I had the privilege of working at Avondale School in the Year 2000 for one year, before going to Queensland. That was 22 years ago. Since then, the school has added considerable infrastructure, such as the iCentre, a state-of-the-art Multi-Purpose Centre and Trade School, to name a few. Construction on the new Worship Centre is also well under way and will add another dimension to nurture and encourage spiritual development and welfare, and to express Avondale’s Christian values in selfless service.
Just as the world tends to do, academia has changed drastically over the past 22 years. Even the most established brick and mortar buildings of the school have transitioned into the digital age, as today’s learners are digital natives.
As new learning technologies are introduced and textbooks are transformed into digital textbooks written in 'e-ink', academia is transforming faster than ever. It is, therefore, imperative that we cater for all pathway needs whether it be academic or non-academic. Avondale School is determined to make sure that we continue to engage students in learning for life that develops curiosity, and creatively uses our differences, the technology available to us and an open sharing of resources and ideas, providing them with the best opportunities to create success.
Avondale’s latest initiative is the introduction of an innovative program called PROPEL. Also known as Passion / Responsibility / Opportunity / Purpose / Experiment and Launch. It is an individualised pathway to a career. Students achieve their HSC but can explore their gifts and talents and apply them in a workplace environment. PROPEL helps students to launch their career without the pressure of exams and within the safety of a supportive school environment. This allows students to gain real-world experience that is applicable to their future careers. Rather than limiting students inside a classroom, students will gain real life opportunities to gain useful technical skills through real-world application.
It is important to continue to think and invest to prepare our students for a future, so we can improve areas of need today.
Twenty-two years on, I am very excited to be back at Avondale and be part of a revolutionary change that is conducive to innovative and creative learning, shaping our students for a world they look forward to contributing to.
Mr Jaco Tams
Assistant Head of Secondary
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