You are logged in as
Logout
You are logged in as
Logout
Dear Parents and Caregivers
As I move around our College, it is such a pleasure to see our students engaging positively with one another, both in the classroom and across our co-curricular activities. This highlights the value of being a co-educational school, where young men and women learn and work together and support each other’s growth. We see this in events like this year’s Senior College production, music groups and our Mixed touch team’s success winning the South Island title. These experiences build communication, teamwork, leadership, and respect – qualities that are essential in life beyond school.
Congratulations on a hugely entertaining and loud StAC Rock Night on Wednesday evening, in which nine enthusiastic bands performed. Rock bands have certainly been a real strength of St Andrew’s College for a number of years – both with the large numbers and high quality. This Rock Night was fun preparation for the Rockquest Canterbury Heats this Friday evening at the Aurora Centre (doors open from 6.30pm). All the very best for our musicians for this highly competitive competition.
As announced on Monday this week, our Head of Senior College, John Ruge, will be taking up the position as Assistant Head of College and Head of Senior School at Scots All Saints College in Bathurst, Australia. Over the past 11.5 years at St Andrew’s College, John has played a pivotal role in shaping a high-performing Senior College culture. He helped strengthen pastoral care systems, improve tracking of student progress, was a founding member of the well-being group that initiated our new framework, and developed new initiatives like Year 12 Life Skills and Year 13 Te Waka. We thank John for his dedication and service and wish him every success in this exciting next chapter. John will conclude here at St Andrew’s College at the end of Week 2, Term 3. We have a recruitment process underway which we will keep you updated on.
Please be aware that there is a lot happening nationally in education, with a new qualification being developed alongside the new knowledge-rich Senior secondary school curriculum. From 2028, NCEA will be replaced with a new National Qualification. Our teachers are actively involved in professional development and change management as we prepare for these changes in the next year and half. We will continue to keep you up to date, but you can also see more details here on the Ministry of Education Parent Portal.
This Saturday evening, my wife Judi and I look are looking forward to attending the fun biennial “Black & Bling Ball” fundraising event in support of our College’s hockey and rowing programmes. The link to the exciting auction items is here.
Ngā mihi nui
Mark Wilson
Rector
This week, students in 8S have been learning how to construct effective “PEEL” paragraphs. The PEEL structure is a simple and reliable framework that helps students organise their writing clearly and logically:
To practise this structure, students first wrote a paragraph describing a place they particularly enjoy. They then worked with a learning partner to review their writing, focusing on whether their evidence and explanation clearly supported their main idea. This proved to be a valuable exercise, as identifying and explaining these links can be challenging. Sharing their work and receiving constructive feedback helped deepen their understanding. Next, students will build on these skills by writing 3–4 PEEL paragraphs on a topic of their choice, which they will then develop into a complete essay.
Every second week, Year 4–6 classes come together for a team assembly, with each class taking a turn to host and share their learning, along with any special talents or skills they have developed. This week, 4T led the assembly with confidence and pride, presenting examples of their writing and pepeha, alongside impressive Highland dancing and snare drumming performances.
In the Middle Syndicate, te reo Māori is fostered as an integral part of everyday learning, supporting students to develop both language skills and a deeper understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural heritage. Across the syndicate, students experience language through waiata, haka, asking and answering questions, and are beginning to record ideas in simple te reo Māori sentences. During Year 4 lessons with teacher Mary Leota, students have been exploring stories of taniwha and have created their own artwork incorporating traditional designs and patterns.
Year 5 students have been exploring vocabulary around sports and games and enjoy sharing haka and waiata as part of their lessons. Year 6 students are developing vocabulary about their tinana (bodies) and playing games and activities to reinforce their new learning. Students across the syndicate now have the confidence to share their pepeha and waiata at assemblies. Through these varied and engaging experiences, students build confidence in using te reo Māori everyday while deepening their appreciation of Māori culture and tikanga.
