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Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 14 September 2023

Advanced Notice

  • Term 3 will conclude on Friday 22 September at 12.35pm. Please note, there will be no Afterschool Care available.
  • The Preparatory School Term 3 Awards Assembly will be at 11.00am on the last day of term (Friday 22 September).
  • Term 4 will commence on Monday 16 October at the usual time (there is no Teacher-Only Day).

2024

We have now completed acceptances to the Preparatory School for next year. Our current students and the new students will be placed in their 2024 classes by the start of next term. The classes are generated by information provided by all parents and teachers. It is important, therefore, there are no or limited changes to these classes once formed as changes can alter connections to other children, and cause issues.

Therefore, if you have not already done so, please let me know before the end of next week if your child will not be attending the school next year by emailing JBI@stac.school.nz. The College requires a term’s notice for a student leaving, and particularly at this time of the year, when next year’s classes are being formed, this is an important procedure to follow. It will also mean there is no fee penalty for late advice.

Classes for 2024 will be shared with students as per our usual timeline, about Week 6 or thereabouts next term.  

StAC-Up Winning House End of Term 3

Congratulations to Rutherford House. The children can come to school on Wednesday next week in casual wear with a little or lot of blue.

AIMS Games

Our two teams finished strongly at the games last week. The netball team recorded our best ever placing. Out of 140 teams the team finished 35th. The hockey team played with determination and grit throughout the knock-out part of the competition and won a very tight and tense bronze medal game 3–1. Congratulations to both teams on a successful tournament. Sincere thanks to the accompanying staff for the care and support they provided the girls. Also, congratulations and thanks to parent Tom Glover, who coached the hockey team. In all situations he was calm and positive, and provided timely support and strategy to the girls. See full results further down in the newsletter. 

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 meet up with the Preparatory and Secondary School children waiting in anticipation outside. There will be a photographer available to capture this special day for those who would like this option.

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

Visitors on Grandparents’ Day need to register to attend. This will ensure that the children are released from class to meet with them. Please use the link below to register for this special day. 

GRANDPARENTS' DAY REGISTRATION >

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

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori i te Kura Tuatahi

This week the Preparatory School kaiako and ākonga have been celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and using te reo Māori in their everyday conversations and lessons. Each morning classes have started their day with karakia and waiata followed by a Kahoot around a daily theme. Each day huarere (weather) has been discussed in te reo Māori as well as days, months and dates. For many kaiako and ākonga, this is second nature now.

Students have been engaging in tuakana/teina learning opportunities with older students helping younger students create a booklet about themselves and younger students teaching older students the waiata, Te Taukaea o Te Aroha. We have had an ongoing scavenger hunt with new kupu (words) appearing each day for all learners to add to their kete (basket). At each year level stories and music in te reo Māori have been shared and it is heartening to see and hear the enthusiasm from so many of our students and teachers for te reo Māori. Kaiārahi (leaders) have been encouraged to read and share stories with ākonga in te reo Māori and there is a display of bilingual and te reo Māori books in the library available for borrowing.

On Friday morning we will have our Mahuru (September) Moment with the whole Preparatory School gathering for waiata and haka, followed by singing with Matua Steve, our Kapa Haka tutor. It will sound amazing! Ka rawe! There are so many ways that whānau can support te reo Māori, and one way is to experience art, music and drama. The Court Theatre has a play for the holidays, The Kuia and the Spider, from 12 September – 7 October in English, but with Māori kupu interspersed, perfect for our learners. For more information, click here. 

Kia kaha te reo Māori! Kia kaha Aotearoa!

FLICKR >
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Year 3’s Absolutely Buzzing!

Yesterday the two Year 3 classes concluded their Inquiry learning related to ‘Bees’ with a visit to the Climate Action Campus in Avonside. At the campus, the students had an amazing opportunity with an in-nature bee experience. Small groups of students put on PPE and headed into the hive enclosure to observe bees and their hives up close! Kathryn Jer, of Clever Little Bees, a Christchurch-based apiculture business, taught the students about some of the basics of bee-keeping, while also teaching them about the importance of bees in nature and the role they play in a sustainable future. During the field trip, the students also enjoyed putting on their gardening gloves and helping the Climate Action Campus staff to weed, plant and make compost. Some even got to see the worms living in their farm inside a bath! 

It was a truly special experience, one that we’re sure the students, parent helpers and teachers will never forget! 

FLICKR >

Student Successes

AIMS Games

On Sunday 3 – Friday 8 September, 20 students and five staff from the Preparatory School travelled to Tauranga for the annual AIMS Games. The AIMS Games is an intermediate sports competition for students throughout New Zealand. With over 12,000 students and 377 schools involved, it is the largest competition of its kind in New Zealand for Year 7 and 8 students. Along with competing against other schools in hockey and netball, the students also visited the local hot pools and beach, took part in a Quiz Night, and supported each other at the various games. This year, the group was also fortunate to have College piper, Alice Glover (Year 7) who often piped the teams onto the playing field, much to the enjoyment of all schools at the tournament.

Thank you to all of the players, teachers, coaches and supporters who supporter the tour. The girls represented the College with distinction, the Preparatory A netball team finishing in their highest position, 35th out of 144 schools, and the Preparatory Girls’ A hockey team finishing third out of 30 schools to secure the Bronze medal.

