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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou.
It was a privilege to host our Rugby Reunion of Old Collegians from 1st XV team for 1955, and then each five years up to 2015, at our 1st XV home game last Saturday against Christchurch Boys’ High School. This was an outstanding game of rugby, and after St Andrew’s led 17–14 at half time, Boys’ High eventually won this hard fought and well played contest.
At such reunions, I am also struck at how our Old Collegians enjoy reconnecting with old school friends and returning to their College. They typically speak of their love of St Andrew’s and have a strong sense of appreciation and belonging to the community, whether it is their first time returning to the campus, or they are regular return visitors. I am very grateful for the wonderful work our Alumni and Community Relations Co-ordinator, Lisa Clark, does. I am sure that this weekend’s 50 Years On Reunion, with cocktail drinks on Friday evening and then the formal dinner on Saturday night, will be another such special occasion.
In our sporting endeavours, I would like to make special mention of our impressive canoe polo team, who over last weekend, went unbeaten at nationals to win gold and retain the title of top secondary school team in the South Island. In addition, I would like to congratulate Luca Rose (Year 12), Thomas White and Sophie Burnett (both Year 13) who were selected into the tournament team (top eight in the South Island).
The school week started with an excellent Middle School Chapel Service on Sunday evening, with a powerful and topical message from Assistant Chaplain, Ben Hughes, on “Fear Not” where he spoke about the importance of filling our hope and not our fear “buckets” in life. I also thoroughly enjoyed our student singing led by new Music teacher, Thomas Woodfield, and performances by our student choir Stacchorus.
This week for me has included a range of very special highlights from our visual and performing arts community. Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the outstanding sculpture artworks on display in The Green Library and Innovation Centre. These highly creative sculptures, mostly of everyday items, have been remarkably crafted out of cardboard by our Year 10 Art students. My congratulations to all these bold young artists for their excellent work and how pleasing it is to see their work on display for our wider community to appreciate.
At the end of last week, I was delighted to host three talented Year 10 artists, James Bennett, ZiQi (Maggie) Xu and Taylor Grant, for morning tea. Their beautiful class painting work has been selected and framed for display in my office. Thank you to our Head of Art, Mallory Swadel, for the stunning work she and Art teacher Michelle Lawrence do with our visual arts students.
On Tuesday evening, a Classical Concert by our orchestra and chamber groups was held in the Centennial Chapel. This thoroughly enjoyable performance was followed up last night with a shift in genres with the StAC Rock Night in the Gough Family Theatre. It was so enjoyable to be able to experience such a range of diverse talents on show from our amazing young people.
This week we hosted two people from Education Review Office (ERO) to undertake our external school review. This review assesses us under the eight criteria for registration as a private school. This includes observing and checking our systems on the quality of teaching and learning, student management, quality of facility and grounds, suitable staffing and health and safety. There is also a close focus our boarding hostel and care and support of international students.
At the Findings Meeting, the ERO team provided us with overwhelming positive feedback, with no issues of concern, and an indication we would be deemed compliant across all the eight criteria to be registered as a private school. The ERO Officers were extremely complimentary about all aspects of our school. Their final written report should be available in about a month’s time, and the next review will be in 3–4 years’ time. Thank you to everyone who assisted with this review process.
Ngā mihi mahana
Mark Wilson
Rector
At the start of this term, our Secondary School staff explored how to better motivate adolescents using insights from David Yeager’s book, 10 to 25. In this blog post, Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby shares how teachers learned that the teenage brain is highly adaptable, emotionally driven, and motivated by status and respect. The sessions sparked meaningful reflection and professional dialogue about how to better support and connect with students during this key stage of development.
READ THE WELL-BEING BLOG >
The Classical Concert took place in the Centennial Chapel on Tuesday evening. This annual event showcases work by the College's orchestral ensembles and this year included performances from the Preparatory School Orchestra (conducted by Music teacher, Ros Emeleus), and String Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, and Chamber Orchestra (all conducted by Mark Hodgkinson). This event also provided our chamber groups with a performance opportunity ahead of their participation in the NZCT Schools Chamber Music Contest next week at The Piano. The groups all played well, gaining valuable experience of performing their pieces in front of a large audience, which gave warm applause to each ensemble.
On Wednesday, our Music students performed in the annual choral concert at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral as part of the ‘Wednesday at One’ series. The concert featured performances from Staccoro, Stacchorus, the Senior Barbershop, and chamber ensemble ‘AAA Insurance,’ culminating in two pieces by the combined choirs. The programme offered a rich variety of repertoire, from contemporary New Zealand compositions to classic barbershop and chamber music. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their Big Sing repertoire in such a beautiful and acoustically resonant space. We are grateful to Don Whelan and the team at St Mary’s for their warm hospitality.
