You are logged in as
Logout
You are logged in as
Logout
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa.
On this beautiful winter’s afternoon, our College Quad was packed with students to watch the selfless act of two sisters, Christina (OC 2017) and Alexandra Shepherd (Year 13), who had their heads shaved for Canteen, a charity that provides tailored support to rangatahi aged 13–24 who are impacted by cancer. Great support was given to the girls and there was a good community spirit in acknowledging their courage for an important cause. Well done Christina and Alexandra.
Earlier in the morning, our Year 3 students displayed their creative talents in their annual World of Wearable Arts parade. Their costumes were related to a ‘Magical Mystery Garden’ theme, which was full of creations including a dragon, magic sausage dog, unicorn, snow queen and two beautiful butterflies.
First up this morning, the Secondary School students began with their annual Girls’ and Boys’ Assemblies. The girls’ panel of Lauren Whittaker (OC 2023), Assistant Head of Physical Education and Health Ash James, and Rector Christine Leighton, revealed personal challenges and the ways to bounce back from setbacks. Chloe McFedries (Year 10) also sang a beautiful solo.
The Boys’ Assembly featured a panel of three guests – Agriculture teacher Liam Smith, Athlete Development Programme teacher Trent Harris, and Thomas Kamo (OC 2022), currently studying Law and Arts at University of Canterbury. The panel was interviewed by Macklan Robertson and Daniel Ruge (both Year 13) with questions ranging from sharing a favourite childhood memory, to what it means to be a good man. The rock band Awthentix, made of up Year 13 students Tamaroa Connelly, Jack Flanagan, Hugo Ranken, Daniel Ruge, and William Ruge, performed two numbers which they will showcase tomorrow evening at the Regional Finals for Rockquest. A prefects’ flash mob advertised the much-anticipated Prefects’ Assembly which will entertain the school on Friday 21 June. Congratulations to the Year 13 students who organised the assemblies.
Boys’ and Girls’ Assemblies Flickr >
To round off a busy day, our two Secondary School choirs, Staccoro and Stacchorus, participated in the Big Sing competition in the Christchurch Town Hall. With 22 choirs competing, this was a celebration of song and performance, and St Andrew’s was beautifully represented. All choirs will perform in the Gala Concert tonight.
Also this evening I will be hosting 20 Presidents of the Old Collegians Association. Each President serves for two years and those in attendance tonight served between 1968 to 2020. Our Old Collegians Executive are vital contributors to our StAC community, and we are grateful to all those who take on this important role.
Yesterday and today two students represented our College at the Ōtautahi Manu Kōrero competition. Our first student to participate in this competition was Imogen McNeill back in 2016 as a Year 9 student. Since then, each year our Māori and Pasifika students have proudly supported two akōnga, and this year, Metua Cranwell (Year 11) and Holly Maraki (Year 13) represented St Andrew’s in the Impromptu and Prepared Speech competitions. Ngā mihi nui ki ā tatou kaiwhakapuaki. Thank you and congratulations to our contestants.
Last evening the Ōtautahi Kura (Independent Schools of Christchurch) gathered together at St Andrew’s to mix and mingle. Board representatives and members of our Executive team enjoyed this opportunity to share stories and connect with our extended community.
Best wishes to all for the upcoming weekend, especially our two rock bands, The Awthentix and The E.C.H.O. who are competing in the Rockquest Regional Finals at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre.
On Sunday afternoon a number of our staff and parents will be gathering to pay tribute to Nigel and Marjan Joyce who tragically passed away in the last week. We are thinking of Nigel and Marjan’s family, their two beautiful daughters, and their many friends in our Preparatory School.
Nā koutou i tangi, nā tātau katoa.
When you cry, your tears are shed by us all.
Ngā mihi nui
Christine Leighton
Rector
Our Year 10 students are currently focussing on the topic of body image in their Te Waka classes. Given the pervasive influence of social media, many adolescents are challenged with body image concerns. In this blog post, Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby, highlights key evidence-based strategies that parents and educators can use to support young people to cultivate a positive body image.
Read the Well-being Blog here >
Alexandra Shepherd (Year 13) and her older sister Christina (OC 2017) shaved their heads in the Quad at lunchtime today during Non-uniform Day, to fundraise for Canteen, a New Zealand charity which supports rangatahi impacted by cancer.
FLICKR >Last week, the prefect team encouraged students to draw chalk flowers during Friday Quad.
Nine chamber groups and three orchestras performed at the annual St Andrew's College Classical Concert in the Centennial Chapel on Tuesday evening. Almost 60 students in a variety of instrumental combinations performed music ranging from Mozart, through to Schubert and Pharrell Williams, and the chamber groups had their final performance opportunity ahead of next week's preliminary round of the nationwide CMNZ Schools Chamber Music Contest. Performances were well received by the audience of family and staff, who responded with warm applause throughout. The final item, Havana, played with assurance and energy by the Concert Orchestra, was a highlight of the evening.
