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Please remain safety conscious and ‘on alert’ as you navigate our neighbouring streets in vehicles. As winter advances, the number of cars will start to increase as fewer children walk, scoot or bike to school. With poor visibility, it is essential the best crossings points are used, this includes the pedestrian traffic lights on Papanui Road and the Kea crossing on Normans Road.
If you use the drop-off zone, please do not attempt to turn right onto Normans Road when the Kea crossing is operating (30 minutes before school starts and 20 minutes from when school concludes).
With sickness levels increasing please do not send your child to school if they are unwell.
If you are not already a user, please take a look at Netsafe by clicking here. Netsafe has a useful toolkit for parents with practical ways to keep your children safe.
Tomorrow, St Andrew’s College will support Bullying Free NZ and Pink Shirt Day. The kaupapa this year is focused on what it means to be an 'upstander'. You can read more about Pink Shirt Day and access resources about bullying by clicking here.
To support Pink Shirt Day, on Friday 16 May students can come to school with either an item of pink clothing or a pink accessory added to their usual school uniform. This could be a pink t-shirt, pink socks or a pink bandana.
If you would like to donate to the Mental Health Foundation you can do so by clicking here.
Wishing you all well for the remainder of the week.
Regards
Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
The students in 8T experienced a variety of different outdoor activities on their camp at the Mountain Lodge at Castle Hill. The sun shone for them, and on their overnight camp under the stars, it was a mild night with settled weather. The purpose of the Year 8 camp is to develop whanaungatanga, build relationships, establish a positive group culture, experience challenges, encourage resilience, build empathy, provide opportunities for students to participate and contribute, identify leadership skills, learn to interact with their peers and teachers in a different context, and have a bit of fun! Ms Cordner was impressed by how the class embraced the opportunities, and worked together as a team.
Flickr >Members of the Preparatory School’s Road Patrol, Alice, Ruby and Jeffrey, visited the Pre-school on Wednesday as part of the Pre-school’s celebration of Road Safety Week! After explaining what their role is, they gave a demonstration of how the students on Road Patrol support the pedestrians who need to cross busy Normans Road. Lots of the Pre-school tamariki are now looking forward to being able to join Road Patrol when they’re in Year 7!
The Years 4–8 Cross Country took place on Monday. The students performed and participated to a high level, and teachers were extremely proud of the effort shown by all students who ran on the day. The beautiful sunny day provided the perfect backdrop for the occasion. Congratulations to the winners for each age group, the first placed runners are listed below.
First Place Winners: Year 4 Boys: Liam Botha; Year 4 Girls: Zoe Johnstone; Year 5 Boys: Theo Nelson; Year 5 Girls: Francesca Greer; Year 6 Boys: Ming Macarthy; Year 6 Girls: Giselle Petre; Year 7 Boys: Benji McBride; Year 7 Girls: ChloeAnn Botha; Year 8 Boys: Kobe Ford; Year 8 Girls: Mila Rule.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all the staff, including our dedicated starters, marshalls, and the maintenance team for their invaluable support in setting up the course and ensuring the event's success.
Please note that there were only three electronic timing errors, which have been duly noted and will not affect zone selection.
If you would like to view the full results please click here.
Students that have qualified for Zone selection will receive an email later this week.
Flickr >
Preparatory School Principal, Jonathan Bierwirth, is currently representing New Zealand in the prestigious Hockey Masters Trans-Tasman Series, taking place in Cairns, Australia. The team’s opening match on Tuesday concluded in a 1–1 draw. Given that most other New Zealand teams experienced losses that day, this result was a commendable start. The Australian side equalised in the final quarter with a well-executed goal that was virtually unstoppable. Despite the heat, with temperatures reaching 29°C, the team remains focused and determined. A series of strategic meetings has taken place this morning as they prepare for today’s match, aiming for a decisive victory. The team is well aware that their Australian counterparts will be eager to respond strongly to Tuesday’s draw. We wish Jonathan and the entire New Zealand team the very best as they continue to compete with Kiwi pride.
From 16–22 July, students in Years 7–8 will travel to Queensland, Australia to represent the College in basketball, football, and rugby. To support the trip, there will be an epic fundraising Movie Night on Saturday 24 May. It is hoped we are able to bring many of our Preparatory School parents together for this event.
