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
This week has been a wonderful celebration of the many opportunities our ākonga experience across the Preparatory School.
On Tuesday, the Annual Preparatory School Music Concert showcased over 130 ākonga performing across Cantare Choir, Junior Choir, Preparatory School Orchestra, chamber group, music scholar soloists, and our two rock bands. It was a true celebration of music, and it was clear to see just how hard our ākonga had worked to polish their pieces and share them with an audience.
The choir performances also provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the specific skills required in choral singing. While contemporary and popular songs are often appealing to perform, choral repertoire is carefully selected to help ākonga develop elements such as tone, balance, diction, timing, blend, control, and expression. These qualities are important in preparing ākonga for wider music opportunities, including festivals and representative auditions.
It was wonderful to receive the recent Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival audition results, with 17 of our ākonga selected for the Representative Junior Choir, Representative Senior Choir, and Symphony Orchestra. This is an outstanding achievement, comparable to being chosen for a Canterbury representative sports team, and these ākonga are recognised in a separate article within this newsletter.
The Ballet Junior Performance Awards and Senior Showcase last night was also a delight. The standard of performance was outstanding, and it was wonderful to see our ākonga performing with such confidence, discipline, and expression. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these performances.
It was also a pleasure to welcome ākonga, staff, and whānau from Anglican Church Grammar School on Wednesday, known as Churchie, as part of their New Zealand sports tour. Our long-standing relationship was evident in the way matches across rugby, football, and basketball were played with skill, respect, and true sporting spirit.
Over the holidays, 32 of our Preparatory School ākonga will embark on their own international sports tour, visiting schools across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. I wish our ākonga, kaimahi, and whānau every success on this exciting journey. I have no doubt they will represent the College with pride.
Thank you to the parents and whānau who contributed to the recent co-curricular consultation. We received 36 responses, with feedback from across all learning teams. Key themes were shared with the Board of Governors last week. While the feedback does not indicate a need for immediate changes to Term 3 or Term 4 programmes, it will help inform future planning, and more detailed information will be shared at the start of Term 3.
I wish all of you a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break. I hope our ākonga return refreshed and ready for another full and exciting term.
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, 8A have been exploring Matariki, focusing on the themes of remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future. As part of this, students worked in pairs to choose a star and explain the stories and meanings associated with it, while also developing their teamwork skills in line with our PERMA-V focus on building positive relationships. The class also broadened their perspective by exploring how cultures around the world recognise and understand stars. Students investigated the significance of different stars or constellations and explained how they are used in traditions, celebrations and everyday life, drawing connections to the way Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand. This helped students see both the uniqueness of our local traditions and the shared human fascination with the night sky.
Our Year 2 reading programme is based on the Structured Literacy approach developed by Liz Kane, supporting students to build strong foundations in reading. Each day, children receive explicit, systematic teaching in phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition to help them read accurately and confidently. Students enjoy a wide range of rich texts, including picture books, poems, shared big books, and a class novel, to develop a love of reading and deepen comprehension. Through these texts, they learn to make connections, ask questions, and identify important ideas. Fluency is supported through repeated reading, small group instruction, and teacher modelling of expressive reading. Ongoing assessment and targeted teaching ensure every child is supported to meet New Zealand Curriculum expectations in understanding, responding to, and thinking about texts.
The Canterbury Drummers Club Winter Solo Competition was held at St Andrew’s College on Sunday. Our Pipe Band drummers performed well and had some fantastic results. This solo competition is extremely valuable to all our drummers, whether they are learning and developing through to advanced level, and especially for our Scotland team travelling in August this year for the Pipe Band World Championships.
Flickr>Our young writers have enjoyed an impressive start to the year, achieving success in a range of national and international creative writing competitions and publications. Jessica Whitehead (Year 8) received the Young Poet Award for the Maya Lyubenova International Haiku Competition 2026 (Bulgaria), and was published in the Fifth Sakura Haiku Challenge Digital Anthology for the Sakura Cherry Blossum Haiku Challenge. Jessica, along with Xinrui (Sophia) Xu and Isabelle Gibbs (both Year 3), had their poems published in the NZ Poetry Box Bird Challenge. Claire Zhao (Year 8) entered her haiku in The 7th Star Haiku Contest 2026 and received the prestigious Osaka Governor’s Award.
