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Preparatory School Newsletter

Thursday 27 June 2024

Term 2, Week 8

In Brief:

Matariki weekend – starts tomorrow, Friday 28 June – the College will be closed;
The last day of Term 2 is Friday 5 July – both the Preparatory School and Secondary School conclude at 12:35pm;
Upcoming School Holidays: Monday 8 July to Monday 22 July, school resumes on Tuesday 23 July at the normal time, Monday 22 July is a Teacher Only day;
Calendar (Term Fixtures) in StACNet.

StAC-Up Winning House

The StAC-Up Winning House for the end of Term 2 is Erwin. The children in Erwin House can come to school in casual wear next week, Friday 5 July, in a little or lot of red.

Year 7–8 Preparatory School Production, The Aurora Stone

Tonight is the final performance of The Aurora Stone. What a wonderful production week we have had. Congratulations to Director, Ginnie Thorner, and the Year 7 and 8 children and staff. Everyone deserves to be proud of this notable achievement. A production is a huge undertaking in a school. I thank the group of committed and hardworking parents for supporting the children and Ginnie so admirably. Sincere thanks to you all.

World Vision 40-Hour Famine

As a College, we are supporting World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine (20 hours for primary-aged 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! The children can participate anytime now until the end of the upcoming school holidays.

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 to donate 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.

Parent Interviews: Monday 29 July – Thursday 1 August

The interviews next term will be in-person and spread over four days. Please note, all Years 4–8 children are required to attend the interviews.

Please enter and leave the Junior Department via the gate behind the Pre-school.

Entry to the Years 4–8 building is via the front door and exit via one of the two maglock doors either beside Year 5 (at the end of the building) or beside Year 4 (in the middle of the building).

Please contact Reception if you experience any difficulty making a booking. Bookings will close Friday 26 July.

If there is no suitable time available for you, please contact your child’s class teacher directly (via email) and another day and time will be arranged.

Site link: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
School code: yeatp

At this interview, your child’s mid-year report and results will be discussed. The School Reports will be posted on the last day of Term 2, Friday 5 July.

Please note, Mrs Wylie and Mrs Orman’s classes are not included in this interview round. They have a different interview timetable. You will be contacted directly by the class teacher with the interview details.

Regards

Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector

Around the School

Matariki

Mānawatia a Matariki. Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, to celebrate the present with kai, time with our whānau and communities, and to look ahead and plan for the future. This week and next, Matariki is being celebrated throughout the Preparatory School with all classes participating in Tuakana-Teina activities, a practice when older children pass on knowledge and skills to younger children. The older classes have been researching aspects of Matariki, using a variety of video, games, waiata and reading resources to grow their knowledge of the traditions of Matariki. They have designed Matariki inspired activities to share with their younger buddy class. In class learning has involved learning about the environmental relationships represented by the Matariki stars and the traditional and modern practices associated with them. Reflections on the previous year have been made, goals are being set for the next year, and hākari (feasting) is being encouraged for gatherings over the holiday weekend. Next Friday, the whole Preparatory School is assembling to celebrate Matariki with kapa haka, poi and waiata in the chapel.

This morning the Junior Department had a beautiful celebration with special guests from the Pre-school. Our tamariki came together to sing waiata and to create some magnificent Matariki crafts, including kites, Matariki stars, Matariki mindfulness, pāua art, collaborative art, and learning about what each star represents.

Flickr >

Digi Club

This term the Preparatory School Digi Club have been learning how to design and print bubble wands using a 3D printer. This week the students visited the Pre-school to share their wands with the children and spent time blowing bubbles with them. It was a great way to celebrate the students’ learning.

Student Success

Cross Country

On Wednesday, the Preparatory School sent 10 students to compete in the Canterbury and CAIMS (Canterbury Association Intermediate Schools) Cross Country at Ngā Puna Wai. These students were: Alessandria Greer, Ming Macarthy (both Year 5), Luke Russell (Year 6), Kobe Ford, Diesel Mackie, Mila Rule, Isabelle Greer (all Year 7), Sabine Waghorn, Alice Glover, and Tayla Ford (Year 8). It was an amazing day for our Zone in general and especially our team.

Top 10 Finish:

Diesel Mackie (Year 7 Boys) – 7th;
Kobe Ford (Year 7 Boys) – 9th;
Mila Rule (Year 7 Girls) – 10th.

Top 5 Finish:

Tayla Ford (Year 8 Girls) – 5th.

Congratulations to Isabelle Greer who achieved a podium finish as second in Canterbury for Year 7 Girls. A year of hard work has enabled Belle to break the Canterbury record with two other girls and reach the podium. Well done to all of our team this year! There has been a huge amount of improvement for our cross country team, but most importantly growth to set new goals and achieve them. Well done.

Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival

This year a record 20 students from the Preparatory School have been selected for representative groups in the 2024 Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival. Being a member of these prestigious groups involves participating in a holiday course in the Spring holiday break, then in October the selected students will perform four evenings of the Music Festival in the Christchurch Town Hall.

