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Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 9 March 2023

Preparatory School Open Day

We were pleased by the number of families who attended today's Open Day. Sincere thanks and congratulations to the Years 6–8 tour guides who were outstanding, and the support of many students and staff from across the College was much appreciated. The Food Technology children added to the sense of occasion with their tasty looking Master Chef Breakfast Challenge.


Parent Interviews: Monday 20 – Thursday 23 March

This year the interviews will be spread over four days and we are pleased to be able to offer all in-person interviews. If you are unable to meet in person or during interview week, please contact your child’s teacher directly to make an alternate arrangement.

Please note, all Years 4–8 children are required to attend the interviews.

Please enter and leave the Junior Department via the gate behind the Pre-school. Entry to the Years 4–8 building is via the front door and exit via one of the two maglock doors either beside Year 5 (at the end of the building) or beside Year 4 (in the middle of the building).

Please contact Reception if you experience any difficulty making a booking. Bookings will close Friday 17 March. 

If there is no suitable time available for you, please contact your child’s class teacher directly (via email) and another day and time will be arranged.

Site link: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
School code:  cp6ut

At this interview, your child’s beginning of year assessment results will be discussed along with the draft Goal Setting Report. 

Please note, Mrs Wylie’s class is not included in this interview round, they have a different interview timetable.

Head of Learning Support – Mrs Barbara Broughton

Since beginning in 1997, as the Preparatory School Head of Learning Support, Mrs Broughton has worked with and supported hundreds of students. Having been in this role for just over 26 years, Mrs Broughton has decided the time is right to pull back from full-time work. No one could blame her for this, every day she drives 100kms to and from her family farm in Darfield.  She has driven over 500000km over 26 years to be with our children.

Mrs Broughton has many fine attributes, but her one stand-out is the empathy she has for the children within her care. She also leads a team of stand-out, capable and earnest Learning Assistants.

Mrs Broughton is a true learner. As long as I have known her she has eagerly sought professional learning opportunities to ensure she is at the cutting edge of thinking for the children who find learning challenging every day.

Mrs Broughton will finish on or close to 23 March.  Her replacement has been appointed, and these details will be shared before the end of this term.

Preparatory School Sunday Chapel Service

Our first service this year will be on Sunday 12 March, at 5.00pm, in the Centennial Chapel. The service is for all Year 1-8 students. Parents are warmly invited to attend, particularly new parents and parents of the younger children. The arrival time is 4.45pm, the class teachers will be there to meet the children and to do the attendance check (compulsory attendance). Please note, there will be no teachers at the meeting point until 4.45pm, so do not 'drop and go' earlier than this. Years 1–3 children will meet in the new Junior Department and Years 4–8 will meet at the flagpole in front of Strowan House.

Given the large number of people involved, it may be wise to arrange a place to meet your child after the service. Students are required to wear their school uniform with blazer.

Cantare Choir (Years 6–8) will be required to be at the Chapel for 4.20pm in order to warm up and run through the performance piece (Psalm 121) that will be sung in the service. Parents will not be able to come into chapel at this time but are most welcome to come back at 4.45pm and stay for the 5.00pm service.

Drop Off Zone

When exiting the drop off zone from the driveway, please do not attempt to turn right. This will ensure there is no back up behind you and driver tension over the delay. It is possible to still head North by turning right onto Urunga Ave.

Staccato Café

The Preparatory School Staccato Café is open for parents from 8.00am–9.15am daily. This is a great way to meet people.

 

 

Regards

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

JB

Medbury Sports Exchange

On Wednesday, the St Andrew’s College Preparatory 1st XI and Tennis A team travelled to Medbury School for the annual Summer Sports Exchange. Due to illness, the cricket 1st XI welcomed our first female student into the team in history – congratulations to Hayley Stowell (Year 8) on this achievement. The team won the toss and put Medbury into bat. They bowled and fielded well to restrict Medbury to 172 runs but were unable to score enough runs to put the Medbury team under pressure in the second innings. The co-ed tennis team put in a dominant performance to defeat Medbury 9–2, with one drawn game between the two top seeds. The morning rain cleared, and the students appreciated the arrival of the sunshine. Thank you to the supporters that were able to pop down to support the teams.

