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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou.
As this last week of Term 1 comes to an end, I would like to thank everyone for their very warm and friendly welcome to me, and Judi, into the St Andrew’s College community. While it is always a steep learning curve when you first join a large organisational community, I feel like we have settled in extremely well. We are delighted to be part of this very special school and its strong and well-connected wider community.
My thanks to everyone involved last week in Summer Tournament Week, with hundreds of our students, staff, coaches, and supporters spread across New Zealand competing in their various sports. Sport can so often be a metaphor of life, as we all experience the joy of achievements and the disappointment if we don’t achieve our goals. However, these experiences are all important life lessons to understand and manage. As a school we are particularly delighted with the dedication, courage, and effort that our young people put into their passions and chosen activities – and regardless of outcomes they will have all personally grown from these amazing experiences.
Such experiences are also evident in our performing arts, and many of our senior students are now heavily involved in rehearsing for our upcoming Senior College Production and dance competitions. Tickets for the production, Twelfth Night, are available here.
Last week we had our first Cultural Showcase, which are wonderful performance occasions to celebrate and showcases the and hugely impressive and diverse range of talents of our performing arts students.
In terms of academic growth and progress, I have been so pleased to see how well our Parent-Teacher Interviews have gone over the last few weeks, across both our Preparatory and Secondary Schools. These interviews are such important parts of the educational process, keeping teachers connected with parents in the shared responsibility of the development of our young people. Thank you for everyone’s involvement in these important communication opportunities.
I would like to acknowledge throughout the month of March, how as a College we have participated in fundraising for ‘One Human Race’ in support of So They Can. In the Secondary School, this has included every tutor group running their own creative fundraising campaign. This Thursday saw a fun blue and white-themed non-uniform day to support this fundraising activity. The funds raised will support girls living in Kenya and Tanzania that don’t have access to basic human rights, such as education and good living conditions. The ‘One Human Race’ campaign is a real way in which we can truly make a positive difference. You can follow our fundraising or make a donation online by clicking here.
Blue and White Theme Day Flickr >
Following yesterday’s announcement, my congratulations again to our Principal of Preparatory School, Jonathan Bierwirth, for his significant 29-years of leadership and service at St Andrew’s College – and that he will be retiring at the end of this school year. Our process for recruiting a new Principal of our Preparatory School will commence in Term 2, for appointment for the start for 2026.
This morning a number of Secondary and Preparatory School students have received awards at their End of Term 1 assemblies. Congratulations also to the students involved with the assembly performances.
I wish you all the very best for a safe and enjoyable term holiday break and blessed Easter and look forward to the start of Term 2 on Tuesday 29 April and all that this new term offers.
Ngā mihi mahana
Mark Wilson
Rector
Being a good sports parent involves striking a balance between support and allowing your child to develop their own identity and autonomy. The latest Balance is Better @ StAC Sports Blog details tips parents can use to help create a positive and supportive environment to encourage students to flourish in sports, while developing important life skills.
Read the Blog Post >
This week marks the end of the Peer Support sessions for our Year 9 students. A large number of Year 12–13 Peer Support Leaders have run activities with Year 9 students over the term to help them become connected with their classmates and feel a sense of belonging to St Andrew’s. The activities have covered themes of communication, respect, and working with others. These sessions have been a chance for Year 9 students to get to know some senior role models and to gain insights into life at the College. In Week 9, the Year 9 cohort took part in a rotation of three activities, including an Easter Egg hunt. This week the Peer Support Leaders took a morning tea to each tutor group during Extended Tutor Time, as an opportunity to connect with the students before the end of term.
Dr Barbara Oakley visited the College on Monday, speaking to Year 13 students, Year 9 Academic Extension and Enrichment (ACEE) students, Year 9–10 boarders, and staff. As the co-author of the book and the largest online open learning course (MOOC) Learning How To Learn, Dr Oakley provided insights into how the brain learns.
Her top tips included:
Last week the cast and band of the Senior College Production, Twelfth Night, went away for four days on their annual production camp. The group not only did hours of rehearsal, but also spent time making connections with others, watching the sunrise, and of course a holding a very entertaining camp concert. Many of the Senior students are leading the younger ones and continuing to develop the College’s performing arts culture.
