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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first St Andrew’s College Prizegiving last Friday in a capacity-filled Wolfbrook Arena. Thank you to the many people who contributed to making this such a special occasion. Hosting an event of this scale is challenging, but it was successfully achieved thanks to the goodwill and diverse range of skills involved. I was particularly impressed to see so many of our students and Old Collegians assisting behind the scenes.
The amazing talent of our young people has been on display through the recent Ballet Academy production of The Sleeping Beauty, directed by Dr Carolyn Cairns. This was an outstanding, highly professional performance that remarkably involved students from Year 1 through to Year 13. Our Ballet Academy, led by Carolyn, provides an exceptional programme that nurtures and develops the skills and talents of our young people.
Rector Mark Wilson with one of our star Ballet performers Tavē Stuart (Year 13) with Dr Carolyn Cairns after the final performance of The Sleeping Beauty.
This week, I had the delight of attending our annual Pre-school Christmas Concert. This was such fun and greatly appreciated by the parents and families. This event was a wonderful example of how our Head of Pre-school, Mandy Jenkins, and her team do such an outstanding job with our youngest St Andrew’s students.
Our Year 11–13 students have now completed their external NCEA examinations, and we hope their hard work and commitment will be well rewarded. They can now relax and enjoy a well-deserved summer break.
On Tuesday evening, we gathered with our departing Year 13 students and their families for a memorable Leavers’ Dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. This was such a special occasion to formally farewell these leavers and celebrate their time at St Andrew’s. We look forward to their return to the College as Old Collegians in the coming years.
Earlier that afternoon, a Memorial Service for Marley Purdue (Year 13) was held at Grace Vineyard Church, on Ferry Road. This was a very sad time for many of us to gather with Marley’s family and wider friends to acknowledge his tragic loss. Our love and best wishes remain with the Purdue family.
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a business breakfast function hosted by the Gough Family Office, featuring guest speaker Owen Eastwood (Ngāi Tahu), one of the most in-demand high-performance coaches. Owen has worked with the European Rider Cup team, who won away in USA in September, and is currently working with the Chelsea Football team. His powerful message about belonging and creating strong culture, based on the Māori concept of whakapapa, resonated deeply. This approach seeks to deliver top team performance while enhancing individuals’ sense of belonging and connection – principles we strive to embed in our school culture.
A great example of this is our Te Waka programme for Year 10 students. Their rite of passage journey concluded this week with the Te Waka Homecoming Ceremony. I have been so impressed with how this programme supports and grows our young people into adulthood. Many thanks to Kate Taylor, Teacher in Charge of Te Waka, for her excellent work in delivering this very special programme.
As the school year continues to wrap up, we will have one final Rector’s Comment next week, which will provide end-of-year details, Flickr albums and prize lists from last week’s Prizegiving, as well as today’s Preparatory School End-of-Year Assembly.
Ngā mihi
Mark Wilson
Rector
Congratulations to our Ballet Academy dancers for another superb annual production. This year, they presented the classic fairytale The Sleeping Beauty, complete with enchanting fairies, princes, and princesses. It was a magical performance and a wonderful treat for the Christmas season.
Flickr >The 2025 Leavers’ Dinner on Tuesday evening was another highlight in our school calendar. Over 600 guests gathered at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre to celebrate the Class of 2025, enjoying a wonderful night of music, speeches, and good company. Highlights included musical items from Year 13 musicians, the Boys’ barbershop group, and a duo singing Forever Young by Bob Dylan (a classic song which formed the basis for the Rector’s message to students). Year 13 Dean, Dayna Stirling, thanked her year group and shared heartfelt advice for the future, and Penny Dai (Year 13) spoke about appreciating the present and leaving a legacy through kindness. This was a night to remember, and a very fitting way to farewell our Year 13 leavers.
Flickr >
As their parting gift, the Year 13 Leavers of 2025 have chosen to contribute towards one of three custom-built display cabinets designed to showcase artefacts from the College’s Museum collection. These mobile cabinets will allow for greater flexibility in sharing the College’s rich history, as they can be moved to different locations around campus for events and exhibitions. A plaque will be displayed on one of the cabinets, acknowledging the generosity of the 2025 Leavers and their contribution to preserving and celebrating the heritage of St Andrew’s.
