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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou.
“Historic” is the only word to describe what happened on Friday evening, when our Girls’ 1st XI hockey team defeated St Margaret’s College to claim the regional championship title, the first time ever for St Andrew’s College, in front of hundreds of cheering spectators. Our girls thoroughly deserved this win, leading by two goals, having a third disallowed, and holding strong through an intense final few minutes as St Margaret’s pulled one back for a 2–1 final scoreline. Congratulations to our talented Girls’ team on this outstanding result, which signals a strong future for hockey at St Andrew’s.
Unfortunately, our Boys’ 1st XI hockey team just missed the double, losing 1–2 to Timaru Boys’ High School in their final. Well done to our boys for a consistently excellent season. I look forward to cheering them on in the Rankin Cup national tournament next week.
Saturday evening saw a night of high fashion and fun at our annual Senior College Formal, hosted at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. It was a stunning and very enjoyable evening. Special thanks to everyone involved in the excellent organisation of this Gatsby-themed event.
In another truly “historic” moment this week, our Girls’ Senior A basketball team convincingly won their regional final 87–39 on Tuesday evening against Kaiapoi High School, in front of a large and passionate crowd at Cowles Stadium. This win means St Andrew’s has now claimed the Whelan Trophy for an incredible sixth consecutive year. This is a remarkable achievement for a school to have such a long and consistent record of success in a regional sport. Congratulation to this year’s team and to everyone who supports our amazing basketball programme, truly outstanding!
Well done also to our Boys’ 1st XI football team who won their plate final 3–1 against Lincoln High School, a strong and pleasing finish to the second half of their season.
Culturally this week, our Chamber and Concert orchestras, along with two Jazz bands, are participating in the Aurora Festival today and tomorrow. Our Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson, is also assisting ten of our rock bands in recording original songs for the annual Rock School album, which will be available on Spotify by the end of the term. Meanwhile, our talented dancers are performing tonight and tomorrow evening in our annual Dance Revue. Special thanks to our Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, and Performing Art Co-ordinator, Ginnie Thorner, for bringing celebration of dance to the stage.
In some very exciting news just received, Thomas Palmer (Year 12) and Penny Dai (Year 13) have been names among ten nationwide finalists in the National Schools Poetry Award, the premier award for young writers in Aotearoa New Zealand. As part of their prize, Thomas and Penny will travel to Wellington this weekend to attend a Poetry Masterclass held at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. Their award-winning poems, Change, by Thomas, and Illicium Verum, by Penny, can be read in the report below. Congratulations to both students, and to the staff who nurtured their literacy talents.
This very busy week also saw our Year 9 Mathematics students win this year’s prestigious Cantamath competition. Our Year 10 team placed third, Year 7 team placed fifth, and our Year 8 team finished in the top 10, a fantastic result in this highly contested regional competition. I was also delighted to receive an email from the Vice President of the Canterbury Mathematical Association (CMA), commending George Feng (Year 7) for his outstanding attitude at the competition. Well done, George!
On Thursday morning, the StAC Ag Show was a fun and delightful occasion with Gym 1 transformed with a range of farm displays, creative exhibits, and a petting zoo. That evening, we launched a new initiative, our inaugural Blazer Award Evening, to formally present our premier teams their blazers ahead of Winter Tournament Week. This lovely family event recognised our first team members who have played a minimum of eight games over a minimum of two years, symbolising excellence, loyalty, and contribution. My thanks to all the staff, coaches, and support people involved with the planning and organisation to enable our teams to compete at the highest levels in the national tournaments. I look forward to seeing many of these teams in action next week.
Blazer Awards Flickr >
This week has also been International Language Week, a celebration of the diverse languages spoken in our country and the benefits of learning another language. Activities around the College included staff sumo wrestling, a scavenger hunt, and international food stalls. At St Andrew’s, alongside English and Te Reo Māori, we offer French and Spanish. So, to conclude this week… merci et au revoir, gracias y adiós – thank you and goodbye.
Ngā mihi mahana
Mark Wilson
Rector
This morning, we held our Boys’ and Girls’ Assemblies, a cherished tradition that welcomes back members of the 10 Years On cohort, Old Collegians who graduated a decade ago, to share their experiences and insights from life beyond the College gates. These assemblies offer current students a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand how the lessons learned at St Andrew’s shape the journey into adulthood. It’s a moment to reflect, connect, and be inspired by those who once stood in their shoes.