FLICKR >Four Year 13 Biology classes visited Orana Park on Tuesday and Wednesday. This was a fantastic introduction to the upcoming 3.6 Human Evolution topic. This external starts by making comparisons between skeletal features of apes and humans and students then study past hominins that had a mixture of these features. At Orana Park students saw the two gorillas in the Great Ape enclosure, gibbons, spider monkeys and lemurs. They also learnt about past hominins and observed model hominin skulls in the Orana Park Education Centre.
Year 11 Agriscience students went on a visit to Orana Park on Thursday to investigate how the park meets the nutrition, health, breeding, and behaviour requirements of their animals. With a diverse range of animals to observe, the students aimed to look at the differences in how the staff care for the animals to meet their needs. Another focus was for students to think about how the practices relate to what happens on farm with traditional livestock species that are raised in Aotearoa.
The Spanish Immersion Day at the University of Canterbury was a huge success, with students getting to enjoy and practice the language, as well as experiencing some aspect of the Latin culture through singing and dancing. The students particularly enjoyed meeting people from other schools and participating in several fun activities. They started with a serious lesson where they practiced NCEA papers and learnt some strategies to answer questions for the listening examination. The next session was all about having fun with the language, participating in competitions, and putting their knowledge of the language to the test.
This term, Year 5 students are again taking on the role of ‘Mission Command’. Both classes have buddied up with two local engineers, who are supporting our budding STEM enthusiasts to design, build and launch their own water rockets. While the rockets are flying, students will learn about Newton’s laws, the engineering design process, and working as a team. Britt Coff and Colin Forsyth are volunteer industry ambassadors from the Wonder Project, Engineering New Zealand’s free programme for schools, designed to get young Kiwis excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Preparatory School is extremely grateful to Britt and Colin for their weekly commitment in helping bring this rocket challenge to life. This invaluable time spent with the tamariki illustrates potential future careers in an industry where there is a huge skills shortfall.
This morning after more than a term of preparation, Year 3 students performed their World of Wearable Arts show to an audience of students, parents, and teachers. The theme was ‘Magical Mystery Garden’ and the costumes included an eco-friendly wheelbarrow, princesses, dragons, a hedgehog, sausage dog, a bird, a unicorn, and even a child-sized flower! The Junior Department would like to thank Helen King for supporting the children in this highly creative and visually exciting project.
FLICKR >Our Pre-school tamariki are currently learning about road safety, and ‘Safety Heroes’ (the emergency services). On Thursday, the children were excited to be visited by Senior Constable Richard Brunton, who joined Pre-school hui time. Constable Richard explained how the role of the Police is to help people stay safe, and that they do this in a variety of ways – reminding people to wear their seatbelts, and helping people who are lost find their way home. He showed the children his Police radio, handcuffs, and uniform. He also showed them his Police car, turning on his lights and sirens, and talking to the children through his loudspeaker.
FLICKR >
FOOTBALL
The 1st XI Girls’ football team had a highly contested match against Cashmere High School. The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, with both teams showing off their skills and determination on the field. Billie Revis (Year 13) kicked things off with an early goal, showing off some impressive moves. Holly Lyon (Year 11) then sealed the deal with a fantastic second goal, securing the 2–1.
Meanwhile, the 1st XI Boys’ team faced a tough challenge against Papanui High School. Despite a strong start and a close first half, St Andrew’s struggled to keep up with Papanui's relentless pressure. Despite their best efforts, the boys ended up losing 1–4.
NETBALL
In a hard-fought Wednesday SuperNet game against St Margaret’s College, the team faced an early challenge as St Margaret’s took a nine-point lead at halftime. Undeterred, our team fought back, narrowing the gap, but at the final whistle the score was 19–26 to St Margaret’s.
Ten students competed in the Canterbury Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ascot Park on Thursday. Unfortunately, injury and illness prevented another four athletes from being able to compete.
Sophie Lampe won the Junior Girls’ event, and the U16 Boys’ team of Kupa Rule (4th), Samuel Cook (both Year 11) (5th), Hugo Lewis (14th) and Samuel Hardy (both Year 10) (19th) finished as the top team.
Other results were Alyssa Blackman (18th Year 9 Girls), Abigail Scott-Douglas (7th Junior Girls), Sam Wilton (28th Junior Boys), Elliot Graves (6th Senior Boys) and Cohnor Walsh (27th Senior Boys).
