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Kia ora koutou
Thank you to everyone who attended our Meet the Teacher evening on Tuesday. I was so impressed by the turnout and the high level of community engagement. It was a pleasure to meet many of you and to hear about your children’s positive experiences as they begin the year. Our staff appreciated the chance to connect with you, and the warm hospitality of the PTA created a welcoming atmosphere.
A brief update from the evening. Our staff are refreshing our behaviour approach with a focus on positive growth and learning. While this work continues, the STEPS approach is paused across the Preparatory School. Staff will follow shared principles and guidance from school leadership when supporting any behaviour incidents, if required. We will keep you informed as this work progresses.
This week has been full of positive energy and active learning. We began with the Years 4–8 Swimming Prelims on Monday. It was inspiring to see so many ākonga being brave and giving this their best effort. Watching our staff, alongside the Year 11 ākonga in their matching sports gear, supporting them right to the finish line made it a very special event.
Yesterday also marked the beginning of our Core Sports programme for ākonga in Years 7–8. The fields and courts were alive with activity. It was wonderful to see them all working with the skilled young adult coaches and our staff to develop a passion for physical play. Many ākonga headed out through the front school gate with hot flushed faces after being so involved in their games.
Learning outside the classroom has continued throughout the week, with our Year 6 ākonga heading off to Beach Education today and some Year 8 classes visiting Halswell Quarry. Year 7 also enjoyed their Top Team session yesterday with a lively group of parents who were quick to volunteer for the water spraying role. There was a great atmosphere in The Coffee Cart that morning, as many of our parent helpers gathered to share a coffee before joining the fun.
Thank you to all of our parents and whānau who have connected with our school over the past week. There is a real sense of energy across our school, and it is wonderful to have you experience this with us.
Ngā manaakitanga
Leigh Fowler
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
Our Preparatory School ākonga are loving their new playground, with plenty of smiles and outdoor fun already happening.
To view a video of the new playground, click here>
On Wednesday, our Year 7 ākonga enjoyed a wonderful morning in the sunshine taking part in Top Team, delivered by Sport Canterbury. This event played an important role in supporting Well-being for All, helping ākonga feel settled, connected, and confident as they begin their Year 7 journey.
The children worked in 16 mixed teams, a deliberate way to build whanaungatanga – the relationships and sense of belonging that sit at the heart of well-being. Creating team names, planning costumes, and practicing chants earlier in the term gave students opportunities to collaborate, laugh together, and establish positive friendships. The Top Team challenges promoted teamwork, communication, physical activity, and fun. With activities designed for all abilities, every ākonga could participate fully, helping build confidence and supporting both their social and emotional well-being.
Top Team is a key part of our Year 7 transition programme, which focuses on inclusion, pastoral care, and ensuring every student feels supported and valued as they enter a new stage of their school journey.
Flickr>We are pleased to share that our Hold the Line 'til Year 9 initiative has been met with strong support from our community. Fourteen of our 20 classes have an active pledge: 3A, 3C, 4T, 5A, 5C, 6S, 6T, 7A, 7C, 7S, 7R, 8A, 8S, and 8T.
Families who have signed up and are in a class with an active pledge will receive an email this week listing the other participating students in their class.
Hold the Line is a well-being initiative designed to support our whānau in delaying smartphone ownership until Year 9. A class pledge becomes active once 10 or more parents have signed on. This initiative aligns with the College’s philosophy of promoting free, unstructured play, encouraging adults to model healthy tech habits, and introducing social media gradually and intentionally – ideally not before age 16.
If you would like to learn more, please contact Deputy Principal of Preparatory School (Well-being), Vicki Pettit, at VPE@stac.school.nz, or click the pledge link below to sign up.
Our Preparatory School Swimming Sports Prelims were held at Jellie Park on Monday, and it was a fantastic day of participation, enthusiasm, and school spirit. All students represented our StAC-Up values brilliantly, showing outstanding support for their classmates and brought excellent energy to every event. Our Year 4 students had an amazing first experience of Swimming Sports; they completed their finals and displayed impressive enthusiasm and confidence.
Congratulations to our Year 4 Age Group Champions: Elara Momenan and Cooper Haydon-Uren.
We now look forward to our Swimming Sports Championship Day on Monday 23 February, with our Year 5–8 students.
Liam Botha (Year 5) competed in eight events at the 2026 Long Course Championships held at Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre in January. Liam's standout performances included the 200m backstroke, where he shaved 11 seconds off his personal best, and a first place in the Boys' 200 Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke. He also broke the Canterbury Record for Boys' Aged 9 in the 50m Butterfly, a record that had been in place since 2010.
