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Term 2, Week 4
We have had another good week at the front gate as the children and parents arrived on site. Just two things, it is probably best not to try a ‘U’ on Normans Road between 8.05 and 8.25am. Also, if it is cold and frosty, most likely the gates into the Junior Department will be closed and access will be through the front door. If this is so, and you are on the far side of Normans Road, it is probably best to walk to the crossing – it is the same distance and won’t be as dangerous.
Winning House
Following the weigh-in, which was much closer than first thought, I am delighted to announce the winning house is THOMPSON!! All Thompson children can come to school next Thursday in casual wear with a little or lot of GREEN. Congratulations.
Year 7–8 Preparatory School Production, The Aurora Stone, 24–27 June | Tickets selling fast, don't delay!
The Aurora Stone is a mystical crystal that fell from the sky and brought peace to two fighting realms. After a mishap with the stone, three children must find out if they are the chosen ones to return the stone and help the people of Norina. Will they be able to fulfil the prophecy? Come along and see this delightful show performed by our Year 7 and 8 students. This musical script and lyrics have been written by Preparatory School students, with music written by Year 13 Music students.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE >
Schedule:
Year 7 Road Patrol Students Visit the Pre-school
The Pre-school staff asked if some of our Road Patrollers could talk to the children as part of their Road Safety Week. James Aldridge, Libby Aldridge, and Nathaniel Jones volunteered to do this. They talked about what the Road Patrol does, and why it is important. They also did an interactive play, showing the children exactly what they do to ensure our families can cross the road safely.
The road patrollers built the demonstration signs themselves!
Future Problem Solving
Our FPS team is leaving for the USA on Sunday. We have 11 children, two staff (Mrs Kelly McBride and Ms Sonia Lewis), and five parents who are travelling to Indiana University Bloomington. The children qualified for the International Conference at last year’s National FPS tournament.
On behalf of our school community, I wish the team all the best and every success in the competition. It is an amazing trip, and I am sure they will have a wonderful time.
Regards
Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
At the beginning of Term 2, four Year 8 classes embarked on the annual class camp to Kura Tāwhiti (Castle Hill). They braved the early onset of winter to camp out overnight as well as do a variety of outdoor activities, including abseiling at the Castle Hill Rocks. The students developed whanaungatanga, established a positive group culture, and built resilience.
Last Saturday, over 100 students from eight Christchurch schools gathered at Tūranga for the finals of the VEX Robotics Canterbury Challenge. After working hard to build and test their robots over the past three months, this was the day they had all been waiting for. The St Andrew’s College Preparatory School team of Oliver Gibb, Alex O’Neill and Harry Kempthorne (all Year 8) competed in the Junior VEX IQ Challenge, Rise Above. They showed perseverance after experiencing some technical issues and came third overall.
Students are now focussing on the newly released VEX 2024/2025 season games, and the robotics room is already busy with new builds and lots of discussion about possible game strategies.
The Preparatory School took two teams to the Year 7 and 8 Canterbury Chess Competition on Tuesday and all eight students played other budding chess players from the Canterbury region. Our A Team placed fourth overall and all of the students, in both teams, had a number of successful wins.
Georgia Gregg (Year 7) competed in the weekend for Highland Dancing and won the trophy for Under 12 Irish Jig, 1st in Under 12 fling, 1st Under 12 sword and second in sailors.
Agnes Buist (Year 5) also competed last weekend, and won the Novice Highland Fling Under 14 at the Oxford Highland Dance Competition.
The Preparatory School wishes to express support for the Joyce family during an incredibly challenging time. Nigel and Marjan Joyce, devoted parents to their two beautiful girls, Oriana (Year 4) and Emily (Pre-school), have faced unimaginable hardships over the past two years. Nigel was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and shortly after, Marjan received the devastating news of triple-negative breast cancer. Tragically, Nigel recently experienced a health crisis on ANZAC Day, and he is now in end-of-life care. Marjan, who had just completed radiation treatment and received positive news about her breast cancer, sadly discovered that the cancer had spread to her brain.