FLICKR >On Tuesday night our fourth annual Alumni Game for basketball was played, with a star-studded roster of 20 Old Collegians from 2012–2023. Behind some early hot shooting, the Year 13 students played the Old Collegians to a 45–45 score at halftime. However, the experience and depth of the ‘purple squad’ pushed the lead out in the second half. Despite Carter Rhodes' (Year 13) 35-point effort, the Old Collegians cruised home to a 112–91 win, with Mac Stodart (OC 2019) gaining MVP honours.
FLICKR >
Sixteen St Andrew’s College pipers, along with Pipe Band Director Richard Hawke and Pipe Band Manager Graeme Bryce, travelled to Dunedin for the Otago Centre King’s Birthday Solo Piping Competition. The number of students made this one of St Andrew’s largest travelling groups to a solo piping event outside of Christchurch. The King’s Birthday competition is one of five major solo piping events in the calendar.
Last weekend two Year 13 students, Josh Silcock and James McIver, competed against some very experienced rally drivers in the 2024 Lone Star Rally of Canterbury, which is a round of the South Island Mainland Series Championship. Josh, competing in his first ever rally, finished third in the 1300 class in a Toyota Starlet with Donna, his Dad’s co-driver. James finished fifth in the 1600 class in a Ford Escort with his Dad Tim as his co-driver.
Gemma Thomas (Year 11) travelled to Alexandra over King’s Birthday weekend to compete in the Otago Southland Karate Championships. She competed in kata (display) karate, with the following results:
Siara Clarke (Year 13) competed at the King’s Birthday Highland dancing competitions in Dunedin last weekend, winning the most points U18, Most Points in Highland Dances U18, South Island Championship Seann Triubhas U18, South Island Championship Reel O’Tullock U18, Highland Fling Championship Open and the Most Outstanding Highland Performance. Siara is currently away dancing in Melbourne with the New Zealand Highland Dance Company.
Jack Flanagan (Year 13) and Ellie Zhou (Year 11) have had their stories shortlisted in the National Flash Fiction Day Youth Competition, while the writing of Katrina Wallis and Edward Keenan (both Year 10) made the longlist.
Iris Li (Year 3) competed at the 39th annual Central New Zealand Sunbelt Championships at Kartsport Nelson and Kartsport Marlborough over King’s Birthday weekend. After four days of racing, Iris won the third place trophy in the Cadet Rok class.
Coby Goode (Year 13) has been selected into the 2024 New Zealand rowing team to attend the 2024 World Coastal Beach Sprint Finals in Genoa, Italy this September. Following winning at Nationals, Coby was invited to trial for the U19 team and travelled to Orewa Beach on King’s Birthday weekend. The team has some big names and current Olympic Athletes in it with Emma Twigg and Jackie Kiddle included.
Last weekend, Georgia Lewis (Year 11) was in Fuzhou, China, representing New Zealand at the Show Jumping Asia Pacific Cup. Despite torrential rain, the New Zealand team performed exceptionally to take out second place on borrowed horses. Individually, Georgia came third, the top international, non-local rider, just behind two Chinese riders.
As well as the competition, the team journeyed through Guangzhou and Fuzhou, where they visited the Sanfangqixiang Ancient District, savoured local dumplings, and braved the humid Yantai Mountain area, as well sharing in several cultural activities with the local Middle School. At the Dinky Equestrian Centre, the international riders helped teach local students riding and safety, as well as riding several of the Chinese horses.
Molly-Belle Morrow (Year 13), Cate Cook and Mia Montgomery (both Year 12) were selected in the U19 Canterbury Interprovincial volleyball team which competed at the Inter-Provincial Volleyball Championships over the King’s Birthday in Wellington. The team made history by being the first Canterbury women's team to win the U19 national title. Molly and Mia were also selected in the tournament team.
Marcus Armstrong (OC 2018) had a day to remember in the IndyCar Championship in Detroit last weekend. Marcus crossed the finish line in third place for his maiden IndyCar podium, in his first full season racing in America after switching from Formula Two last year.
Robbie Manson (OC 2007) will compete in his third Olympics in Paris next month. Robbie will team up with Jordan Parry in the Men's Double Scull. He still holds the world’s best time in the single sculls when he set the mark (6min 30.74sec) at a World Cup event in 2017.
Hugh Nixon (OC 2022) has been selected for the U21 Future Black Sticks hockey team. Hugh and Jakarta Klebert (OC 2022) also recently played in the U21 North vs South series.
The Toshiba Brave Lupus, with Richie Mo’unga (OC 2012, pictured right) at No 10, beat the Panasonic Wild Knights 24–20 in the Japan Rugby League 1 final in front of a 57,000-strong crowd in Tokyo last Sunday. Prior to his arrival, the Brave Lupus had not won a title in 14 years. This win means that Richie has now won his 12th domestic trophy – seven in succession. For his efforts, Richie was crowned the Japan Rugby League 1 MVP of the season.