This term, 6T students have been exploring Mirror by Jeannie Baker, a wordless picture book that encourages students to look closely and think deeply. Through careful observation and rich group discussions, students have developed their ability to make inferences – using visual clues to understand what is happening beyond what is immediately shown. They have been making thoughtful predictions, sharing and justifying their interpretations, and retelling the story in their own words, demonstrating a deeper engagement with both the text and images. A key focus of the unit has been comparing two families from different cultures, helping students recognise the shared values, routines, and family experiences that connect people around the world. The class has engaged in a range of tasks and activities, allowing them to reflect on their own likes, dislikes, and experiences while building understanding through thoughtful discussion and creative responses.
When a young person is engaged, something shifts. They become focused, curious, and absorbed in what they’re doing, often discovering more about their strengths and what matters to them. In this week’s PERMA-V focus, Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby explores the Engagement pillar and offer simple ways families can support this at home.
READ THE WELL-BEING BLOG>
Ary Son and Carter Evans (both Year 12) are passionate leaders of well-being at St Andrew’s. This year, they are contributing to a cross-school committee organising termly, student-led hui for young people across Canterbury. Supported by charity, Seed the Change, they are working to bring compassion into action across Ōtautahi. The most recent hui was a great success, featuring speakers, panel discussions, and opportunities for students from over 20 schools to take action through random acts of kindness across central Christchurch. Ary and Carter are strong advocates for adolescent well-being and believe that some of the greatest growth happens when students come together with a shared sense of purpose.
You can read more about Seed the Change and the Action for Compassion Project by clicking here.
Our rock musicians had an enjoyable night on Wednesday as they shared their new songs in preparation for the Rockquest competition this weekend. It was great to see young and more established bands produce solid performances on songs they've worked hard on for the last couple of months.
Please come along to Burnside High School’s Aurora Centre on Friday from 7.00pm to support them as they compete in the Rockquest Canterbury Heats.
Watch Rock Night Video>
On Wednesday, the College held our annual choral concert at St Mary's Pro Cathedral as part of their 'Wednesday at One' series. The concert featured performances from our auditioned choir Ngā Manu Tīoriori and our all-comers choir Ngā Oro o te Ngahere, chamber ensembles Brass and Breath and Double ATM, and concluded with two pieces performed by the combined choirs, Te Kōkī o Hato Ānaru. The programme offered a rich variety of repertoire, from traditional Māori song and New Zealand choral works to classical chamber music and contemporary arrangements. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to perform 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>St Andrew’s College A Band snare drummers, alongside tutors and Old Collegians, were given a once in a lifetime opportunity on Saturday to perform live on stage with Six60 at Te Kaha – One New Zealand Stadium. This was a milestone event for the venue, marking the first full concert held at the stadium, in front of a crowd of 37,000. Stepping onto such a stage in this setting was an extraordinary experience for all involved. The students representing St Andrew’s College were: Andrew Bryce (Year 8), Eddie Park (Year 10), Harry Summers (Year 12), Daniel Liu, and Lee Patterson (both Year 13), supported by Drumming Tutor and drum corps organiser, Jamie McEwan, Head of Drumming Scott Birrell, Drumming Tutor Michael Jenkins (OC 2013), and Rebekah Weir (OC 2017). The group featured during Six60’s hit song Fade Away, contributing to an electric atmosphere and enhancing a key moment in the performance. Their involvement not only highlighted the musicianship and professionalism of the group but also demonstrated the outstanding opportunities available to our students. An unforgettable experience for all involved, and a moment that will be remembered as a significant milestone for both the performers and the new stadium.
Watch video>
Last Saturday, Bagpipe Tutor Piers Dover, and Sam Foote (Year 13) travelled to Palmerston North to compete in the annual invitational solo piping events at The Colin Craig Claidhmor and Targe. Piers won third place in the Claidhmor Light Music events – March, Strathspey and Reel, including a Hornpipe and Jig. Louis Newman (OC 2018) came in second place in the Targe Piobaireachd event.