Please consider donating to help ease their burden, via the family Givealittle page: Joyce Family Support - Givealittle.
Coming up in two weeks' time we have a whānau hui, a time for our Māori students and whānau to come together. All students currently recorded in our database as affiliating to an iwi will have received an email invitation to this event.
Please contact our records office if you would like to have your child's iwi affiliations recorded by emailing records@stac.school.nz. The details for the evening are below.
Te kaupapa o te pō/Details for the evening:
When: Thursday 13 June
Where: St Andrew’s College Senior Common room
Time: 5.30pm–7.00pm
Purpose: to meet and connect with whānau and staff of St Andrew’s College.
Our tikanga is to bring a plate of kai along to share.
All He Waka eke noa – we are all in this together.
Our second service this year will be on Sunday 16 June, at 4.00pm (please note the earlier start time), in the Centennial Chapel. The service is for all Year 1–8 students. Parents are warmly invited to attend. The arrival time is 3.45pm and 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 3.45pm, so do not 'drop and go' earlier than this. Year 1–3 children will meet in the new Junior Department and Year 4–8 will meet at the flagpole in front of Strowan House. The expected finish time of the service is 4.40pm, please arrive a little earlier to ensure you are there to collect your child at the conclusion of the service.
JUNIOR CHOIR
The students in the Junior Choir (all Years 3–4 children and selected Year 5 children) need to arrive ready for a warm-up and run-through of their performance piece at 3.30pm in the Centennial Chapel.
CANTARE CHOIR
The students in the Cantare choir need to arrive ready for a warm-up and run-through of their performance piece at 3.30pm in the Centennial Chapel.
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.
Unfortunately due to a change in scheduling, the Ballet Academy photo planned for Friday 31 May has been postponed. A new date will be confirmed for Term 3.
On Sunday 9 June, the Preparatory School is holding a Quiz Night at The Elmwood (end of Normans Road). Arrival at 6.00pm, the Quiz Night starts at 7.00pm. $20.00 entry per team member with teams of six to eight people.
With raffles, games, and a silent auction this is a night not to be missed! Tickets will sell fast so get in quickly and email Keryn Ford at markkerynford@yahoo.co.nz to reserve your team a place. We look forward to seeing you there.
In the July holidays the Preparatory School will be running a sport holiday programme during the first week of the holidays (Monday 8 July – Friday 12 July). The sessions will run between 9.00am–1.30pm each day. Students can be dropped off from 8.30am. We will meet in the Preparatory School Library. Lunch will be included.
The sessions will be run by a variety of staff. The sports included are futsal, netball, basketball, cooperative games, and more.
The cost of the programme will be $300 for the week. Students have the option of a six-inch or foot-long Subway sandwich for lunch. Gluten-free wraps are also available. Students will have Subway on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They will have pizza on Tuesday and Thursday. There will be an additional $10.00 charged for a foot-long for the three days. Students will need to bring morning tea and a water bottle. The programme will be available for Year 1–8 students.
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 and will be added to your disbursement.
Please complete the online permission slip and return the Subway order form (please complete one order per day – all three entries) to the Preparatory School office by Monday 1 July. Payment will be disbursed to your College account.
COMPLETE THE ONLINE PERMISSION FORM HERE >
If you have any questions, please contact Head of Preparatory School Sport, Alex Kelley, via email at AKE@stac.school.nz.
Are you a proud supporter of St Andrew’s College? Whether you’re cheering on the Pipe Band or braving the elements at a sports event, our St Andrew’s College branded Blunt Metro Umbrella is your perfect companion. The St Andrew’s College Pipe Band has teamed up with Blunt Umbrellas to bring you this stylish St Andrew's College-branded, Blunt Metro Umbrella in our iconic navy blue. At just $139, it’s the same price as Blunt’s limited edition Metro umbrellas. Every purchase directly contributes to supporting the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band. Funds raised will help us purchase new equipment and cover expenses for the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in 2025 (Invercargill) and our next World Championship trip to Scotland!
Collection Information:
The online sales for the following 2024 photographs are now available:
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.
