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Dear Parents and Caregivers
What a good day it has been to celebrate St Andrew’s College’s 106th Founders’ Day. Many of our St Andrew’s College traditions came to life on this day; Address to the Haggis, Pipe Band, Highland Games, Highland dancers and Scottish songs.
Our Founders’ Day Assembly celebrated a number of awards, including the presentation of the 1st XI cricket caps. Our Secondary School choirs, Orchestra and a beautiful solo by Chantelle Xiong (Year 12) accompanied by the String Orchestra were musical highlights. The Address to the Haggis was a most professional and entertaining moment by Year 13 students Georgia Eagle and Marco Leighs. Another highlight was the presentation of the 2023 Robert Burns Scholars who will travel to Scotland in the September holidays to be hosted by a number of Scottish schools. Megan Simpson and Jack Flanagan (both Year 12) have the honour of representing St Andrew’s College on this wonderful trip.
Founders’ Day Rector’s Assembly Address >
Founders’ Day Assembly Awards >
Founders' Day Assembly Flickr >
It is a St Andrew’s tradition to invite an Old Collegian to speak at Founders’ Day and the Head of Middle School, Mikae Tuu’u was today’s guest. Mr Tuu’u (OC 2003) is well known to many in our community and his address focussed on being mindful of your impact on others. It was a heartfelt and powerful message which had an undeniable impact on those present. Mikae will sadly leave St Andrew’s as a teacher / Senior Leader just before the end of this term and will be greatly missed.
Rector’s Farewell to Head of Middle School, Mikae Tuu’u >
Founders’ Day Assembly Guest Speaker Address – Mikae Tuu’u >
Finally, the day wrapped up with the Highland Games, a great occasion of noise, colour, chants, games, songs and House spirit. Our whole school, including Preparatory School, joined us on the lawn in front of Strowan House to enjoy the competitive fun.
Highland Games Flickr >
The whole day was enjoyed by around 70 Old Collegians who returned to St Andrew’s for their 60 Years On reunion, which has a number of events throughout the weekend.
There were so many great things happening in the last week – too many to go into detail.
The Preparatory School Chapel on Sunday, Combined Boarders’ Chapel on Tuesday, Fiafia Night celebrating our Pasifika group on Wednesday, the Structured Literacy night for Junior Department parents on Tuesday, the John McGlashan Sports exchange Monday, StACTalks – How to Grow an Athlete (181 attendees) on Wednesday night, Preparatory School Cultural Week, Secondary School Canterbury Athletics prelims – another example of the busy St Andrew’s programme.
Finally, this week I would like to thank all parents who took the time to respond to the ISNZ Parent Survey. This collective data will enable us to better understand parents’ thoughts about the value of independent schools. The good news is that St Andrew’s parents submitted the most responses out of all independent schools, with 474 responses. Thank you! With this number, we are able to access our own data, which will not only benefit ISNZ but also give us insight into parent thoughts of our own school.
A busy week is now followed by an even busier weekend. Our Old Collegians 60 Years On weekend is being hosted at school. Good luck to the students involved with Canterbury Athletics, Canterbury Volleyball and the Polyfest in Hagley Park. Our Pasifika group will be performing around 3.00pm and I know they would appreciate your support.
With best wishes to all for a great weekend.
Ngā mihi maioha.
Christine Leighton
Rector
Students from all eight Ōtautahi boarding schools gathered on Tuesday evening in the Centennial Chapel as St Andrew’s College hosted a Combined Boarder’ Chapel Service. Now a regular feature in the Term 1 calendar, the chapel was at capacity as over 800 rangitahi filled the pews. It was wonderful to have so much support and engagement from the boarding community as we came together to celebrate our special character as a boarding community. Thank you to College Chaplain Rev. Paul Morrow for his work in preparing the service, which included a guest appearance from Bishop Peter Carrell – the ninth Bishop of Christchurch in the Anglican Church. Also, to Music teacher Bryan Botting for his services on the organ. Guests also enjoyed a wonderful solo performance from St Margret’s College student Lucie Kearney, who sang a stunning acoustic rendition of Coldplay’s Clocks. Following the service, all Year 13 boarders enjoyed time socialising in a relaxed gathering at the Senior College with a Mr Whippy ice cream.