On Sunday, The Highland Piping Society of Canterbury Sunday Solo Competition was held, as the first competition in the indoor solo piping calendar, and our Band students achieved some great results. Tayla Eagle (OC 2025) placed third in the B Grade 2/4 March and Strathspey/Reel events. It was also the perfect opportunity for many of our students to prepare for the upcoming King’s Birthday Solo Piping Championships in Dunedin.
Results>Last week’s RNZB@StAC Residency saw our Year 4–8 Ballet dancers experiencing a masterclass with visiting Dance Specialist, Alina Kulikova. Alina came to New Zealand from Russia and was a ballerina with the Imperial Ballet Company. It was a treat to have such a beautiful dancer share her knowledge with our students. The Secondary School dancers also enjoyed a number of choreography classes during the week, working towards new Degas-inspired Ballet performance piece to be presented at a later date.
Flickr>
Students from the St Andrew’s Speech and Drama programme enjoyed outstanding success at the Oamaru Competitions Society Festival over the weekend, with students competing across poetry, character recital, improvisation, prepared reading and sight reading sections. A highlight was Adelyn (Year 8), Iaera (Year 6) and Nayana Abrahamson (Year 6) being jointly awarded the trophy for “Most Successful and Versatile Competitor in All of the Arts,” recognising their achievements across Speech and Drama, Music and Highland Dancing. It was the first time the trophy had been presented to a family rather than an individual. The three siblings also achieved multiple commendations in the Speech and Drama sections. Iaera was awarded Most Promising for Unplaced Character Speech and Drama trophy. Iaera won runner up Most Points U12 for Highland Dance, and Most Promising Performer for Speech U10. Nayana won Most Points U10 for Highland Dance, and the North Otago Championship Irish Jig U10. Violet Winterbourn (Year 6) was overall Champion in Speech, not only in her age group (10 Years and Under) but also the next age group up (12 Years and Under). She also was champion of her age group in Voice (singing) despite it being her first time entering. Watson Winterbourn (Year 3) was the overall champion in his age group for both Speech and Highland Dancing.
Maxwell Bird (Year 4) delivered an outstanding performance at the Kartsport Canterbury Enduro race held in March, competing in the Cadet Rok category for 6 to 10-year-olds. Max secured an impressive first place finish among 15 competitors, completing 50 laps in a winning time of 30:32.25.
Ten Year 10 students recently took part in a five-day Discovery Voyage onboard the Spirit of Adventure, sailing from Auckland Harbour around the Coromandel and Hauraki Gulf. They were joined by students from several North Island schools, with a total of 40 students on board. Throughout the voyage, students demonstrated impressive growth in confidence, resilience, and teamwork, embracing each challenge with enthusiasm. From early morning swims to hoisting sails, climbing the mast, navigating coastal waters in rafts, and adapting to life at sea, they consistently stepped outside their comfort zones. There was plenty of healthy competition among the groups, and our students certainly held their own while building strong camaraderie with others on board. The experience provided a valuable opportunity to develop independence, leadership, and a strong sense of responsibility, leaving students with lasting memories and skills beyond the classroom.
Over the weekend, Louis Smith (Year 11) competed at the Australian Karting Championships, placing 34th overall. Out of 60 entrants, featuring some of the top drivers in Australia, 40 make the final. Louis has now been invited to race in Townsville over the July school holidays.
Following her earlier selection into the orchestra, Mila Yin (Year 9) has been awarded a Fame Trust scholarship within the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) programme.
Arielle Swartz (Year 8) and Ottelia Mattson (Year 9) competed in the South Island Artistic Swimming Championships held 15–17 May at Parakiore. Their Canterbury team won Gold in Dolphin Combo, qualifying for nationals in September in Hamilton, while Arielle also came away with second place in Figures for 12 and Under.
Georgia Lewis (Year 13) had a successful first season in the three-quarter midget class at Ruapuna speedway. She finished third out of 25 competitors in the season points championship, and was also awarded the prestigious 2025–2026 Rookie Driver of the Year at the Christchurch Speedway Association’s recent prizegiving.
