 3:30 - 6:00 pm

Please contact Robyn, Debbie or Kelly for your 15 minute enrolment interview on (09)451.9065. You will need to bring the following documentation with you:

Completed Enrolment form
Completed Course selection form
Birth Certificate or a New Zealand Passport (if a New Zealand resident) or
International Passport with the appropriate visa
Most recent school report
Two recent forms of proof of address (recent mail from the power / telephone company or bank)

If you require futher copies of the enrolment documents or would like more information about enrolling just click here.

Prelim Exam Timetable

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:09:38 +1200

Prelim exams are fast approaching, the the first ones set to begin on the 5th September. For more information about which exams are happening on which days, please see the prelim exam timetable in the FAQ section. Tutors and subject teachers are preparing for these exams with students, and are emphaising how important they are in the context of the year's learning. The feedback from these assessments are invaluable for students when it comes to getting a sense of where they should direct their efforts as the NCEA exams come closer. If you have any questions about exams, please feel free to contact your son or daughter's tutor.

Taking it to the World

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:06:32 +1200

From Left to right: Alec Solomon (Solly), Mark Osborne and Miranda Makin

Albany Senior High School teachers don't just teach within the walls of our Albany campus, it seems. They are taking their teaching global. Deputy Principal, Miranda Makin was invited by OECD (The Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) to speak at the 'Connections Conference' in Sydney in early June. Under the theme, "Discovering Science - Engaging the Learner" Miranda shared some of the educational ideas that helped inform the design of the laboratories and the way science happens at ASHS. Toward the end of June Mark Osborne, Deputy Principal, was invited by the New Zealand IT company Catalyst, to present in Southampton, England. Catalyst has been expanding its business in to the UK and North America and needed a keynote speaker who could showcase their Mahara Software. Mark's presentation on the way ASHS use Mahara for e-Portfolios for students and staff was well received by the English Univertsities and secondary schools that were present. In August Specialist Subject Leader for Health, PE and Outdoor Education, Alec Solomon (Solly) will be heading to Columbus Ohio. Cognition Institute has invited Solly to present at this international conference and share with the American schools ASHS's innovative teaching practices. Principal, Barbara Cavanagh commented, "While Australia, UK and America benefit from hearing Miranda, Mark and Solly's presentations, ASHS will benefit from the wealth of information these three teachers will bring back with them".

Open Evening for 2012 Student Intake

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:36:44 +1200

Are you considering attending Albany Senior High School in 2012?

We are looking forward to welcoming the families of students who are considering enrolling at ASHS for 2012.

Date: Wednesday 10 August 2011

Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Staff and students will be available to answer your questions while you take this opportunity to discover our campus.

See you on the night.

Enrolment interviews will take place during the week starting 22 August 2011. Information about how to book an interview time will appear on this website early in term 3.

Agriculture@ASHS - Can you help?

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:33:51 +1200

Hands on Impact Project

We have ten enthusiastic students who, for their Impact Project, are interested in furthering their knowledge in the field of agricultural farming. They are looking for work experience in our local community - does this sound like you?

If you can help with any of the following we would love to hear from you:

Work experience on a farm (On a Wednesay to help out with odd jobs).
One off visit to explore farming techniques.
One off jobs you may need help with, such as chipping thistles or repairing fences.

If you can help please contact:

Student: Christy Whyte stu11207@ashs.school.nz

Teacher: Sharon Kiely skiely@ashs.school.nz