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These glorious small trees are one of the first indicators of Spring. Large leathery leaves, smooth grey bark, and scented tulip-like blooms. We have five Magnolias in the courtyard. Warmer and sunnier days are ahead.
This year, we plan to place the children in their 2025 classes before the end of this term. Please note staffing for 2025 is not yet finalised and there will be some changes.
The process is similar to previous years:
This year, the teachers will again use a computer program to assist the process. At each year level, the teachers will work together to enter the information (their own plus other sources i.e., parents, learning support, pastoral support, etc.) and the program will generate the class lists. The College's database does not have the facility to compile future classes, so to have an option that doesn't allow double entries or missed names is helpful and quicker.
This year, Grandparents' Day will be held on Friday 25 October. This special occasion will commence with entertainment in the Centennial Chapel at 10.40am.
Please note, there will be the PTA’s very special Christmas cake to sample before going into the Chapel. A Christmas cake can be ordered at this time if this appeals.
Following the entertainment, everyone will leave the Centennial Chapel and meet up with the Preparatory and Secondary School children waiting in anticipation outside. There will be a photographer available to capture this special day for those who would like this option.
Visitors on Grandparents’ Day need to register to attend. This will ensure that the children are released from class to meet with them. Please use the link below to register for this special day.
GRANDPARENTS' DAY REGISTRATION >
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
As part of our Dinosaur Inquiry, we had a wonderful visit from Anthony Hennig from the Canterbury Museum. He shared with us his amazing knowledge of dinosaurs and brought with him some special items such as real Moa bones and replica dinosaur bones.
FLICKR >You might have spotted the Junior Department students arriving at school in their pyjamas last Friday morning. Lots of excited students enjoyed wearing their pyjamas, oodies, onesies, or their comfiest clothing to school for Pyjama Day. A wonderful collection of soft toys also got to join their owners for a day at school where we farewelled winter and welcomed spring. What a cosy day everyone had in the Junior Department!
Flickr >
Last Friday the Pre-school celebrated Daffodil Day. Given that so many are impacted by cancer, the Pre-school’s Daffodil Day is as an opportunity to gently introduce, in age-appropriate ways, ideas about how we can support those affected by this disease. The Pre-school used its hui time this morning to talk about how scientists are working to combat cancer, and how doctors and nurses help look after people who are unwell with cancer. The children also had a ‘Wear Yellow’ dress up day, did face painting, made a lemonade stand, created lots of daffodil inspired art, and tamariki were able to bring a gold coin donation for the Cancer Society.
Flickr >Last Saturday, the Canterbury Road Race Championships were held at Bottle Lake. Congratulations to the following students:
Female 2km Road Race U10 – 1st Francesca Greer (Year 4)
Female 2km Road Race U12 – 4th Alessandria Greer, 8th Pippa Bailey (both Year 5)
Female 3km Road Race U14 – 1st Tayla Ford (Year 8), 2nd Isabelle Greer (Year 7)
Male 2km Road Race U12 – 1st Kobe Ford (Year 7)
Ming Macarthy (Year 5) has been selected to play ice hockey for the Kung Pow Kings in a tournament taking place in Malaysia at the end of September.
6T (Miss Haisty's class) has proudly secured ninth place out of 163 schools in the national Times Tables Rock Stars competition, demonstrating exceptional skill and teamwork. Top performers included Jack Blyde, who achieved first place, Max Yandle second, and George Nicholls third. Their impressive individual results, combined with the collective effort of the entire class, contributed to this outstanding achievement. Congratulations to 6T for their hard work and success—ka pai!
This year, Grandparents' Day will be held on Friday 25 October. This special occasion will commence with entertainment in the Centennial Chapel at 10.40am. Please note, the PTA’s very special Christmas cake will be present to sample before going into the Chapel. Cakes can also be ordered at this time.
Following the entertainment, everyone will leave the Centennial Chapel and meet up with the Preparatory and Secondary School children waiting in anticipation outside. There will be a photographer available to capture this special day for those who would like this option.
Visitors on Grandparents’ Day need to register to attend. This will ensure that the children are released from class to meet with them. Please use the link below to register for this special day.
GRANDPARENTS' DAY REGISTRATION >
We will be running a Sport Holiday Programme for Year 1–8 students during the third week of the October holidays (Monday 14 – Friday 18 October 2024). The sessions will run between 9.00am – 1.30pm each day. We will meet in the Preparatory School Library and students can be dropped off from 8.30am.
The sessions will be run by a variety of staff. The sports included are invasion games, frisbee golf, basketball, backyard cricket, cooperative games, and more.
The cost of the programme will be $300 for all five days.
Students have the option of a six-inch or foot-long Subway sandwich for lunch. There will be an additional $10.00 charged for a foot-long for the three days. Gluten free wraps are also available. Pizza will be offered on the other days. Students will need to bring morning tea and a water bottle. Click here to download the Subway order form.
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 disbursed to your College account.
Please complete the online permission form and return the Subway form (please complete one order per day – all three entries) to the Preparatory School office by 2.00pm on Monday 18 September. The total cost will be charged to your child's College account.
COMPLETE THE ONLINE PERMISSION FORM HERE >
If you have any questions, please contact me via email at AKE@stac.school.nz.
Students and whānau are invited by the Eco-Action Nursery Trust to come along to their community planting event taking place this weekend, to help plant food and habitat for native birds. This is their last community planting event of 2024.
When: Sunday 8 September from 10.00am until midday
Where: QEII planting site. Parking is off Travis Road.
Delicious Christmas goodies, locally made with the highest quality ingredients. The perfect gift for Christmas or to treat your own family! All proceeds will go towards the PTA 2024 fundraising drive.
This year the PTA are introducing a new offering to tempt your tastebuds:
Beautifully presented in a gift box, the full range of products on offer this year includes:
More information about each of the PTA’s Christmas Goodies, including the ingredients list, can be found at the link below.
Closing date for orders: Friday 1 November 2024.
Cake collection
Orders will need to be picked up from the College Second-hand Uniform Shop (there is no delivery option) from 3.00pm to 4.30pm during the following dates:
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:
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).