At the Girls’ Assembly, Old Collegian Millie Bremner (OC 2015) spoke about the value of facing challenges. She reminded the girls that what may feel like failure in the moment can often be the very thing that develops our character and sets us up for future success. She also encouraged everyone to broaden their understanding of what success looks like. It looks different for everyone; for some it’s academic, for others it’s sport, creativity, leadership, or simply building a life you’re proud of.
This year’s guest speaker at the Boys’ Assembly was Sam Lane, a proud Old Collegian who attended St Andrew’s from 2011 to 2015. Originally from Temuka, Sam began his education at Waihi School before joining the College, where he excelled both academically, athletically, and in several leadership positions. In his address, Sam delivered a powerful message about personal responsibility and growth. He encouraged students to take full ownership of their actions, relationships, and development. He spoke candidly about the importance of accountability, the courage to seek honest feedback, and the value of open conversations. His advice to his younger self was “Take responsibility for everything” which struck a chord, underscoring the role of integrity and agency in becoming not just successful, but a better human being. His words served as a timely reminder that the habits and values formed during school years lay the foundation for life beyond St Andrew’s.
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The Senior College Formal was a truly memorable evening, enjoyed by over 500 students who arrived dressed to impress and ready to celebrate. The boys looked sharp in suits and ties, while the girls were stunning in elegant gowns that showcased a beautiful variety of colours. The vibrant mix of styles and shades added a festive energy to the venue, reflecting the individuality of each student.
Throughout the night, students were exceptionally well-behaved, creating a respectful and inclusive atmosphere that allowed everyone to relax and enjoy themselves. One of the highlights of the evening was the DJ, who did a fantastic job of getting students up on the dance floor. With a playlist that blended current hits and classic favourites, the music kept the energy high and the dance floor packed. Overall, the formal was a huge success, a celebration of friendship, and school spirit. It was a night filled with colour, music, and joy, and a fitting tribute to the students.
flickr>Last weekend, a talented team of ten Year 9–11 students took on the challenge of the 48Hours Film Festival, New Zealand’s largest guerrilla filmmaking competition. Tasked with creating a short film in just two days, the team drew the genre “Monster Movie” and rose to the occasion with creativity, collaboration, and impressive technical skill. The team worked seamlessly together to plan, write, shoot, and edit a compelling short film under tight time constraints.
Congratulations to Wilde Brabazon-Fleming (Year 10) for his outstanding direction, Kangwoo Moon (Year 9) for his stunning cinematography, and Harry Prior (Year 11) for his sharp, effective editing. The rest of the team brought the story to life with strong performances, technical support, and a spirit of collaboration that truly embodied the essence of filmmaking as a team effort. The film will screen at Little Andromeda in late August as part of the regional showcase.
This week we celebrated International Languages Week, with a range of activities. On Monday, a lunchtime scavenger hunt had students following clues in various languages around the school, ending up at the Languages Office. On Thursday, Physical Education teachers Daniel O’Reilly and Brad Munt challenged each other in sumo wrestling, attracting many spectators to witness Mr O’Reilly winning 3–0 to take the title.
Today at lunchtime, students took part in an international food challenge in the Quad, sampling chicken hearts, a strong blue cheese, and kimchi, with a range of reactions! A week-long poster competition and an International Quiz also added to the festivities, with results being determined over the weekend. Overall, it has been a vibrant week, bringing different cultures to life across the College.
This year’s annual Year 10 French Day with Lincoln High School took place on Tuesday. On one of the coldest days of the years, the group met at the Hagley Park Pétanque Club, starting with pain au chocolat and an opportunity to interact in French, asking each other questions to find out about pets, family and likes and dislikes. Students then rotated through three activities based around language and cultural knowledge: a quiz, a treasure hunt around the Botanic Gardens, and a challenge to create a model symbolising France. Despite the rain and hail, students had fun working and competing together.
After a lunch of a filled croissant and éclairs au chocolat, the Pétanque Club organised a tournament, teaching students how to play and score. Unfortunately, the weather forced them indoors for a game of corn hole instead. All in all, it was a fun day, and students enjoyed making new friends while immersed in French language and culture.