Twelfth Night is a funny and upbeat musical show and is a suitable for the whole family.
• Yes! This is a musical;
• Yes! This is Shakespeare with all the usual love mix-ups, misunderstandings and larger than life cameos;
• Yes! It's only 90 minutes rather than the hours Shakespeare sometimes is.
For more information and to book your tickets, see the notices below.
The Year 9 camps saw all nine core classes participating in the experience at Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill throughout the term. The camps supported the Year 9 theme of 'belonging', to create a sense of unity among students. Through various activities, students forged connections with their peers, developed resilience, and gained a greater sense of independence. One of the standout activities for many was rock climbing, which challenged students to overcome their fears while learning to trust themselves and their classmates. This experience bolstered their confidence and teamwork. Another highlight was the Cave Stream expedition, which required students to navigate through dark, winding passages. Success in this challenge was achieved through effective communication and teamwork. The overnight rafting journey on the Waimakariri River was another highlight. Students navigated rapids and calm stretches of the river, testing their physical endurance while fostering strong bonds among the groups, as they worked together to overcome obstacles. Camping overnight under the stars added a memorable touch to the journey.
Flickr >The Sustainability Council and Science Club were privileged to host Mark Chadderton from Aspiring Materials at a lunchtime seminar on Monday. The Christchurch-based carbon reduction start-up, Aspiring Materials, was accepted onto a Bill Gates-backed sustainable energy programme in 2023 and has gone from strength to strength. Aspiring Materials was one of 13 companies chosen from 2500 global applicants for the Breakthrough Energy initiative. Mark’s talk provided a rare window into the world of high-tech geological engineering, underpinned by sustainable development principles.
A group of students participated in a conservation project at Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill last week, working as part of a wilding pine control group. This conservation project within the College’s vocational programme started in 2020 and has continued building stronger connections with the Castle Hill community. Students always enjoy meeting with Conservation Co-ordinator, Ray Goldring, a well-known New Zealand outdoor expert, former mountaineer, and Antarctic veteran. Linked to an environmental education assessment, the students successfully mitigated 2,100 wildings, potentially preventing the growth of a further 2.1 million wildings, mostly contorta. Contorta pines are precocious and can produce cones as early as three years old. One tree can produce 15–20,000 viable seeds per annum. The seeds, as light as sandflies, are dispersed by wind, which can carry them over many kilometres.
Flickr >
This week, the Preparatory School Chapel Service welcomed some very special visitors. In celebration of Easter, Religious Education teacher Bridget Roth arranged for two real live bunnies to sit calmly on stage in an Easter basket. The sight of these adorable visitors sparked high excitement, especially among our youngest students. Several Year 8 students shared presentations on their recent learning about Easter, including its history, symbols, and global celebrations. Two Year 8 students also demonstrated new actions to one of our popular hymns, I’ve Got Peace Like a River.
The excitement was evident last Friday as the Junior Department students arrived ready for their annual Athletics Day – tabloids, baton relay, and sprints. The Year 1–2 students rotated between their events: Fill the bucket, ladder relay, basketball throw and hurdles, while the Year 3 students moved between Vortex throw, shot put and long jump. Everyone enjoyed watching the Year 3 students complete their baton relay, determination and effort evident on their faces as they raced around the track. The students ran in sprint heats and finals in their year groups and their effort was obvious as they crossed the finish line. House spirit resonated around the field as sportsmanship, participation, and our StAC-Up values were clear to see while the students cheered for others. Thank you to all the teachers, supporters, and the Year 8 students who helped the day run smoothly. Congratulations to the winning house Thompson, followed by Erwin (second), Rutherford (third), and MacGibbon (fourth).
Flickr >The Junior Department welcomed Easter with a bright and joyful celebration yesterday. It is never too early to put on bunny ears and explore the arts and crafts on offer! Some of the exciting options included making paper chain bunnies, pop-up cards, Easter baskets, and focusing on amazing eggs in nature.