RESULTS >

FLICKR >
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CPSSA Winter Tournament

Earlier today, four Preparatory School teams took part in the CPSSA Winter Tournament after qualifying from the zone tournament earlier in the term. Netball was represented by both our Year 5–6 team and the Preparatory A team, hockey by the Girls' A hockey team and football by a selection of players from the Preparatory School 1st XI. Games are shortened, modified games for this tournament. The teams enjoyed playing against other schools from around Canterbury and certainly left all their energy on the playing field. Each competition was out of 32 schools, the football team finishing 11th, the Year 5–6 netball and Girls' A hockey finishing 17th, but it was the Preparatory A netball team who secured the highest finish, finishing third overall! Congratulations to all of the students involved!

 

FLICKR >

Ballet

Alyssa Geddes (Year 8) competed in the South Island Ballet Awards, where she made the semi-finals against tough competition and was awarded the Associate Intensive Program Short-Term Scholarship at Melbourne Academy of the Arts 2023/2024. Alyssa has also won a trophy for her Neoclassical this season.

Prep Ballet

Notices

Sports Holiday Programme | Registrations close Monday 18 September

This is a reminder that this year, we will be running a Sport Holiday Programme during the last week of the holidays in October (Monday 9 – Friday 13 October). The sessions will run between 9.00am–1.30pm each day. We will meet in the Preparatory School Library and students can be dropped off from 8.30am. Lunch will be included. The programme will be available for Year 1–8 students.

The sessions will be run by a variety of professional coaches and staff. The sports included are futsal, netball, indoor hockey, frisbee golf, cooperative games, and more..!

The cost of the programme will be $300 for all five days.

Lunch will be Subway for three days. Please download and complete the three entries for Subway, one for each day, by clicking here >

Students have the option of a six-inch or foot-long Subway sandwich for lunch. There will be an additional $10.00 charged for a foot-long for the three days. Gluten free wraps are also available. Pizza will be offered on the other days. Students will need to bring morning tea and a water bottle.

An additional service is available for your child to be supervised from 1.30pm until 3.30pm. The cost of this will be a further $10.00 per day disbursed to your College account.

Please complete the online permission form and return the Subway form (please complete one order per day – all three entries) to the Preparatory School office by 2.00pm on Monday 18 September. The total cost will be charged to your child's College account.

COMPLETE THE ONLINE PERMISSION FORM HERE >

If you have any questions, please contact me via email at AKE@stac.school.nz.

Cricket Coaching

Christmas Cake 2 1 Tile

PTA Christmas Goodies | Order Now

Delicious Christmas goodies, locally made with the highest quality ingredients. The perfect gift for Christmas or keep to treat your own family! All proceeds will go towards the PTA 2023 fundraising drive.

This year the PTA are introducing two brand new offerings outside of the cake category:

  • Christmas Truffles (box of 6) | $17.00
  • Christmas Shortbread Trees (box of 8) | $14.00

The PTA is also again offering a range of Christmas cake options, all beautifully presented in a gift box:

  • 2kg Traditional Christmas Cake | $77.00
  • 2kg Traditional Christmas Cake – gluten free option | $79.00
  • 450g Cathedral Cake – gluten and dairy free | $31.00

More information about each of the PTA’s Christmas Goodies, including the ingredients list, can be found at the link below.

  • Closing date for orders: Friday 20 October 2023
  • Cake collection: November 2023 (date TBC), Second-hand Uniform Shop
ORDER CHRISTMAS GOODIES >

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION: ‘The Little Mermaid’

We are delighted to share this version of Hans Christian Andersen's most well-known classic story of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’. Come and join King Triton's daughter, Ariel, along with her colourful friends from under the sea as she meets Prince Eric from the world above. Our incredible cast, crew and creative team will be joined by our fantastic live 18-piece orchestra. Immerse yourself in the magic of this beautiful love story for all ages. Book your tickets today and be part of a truly magical experience!

Where: St Andrew's College Gym 1
When: Wednesday 25 October – Saturday 28 October, 7.00pm–9.30pm (all shows)
Tickets: Adults $35.00 | Students $17.50 (student ID may be requested on entry)

PURCHASE TICKETS >
The Little Mermaid 2 1

Minecraft Holiday Programme at St Andrew’s College – a few spaces left!

Book your place today! This exciting two-day programme will give your child the opportunity to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills in Minecraft Education. They will learn how to build amazing structures, solve local building challenges, and learn to automate parts of their builds with code. The programme will be led by Mr Wilj Dekkers, an experienced educator, Minecraft Global Mentor and past Innovation Lead at St Andrew’s College.

Programme Details: 

  • September 25 and 26 for Year 5–6, 9.00am–4.30pm (drop-off from 8.30am), The Green Library and Innovation Centre, St Andrew's College (in the Secondary School Quad)
  • September 28 and 29 for Year 7–8, 9.00am–4.30pm (drop-off from 8.30am), The Green Library and Innovation Centre, St Andrew's College (in the Secondary School Quad)

Activities:

  • group-based creative building opportunities focused on teamwork and communication;
  • build challenges based on local construction projects taking place in the city;
  • coding challenges using Microsoft Makecode;
  • limited to a maximum number of 25 students (still a few places left).

What to bring:

  • snacks, lunch, and drink bottle;
  • BYOD (or supplied device).

Cost: $160 (incl. GST) for both days (invoices with payment details will be sent on Monday 18 September)

To book your place, please complete the registration form by clicking here. Should you have any questions, please email wilj@wdekkers.nz. We look forward to seeing your child there!

Online Photography WIDE 2023

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 >