Key Dates
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the Fixtures page on StACNet (filter by "Preparatory School").
You are logged in as
Logout
You are logged in as
Logout
Kia ora koutou
It has been another incredibly positive week across the Preparatory School. I have particularly enjoyed seeing our ākonga engaged in their learning and wider school life, in classrooms, in performance, in sport, and through lunchtime clubs. Our ākonga continue to demonstrate just how enthusiastic and capable they are.
On Friday 15 May, we acknowledged Pink Shirt Day, a day that promotes kindness, inclusion, and respect. It was wonderful to see so many of our ākonga showing their support through a wide range of pink accessories, with staff also joining in and contributing to a vibrant and positive atmosphere across the school.
Pink Shirt Day provided an important opportunity to reflect on how we treat one another and the role we all play in creating a safe and inclusive environment. Through learning opportunities and engagement with ākonga, we explored what it means to show respect, support others, and take a stand against behaviours, including bullying, that can impact on the well-being of others.
Through conversations with ākonga, it was clear how much they had taken from the learning on Pink Shirt Day. Zac, Izzy, Iselle, Cooper, and Ella from Years 4 and 5 spoke about the difference between conflict, being mean, and bullying – recognising that bullying involves repeated behaviour. They also shared that they would be an upstander rather than a bystander when supporting others.
Scarlett, Otis, and Dylan from Year 7 highlighted the importance of taking responsibility for others, describing bullying as targeted, intentional, and repeated, and valuing how Pink Shirt Day raises awareness and encourages respectful behaviour.
This reflection links closely to the work we have been developing with staff this year around our learning-focused behaviour approach. This is grounded in a clear philosophy, to teach and reinforce positive behaviours that support relationships and learning, helping every ākonga uphold high expectations and live our values.
You may recall that at the beginning of this year, we moved away from the previous Steps-based approach to behaviour. Since that time, staff have been working together to strengthen practice when identifying and responding to behaviour situations. This has involved ongoing staff professional learning, reflection, and collaboration. This work continues as we refine the supports and tools available across the school to support a shared and consistent approach.
When situations arise, staff will work to understand what has happened, gather a range of perspectives, and consider the wider context so that responses are fair and well informed. This includes clear expectations, logical consequences, and a focus on restoring relationships and supporting future positive choices. Similar to our approaches to Learning Support and Pastoral Care, we use a layered approach to behaviour and well-being so that the right level of support and intervention is provided when needed, while maintaining consistent expectations for all.
While behaviour is generally very positive across the school, it is important to recognise that our ākonga are still developing socially and emotionally. At this age and stage, it is natural that mistakes are made. These moments provide important opportunities for learning, supporting ākonga to reflect, reset, and move forward with growing confidence and capability. As part of this, we recognise that not all situations are the same. Some behaviours reflect everyday conflict or misunderstandings, while others may be unkind, and on rare occasions may reflect bullying behaviours, which involves repeated and deliberate behaviour that causes harm. Each of these situations is responded to thoughtfully and appropriately.
If concerns arise, ākonga are supported in the first instance by their classroom teacher, with further support provided as needed. We value open communication and encourage parents and whānau to contact their child’s classroom teacher or Team Leader if they have concerns, so that we can work together to support a positive outcome. We recognise the importance of taking the time to understand the full context of a situation, which may involve gathering a range of perspectives to ensure responses are fair and well informed. At the heart of this work is a shared commitment to ensuring all ākonga feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.
I look forward to seeing many parents and whānau at the Black & Bling Ball on Saturday evening. It will be a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate together as a community. Even if you are not attending, anyone can place a bid on the range of exciting auction items by clicking here.
Thank you, as always, 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").
This week, students in 8S have been learning how to construct effective “PEEL” paragraphs. The PEEL structure is a simple and reliable framework that helps students organise their writing clearly and logically:
To practise this structure, students first wrote a paragraph describing a place they particularly enjoy. They then worked with a learning partner to review their writing, focusing on whether their evidence and explanation clearly supported their main idea. This proved to be a valuable exercise, as identifying and explaining these links can be challenging. Sharing their work and receiving constructive feedback helped deepen their understanding. Next, students will build on these skills by writing 3–4 PEEL paragraphs on a topic of their choice, which they will then develop into a complete essay.
Every second week, Year 4–6 classes come together for a team assembly, with each class taking a turn to host and share their learning, along with any special talents or skills they have developed. This week, 4T led the assembly with confidence and pride, presenting examples of their writing and pepeha, alongside impressive Highland dancing and snare drumming performances.
In the Middle Syndicate, te reo Māori is fostered as an integral part of everyday learning, supporting students to develop both language skills and a deeper understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural heritage. Across the syndicate, students experience language through waiata, haka, asking and answering questions, and are beginning to record ideas in simple te reo Māori sentences. During Year 4 lessons with teacher Mary Leota, students have been exploring stories of taniwha and have created their own artwork incorporating traditional designs and patterns.