On a cold Wednesday, the Preparatory School hosted the annual Churchie Exchange with Anglican Church Grammar School (known as “Churchie”) welcoming visitors from Brisbane for a competitive and enjoyable day across three sporting codes. In rugby, the match developed into a strong defensive contest, with both sides applying pressure. The tries that did emerge came from impressive long-range efforts, highlighting the quality of both teams. Churchie ultimately secured a narrow victory in a hard-fought game. St Andrew’s Max Yandle (Year 8) was outstanding throughout and received Player of the Day. The football fixture saw an excellent display of character from St Andrew’s, who fought back after conceding early. Through composed play and strong teamwork, they turned the game around to lose narrowly, 2–3. Both teams showcased a high level of technical ability, making for an exciting contest. Indi Haydon-Uren (Year 8) delivered an exceptional performance and was awarded Player of the Day. In basketball, our invitational team experienced a slow start but showed admirable determination in the second half. As their confidence grew, they improved significantly, working together more effectively on both ends of the court. Mateo Gibbons (Year 8) was particularly influential inside the key and was named Player of the Day. Overall, the day was a great success, with all teams competing in good spirit and showcasing strong performances across the three fixtures despite the cold weather.
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The following students have been selected for the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival representative Junior and Senior Choirs and Symphony Orchestra:
Two Preparatory School students achieved excellent results at the South Island Schools Karate Championships and Canterbury Cup 2026, held at the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
Ethan King (Year 7) delivered an outstanding performance, winning gold medals in both Kata and Kumite in the Year 7–8 division at the South Island Schools Championships. Ethan then went on to claim further gold medals in both Kata and Kumite in the 12–13 years category at the Canterbury Cup. Ismay Bi (Year 4) also enjoyed a successful competition, earning a gold and a silver medal while proudly representing St Andrew’s College. In addition, she secured two bronze medals while competing for her karate club.
On Tuesday evening, the Preparatory School presented a concert of music items in the Centennial Chapel. The concert featured the two new rock bands, Junior Choir (Year 4–5 students), Cantare Choir (Year 6–8 students), Preparatory School Orchestra, chamber group trio, and solo items by Music scholars, Claire Chua (Year 7) and Caleb Waines (Year 8). The evening showed a range of talent from children performing in large groups, to very experienced musicians playing in small instrumental ensembles. This was a great performance opportunity for the children and the first opportunity for parents to hear the Junior Choir, the chamber group, and instrumental soloists. The performers supported each other with enthusiastic applause. The concert was very well received by a supportive audience of parents and families.
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Get ready for a wild week of reading and imagination! Book Week is arriving a little earlier this year, running from Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September (Term 3 Week 7).
This year’s theme: Critters and Creatures – a joyful celebration of the real and imaginary, furry, feathered, and scaly characters children love in books.
Throughout the week, our library programme will take centre stage, with students enjoying:
The highlight of the week will be our colourful Book Parade which will take place on Thursday 3 September.
Join us for the 2026 StAC Ag Show on Thursday 20 August. Students at all year levels can enter several fun categories, such as photography, art, flower arrangements, and Lego creations, with certificates awarded for first to third place in each category and a prize for first place.
There will be a raffle on offer, and anyone who enters may be in to win a spot prize! There is something for everyone at this free, A&P Show-inspired event. Come along to Gym 1 to experience all the art, baking, and pet entries, as well as the petting zoo – get set for a day of agricultural fun!
Parents and family members are very welcome to come along on the day and share the fun.
AG SHOW ENTRIES
To enter your child/ren into the StAC Ag Show, please click to complete the relevant entry form/s below:
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.
We are excited to invite expressions of interest from parents/caregivers for children in Years 0–8 who would like to represent St Andrew’s College at the ISSA Ski and Snowboard Championships.
The event will be held at Mount Hutt Ski Field and is a fantastic opportunity for students to enjoy a fun day on the mountain, while competing as part of the St Andrew’s College team.
All abilities are welcome, provided students are able to confidently link turns on a blue run. Last year, we had more than 30 students racing, and we would love to see another strong St Andrew’s team on the slopes this year.
Please note that all children must be accompanied on the day by a parent or caregiver.
If your child is interested in participating, please complete the Ski and Snowboard Team Expression of Interest Form by 10.00am on Friday 3 July to register your child’s interest.
COMPLETE THE 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.
As part of the evening, there will be a fundraising live auction featuring a range of fantastic prizes, along with a silent auction that will open for bidding two weeks prior to the event. Those unable to attend the Ceilidh will still be able to participate and place bids in the silent auction – more information coming soon!
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)
We are delighted to invite parents and caregivers to the inaugural StAC Business Network evening, taking place on Tuesday 21 July in Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre.
This event will bring together members of our school community for an evening of connection, conversation, and insight. Guests will enjoy drinks and canapés, followed by a presentation from Tony Alexander, one of New Zealand’s most respected economists, who will share his perspectives on the local and global economy.
The StAC Business Network series aims to create regular opportunities for parents and business owners to connect, share ideas, and engage with the school community beyond the school gate.
When: Tuesday 21 July, 6.00pm–8.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre, Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Tickets*: Adults $20.00 | Students $15.00 (includes drinks and canapés)
*A small levy is included in the ticket price, contributing to the build cost of Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre.
We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an engaging and informative evening.
Spaces are limited. Read more and secure your tickets online at the link below.
Purchase tickets>
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.