You are logged in as
Logout
You are logged in as
Logout
We were delighted to see the children arriving at school on Monday morning. They looked very pleased to be back. This term is action packed. You will have received information from your child’s class teacher which will be specific to them. Please take note of what is coming up to ensure no-one is disappointed.
For those who registered, if you are assisting your children’s grandparents to attend Grandparents' Day tomorrow, a reminder that it does not commence in the Centennial Chapel until 10.40am.
There will also be Christmas cake tasting available, and for those interested cakes can be ordered for Christmas. View all the goodies available and place an order online by clicking here.
Regards
Jonathan Bierwirth
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
Leona Smart (Year 7) attended the New Zealand National Artistic Swimming competition with her team, Canterbury Artistic Swimming 12 and Under, coming in third place.
At the New Zealand Highland Dancer of the Year competition, Georgia Gregg (Year 8) placed fourth, ranking as Highland dancer of the year aged 12.
Students have been selected to represent St Andrew’s College at the Future Problem Solving National Finals, to be held in early November at Cashmere High School. This year’s focus is ‘Nano-Technology’, and students have prepared throughout the year with FPS Teacher, Sonia Lewis, and Secondary School Coach, Xavier Dickason (OC 2020).
Preparatory School Finalists:
The Preparatory School Athletics Sports and House Event for Years 4–8 will be held on Tuesday 28 October at Ngā Puna Wai Athletics Track. The four Houses – Erwin, MacGibbon, Thompson and Rutherford – will compete to become the House Champions of Athletics for 2025.
The purpose-built venue gives the students the experience of what it is like to compete on a professional athletics track, and also prepares those students who may qualify to compete at the ISSA Championship (Zone) and CPSSA event (Canterbury).
VIEW THE ATHLETICS DAY PROGRAMME OF EVENTS HERE>
LOGISTICS
We will transport the students to and from the College to Ngā Puna Wai on the day. These events are optional, and the participating students have already registered.
ATHLETICS DAY INFORMATION
Please ensure your child has their hat with them and sunscreen has been applied at home. The children wear their sports gear, including tracksuits (no uniform is required for the day). Children are welcome to wear their House colours also, so long as it is a plain t-shirt and not branded. Sorry, no face paint is permitted. The children cannot wear athletics singlets due to the length of the day in the sun.
The aim of the day is to encourage the participation of all students. This is an opportunity for them to try a range of events and gain points for their House.
In the case of inclement weather, you will be notified of the Athletics Sports postponement date and it will be held on-site at the College.
You are warmly invited to attend our next StACTalk: Tricky Chats with Jo Robertson. We need a strong turnout to make the most of this rare opportunity and we encourage you to priortise attending.
When: Monday 3 November, 6.30pm–8.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre
Tea and coffee available from 6.00pm in the Old Collegians Foyer, Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre.
StACTalks is a series of parent evenings where we kōrero about issues our young people are facing. This free session features guest speaker Jo Robertson, sex therapist and international presenter, whose 'Tricky Chats' course supports the Preparatory School's Hold the Line 'til Year 9 technology well-being initiative.
Jo will offer practical strategies and resources for navigating the online world with your child, covering topics such as: screen time, social media, gaming, pornography exposure, grooming and exploitation.
Supervision Available: This event is just for parents and caregivers, but we understand that childcare can be a challenge. If you need support, we’ll have a staff member and some of our wonderful senior students available in the Preparatory School Library to help out. If you’d like to use this service, please indicate this when registering.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical is a lively stage adaptation of Jeff Kinney's popular book series, bringing Greg Heffley's middle school mischief to life on stage. The musical explores Greg's attempts to navigate the social landscape of middle school, his quest for popularity, and the complexities of his friendship with Rowley, all while battling the dreaded "Cheese Touch." Featuring our talented Year 9 and 10 performers, this show is full of fantastic song and dance, heartfelt moments, and fun for the whole family.
When: Tuesday 21 – Friday 24 October 2025 (four performances), all 7.00pm–9.30pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre – Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Adults $35.00 | Students $17.50 (student ID may be requested on entry)
Buy Tickets Online>Delicious Christmas goodies, locally made with the highest quality ingredients. The perfect gift for Christmas or to treat your own family! All proceeds will go towards the PTA 2025 fundraising drive, supporting the Pipe Band. More information about each of the PTA’s Christmas Goodies, including the ingredients list, can be found at the order link below. The products on offer this year are:
Closing date for orders: Monday 3 November 2025
Cake collection: Orders must be collected from the College Second-hand Uniform Shop (there is no delivery option) between 3.00pm–4.30pm on Tuesday 11 or Thursday 13 or Tuesday 18 or Thursday 20 or Tuesday or Thursday 27 November.
ORDER CHRISTMAS GOODIES>
Join us for a captivating screening of Maurice and I, a documentary celebrating the architectural legacy of Maurice Mahoney and Sir Miles Warren. Featuring rare archival footage and their final interview together, the film explores how their partnership transformed Christchurch’s cityscape. The event will feature a Q&A with the filmmakers, Rick Harvie (OC 1989) – Director/Producer, Belmont Productions, and Jane Mahoney – Director/Producer and daughter of Maurice Mahoney. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from the creators and reflect on Christchurch’s architectural heritage.
Date: Wednesday 12 November
Time: 6.00pm (6.30pm screening)
Location: Gough Family Theatre, St Andrew’s College
Tickets: $20.00 (includes a welcome drink and canapés)
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).