Violet McInnes (Year 11) – for her song Favourite movie, and Evelyn Lowe (Year 10) – with her song, All the time, have both been named as finalists in the Years 9–11 Play it Strange Junior Songwriting Competition. They will each receive $850 worth of recording studio and production time to have their songs professionally produced.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga'anuku from the Crusaders joined our Year 9–10 boys’ rugby training sessions. It was fantastic to welcome two local rugby superstars to St Andrew’s, where they immersed themselves in the trainings, offering tips and guidance to help upskill and inspire our students. Naturally, Leicester worked with the forwards, while Sevu supported the backs. They spoke to the boys about the importance of carrying the ball into contact, highlighting the key pillars of ‘footwork, fend and fight’. The session finished with a Q&A, followed by the players generously giving away Super Rugby balls.
BASKETBALL
Our Senior Girls’ basketball team ended up playing the Christ's College U17 team on Tuesday evening, as Christchurch Girls’ High School became unavailable for their scheduled game. With 31 points from Ava Jones (Year 13) and a determined defensive effort – holding Christ's <40% shooting – the girls came away with a 73–53 'road' win.
Our Senior Boys’ basketball team took on St Thomas of Canterbury College on Thursday evening in a 'home' game. Despite being down some key contributors, St Andrew’s came out firing and built a double-digit lead after the first quarter. St Thomas showed considerable resilience and fought to cut the deficit to four, but St Andrew’s held on for a 92–87 win. The team would love to see supporters at another home double-header next Tuesday evening.
FOOTBALL
The Girls’ 1st XI put in a strong performance against Burnside High School, showing grit and organisation throughout the match. They created good moments going forward and defended with discipline, staying in the game right to the end. Despite a 1–2 loss in the final minutes, the effort, attitude, and progress were clear, and the group continues to build nicely.
The Boys’ 1st XI played out an exciting 4–4 draw with Lincoln High School at Foster Park in a match full of energy and attacking football. The boys showed great character to stay in the contest and keep pushing until the final whistle. It was an entertaining game with plenty of positives to take forward as they continue developing their style and confidence.
HOCKEY
The 1st XI Girls’ hockey team delivered a great performance last Friday night to secure an 8–0 victory over Rolleston College. An early goal set the tone, settling the nerves and swinging momentum in St Andrew’s favour. A strong performance of passing hockey followed, from the defenders through to the strikers. While the attack was clinical, the defensive unit were equally strong, maintaining composure and structure to earn a well-deserved clean sheet. With momentum and confidence high, the team are now looking forward to round three against Craighead Diocesan School. The 1st XI Boys’ had a bye.
NETBALL
On Saturday, the Senior A netballers played Kereru C. It was a physical encounter from the beginning, with the game going goal for goal early on before St Andrew’s started to gain control through strong defensive pressure and patience on attack. The team worked hard through the midcourt to create opportunities in the circle, while the defenders continued to force turnovers and apply pressure throughout the court. Despite the physical nature of the match, the girls stayed composed and continued to build momentum across each quarter. It was another strong team performance, with everyone contributing to the 57–39 result and continuing to build combinations and confidence as the season progresses. MVP was joint, with Emilia Ainley (Year 12) showing great skill and composure and Zara Kleindyk (Year 12) constantly working hard. Team moment went to Hannah Papali'i Taimalelagi Malietoa (Year 13) for showing great leadership down the attack end.
In the SuperNet competition, St Andrew’s played Villa Maria College for the first time this season. St Andrew’s got out to a strong start on attack, with players finding connections early and the defence creating plenty of disruption, before Villa Maria changed tactics and moved into a zone defence. St Andrew’s rotated through a number of strong combinations across the court, and the team came away with an excellent win 39–18. MVP went to Zara Kleindyk (Year 12), who had a huge impact throughout the game. The team moment of the day went to Rosie Gaffaney (Year 12) and Hayley Stowell (Year 11), who both tracked down loose balls through the midcourt before delivering huge passes into Emilia Ainley (Year 12), who took the ball exceptionally well under pressure.