On Sunday 12 March, the Preparatory School welcomed students and their families to the Centennial Chapel for their first Sunday chapel service of the year. Preparatory School Chaplain and Religious Education Teacher, Jillian Fenton, led the service and Assistant Chaplain and Religious Education Teacher, Ben Hughes, delivered a message on how making mistakes is an opportunity to learn and the importance of being kind.
On Wednesday 8 March, Year 7 students participated in Top Team, hosted by Sport Canterbury. Students were split into 16 teams with a mix of students from different classes. Students had to create team names, plan costumes and practice team chants, then compete against one another to be the Top Team!
Top Team is a series of interactive team-building challenges designed to promote problem-solving, communication and teamwork while being active and having fun. The Top Team activity was another part of the transition to Year 7 programme that aims to help students to adjust to their new year level and make connections with a wide variety of students across the year group.
This week the Junior Department in the Preparatory School has been celebrating Cultural Week. It has been wonderful listening to and learning about the different cultures that we have here at St Andrew’s College. On Thursday, the children were encouraged to dress in something that represented their culture – traditional cultural dress or something that represents their culture to them. Cultural Week was finished perfectly with the Highland Games today.
A Fiafia Night was held on Wednesday evening, which saw a very big turnout that filled more than half of Gym 1. The event started with speeches by Head Prefect Lily Champion-Smith, Head of Māori and Pasifika Kavanah Lene, and Head of Middle School Mikae Tuu'u. The group performed their 15-minute set to whānau, friends, and the wider St Andrew’s community. A feedback session for the group was led by Teacher in Charge of Te Reo/Māori Studies, Pete Westrupp, and Polyfest tutor, Uli Pesefea. Several great technical feedback points were shared with the group, as well as emotional messages from parents and staff. The group then re-performed the taualuga and Rector, Christine Leighton delivered the closing speech.
Last Friday, 90 Year 9 students took part in an optional live virtual tour of the 9/11 Museum and Memorial in New York. This experience provided personal insight and engagement with artefacts from September 11. This experience enriched students understanding of the event, which students are studying and researching as a part of their Game Changers Social Studies unit.
All Year 10 Social Studies students did a virtual tour of the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement Virtual Tour as part of their unit on Migration. For the past few weeks, students have delved into the history of Chinese migration to New Zealand, with a focus on Government policies and their impact. Students heard about the infrastructure, daily life, and early racism that the migrants faced as a part of the New Zealand gold rush.
The College welcomed a touring school group from America this week, who are in New Zealand on a cultural and sports tour. The 15–17 year olds are from View Park High School, a Charter school in Los Angeles. The students enjoyed connecting with St Andrew’s students, plus playing basketball and volleyball. They also attended the Fiafia performance on Wednesday evening and the Highland Games today, after which they are playing in a tag rugby tournament tonight.
A group of 79 Pipe Band students (including five leavers from 2022, now OC 2022) competed at the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Championships last Friday and Saturday, 10–11 March. All events, apart from the Street March, were held in North Hagley Park. On Friday, the C Band members joined the B Band to compete in the Juvenile event. A remarkable band performed with 50 pipers and drummers which is a rarity for a National Pipe Band Championship. The Street March started at Cranmer Square and went through to Christ’s College. There was a wonderful atmosphere, and it was fantastic to see so many parents and supporters over the two days. The Pipe Band dinner celebrating the leavers had 180 guests present.
The A Band won the New Zealand Championship Juvenile title and were overall runners-up in Grade 2, behind Hawthorn Pipe Band (Melbourne). The B Band finished third overall in Grade 4A and the combined B and C bands (with 50 students) placed sixth in the Juvenile grade.
RESULTS >
The Senior Girls’ futsal team had a fantastic weekend at the Mainland Futsal Secondary Schools Championship, winning in an undefeated run. The team beat Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in the semi-finals, 6–1, and then beat Rangiora High School in the final, 2–1. The team's success sees them head to Wellington for the New Zealand Futsal Championships in Summer Tournament Week.