Edwin Short (OC 2023) is playing rugby for Dorset and Wiltshire U20 and they have just made it to the national finals at Twickenham, taking place in two weeks. The final will be televised and helps young players to see pathways outside of New Zealand.
Old Collegians Kavanah Lene, Lauren Whittaker, Mitch Corkery, and Torin Ward (all OC 2023) and their coach Adam Morgan, won the BBNZ U20 National titles over the weekend with Canterbury Basketball. Also involved in the tournament were Carter Rhodes, Ella Sharpe (both Year 13), Bronson Curtis (Year 12) and Social Sciences teacher, Stacey Williams.
Charli Watts (OC 2022) completed the South Island Ultra 100km Greymouth to Hokitika last month in a time of 11:46:49.
Ned George (OC 2014), a shepherd from northern Hawke’s Bay, was the standout performer at the New Zealand and North Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships held in Taranaki last week. He clinched both the national and North Island titles in the straight hunt category with his dog Bounce, who debuted this season. Bounce was among the eight dogs Ned entered in the competition at Mangamingi, nearly all of which were Huntaways. Ned also achieved a commendable seventh place in the zig zag hunt with his trusty dog, Sprocket, with who he secured his inaugural national title in the straight hunt two years prior, at Meringa Station in King Country.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College this long weekend in sports and cultural activities, including:
Next week a whānau hui will be held, a time for our Māori students and whānau in the Preparatory and Secondary Schools to come together. All students currently recorded in our database as affiliating to an iwi will have received an email invitation to this event. Please contact our records office if you would like to have your child's iwi affiliations recorded by emailing records@stac.school.nz. The details for the evening are below.
Te kaupapa o te pō/Details for the evening:
When: Thursday 13 June
Where: St Andrew’s College Senior Common room
Time: 5.30pm–7.00pm
Purpose: to meet and connect with whānau and staff of St Andrew’s College.
Please RSVP to Matua Wiremu Pickering at WPI@stac.school.nz by Tuesday 11 June.
Our tikanga is to bring a plate of kai along to share. He Waka eke noa – we are all in this together.
Are you curious about how to support your child’s interest and engagement in sport? Interested in finding out the latest research on concussion? Join our upcoming StACTalk, where we’ll explore practical strategies and insights to support the ongoing development of our students. This event is for parents in the Secondary School who want to understand how to help their young people flourish in sports. Students are also encouraged to attend.
What to Expect:
Speakers:
Date: Tuesday 11 June
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm
Location: Centennial Chapel
St Andrew’s College partners with Safe on Social by making use of their 'Schools Toolkit'. This provides St Andrew’s with immediate access to:
In addition, we are provided with monthly parent/caregiver resources that will be shared on our Safe on Social page in StACNet. We hope you find these resources of use.
Read the latest post: Enhance your child's Instagram safety with ‘hidden words’ >
Experience the thrilling sounds of StAC Attack 2024! A St Andrew’s College Pipe Band event at the prestigious Christchurch Town Hall – James Hay Theatre, this highly anticipated showcase guarantees an unforgettable evening of traditional Scottish entertainment.
Immerse yourself in the rich harmonics of the bagpipes, the infectious beat of the drums, and the flair of the Highland dancers as they take the stage. With talented St Andrew's College students from Years 4–13 displaying their skills, StAC Attack promises to be an action-packed performance.
Be a part of the magic at StAC Attack 2024!
When: Sunday 28 July 2024
Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Christchurch Town Hall, James Hay Theatre
Tickets: Adults $49.00, students/children $29.00 (student ID may be requested).
The Aurora Stone is a mystical crystal that fell from the sky and brought peace to two fighting realms. After a mishap with the stone, three children must find out if they are the chosen ones to return the stone and help the people of Norina. Will they be able to fulfil the prophecy?
Come along and see this delightful show performed by all Year 7 and 8 students. This musical script and lyrics have been written by Preparatory School students, with music written by Year 13 Music students.
When: Monday 24 – Thursday 27 June 2024 (four shows)
Time: 7.00pm–8.00pm
Venue: Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre – Gough Family Theatre
Ticket price: $22.00
Are you a proud supporter of St Andrew’s College? Whether you’re cheering on the Pipe Band or braving the elements at a sports event, our St Andrew’s College branded Blunt Metro Umbrella is your perfect companion. The St Andrew’s College Pipe Band has teamed up with Blunt Umbrellas to bring you this stylish St Andrew's College-branded, Blunt Metro Umbrella in our iconic navy blue. At just $139, it’s the same price as Blunt’s limited edition Metro umbrellas. Every purchase directly contributes to supporting the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band. Funds raised will help us purchase new equipment and cover expenses for the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in 2025 (Invercargill) and our next World Championship trip to Scotland!
Collection Information:
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).
The Community Business Directory is on our website under Alumni & Community and represents over 100 parent businesses. Please 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.