Flickr >
On Tuesday evening, representatives from five internationally recognised organisations presented at a Canterbury Secondary Schools’ STEM/Engineering Information Evening. Around 210 students and parents/caregivers attended from St Andrew's College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, St Margaret's College, Christ's College, and Christchurch Girls’ High School. The aim of the evening was to provide insight into science-based careers, both locally and internationally. Representatives from Air New Zealand Aviation Academy, Beca, HamiltonJet, Trimble, and UC Motorsport shared their experiences from school, tertiary education, and their current roles. Consistent messages to "take a risk," "back yourself and have a go," and "be curious and ask lots of questions," will hopefully inspire the students who attended to pursue their areas of interest. See notices below for more information on the upcoming Business and Law information evening.
Flickr >Dr Vanessa Stedman, a General Practitioner and Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, provided Daniel Officer (Year 13) and Vin Schelp (Year 12) with an insightful tour of the university's medical Simulation Centre. Both students are aspiring to become medical doctors, and this visit offered them a valuable glimpse into the medical field. During the tour, the students had the opportunity to experience a simulated medical emergency, including managing an asthma attack, practicing blood draws, and maintaining an open airway. These hands-on experiences were both challenging and enlightening, giving Daniel and Vin a taste of the realities of medical practice. Dr Stedman encouraged the students to pursue their passion for becoming doctors, offering guidance and support throughout the visit. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and left feeling more inspired and determined to achieve their goals in the medical profession.
Last Wednesday, Year 12–13 French students, along with French teachers Madame Radcliffe and Madame Taylor, spent two-and-a-half-days in Akaroa for their French immersion. A big focus was for students to prepare and record their first ‘Interact’ internal assessment and take part in French-inspired activities. The group enjoyed filled croissants and pastries for lunch and made a stop at the French cemetery on their way to Akaroa. In the evening, they visited the crêpe caravan, where students ordered a savoury crepe in French, and then made their own sweet crêpe. They finished the day by watching a French film, Jack Mimoun and the Secrets of Val Verde. Thursday included a visit to A la Baguette bakery, followed by a wholly French-speaking tour visiting penguins with guides from Pohatu Penguins. The students filmed their Interacts and spent the rest of Friday morning at the Akaroa Cooking School. Students watched the hosts demonstrate cooking lamb rump with jus, and chocolate pots for dessert, two courses with a distinctly French flavour.
Last Wednesday, Year 8 students attended the 25th National Young Leaders Day (NYLD) at the Christchurch Town Hall, one of the largest and longest running leadership events for primary and intermediate students. Around 2000 Year 6–8 students heard from a range of inspiring young leaders speaking to the theme, ‘Stronger Together.’ Professional speaker and adventurer, Cam Calkoen, encouraged the children to never give up and to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. He emphasised the importance of working together and to take every opportunity that comes your way. Jase Te Patu, a thought leader in the well-being space, reassured students that “stress is normal,” but learning to manage stress “enables us to thrive as human beings.” He also spoke about the importance of human connections. Elisa Harley, the 18-year-old CEO of Enivo Pots, challenged our young people to identify problems in our world that need to be solved, and to come up with solutions. Kiwi musician, Georgia Lines, herself an NYLD participant in previous years, performed for the enthusiastic crowd.
The Saint Kentigern School Sports Exchange saw games in rugby, football, and hockey. As always, the event reinforced the spirit of friendly rivalry and mutual respect between the teams. Both teams fought hard in the rugby fixture, and in a nail-biting finish, St Andrew’s emerged victorious 27–24. In the football, both teams exhibited great skill, with sharp passes and clever footwork. The match was highly competitive, however Saint Kentigern gained momentum in the second half, securing an 8–2 victory. St Andrew’s faced a challenging test in hockey, going up against a highly skilled Saint Kentigern team. The match ended 8–0 in Saint Kentigern’s favour.
Flickr >At Pre-school, there is currently a strong interest in the weather. To support this interest, they have created a weather station to measure wind and rain. The children have been looking at and drawing clouds and other weather features. Yesterday, Pre-school teacher Jan demonstrated how rain comes from rain clouds by making a cloud in a jar.