The Middle School Leaders’ Camp began on Sunday with an address from Rector Mark Wilson, who spoke about leadership and shared insights from his career. Head of Middle School Matt Parr then led a culture creation session before the group departed for Castle Hill.
The weekend included activities, challenges, and reflection tasks that encouraged students to explore their leadership styles and plan initiatives for 2026. The group demonstrated creativity, initiative, and inclusivity throughout the camp and will return to their plans early next year as they begin their tenure as Middle School Leaders.
Flickr >
On Monday and Tuesday, more than 90 Year 11–12 students selected as Peer Support Leaders for 2026 attended training. The theme for Year 9 is Belonging, and students worked in groups to design activities that help new students feel connected.
The workshop concluded with a creative challenge of designing wearable art that symbolises belonging at St Andrew’s. The results were imaginative and showcased the students’ enthusiasm for their important role.
Last week, the entire Year 9 cohort participated in a memorable Noho Marae at Ōnuku Marae, Akaroa. This kaupapa provided ākonga with a unique opportunity to learn about the rich history and traditions of the hapū Ngāi Tarewa and Ngāti Irakēhu. Throughout the day, ākonga engaged in mau rākau sessions, strengthening their understanding of tikanga and discipline. They also enjoyed a hākari that celebrated manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, followed by creative performances of well-known pūrākau. It was inspiring to witness the creativity, mahi tahi, and wairua each group displayed, embodying the essence of kotahitanga. The experience not only deepened cultural knowledge but also strengthened connections among ākonga and kaiako.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and mine, the people will thrive.
The Advent Service on Wednesday was the final chapel of the year for our Year 9–10 students. Gifts generously donated by students will be collected by the City Mission next week. The Junior choir came from all sides of the Centennial Chapel to sing a beautiful rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful and later performed the comedic You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch. Treasuring moments in life was a key message from Rev. Morrow’s sermon, asking us to consider “What are the strawberry moments in our lives right now?” The service concluded with singing Joy to the World, sending students into the holidays with a message of hope and gratitude.
Flickr >
The Year 10 Te Waka Homecoming Ceremony marked a significant and meaningful milestone for students as they progressed further on their journey toward adulthood. The event celebrated the core values of resilience, responsibility, and respect, with inspiring messages delivered by teachers, students, and the Heads of College. A memorable musical performance, complemented by a powerful haka from the Preparatory School, reinforced the sense of unity and support within our community. Following the ceremony, students shared their goals with parents before concluding with the symbolic act of board-breaking, which is a powerful demonstration of determination and commitment.
Flickr >This week, Year 9 students unveiled their art installations in the Fine Arts Department Maister Gallery. Drawing inspiration from renowned New Zealand artist Peter Robinson, the exhibition showcased a range of thought-provoking pieces that explore Robinson’s concepts. The sculpture programme began with students drawing kōwhaiwhai in all its forms. Robinson also uses these motifs in his work, stripping them back to their most elemental form. From there, students explored scale, limited colour palettes, and ‘low-fi’ materials, testing themselves to find their own creative response to kōwhaiwhai. The resulting installation is deliberately haphazard, reflecting Robinson’s idea of “Chaos Theory”, where order and logic are disrupted in a search for new connections and representations. This approach encouraged students to think beyond traditional boundaries and embrace unpredictability as part of the creative process. Visitors were captivated by the students’ work, which reflects not only technical skill but also a willingness to engage with challenging ideas.
To celebrate the end of the year, our Year 9–10 French students embraced a beloved French tradition by creating and decorating bûches de Noël – the classic Christmas chocolate log. Students demonstrated creativity and festive spirit, producing impressive designs that combined culture and culinary skill.
On Tuesday lunchtime, three Junior bands performed in our first School’s Out Concert to celebrate the end of classes. The rain cleared just in time for the new Year 9–10 funk and soul bands and the Year 7–8 rock band, the Cobalt Cats, to showcase their talent, including an original song.
