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
A warm welcome back to all our students, parents and whānau as we begin Term 3.
It has been a wonderfully positive and energising start to the term. One of the highlights of these first few days has been hearing about the many holiday adventures, special family moments and exciting experiences our students have enjoyed over the break. The enthusiasm, stories and smiles they have brought back to school have been a wonderful reminder of the rich experiences that contribute to their learning and development.
There is a real sense of purpose and excitement across the Preparatory School as students reconnect with friends, settle back into routines and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead this term.
During the final week of the holidays, a group of 32 Preparatory students travelled to Queensland as part of the 2026 Australia Tour, representing the College in basketball, netball and rugby fixtures. We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented themselves and the College throughout the tour. Thank you also to staff members Alex Kelley, Dave Ermerins, Mary, Joe, and Isaac Leota, and Sophie Martin for their commitment to coaching, supporting and caring for our students throughout this valuable experience. You can read more about the tour within this newsletter.
Student Midyear Reports will be available to families tomorrow. As communicated in our Term 2, Week 8 Update, this year's reports have been prepared using the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, meaning families may notice some differences in the way achievement is reported compared with previous years.
The refreshed curriculum introduces new learning expectations and year-level learning content that is taught progressively across the year. This means achievement reflects where students are in their learning journey at this point in time, as they engage with, practise and consolidate new knowledge and skills.
As a result, some students who may previously have been identified as achieving Above Expected Curriculum Level under earlier curriculum benchmarks may now be reported as Consolidating or Proficient within the refreshed curriculum. This should not be interpreted as a decline in achievement or progress. Rather, it reflects the different way achievement is now reported and the fact that students are still working through curriculum content that will continue to be taught and assessed throughout the year.
The reports should therefore be viewed as a snapshot of each student's current progress. We remain very proud of the effort, growth and achievement demonstrated by our students, and we encourage families to celebrate both the progress already made and the learning still to come.
We look forward to welcoming parents and whānau to our Parent-Teacher Conferences from Monday 27 – Wednesday 29 July, where we can celebrate learning, discuss progress and work together to support each child's continued growth.
We wish our Year 5–8 students all the very best as they represent the Preparatory School at the ISSA Sports Tournament tomorrow. We know our teams will represent us with enthusiasm, sportsmanship and pride!
Please also see the separate article in this newsletter highlighting the high-level findings from the co-curricular consultation undertaken last term and outlining how this feedback will help inform future planning and development.
We are looking forward to another busy and rewarding term of learning, growth and participation.
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").
As we begin Term 3, a new group of Year 8 students has entered the Food Technology room, ready to build on the skills and experiences developed during their Year 7 journey. This term, students are extending their kitchen knowledge by strengthening routines and systems while developing greater independence and confidence.
Beyond practical cooking skills, Year 8 students will spend time exploring nutrition and healthy eating, investigating what they already know and building on that understanding. Through discussion and inquiry, they will examine the role of sugar, fast food, and food choices in today's society, helping them become informed and responsible young adults. It is exciting to see students growing not only as cooks, but as young people who are learning to make balanced and informed decisions that will support their well-being both now and into the future.
Late last year, we were privileged to welcome youth educator and well-being specialist Jo Robertson to St Andrew's College, where she spoke with both staff and parents about the realities young people are navigating in today's online world. Parts of her visit to the College feature in the new NZ Herald docuseries, Under the Influence, which explores the growing influence of social media and online content on children, adolescents, and families.
As a school, we believe that supporting young people's well-being requires a strong partnership between home and school. The themes explored in this series align closely with the age-appropriate conversations we are having through our well-being programmes across the College and our commitment to Hold the Line til Year 9. The Hold the Line initiative encourages families to work together to delay access to social media and smartphones until children are developmentally ready, helping to protect childhood and give young people the time and space they need to develop confidence, resilience, healthy relationships, and a strong sense of self.
The series highlights many of the challenges facing young people today – from social comparison and body image pressures to exposure to content that can shape attitudes, relationships, and self-worth. While these challenges are real, the series is hopeful in its message, reminding us that parents, schools, and communities have an important role to play in shaping healthier digital habits and creating environments where young people can flourish.
We encourage parents to explore the full Under the Influence series and consider discussing its themes with family and friends. Together, through initiatives such as Hold the Line and ongoing conversations at home, we can help our children enjoy the benefits of technology while protecting the well-being, relationships, and childhood experiences that matter most.
View the full series: Under the Influence – NZ Herald
If you would like to learn more about Hold the Line, please contact Vicki Pettit at VPE@stac.school.nz, or read more and sign the pledge via the link below.
Sign the Hold the Line Pledge by clicking here.
Thank you to the parents and whānau who took the time to participate in our recent consultation regarding co-curricular opportunities and communication within the Preparatory School. We received 36 responses from across all learning teams, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to share their perspectives. The feedback was thoughtful, constructive and reflected the care our community has for providing the very best experience for our students.
The consultation findings were recently presented to the Board of Governors and have also informed leadership discussions and future planning.
What We Heard
Several clear themes emerged from the feedback. Parents and whānau told us that they value:
Parents and whānau also shared opportunities for us to continue refining our approach, particularly in relation to:
What Happens Next?
The consultation findings will continue to inform the ongoing development of the Preparatory School, including communication, visibility of learning, timetabling considerations and co-curricular provision.
