Operational Information (Parent-oriented)

Term Fixtures is a ’live’ calendar on the intranet. It will be added to / updated as information is received. This can also be viewed on the St Andrew's College App (download via Apple App Store or Google Play. For more details, view the instructional video or download the PDF guide).

Important upcoming events are also listed in the Secondary School newsletter, On Strowan, which is emailed home twice per term.

Click here to view St Andrew's College 2025 Term Dates.

The College day runs from 8.25am–3.20pm, although most co-curricular activities take place outside these hours.

Students must arrive at College in time for tutor group meetings at 8.30am. If late, the student must first report to the Middle School Centre student reception or the Attendance Officer to sign in. If students are late to tutor meetings they will not be accepted into the group unless they have been issued with a Lateness Slip. If they arrive late without a slip or do not attend their tutor group meeting, they will be placed on Lateness Report.

Lateness to Class

It is a discourtesy to arrive at class late. If a student arrives late, they should report to the Middle School Centre to obtain a lateness note to take to their class. If students arrive late without an acceptable reason or a lateness note from the Attendance Officer or another staff member, they will be placed on lateness report which runs on Mondays from 1.00pm. Students should take books for successive classes, and thereby avoid returning to the locker areas between classes.

Sickness

If a student is sick or unable to attend school, their parent/caregiver should complete the online form on the StAC App or website stac.nz/Absences before 8.30am.

Alternatively, they can phone the Absentee Line +64 3 940 2031 or email attendance@stac.school.nz, before 8.30am, leaving a recorded message with the following information, in this order:

• student’s name;
• tutor group;
• periods the student will be absent;
• reason for absence;who is leaving the message;
• daytime contact number of parents or caregiver.

If this procedure is followed correctly, no written note will be required.

Appointments During the College Day

If a student has a medical/dentist’s appointment during the College day, their parent or caregiver should follow the following procedure:

• contact our Absentee Line and leave a message by phoning +64 3 940 2031 or emailing attendance@stac.school.nz;
• or get the student to bring a written note from a parent or caregiver to the Attendance Officer or the Middle School Centre reception before 8.30am on the day. When it is time to depart class, the student must show the note to the class teacher and then sign out at student reception before leaving the campus. They must sign back in on return;
• if arriving at school late after an appointment, a parent or caregiver should phone the Absentee Line on +64 3 940 2031 or email attendance@stac.school.nz before 8.30am stating what time the student will arrive;
• you are encouraged to make all appointments outside school time. If this is not possible, it is a courtesy for students to inform teachers whose classes they will miss during the appointment time.

Absence with Prior Permission

If parents wish a student to be absent from school for a period of one day, but fewer than three days, they must seek prior permission in writing from the year group Dean.

Special Leave (three days or more)

Special leave is generally granted for compassionate reasons affecting immediate family, or participation in a recognised event (sports, cultural, seminar, conference). Application forms for special leave can be completed online by visiting stac.nz/MiddleSchoolForms. This form should be submitted not less than ten days in advance. Parents or caregivers will be advised of the outcome of such applications.

As College holidays are well advertised, requests for family holidays during term time or early departures/late returns from holidays are not encouraged, and such applications may be declined. The College’s reluctance to grant such leave is due to the additional pressure placed on both students and teachers, especially in NCEA years. 

The monogram should be sewn onto the left-hand side of the blazer, under the pocket.

White Blazer Awards always appear first, followed by the blue Colour Awards. The awards should always be sewn on in date order.

If you prefer the monogram to be sewn by a tailor, please see the College Shop staff as there are local tailors who offer St Andrew's College a discount. They can also organise the sewing on your behalf.

Parents’ Cars

If there is a need to bring your vehicle on to the grounds, the student drop-off zone is well marked just beyond the Normans Road entrance. Students should be picked up from the drop-off zone at the end of the day. 

Click here to access all College Policies.

As we are a large community of students, staff and parents, it is essential that we communicate effectively with each other.

The following communications are designed to help this process:

• daily notices which are read in tutor group and on the College intranet, StACNet;
• the College website: stac.school.nz;
• for College news and notices the intranet can be accessed at stac.nz/StACNet.

Publications

• the Collegian is the formal record of the year;
• Rector’s magazine, Regulus, issued three times per year.

