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Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 17 August 2023

StAC-Up

There was a very good turn out of Rutherford House children arriving at school in blue this morning. Congratulations to them on being the mid-Term 3 StAC-Up winners.

Grandparents’ Day | Friday 20 October

This year, Grandparents' Day will be held on Friday 20 October. This special occasion will commence with entertainment in the Centennial Chapel at 10.45am. Following the entertainment, everyone will leave the Centennial Chapel and link with the Preparatory and Secondary children waiting in anticipation outside. There will be a photographer available to capture this special day for those who would like this option with group photographs.

Please note that there is no morning tea this year. The number of people attending Grandparents’ Day has risen beyond what can be safely accommodated.

In next week’s Prep Newsletter, the registration link will be available. Visitors on Grandparents’ Day need to be registered to attend to ensure the children are released from class to meet with them.

Crossing Normans Road

If you or your child need to cross Normans Road before or after school, please ensure the Kea crossing is used when in operation. It is very dangerous not to do so, particularly with the morning sun. Also, please do not attempt a right-hand turn onto Normans Road when leaving the drop-off zone.

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 the 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. 



Regards

 

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

JB


Class Placements

This year, we plan to place the children in their 2024 classes before the end of this term. Please note staffing for 2024 is not yet finalised and there will be some changes.

The process is similar to previous years:

  1. Your child's current teacher (Years 1–7) is the contact point for any information you would like to be considered. Please submit information via email.
  2. Please only submit information that you consider crucial or new. For the large majority of children, the classroom teachers will be able to make informed and appropriate choices.
  3. Please restrict your information to one consideration. More than one consideration or requesting a specific teacher will not be able to be met. If suggesting friendship considerations, please give three possible connections, and we will endeavour to accommodate one.
  4. The closing date for receipt of information is Friday 8 September 2023.

This year, the teachers will again use a computer program to assist the process. At each year level, the teachers will work together to enter the information (their own plus other sources i.e., parents, learning support, pastoral support, etc.) and the program will generate the class lists. The College's database does not have the facility to compile future classes, so to have an option that doesn't allow double entries or missed names is helpful and quicker. 

1st XV Rugby Exchange

St Andrew’s College hosted Medbury School and Waihi School in a rugby exchange on Wednesday 16 August. Due to poor weather earlier in the term, all three schools were keen to provide their Preparatory 1st XV teams with the opportunity to play one another. They were fortunate to have Charlie Gregg (Year 8) pipe them onto the pitch before Charlie joined the team and each school performed their school haka. The rugby was enjoyed by a large number of Preparatory and Secondary School students, as well as parents, grandparents, siblings, supporters and staff. The sun turned to rain which cleared by the time the teams headed to the Strowan House dining room for a well-deserved lunch. Despite being smaller in size, the St Andrew’s 1st XV played with passion, determination and demonstrated great character. The two tries that St Andrew's scored were certainly the best of the day!

Results:

  • St Andrew's vs Medbury School – Lost 52–7 (Try by Thomas Govan, Conversion by Toby Lang (both Year 8));
  • St Andrew's vs Waihi School – Lost 52–5 (Try by William Parsonage (Year 7)).
Flickr >
PrepExchangeWeek5 000 1751
RC Ag Show

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


Highland Dancing

Congratulations to Georgia Gregg (Year 6) who won runner up Most Points Overall U12 at the Ashburton Competition held last weekend.

Notices


COVID-19 Update

Effective from 12.01am Tuesday 15 August, the seven-day mandatory isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases, has been removed.  The Ministry guidance is to stay at home for five days if you test positive for COVID-19, but this is not a requirement. However, for any illness, students should stay home if unwell. Any student should also feel free to wear a mask if they wish to do so while at school

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 >
Online Photography WIDE 2023