Key Dates
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the Fixtures page on StACNet (filter by "Preparatory School").
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Kia ora koutou
We have enjoyed a week of positive engagement with our wider community through two key events. The first was the StACTalks community session with Jehan Casinader on Monday, highlighting the power of stories when experiencing mental distress. This was followed by our Preparatory School Open Day today. We were incredibly proud of our Senior ākonga tour guides and the many staff and ākonga in learning spaces who continued to demonstrate high levels of engagement, despite the busy movement in and around the College.
As outlined in previous correspondence, we are in the planning stages of reviewing the timetable changes identified at the end of 2025 across the Preparatory School. This process will involve meaningful engagement with our parent community, a thorough review of the changes, and well considered decision-making in partnership with staff and senior leadership to ensure continuity and high-quality learning for our ākonga.
We appreciate the importance of continuity and stability for our learners while this review is underway. As such, we are pleased to confirm the continuation of Spanish for Years 2–4 through an optional lunchtime club once a week. This will be led by a qualified staff member with expertise in teaching Spanish. This provision will begin in Term 2, depending on the level of interest. We will be sending out an Expression of Interest Form in the next week to all Year 2–4 parents to identify who is interested in signing up for the Spanish Lunchtime Club.
The original rationale for the 2025 timetable adjustments was to protect core learning time, particularly with the increased expectations in the refreshed English and Mathematics curriculum. Any longer-term provision of Spanish across the Junior years will be considered through the review process, alongside some of the other changes.
While this review takes place, our Junior Learning Team (Years 1–3) has also identified opportunities to strengthen explicit Science teaching, supported by our Junior Science Specialist, Mrs Helen King. In addition to specialist lessons with Mrs King, classroom teachers will teach a Science focus from the Biological World within inquiry learning periods. Below is a simple overview of the updated Science programme for the year:
Terms 1 and 2:
Terms 3 and 4:
Finally, a quick update regarding morning and afternoon driveway duties. From this week, these responsibilities will be shared between Deputy Principal Vicki Pettit, Deputy Principal Alex Kelley, Head of Sport Dave Ermerins, and me. This adjustment allows me greater opportunity to connect with staff, students, parents, and whānau within the school during key parts of the day.
Ngā mihi nui
Leigh Fowler
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy for Rector
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the Fixtures page on StACNet (filter by "Preparatory School").
Our Year 2 students have launched into their Junior Department Athletics unit with great energy and focus. This week’s lesson centred on two key skills; accurate underarm throwing and correct sprinting technique, as they worked with Head of Physical Education, Isaac Leota, on developing both confidence and control in their movement. To begin, students explored what it means to throw with accuracy. They learned to use a smooth underarm swing while pointing towards their target, before putting these ideas into action by aiming soft balls into a target bucket. This simple activity encouraged precision, coordination, and plenty of determination as students experimented with adjusting their stance and swing to improve their aim.
The lesson then shifted to sprinting fundamentals. Students practiced swinging their arms forward and back (not side to side), looking straight ahead, and running in a straight line – these are important foundations for both speed and safe movement. Short sprints gave students the opportunity to refine technique, followed by lively relay races where teamwork and encouragement were just as important as speed. Throughout the session, we were joined by three enthusiastic StAC-Up "Detectives". These students were selected to spot moments where classmates demonstrated our school values. They took their role seriously, watching carefully for examples of safety, teamwork, and positive effort.
George Williams (Year 2) presented Arcadya Evans (Year 2) with a StAC-Up token for demonstrating exceptional safety during her sprinting practice (Be Safe). Moments like this help reinforce our focus on positive behaviour and celebrate students who consistently strive to “StAC-Up.” This Athletics unit not only builds physical skills, but also strengthens perseverance, cooperation, and students’ ability to reflect on their own learning. It has been wonderful to see Year 2 students embracing every activity with enthusiasm and a readiness to improve.
Flickr>Over the past couple of weeks, our Year 8 classes visited Halswell Quarry for a hands-on scientific learning experience called Rocky Road of Discovery. Students explored the geological processes that shaped the rocks of Banks Peninsula and learned about the historical uses of the quarry itself. They also had the chance to build dry stone walls – structures that were thoroughly tested by one instructor’s size 12 boots! Later in the day, students deepened their understanding of local Māori history by discovering how early Māori used swamplands and native plants for food, healing, and everyday life.
At St Andrew’s College Preparatory School, our Learning Support team plays a vital role in ensuring every ākonga is supported to thrive. The team works closely with kaiako, ākonga, and whānau to identify individual learning needs and provide a range of tailored support. Our approach includes:
Meet Our Learning Support Team
The team are also fortunate to have additional support in the Junior School from teachers Mary Leota and Helen King, who assist ākonga as part of our commitment to providing a strong foundation in the early years.
Have Concerns About Your Child’s Learning?
The Learning Support Team are here to work alongside you to support every child’s learning journey. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress, your classroom teacher is the first point of contact. You are also warmly invited to contact Head of Learning Support, Irene Cronan, at ICR@stac.school.nz
Six Year 4 students represented their club Kaiawa at the Mike Greer Kotiro Touch Tournament over the weekend. It was a great day, one that threw every type of weather at the girls, but they all played well as a team and with lots of passion throughout. They are already looking forward to next season.
Primary Sports Canterbury is once again hosting the popular Huxster Mountain Bike Event at McLeans Island on Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April.
This event is open to:
The Huxster is a highlight on the school sports calendar, bringing together young riders from across Canterbury for two action-packed days of biking and fun. Spaces are limited, so get in early!