Symphony Orchestra: Chloe Wang (Year 6), Chloe Sha, Emma Zhang, Jacob Wang, Chenxiao Leo (Leo) Yang, Matthew Zhang, Baizhen (Tony) Chen, Yunze Li (all Year 7), Ethan Waines, Ethan Zhao, Lexie Dong, and Cong (Zilong) Chen (all Year 8).
Junior Representative Choir: Adelyn Abrahamson, Alice Williams, Annabelle Laurenson, Jessica Whitehead, Ruby Richards (all Year 6), Riona McKendry and Romilly Comyn (both Year 5).
Senior Representative Choir: XiaoYa (Cynthia) Zhou (Year 7).

Notices

Preparatory School Music Concert | Tuesday 2 July, 6.00pm, Centennial Chapel

On Tuesday 2 July there will be a Preparatory School music concert in the Centennial Chapel. The concert will start at 6.00pm and should be finished by 7.00pm. The concert is a celebration of music in our school and will involve 130 children.

The following groups will be performing: Junior Choir (this involves all Year 3–4 classes and some Year 5 children), Cantare Choir (Years 6–8 children), Preparatory School Orchestra, Preparatory School Chamber Group and instrumental solos by our two Year 8 Preparatory School music scholars. All Year 3–4 children are expected to participate in this concert.

Cantare Choir and Junior Choir children are required to report to the Centennial Chapel for a choir warm-up at 5.40pm. Junior Orchestra children will need to arrive at 5.20pm to tune their instruments. Instruments can be unpacked in the foyer. Children are to wear their school uniform with blazer. Audience members will be admitted from 5.50pm.

The children have been working very hard on polishing their repertoire and are looking forward to performing to families and friends. This will be a very enjoyable evening of music, and there is no entrance charge. Please do come along and show your support.

Further enquires can be emailed to Music Teacher, Ros Emeleus, at REM@stac.school.nz

Can Collection | Thursday 4 July

This year as part of our House competitions, we are running a competition called Cans for Humanity. If you've ever wondered how you can contribute to your House but also contribute to the wider community, this is the competition for you! We're asking students to bring in cans of food to school on the last Thursday of term (Thursday 4 July). House leaders from the senior school will then collect these cans and combine them with the Secondary School cans.

There are many people in the community who need our support and we think our College Houses can really get behind this. We encourage you to bring as many cans as you can into school. If you want to make a great contribution to your House this year this is for you!

Please support Cans for Humanity, and make a difference. Cans in the Preparatory School should be placed outside Mr Kelley’s office in your child’s house box.

Miss Annabelle Kerr – Preparatory School Year 7 Teacher

Annabelle has resigned from her position and will finish on Friday 2 August. She started at the College at the beginning of the 2022 school year.

Annabelle has been exceptional in all areas of her teaching at the school. She is also a fine and highly regarded Netball coach. Annabelle plans to head overseas for a travelling experience.

Her friendly and kind demeanour and all-round competence will be missed.

On behalf of our school community, I thank Annabelle for her time at the College and I wish her the best for her travels.

Duathlon

The Duathlon will be held on Monday 9 September. Any students who are interested in this event and have not signed up will need to contact Ms Phillips at APH@stac.school.nz by Week 2, Term 3.

Students who are at AIMS Games at the same time will not be able to compete in this event. The Duathlon involves:

Years 5–6 run 2km, bike 6km, run 1km;
Year 7–8 run 2km – bike 9km – run 1km.

Scabies

Please click here to view the Public Health Fact Sheet about scabies.

If your child develops scabies symptoms, please visit your family pharmacy or Health Centre for guidance, and keep your child at home for 24 hours after starting treatment. Please also advise the Preparatory School Reception.

Minecraft Education | July Holiday Programme

This exciting two-day programme for Years 5–8 will give your child the opportunity to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills in Minecraft Education. They will collaborate in small groups to build amazing structures, solve build challenges, and learn to use specialist design software to edit and adapt their creations.

The programme will be led by St Andrew’s College E-Learning and Innovation teacher, Wilj Dekkers, who is an experienced teacher as well as Microsoft Minecraft Ambassador. Should you have any questions, please email wilj@wdekkers.nz.

Time: 9.00am–3.00pm (early drop off at 8.30am is fine)
Date: Monday 8 – Tuesday 9 July
Location: The Green Library and Innovation Centre (Secondary School Quad)
Cost: $150 inclusive of GST.

Activities:

group-based creative building opportunities focused on teamwork and communication;
students will learn to use the Amulet 3D editor and Blockbench design software to personal their Minecraft worlds;
maximum number of 16 students (minimum of 8);
all devices supplied (Gaming PCs with keyboard and mouse) BYOD are of course welcome (Amulet and Blockbench will require the gaming PCs).

What to bring:

snacks, lunch, and drink bottle;
BYOD if preferred, but all devices will be supplied.

Please register to book a place by clicking here. We look forward to seeing your child there.

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

2024 PHOTOGRAPHY ONLINE ORDERS

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

NEW: Preparatory School Librarians, Mini Jammers basketball, cricket and water polo;
NEW: Secondary School summer sports, music and cultural groups;
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 >