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
Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you and your families enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing holiday break. It has been a pleasure to see our ākonga (students) return to school with such positive energy, enthusiasm, and eagerness for the learning and opportunities ahead.
We were delighted to see some sunshine this week, particularly as two of our Year 8 classes set off for their Castle Hill camp. I am very much looking forward to visiting the next Year 8 group on Monday and seeing firsthand the valuable role that camps play in supporting ākonga learning and development. Experiences beyond the classroom, such as school camps, help them build independence, resilience, and confidence, while also strengthening friendships and a sense of connection.
Winter sport training has also begun across the school. Participation in team sports provides valuable opportunities for ākonga to build physical fitness, teamwork, leadership, and perseverance, as well as a strong sense of belonging. For ākonga who are not involved in team sports, there are a range of other opportunities to remain physically active, ensuring that all students are supported to engage in healthy movement in ways that reflect their interests and strengths.
Term 2 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting nine-week term, with a wide range of rich opportunities planned. Across the term, students will be involved in meaningful experiences spanning sport, the arts, culture, and performance, including major productions, sporting events and exchanges, creative showcases, and celebrations of culture and community. Together, these experiences highlight the breadth of learning offered and the many ways our students are encouraged to challenge themselves, work collaboratively, and take pride in their contributions.
Detailed information about these events and opportunities are outlined in Learning Hub newsletters. We are also working hard to continually update the College Preparatory Fixtures calendar with key events and information.
We look forward to a positive term full of community engagement and connection. Thank you for your continued support.
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").
Last term, Year 8 students explored Earth Sciences through an in-depth study of the rock cycle and rock types, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. They investigated the role of convection currents within the Earth and how these drive geological processes. Students also examined weathering, erosion, and deposition, building an understanding of how landscapes change over time. This learning was brought to life through a field trip to Halswell Quarry, where students observed rock formations and Earth processes firsthand, making strong connections between classroom learning and the local environment.
In Year 7 Science last term, students developed a strong understanding of acids and bases through hands-on practical investigations. They safely tested a range of everyday substances, learning how to identify acids and bases using both class-made and synthetic indicators, as well as the pH scale. Students explored the chemical properties of acids and alkalis, investigated neutralisation reactions, and made real-world connections to how acids and bases are used in everyday life. Through experimentation, observation, and discussion, students strengthened their scientific inquiry skills and built confidence in using scientific terminology and equipment.
Our Year 7 Mathematics programme is guided by St Andrew’s values of excellence, inclusivity, and integrity in learning. Through ability-based streaming, students are supported and challenged at the right level, allowing teachers to respond thoughtfully and honestly to individual learning needs.
From 2026, we are strengthening the programme with Oxford Mathematics as a supplementary resource. This supports deep understanding, problem solving, and creativity in thinking, while fostering confidence and resilience. Our approach encourages students to ask questions, learn from mistakes, and strive for excellence within a supportive and faith-filled learning environment.
Does anyone remember learning to read? Learning to read begins at home, when families share stories, songs, and poems with their children – often the same treasured favourites over and over again. Through these experiences, children learn to value books and to understand that print and pictures work together to tell stories.
By the time our little learners start school, they arrive with high expectations about learning to read and the enjoyment it will bring. Their first teachers are in the privileged position of guiding them on this exciting journey. At school, learning letter sounds, correct letter formation, and using sounds to decode unfamiliar words marks the beginning of formal reading instruction. Fingers quickly become phoneme fingers, helping children to segment and blend sounds as they read and write. This knowledge is taught through a carefully planned sequence, ensuring mastery before moving on to the next step.
Our Preparatory School Library is another vital part of this process, nurturing a love of books and supporting children as they grow into confident, independent readers.
The Year 7–8 Boys' team, “StAC’d Squad" (Archie Gordon, Cole Gordon-Glassford (both Year 7), Jackson Cutts, Benji McBride (both Year 8) delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Kaikōura Adventure Race in the 3-hour school teams' event. They were awarded first place in the Junior Boys' category with a time of three hours, and finished an impressive second overall at the South Island Secondary Schools Adventure Racing Championships.
The race was blessed with spectacular weather, and competitors were privileged to access the beautiful Puhi Peaks Station, located about an hour north of Kaikōura. Early in the race, the boys showed great character and maturity by supporting an unwell teammate back to Race HQ before heading out again to complete the course together. The event featured a challenging rogaine with complex navigation, steep mountain bike climbs, and a fun “mystery event” of gorge-ering – requiring river crossings and careful route-finding to reach checkpoints. A fantastic achievement and a great display of resilience, teamwork and determination.
The Preparatory School Kids’ Lit Quiz squad competed in the Canterbury Kids' Lit Quiz Regional Heat. This annual event is a celebration of reading, bringing together Canterbury’s most enthusiastic and accomplished young readers. With an impressive 44 teams participating, the standard of competition was high as the teams faced 100 challenging questions about children’s literature.
Team One (Alfred Lash (Year 8), Henry Streeter (Year 7), Georgia Blyde, and Freya Gibbs (both Year 6)) delivered an outstanding performance, placing joint 6th gaining the top scores in two rounds and winning cash prizes. Team Two (Jessica Whitehead (Year 8), Claire Chua (Year 7), Reva Bartlett, and Geneva Walker (both Year 6) also shone, finishing in the middle of the table. All the students embraced the experience with enthusiasm and should be very proud of their achievements representing St Andrew's College among Canterbury's top readers.
Liam Botha (Year 5) competed at the 63rd Wharenui Winter Olympics during the school holidays. Liam broke the meet record for Boys’ 10 & Under in the 100m Butterfly, previously set in 2006. He also broke the Canterbury record for Boys' 9 & Under 100m Butterfly, which was previously set in 1982.
Our Preparatory School Cross Country will be held on Thursday 14 May, in Week 3 of Term 2. It will be held in the morning on the Upper Secondary School Field, from approximately 10.30am–11.45am.
Exact times and all other relevant information will be emailed early next week to Year 4–8 parents/caregivers. We are currently in the process of finalising the schedule with the Secondary School who will be running their Cross Country in the afternoon.
Please see the course map provided here for the Cross Country.
Year Group: Laps of Cross Country Track (approximately 1KM each):
The following 2026 photographs are now available to order online:
Details of how to order the photographs can be found on our website by clicking the link 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.
ORDER PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE>In Terms 2 and 3, the Preparatory School Pastoral Care team will be offering a range of lunchtime clubs. All clubs will be supervised by a staff member, with support from our senior students. No registration is required for these clubs, except for Code Club.
For Code Club, parents can enrol online by clicking here. Students enrolled in Code Club in Term 1 will automatically roll over into Term 2; only new students are required to register.
We hope these clubs provide a fun and supportive space for students to connect, explore their interests, and enjoy their lunchtimes. Please feel free to reach out to the teacher in charge if you have any questions.
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.