Newsletters

• Rector’s Comment is a weekly newsletter emailed out on a Friday with a wrap up of the week;
• On Strowan is published twice per term and is emailed to all parents / caregivers. On Strowan focuses on current issues and themes common to the whole Secondary School;
• an NCEA newsletter is also published throughout the year giving parents critical information about NCEA, exams and assessments;
• a Careers newsletter provides information about pathways after school.

If your child has a notable achievement outside of College, please make their tutor or Dean aware. If it is a sporting or cultural achievement, please also notify the Director of Sport Co-curricular Activities, Mr Mark Lane, on MLA@stac.school.nz or +64 3 940 2055.

All newsletters can be accessed on the College intranet, StACNet.

StAC App

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and information from St Andrew’s College with the StAC App. Access the Community Portal, student timetables, term fixtures and calendars, notices and resources all in one location. Subscribe to notification alerts from year groups, sports teams, cultural groups and clubs.

To download the App, visit:

Apple App Store: stac.nz/App_AppleAppStore

Google Play: stac.nz/App_GooglePlay

For more details, view the instructional video: stac.nz/App_InstructionalVideo 

Or download the PDF guide: stac.nz/App_PDFGuide

Social Media

The College has several social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Flickr (photos) and YouTube. Parents can access these channels from the website by clicking on the relevant icons. Photos and videos are regularly updated to these channels showcasing life at St Andrew’s.

To optimise navigation in digital and technological spaces, students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our Cyber Safety information to gain awareness of potential risks and corresponding risk mitigation strategies.

Please see the links below for these resources:

• Cybersafety – Online Safety Tips
• Safe on Social
• StAC Unplugged
• Cybersafety Use Agreement: Secondary School

Each year the Board of Governors reviews the level of fees and adjusts these as necessary. The Board is responsible for establishing the resources needed to maintain the high standards of the College and to provide those resources necessary for the continued development of the facilities and property.

An invoice will be posted to you at the beginning of each month, and the due date for payment is shown at the foot of the statement. Tuition fees will be charged in ten equal instalments, on the invoices dated 31 January to 31 October.

Please note that if you wish to withdraw your child from the College, one full term’s notice, in writing, is required. Failure to do this will result in fees for half a term being charged.

Rationale

A student will be awarded a score of 1 to 5 for their attitude and effort.

• Level 5 is for those students who go over and above in a given fortnight;
• Level 4 is above the average expectations of a learner;
• Level 3 is good and the expected level for all students;
• Level 2 is below average;
• Level 1 is of concern.

Students who genuinely strive for excellence in all they do, and are leaders in showing their peers what makes an active learner who is engaged, inquisitive and curious, are rewarded. This encourages progress and is likely to increase motivation for students and therefore an increase in positive learning behaviours.

Parents are able to, using their St Andrew’s College login, access the Notes through the Community Portal: stac.nz/StACPortal

All items of clothing must be clearly named, as this greatly increases the likelihood of getting it back when lost. Lost property must be reported to the Middle School Office, and property which is found must be immediately handed in to the Middle School Office. Do not give up looking for lost items after the first enquiry. All found property is kept at the pound which is open every Monday and is located in the Middle School Centre Dean’s offices initially.

Please note that the Middle School Office will dispose of any unclaimed items after a reasonable time.

If your child is leaving the College at any level other than Year 13, you must inform the College in writing, giving the required term’s notice. There is an official exit procedure to be followed which involves completing a yellow exit card, available from the Dean, and ensuring that all the student’s commitments have been fulfilled, including the return of all books and materials.

The closure of account, forwarding of educational information, and testimonials are dependent on this being completed correctly.

The membership fee for the Old Collegians Association is included in the acceptance fee for the College, making all students life members after graduation. The Association’s purpose is to foster and maintain an interest by Old Collegians in St Andrew’s College and provide the opportunity for its members to engage with fellow members, the College, and its community.

The Association undertakes a number of social activities each year and provides financial assistance to students experiencing hardship.

Alumni and Community Relations Co-ordinator:
Lisa Clark
P +64 3 940 2085
E oldcols@stac.school.nz.

Parent help is welcomed in many areas of the College. In addition to the activities of the Parent Teacher Association, we particularly welcome offers of help in coaching or managing one of the many sports teams across a large number of codes. If you would like to offer to help, please contact the College.

Below is a summarised version of our Student Social Media Guidelines. Please click here to read the guidelines in full.

