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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa
Students this week seem to have settled quickly into Term 2 routines. Some winter sports have started, and the campus is once again busy with early morning and after-school practices. Our Senior A Girls and Senior A Boys basketball teams had a good start to their season, both with good wins on Tuesday evening.
The senior production cast, crew and orchestra have been putting the final touches to rehearsals for Bright Star which opens on Sunday night. I highly recommend this show – if you haven’t seen a Senior Production at St Andrew’s College before you will be amazed at the student talent.
On Saturday, this weekend, as part of ‘Open Christchurch’ our Centennial Chapel is open to the public 10.00am–2.00pm Jane Rooney of Architectus will give a talk at 11.00am and 12.00pm if anyone is interested in hearing about the design of this award-winning building.
Six years on from its opening we remain so grateful that this beautiful space sits so graciously at the heart of our campus and provides us with a space to gather together each week as a community.
Year 8 classes have enjoyed good weather this week for their camp at Castle Hill and Year 11 Geography students have been on a field trip to the West Coast.
Best wishes to all for a good weekend.
Ngā manaakitanga
Christine Leighton
Rector
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
In this blog post, Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby reflects on the actions students can take to create a rhythm and manage their energy throughout the term. In the post, she discusses specific actions related to starting well, staying well, and finishing well this term.
BLOG POST LINK >
FOOTBALL
The Boys’ 1st XI played their first league game this week against Rangiora High School. From the start St Andrew’s dominated proceedings, and mid-way through the first half captain Callum Moores (Year 13) picked up the ball on the edge of the box and dispatched it into the top corner to make it 1–0. In the second half, the team surged on to find a second and with some hard work, Bodie Oxenham (Year 11) scored to cement the win 2–0. Congratulations to the Boys 1st XI captain, Callum Moores who made his 40th appearance for the team.
NETBALL
The Senior A Netball team started the 2023 season in Premier 2 with a game against Kia Toa B. The first quarter was hard fought with Kia Toa going ahead by five goals. St Andrew’s pulled this back to a gap of four goals, but unfortunately, the game ended 58–39 to Kia Toa.
The next Premier 2 game was on Monday against St Margaret’s College. Again, the first quarter was close, but St Margaret’s slowly built on their lead to win 67–38. Molly-Belle Morrow and Libby McNee (both Year 12) consistently scored from their shooting. The team showed courage by persevering until the final whistle in both games.
BASKETBALL
On Tuesday evening, both our Senior Girls and Senior Boys teams tipped off their 2023 Whelan/Thomson Trophy seasons. Hosting for the first round, our girls took on third-ranked Christchurch Girls’ High School, whilst our boys took on sixth-ranked Rangiora High School.
Our girls got off to a slower start, but the depth of the team helped extend St Andrew’s lead to 20 points at the half. Newcomers Niamh Chamberlain (Year 12), Maniah Taefu and Hannah Radford (both Year 9) all made positive contributions in their debut games. The team was also galvanised by the return of Lauren Whittaker (Year 13), playing in her first game since 2021. The game ended with a convincing 93–34 win to St Andrew’s.
The boys took on a formidable Rangiora High School team who pushed out to an early lead that they maintained through the first three quarters. Defensively, Tom Kerry (Year 13) and Benjamin Ashman (Year 12) matched Rangiora’s physicality. Led by strong scoring contributions by Carter Rhodes (Year 12) – 32 points and Mitchell Corkery (Year 13) – 40 points, the boys battled back to take the lead in the closing minutes, holding on for a narrow 103–100 win.
During the last week of the holidays, 35 Year 11 students completed their two-night three-day Silver Practice Journey over the Kelly Range, while 15 Year 12 students embarked on their Gold Practice Journey by completing the Goats Pass.
During the first week of the school holidays, the Preparatory School Girls’ A basketball team competed in the South Island Primary School tournament held in Rangiora. This was the first time St Andrew’s entered a team into the competition, so development and experience were the priorities. Without playing a game, the girls were promoted to the A grade, finishing the tournament with a couple of wins and the SIPT Spirit award, awarded to a team with exceptional attitudes, team culture and team performance.
This week the Pre-school children have been exploring ideas about the upcoming coronation of King Charles III through visual art experiences, drama and storytelling. This culminated today in a Coronation Celebration – tamariki and kaiako came to Pre-school dressed in their royal robes, and we made scones for a very special royal morning tea, held at a banquet table.
At the end of last term, Milly Gjelstad (Year 12) won a scholarship to attend a week-long Atlantic Pacific Spring Camp in northern Japan. Atlantic Pacific International Rescue Boat Project is a not-for-profit NGO with the purpose of combating global drowning by providing lifeboats and trained crew to areas of need, promoting education in sea safety and ocean awareness, and understanding and addressing the impact that pollution and climate are having on our oceans, which will lead to an increase in adverse weather and climate conditions which can cause an increase in water-related disaster. Milly participated in courses on a variety of topics relating to sea safety and ocean awareness and enjoyed interacting with others using a variety of communication skills when there was no shared language.
