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Dear Parents and Caregivers
As the new Rector, I’ve spent my first few weeks enjoying going on a ‘treasure hunt’ – exploring the College and meeting as many people as possible. My aim is to build positive relationships and learn more about what makes the successful St Andrew’s difference – its ‘secret herbs and spices.’
In my search there have been many positive treasures I have come across. The most important has been the quality of the people – all of whom have been so friendly and welcoming.
This has included such great and capable young students. What has struck me is how much they genuinely value being at St Andrew’s, the opportunities they are engaging in, and their aspirational attitudes and pride in their College. Our young people have a range of talents and interests – they passionately tell me all about their diverse areas of the school they enjoy, e.g. robotics, dance, chess, acting, sports, mathematics, Pipe Band, etc.
Parent engagement is impressive, and so visible with the large turnout at our start of year community events, such as the opening Secondary School Prefects’ Investiture and Leadership Assembly, Year 9 parents’ and boarding parents’ evening functions, and on the sideline of sports games. They not only want their own child to learn, grow and thrive – they also appreciate the importance of a thriving school community. As the old proverb says – it takes a village to raise a child.
The greatest asset of any school (and any business I’d argue) is the quality of the staff. I continue to be impressed with the commitment and dedication of the staff across the College. In addition to our talented teachers, we are very fortunate with the high quality of our support staff teams who deliver catering, cleaning, library, accounts, administration, grounds and facilities, and ICT support.
To conclude, some standout College events this week where our young people were shining included our flag football team (a junior version of American Gridiron) finishing fifth in the World Championships hosted in the United States; our rowers winning six South Island titles and three bronze medals at the South Island Club Championships; the Boys’ Colts cricket team showing great character to bounce back from a first game loss to win the second game against visiting Scots College from Wellington; and then yesterday our Boys’ 1st XI cricket team playing against a Willows selection team including some Old Collegians in an annual match at the beautiful Willows Cricket Club.
Ngā mihi mahana
Mark Wilson
Rector
To help you get to know our new Rector, Mark Wilson, he has recorded a short video message for parents. Please click the link below to watch his introduction and hear about his plans for the future of our school.
Video Welcome Message from Our New Rector, Mark Wilson >On Monday, the Year 7 cohort spent a day at Sumner Beach learning to surf. The day was part of the Transition to Year 7 programme and the students learnt the basics of surfing and body surfing with a strong emphasis on surf safety. The day was also an opportunity for students to get to know each other out of the classroom and form new friendships and connections.
FLICKR >
On Wednesday, the International Club held its first event of the year. As it is the Chinese New Year, students made lanterns and wrote messages in Chinese on them to celebrate the year of the snake. This was an opportunity for anyone who was interested to come along and use their creativity, also getting a stamp in their International Passport. The lanterns are now hanging in The Green Library and Innovation Centre.
FLICKR >The Pre-school has launched into 2025 learning about the Lunar New Year. This is a line of inquiry rich in opportunities for engaging in experiences and teaching practices that support the development of strong relationships between children, teachers, and families. It is important to acknowledge and appreciate our Pre-school community of learners is diverse and varied. With 2025 being the year of the snake, the children have been making lots of snake-inspired art, and art that uses the lucky colours of red and gold. The children have learnt some of the legends associated with Lunar New Year, tried out dragon dancing, and were also fortunate to have the College’s Health and Safety Manager, Art Preuss, visit to give a martial arts demonstration.
FLICKR >
Middle School Assembly this morning was an opportunity for the Middle School students to be introduced to this year’s prefects. Head Prefect, Jake Elvidge, presented their theme for the year – 'Grounded by the Thistle, Surrounded by Connection'. Continuing on the leadership theme, Rector Mark Wilson and Head of Middle School, Matt Parr spoke about the variety of ways a young person can show leadership. Our Middle School Leaders were also presented to the audience. Cameron Sharpe piped our Senior Management team into today’s assembly.
On Tuesday last week, 10 St Andrew’s College students departed for Orlando, USA, for the annual World Flag Football Championships. In addition to playing flag football, the group had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios, attend the Pro Bowl, meet and interact with a range of students from other countries, and perform the St Andrew’s College haka to legendary NFL tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, George Kittle.
The six Preparatory and four Secondary School students represented the school with distinction: Jack Ellwood, Austen Fraser, Liam Gravley, Frank McHarg, Patrick O’Byrne, Mila Rule (all Year 8), and Levi Currie, Edward Park, Olivia Quane, Joshua Stewart (all Year 9). Levi and Olivia even took part in their first press conference. For many teams, students had been playing the sport together for a number of years, so it was always going to be a great challenge for our students who started as a team last year. Nevertheless, despite the lack of experience, they performed well making it through to the quarter finals before bowing out with their heads held high and fifth place in the world. A highlight was defeating local rivals, Australia, in the first round of knock-out games. Canada won the title, beating Japan in the final.
FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM HAKA PERFORMANCE TO LEGENDARY GEORGE KITTLE >
St Andrew's had 82 rowers attend the South Island Rowing Championships regatta last weekend, competing in 31 A finals and 11 B finals. The weather was perfect in Twizel, with excellent rowing conditions. St Andrew’s received six South Island titles and three bronze medals.
Over the holiday break, several pipe band members were busy with solo piping events. The Waipu Highland Games and Evening Ceilidh/Hogmanay was held in Northland on Tuesday 31 December. This is a major solo piping competition in the calendar and is a traditional Highland Gathering with various events. The Turakina Highland Games was held on Saturday 25 January. Turakina is situated near Whanganui in the North Island and this year they celebrated their 160th anniversary for their Highland Games. Please see results PDF below.