Flickr >
The Pre-school supports and encourage our tamariki to be kaitiaki (guardians) of our natural environment. To help further build the children’s knowledge about how we can all be protectors of marine creatures, today the Pre-school was visited by Jennifer, an educator from Project Jonah. Project Jonah is a marine welfare charity that supports stranded whales and dolphins. Jennifer led a mat time where the children learned some fascinating facts about whales and dolphins and then headed outside where they helped ‘rescue’ a life-size inflatable whale by pouring water over its body, just as you would at a real stranding. The children will now know what to do if they ever come across a stranded whale pod!
Flickr >The final results for Summer Tournament, including those who finished over the weekend, are summarised below. A full selection of photos is also now available in the Combined Summer Tournament Flickr, and in the individual sports code Flickrs for competitions held in Christchurch.
Summer Tournament Week Latest Results >
New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships (Maadi Regatta) – The rowing team had an outstanding regatta at the recent New Zealand Secondary Schools Maadi regatta, racing in eight A finals, 11 B finals, and one C final. Making a final is a significant achievement with 2500 athletes from 116 schools competing over the week – and only 40% of these athletes making it to finals. Our St Andrew’s crews had four podium finishes, wining two silver and two bronze medals, while our Girls’ U18 eight made history by being the first St Andrew’s College eight to make the final of the Levin Jubilee Cup final, finishing in fourth place. At the conclusion of the regatta, six students were invited to trial for the South Island U18 team to compete against the North Island team in the April holidays – Bradley Hughes, William Currie (both Year 13), Harry Pitts, Chloe Lowe, Charlotte Galvan, and Emily de Joux (all Year 12).
Flickr >
New Zealand Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships – The volleyball teams had a fantastic tournament in Palmerston North, which hosted 198 teams across seven divisions – the largest indoor secondary school sports event. The Girls’ A team won bronze as the third-best team in the country (in back-to-back years). Mia Montgomery and Catherine Cook (both Year 13) were also named to the tournament team. The Boys’ A team also had a strong performance, qualifying for the top 32. They narrowly missed making the top 16 but finished fourth in Division 2 (20th nationally).
New Zealand Secondary Schools 3x3 Basketball Championships – The Senior Boys’ and Girls’ teams travelled to Dunedin for the 3x3 Zone 4 Basketball Qualifying Tournament. Both teams had a strong first day, with the boys winning six out of seven games, and the girls winning four of their five games. The play-offs on the second day saw the Boys’ team unfortunately drop a pair of games to finish fourth. The Girls’ team went undefeated on the second day, winning the tournament and qualified for nationals.
South Island Secondary Schools Mountain Biking Championships – The small but dedicated group of mountain bikers competed in Cross Country, Downhill, and Enduro events at Mount Hutt.
Unfortunately, several athletes had to withdraw due to illness and injury, however, the remaining participants performed admirably and achieved several podium finishes.
• Abigail Scott-Douglas (Year 12): 2nd – U17 Girls Cross Country
• Cooper Pringle (Year 11): 2nd – U17 Boys Cross Country
• Abigail and Cooper: 1st – Mixed Senior Relay.
South Island Secondary Schools Water Polo Championships – The Senior A Boys’ and Senior A Girls’ water polo teams experienced defeats in the early stages, enjoying some success further into the tournament. The Boys’ team, consisting of only four Senior players, showed excellent determination, and kept fighting to the end. This was evident when they beat Shirley Boys’ High School Senior A 10–9 in the last 30 seconds of the game, to finish eighth. The Senior A Girls’ team, a group of young players, was up against tough competition. Despite this the girls never gave up and kept fighting, achieving convincing wins against Marian College and Southland Girls’ High School, and finished ninth.
Flickr >
A team of 24 swimmers competed at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Swimming Championships at Jellie Park on Wednesday – 17 junior and seven senior students. The team achieved nine top 3 placings in individual events, and four top 3 placings in the relays. Rylee McBride (Year 13) was awarded ‘Outstanding Female Swimmer for 2025,’ which capped off her highly successful school swimming career.
Full results can be found on the School Sport Canterbury Website.
