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
There is a real sense of excitement building across the school as we look ahead to next week’s Looped production.
I am incredibly impressed by the “all hands on deck” approach from both staff and families to ensure the Years 7–8 production is such a special experience for our ākonga. Director, Ginnie Thorner, has led this work with great dedication, and the support from parents through rehearsals, costumes, and preparation has been outstanding. It has also been wonderful to see Year 9–13 College leaders working alongside ākonga, creating a genuine whole-College experience. It is shaping up to be something very special, and I am very much looking forward to seeing it come to life on stage.
Service is reflected across the Preparatory School and is evident in many ways throughout the school week, particularly through our Year 8 ākonga, who continue to demonstrate strong leadership through their contribution to school life. Whether acting as Peer Mediators or Wet Day Monitors, they support younger ākonga, helping to ensure break times are positive and inclusive. Through these opportunities, they show care, patience, and a strong sense of responsibility. This leadership is also evident through roles as House Captains, Sacristans and cultural leaders who contribute meaningfully to the life of the school.
Sport also provides a meaningful platform for service and leadership. Our Year 8 leaders who coach younger ākonga, manage the Sports Shed, and support as Road Patrollers, bring enthusiasm and commitment to these important roles. These opportunities build confidence, connection, and a strong sense of contribution to the school. At present, we are short of Road Patrollers, and we are very appreciative of those ākonga who continue to support this daily. If any Year 7 or Year 8 ākonga are available to assist in the morning or afternoon, we would welcome this support. Please contact Deputy Principal (Operations), Alex Kelly, at AKE@stac.school.nz.
This spirit of service extends well beyond formal roles. Throughout the week, there are many informal opportunities where Year 9–13 College leaders support our Pre-school and Junior School ākonga. This includes reading with younger learners, sharing Te Reo Māori, leading lunchtime clubs, and supporting sport through coaching and refereeing, as well as through charity initiatives such as the 40-Hour World Vision Challenge. Older ākonga also contribute by teaching dance and supporting events, such as the upcoming Prefect Junior Disco on Friday 12 June, which promises to be a high-energy experience!
Across all of these experiences, our ākonga demonstrate that leadership is not defined by a title, but by actions that positively impact others. It is something we see every day and something of which we are very proud.
Before I close, I want to say how proud we are of our Year 7–8 Girls' basketball team, who won the Zone competition on Monday and have qualified to progress to the next round. This is a fantastic achievement, and we wish them all the very best as they continue in the competition.
We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks!
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 term, Class 8A’s reading programme has centred on a shared theme of resilience and personal growth in the face of adversity, explored through three novels: Trash by Andy Mulligan, Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden, and The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Students are developing the ability to think critically about texts, make connections, and respond to increasingly complex ideas. Each reading group meets regularly with teacher, Julia Evans, to build key literacy skills, including inference, identifying themes, understanding plot development, and structuring paragraphs and essays. Students also take part in reading aloud and engage in rich, thoughtful discussions about their novels.
These conversations help deepen their understanding and allow them to consider different perspectives. A central guiding question for the term has been: How do young people develop strength and identity when faced with challenging or dangerous situations? This question has encouraged students to reflect on character development across all three texts, and to make connections to wider themes of courage, choice, and resilience.
This term in Inquiry, our Year 7 students have been delving into the world of ancient warriors, exploring the lives of different warrior groups. Taking on the role of researchers, students investigated daily life, weapons, training, and belief systems, developing a deeper understanding of how warriors shaped and were shaped by their societies. Students worked carefully to locate and use reliable sources, practising how to identify key information, record it in note form, and summarise it in their own words. They then organised their findings, presenting ideas in an accessible and visually appealing way. Throughout the process, students strengthened their research, critical thinking, and communication skills, while also building an appreciation of the cultural significance of these ancient groups. It has been wonderful to see the curiosity and pride students have taken in their work, as well as the thoughtful connections they have made between life in the past and the values we uphold today.
This term, our Year 2 students have been thoroughly engaged in writing, inspired by their delightful novel study of Mr Popper’s Penguins. In the story, Mr Popper, a humble painter, dreams of visiting Antarctica and seeing a real penguin, a dream that sparks imagination and possibility. Taking inspiration from this, students reflected deeply on their own dreams. They explored what they hope to achieve and thoughtfully recorded how they might turn these dreams into reality. Here are two examples of their writing:
“My BIG dream is to race in my car with people watching me. I can make my dream come true by practising go-karting every week and saving my money.”
“My BIG dream is to live and work in Disneyland. I can make my dream come true by practising the dance songs and learning the dance moves.”
These “big dreams for little people” beautifully capture the students’ creativity and determination. When children write about meaningful and exciting ideas, they often don’t realise the wonderful writing they are capable of producing, and this has certainly been the case in our classrooms this term.
On Monday, Preparatory School basketball teams took part in the ISSA Basketball Tournament held at MainPower Stadium in Rangiora. It was a fantastic day out for all involved, with teams playing a short-format version of the game. The fast-paced and high-intensity nature of the competition made for exciting and clinical matches throughout the day.
