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
Over the next two weeks, our school will be recognising neurodiversity, as teachers support our ākonga to develop a deeper understanding of the many ways people think, learn, and experience the world. This is part of the Neurodiversity Week celebrations taking place nationwide. Through stories, books, autobiographies, and research, students are exploring diverse strengths and perspectives. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home by asking your children what they have been learning and what has resonated with them.
As we look to the end of the term, we wish all our summer sport teams the very best for their final competition games. It has been a pleasure to see our ākonga enthusiastically share their experiences on the court, field, turf, and water throughout the season. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our parents and whānau for the time, transport, and support over the summer sports period. We appreciate that this commitment can place extra pressure on already busy family lives.
Thinking about important transitions, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the St Andrew’s Pre-school information evening focused on starting school, on Tuesday 10 March. This evening was facilitated by our incredible Pre-school team and the Years 1–3 Team Leader and Assistant Principal, Heather Orman, who shared practical advice and thoughtful guidance with parents as they prepare for this exciting next step. I continue to be so impressed by the quality of care and learning offered in our Pre-school. The team’s careful balance of play-based experiences alongside purposeful, authentic, and structured learning provides ākonga with a strong foundation for a smooth transition into school life.
Finally, we are currently working alongside our Health and Safety and Property teams to make a small number of adjustments to improve safety in and around our driveway areas. These changes include relocating the Junior scooter stands to inside the grounds near the Preparatory School Library, and trialling some flexible barriers to discourage ākonga from crossing the road in high-risk areas. As we move toward the end of the warmer months, we ask that families remain alert during drop-off and pick-up times and continue to support us in keeping all tamariki safe in these busy spaces.
Our staff are looking forward to engaging with you in the coming week at Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Ngā mihi nui
Leigh Fowler
Principal of Preparatory School
Deputy Rector
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the Fixtures page on StACNet (filter by "Preparatory School").
Some of our Year 1 students have been busy creating a delightful clay "escargatoire" in the Art Room! After learning about snails and their unique features, the students carefully shaped their own snail bodies from clay and explored adding interesting textures to the foot of the snail. Once the snails had been bisque fired, we revisited the ‘rules of glazing’ and added vibrant colours and patterns. After the final firing, each snail was given a sparkling disco ball shell, bringing a little extra shine to our creations! The finished snails are wonderfully unique-just like the young artists who made them. The variety of colours, textures, and shapes truly celebrates the creativity and imagination of our Year 1 students.
Rehearsals are well underway for LOOPED, our upcoming Preparatory School production, set to take the stage in Week 8 of next term. This exciting, student-driven project has seen learners take creative ownership from the ground up; writing the script and lyrics, contributing to choreography, and committing to regular rehearsals each week. A highlight of the process this week was the support of Secondary School students. Sylvia James and Oliver Wallace (both Year 13) worked closely with cast members to develop their acting skills, while Violet McInnes (Year 11), one of the production’s composers, worked with soloists to refine their musical performances. Their expertise and mentorship add depth to the production experience. With every Years 7–8 student involved and set to appear on stage, LOOPED offers a valuable opportunity for all our ākonga. Some will be in their element, and some will step outside their comfort zones, try something new, and perhaps even discover a passion for the performing arts. We look forward to seeing the culmination of their hard work come to life on stage.
Students from class 8S welcomed our Pre-school learners into the Preparatory School Music Room on Friday for a joyful buddy session full of music, creativity, and connection. As part of nurturing positive emotions and well-being, the Year 8 students shared the much-loved story, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, performing a musical soundscape using a variety of percussion instruments. The older students brought each scene to life – the long grass, thick mud, swirling snowstorms – inviting smiles and excitement from their younger visitors. The session highlighted the importance of relationships, with Year 8 students guiding, encouraging, and celebrating the contributions of their Pre-school buddies. Together, they created an atmosphere of trust and shared enjoyment. To finish, the Year 8 students led the Pre-schoolers into a vibrant musical moment, filling the room with colour as they played their percussive boom whackers and sang Hakuna Matata. The joy on the faces of both age groups was absolutely priceless. Moments like these is where music brings people together and becomes a bridge between ages. It was wonderful to see so much happiness shared together in our classroom.
Flickr >
Our Tuesday Chapel service was a joyful celebration of who we are as individuals and as a faith community. Building on last week’s focus on empathy, students were invited to reflect on acts of kindness they had noticed or offered, reinforcing our shared responsibility to care for one another. Through the reminder that we are all “wonders” – wonderfully and fearfully made by God – children were encouraged to recognise their own unique value and the value of others. Year 8 students then shared learning from their inquiry into family heritage and identity. Through research into surnames and the creation of family crests or coats of arms, students explored the histories, values and aspirations that shape who they are today. The thoughtful presentations shared by Mya, Benji, Daisy, Lucas and Lucia, who confidently explained the origins and symbolism behind their family names and designs, were especially engaging. Their work reflected creativity, pride and a deepening understanding of identity grounded in story and faith. Pipers Andrew Bryce and Luke Russell (both Year 8) led the processional and recessional for the service.
