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What a wonderful day. Sincere thanks to everyone who supported this event including the staff who spent the day at the pool – not always easy in the warm conditions. A special thanks to Head of Physical Education, Isaac Leota, who put together a detailed and well thought out programme that incorporated the wide variety of events as determined by the CPSSA. The use of Year 8 children as supporters in the water was particularly helpful to those who find swimming challenging. It was a rewarding day for all. Read more further on in the newsletter.
As parents of the Preparatory School, you are most welcome to attend our upcoming Open Day. If you plan to attend please register online by clicking here.
Congratulations to the children in MacGibbon House. They may wear casual clothes with a little or lot of yellow next week, on Friday 7 March.
Parent Interviews will be spread over four days from Monday 17 – Thursday 20 March, and are in-person interviews. If you are unable to meet during interview week, please contact your child’s teacher directly to make an alternate arrangement.
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 the exit is 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. 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.
Interview booking link: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
School code: nudf4
At this interview, your child’s beginning of year assessment results will be discussed along with the draft Goal Setting Report.
Please note, Mrs Wylie’s class is not included in this interview round, as they have a different interview timetable.
There are currently spaces available for Speech and Drama at most year levels, particularly in Years 1, 3, 7 and 8. This is a good opportunity for children who may want to try something new.
For more information and to register your child, please click here.
Regards
Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
On Monday, Year 5–8 students participated in the annual Preparatory School Swimming Championships at Jellie Park. The event was a resounding success, with all students competing with great enthusiasm and determination.
The House competition saw MacGibbon taking first place, followed by Erwin, who made a remarkable comeback from last place at the start of the Years 7–8 event to finish second. Rutherford and Thompson placed third and fourth respectively. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day a success.
Flickr >On Tuesday, our Preparatory School triathletes ventured out to Oxford to participate in the Canterbury Primary Schools (CPSSA) Triathlon. Over 600 Canterbury students were involved. The students represented the College proudly, and all participated to the best of their ability. A big congratulations to all our students who entered the triathlon and overcame the challenging heat, weeds spread throughout the open water swim, and eventual torrential rain! Our students demonstrated remarkable determination and spirit throughout the event. A special mention to our Year 5 athletes who exhibited our StAC-Up values to the highest degree by supporting their fellow athletes.
Joshua Smith (Year 8) came first in the Year 8 Open Category, finishing 1 minute and 51 seconds ahead of second place.
If you would like to view the full results, please visit the website by clicking here.
Flickr >
Kelicia Rui En Purcell (Year 8) competed in the 2025 South Island Long Course Swimming Championships last week. These were raced over three days, with heats in the mornings and finals at night. Kelicia raced in nine events, making top eight finals in six events and setting three records:
Iaera Abrahamson (Year 5) and Nayana Abrahamson (Year 3) competed in the recent Rangiora Highland Dancing Competition. Iaera won Most Points U10 years, and Most Points of the Day. Nayana won Most Points U8, Most Points 6 and Under, and Most Outstanding Dancer of the Day.
Dental care for St Andrew’s College Preparatory School students is provided free of charge by the Christchurch District Health Board. The free Community Dental Service mobile van will be visiting the school in the next few weeks. Please see more information about the dental service by clicking here.
Representative group applications are now open for the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival. Talented Years 5–8 singers and musicians can now apply for an audition to join a Representative Group – Junior and Senior Choir, Concert Band, and Orchestra. Please note that to represent our school in one of these groups, students are required to be an active member of one of our College orchestras, or in the Preparatory School Cantare Choir.
Applications are made online on the Festival website here and close on Tuesday 1 April. Parents/caregivers need to make the application so that they are aware of the rehearsal and performance commitments.
From Sunday 31 August – Friday 5 September 2025, the A netball team, Girls’ A hockey and Boys’ A hockey teams will compete at the annual AIMS Games in Tauranga. Over 11,000 Year 7 and 8 students from over 360 schools have competed at these games in a variety of sporting codes in the past.
There will also be a number of individual sports available. However, due to the limited group accommodation available in Tauranga, we are unable at this stage to include individuals as part of our official tour. If you would like your child to compete at the games and you are able to travel, care for, and get them to and from the events, then Deputy Principal of Preparatory School (Operations) and Head of Preparatory School Sport, Alex Kelley, can complete and forward the entry on your behalf. In travelling to and competing at the AIMS Games, your child would be included in any activities offered to the tour group and tour apparel will also be available. You should only consider this option if your child is an elite performer in their chosen sport. The individual sports offered are: badminton, BMX, canoe sport, cross country, golf, gymnastics, hip hop, indoor bowls, mountain biking, orienteering, rock climbing, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and yachting.
If your child is in this category and you would like to consider this option, please email AKE@stac.school.nz for further information. You can also access the AIMS Games website which provides further information on each sport offered, visit www.nzaimsgames.co.nz.
Meet our teachers who make the difference at our upcoming Open Days. Please help spread the word for interested families to register online.
Secondary School Open Day: Wednesday 5 March, 9.00am–12.00pm
Preparatory School and Pre-school Open Day: Thursday 6 March, 11.00am–12.30pm
2025 photographs:
Parents/caregivers will receive and email when photos are available, and access codes will then be visible on the photo ordering information page on StACNet.
2024 photographs are available to purchase online as follows:
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).