The Year 7–8 Girls’ A team were outstanding, finishing the tournament undefeated and largely unchallenged, showcasing their skill, teamwork, and dominance across all of their games. Our other teams also performed exceptionally well. The Year 5–6 Boys’ and Year 7–8 Boys’ teams both secured second place, demonstrating strong performances across their respective grades. The Year 5–6 Girls’ team finished third in a tightly contested competition, showing great resilience and development throughout the afternoon. Overall, it was an excellent tournament with all teams representing St Andrew’s College with pride, effort, and sportsmanship. Well done to all players involved.
Tristan Bi (Year 7) won the 2025/2026 Canterbury Golf U13 Order of Merit. He will be representing the College at the 2026 AIMS Games in September, alongside 14,000 other Year 7–8 students competing in a variety of sporting codes.
On Tuesday, a group of 13 Year 8 student leaders, along with representative students from other Canterbury schools, attended National Young Leaders Day at the Christchurch Town Hall. The 2026 event aimed to inspire students through engaging talks, interactive activities, and powerful real-life stories from speakers who have faced and overcome fear to build resilience. The programme emphasised the importance of courage, encouraging students to step beyond their comfort zones and recognise that fear is a natural part of personal growth. The aim of the event was to motivate students to try new experiences and strengthen their confidence as leaders.
Speakers included:
Welcome to Looptown, a world where everything runs on points, progress and the promise of more.
The Mayor has a grand vision to build an empire where success is measured, tracked and endlessly chased. But as the citizens of Looptown race to keep up, one voice begins to question it all. Granny Coda senses that something is not quite right, and she might be the only one brave enough to uncover the truth. Join us for an imaginative adventure that moves through unexpected Glitches, encounters a powerful Firewall, and ventures right to the edge of the world itself. As the system begins to falter, what will it take to break the loop?
This vibrant production brings together 220 Year 7 and 8 students across three nights of collaborative theatre. With a story and script devised by our Preparatory School students, and an original score composed by our Secondary School songwriters, Looped is a celebration of creativity, teamwork and student voice.
Step into the loop… if you dare.
When: Monday 15, Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June
Times: 11.00am–12.15pm and 7.00pm–8.15pm each day (six performances)
Where: Gough Family Theatre – Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Tickets*: Adults $35.00 | Students $17.50 (school-aged children only; ID may be requested on entry)
*A small levy is included in the ticket price, contributing to the build cost of Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre.
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.
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.
Please note: this session will be recorded to support members of the St Andrew’s College community who are unable to attend in person. Please be aware that any audience participation (including questions) may be included in the recording.
REGISTER FOR STACTALKS>Preparatory School students are invited to take part in this year’s World Vision 40-Hour Challenge, from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June. Together we can make a difference.
During the challenge, students are encouraged to go offline for 40 hours – stepping away from devices including phones, gaming, and social media. Alternatively, they can set a personal goal that is meaningful and achievable to be sponsored for. This year’s challenge supports the people of the Solomon Islands, who are being greatly affected by rising sea levels.
Participating students can collect a sponsorship booklet from their classroom teacher, to then seek support from family and friends. Students will need to record the names of sponsors and then track pledges and donations.
Register for the Challenge>
This one-night-only event features our Junior and Senior Performance Awards, Secondary School NCEA dances, and a special premiere of a collaborative new work with Alina Kulikova (Royal New Zealand Ballet, Dance Educator). Our Junior and Intermediate Company dancers from the Preparatory School will also showcase their new repertoire.
When: Wednesday 24 June, 6.30pm–7.30pm
Venue: Gough Family Theatre – Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre, St Andrew's College
Tickets*: Adults $25.00 | Students $15.00 (school-aged children only; ID may be requested on entry)
*A small levy is included in the ticket price, contributing to the build cost of Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre.
Important Ticketing Information:
Each year, the Secondary School's student Sustainability Council runs two clothing drives to support members of our wider Christchurch community. The Council is currently collecting donations for our Winter Clothing Drive. We invite students, staff, and families to contribute any surplus winter clothing that is in good condition, suitable for all age groups – from infants through to adults.
Collection bins (large plastic boxes) are located in the following areas across the College:
Your generosity will help provide warm clothing to those in need during the colder months. The clothing bins will be collected on Friday 26 June. Thank you in advance for your support.
Registrations are now open for our Sport Holiday Programme, running Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July 2026.
Open to students in Years 1–8, the programme offers a fun, active week of sport and games, with sessions from 9.00am–1.30pm daily (drop-off from 8.30am), plus optional supervision until 3.30pm.
Lunch is provided each day.
Registrations and Subway orders close at 9.00am on Friday 26 June.
For full details, costs, and to register, please visit the Sport Medley Holiday Programme Permission Form by clicking here.
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>The very popular Pipe Band Ceilidh (pronounced “kay-lee”) returns in 2026, celebrating St Andrew's proud Scottish heritage.
Come along to a good old-fashioned Scottish knees-up and enjoy a friendly, fun and energetic night of haggis, music, spot prizes, drams and dancing in a relaxed atmosphere. Bring your dancing shoes and wear a touch of tartan!
This much-loved fundraiser is a wonderful way to celebrate our Scottish heritage while supporting the St Andrew's College Pipe Band as they travel to Scotland to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in August this year. The proceeds from this event will go towards supporting this trip.
When: Saturday 18 July, 7.00pm–12.00am
Venue: Gym 1 – St Andrew's College
Tickets: $79.00 (includes a drink on arrival and supper throughout the evening)
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.