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You will be aware of the Government’s commitment to raise student achievement in State Primary Schools across the country. This is a positive and proactive step.
Following, is the introduction to the recently published Ministry of Education document: Improving Achievement:
Recently, the Government reported only 22% of state school children are currently achieving at age or above. If this is so, it is clear the current achievement levels in literacy and mathematics nationally are well off the mark. My personal view is it is not just the curriculum that raises the achievement, it is also a mix of other factors: attendance, behaviour, and the quality of staff.
In the Preparatory School, we also deliver the New Zealand Curriculum – there is no reason not to do so. The Curriculum, if delivered as intended, will produce very good results for all learners. Just for clarity, our Literacy programme incorporates Structured Literacy, and children are reading and writing every day. Structured Literacy works in stages and the children are assessed at the end of each stage.
For Mathematics, we predominantly use PR1ME Mathematics at Years 1–6. At the end of each section there is a revision component that identifies gaps to be reworked. At Years 7–8, the staff use the school’s Mathematics Programme of Work, which is closely aligned to the New Zealand Mathematics Curriculum. It is designed to help students develop a strong foundation in mathematical concepts and skills. It covers a range of topics including Number and Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, and Statistics.
In all classes, the children are pre-assessed before the next period of learning and are grouped accordingly. This means the work is targeted to their true next steps, neither too easy nor too hard. In most classes, there will be a five-year learning span, meaning there are multiple groups within each class for Reading, Writing and Mathematics. This ensures the learning is engaging for all learners, and there is progress.
To determine the degree of progress during the year, our Year 3–8 children are assessed using e-asTTle and Progressive Assessment Tests (PATs) and their learning is tracked and reported to parents three times during the year.
As you will know, we publish the school’s achievement levels in Reading, Writing and Mathematics in our end-of-year Annual Report. In 2023, the percentage of our children 'At or Above' in Reading was 96.7%, Mathematics 91.2%, and Writing 96.1%. Given we have a broad range of learners within the school, this is a very pleasing result.
The children work hard, and for those of you who have walked through the school when it is operating, the children are focused and on task. By any measure, our learning environment is calm and conducive to quality learning.
Of course, we also want the children to develop other skills. We supplement our core learning with quality specialist learning experiences for all: Music, Art, Drama and Dance, Physical Education, Spanish, Religious Education, Practical Science, Te Reo Māori, Coding and Robotics, Food, and Design Technology. All these specialist areas are part of our school week. As you will know, we also have a full sports programme, and our Head of Physical Education not only takes all 21 classes each week, but also organises several carnivals during the year that lead onto representation at Independent Schools and Canterbury Primary sporting events: Cross Country, Swimming, Athletics, Triathlon, and more.
If you have never met with me and had a personalised tour of the Preparatory School, please do not hesitate to book a tour online with a time that suits, or email Assistant to the Principal of Preparatory School, Charlotte McCaughey-Chapman, on CMG@stac.school.nz.
Also, during Terms 3 and 4, I hold ‘chat sessions’ for current parents in the Staccato Café. You can a get coffee, talk to other parents, and I will join the group at about 8.30am. Year 1–2 parents are scheduled next Wednesday 14 August.
In support of the Boarders’ Assembly on Friday 16 August, the Agriculture Committee will once again hold Gumboot Day to support and raise money for youth mental health.
Students and staff can wear (clean) gumboots to school. The gumboots are to be worn with the children’s school uniform. To donate $3.00, please text BOOTS to 469.
Reading Is Magic
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 'Reading is Magic', designed to celebrate the wonder and magic in stories and books.
Activities will include a visit from inventor and author Steve Mushin, a Story Walk, our inter-class Battle of Books Quiz, a variety of competitions and lots of fun activities.
The highlight of the week as always will be our annual Book Parade. This will take place on Thursday 26 September starting at 12.00pm. All students are invited to dress up as book characters for the day and join in the fun.
If you are interested in finding out more about this voluntary role, please contact Preparatory School Library Manager, Tracey Hull, on THL@stac.school.nz.