If your child is interested in taking part, please email Jayde Mayberry on JMB@stac.school.nz.
Families are warmly invited to our Junior School Athletics Day on Friday 6 March, 10.30am–12.30pm, on the lower Preparatory School field. 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, sunscreen, and a named drink bottle.
Bean Buzz Coffee will be onsite for families. Please see email sent to Years 1–3 parents for full details. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our first Preparatory School Sunday chapel service this year will be held on Sunday 8 March at 5.00pm in the Centennial Chapel. The service is for all Year 1–8 students. Parents/caregivers are warmly invited to attend. The arrival time is 4.45pm and class teachers will be there to meet the children and to do the compulsory attendance check.
Please note, there will be no teachers at the meeting point until 4.45pm, so do not 'drop and go' earlier than this.
Year 1–3 children will meet in the Junior Department and Years 4–8 will meet at the flagpole in front of Strowan House. The expected finish time of the service is 5.40pm. Please arrive a little earlier (from 5.30pm) to ensure you are there to collect your child at the conclusion of the service.
CANTARE CHOIR (YEARS 6–8): The students in the Cantare choir need to arrive ready for a warm-up and run-through of their performance piece at 4.30pm in the Centennial Chapel.
Please note that all students are required to wear their school uniform with blazer.
Given the large number of people involved, it may be wise to arrange a place to meet your child after the service.
We warmly welcome our community to join us for the service – no RSVP is required. The chapel will be open for entry from 4.45pm.
The Preparatory School will be running a Sport Holiday Programme during the last week of the April holidays (Monday 20 – Friday 24 April).
Programme: The programme is open to Year 1–8 students. The sessions will be run by a variety of staff. The sports included are: invasion games, frisbee golf, basketball, co-operative games, futsal, pickleball, and more...!
Times: The sessions will run between 9.00am–1.30pm each day (there is also an option for supervision through to 3.30pm you can choose). Students can be dropped off from 8.30am, meeting in the Preparatory School Library.
Costs: The cost of the programme is $325 for the week (until 1.30pm), or $400 (supervised until 3.30pm). Payment will be disbursed to your College account.
Supervision: The optional supervision service from 1.30pm until 3.30pm is a further $15.00 per day (included in the $400 weekly cost).
It is possible to register for only some days of the programme, either until 1.30pm or 3.30pm. If your child doesn't attend all five days of the Holiday Programme, the daily rate is $75.00 until 1.30pm, or $90.00 until 3.30pm. For this option, choose "Only some days" on the form, then select the days they'll attend.
Meals: Lunch will be included. Students have the option of a six-inch or foot-long Subway sandwich for lunch. Gluten-free wraps are also available. Students will have Subway on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They will have pizza on Tuesday and Thursday. There will be an additional $15.00 charged for a foot-long for the three days. Students will need to bring morning tea and a water bottle.
Subway Order Form and Permission Form: Please complete the online permission slip (link below) and return the Subway order form (please complete one order per day and name each entry – all three entries would need to be completed for a student attending the whole week) to the Preparatory School office by 3.00pm on Thursday 2 April.
COMPLETE THE ONLINE PERMISSION FORM HERE>
If you have any questions, please email Deputy Principal of Preparatory School (Operations), Alex Kelley, at AKE@stac.school.nz.
We are looking forward to the Year 7 and 8 Preparatory School production later this year – a unique opportunity for all students to be part of a large-scale stage event. The show is an original work, created by members of the 2025 Year 6 and 7 cohort, with music composed by some of our talented Secondary School songwriters.
To support the creative team, we are seeking parent/caregiver volunteers to help ensure our performers look their best on stage during production week, 15–18 June. We would love support in the following areas:
You do not need to have a child in Year 7 or 8 to be involved – all help is warmly appreciated.
If you are able to help in any of these areas, please complete the Preparatory School Production Volunteer Form at the link below by 3.00pm on Friday 6 March.
Additionally, all volunteers at St Andrew's College must have completed the St Andrew's College Volunteer Form for mandatory Police Vetting processes; if you have not yet done this for 2026, please do so by clicking here.
From 6–11 September 2026, selected Preparatory School teams will compete at the AIMS Games in Tauranga. The AIMS Games is New Zealand’s largest sporting event for Year 7–8 students, with over 12,000 participants from more than 360 schools competing across a wide range of sports.
Representative groups attending include the football 1st team and the Year 7–8 hockey A team.
Individual Entries: There will also be a small number of individual sports available. However, due to the limited group accommodation available in Tauranga, we are unable at this stage to include individuals as part of our official tour. If families are able to travel, supervise, and transport their child independently, entries can be submitted on their behalf by the Preparatory School. In travelling to and competing at the AIMS Games, your child would be included in any activities offered to the tour group and tour apparel will also be available. This option is suitable only for elite performers. Individual sports include (but are not limited to): Badminton, BMX, Canoe Sport, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Hip Hop, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Tennis, and Yachting.
If this applies to your child, please contact Deputy Principal of Preparatory School, Alex Kelley, at AKE@stac.school.nz for further information. More details are also available at www.nzaimsgames.co.nz.
Talented Year 5–Year 8 singers and instrumentalists are invited to apply for an audition to join a Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Representative Group in 2026. Representative groups include Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Concert Band, and Orchestra.
Students must be active members of either a Preparatory School orchestra, or the Cantare Choir.
Applications are made online via the Music Festival website and close on Wednesday 1 April. Parents are required to complete the application to ensure they are aware of rehearsal and performance commitments.
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!
To see the StAC Community Fête map, please click here.
REGISTER FOR THE STAC COMMUNITY FÊTE>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.