Flickr >The Year 6 Graduation Ceremony was a special occasion marking the culmination of our students’ primary years at St Andrew’s College. The programme began with a mihi delivered by Reva Bartlett and Hugo Lash (both Year 5), followed by a waiata performed by the Year 4–5 students. Teachers, Bid Constanti and Adam Fleming, then extended a formal welcome to the assembled students, staff, and families, before Louie Hartstonge and Arizona Wallace (both Year 6) offered the Year 6 response. The graduating cohort performed their song and were individually acknowledged as they received certificates, with Teacher, Meg Feller, and five Year 4 siblings of the graduates announcing each name. A spirited performance of Four Chords united the group in song, and the ceremony concluded with the traditional piping out of the Year 6 students. Preparatory School Principal, Jonathan Bierwirth, was formally acknowledged during the ceremony and joined the Year 6 students as they departed, while parents and younger peers stood to honour their achievement.
Flickr >
The Junior Department celebrated their End-of-Year Picnic with a delightful Tangleby Gardens theme in the learning hallway. Tangleby Gardens is owned by Sue Heazlewood, author of several cookbooks and the enchanting Tails of Tangleby Gardens series. Although the weather prevented the students from visiting Sue Heazlewood’s beautiful gardens in person, they immersed themselves in her stories instead. The children enjoyed reading tales from Tails of Tangleby Gardens, sharing Christmas stories, watching a festive film, and gathering for a cosy Teddy Bears’ Picnic together.
Flickr >On Thursday morning, Pre-school tamariki and kaiako took to the stage in the Gough Family Theatre for the annual Pre-school Christmas Concert. They danced to and sang Christmas classics including Jingle Bells and Feliz Navidad to an appreciate audience of whānau. We are all so proud of our tamariki for their amazing performance – it takes a lot of resilience to get up on stage and perform and was a lovely way to kick off the festive season.
Flickr >
Over the past few weeks, many of the learning experiences in the Pre-school have been focused on exploring ideas about Christmas. One of the ideas is the ‘gift of giving’. As part of their learning around this concept, the children are introduced to the idea that not all families are fortunate enough to have lots of yummy food or get lots of presents at Christmas. In line with the wider College, the Pre-school has been collecting donations of toys for the Christchurch City Mission Appeal. Building strong connections between Pre-school and the wider College is a huge priority. The children have made a series of visits to deliver gifts and sing carols to the wider St Andrew’s whānau, including to the Years 1–3 Junior Department, the cleaning team, the kitchen team, and even to the Rector!
On Wednesday, a group of 80 staff gathered for the fifth annual Staff Social Lawn Bowls event. This year’s theme, Wild Wild West, brought cowboy hats, plaid shirts, and plenty of laughter. The competition was fierce, but the spirit of camaraderie shone through. Best Dressed was a clear win for Guidance Counsellor, Tarina Stephens, and Head of Guidance, Tom Matthews, who impressed everyone as the ultimate cow-duo counselling crew. On the green, Head of Learning Support, Amiria Rule, stole the spotlight with her sporting prowess, delivering the winning bowl that secured victory for her team.
Congratulations to the 22 students who have completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary award this year. For the second consecutive year, St Andrew’s College is proud to be the top school in New Zealand for Gold Awards achieved in a single year.
This year also marks 60 years since the award began at St Andrew’s, with more than 250 Gold Awards presented over this period. The 2025 recipients below proudly continue this remarkable legacy.
Wednesday marked the final week of the Canterbury Schools Term 4 Canoe Polo competition at Lake Rua. The sport’s growth meant that, for the first time in 15 years, St Andrew’s College entered four teams: one each in Grades A, B, and C, plus an Intermediate team made up of Year 7–8 players. These younger players have made impressive progress and are already showing considerable talent.
In C Grade, St Andrew’s defeated Middleton Grange School 3–1 in the playoff to reach the semi-final against Cashmere High School B. It was a close match, but Cashmere took the win and went on to the final, leaving our team in third place, which is a fantastic achievement for a group new to the sport this term. In B Grade, St Andrew’s also finished third, after a narrow 3–1 semi-final loss to Hillmorton B, who went on to win the grade.