RUGBY
The Wāhine 1st XV rugby team had their first game on Wednesday against Avonside Girls’ High School, winning 76–17, with it being the first ever game of rugby for a number of the players. Attacker of the Day was Metua Cranwell (Year 13) and Defender of the Day: Honour Overcomer (Year 12).
The Boys’ 1st XV aimed to build on the previous week’s success as they faced unbeaten St Bede’s College in this week’s fixture. St Bede’s came out strong and were clinical on both sides of the ball. With physical defence and a strong kicking game, they put on the pressure, with St Andrew’s making errors, despite showing a lot of fight. Ultimately St Bede’s took the game 7–37. The next game is away against Christchurch Boys’ High School.
120-panel solar system, far larger than the 12–16 panels you’d typically see on a home, has been putting in some solid work, even through Autumn. Just last Thursday, it generated an impressive 288.53 kWh in a single day! That’s enough to power around 14 average Kiwi homes or keep a simple LED lightbulb glowing continuously for three and a half years. Over a full year, our new solar panels are expected to generate around 133,821 kWh, with estimated savings of nearly $14,000 annually and a payback period of under eight years. More than just numbers, it shows what’s possible when sustainability, smart investment, and care for our environment come together to support the future of our College.
Click the link to watch our drone footage of the installation by the team at Harrisons Solar.
Watch the installation video>Last Sunday, Year 9 Tutor group 9HFL students and their families walked 100KM to fundraise for So They Can. All available tutor members participated, walking for an hour around a 850M course to make up the 100km. After the walk, students had a BBQ and well-earned drink that was sponsored by New World Durham Street, who supplied the sausages, drink, bread and of course tomato sauce. It was a great way for families to come together and raise over $700 for the charity.
Fourteen St Andrew’s College students and three staff members participated in the first EcoAction planting day of the year on Sunday. These students gave up their Sunday to serve the wider Christchurch community and New Zealand as a whole, contributing to our carbon sequestration efforts. On Sunday morning, 4500 plants were successfully established by 350 dedicated volunteers in just two hours, many of them students from Canterbury schools. The QEII Adventure Trail promises to be a wonderful addition to the area, and it was especially encouraging to hear native birdlife, including a bellbird, already present. This work is underpinned by three key purposes: to enhance carbon sequestration through the development of a native forest carbon sink, recognising that this is a long-term investment as native forests take time to mature; to help establish and strengthen a continuous green corridor from the Port Hills to the Canterbury Foothills, supporting native birdlife; and to further enhance the mahinga kai (traditional food) gathering environments for native species.
The next planting event will take place at Chimera Crescent on Sunday 21 June, from 10.00am–12.00pm. Those keen to start earlier can start at 8.00am to help with the set-up.
Last Friday, we welcomed back the Class of 1976–1980 for their 50 Years On reunion. More than 40 Old Collegians and partners returned for an evening of reconnecting and reminiscing. Guests enjoyed sharing stories and seeing how much the campus has changed. Former staff members Rex Livingstone, Wayne Milligan, and Mike Woodlock also joined pre-dinner drinks. Dinner blended tradition and good humour, with thanks to Gray Wilson, Doug Borne, Bryan Inch, and Scarlett Ryan (Year 13) for the Address to a Haggis, accompanied by Charlie Gregg (Year 11) on the bagpipes. Richard Hawke kept the evening moving smoothly as MC. Bryan Pearson and Matthew Cockram gave moving toasts to Absent Friends and the College, and guests also heard from OCA President Zoe Merrick (OC 2014) and Rector, Mark Wilson. Thanks also to the Catering team for an excellent meal. On Saturday night, many enjoyed another relaxed get-together in the city. Thanks to Richard for organising it and giving everyone more time together, especially as this year’s celebration was condensed into one evening due to the stadium opening concert. The weekend ended with a strong sense of appreciation for the College and for friendships that have stood the test of time. It was special to see those connections remain so strong, even 50 years on.