Also, Cameron Sharpe (Year 11) won second place in the bagpipe tune composition contest at the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association Summer School in Wellington. Cameron received a fantastic McCallum Bagpipe practice chanter as his prize.
On Sunday and Monday, St Andrew's College hosted the Scot’s College Colts and their Girls cricket teams. The Colts played two 50 over matches, which were very even, losing on Sunday and bouncing back with a good win on Monday. Lucas Jemmett (Year 10) made a particularly good 53 in the second game.
The Scots girls’ team was strong and played a combined boys’ and girls’ team on Sunday. The result came down to the last over, with the combined team winning. On Monday, we had a combined St Andrew’s/ Christchurch Girls’ High School team and played two 20/20 games with Scots winning both, but our girls were incredibly competitive.
FLICKR >
Yesterday, the beautiful Willows Cricket Club was the venue for our annual social game between our Boys’ 1st XI and the Willows club team. The Willows club team includes some Old Collegians, and this year included staff members Mike (Scrump) Johnston (OC 1974 and College Custodian and 1st XI coach) and Matt Parr (Director of Boarding, Head of Middle School, and cricket coach). This venue is highly regarded for its picturesque setting and excellent playing conditions. Founded in 1994, this club aims to provide quality cricket experiences in a rural atmosphere, encouraging young players to compete alongside experienced cricketers.
Our 1st XI set 207 for 9 thanks to 51 from Connor Sharp (Year 13) and a captain’s knock of 80 by Jack O’Rourke (Year 13). The Willows’ chase of this total was helped by a strong father and son batting partnership by Nick and Harrison Horsley (Year 11); to set up a narrow 1-wicket win for the Willows team. It was a beautiful day for players and the large crowd of families and supporters enjoyed the summer’s day.
Daisy Thake (Year 12) was selected for the Canterbury U17 Women’s cricket team in January and travelled to Palmerston North for the Kookaburra National U17 Girls’ tournament, where they came fourth.
Noah Cole (Year 13) was part of the Canterbury Dragons team which recently won the U17 national league title. He has also been selected for the Men’s Senior Canterbury Dragons futsal squad and is the youngest player. He was the captain of the South team, Hamilton down, in matches against the U19 North team and the New Zealand Māori team, from which he was one of only two South Island players to be selected for the New Zealand U19 Secondary School team, touring Australia in April.
Georgia Lewis (Year 12) represented Canterbury in the Mounted Games at the NZPCA Championship (U25) in January. The Canterbury team came second in New Zealand and Georgia came third in the South Island in the Individual title.
Sam Martin (OC 2015) was part of the New Zealand polo team, along with reserve member Tom Turner (OC 2022), who defeated England yesterday 11–8.
Jakarta Klebert and Hugh Nixon (both OC 2022) were part of the New Zealand Men’s U21 hockey squad that competed in the Oceania Cup, a Junior World Cup Qualifier event in Auckland. The team was runner-up to Australia.
Good luck to all students and staff who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities including:
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
Last Tour Commences: 10.30am
Rector's Address: 11.00am
Boarding House Open Day (register separately): 12.00pm
Preparatory School and Pre-school Open Day: Thursday 6 March, 11.00am–12.30pm
Principal of Preparatory School Address: 11.45am
The College’s annual Boarding Roadshows in February and March provide families living outside of Christchurch a chance to learn more about the St Andrew’s College boarding offering. The Roadshows will see interested families meeting current boarding students, as well as boarding staff, in a relaxed and informal get together over drinks and nibbles. If you or someone you know is interested, please see details below, as well as the link to find more information and to register.
Date: Tuesday 25 February
Time: 6.00pm–7.00pm
Location: Centennial Chapel
The first of this year's free well-being information sessions, called StACTalks, will focus on Nutrition and fuelling growing students to flourish. Join us to learn more about the science and importance of nutrition for teenage development and performance across all areas of school life, general health, and well-being.
Presenter Conrad Goodhew is an expert in his field, with a broad nutrition knowledge with links between high performance sport and general nutrition. He has his own private practice and has worked within the community, as well as with professional teams such as the Black Ferns and the Crusaders rugby team. He has also supported athletes in the Coast to Coast, Auckland, Queenstown, Hawke's Bay marathons, and Motatapu events.
This StACTalk is deSigned for both students and parents who are interested in understanding the science of nutrition and its link to performance, well-being, and general function both mentally and physically. The session will run for 45 minutes, with 15 minutes for Q&A with Conrad at the end.
REGISTER FOR STACTALKS: NUTRITION >
If your child has an early morning training at school, the cafeteria, in conjunction with the Sport Department, is promoting some healthy breakfast options which are available from 7.30am onwards each day, usual charges apply.
Breakfast items like fresh fruit, overnight oats, yogurt, chocolate milk and hot savoury options will be available to help set students up for a positive and productive school day.
If you wish to sign-up your child for one of the below co-curricular activities, please visit the link below.
Sign Up Forms Link > https://stac.nz/PrepForms
For further information about co-curricular groups, itinerant lesson options, and tutors, please contact one of the following:
2025 photographs:
Parents/caregivers will receive an email later this term when photos are available, and access codes will then be visible on the photo ordering information page on StACNet.
All 2024 photographs are available to purchase online:
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 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.