Movie Night Event Information: Maurice and I
When: Saturday 24 May, Doors open from 6.00pm (approximate finish time 9.00pm)
Where: Gough Family Theatre, Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre, St Andrew's College
Tickets: $35.00pp including pre-theatre glass of wine or juice on arrival
Movie Night will feature New Zealand movie Maurice and I which was co-directed and produced by Rick Harvie (OC 1989) who will be present to introduce the movie. It has won a number of international awards and accolades!
In addition to the movie showing, there will be a silent auction, including a number of incredible items to bid for, such as: an interior design voucher, reformer pilates equipment and membership, furniture, holiday home stays, a 3-hour mountain biking experience with New Zealand cyclist Anton Cooper, and a Lamborghini experience. There will also be a raffle, some good humour and a great night for all!
Maurice and I Synopsis
Having lost almost their entire life’s work in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, iconic New Zealand architects Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney fight to save their finest building from demolition. Maurice and I is a powerful and enthralling exploration of partnership, loss and the enduring importance of architecture in shaping and enriching our lives.
If you would like to secure your tickets for this event, please email Kerry McIntosh on kerrynz@hotmail.com. Tickets will sell fast, please secure your place by contacting Kerry no later than Monday 19 May. We look forward to seeing you there!
View Movie Night flyer >Are you a parent at St Andrew’s College, concerned about the impact of technology and social media on your child’s well-being? Join our upcoming StACTalk, where we’ll explore and offer valuable insights and practical advice for parents to help their children thrive in both the digital and real worlds. We’ll reference the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and discuss the recent announcement from the government regarding banning social media before the age of 16.
Head of Guidance, Tom Matthews, will facilitate the event – drawing on other experienced members of the St Andrew’s College community, who will share their expertise on these critical issues. The evening will feature a panel discussion, providing an opportunity for parents and caregivers to ask questions, give feedback, and consider strategies to promote positive conversations and healthy technology use at home.
StACTalks: Technology Event Information
Date: Tuesday 3 June (Week 6)
Time: 6.00pm–8.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre, Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre, St Andrew's College
Further information and the registration link will be sent via email early next week.
The first planting of the year is Sunday 18 May, 3 Chimera Cres and 25 Atlantis St, Red Zone near QEII. Please join us, Eco Action, and help our students and their communities plant 5000 native trees and plants they have grown. It is a great atmosphere with heaps of fellow student and parent enthusiasts. Please bring some drinking water, gloves, solid footwear, and your favourite spade if you have one. There will be 400 spades on site, so everyone can help. The more the merrier. Help our community help itself by developing this community asset that will last for generations to come. The grown forest will provide habitat and food for native birds and lizards as well as sequester carbon to help with global climate change. It's also quite fun to plant a few plants. Hope to see you there.
This is the first of four plantings that will see 20,000 locally sourced, student grown, native plants and trees in the ground at 3 Chimera and 25 Atlantis St. The 28 organisations/schools who have grown plants currently are St Michael’s Church School, Rawhiti School, Shirley Boys’ High School, Avonside Girls’ High School, St Andrew's College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School, He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate School, Christchurch Girls’ High School, Christchurch Boys’ High School, Tuia Burnside Primary School, St Margaret's College, The Cathedral Grammar School, Te Kura Mareko Casebrook Intermediate, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Christ's College, Medbury School, Riccarton High School, St Peters School Beckenham, Student Volunteer Army – The University of Canterbury, Charles Upham Retirement Village, Richmond Community Garden, St Martins School, Ouruhia Model School, The River Christian Church and Kevin Hickman Retirement Village have also joined us.
Eco Action Nursery Trust Social Media >
Eco Action Nursery Trust Website >
Join us for an enchanting evening at the Ballet Winter Showcase. Our Secondary School Ballet Academy dancers will perform a captivating collection of their current pieces. This event includes Performance Awards, NCEA dances, and a special premiere of a collaborative new work with Neve Pierce (Royal New Zealand Ballet, Dance Educator). Our Junior and Intermediate Company dancers from the Preparatory School will also showcase their new repertoire.
When: Friday 13 June, 7.00pm–8.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre, Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Adults $25.00 | Students and Staff $20.00
PURCHASE TICKETS >
Please note, the annual Ballet photo for all dancers Years 1–13 will take place in Week 6, on Friday 6 June, 8.00am–8.35am in Gym 1.
The following 2025 photographs are now 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).