As reigning champions, our A Grade team faced Shirley Boys’ High School in the grand final, a team that had beaten them earlier in the competition. In a nail-biting match, St Andrew’s quickly took the lead and maintained it with strategic play and strong teamwork, securing a 4–2 victory and retaining the A Grade title.
Flickr >On 27–28 November at Mount Maunganui, the St Andrew’s Girls’ rugby team represented the College with pride and passion at the Condor Sevens Tournament. They played six tough games, showing courage, grit, and resilience. They often started on the back foot and fought hard to turn the game around, demonstrating teamwork and determination. They won four out of six matches against some strong schools:
On Saturday, the 1st XI hosted Christchurch Boys’ High School 2nd XI. Winning the toss, Boys’ High batted first and got away to a solid start, but some tight bowling and good fielding restricted them to 127. St Andrew’s run chase was put under pressure with some very good bowling and at one stage it was 78/6 but Ryan Bond and Jock Sidey (both Year 12) put on a 56-run partnership to bring it home.
The 2nd XI had an outstanding win over Christ’s College to win the 1st XI Cup one day final. Batting first, the boys made 224 and bowled College out for 194. Jacob Farrelly (Year 12) had a good double with three wickets and 28 runs.
Other key performances:
The South Island SUPA Interschool Polo Tournament took place on Sunday at the Waireka Polo Ground in Sefton, with St Andrew’s College well represented in combined Christchurch school teams.
Results:
Even as the school year winds down, it was great to see plenty of teams building and competing at the VEX Robotics scrimmage held in The Green Library and Innovation Centre last Saturday.
In VEX V5, Year 9 team “ERROR101” (Jonathan Armstrong, Hudson Blyde, Edward Garbutt, Ethan Waines) qualified second going into the playoffs but were knocked out in the semi-finals. All four VEX IQ teams competed enthusiastically, with two teams qualifying to compete together in the finals. In an upset win against higher-ranked teams, “Mongolian Tree Weasels” (Harvey Kilday, Alexander Nuthall, Wyatt Petre (all Year 7), Cynthia Zhou (Year 8)) and “The Classified Bananas” (George Brandon, Benjamin Carline, Archie Passmore (all Year 7)) won the scrimmage 35–28.
Zoe Kelso (Year 9) competed in the Tennis New Zealand 14 and Under Junior Championships. Zoe achieved an outstanding result in the Doubles competition, reaching the semi-final and finishing third overall. In the Singles, she placed 10th, a fantastic achievement at national level.
Isabella Cutforth (Year 11) achieved a Distinction in her recent Grade 8 oboe examination.
Tessa Kerr (Year 10) recently completed her 15th Science Badge and was awarded with her Gold Star Badge.
Kora Graham (Year 3) and her Empire Athletics’ Opal cheerleading team achieved third place in their division at the Garden City Championships last month. The team also won second place with a virtual entry at the New Zealand Super Nationals.
Austen Fraser (Year 8) has been selected for the Canterbury Panthers U15 Men's flag football team and will compete at nationals in March. Olivia Quane (Year 9) has been named in the U15 Women’s Canterbury team and Levi Currie (Year 9) in the Canterbury Men’s U15 team.
In addition to those already reported for the Preparatory School, the following students have been named in Canterbury touch teams:
Aarkin Kesar (Year 13), Ryan Bond, Spencer Hair, and Hugo Fairweather-Logie (all Year 12) have been selected for the Canterbury Metro Years 11–12 teams.
Harriet Geare (Year 10) has been selected into the Years 9–10 team to play in a tournament in Timaru.
The following nine students have been accepted into the 2026 New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO):
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the summer break in sports and cultural activities.
The Christmas Eve Chapel Service will take place on Wednesday 24 December at 6.00pm in the Centennial Chapel. Everyone is welcome to this family-friendly service.
All 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
The College Shop, Thistles, will be open in December from Monday 1 December – Friday 19 December 2025, 8.00am–4.30pm. Thistles will re-open in 2026 with the following hours:
The final operating day for the Second-Hand Uniform Shop in 2025 will be Friday 19 December. In January 2026, the Second-hand Uniform Shop will be open with the following hours:
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 >
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the fixtures page on StACNet.
