History: 1900 - 1969

1900
Mr Bollard was granted leave of absence from the School Committee to attend Parliamentary duties.

1903
The oldest document held in the school's archives is a "Public School Summary of Attendance Register" for Avondale (Main & SIde) Public School. At the end of the first quarter, 31 March 1903 140 boys and 130 girls were on the roll. At the end of that year there were 149 boys and 144 girls on the roll.

1904
A side school of the Avondale Public School was opened at Blockhouse Bay.

1917
The teachers and pupils were commended for their efforts in providing comforts for the brave lads at the Front. These included items such as 1200 handkerchiefs, 18 flannel singlets, 607 pairs of socks and 10 pairs of underpants.

1918
At the end of the March quarter there were 513 pupils enrolled. There were flower gardens in full bloom near the Great North Road gate.

1920

The School Committee asked the Government to provide all school books and requisites free.
The question of a side school at Rosebank Road was raised.
The school would be open during February from 8.30 a.m to 12 noon.

1921
The School Committee decided to defer the school picnic until food and prize materials reached a more reasonable cost.
There was not a sufficient number of children for the proposed school at Rosebank Road.

1922
An attempt was made to burn the school down.
Attendance was very good and one class had 90 students and one teacher.
The school picnic was deferred for another year because of costs.
The Fire Brigade were given permission to use the school ladders for practice provided they were returned.

1925
Schools closed for a few weeks because of an Infantile Paralysis epidemic.
The subject of swimming baths for Avondale School was discussed.
8 pupils succeeded in passing the Junior Scholarship Examination.

1926
A gentleman was employed to attend to the clocks every Saturday morning for the sum of 3 pounds per year.
The School Committee decided that 2 weeks for the May holidays would be better than the present one week.

1927
The School Committee were unable to find 300 pounds needed for a swimming pool.
The average attendance was 720 out of a roll of 760. They were still waiting for funds for more classrooms.

1928
80 Standard 3 pupils were using St.Jude's hall as a classroom. The teacher in charge complained that the building was cold and draughty.
The Dental Nurse complained that children in the Dental Clinic were shivering with the cold.

1929
A new school opened in Richardson Road and the school roll dropped.
The average quarterly attendance later that year was 780 from a roll of 815.

1930
The Inspectors reported that the loyal co-operation of the Staff combined with their faithful service had achieved a high standard of efficiency in the various departments.

1932
The School Committee decided to treat all children free at the Dental Clinic and would raise funds to pay for this.
The Headmaster reported acts of mischief and writing about the school and asked the local police for more supervision.
The withdrawal of 2 males from the staff had seriously affected the boys' side of the school and had thrown much extra work on the remaining men teachers, especially in the supervision of games.
Questions were asked at a Householders' meeting about marbles and the styles of handwriting being taught.
It was decided to get a bag of sawdust for the cleaner to use while sweeping.

1933
The Headmaster requested some small platforms for use by the lady teachers at the blackboard.
A Special Class was opened at the St.Jude's hall. It was limited to a couple of dozen.
The element in the teachers' kettle burnt out and they were reminded to take more care.
There was insufficient lavatory accommodation for the boys.
The Labour Party, Avondale Branch, were alarmed by the threatened closure of the Dental Clinic.

1934
The Headmaster reported that school attendance had been affected by influenza and whooping cough.

1941
During the Second World War apples could no longer be exported so each school child was given free, in season, an apple each day.

1942
Air raid shelters were built in the school grounds. Each child was required to wear a small bag containing cotton wool to put in the ears, and a cork to bite on. (Rumour has it that these shelters are under the path on the field side of rooms 3 to 5.)

1943
The local Member of Parliament, who was also Minister of Education, presented a trophy for the best girl athlete of the school, deportment to be taken into account. He stated "I attach very great importance to the way girls hold themselves. I should be sorry if a slouchy girl could obtain it as easily as one who held herself beautifully." ( We can now claim that our local M.P. is also the Prime Minister.)

1945
Avondale Intermediate School opened and Avondale Primary School lost its Standard 5 and Standard 6 pupils and its Manual Training department. The school was officially 'decapitated' and became a Contributing School.

1949
After considerable fundraising the school swimming pool was completed and officially opened.

1951
A meeting was called to form a Parent-Teacher Association

1952
Lunches were supplied by local caterers at school to prevent children from leaving the school and buying rubbishy foods and drinks.

1953
There were 41 children in the New Entrant class and and an expected increase by the end of term. St. Ninian's hall hired as an extra classroom for the Special Class.
A school re-union was held for the 80th anniversary.
The Headmaster recommended that the presentation of prizes to Dux and Runner-up be discontinued. The School Committee did not agree.

1954
The roll was 870 and part of the RSA hall was used as a classroom.
A public meeting was held to discuss a traffic by-pass. There was a move afoot to try and remove the school.
A boy strained himself carrying a milk crate. Arrangements were made to construct a trolley.
There was concern about the lack of suitable transport for pupils coming from the Patiki Road area.

1955
Glenavon School opened and the roll dropped to 640
The School Committee disapproved of teachers imposing fines on children.
Concern that there were only two wash basins for 400 primer children.

1956
12 suitable and worthy chairs were bought for the staff room to replace a settee in an advanced state of deterioration.

1957
Considerable discussion about whether children should be given pocket money.
The Speech Clinic was transferred from Avondale Intermediate.
A pair of nylons was to have been raffled at a Home and School Association meeting, but insufficient people attended.

1958
At a Parents' Evening a lecturer from The Teachers' College described some experimental work being done in music that resulted in release of tension and good personality adjustment in the child.

1960
The boys' toilet was broken into and all the lead piping stolen.
The caretaker was busy cutting up wood for winter fuel and it was stored in the boys' shelter shed.
(You can see the shelter sheds in the 1954 aerial photo of the school which is hanging in the foyer of the new Administration Block)

1961
Rosebank Road School opened and the roll dropped from 625 to 416.
The speaker system needed maintenance on account of rats chewing wires.
It was suggested that the old Manual Training Block be converted for use as a school hall.

1963
The school hall was officially opened after strengthening to bring it up to building code requiremets.

1968
78% of parents who responded to a questionnaire were in favour of a school uniform.

1969
Instead of a new school on the site, an Avondale businessman wanted a modern shopping centre with plenty of parking.
An Alsatian dog bit a child in the school. The Headmaster stated that as the dog came from Putaruru it was obviously straying..
A sign erected read "Assembley Hall". The Headmaster corrected the spelling.
The school uniform was navy blue for boys throughout the year, and navy gym tunics for girls in winter only, with normal clothing in summer months