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In chapel this week, we acknowledged the start of Lent with Shrove Tuesday and the traditional Pancake Race dating back to the 12th century. The 40 days prior to Easter were traditionally a time of fasting. Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use the eggs and milk for pancakes. The pancake has featured in cookbooks dating back to 1439. The celebrations included the pancake race, where the runners would toss the pancakes from start to finish. Every year, we do our own version of the pancake tossing race. Congratulations to Miss Martin who won this annual event.
We were delighted with the record number of families who attended today's Open Day. Sincere thanks to the Years 6–8 tour guides who were outstanding, and the support and enthusiasm of the students and staff was much appreciated. The Food Technology children added to the sense of occasion with their delicious and tasty looking pizza.
Congratulations to the children in MacGibbon House. They may wear casual clothes with a little or lot of yellow tomorrow, 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
Last Friday, the Preparatory School welcomed Hereworth School, an independent co-educational school from Hawke's Bay, to play in a Summer Sports Exchange, competing in tennis and cricket. The weather was perfect and as the sun shone, so did the players on display. In the tennis, there were some very close games. After the round of doubles games, the schools were locked at two games each, however Hereworth managed to win some close games in the singles to eventually come out 8–4, to win the match. Both coaches acknowledge the fine performances of players from both schools, and the sportsmanship shown. In the cricket, Hereworth posted a formidable score, capitalising in the second half of their 30-over innings to post a score of 225 for 5. St Andrew’s recovered well from 33 for 4 early on to finish on 175 for 7. With three overs to go, Hereworth knew they were in a game, with Patrick O’Byrne (Year 8) building a wonderful 89, dismissed in the last over of the game. There was some exceptional cricket played by both schools in this first ever game cricket game between St Andrew’s College and Hereworth School.
Flickr >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.
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.
The Preparatory School will be holding a Sport Holiday Programme during the first week of the holidays (Monday 7 April – Friday 11 April). The programme is open to Years 1–8 students. The sessions will be run by a variety of staff. The sports included are: invasion games, frisbee golf, basketball, backyard cricket, futsal, pickleball, and more.
Please complete the online permission slip and return the Subway order form (please complete one order per day, and name each entry – all three entries would need to be completed for a student attending the whole week) to the Preparatory School office by Thursday 3 April. More information is available on the permission form page below.
COMPLETE THE ONLINE PERMISSION FORM HERE >
If you have any questions, please email AKE@stac.school.nz.
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).