Tave Stuart (Year 11) enjoyed the following ballet success at the CTDTA over the holidays.
Amelie Clark (Year 10) finished first overall in U14 and fourth in U16 for the South Island Surf Grom Series. The series consisted of four competitions in total. The final event was held in Kaikōura over the school holidays and the other three events were held in Dunedin, Westport and Christchurch earlier this year.
During the holidays, Christine Jeon (Year 12) performed as a soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) in the Michael Fowler Centre. She performed the Elgar Cello Concerto in a stunning performance as part of the NZSO’s Young Artist Showcase series.
Cohnor Walsh (Year 10) competed in the Christchurch Half Marathon during the April holidays. He completed the 21.1KM race in 1:24.04, placing fifth in the U20 category and 81st overall out of 1544 runners.
This week, our Junior da Vinci Decathlon team of Christian Li, Alyssa Huang, Eileen Jiang, Hanxi (Cicy) Chen, RuoLin (Lauren) Li, Piper Stone, Lachlan Hackston, and Ary Son, won second place in the Year 9 competition. Hosted by Christ’s College, this inaugural Australasian event is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of secondary school students competing across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics, code-breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy. The da Vinci Decathlon began in 2002 as an exciting offshoot of the very successful da Vinci Programme for gifted and talented students at Knox Grammar, Sydney.
James Anthony and Daniel Officer (both Year 11) have achieved places in Round 2 of Brain Bee, a global Neuroscience competition. James and Daniel will travel to Otago University in late July to compete against other South Island individuals. The wider learning opportunities of this competition include participation in a 100-level Neuroscience lab, participation in a longitudinal study of the brain and the ulnar nerve, a tutorial based on the Electron Microscope and the study of the effects of alcohol on the brain, and a visit to the Anatomy Museum.
Hansen Hong ( Year 11) sat the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education examination at the end of last year and gained the High Achievement award in New Zealand with a score of 97% A+ for Mathematics, Grade A in Physics and Grade B in Chemistry.
Scarlett Oulsnam (Year 9), Ellie Zhou, Hannah Papali'i Taimalelagi Malietoa and Cohnor Walsh (all Year 10) have each had a poem selected for publication in Toitoi 32.
The Preparatory School’s Future Problem Solving teams competed in a Term 1 Challenge around the Topic of E-Waste (Electronic Waste). Students had to apply the problem-solving process to solve futuristic issues around E-Waste. The students are given a reading which will set the scene for the future problem. The challenge is to apply the problem solving process across 16 different categories, such as Health, Law and Justice, Economics, etc. Each step is awarded points for originality and the ability to identify possible future challenges.
Results:
Adelyn, Iaera and Nayana Abrahamson (Year 5, Year 3 and Year 1) all achieved brilliantly at the Hastings Highland Games. Nayana won Runner-up Most Points in the 6 and Under age category and won the Novice Highland Fling at the Caledonian competition in Christchurch at the end of the holidays.
At the Fairlie Show Competition over the Easter Weekend, Georgia Gregg (Year 6) won the U12 Sword Dance Merit award and was second in the U14 Sailors Hornpipe.
Zuzu Connelly (Year 9) competed at the National Youth Fencing championship, finishing sixth in the Women’s U15 competition, and won silver in the Women’s U15 team event where she represented the South Central area.
Katrina and Genevieve Wallis (both Year 9) competed at the Canterbury Regional Championships at Lake Crichton in early April before representing Canterbury at the New Zealand Water Ski National Championships at Lake Karapiro.
Regionals:
Nationals:
Katrina also received a Women’s Silver Star Series placing at the Nationals prizegiving, which recognises the best skiers in their age groups across the whole season, as compared to a NOPS formula. Katrina won third place and Genevieve came fourth.
At the recent New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) Oceania and New Zealand Canoe Sprint Championships, Sam McAlister (Year 11) raced in the U16 age group winning two gold medals and two silver medals at the national level, and one gold and two bronzes at the Oceania level to be crowned the Men's U16 K2 Oceania and National Champion, plus the Mixed Junior K4 national title.
Katrina Wallis (Year 9) represented New Zealand as a member of the U14 water ski team in March that competed in the Aussie Kiwi Challenge at the Gateway Lakes in Albury Wodonga, Australia. She achieved four personal bests and with her U14 team won gold in the team event.
Siara Clarke (Year 12) has just returned from performing with the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand at the Virginia International Tattoo, held in Norfolk, USA. Siara successfully auditioned to be a member of this touring team, along with Old Collegians Milly Christie, Brianna Sloper (both OC 2022) and Charlotte Sloper (OC 2020). The Highland Dance Company of New Zealand was among a cast of more than 800 performers, with bands from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps joined by civilian and military performers from seven nations.