This week, our ten Rock Bands each enjoyed a two-hour recording session to create the St Andrew’s 2025 Rock Album, which will be released on Spotify and Apple later this year. The album will launch with a concert at The Rolling Stone, Colombo Street, on Tuesday 16 September at 7.00pm. Thank you to Head of Music, Duncan Ferguson and Chris Wethey who are producing, recording, and mixing the album.
The fifth annual StAC Ag Show was a vibrant celebration of creativity, community, and countryside charm. With entries spanning baking, flower arrangements, plant art, sculptures, photography, poems, stories, edible art, and LEGO masterpieces, the event showcased the incredible talents of students across all year levels. The petting zoo was a crowd favourite, delighting visitors with tiny baby bunnies, lambs, goats, calves, a pony, and an irresistibly cute piglet.
Congratulations to Adaline Weston (Year 5), winner of the Animal Grand Prize for her heartwarming video featuring her gorgeous pony. Thank you to Rangiora Vet Centre for generously donating the prize. In the art category, Aiden Jia (Year 7) won the Grand Prize for his wonderful painting of a cow, pig, and rooster, capturing the spirit of farm life. Meanwhile, Alexander Ling (Year 3) wowed judges with his intricate LEGO sculpture, Arctic Village, a project that took six months of dedication and imagination. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve kindly donated family passes for both art category winners. The Ag Show continues to delight each year, bringing joy and inspiration to the St Andrew’s community.
Flickr>This term, the Junior Department children are learning about flight. This week, they tested some “sure to fly” kites supplied by The Kite Lady, Julie Adam. The children had so much fun making and flying them, in between rain showers! Our Years 0–1 children were supported by some wonderful helpers from Year 8, 10, and 11.
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HOCKEY
The Girls’ 1st XI team made history on Friday night, claiming their first ever Secondary Schools Premier Girls’ title with a hard fought 2–1 win over St Margaret’s College. From the opening whistle, the team showed intent, dominating the first three quarters with pace, and confidence. The breakthrough came with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter after a well worked long corner. Sophia Voice (Year 13) drove the ball into the circle, sparking a scramble involving Ella O’Brien (Year 13) and Amelia Blockley (Year 12), before co-captain Rylee McBride (Year 13) calmly slotted home the opening goal. The second goal came late in the third quarter through a penalty corner. Olivia Ratcliffe (Year 12) delivered a pinpoint pass across the circle, where striker Sophie Roberts (Year 13) was perfectly positioned to finish and double the lead. Annabelle Barker (Year 12) came close to extending the lead in the final quarter with a reverse stick shot, which was unfortunately disallowed. With four minutes remaining, St Margaret’s removed their goalkeeper to add pressure and managed to pull one goal back. The St Andrew’s girls held strong, showing great character to secure the 2–1 win. It was a complete team performance, with every player contributing to a courageous and historic effort. Congratulations to the entire squad and coaching team on making StAC history.
Flickr>Last Friday, the Boys’ 1st XI faced Timaru Boys’ High School in the final of the SSP Championship. Heading into the match, St Andrew’s were considered the underdogs, with Timaru unbeaten in the Christchurch competition. The opening quarter didn’t go St Andrew’s way, as Timaru capitalised on early opportunities to take a 2–0 lead. Despite the setback, St Andrew’s responded with grit and determination, dominating possession and applying relentless pressure throughout the remainder of the game. Their energy and hunger were evident as they threw everything at Timaru’s defence, creating multiple chances but struggling to convert. With five minutes left, St Andrew’s finally broke through, narrowing the gap to 1–2 and setting up a tense finish. In the dying moments, they pushed hard for an equaliser to force a shootout, but Timaru’s defence held firm to claim the 2–1 win.
BASKETBALL
On Tuesday night, our Senior Girls travelled to Cowles Stadium to defend the Whelan Trophy against the second-seeded Kaiapoi High School. The girls got off to a flying start, building an early double-figure lead behind the electric play of Nadia De Thierry (Year 12). Ava Jones (Year 12) and Maniah Taefu (Year 11) added scoring bursts across the second and third quarters, putting the game out of reach. The lead ballooned to over 50 points, with the final score settling at 87–39. Maniah Taefu was named Finals MVP. This marks the sixth consecutive year that St Andrew’s has secured the Whelan Trophy as the top team in the Canterbury region.
