Preparatory School Life (Student-oriented Information)

The Junior Department holds an assembly most weeks on a Friday.

Years 4–8 have an assembly most Monday mornings at 8.35am.

The Preparatory School has three major assemblies each year – towards the end of Terms 1, 3 and 4. At these assemblies we acknowledge major academic, sporting, cultural and service achievements. 

Children are able to work towards several badges and awards each year – the major ones being Sports and Cultural Badges. 

Each year, students in Years 4–8 attend a camp.

Year 4: Woodend Christian Camp in Term 3
Year 5: Living Springs in Term 4
Year 6: Wainui in Term 1
Year 7: Castle Hill in Term 4
Year 8: Castle Hill in Term 2

All students attend a weekly daytime chapel service. For the Preparatory School this service is at 8.45am on Tuesdays. The services are led by one of our chaplains.

The Developing Positive Relationships (DPR) values of compassion, faith, hope, honesty, respect, generosity and responsibility are often profiled in these services, and we focus on one of these values each term.

We also hold a Sunday evening service towards the end of Terms 1, 3 and 4. Students also participate in weekly Religious Education lessons in the classroom.

There is also one a Year 8 Communion Chapel during the year.

Information is sent out by classroom teachers and where possible, included in the term planner. Email notification of each trip, including method of transport, will be sent home prior to the outing. If you do not wish for your child to attend a specific outing, please notify the classroom teacher as soon as possible. Click here to see the list of our teachers' contact details.

All Level 3 and 4 trips will require specific consent. We use GoBus for outings in the Christchurch area and further afield. If just a small number of children are involved, we may use parent transport. The cost for outings will be disbursed to your child’s individual account after the activity.

Level 0: Trips within walking distance which are low risk (e.g. local tennis courts, Elmwood Park, etc.).
Level 1: Trips within Christchurch which require transport (e.g. visits to Museum, sporting fixtures etc.).
Level 2: Trips away from Christchurch.
Level 3: Trips involving overnight stay.
Level 4: Adventure activities (i.e. camps, skiing, and water activities).

Our DPR values are a key component of maintaining a Christian ethos at St Andrew’s College. The values are hope, faith, compassion, honesty, respect, responsibility and generosity. Each term the school focuses on one of these values.

The DPR Values for 2024 are:

Respect (Term 1)
Responsibility (Term 2)
Generosity (Term 3)

These will be incorporated as themes into our chapel services and help to build positive relationships in classrooms and across the whole school.

Home Learning is limited to personal choice reading for students in Years 3–8. In Years 1–2, home learning will be the reinforcement of the classroom Structured Literacy programme.

The change to home learning (homework) in 2020 was mostly very well received by families, although, it is appreciated this may not be everyone’s view.

In making the decision the following points were considered:

1. The programme (curriculum) we deliver is student-centred and personalised to individual learning ability and next steps are not determined by age and year level.
2. The children work very hard during the day – they go home weary.
3. The programme we offer is very broad and provides many opportunities – we want the children to have the time to ‘have a go’ at as many things as possible, and this includes time for activities out of school.
4. The able children already operate at a high level throughout the school day and there is no benefit in doing more, and the children who find learning really hard work every day do not need more when they get home.
5. There is no research to support the idea homework provides any real benefit to children at primary school level.

In saying this, we would like all children from Year 5 to know their times tables. The chart below shows the 36 tables that need to be known. Tables can be learnt by anyone irrespective of Mathematics ability and learning style. In just about all cases, tables can be learnt verbally and can be done at any time. When driving in the car is a good time.

Students are allocated to one of four houses, and if there is a family connection we endeavour to place students in the same house. Please let the office know of any family connections. 

MACGIBBON – Yellow
RUTHERFORD – Blue
THOMPSON – Green
ERWIN – Red

There are many opportunities for leadership and service throughout the Preparatory School, particularly for our senior students.

Leadership opportunities available are: sacristan, librarian, sports captain, house captain, road patrol warden, science monitor and other meaningful responsibilities.