The Senior Boys’ team won the Plate semi-final against Christchurch Boys’ High School but unfortunately lost the Plate final against a strong Shirley Boys’ High School team.
On Tuesday, nearly 60 students competed at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Athletics Prelims, the qualifying day for the Canterbury Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, with the majority qualifying for finals this Saturday.
St Andrew’s had three athletes in the 3000m finals, with Sophie Lampe (Year 9) and Abigail Scott-Douglas (Year 10) finishing first and third in the U14 Girls’. Hugo Lewis (Year 9) was eighth in the U14 Boys’ and Cohnor Walsh was third in the U15 Boys’.
The other highlight for the day was Findley Curtis (Year 10) breaking a record in the U14 Boys’ 200m heats. Unfortunately, he was unwell after the heats and couldn't compete in the semi-finals, however, he did qualify for the 100m finals.
RESULTS >St Andrew’s rowers had a great weekend away in Twizel for the recent South Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championships, with excellent conditions on the lake. The College fielded a Girls’ U18 eight for the first time, making St Andrew’s the only co-ed school in the South Island to have a boys’ and girls’ boat in the U18 eight events.
A highlight was watching two U17 Boys coxed fours come first and third in the final. The squad competed in 25 A finals and four B finals. Out of these, two crews became South Island champions, three crews won silver medals and two crews won bronze, placing St Andrew’s sixth overall for the regatta.
RESULTS >Cohnor Walsh (Year 10) won first place in the U15 Boys’ category at the Sea to Sky Challenge Triathlon in Sumner on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, James Anthony and Rylee McBride (both Year 11) attended The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Regional Commonwealth Day ceremony at the Commodore Hotel. Each student was presented with a certificate and monetary prize for their success in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay competition. James was awarded a Silver Award for his essay about Sir Edmund Hillary, and Rylee attained a Bronze Award for her essay about Princess Diana.
The 1st XI completed an outright victory over Timaru Boys’ High School on Saturday. Batting on, Timaru was all out for 166 giving St Andrew’s a 93-run lead. The St Andrew’s batsman James Anderson (Year 13) 48 and William Carrodus (Year 12) 58 piled on 127 in 20 overs to set Timaru 221 in 75 overs. Timothy Richardson (Year 12) 2/12 kept the pressure on the Timaru batsman. The bowlers were backed up by some good fielding to dismiss Timaru for 142 in the 60th over. Tom Turner (Year 12) 3/15, Fletcher Mason (Year 13) 2/26 and Toby Smith (Year 12) 2/36 all contributing with the ball.
Two centuries by captain Harrison Horsley (Year 9) 105 n.o. and Zachary Hoshek (Year 9) 164 n.o. against St Thomas of Canterbury College was a highlight of the weekend matches. Batting first against St Thomas, Zachary joined Harrison at the crease with the score at 45/3. Over the next two hours, the spectators were treated to a brutal display of hitting by Hoshek (who hit 16 sixes and lost seven balls) and classy stroke play by Horsley 105 n.o. When the innings closed, they had amassed an unbeaten third wicket partnership of 264.
In other games, Ryan Hawker (Year 13) took 5/5 in a great spell against Ashburton College for the 2nd XI, Jack Christie (Year 11) took 4/16 against North West for the 3rd XI in a very good spell of bowling, Jock Sidey (Year 10) made a well compiled 55 for the Colts against Christ’s College, and Ryan Bond (Year 10) bowled well to secure 4/45 against Christchurch Boys’ High School Colts.
The ISSA Preparatory Swimming School Championships were held at Wharenui Pool on Tuesday 7 March. Students who placed first or second at the St Andrew’s Preparatory School Swimming Sports Day qualified to represent our school at this event. Year 5–8 students competed in the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, open butterfly, and mixed relay events. Two relay teams placed second, but it was not enough to beat the combined teams of Medbury School and St Margaret’s College.
Students who placed first and second in their event have qualified to represent our zone for the Canterbury Primary Swimming Sports Day at the end of March.
RESULTS >On Tuesday, 27 students from the Preparatory School competed in the Canterbury Primary and CAIM Schools Triathlon, with approximately 70 students competing in every age group.