Flickr>Isabella Galvan (OC 2021) has been accepted into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Women's rowing team, after just one year in the sport.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the weekend in sports and cultural activities, including:
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the fixtures page on StACNet.
Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026
Time: 8.00am–8.45am
Location: The Coffee Cart, inside Ngā Toi Performing Arts Centre
Join Head of Guidance, Tom Matthews, and Head of Well-being, Kerry Larby, for a coffee and kōrero about any questions about mental health and well-being.
Find out more and see all upcoming Coffee and Catch Ups>Following the success of last year’s digital well-being session, we warmly invite our community to the next StACTalks event for 2026: StACTalks – Digital Well-being, Connection, and Identity
Date: Tuesday 16 June
Time: 6.00pm–7.30pm
Location: Centennial Chapel
Supporting young people to thrive in a digital world is an increasingly important focus for families. This session has been designed to provide practical, research-informed strategies to help parents support their child’s well-being, manage device use, and foster a healthy sense of identity online. The evening will combine expert insight with practical workshops and opportunities to learn alongside other parents in our community.
This is a free event open to all St Andrew’s College parents and caregivers. Spaces are limited, so please secure your spot at the link below. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a highly relevant and practical evening.
REGISTER FOR STACTALKS>
The Black & Bling Silent Auction is live on GalaBid, our online auction platform! Bidding is open to anyone aged 18 and over, so even if you’re unable to attend this Saturday’s Ball in person, you can still be part of the excitement and support this fantastic event.
This year’s auction features an exceptional range of more than 100 items, including holiday home stays, premium food and wine experiences, beauty vouchers, sports coaching packages, and much more.
Our chamber music students are currently preparing for an upcoming competition, and this Classical Concert offers a wonderful opportunity to hear the results of their dedication and hard work. We warmly encourage members of the College community to come along and support these talented performers on Wednesday 27 May, 6.00pm in the Centennial Chapel.
Experience the thrilling sounds of StAC Attack 2026 – celebrating 20 years!
Date: Friday 17 July
Time: 7.00pm–9.00pm
Venue: Christchurch Town Hall – James Hay Theatre
Tickets: Adult $72.89 | Child $44.13 (via TicketMaster)
A St Andrew’s College Pipe Band event at the prestigious Christchurch Town Hall – James Hay Theatre, this highly anticipated concert promises an unforgettable evening of traditional Scottish entertainment.
Be immersed in the rich harmonics of the bagpipes, the infectious beat of the drums, and the flair of Highland dancers as they take the stage. Talented St Andrew’s College students from Years 4–13 will showcase their skills in this action‑packed performance, along with members of our Old Collegian community. Join us for a special 20th anniversary celebration at StAC Attack 2026.
PURCHASE TICKETS VIA TICKETMASTER>The following 2026 photographs are now available to order online:
Details of how to order the photographs can be found on StACNet. Parents will need to log in using their St Andrew's College login credentials.
For photography enquiries, please contact: photography@stac.school.nz.
Order Photographs Onlibe>
The St Andrew’s College has a Community Business Directory features over 100 businesses and professional services owned by families of current students. The Directory is a fantastic way to support local businesses, strengthen connections within our St Andrew’s whānau, and discover the range of services offered by fellow parents and caregivers. This year we’ll also be hosting business networking events – keep an eye out for upcoming dates and details.
THE ST ANDREW'S COLLEGE COMMUNITY BUSINESS DIRECTORY>
List Your Business: If you’re a current parent and would like to be included, complete the registration form at the link below, or email development@stac.school.nz to update a current listing.
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home. To report any absence (due to illness or other reason) please complete the Student Absence Form:
If you are unable to use the online form, you may report an absence by emailing the appropriate address:
If you cannot reach us via the form or email, please phone our attendance line (term time only) on +64 3 940 2031.