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FOOTBALL
The Boys’ 1st XI capped off their season in style with a commanding 3–1 victory over Lincoln High School in the Plate Final. Dominating the first half with three unanswered goals, the team showcased sharp attacking play and disciplined structure, setting the tone early. Although Lincoln pulled one back in the second half, St Andrew’s held firm to secure the win and lift the Plate trophy, which was an emphatic finish to a season marked by growth, resilience, and team unity.
NETBALL
In the semi-final netball match against UC A, the Senior A game started evenly, with both teams showing strong determination. By the end of the third quarter, UC A had pulled ahead by six goals. Refusing to back down, St Andrew’s mounted a fierce comeback in the final quarter, levelling the score. The intensity remained high until the final whistle. Despite their efforts, UC A edged out the win by a single goal, 40–39.
In the final game of the 2025 SuperNet season, the Senior A team faced Villa Maria College A in the third-place playoff. St Andrew’s came out strong, building a none-goal lead by halftime. Villa Maria fought back in the second half, winning both the third and fourth quarters, but St Andrew’s early dominance held firm to secure a 27–21 win and third place in the competition.
RUGBY
On Saturday, the 1st XV travelled south to contest the rescheduled interschool fixture against Timaru Boys’ High School (TBHS) and the famous Milliken-Williams Cup, which celebrates famous All Blacks from each school. This interschool rivalry was first established in 1929 and is a wonderful tradition. The fixture was played in perfect conditions, conducive to fast flowing rugby.
St Andrew’s started strong, with Azaniah Roebeck (Year 13) scoring a well-worked try. TBHS were resilient and came straight back to score after a failed clearance, taking a 7–5 lead. Before halftime, some strong carries from the forwards allowed Azaniah to score a hat trick, giving St Andrew’s a 19–7 lead. In the second half, a crucial defensive stand against a TBHS rolling maul led to a turnover, and Jett Timbrell (Year 12) broke through to score under the posts. TBHS fought back with two quick tries, but St Andrew’s held on to secure a thrilling win and retain the trophy.
TRAP SHOOTING
Last Sunday, the trap shooting team competed in the fifth round of the Canterbury Secondary Schools Trap Shooting Programme held at Mead Te-Pirita Clay Target Club. In Skeet, Lucie Hood (Year 13) shot a perfect 25/25, taking second place after a shoot off. Ethan Higgs (Year 13) placed fourth 22/25, and there were strong showings by Kurt Lilly 21/20 and Harry Pitts (both Year 12) 20/25. In Skeet Pairs, Lucie and Ethan combined to win first place 47/50.
In Down the Line, Jonathan Rogers (Year 13) and Ethan Higgs both shoot 20/20 in single rise, with Jonathan earning third after a long shoot off. Lucie, Harry, Josh van Asch (Year 12) and Joshua Lowe (Year 10) all scored 19/20. While Points Score did not produce any podium places, notable scores were from Kurt Lilly fourth 59/60, Harry Pitts 57/60, Jonathan Rogers 56/60, Fergus McLachlan (Year 13) 54/60, Ethan Higgs 53/60, and Joshua Lowe 52/60.
In Single Barrel, Kurt Lilly and Lucie Hood both shot 10/10 in a lineup of ten in the shoot off to take second and third places, respectively. Jack Fredericksen, James Bennett, and William McKerchar (all Year 10) all performed well in just their second event as part of the junior shooting team.
Thomas Palmer (Year 12) and Penny Dai (Year 13) have been names two of just ten nationwide finalists in the prestigious National Schools Poetry Award. This award recognises the very best secondary school poets in the country and is considered the premier award for young writers in Aotearoa. As part of their prize packs, Thomas and Penny are being flown to Wellington this weekend to attend a Poetry Masterclass held at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. Their award-winning poems, Change, by Thomas, and Illicium Verum, by Penny, can be read at by clicking here.
On Wednesday evening, teams of mathematicians from all over Canterbury competed in the annual Cantamath competition at the Wolfbrook Arena. With just 30 minutes to solve 20 challenging questions, teams that answered all correctly within the time limit earned the coveted Golden Ticket.