This chapel was significant because it intentionally connected faith, learning and well-being – helping students understand that they are known, loved and called by God, while being encouraged to show empathy and respect for the unique stories of others. Together, these experiences exemplify our commitment to Outstanding Opportunities through Faith-based learning, where spiritual growth, personal identity and well-being are embraced and celebrated.
The Preparatory School’s work with the Canterbury Eco Action Trust continues to flourish. Last year, our Year 7–8 students potted and cared for 500 native plants in the Preparatory School nursery. Thanks to their dedication, the vast majority of these plants have made it through summer. Transporting them to the Christchurch Red Zone is the next step, where they will be readied for winter planting. Last Friday, our Year 6 students joined the effort with great enthusiasm. After brainstorming an efficient system for shifting large numbers of plants, they worked together to move more than 100 plants to the loading area. Their teamwork, creativity, and positive energy made the task both fun and productive, showing how even small hands can make a big difference. As a satellite nursery school, the Preparatory School plays a special role in supporting the restoration of the Christchurch Red Zone. The native plants grown – sourced from the nearby Travis Wetland – provide essential food and habitat for native bird species. Throughout the year, our students and whānau take part in planting and mulching events, contributing to the regeneration of this important urban environment. Over time, the plants grown at St Andrew’s will help form a green corridor that encourages native birds to return to the city centre. These trees and shrubs will also support the wider ecosystem by offering shade and shelter, reducing sediment and nutrient flow, and helping protect our aquifers, streams, rivers, and lakes. Through this ongoing project, our students are learning firsthand how they can make a meaningful, lasting contribution to the Canterbury environment. We are proud of their efforts and excited to see the positive impact their work will have in the years to come.
Flickr >We warmly invite you to attend our upcoming Preparatory School Parent-Teacher Conferences, an important opportunity to discuss your child’s learning, progress, and well-being with their classroom teacher. During these conferences, teachers will discuss your child’s Term 1 Report, which includes information about their progress and achievement in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. The final version of the Term 1 Report will be uploaded to the Community Portal on Wednesday 1 April.
We encourage your child (Year 4 and above) to attend, particularly Senior students. All students will be expected to wear school uniform if attending.
These conferences include all classroom teachers from Years 1–8, apart from Anna Wylie's class.
Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule
Each learning conference is 15 minutes.
Conference Booking
We encourage all families to book a time using the School Interviews link below, as these conversations provide valuable insights into your child’s learning journey and next steps. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Site link: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
School Code: chxk6
The Preparatory School will finish at 12.35pm on Thursday 2 April. This earlier conclusion is required to align with the Secondary School's end of term arrangements, as the Secondary School will also conclude at 12.35pm. Aligning our finishing times on the last day of term is essential to ensure the safe collection of students, with the driveway in heavy use for boarding student departures. Please note that there will be no After-school Care available on Thursday 2 April.
Our Preparatory School End of Term Assembly will take place at 11.20am, slightly later than usual to accommodate the Secondary School’s Thursday morning chapel service. Whānau are warmly invited to join us from 11.00am onwards. We would be delighted to have you with us as we celebrate the achievements of our ākonga and bring the term to a close together.
Looking ahead to reporting, Term 1 reports will be available via the Community Portal on Wednesday 1 April. These reports will be discussed with you next week at Parent–Teacher Conferences and provide information about how ākonga have settled into the new school year, along with an indication of progress supported by assessment data in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. The Community Portal can be accessed here: stac.nz/CommunityPortal.
As part of our commitment to providing continuity and stability for our learners during the curriculum review, we are pleased to explore the continuation of Spanish for our Year 2–4 students through an optional lunchtime Spanish Club. We have a qualified staff member with expertise in teaching Spanish who is available to lead a weekly session during lunchtime. Our aim is to begin this provision in Term 2, depending on the level of interest from families.
To help us plan, we are seeking expressions of interest from whānau who would like their child to take part in the Spanish Club. Please click the Expression of Interest Form link to below to register your interest, by 3.00pm on Wednesday 25 March:
COMPLETE THE LUNCHTIME SPANISH CLUB EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM>
As noted in our recent Prep Newsletter, the original rationale for the 2025 timetable adjustments was to protect core learning time in light of the refreshed English and Mathematics curriculum. Any longer-term decisions about the place of Spanish in the Junior years will be considered as part of the wider review.
The Preparatory School will be running a Sport Holiday Programme during the last week of the April holidays (Monday 20 – Friday 24 April). 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...!
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.
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.
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.
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.