Year 5 students have been exploring vocabulary around sports and games and enjoy sharing haka and waiata as part of their lessons. Year 6 students are developing vocabulary about their tinana (bodies) and playing games and activities to reinforce their new learning. Students across the syndicate now have the confidence to share their pepeha and waiata at assemblies. Through these varied and engaging experiences, students build confidence in using te reo Māori everyday while deepening their appreciation of Māori culture and tikanga.
This term, 6T students have been exploring Mirror by Jeannie Baker, a wordless picture book that encourages students to look closely and think deeply. Through careful observation and rich group discussions, students have developed their ability to make inferences – using visual clues to understand what is happening beyond what is immediately shown. They have been making thoughtful predictions, sharing and justifying their interpretations, and retelling the story in their own words, demonstrating a deeper engagement with both the text and images. A key focus of the unit has been comparing two families from different cultures, helping students recognise the shared values, routines, and family experiences that connect people around the world. The class has engaged in a range of tasks and activities, allowing them to reflect on their own likes, dislikes, and experiences while building understanding through thoughtful discussion and creative responses.
Students from the St Andrew’s Speech and Drama programme enjoyed outstanding success at the Oamaru Competitions Society Festival over the weekend, with students competing across poetry, character recital, improvisation, prepared reading and sight-reading sections.
A special highlight of the weekend was Adelyn Abrahmson (Year 8), Iaera Abrahamson (Year 6) and Nayana Abrahamson (Year 6) being jointly awarded the trophy for “Most Successful and Versatile Competitor in All of the Arts,” recognising their achievements across Speech and Drama, Music, and Highland Dancing. It was the first time the trophy had been presented to a family rather than an individual. The three siblings also achieved numerous commendations in the Speech and Drama sections. Iaera was awarded the “Most Promising" for Unplaced Character Speech and Drama trophy. Iaera won runner up Most Points U12 for Highland Dance and Most Promising Performer for Speech U10. Nayana won Most Points U10 for Highland Dance, and the North Otago Championship Irish Jig U10.
Violet Winterbourn (Year 6) achieved multiple first placings in Reading at Sight, Test Poem, Light Verse and Character Recital, and was awarded several major Speech and Drama trophies including the Light Verse Championship Winner 12 Years and Under and Most Points 12 Years and Under awards. Watson Winterbourn (Year 3) gained first placings in Test Poem, Own Selection and Character Recital, along with awards and commendations across several sections, including the Judge's award for the Most Entertaining Across All Ages in Speech and Drama.
It was wonderful to see St Andrew’s students performing with such confidence, creativity and enthusiasm throughout the festival demonstrating the strong communication, presentation and performance skills developed through speech and drama.
Maxwell Bird (Year 4) delivered an outstanding performance at the Kartsport Canterbury Enduro race held in March, competing in the Cadet Rok category for 6 to 10-year-olds. Max secured an impressive first place finish among 15 competitors, completing 50 laps in a winning time of 30:32.25.
Andrew Bryce (Year 8) had an unforgettable experience last Saturday, stepping onto the stage at Te Kaha Stadium in front of a crowd of 37,000 people. Known to many in the Preparatory School as the talented 1st XI football goalkeeper and a dedicated member of the St Andrew’s College A Band, Andrew added another impressive achievement to his growing list: performing live with Six60.
Andrew joined fellow A Band drummers and tutors; including some who also perform with the renowned Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band, with a special mention to Pipe Band tutors Jamie McEwan and Scott Birrell, who featured predominantly in the performance, to accompany Six60 on the snare drums during their hit song Fade Away. Playing alongside one of New Zealand’s biggest musical acts, in a stadium packed with fans, is an extraordinary opportunity for any musician, let alone a Year 8 student. This performance showcased not only Andrew’s musical skill but also his composure, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. Balancing high level sport and music is no small feat, and Andrew continues to represent St Andrew’s College with pride across both fields.
A Few Fun Six60 Facts:
Andrew’s involvement in such a major event is a testament to his hard work and the strength of the St Andrew’s College Pipe Band programme. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing where his talents take him next.
Fourteen St Andrew’s College students and three staff members participated in the first EcoAction planting day of the year on Sunday. These students gave up their Sunday to serve the wider Christchurch community and New Zealand as a whole, contributing to our carbon sequestration efforts. On Sunday morning, 4500 plants were successfully established by 350 dedicated volunteers in just two hours, many of them students from Canterbury schools. The QEII Adventure Trail promises to be a wonderful addition to the area, and it was especially encouraging to hear native birdlife, including a bellbird, already present. This work is underpinned by three key purposes: to enhance carbon sequestration through the development of a native forest carbon sink, recognising that this is a long-term investment as native forests take time to mature; to help establish and strengthen a continuous green corridor from the Port Hills to the Canterbury Foothills, supporting native birdlife; and to further enhance the mahinga kai (traditional food) gathering environments for native species. It was great to see some of our 2025 Year 8 students helping out.