· Year 7: Our team scored an impressive 95/100, placing fifth out of approximately 80 teams. A special commendation from the Vice President of the Canterbury Mathematical Association praised George for his outstanding attitude, a reflection of the values we aim to instill in our students.
· Year 8: Matching the Year 7 score of 95, our team finished in the top 10, demonstrating excellent teamwork and perseverance.
· Year 9: All three teams performed strongly, with StAC 1 racing ahead to complete all 20 questions in a record-setting 11 minutes and 45 seconds, earning the first Golden Ticket of the night. StAC 3 also performed well, finishing fifth.
· Year 10: In a dramatic finish, StAC 1 was tied with Burnside 1 and 2 at 95 points with just seconds remaining. Burnside 1 submitted the final answer with four seconds to spare, claiming the only Golden Ticket. StAC 1 finished a very respectable third.
In the Junior Debating Final, Year 11 students Fraser Walls, Christian Li, and Hong Xin Tang faced off against St Margaret’s College, arguing against a ban on strikes by essential service workers. They secured victory in a 2–1 split panel decision.
Their success is a testament to their dedication throughout the year, especially as most were new to debating. Their coach, Joshua Adams (Head of Debating, Year 13), was present to witness their win, a reflection of his commitment to the team. Special thanks to the CSDC at the University of Canterbury for making this interschool competition possible.
This week, a small group of students competed in the Canterbury Interschool Individual Chess Competition.
Interviews for the Spirit of Adventure and Outward Bound Scholarships have recently taken place, with Poppy Reynolds (Year 12) and Hugo Lewis (Year 11) our 2025 recipients. Poppy heads to Anakiwa to complete a 21-day Outward Bound course in January 2026 and Hugo will embark on a 10-day sailing on the Spirit of Adventure from Picton to Wellington, also in January 2026.
An Old Collegian is the generous supporter of the scholarships, which are awarded each year and gifted to enable young people to develop personally through outdoor adventure. The sponsors were impressed with the calibre of those whom they interviewed and look forward to hearing from Poppy and Hugo when they return.
Theatresports continues to thrive at St Andrew’s College. Coached by Sam Bowden Cooke (OC 2020), students meet weekly on Wednesdays, with additional lunchtime practices on Fridays.
On Sunday, the Senior Theatresports team of James Anthony, Mookmanee (Mookee) Lee, William Sherborne (all Year 13), Adele Sherborne, and Harry Prior (both Year 11), competed in the Canterbury heats.
Although they didn’t advance to the finals, the team delivered an entertaining and enjoyable performance, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and humour.
Sam Foote (Year 12) competed in the Solo Piping competition at the Crieff Highland Games in Scotland, placing second in both the U18 Junior MSR and U18 Junior Jig categories, an outstanding achievement on the international stage.
Archer Wyeth (Year 4), having only started dance lessons at the beginning of Term 2, has passed his Grade 4 Jazz Dance examination, gaining a Silver Award.
Year 11 students George Lewis, Jairo Senio, Zachary Hoshek, and Year 12 students Oliver Jackways and Otis Wheeler, have all been selected for Metro Canterbury U16 teams to take part in the U16 South Island Tournament in September.
Metua Cranwell has been selected for the U18 Black Canterbury rugby team, the U18 Canterbury rugby league team, and will be taking part in the Pacific Youth Cup tournament in Auckland representing the NZ Māori U17 rugby league team.
Sam Mustchin (OC 2024) has been selected for the 2025 Southland U19 rugby squad.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities including:
The St Andrew’s College annual Dance Revue is back! Containing an eclectic range of dance styles including Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Contemporary, this fast-paced evening of dance will have something for all to enjoy. Performances will come from St Andrew’s College Ballet Academy, StAC Dance, soloists, groups. Come and celebrate dance.
When: Friday 22 August, 7.00pm–8.30pm
Saturday 23 August, 7.00pm–8.30pm
Where: Gough Family Theatre – Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: $20.00 General Admission
Buy Tickets Online>Welcoming international students into a homestay environment offers a deeply rewarding experience for both students and host families. It provides insight into different cultures and traditions, enriching lives and fostering global connection.
The College is seeking families who are willing to host international students in the following capacities:
This may include weekend hosting and other pastoral care responsibilities. To learn more or express interest, contact Director of International Students and Exchanges, Palē Tauti, at PTU@stac.school.nz.
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.