 

Music Performance Concert

Music Performance Concert Monday 27 March, 3.45pm Preparatory School Music Room.

Any student in the Preparatory School is welcome to perform in this afternoon performance concert. It is expected that the music scholar students will take part in this concert. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to gain experience and confidence performing in an informal performance setting. There are only 20 performance slots available on a first come first served basis. Please note that there is an accompanist available to play for this concert. There is a fee of $25.00 should your child require an accompanist. You will be expected to provide the accompaniment music for the accompanist. Enrolment information needs to be completed online by Friday 10 March.

Registration > 

Notices


2023 Music Festival Representative Groups

This is to advise you that talented singers and musicians from St Andrew's College Preparatory School can now apply for an audition to join a Representative Group – Junior & Senior Choir, Concert Band, Orchestra. Applications are made online on the festival website by clicking here.  

We ask that the parents make the application so that they are aware of the rehearsal and performance commitments. Please note that applications close on Thursday 6 April, the last day of Term 1.

AIMS Games – Tauranga 2023

Entries due to Deputy Principal of Preparatory School (Operations), Alex Kelley by Friday 26 May

During Sunday 3 – Friday 8 September 2023, the Preparatory School Girls' A hockey team, and the A netball team will compete at the annual AIMS Games in Tauranga. Over 11,000 Year 7–8 students from over 360 schools have competed at these games in a variety of sporting codes in the past.

There will also be a number of individual sports available. However, due to the limited group accommodation available in Tauranga, we are unable to at this stage include individuals as part of our official tour. If you would like your child to compete at the games and you are able to travel, care for, and get them to and from the events then I can complete and forward the entry on your behalf.

In travelling to and competing at the AIMS Games, your child would be included in any activities offered to the tour group and tour apparel will also be available.

You should only consider this option if your child is an elite performer in their chosen sport. The individual sports offered are:

  • Badminton
  • BMX
  • Canoe sport
  • Cross country
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Hip hop
  • Indoor bowls
  • Mountain biking
  • Rock climbing
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Yachting

If your child is in this category and you would like to consider this option, please email Head of Preparatory School Sport, Alex Kelley, on AKE@stac.school.nz and he will provide you with further information. You can also access the AIMS Games website which provides further information on each sport offered: www.nzaimsgames.co.nz

StAC Talks 2x1 Session 2

StACTalks: How to Grow an Athlete

You’re invited to join us for the second of our new StACTalks parent evenings, featuring guest speaker, sports dietitian and nutritionist, Lea Stening. 

As part of our Sports Performance Programme, Lea Stening will be presenting this talk on Sports Nutrition for parents and student athletes. The topic is ‘How to Grow an Athlete,’ and will provide key tips for growing and supporting developing athletes, including information relating to cognitive function and well-being. Lea Stening has worked with various sports organisations including New Zealand Rowing and has authored multiple books. For more information about Lea, please click here.

StACTalks: How to Grow an Athlete
Date: Wednesday 15 March
Time: 6.00pm–6.45pm
Location: Centennial Chapel

REGISTER >
StAC Talks 2x1 Session 2

StACTalks: How to Grow an Athlete

You’re invited to join us for the second of our new StACTalks parent evenings, featuring guest speaker, sports dietitian and nutritionist, Lea Stening. 

As part of our Sports Performance Programme, Lea Stening will be presenting this talk on Sports Nutrition for parents and student athletes. The topic is ‘How to Grow an Athlete,’ and will provide key tips for growing and supporting developing athletes, including information relating to cognitive function and well-being. Lea Stening has worked with various sports organisations including New Zealand Rowing and has authored multiple books. For more information about Lea, please click here.

StACTalks: How to Grow an Athlete
Date: Wednesday 15 March
Time: 6.00pm–6.45pm
Location: Centennial Chapel

REGISTER >

Wanaka A & P Show

We are looking forward to reconnecting with our Old Collegians and meeting new families at the Wanaka A&P Show this weekend (Friday 10 – Saturday 11 March). We are on site E4 next to the Alliance tent. See you there.

(From Director of Boarding Matt Parr, Alumni and Community Relations Co-ordinator Lisa Clark, and Secondary School Registrar Lynn Smith.)