Charlie Bisphan (Year 10) has been selected to play in the Canterbury 15 and Under indoor cricket team, which will be playing at the national tournament in Auckland in the April school holidays.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities over the weekend.
We seem to be in a good space with regards to COVID-19 at the moment, with staff and student absence related to the virus very low. However, it is important that we keep a close eye on the situation and as such we please ask that you continue to report to the College any COVID-19 related student absence using the same process as for non-COVID-19 related absences. Ākonga (students) who are household contacts but test negative and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, should continue to attend school.
Parent Guidelines >
Ākonga Absence and Ill-health
A polite reminder that any ākonga who are unwell should not attend school. For any absence, whether ill-health or otherwise, the College’s preferred platform for reporting this is via our online form below.
Recording a Student Absence >
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).
Get ready to be transported to another time and place with the thrilling New Zealand premiere of Bright Star, presented by St Andrew's College! Based on a true story, and written by comedian Steve Martin, this epic tale of love, loss, and heartbreak will have you on the edge of your seat. Set against the stunning backdrop of North Carolina, Bright Star takes us on a journey through two eras, 1925 and 1945. The ‘Bluegrass’ musical score will have your toes tapping and the sweeping story will tug at your heartstrings. So come and experience the magic of Bright Star. This is a truly original show that celebrates the enduring power of human connection and relationships, and it's a performance you won't want to miss!
When: Sunday 7 May, 5.00pm | Monday 8 – Saturday 13 May, 7.00pm (no Wednesday show)
Where: St Andrew's College Gym 1
Tickets: Adults $35.00 | Students $17.50
There have been some unfortunate incidents of bike thefts recently. We ask parents to remind children who cycle to school to always lock their bikes and not leave them on campus overnight or during the weekends.
A Secondary School Cultural Showcase event is being held on Wednesday 29 March. Join us to be entertained by various cultural performances, all organised by our Cultural Captains, Mia Walker and Marco Leighs (both Year 13). The performance will last about an hour and entry is by donation, with all proceeds going to Christchurch-based charity Full Bellies.
When: Wednesday 29 March
Where: Centennial Chapel
Time: 7.00pm
Registrations are now open for the next session in our free parent evening series, StACTalks: Teens and Tech. The presentation is aimed at parents of children aged 10 and above, however, all current parents are welcome to attend.
During this technology-focused presentation, St Andrew’s College staff and members of the College’s wider community will discuss the topic of technology and adolescent well-being. They will present their ideas about the positive and negative impacts of technology use and will reflect on the approach St Andrew’s has adopted in response to research about technology, pornography, teaching and learning and social media. The evening will conclude with a panel discussion where parents will have the opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback, and consider strategies they can adopt at home to promote positive technological use and prioritise well-being.
When: Tuesday 28 March
Where: Centennial Chapel
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm
The very popular Pipe Band Ceilidh fundraiser (pronounced “kay-lee”) is back! Celebrate our Scottish heritage and help support the Pipe Band get to Scotland for the World Championships in August this year.
Make sure you save the date – Saturday 27 May, 7.00pm in Gym 1.
More details to come soon!
Summer sports teams have now been added to the StAC App. Please update your subscriptions to ensure that you are receiving the alerts relevant to the sports team(s) that your child is involved with.
Subscriptions can be found via the settings cog on the StAC App home screen. For more information on updating your subscriptions, please refer to the StAC App instructional video or download the PDF guide below.
PDF guide >Download the StAC App for iOS >Download the StAC App for Android >
We have made the decision to have all the upcoming Secondary School Parent-Teacher Interviews online. This includes day and boarding student interviews. You will receive further communication to book your timeslot in due course.
Interview dates will be as follows:
Please get behind the St Andrew’s Basketball Development Programme by purchasing a ticket for the annual iPhone Raffle. Tickets are only $5.00 and are limited to 1500 in circulation. Get in quick!
The Community Business Directory is on our website under Alumni & Community and represents over 100 parent businesses. Please do take a look at how many businesses you can support locally.
The St Andrew's College Community Business Directory >
If you would still like to register your business, complete the following form.
Community Business Directory Registration >
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the fixtures page on StACNet.