RUGBY
The second round of the 2025 Miles Toyota Cup began on Saturday, with the St Andrew’s College 1st XV playing a strong Christchurch Boys’ High School (CBHS) team at home in sunny conditions. This game is annually contested for the Bill Thompson Trophy, named for Bill Thompson (OC 1959) who was Head Boy, captain of the 1st XV, and represented the 1st XI cricket team. At the same time, the College was also hosting the Old Collegians Rugby Reunion – see more below in the newsletter. The team got off to a slow start, allowing Boys’ High to get ahead 0–14. They regrouped quickly and went into the half-time break leading 17–14. Boys’ High took advantage of a few small errors, scoring twice, and with a last late try, pushed the scoreline out 17–33 to take the win.
HOCKEY
The Boys’ 1st XI won 6–1 against Christ’s College last Friday night. Demonstrating excellent teamwork, six different players each scored a goal. It was a great team performance all around and marks the team’s third consecutive victory of the season, securing their position at the top of the table.
The Girls’ 1st XI also delivered an outstanding performance last week, securing a commanding 6–0 victory against Marian College. It was a fantastic team effort, showcasing strong communication, strategic play, and excellent finishing.
FOOTBALL
The Boys’ 1st XI lost 1–4 against Cashmere High School. Despite the final scoreline, the boys showed great determination and teamwork in their match, starting strong with disciplined defence and creative attacking plays. Their lone goal was a testament to their resilience, coming from a well-executed move that showcased their technical ability. While Cashmere capitalised on their chances, St Andrew’s never backed down until the final whistle.
The Girls 1st XI displayed commendable spirit and perseverance in their match against Avonside Girls’ High School, which they lost 2–6. Despite the challenging scoreline, the team demonstrated moments of brilliance, scoring two well-earned goals. Their passing game and teamwork were evident throughout, and they continued to push forward with determination.
NETBALL
During Saturday’s closely contested game against Revelation A, both teams kept the score tight by the end of the first quarter. However, as the game progressed, Revelation A gradually pulled ahead. Despite St Andrew’s showing strong moments and scoring several goals in a row at times, they couldn’t close the gap and Revelation A secured a 52–41 win.
On Wednesday, the team played a competitive game against Villa Maria College A. The game was evenly matched in the first quarter with a score of 4–4. However, St Andrew’s players found their rhythm and steadily gained the upper hand in the remaining quarters, ultimately securing a 30–19 victory.
BASKETBALL
On Tuesday evening the Senior Girls’ and Senior Boys’ basketballers both played away fixtures. The girls played Christchurch Girls’ High School, where the game started off close, but saw St Andrew’s secure a 47-point win. The boys played Middleton Grange School in what was a ‘must-win’ game to make the top 8 of the highly competitive Thomson Trophy. The team responded to the challenge with a convincing 121–73 victory, setting up a series of challenging but immensely beneficial games over the next two months against Canterbury's best.
Last weekend, students represented St Andrew’s College at the South Island Secondary Schools Canoe Polo Championships. Despite fierce competition, St Andrew’s remained unbeaten in the Senior Open throughout to take gold and remain the top team in the South Island for a consecutive year. St Andrew’s won 5–2 facing a team from Shirley Boys’ High School in the semi-final, with the final an extremely close game against a combined team, with some of Christchurch’s best players. Luca Rose (Year 12), Thomas White and Sophie Burnett (both Year 13) were selected into the male and female tournament teams, among the Top 8 players in the championship. Luca Rose was also the highest scorer of the tournament, scoring 25 goals across the two days. The St Andrew’s Senior Girls’ and Junior Girls’ teams both took second place in their respective categories, with the Junior canoe polo team coming in fourth in the Junior Open.
Flickr >
Alexander Black (Year 13) was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer within his New Zealand Cadet Forces Air Training Corps Unit. This is the highest possible rank a cadet can obtain, and there is only one position within each unit. This promotion reflects Alexander's leadership skills and ability to provide training and guidance to the other Non-Commissioned Officers and cadets within the unit.
Heidi Kendrick (Year 12) competed in the Dressage Southland 2024/2025 points series, where she was the Otago winner of the Young Rider Top 10 League Area for Horse Medium Level Dressage, and the winner of the Dressage Southland Points Accumulator Medium Horse for the season.
A small group of students have been selected by audition for the upcoming National Youth Theatre production of the musical, Cats, with seven shows running from Thursday to Sunday this week. This 'youth' version of the show runs for 70 minutes, and the students involved are Annie Young (Year 12) in a lead role as Bombalurina (cast one); Isla Marshall (Year 9) as Mungojerrie (cast two); Piper Stone (Year 11) as Bombalurina (cast two). These students, as well as Ella Nortje (Year 3), Emily Brook (Year 12), and Sophie Jacobs (Year 7) are also in the Dance Extension group, while Penelope Walker (Year 3) is a member of the ensemble.