Jessica Nelson (Year 4) competed in her first tennis tournament over Waitangi weekend, the 2026 Waimairi Junior Open. She won two out of three matches and was awarded Runner-up in the 10 and Under Girls’ Division 2 Singles.
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the Fixtures page on StACNet (filter by "Preparatory School").
Families are warmly invited to our Junior School Athletics Day on Friday 27 February, 10.30am–12.30pm, on the lower Preparatory School field. (Postponement date: Friday 6 March, same time.) Students from Years 1–3 will take part in fun activity rotations and sprints, earning points for their Houses: Erwin (Red), Rutherford (Blue), MacGibbon (Yellow), Thompson (Green).
Please send children to school in a t-shirt in their House‑colour, shorts, school sunhat, suitable footwear, warm layers, sunscreen, and a named drink bottle.
Bean Buzz Coffee will be onsite for families. An email will be sent to Years 1–3 parents with full details. We look forward to seeing you there!
The College Shop – Thistles is open during term time only, with the following hours:
Read more about the College Shop by clicking here.
Our After-school Care programme operates from the Preparator School Library and supports approximately 30 regular students, with casual places available each day. Families are welcome to use the service flexibly: sessional (1–2 hours), 1–5 days per week, casual or regular bookings.
Operating Hours
Cost: $12.00 per hour or part thereof, charged monthly.
Children are offered an afternoon tea snack and a range of activities, including Lego, computer access, movie watching, reading and outdoor play when weather allows.
Enrolments and Bookings
To enrol your child, please visit the AimyPlus website and click “New Parent? Register here” button.
Casual bookings may be made on the day through the AimyPlus website or app. Parents can also update approved adults for pickup directly through AimyPlus.
Changes of Arrangements
If you have a message for your child regarding changes to After-school Care or pick-up arrangements during the school day, please contact the Preparatory School Office on +64 3 940 2037. Alternatively:
Before-school Care Trial (7.30am–8.00am)
We are currently trialling Before-school Care, available from 7.30am–8.00am. This option provides supervised care for students who need an earlier drop-off. Further information will be shared as feedback from the trial is reviewed.
We’re excited to introduce a new initiative: Coffees and Catch-Ups. Held at The Coffee Cart, located in Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre, these informal sessions provide a relaxed opportunity for you to meet and chat with key staff throughout the year over a cup of coffee. No RSVP required – just drop in after drop-off!
We’re thrilled to announce that our first session will be attended by Rector, Mark Wilson, and Principal of Preparatory School, Leigh Fowler.
View all upcoming Coffee and Catch Ups by clicking here.
We’re excited to invite you to our first ever StAC Community Fête! This special event will bring students and families together on the Front Field for an evening of fun, food, and connection.
Date: Friday 13 March (Founders’ Day)
Time: 5.00pm–7.00pm
Venue: Front field
Parking: Available on school grounds via Circuit Street
This event is all about bringing our community together – Pre-school, Preparatory, and Secondary Schools, and celebrating the start of the year in a relaxed, family-friendly way. With bouncy castles, activities, music, and food trucks, there’s something for everyone. Please note this is an alcohol-free event.
Entry is free, but please register your attendance at the link below. We hope you’ll join us and make this inaugural event a memorable one!
REGISTER FOR THE STAC COMMUNITY FÊTE>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 4 March, 9.00am–12.00pm
Preparatory School and Pre-school Open Day: Thursday 5 March, 11.00am–12.30pm
We are excited to continue offering our Coding Club in partnership with CodingNZ, giving students a fun and supportive space to explore the world of digital creativity and problem‑solving.
When: Wednesdays at 12.50pm
Who: Students in Years 5–8
Where: Food Room
Supervised by: Mrs Vicki Pettit
During these online, interactive sessions, students learn real coding skills through engaging projects – perfect for beginners and budding programmers alike. Coding NZ’s qualified instructors lead the lessons, while Mrs Pettit provides onsite support.
Parents can register their child at: www.codingnz.com/enrol
If you have any questions, please email Vicki Pettit at VPE@stac.school.nz.
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home. To report any absence (due to illness or other reason) please complete the Student Absence Form:
If you are unable to use the online form, you may report an absence by emailing the appropriate address:
If you cannot reach us via the form or email, please phone our attendance line (term time only) on +64 3 940 2031.