The 1st XI cricket team hosted Saint Kentigern College from Auckland on Sunday, in a one-day fixture for the Saints Trophy. Batting first, Saint Kentigern posted an exceptionally good total of 264 with Jack Christie (Year 13) and Otis Wheeler (Year 12) taking three wickets each. The St Andrew’s innings started with the loss of an early wicket, but Spencer Hair (Year 12) and Jack O'Rourke (Year 13) combined together for an amazing 250 run partnership with Spencer making 70, and Jack an extremely impressive 160 n.o., seeing us home two down with nine overs to spare.
On Monday, the two schools played a 20/20 game with Saint Kentigern batting first, accumulating 109 with Aarkin Kesar (Year 13) and Jock Sidey (Year 12) taking three wickets each. Ryan Bond (Year 12) 54 n.o. and Austin Earl (Year 13) 50 n.o. combined in a 100-run partnership in 10 overs to secure the win.
Other key performances:
• Nathan Andrew (Year 9) 50 vs StAC Blue;
• Cuintin Borella (Year 11) 5/44 vs St Thomas of Canterbury College.
Shey Doerner-Corson (Year 12) competed in Round 1 of the New Zealand Hard Enduro National Championship Series. Shey placed first overall after two days of racing.
Sam Payton (Year 9) competed in the Boxing South Island Novice Championships last weekend. Sam showed skill, precision, and athleticism, dominating all three rounds to come away with the gold medal and title of South Island Novice Champion 2025.
Over the last couple of weeks Alexander Black (Year 13) has attended both the National Men's Open Club Championship and South Island Secondary Schools Softball Division 2 Championship. At the Division 2 championships, Alexander was appointed Plate Umpire for the Boys’ final.
The most recent VEX robotics scrimmage was by far the largest group that St Andrew’s has hosted and bodes well for a busy and exciting season ahead. Students are currently building robots to compete in the local Canterbury Challenge. In the VEX IQ game, Rise Above, which is like 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, two teams, “The Terminator” (Carter Robinson, William Keir, Jack Blyde, George Nicholls (all Year 7)) and “The Krispy Robots” (Nathaniel Jones, James Laurenson, Max Schouten (all Year 8), Seth Clenshaw, Benjamin Carline, and George Brandon (all Year 7)), made it through to the finals playoffs, where they finished in third place overall. Tipping Point, the VEX V5 game, involves fast and furious robot action to score goals on raised platforms. Of the five St Andrew’s College teams who competed, two teams made it through to the playoffs, 88397Z; "No Name Yet" (Angus Davidson, Daisy Huang, Mack Hooper, and Ken Minh-Ky Pham (all Year 12), with 88397C "The Rack Dealers" (William MacIntyre, Alexander Harbrow, Spencer Ballinger, and Matthew Bluck (all Year 12)) making it all the way to the finals, where they lost to a team from Burnside High School.
Flickr >
After two club races, Zongze (Aaron) Li (Year 7) came second place in the Canterbury Karting Club Championships in the VMR class, and second in the 2024 club points VMR class.
Elina Wang (Year 8) recently completed her tenth Science Badge and was awarded with her Silver Star Badge. A badge, certificate, and congratulatory letter were presented to Elina at the End of Term Preparatory School Assembly.
Georgia Gregg (Year 8) danced in Oxford last Saturday, winning three trophies. These were for Highland Reel U16, Seann Triubhas 12 and Under, and the U14 Irish Hornpipe Cup.
Liam (Year 4) and ChlöeAnn Botha (Year 7) both swam at the Makos South Island Country and Town Competition. Liam swam in nine races in the Boys’ 10 and Under category, making six Personal Bests and placing top 5 in seven of his races. He achieved: 3rd – 50m Breaststroke; 3rd – 200m Freestyle; 2nd – 200m backstroke (dropping 14.92 seconds off his original time). ChlöeAnn swam in the Girls’ age 11–12 category, making six Personal Bests out of her seven races, and placing in the top 5 in five of these.
A number of Preparatory School students have achieved success in creative writing endeavours this term.
Ben Ashman (OC 2024) has been selected for the New Zealand Juniors rowing trial.