Olivia Brett (OC 2019) has been selected to attend the ICF World Cup 1 in Szeged, Hungary in May. She also received the MacDonald/Thompson/Ferguson/Bramwell Cup for 2022 Team of the Year alongside her teammates Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, and Tara Vaughan.
Kelera Nawai-Caucau (OC 2016) is making her mark on the Stars in the ANZ Premiership this year after she made the move from Christchurch to Auckland for the season and has become one of the side's key players.
Sophie Gualter (OC 2014) is only the second woman to be included in the famed London Scottish Regiment pipe band, the esteemed band is known for performing at royal events and participated in the procession for the Queen's death. Sophie joined only a few months ago having learnt her craft as a member of the St Andrew's College Pipe Band.
Cameron Paul (OC 2022) has been selected in the New Zealand U19 cricket squad to play in the World Cup qualifiers in Australia during June. They will play a series of games in the hope of qualifying for the World Cup in Sri Lanka next year.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities including:
Please continue to report to the College any COVID-19 related student absence using the same process as for non-COVID-19 related absences.
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).
New rules and guidelines from the Ministry of Education on understanding ākonga distress and minimising the use of physical restraint in schools came into force this year, superseding the 2017 rules and guidelines.
Physical restraint must only be used by kaiako or authorised staff members when the conditions outlined in the legislation have been met, and only as a last resort. The new guidelines were created in response to changes in the Education and Training Act 2020 and calls from schools for more clarity about when it is acceptable to use physical restraint and what is acceptable physical contact.
Accordingly, three new College policies have been published on the College website – Minimising Physical Contact, Acceptable Physical Contact and Reducing Student Distress. These can be viewed by clicking here. All College staff have been asked to familiarise themselves with these policies and those directly concerned will be undertaking training in this important area, timed in accordance with Ministry requirements.
The annual St Andrew’s College Careers Expo is being held next Wednesday 10 May, 5.00pm–6.30pm in the Senior College Common Room. Feedback from tertiary providers around the country tells us that students have a greater chance of graduating from their course if they have made an informed decision as to what they are going to study after leaving school. This Expo provides a fantastic opportunity to find out more about pathway opportunities beyond school, ask questions, collect brochures, and hear directly from people who are knowledgeable about career paths that you are interested in. In attendance on Wednesday evening will be 30 tertiary and industry representatives from around the country.
List of providers attending the 2023 StAC Careers Expo>
The Ōtautahi Jazz Jam Spectacular is a wonderful concert combining jazz groups from around Christchurch secondary schools, and this year our Big Band and Jazz Orchestra will be performing on Saturday 20 May.
PURCHASE TICKETS >
The annual Hoop It Up fundraiser will take place on Saturday 10 June. Organised by the StAC Basketball Fundraising Committee, this is sure to be a fantastic evening. Reserve your seat or get a group together. Dinner and drinks included (Wairau River Wines and tap beer), cash bar for all other drinks, auction, DJ, and dance floor.
All proceeds support St Andrew’s College Basketball. In 2021 the event sold out within 72 hours, so get in early, grab your friends and reserve a table. This will be a great mid-winter night out.
When: Saturday 10 June, 7.00pm–11.30pm
Where: Russley Golf Club and Function Centre
Dress Code: Cocktail
Tickets: $150 per person
Email Teacher in Charge of Basketball, Ben Eves, on BEV@stac.school.nz from Monday to reserve a seat/table, whilst spots last!
Join us for an informative evening focused on how we can create an environment that enables our young people to have quality experiences playing sports.
Our guest speakers at this StACTalks session will include an advocate for resilience, Jake Bailey, our Director of High Performance Sport and Rugby, Rod McIntosh, and Sports Leadership and Development expert and Senior Rugby Coach, John Haggart.
We will also hear about personal experiences and lessons learned from participating in sports from the student and parent perspectives. The College has been working on a Sports Framework to provide guidance for our students, which we will share and welcome feedback on. This is an opportunity to learn from experts and contribute your ideas to this important conversation.
When: Monday 15 May
Where: Centennial Chapel
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm
The very popular Pipe Band Ceilidh fundraiser (pronounced “kay-lee”) has returned for 2023 and celebrates St Andrew's proud Scottish heritage. Come along to a good old-fashioned Scottish knees-up for a friendly, fun and energetic night of haggis, music, drams and dancing in a relaxed atmosphere. Bring your dancing shoes and wear a touch of tartan!
It’s a wonderful way to celebrate our Scottish heritage and help support the Pipe Band get to Scotland for the World Championships this August this year.
Date: Saturday 27 May, 7.00pm
Venue: St Andrew's College Gym 1
Tickets: $69.00 (drink on arrival and light supper)
The online sales for the following 2023 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.
ORDER PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE >
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.