Regards
Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
Last Friday, St Andrew’s College hosted the annual ISSA Winter Tournament. Each school in the independent zone enters their ‘A’ team into the tournament, with a Year 5/6 grade and a Year 7/8 grade. Football, hockey and netball are contested. This year, Canterbury Primary Schools changed the rules of the competition, meaning longer games. In the Year 7/8 tournaments, St Andrew’s College was unbeaten with 100% records, all three teams progressing to the CPSSA Tournament on Thursday 5 September. In the Year 5/6 grade, the hockey and netball teams finished third overall, and the Year 5/6 football team won the tournament for the first time, edging St Mark’s School on goal difference. It was a wonderful festival of sport and games were playing in a good spirit. It was great to see so many of the Independent School community at St Andrew’s College cheering the teams on!
Flickr >On Wednesday, both the boys (Open) and girls (Girls) competed at the CPSSA Basketball Tournament in sunny Rangiora. Both teams were unbeaten in pool play before progressing through to the semi-finals after solid victories in the quarter finals. In the semi-finals, the girls were beaten in golden point in a bruising but enthralling game against Kaiapoi North School. St Andrew’s went on to finish third overall. The boys also played Kaiapoi North in the semi-final, losing 15–17 in another exciting game; they also won the final game to finish third overall. Both Kaiapoi North School teams went on to become Canterbury champions. The St Andrew’s College teams left everything on the court and can be proud of their efforts.
Girls’ Results (3rd Overall):
Boys’ Results (3rd Overall):
won vs Middleton Grange 22–11;
Cong (Zilong) Chen (Year 8) was the only student under Year 10 to qualify for Round 2 of the New Zealand Physics and Mathematics Competition (NZPMC) South Island Finals, held at the end of July at the University of Canterbury. Cong was one of the Top 10 students in Round 1 of the Junior Division of the competition.
Join us for an enchanting evening at the Ballet Winter Showcase. Our Secondary School Ballet Academy dancers will perform a captivating collection of classical, jazz, lyrical, national, and contemporary works. The event includes Performance Awards, NCEA Dance work, and a special premiere of a new Royal New Zealand Ballet performance piece, choreographed for Secondary School dancers by RNZB Dance Educator, Neve Pierce. Junior and Intermediate Company dancers from the Preparatory School will also showcase their new repertoire.
When: Sunday 11 August, 5.00pm–6.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre – Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: General Admission $20.00 (open seating)
Join us for the StAC Ag Show on Thursday 26 September. Students at all year levels can enter a number of fun events, such as baking, art, flower arrangements, and Lego creations, with placings from first to third place receiving a ribbon, and all first-place winners will also receive a prize. Some incredible grand prizes are up for grabs including an animal care package from Rangiora Vet Centre for the animal categories, a Willowbank Family pass for the plant and food categories, and a Willowbank Family pass for the art and photography categories.
There is something for everyone at this A&P Show-inspired event. Come along to Gym 1 to experience all the art, baking and other pet entries as well as the petting zoo – get set for a day of agricultural fun!
The Year 12 Agribusiness students will be selling their food and animal products at the show, including deer velvet dog treats, rocky road, and lolly packs. Eftpos will be available, and a pre-order form will be sent out a week before the show.
Entries: Cost: $3.00 per category entered (viewing the entries on the day is free). Entries close 4.00pm Friday 20 September. To enter your Years 1–8 child/ren into the StAC Ag Show, please complete the Preparatory School entry form below:
Please note the annual Ballet photo for all dancers Years 1–13 will take place on Friday 20 September, 8.00am–8.35am in Gym 1.
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.
For any illness, students should stay home if unwell. Any student should also feel free to wear a mask if they wish to do so while at school.
For any absence, whether ill-health (including COVID-19) or otherwise, the College’s preferred platform for reporting this is via our online form which can be found at the button below:
If you are not able to report your child's absence using the online form, please report their absence via the relevant email address below. If you cannot get through to us via the form or email, please call our attendance line on +64 3 940 2031 (term time only).