Britney-Lee Nicholson (OC 2017) has been selected for the New Zealand Futsal Ferns China Tour, building up for the 2025 FIFA Futsal World Cup in the Philippines later this year. Britney-Lee is the current top goal scorer for the New Zealand Futsal Ferns.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the holidays in sports and cultural activities including:
• South Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships;
• Rugby Australia Tour;
• Presbyterian Rugby Quad Tournament;
• Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards Adventurous Journeys;
• Senior Girls Hockey Tournament;
• Senior Boys Hockey Anzac Tournament;
• South Island Secondary Schools Adventure Racing;
• Spirit of Adventure sailing.
All are welcome to attend the St Andrew’s College Anzac Day Chapel Service on Friday 25 April, in the Centennial Chapel from 10.00am. Attendance is compulsory for Year 12 students.
The 2025 Prizegiving ceremony will be held on Saturday 29 November, rather than on a Sunday as in previous years, due to a scheduling conflict at Venues Ōtautahi. More information will be communicated in due course.
St Andrew's College proudly presents Twelfth Night, a vibrant and modern musical twist on Shakespeare's cherished comedy, created by Shaina Taub. Join us as our talented senior students bring the classic tale of mistaken identities and romance to life in a fresh and exciting way.
This musical adaptation blends Shakespeare’s sharp wit with a bold, contemporary soundtrack. Featuring an eclectic mix of folk, pop, and soul, the performance will have you tapping your feet and humming along to the tunes long after the final bow.
Step into a world brimming with mischief, love, and witty wordplay. With dazzling performances, vibrant choreography, and a unique musical score, Twelfth Night promises to be an unforgettable experience.
When: Sunday 4 May – Saturday 10 May (no show Wednesday)
Where: Gough Family Theatre, Ngā Toi – Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Adults $35.00 | Students $17.50
Year 7–12 parents/caregivers are being offered the opportunity to attend the six-week Emotion Coaching course, Tuning into Teens (TINT). The programme will be led by Julie Forman (Counsellor/Mediator) from Āwhina Mai and College Psychologist, Kate Scott.
You will learn how to manage your own and your adolescent’s emotions in ways that help you to remain close and keep communicating. By learning these skills, you are less likely to have as much conflict within your family and your teen is more likely to talk to you about the challenging issues they face. These are factors that have been found to reduce the risk of mental health and substance abuse problems.
When: Six-week programme on Mondays, 9.00am–11.00am, starting on Monday 12 May until Monday 23 June .
Where: St Andrew’s College – Thompson Boarding House common room.
Booking: email Kate Scott at KSO@stac.school.nz, 14 places available. In the event of excess numbers, places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Cost: $200 for the six-week course (individual) and $250 for a couple.
The Pipe Band Department is proud to be hosting the Pipe Band Ceilidh for 2025 – this year as a family-friendly social event with the call to “Gather Your Clan” to enjoy this special evening together. Expect a relaxed occasion with family, fellowship, and fun at the forefront. This is an alcohol-free event; however, a range of non-alcoholic beverages will be on offer, along with delicious spit-roast food with dietary requirements catered for. Aligning with Scottish community tradition, fun will be in the form of a Ceilidh (Kay-lee) dance, Address to a Haggis, Highland Dancing and Pipe Band performances. Auction items, spot prizes and mystery prizes are up for grabs.
So, Gather Your Clan and save the date for Sunday 18 May – tickets and more information will be released in the coming weeks.
PURCHASE TICKETS >
The following 2025 school photographs are now available to purchase online:
Details of how to order the photographs can be found on our website using the button 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
For any illness, students should stay home if unwell. Any student should also feel free to wear a mask if they wish to do so while at school.
For any absence, whether ill-health (including COVID-19) or otherwise, the College’s preferred platform for reporting this is via our online form which can be found at the button below:
If you are not able to report your child's absence using the online form, please report their absence via the relevant email address below. If you cannot get through to us via the form or email, please call our attendance line on +64 3 940 2031 (term time only).
The Community Business Directory is on our website and represents over 100 parent businesses. Please take a look at how many businesses you can support locally.
The St Andrew's College Community Business Directory >
If you would still like to register your business, complete the following form.
Community Business Directory Registration >
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the fixtures page on StACNet.