The next planting event will take place at Chimera Crescent on Sunday 21 June, from 10.00am–12.00pm. Those keen to start earlier can start at 8.00am to help with the set-up.
Our second Preparatory School Sunday chapel service this year will be held on Sunday 14 June at 4.00pm in the Centennial Chapel. The service is for all Years 1–8 students. Parents/caregivers are warmly invited to attend. The arrival time is 3.45pm 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 3.45pm, 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 4.40pm. Please arrive a little earlier (from 4.40pm) to ensure you are there to collect your child at the conclusion of the service.
Junior Choir (Years 4–5): The students in the Junior Choir need to arrive ready for a warm-up and run-through of their performance piece at 3.30pm 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 3.45pm.
Families are warmly invited to the Preparatory School Music Concert on Tuesday 23 June at 6.00pm in the Centennial Chapel (finishing approx. 7.00pm).
Around 120 students will perform, including the Junior Choir (all Year 4 students), Cantare Choir, Orchestra, Chamber Group, rock bands, and Music Scholars. All Year 4 students are expected to participate.
A gold coin donation will be collected in support of the Preparatory School’s World Vision 40 Challenge.
If you have any questions, please contact Music Teacher, Ros Emeleus, at REM@stac.school.nz.
Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026
Time: 8.00am–8.45am
Location: The Coffee Cart, inside Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Join Head of Guidance, Tom Matthews, and Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby, for a coffee and kōrero about any questions about mental health and well-being.
Find out more about Coffee and Catch Ups>
The Black & Bling Silent Auction is now live on GalaBid, our online auction platform! Bidding is open to anyone aged 18 and over, so even if you’re unable to attend the Ball in person, you can still be part of the excitement and support this fantastic event.
This year’s auction features an exceptional range of more than 100 items, including holiday home stays, premium food and wine experiences, beauty vouchers, sports coaching packages, and much more.
PLACE A BID VIA GALABID>Following the success of last year’s digital well-being session, we warmly invite our community to the next StACTalks event for 2026: StACTalks – Digital Well-being, Connection, and Identity
Date: Tuesday 16 June
Time: 6.00pm–7.30pm
Location: Centennial Chapel
Supporting young people to thrive in a digital world is an increasingly important focus for families. This session has been designed to provide practical, research-informed strategies to help parents support their child’s well-being, manage device use, and foster a healthy sense of identity online. The evening will combine expert insight with practical workshops and opportunities to learn alongside other parents in our community.
This is a free event open to all St Andrew’s College parents and caregivers. Spaces are limited, so please secure your spot at the link below. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a highly relevant and practical evening.
REGISTER FOR STACTALKS>
Experience the thrilling sounds of StAC Attack 2026 – celebrating 20 years!
Date: Friday 17 July
Time: 7.00pm–9.00pm
Venue: Christchurch Town Hall – James Hay Theatre
Tickets: Adult $72.89 | Child $44.13 (via TicketMaster)
A St Andrew’s College Pipe Band event at the prestigious Christchurch Town Hall – James Hay Theatre, this highly anticipated concert promises an unforgettable evening of traditional Scottish entertainment.
Be immersed in the rich harmonics of the bagpipes, the infectious beat of the drums, and the flair of Highland dancers as they take the stage. Talented St Andrew’s College students from Years 4–13 will showcase their skills in this action‑packed performance, along with members of our Old Collegian community. Join us for a special 20th anniversary celebration at StAC Attack 2026.
BUY STAC ATTACK TICKETS>We’re excited to once again offer sibling portrait sessions for Preparatory School students in Years 1–8.
This is a special opportunity to capture a professional photo of your children together in their school uniform, set against a blue background and presented on an A4 layout with their names included.
Pricing options for ordering online in the normal way:
Please note that we are not offering sibling photos which include Pre-School and Secondary School students.
The photographer will be on site the morning of Tuesday 16 June, and this will be the only opportunity in 2026 to book this service.
To reserve your spot, please complete the Sibling Portraits Years 1–8 Booking Form by Friday 5 June.
Complete the Sibling Portraits Years 1–8 Booking Form
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.
All children are encouraged to arrive at school from 8.00am onwards and can access learning spaces from this time.
Before-school Care is available from 7.30am–8.00am for families who need to drop their children off early. As this service has limited capacity and is designed for essential use only, we ask that families utilise it only if necessary.
Before-school Care enables us to provide active supervision, ensuring student safety while our staff prepare for the day.
Children arriving before 8.00am will be taken to Before-school Care. The small cost for this supervision will be disbursed to your child’s College account.
After-school Care continues to operate until 5.20pm each school day.
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.