A small group of students were involved in the 2025 Oamaru Performing Arts Festival, showcasing their skills in a range of performances. A highlight of the Speech and Drama Competition was the joint win between Violet Winterbourn (Year 5) and Adelyn Abrahamson (Year 7) for the John McDonald Challenge Cup in the 12 and Under category, along with shared honours for the E.D. Watts Memorial Challenge Cup. Violet also won the Elliot Challenge Cup for Girls, recognising their achievements and the scholarship for her age group.
View all Speech and Drama Results >
Teresa Steiner (Year 12) won the Oamaru National Young Performers Speech and Drama nomination to the PACANZ Nationals, set to take place in Palmerston North during Labour Weekend.
Siblings Violet (Year 5) and Watson Winterbourn (Year 2) also had success in the Festival’s Highland Dancing competition. Watson won the Highland Fling six years and Under, and was awarded the J.R. Hornal Challenge Cup, while Violet won both the Sailors Hornpipe U12 and the Sailors Hornpipe Championship U10 years.
The newly created StAC Dance competition team also competed at the Festival. Formed by Heads of Dance, Emily Brook (Year 12) and Nadia Marriott (Year 13), with choreography and coaching by Tave Stuart (Year 13), this marked the first time St Andrew's College has had a dance group perform competitively.
After two days of kart racing last Saturday and Sunday, Zongze (Aaron) Li (Year 7) earned sixth place in the 2025 Rose City Championship held at Palmerston North.
Students have continued to complete activities at Science Badge Club over the course of the year. Elina Wang (Year 8) was recognised for her success in the Preparatory School Assembly last week. Elina recently completed her fifteenth Science Badge and was awarded with a Gold Star Badge. A badge, certificate and congratulatory letter were presented to Elina at assembly, and she also has her photo on the Science Award Trust Honours Board.
Kelicia Rui En Purcell (Year 8) and Leona Smart (Year 7) competed at the South Island Artistic Swimming Championships 2025 in Rolleston last weekend. Kelicia won the Mixed Duet competition and Leona won the 12 years and Under Solo category and the Duet competition.
Andrew Li (Year 8) won the 2025 Lions Christchurch Schools' Music Festival poster competition. His artwork will be used to promote this year’s festival and will be featured on the event poster and front cover of the programme.
Ava Jones (Year 12) and Maniah Taefu (Year 11) have been selected to represent New Zealand at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
On Saturday, over 60 Old Collegians and their partners were welcomed back to the College for the annual 1st XV Rugby Reunion. This saw a strong turnout of players and coaches from the 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 teams, who enjoyed a beautiful day at the Sports Pavilion. A special highlight was the presence of five Old Boys from the 1955 70 Years On team. Their stories and spirit added a rich sense of history to the occasion. Before the match, Max and Rex Moore (OC 1965), Roger Fuller (OC 1975), and Dale Inch (OC 1985) presented jerseys to the current 1st XV players, and shared reflections on their time playing for the thistle. Their words reminded the team that they are backed by a proud legacy and a loyal community. Although St Andrew’s led at half-time, they were narrowly defeated in the second half by a strong Christchurch Boys’ High School side, with a final score of 17–33. Despite the result, the day was a celebration of rugby, enduring friendships, and, of course, hot pies. Thanks to all the Old Collegians who travelled from across New Zealand to reconnect with teammates and contribute to another memorable chapter in our rugby tradition.
Flickr >Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities including:
We are excited to invite you to a targeted information evening focusing on careers in Business and/or Law. Five experts from local companies will each deliver a 6–8-minute presentation, offering an overview of their operations and the opportunities that may be of interest to students. This event will provide valuable insights into various fields and potential student opportunities. Places are limited and all students and parents/caregivers are welcome.
Speakers:
When: Tuesday 27 May, 7.00–9.00pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre, followed by an Expo in the Senior College Common Room
Join us for an enchanting evening at the Ballet Winter Showcase. Our Secondary School Ballet Academy dancers will perform a captivating collection of their current pieces. This event includes Performance Awards, NCEA dances, and a special premiere of a collaborative new work with Neve Pierce (Royal New Zealand Ballet, Dance Educator). Our Junior and Intermediate Company dancers from the Preparatory School will also showcase their new repertoire.
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 >
