Principal - Toni Burnside
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I am proud and humbled to be Principal at Banks Avenue School. The east side of Christchurch has been through a huge amount of stress and upheaval during the past eight years that has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on our school, our community and our tamariki.
Banks Avenue School’s infrastructure and land was damaged in the 2011 quake; although we have patched up the infrastructure we can not repair the land hence we were deemed a rebuild. For the last five years we have been working with the MOE ; initially finding a new site and developing a design brief. This has taken way longer than anyone anticipated and we are only now at the detailed design stage of our rebuild. We expect to be moving into our new school, on the old Shrley Boys site, mid 2021.
On a personal level I lost my own house in the February earthquake and then bought a new home in Waimairi Beach; it was only last year when I went to sell that home that it became apparent the original EQC repairs had not been done correctly; hence a further year of meetings, emails and eventually remedial work. Many of our families, staff and wider community members have had very similar stresses and frustrations.
We see the impact of these changes, stresses and frustrations with some of our children. We have a significant number of children with anxiety and related issues. At school this can lead to children lacking confidence and being withdrawn and shy or on the other hand children who display emotional irregularities who can not settle to tasks or form relationships with others.
When I am not at school working I enjoy being around the home; in particular in the garden. I have two beautiful daughters who live close to me; family are my most important priority.
I am a travel addict; happy and excited to have a weekend to Hanmer or to be a bit more adventurous and go further afield. My most interesting holiday was doing volunteer medical relief in India although I far prefer a pool and a lot of sun when on holiday!
Previously I was principal at Central New Brighton School and Greta Valley School.
As a teacher and leader I am passionate about education and in supporting the development of learning environments where children will be engaged, motivated and achieving to their full potential across the curriculum. At the centre of all we do at Banks Avenue School are our children. Our school HEART values ( hauora, excellence, aroha, respect and togetherness) underpin our positive school culture.
At Banks Avenue School we want all of our children to have high expectations of themselves as learners, to feel confident about their capacity to learn, to set goals for their learning and to construct enjoyable, challenging learning pathways to their futures.
Our Board of Trustees, our staff and myself are very excited about the journey we are on and we look forward to working with you all to achieve great things for our children!
Kia mahi tahi tatou katoa mo te painga o a tatou tamariki
Let us work together for the good of our children.
Nga mihi nui
Toni
Banks Avenue School’s infrastructure and land was damaged in the 2011 quake; although we have patched up the infrastructure we can not repair the land hence we were deemed a rebuild. For the last five years we have been working with the MOE ; initially finding a new site and developing a design brief. This has taken way longer than anyone anticipated and we are only now at the detailed design stage of our rebuild. We expect to be moving into our new school, on the old Shrley Boys site, mid 2021.
On a personal level I lost my own house in the February earthquake and then bought a new home in Waimairi Beach; it was only last year when I went to sell that home that it became apparent the original EQC repairs had not been done correctly; hence a further year of meetings, emails and eventually remedial work. Many of our families, staff and wider community members have had very similar stresses and frustrations.
We see the impact of these changes, stresses and frustrations with some of our children. We have a significant number of children with anxiety and related issues. At school this can lead to children lacking confidence and being withdrawn and shy or on the other hand children who display emotional irregularities who can not settle to tasks or form relationships with others.
When I am not at school working I enjoy being around the home; in particular in the garden. I have two beautiful daughters who live close to me; family are my most important priority.
I am a travel addict; happy and excited to have a weekend to Hanmer or to be a bit more adventurous and go further afield. My most interesting holiday was doing volunteer medical relief in India although I far prefer a pool and a lot of sun when on holiday!
Previously I was principal at Central New Brighton School and Greta Valley School.
As a teacher and leader I am passionate about education and in supporting the development of learning environments where children will be engaged, motivated and achieving to their full potential across the curriculum. At the centre of all we do at Banks Avenue School are our children. Our school HEART values ( hauora, excellence, aroha, respect and togetherness) underpin our positive school culture.
At Banks Avenue School we want all of our children to have high expectations of themselves as learners, to feel confident about their capacity to learn, to set goals for their learning and to construct enjoyable, challenging learning pathways to their futures.
Our Board of Trustees, our staff and myself are very excited about the journey we are on and we look forward to working with you all to achieve great things for our children!
Kia mahi tahi tatou katoa mo te painga o a tatou tamariki
Let us work together for the good of our children.
Nga mihi nui
Toni