The Head of Learning Enrichment (HLE), Mrs Kelly McBride, is responsible for the identification of able students in the school and for the preparation of school statements, policies and procedures in this area. The HLE works with staff to ensure that class programmes meet the needs of the able learners in the school at all levels. Where necessary, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be established. These plans may require students to work in other rooms from time to time. Catering for Gifted and Talented (GATE) students within the class environment is achieved with multi-levelled or student-centred learning.

Under the umbrella of Gifted and Talented (GATE) the following areas are offered:

• learning register to identify and monitor students within the Preparatory School who demonstrate exceptional ability;
• integrated programmes to enhance problem‑solving, inquiry learning and higher order thinking skills;
• ongoing extension and enrichment opportunities, such as Canterbury Spelling Quiz, Canterbury Current Events Quiz, Otago University Problem Challenge, Cantamath, Kids’ Lit Quiz, Future Problem Solving, World Scholars Cup, Epro8, Philosophy Conference, writing competitions (e.g. Nestlé Write Around New Zealand), extension writing group, speech competitions, The Press – Young Debaters Competition, The Press Chess Competition, Robotics and Drama Group – ‘D’ squared.

Where required, student learning is supported by the school’s learning support team. The programmes offered are considered crucial for building self-esteem and addressing delayed learning. We have a full-time reading specialist and several teacher aides, and offer support in subjects such as reading, mathematics, spelling and writing. This support is based on individual student needs and is priority assessed.

Opening Hours
Monday–Friday: 8.00am–4.00pm
(Closed at interval, but open at lunchtime from 1.00pm–1.30pm)

The Library is situated in the Library and Arts Centre and has a large collection of fiction and non-fiction resources. Eight desktop computers are also available for students to use as part of their learning.

Books are issued for three weeks and can be returned to the library desk or in the after hours slot outside the Library door. Click here to access to our library catalogue and our digital collections. This link can also be found is via under student resources. This access is available from home or school. Student librarians are selected from Year 8. Parents are encouraged to visit the Library with their child.

At the end of each year, Prizegiving is held for students in Years 7–13.

When Regulus to Angus bore
At King’s Mount, by the grey North Sea
St Andrew’s relics, and the lore of Truth,
to set the heathen free.
Loud sang the King then the praise of St Andrew,
Loud from the grey granite cliffs came reply,
Honour and fame to the name of St Andrew
Glory shall fold it that never shall die.

Through years of toil and bitter war
The sons of Angus toiled amain,
And still the Truth received of yore
Made woe and darkness light again.
Great grew the land of the Holy St Andrew,
Far flowed the light from the torch by the sea.
Old world and new told the fame of St Andrew,
High flew his Cross o’er the brave and the free.

And we who bear St Andrew’s name
Beneath a cross he never knew,
Must strive for truth and guard his fame
With heart as high and soul as true.
Strong as the grey granite cliffs of St Andrew’s
Wise as the good saint that lived long ago,
So shall the years gather fame to St Andrew’s
And we shall praise her while ages shall flow.

To ensure StAC-Up is a living part of the Preparatory School, it is important all students, staff and parents know and understand the expectations the school has for being part of and contributing to our community.

We use the following StAC-Up Expectations to ensure that our school is a productive, happy and safe place for everyone.

Be Safe – inside, outside and online. 
Be Ready – to learn in all situations. 
Be Respectful – towards others and yourself.

Steps of Consequence

The consequences for not following our StAC‑Up student Expectations are determined by the Steps of Consequence Policy. 

Policy Goals and Rationale

St Andrew’s College Preparatory School is committed to a positive, friendly and encouraging learning environment. Our expectation is that all children will be happy at school and that they will interact in an appropriate and acceptable manner with their peers.

We believe that all children have the right to learn within a safe and caring environment, and in an environment that is conducive to all aspects of their education. 

