Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 6 June 2024

Term 2, Week 5

As many of you will know, in the last few days we have lost two very special and much-loved people within our community. Nigel and Marjan, parents of Oriana (Year 4) and Emily (Pre-school) have both been taken by cancer.

For those of you who knew Marjan and Nigel, you will have seen their unrelenting strength and hope, and more recently, their dignity, and their overwhelming love for their girls and family.

Nigel and Marjan’s death will have an immense impact on anyone who knew them, and for many of us, their way of life and positivity will remain at the forefront of minds for some time to come.

For your information, the lives of Nigel and Marjan will be celebrated at their funeral, at St Andrew’s College Centennial Chapel this Sunday, 9 June, at 1.00pm.

Winning House

A sea of green walked into school this morning. Congratulations to the children in Thompson House – winner of the mid-term StAC-Up House token competition.

Year 7–8 Preparatory School Production, The Aurora Stone, 24–27 June | 80% of tickets sold – get in quick!

When: Monday 24 – Thursday 27 June, 7.00pm–8.00pm
Where: Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre and Gough Family Theatre
Tickets: General Admission $22.00

BOOK YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE >

Schedule:

performing on Monday 24 June and Tuesday 25 June will be: 7T, 7C, 8A, 8T;
performing Wednesday 26 June and Thursday 27 June will be: 7S, 7A, 8S and 8C.
the children with speaking parts will perform on all four nights.

Regards

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

Around the School

Wonder Project Rocket Challenge

This term our Year 5 students are again taking on the role of ‘Mission Command’. Both 5A and 5C have buddied up with two local engineers, who are supporting our budding STEM enthusiasts to design, build and launch their own water rockets. While the rockets are flying, students will learn about Newton’s laws, the engineering design process, and working as a team.

Britt Coff and Colin Forsyth are volunteer industry ambassadors from the Wonder Project, Engineering New Zealand’s free programme for schools, designed to get young Kiwis excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We are extremely grateful to Britt and Colin for their weekly commitment in helping bring this rocket challenge to life. We also wish to thank Jacobs and Davis Ogilvie for allowing the weekly visits from their inspirational engineers. This invaluable time spent with our tamariki, illuminates potential future careers in an industry where there is a huge skills shortfall.

Pre-school Community Constable Visit

Our Pre-school tamariki are currently learning about Road Safety, and Safety Heroes (the Emergency Services). Today we were excited to be visited by Senior Constable Richard Brunton, who joined us for hui time. Constable Richard explained how the role of the Police is to help people stay safe, and that they do this in a variety of ways – helping people who are lost, reminding people to wear their seatbelts, and helping people who are lost find their way home! He showed us his Police radio, his handcuffs, and his uniform! He also showed us his Police car, turning on his lights and sirens, and talking to us through his loudspeaker!

Flickr >

Student Success

Kartsport

Zongqi (Iris) Li (Year 3), competed at the 39th annual Central New Zealand Sunbelt Championships at Kartsport Nelson and Kartsport Marlborough over King’s Birthday weekend. After four days of racing, Iris won the third place trophy in the Cadet Rok class.

Notices

Huinga Whānau – Our Māori families coming together

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.

Preparatory School Chapel | Sunday 16 June, 4.00pm

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.

World Vision 40 Hour Famine

In three weeks’ time we will be supporting World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine (20 hours for Preparatory School children). You will be able to support your child’s involvement and challenge by contributing financially – small amounts, gifted by many, will achieve a significant result!

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

No need to sign up individually; to access the St Andrew’s College World Vision site please click here.

For more information about this incredibly worthwhile fundraising campaign, as well as useful ideas about what your child can do for the 20 hours, please click here.

July Sport Medley Holiday Camp | Sign Up by Monday 1 July

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.

Private Cricket Coaching

Pipe Band Umbrella Fundraiser

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:

Pick up: purchase the umbrella online and then visit the College Shop – Thistles to pick it up;
In-person: Buy directly from the College Shop – Thistles.

PURCHASE ONLINE HERE >

2024 PHOTOGRAPHY ONLINE ORDERS

The online sales for the following 2024 photographs are now available:

individual student photographs;
Secondary School tutor group photographs;
Preparatory School class photographs (excluding new entrant and Class 8A);
whole year group photographs for Year 9 and Year 13.

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 >