The feedback does not indicate a need for immediate changes to current programmes. It does, however, provide valuable insight into what our community values most and highlights opportunities to further strengthen the Preparatory School experience. Responses have been carefully considered, with the key themes and findings also shared with the Board of Governors. While not every suggestion can be implemented, the feedback will continue to inform future planning and decision-making. As aspects of our provision evolve over time, we will continue to draw on the themes identified through this consultation and will share with our community where parent and whānau feedback has informed future developments.
Ming Macarthy (Year 7) has been selected for the U13 Kiwi Blacks Inline Hockey team representing New Zealand at State Wars 2026, being held Tuesday 21 July – Monday 3 August in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
The Preparatory School took two junior teams to the Years 1–6 Canterbury Interschool Chess Competition and a senior team to the Years 7–8 competition, at the end of last term.
All 12 students played other budding chess players from across the Canterbury region and had lots of fun learning new strategies. The Senior team (Tianyu (George) Feng (Captain), Anqi (Angie) Qin (both Year 8), Alexander Mazey, Henry Streeter (both Year 7)) placed fourth in the B grade and all of the students had several successful wins.
The 2026 Australia Tour was a memorable and successful experience that combined sport, adventure, personal growth, and team building. Students travelled from Christchurch to Queensland, embracing a packed itinerary that included visits to the Sunshine Coast Aquarium, Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild, Mount Tamborine, and Movie World.
Across rugby, netball, and basketball fixtures against Matthew Flinders Anglican College, St Andrew’s Anglican College, and John Paul College, students displayed outstanding determination, resilience, and sportsmanship. Highlights included the rugby team’s tour victory against St Andrew’s Anglican, the Girls’ basketball team remaining unbeaten, and the netball team securing a hard-earned win in their final match.
Beyond the results, the tour showcased the character of the group. Daily Random Acts of Kindness awards recognised students who consistently helped others and represented the College values with distinction. Praise from members of the public, opposition schools, and venue staff reflected the students’ excellent manners, teamwork, and ambassadorial spirit throughout the tour.
Flickr>Two Preparatory School students competed in the New Zealand Highland Dancing Championships held in Blenheim from Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 July.
Iaera Abrahamson (Year 6) gained a fourth National ranking in U12, while Nayana Abrahamson (Year 4) gained a fifth National ranking in U10.
Claire Zhao (Year 8) was awarded third place in the Primary/Intermediate Haiku category at the prestigious New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition 2026.
In the Poetry Box Favourite Place Poem Challenge, Xinrui (Sophia) Xu (Year 3) had her poem, Summer Beach, selected by poet Paula Green to be featured on the Poetry Box website.
A group of students enjoyed outstanding success at the Christchurch Speech and Drama Competitions, held from Saturday 4 – Tuesday 7 July. More than 30 students competed across a wide range of events, including poetry recitation, prepared reading, drama, public speaking and improvisation.
Students achieved excellent results across all age groups, from U8 to U19, with many receiving first, second and third placings, as well as commendations. Particularly pleasing was the success of a number of first-time competitors, who performed with confidence and enthusiasm in their debut competition.
The competitions provided students with the opportunity to develop their communication skills, creativity and stage presence while performing in front of an audience and adjudicator. Congratulations to all of the students who took part and represented the College so well. Thank you also to the families who supported the students in preparing for and attending the competition weekend.
We warmly invite Preparatory School families to attend our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences, an important opportunity to celebrate your child's progress and discuss their learning and well-being with their classroom teacher.
Teachers will be sharing and discussing each student's Midyear Report, including progress and achievement in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Midyear Reports will be available on the Community Portal from Friday 24 July.
We strongly encourage students in Year 4 and above, particularly those in Years 7–8, to attend these conferences alongside their parents. Students attending are expected to wear their school uniform.
Parent-teacher Conference Schedule
Each learning conference is 15 minutes. These conferences include all classroom teachers from Years 1–8, apart from Heather Orman's class.
Conference Booking
We encourage all families to book a Conference time, as these conversations provide valuable insights into your child’s learning journey and next steps. To book, click the School Interviews link below, then enter the School Code where prompted.
Bookings will close tomorrow (Friday 24 July).
The College’s term dates have been set for 2028 and can now be viewed on our website by clicking here.
St Andrew’s College families are warmly invited to join our next Community Native Tree Planting Day on Sunday 2 August, from 10.00am–12.00pm at the QEII Adventure Nature Trail, 245 Beach Road.
This is a wonderful opportunity to support the work of Eco Action Nursery Trust and help plant more than 2000 native trees and plants that have been carefully grown by our students and other community groups. With hundreds of students, parents and volunteers expected to attend, it promises to be a rewarding morning of environmental action, community spirit and fun. Please bring:
There will be plenty of spades available on site, so everyone can get involved. The more volunteers we have, the greater the impact we can make together.
This planting contributes to the development of a lasting community asset, creating habitat and food sources for native birds and lizards, while also helping to sequester carbon and enhance the local environment for future generations. This event is the third of four large-scale planting days that will see 14,000 locally sourced, student-grown native plants and trees established across QEII, 3 Chimera Crescent and 25 Atlantis Street. We are proud that St Andrew’s College has been involved alongside many other schools, community organisations and volunteer groups from across Canterbury. We encourage all members of our College community to take part in this meaningful initiative and help make a lasting difference to our local environment.
For more information, please visit Eco Action Nursery Trust on Facebook, or their website.
We hope to see you there!
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:
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.
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.