Please note: It is intended this policy follows the intentions of the Secondary School Bullying Policy, Safe@StAC, and the Developing Positive Relationships (DPR) programme. This policy will be used across the Preparatory School.

This policy will be applied in situations of ongoing physical, verbal or faceless (via text, instant messaging or e-mail) bullying and on-going disrespectful or unsafe behaviours. The College reserves the right in cases of serious misbehaviour to apply this policy at any level of the Consequence Steps outlined below.

Criteria

In an environment that encourages positive relationships, we expect:

• children will respect the feelings and rights of others;
• children will feel included rather than excluded;
• children will be safe from physical or verbal harm;
• children will be ready to learn.

System of Monitoring and Supporting

In an environment that encourages positive relationships, we expect:

• staff will be vigilant in looking for signs of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in all situations;
• children will be encouraged to communicate to staff if they are unhappy due to the behaviours of others or if they see other students who are unhappy;
• classroom and Duty teachers will hand out house tokens to children who are supporting StAC-Up and demonstrating positive behaviour;
• classroom and Duty teachers will record the names of children who are seen contravening the intentions of this policy, or for any other behavioural issue, and this will be followed up by a member of the Leadership Team;
• all children identified as contravening this policy, as determined by the Principal of Preparatory School (or delegate) following investigation, will commence a series of Consequence Steps.

Steps of Consequence

Step 1
Details of the incident will be recorded. The student’s parents will be notified in writing and will meet with the Classroom Teacher and relevant Team Leader of the Preparatory School to discuss the incident. Parents will be sent a copy of the Steps of Consequence Policy. The student will have regular meetings with the Team Leader.

Step 2
Details of the incident will be recorded. The student’s parents will be notified in writing and will meet with the relevant Team Leader and the Deputy Principal. The student may participate in an appropriate counselling and/or an Awareness Programme to support them to develop strategies to regulate their behaviour. The student will have regular meetings with the Team Leader.

Step 3
Details of the incident will be recorded. The student’s parents will meet with the Deputy Principal and the Principal of the Preparatory School for further discussions. The student will be placed on Conditional Enrolment. The College Board of Governors will be advised of the details.

Step 4
The College Board of Governors (Disciplinary Committee) will review the student’s behaviour and related incidents in accordance with the Ministry’s guidelines for stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions.

Please note: Currently, Preparatory School students are guaranteed a place in the Secondary School in Year 9, except in the case of poor behaviour. Contravening this policy would be such a case. In such circumstances, acceptance into Year 9 would be at the discretion of the Head of Secondary School.

Student Social Media Guidelines Summary

At the Preparatory School we would undoubtedly prefer that students did not have access to social media – in particular any apps that have an age rating of 13+. If your child does use any form of social media at home, it is important to check in with them regularly and take a close interest in their online activities. 

Below is a summarised version of our Student Social Media Guidelines. Please click here to read the guidelines in full.

Approach to Social Media as a St Andrew's College Student:

• students should exercise vigilance and common sense as social media posts can reach unintended audiences and may have lasting consequences;
• only post content suitable for future employers or teachers, even in private accounts or groups;
• always assume that comments made on social media can be traced back to the author and remain respectful, positive, and considerate;
• avoid sharing private and personal information, being indecent or obscene, and making false allegations;
• comply with the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, avoiding harmful digital communication.

St Andrew's College Social Media Rules:

• prohibits students from posting in school uniform or on the College campus on publicly viewable accounts or groups;
• prohibits inappropriate content on any College-related accounts, public or private;
• students are not allowed to create or manage accounts/groups using St Andrew's College Intellectual Property without explicit permission.

Counselling facilities are available to parents with student concerns. For most matters, parents will initially consult with their child’s classroom teacher, the Principal of Preparatory School or syndicate leaders. For matters of assessment, referral or guidance with more personal matters, Mrs Vicki Pettit can be contacted through the Preparatory School office. Mrs Vicki Pettit co-ordinates referrals to the Counsellor.