Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 10 August 2023

StAC-Up Winner

The mid-term StAC-Up winner is Rutherford. It was so clear-cut this time there was no need for a token weigh-in. Congratulations to the Rutherford children on this comprehensive result. Next Thursday, the children can come to school in casual wear with an accent, or a lot, of blue.

No Dog Policy

You may be aware the College has been working with SchoolDocs this year to assist us with the management of our extensive list of policies. One such policy relates to dogs on site. Due to the age of the children in the Preparatory School, the College policy is quite specific. In short, no dogs are permitted in the Pre-school and Preparatory School areas, even on a lead. This includes the driveway, play areas, access paths, turfs, playgrounds, grass and buildings, and on the weekends when to school is being used for sport.

Te Wiki O Ngā Pukapuka (Book Week) 18–22 September 2023 | Theme: Who’s Your Hero?

Excitement is starting to build for our annual Book Week at the end of this term. We have five days of activities and fun planned around the theme of 'Who’s Your Hero'?

We will be joined by New Zealand author Maria Gill, who is best known for her non-fiction books about our home-grown heroes. We will be celebrating all book heroes during this week, not just those with capes!

The highlight of the week will be our annual Book Parade. This will take place on Thursday 21 September starting at 12.00pm.

All students are invited to dress up as book characters for the day and join in the fun.

Grandparents’ Day 2023 | Save the Date

Friday 20 October – end of the first week back at school, Term 4.

Regards

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

FIFA Women’s World Cup ISSA Football Tournament

On Monday 7 August, 51 girls from the Preparatory School were involved in a fun one-off ISSA Football Tournament at English Park. The interest for this event was extremely positive, especially when many of the girls had never played before.

Six teams took part in the day, two Year 5–6 teams and four Year 7–8 teams. The girls were fantastic – respectful, inclusive, and organised in their teams. As part of the World Cup spirit, each team was given a country name.

As the day progressed, the girls realised how hard it was to score a goal in football and the importance of being in a team. Vietnam (Years 5–6 team) placed first equal with Selwyn House School and two of our Year 7–8 teams (Switzerland and Spain) battled it out for third place.

The opening and closing ceremonies were very special due to the interviews with strong football players from the region. The special guest was the New Zealand Football Ferns goalkeeper, Victoria Esson!

Overall, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well done to all the girls involved for demonstrating the courage to try new things and always demonstrating the College values at all times.

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ISSA WINTER TOURNAMENT

Last Friday, St Andrew’s College hosted the ISSA Winter Tournament, with over 300 students from the independent schools of Christchurch competing in football, hockey and netball. It proved to be a very successful day for St Andrew’s with the Year 7–8 teams winning each of their respective competitions going through unbeaten. In the Years 5–6 competition, the three St Andrew’s teams also gave everything and our Years 5–6 netball team were joint winners of their tournament. All four teams now qualify for the Canterbury Primary Schools Tournament on Thursday 14 September.

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Thriving Minds Conference

On Tuesday, St Andrew’s College hosted the Thriving Minds ‘Junior Stretch and Challenge’ Conference, which involved 140 students and 16 visiting staff from a wide range of Christchurch and Canterbury schools. The conference sessions included an Introduction to the Science of Nanotechnology, a Community of Inquiry based on ‘How do we know what is fair?’, and the philosophical question ‘What should I do?’. The house debate was a highlight of the conference, featuring skilled debaters Julie Arliss and Xavier Dickason (OC 2020) debating ‘it is always right, to tell the truth’. Xavier won the house debate with an overwhelming majority vote, much to the delight of the audience.

StAC Agricultural Show

Join us for the StAC Agricultural Show on Wednesday 20 September. Students can enter a number of fun events, such as baking, art, flower arrangements, and Lego creations, with placings from first to third place receiving a ribbon, and all first place winners will also receive a prize. Two grand prizes are up for grabs, kindly donated by Willowbank Wildlife Reserve: 1x Family Reserve Entry (valued at $85.00) – Best overall art entry and 1x Adult + Child Lemur Encounter and Reserve Entry (valued at $107.50) – Best overall animal entry.

There is something for everyone at this A&P Show-inspired event. Come along to Gym 1 to experience all the art, baking and other pet entries as well as the petting zoo – get set for a day of Agricultural fun!

Entries: Cost: $3.00 per category entered (viewing the entries on the day is free). Entries close Friday 15 September 2023. To enter your child/ren into the StAC Agricultural Show, please click to complete the relevant entry form/s below:

Student Successes

2023 Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival

Nineteen students from the Preparatory School have successfully auditioned for representative groups in the 2023 Christchurch School’s Music Festival, which takes place over four evenings in early November in the Christchurch Town Hall.

Junior Representative Choir: Annabelle Laurenson, Jessica Whitehead, Ruby Richards (all Year 5), XiaoYa (Cynthia) Zhou (Year 6);
Senior Representative Choir: Joy Zuo (Year 7), Matilda Atkins, Jacob Triplow (both Year 8);
Symphony Orchestra: Chloe Sha, Jacob Wang, Yunze Li (all Year 6), Ethan Waines, Ethan Zhao, Lexie Dong, Cong (Zilong) Chen, Baizhen (Tony) Chen (all Year 7), Annie Zhang, Anthony Song, Jaden Jia, Yutian (Tianna) Chen (all Year 8).

Notices

New Metro bus fares

On 1 July the fares on Greater Christchurch public transport, buses and ferry, changed. The 50% fare discount funded by the government has now ceased. Environment Canterbury have now implemented a new fare structure with the following changes:

Single zone – all metro buses are a single zone. The same fare is now charged wherever you board or disembark in Greater Christchurch;
cash fares are $4.00/adult and $2.00/child (under 19);
Metrocard bus concessions are $1.00. These apply for people under 25 years, as well as people with a Community Services card, a Total Mobility card, or who attended a partnering Tertiary provider. For more information on the new fares, please click here;
note: Canterbury has not yet implemented free fares for under 13 years, but expect to release details soon.

What do students need to know?

your date of birth on your Metrocard activates the ‘Under 25’ concession. If a student paid child fares on their Metrocard pre-July, they will receive this concession automatically;
all other Metrocard benefits such as free transfers and capping remain.

2023 Photography Online Orders

The online sales for the following 2023 photographs are now available:

Ballet Academy photo (NEW – option to order A3 now available);
Preparatory School cricket, tennis, water polo, mini jammers basketball, House and Sports Captains, and Librarians;
Secondary School summer sports groups (except for cricket and volleyball);
Secondary School cultural and music groups;
individual student photographs;
Year 9 and Year 13 whole year group photographs;
Secondary School tutor group photographs;
Preparatory School class photographs.

Details of how to order the photographs can be found on our website using the button below and you will need to log into StACNet using your St Andrew's College login.

If you have any questions relating to this service, please email photography@stac.school.nz

ORDER PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE >