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Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 8 February 2024

As we come to the end of Week 2, I am pleased to confirm all learning programmes and activities are fully under way across the Preparatory School. The days are busy and the children are engaged, happy, and focused on their learning.

Last Friday, many of our new parents attended morning tea in the Preparatory School Library. This was valuable time together to chat with others also new to the school. It was an engaged and happy group, and I am sure many connections were made.

Next week, Tuesday 13 February, is the Preparatory School Meet the Teacher and PTA Wine and Cheese Evening. We start at 5.45pm in the Centennial Chapel, where I will give an overview of the Preparatory School’s learning and focus for 2024. Following this, you will meet with your child’s class teacher in their rooms. This part of the evening will conclude about 7.00pm and the PTA Wine and Cheese will kick off in the downstairs shared area and courtyard. Please note this is a parent only evening.

Staccato Café

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

Driving in the vicinity of the College

Morning congestion has increased significantly since last week. Please take care as you approach the College and navigate parking.

please use the Kea crossing on Normans Road. It operates from 8.00am–8.30am each morning, and for 15 to 20 minutes straight after school. All children (and parents/caregivers) are required to use the crossing when it is operating;
please remember you can only turn left onto Normans Road when exiting the drop-off zone;
the Preparatory School Handbook is available online here: stac.nz/PreparatoryHandbook
please do not park across neighbouring residents' driveways. We have had reports of this occurring on Normans Road.

Regards

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

Around the Campus

Years 1–3 Beach Education Trip

This week the children in Years 1–3 had the opportunity to attend a Beach Education Day at South Brighton Beach. The classes learnt about keeping safe in the water and what to do if they get caught in a rip. They also focused on the importance of sun safety, which was timely given the fabulous hot weather on our visits.

During the latter part of the day, the children enjoyed a variety of beach games and sandcastle building before heading into the water to put our safety skills into practice. It was wonderful to see lots of smiles as the children enjoyed the boogie boards and water activities. A special thank you to the parent helpers who joined us on the day.

Flickr >

Year 7 Activities

On Monday, Year 7 students spent a day at Sumner Beach learning to surf. The day was part of the transition to Year 7 programme. The students learnt the basics of surfing and body surfing with a strong emphasis on surf safety. The day was also an opportunity for students to get to know each other out of the classroom and form new friendships and connections.

On Thursday, Year 7 students faced another challenge by testing their skills at Adrenalin Forest Aerial Park. Students participated in over 100 challenges across six different levels. They learnt to work co-operatively with others to assist them and to persist when the challenges became more difficult. Students also spent time at Spencer Park playing co-operative and team-building games.

Flickr >

Student Successes

Tutoring

Cong (Zilong) Chen (Year 8), along with his sister and another two high school students, started a successful free weekly tutoring program, The Study Hall, for the primary children in Christchurch at the beginning of last year.

Driven by their shared goal to give back to the community, they efficiently organised free weekly mathematics classes in which they provided stationery, teaching materials, and even snacks for students. Despite juggling various extracurricular activities, they dedicated four hours each week to both tutorial sessions and planning meetings and managed to exceed their expectations by attracting more students and even creating a waiting list. By end of last year, there were 12 students from four different primary schools across Christchurch and another eight students on the waiting list.

The students, initially prone to distractions, showcased commendable personal growth by actively participating and improving their study habits. The year concluded with an exciting celebration where they personally funded rewards for each student, after making personalised end-of-year tests for each student. The Study Hall’s success has motivated Zilong and his friends to continue in 2024.

Notices

Parking in the vicinity of the College

A reminder to parents parking in the streets around the College at drop-off and pick-up times, please do not park on yellow lines, especially when close to intersections. When parked cars are blocking the line of sight it makes it difficult for other drivers to turn safely onto the roads, causing them to have to move further into the road to see. This could be dangerous not only for drivers but also for pedestrians and cyclists.

We have also received reports that residents in Normans Road have been blocked entering or leaving their home by cars parked across their driveway, and would like to remind parents/caregivers not to park across driveways and be courteous to College neighbours.

Call out for sport shoes, boots, school shoes

If you have a pair of last year’s sport shoes, running shoes, football/rugby boots or school shoes that no longer fit your child and are in good condition, please give them to Mr Alex Kelley, via reception.

Last year, such shoes were given to children who couldn’t afford these items at various low decile schools – it would be great to do this again. Please ensure the footwear is clean and in good condition before sending it in. Any questions, please feel free to email Alex Kelley on AKE@stac.school.nz. If you wish to donate your child’s old footwear, please could you do so by Friday 16 February.

Open Day Signage

Do you have a fabulous fence in a prominent and busy thoroughfare within a 30km radius of the College?

We are urgently seeking spaces for our corflute signage for our Open Days in March. They will be put up and taken down by the College, so if you can help please contact Assistant to the Principal of Preparatory School, Charlotte McCaughey-Chapman on CMG@stac.school.nz.

Festival of Women and Girls in Science | Sunday 11 February

To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a collaborative initiative run by University of Canterbury Learning for Earth/Ako Futurea (LEAF), Tūranga and Canterbury Museum is being held this Sunday.

The aim of this festival is to showcase science and technology research that is being carried out by women. Through interactive activities, the organisers want to share the excitement of taking part in scientific research and demonstrate the important contribution that women make to science.

With a particular focus on activities for girls aged 10–18 and their families, the objective is to facilitate the involvement of women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The festival aims to establish meaningful connections between science and their daily experiences, fostering curiosity and, ideally, sparking inspiration for future careers!

Co-curricular Sign-Ups

If you wish to sign-up your child for one of the below co-curricular activities, please visit the link below.

Speech and Drama Tuition;
Instrumental and Singing Tuition;
Pipe Band and Highland Dancing;
StAC Ballet Academy.

View Sign-up Forms at stac.nz/PrepForms >

Cafeteria Orders

This is a reminder that the College's Kindo lunch service now has an order cut-off time of 8.00am.

Preparatory Swimming Sports 2024 | Monday 19 February

Important Information: there will be no Prelims this year, in order to provide students and classroom teachers more time in class. The venue has also moved from Jelly Park Recreation Centre to Wharenui Sports Centre to align with the ISSA Swimming Sports Day and venue restrictions. We also warmly welcome our Year 4 Preparatory School students to join us on our Swimming Sports Day and all parent/caregiver community.

The Preparatory Swimming Sports Day will be held on Monday 19 February.

This event is for Years 4–8. Students will travel to and from the event by bus.

Years 4–6 will complete in the morning from 9.00am–11.30am (Opening Ceremony starts at 8.45am) Years 7–8 from 12.0pm–3.00pm (Opening Ceremony starts at 11.45am).

Students should be changed prior to leaving on the bus (i.e. students do not get changed at Wharenui Sports Complex). Students may use the toilets but must let a teacher know.

uniform is blue or black swimming togs for girls, blue or black speedos or shorts (not board shorts) for boys;
House colours are permitted to be worn on the day when not swimming;
all timing will be completed by staff members and senior students;
all students are to compete in freestyle and backstroke;
students may opt into Championship and Non-Championship Races (Championship Races will be timed for the finals);
Year 5 upwards will swim two lengths, otherwise communicated with their teacher prior to the day. Please let your classroom teacher know if your child feels unsafe in the water. Students who struggle in the water will have support and other students not as confident in the water will only swim one length in the shallow lane/s with a senior student if needed;
students may opt into the two-length breaststroke and two-length butterfly races, but must communicate this information to their classroom teacher by Week 2. The butterfly race is an open event which means all age groups compete against each other and is a timed straight final;
students who have the fastest eight times in Championship Races will compete in the final.

Music groups in the Preparatory School

Junior Choir: This choir is for children in Years 3–5. This is not an auditioned choir. This is compulsory for Year 3 and Year 4 students. Year 5 children all sing in the choir for the first term and then can choose if they wish to remain in the choir for Terms 2–4 where they will join the Cantare Choir (this choir rehearses period 6 on a Tuesday in the Preparatory School music room). The weekly choir rehearsal for the Junior Choir is on Thursday afternoon at 2.25pm in the Music Room. Directed by Ros Emeleus, accompanist Margot Askin. The Junior Choir starts Week 1.

Cantare Choir: This is an all-comers (not auditioned) choir for children in Years 6–8. This year the choir will rehearse at 8.20am on a Tuesday morning in the Chapel, and period 6 (2.30pm) on Tuesday afternoon in the Preparatory School music room. The choir sings mostly secular music and participates in the annual Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival. Choir director: Ros Emeleus, choir manager Greta Henley, accompanist Margo Askin. Cantare Choir will start Week 3, Tuesday 13 February in the afternoon.

Preparatory School Orchestra: This orchestra is for anyone Year 4 and up who is learning an instrument and can read basic music notation. This includes guitar and recorder players. Beginners are welcome. Players bring their lunch to the music room and eat before the rehearsal. The rehearsal time is Wednesday lunchtime in the music room starting Week 3, Wednesday 14 February. Orchestra members will need their own clear file for the storage of orchestra music. Directed by Ros Emeleus, assisted by Greta Henley.

Please email Ros Emeleus on REM@stac.school.nz should you have any further enquiries.

Ballet Academy Trial Classes

We are excited to commence our year in the new Ballet Studios within the new Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre.

Students who are new to St Andrew's College, or curious about the Ballet Academy, are welcome to come along to the first Ballet class of the year to watch or have a go. Students can ask their teacher for their class Ballet time.

Note: if wishing to enter at Year 5 or over, a background in dance is required.

No gear needed, just come along and find out what it’s about. Enrolment enquiries should be sent to Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, on CCA@stac.school.nz.

New Look StACNet for the New Year

Exciting News! The Communications team, with the support of the ICT team, have been hard at work during the holidays, and are delighted to share that a revamped StACNet (school intranet) is now live for our current parents and students.

Explore the new look at stacnet.nz >

Updates include a Quick Links section at the top of StACNet, designed to streamline access to the pages parents visit most frequently.

Beneath the Quick Links, you'll find organised accordions (drop-down folders) with links to pages per topic area.

All existing links from the old site will redirect to the new one. If you encounter any issues or unexpected behavior, please let us know by emailing comms@stac.school.nz. Please note you will be prompted to login using your StAC parent login when accessing StACNet. This is to protect the privacy and security of our school and community.

We're thrilled about the improvements to StACNet, anticipating an enhanced user experience for both parents and students. Should you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out.

Summertime Reading Photo Challenge | Entries Close Friday 9 February 2024

The Library team invite all returning students to take part in the Preparatory School Library Summer Reading Photo Challenge. We would love students to send in a photograph of themselves reading in a summer setting over the holidays. Great prizes for the best photos up for grabs!

Students can borrow books from the Preparatory School Library for their summer holiday reading. There are also some fantastic events with Christchurch City Libraries this summer. Follow this link to their 2023/24 summer reading programme. Summer reading is important for children and teens to help prevent the summer slide in reading levels, and we encourage all students to read for pleasure over the long holiday period.

Competition Instructions:

Students are to email a photo of themselves reading in a summery place to Library Manager, Tracey Hull, at THL@stac.school.nz. Entries due no later than Friday 9 February 2024.