Student Social Media Guidelines Summary

St Andrew's College recognises the significance of social media in modern society, offering opportunities for students to learn, engage, and communicate. The College aims to implement guidelines to safeguard students' and the College's reputation. The guidelines cover three main sections:

Approach to Social Media as a St Andrew's College Student:

• students should exercise vigilance and common sense as social media posts can reach unintended audiences and may have lasting consequences;
• only post content suitable for future employers or teachers, even in private accounts or groups;
• always assume that comments made on social media can be traced back to the author and remain respectful, positive, and considerate;
• avoid sharing private and personal information, being indecent or obscene, and making false allegations;
• comply with the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, avoiding harmful digital communication.

St Andrew's College Social Media Rules:

• prohibits students from posting in school uniform or on the College campus on publicly viewable accounts or groups;
• prohibits inappropriate content on any College-related accounts, public or private;
• students are not allowed to create or manage accounts/groups using St Andrew's College Intellectual Property without explicit permission.

College-related Social Media Accounts/Groups Rules:

• outlines the process for creating College-related accounts/groups, with different requirements for different group types;
• accounts/groups must be private and only include family, friends, and supporters who personally know at least one group member.
• to create a College-related social media account/group, students must seek permission from the Communications Department by submitting a proposal, specifying the purpose and content of the account/group;
• each account/group must have one or more dedicated staff member(s) who agree to be responsible for its setup, management, and oversight;
• specifies the different rules around student access, account/group privacy and posting based on whether the group/account is categorised as level 1 or level 2;
• all account login details for all College-related accounts must be provided to the Communications Department to ensure constant access for monitoring and compliance with guidelines;
• The Communications Department must have a current list of all users with access to the account to hold them accountable for their actions, if required.

Breaching Social Media Guidelines:

• disciplinary actions, such as detention, suspension, expulsion, or removal of leadership position, may be taken for guideline breaches.

Students are expected to adhere to these guidelines, with disciplinary action for any breaches.

This photo showcases some of the more commonly worn uniform combinations.

We hope that all St Andrew’s College students are proud to be identified with their school and will wear their uniform correctly.

The College uniform is to be worn correctly at school and when travelling to and from College.

Students are required to:

• wear their uniform with pride;
• wear a blazer in the street– this includes moving to and from cars;
• wear shirts tucked in with the top button and tie done up;
• wear blouses with the top button and tie done up;
• wear uniform items which fit appropriately and are not too long or too short;
• wear approved uniform at Physical Education and sports practices;
• wear clean and polished black leather shoes in a conservative style with the laces tied or buckles done up.

When travelling with College teams or groups, non-uniform clothing may sometimes be approved, but only in special cases, such as field trips or Outdoor Education camps.

Only white t-shirts, singlets, or thermals under school shirts are permitted. Coloured, patterned or sports socks must not be worn.

Hair and Grooming
Hair must be clean, well-groomed, and in the natural range of colours and styles only. Hair must be kept clear off the face and above the eyebrows.

Male hair must not be longer than the length of the collar at the back, must fall above the eyebrow line, and should be of even length overall. It should be cut in a conservative style and not shorter than a number three comb. Sideburns must not be lower than the earlobe or wider than 2.5cm.
Faces must be clean-shaven.

Long hair on females must be tied back. Hair jewellery is not acceptable. Ribbons and ties must be blue or white. Scrunchies must be black, navy blue or white.

Jewellery
Only females are able to wear one pair of studs or sleepers in the lobe of the ears. Spacer earrings are not permitted. No other rings or studs of any type may be worn by any student. Wristbands, bracelets, finger jewellery, piercings and body art which are visible while wearing the College uniform are not permitted.

Make-up and Nails Guidelines
Make-up and nail varnish is not part of the College uniform, and it is not to be worn at any time with school uniform or sports uniform.

Exemptions
Exemptions to uniform or grooming based on a student’s cultural or religious identity may be approved by application to the Head of Secondary School or College Chaplain.

Breaches
Consistent uniform or grooming breaches will be communicated to the Deans, who will work with the student and the family.

A final decision on what constitutes good grooming will be made by the Head of Middle School in consultation with the Head of Secondary School and the year level Deans.

Middle School Summer and Winter Uniform Years 9–11

All visitors to the College, irrespective of purpose, must firstly report to the main reception in Strowan House to sign in and receive a visitor’s badge.

At the conclusion of their visit, they are required to return to the main reception to sign out.

There are a few car parks reserved for visitors in front of reception. If these are not available, visitors are required to park in the main car park.