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Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa
The update from the Government on Wednesday this week will bring more change to all schools, much of which will have a positive impact on our students and school activities. That said, we will continue to take a cautious approach while we are still in the COVID-19 CPF Red Traffic Light setting. The Ministry of Education has advised us that we are in the peak period of positive cases and, as such, it is important we do not relax our vigilance in keeping everyone as safe as possible. We will continue to require and monitor mask-wearing, ensure adequate ventilation, observe physical distancing, and be cautious of indoor settings for higher risk activities, e.g. Physical Education, singing, and playing wind instruments.
Despite the continued number of absences this week, students have remained positive and focused. Staff continue to plan and deliver to all classroom groups learning from school and isolating at home. The fact that St Andrew’s College has not resorted to rostering students home, or reducing the length of the school day, is testimony to the combined efforts of all.
I was delighted this week to view a display of Year 11 Art in The Green Library and Innovation Centre. The theme of My Safe Place seemed to be a very relevant one, and it was great to see these examples of creative expression.
A highlight of last weekend was the success of our Year 12 Debating team, winning the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ final against Christ’s College. St Andrew’s has enjoyed top honours in debating over several years and it is great to see younger students stepping up to continue this tradition – see full results and student names in the newsletter.
I am saddened to share the news that our Director of Development, Miranda Newbury, has tendered her resignation effective from the end of this term. Miranda has had a significant impact in the three years she has been in this role, initiating and strengthening a number of projects including the Year 9 Parent Representative programme, volunteer register, Community Business Directory, StAC Connect for Old Collegians, and fundraising for the Ben Gough Family Theatre. Miranda and her team have hosted many functions, particularly for Old Collegians and donors, and raised significant funds for the College to support students and building development over the last three years. Thank you, Miranda, for your dedication and support of our College vision of Building Better People for Life.
Thank you to Year 8 parents who attended the online meeting on Tuesday evening regarding Year 9 enrolment for 2023. A number of Secondary School staff presented excellent information to assist with a smooth transition to Secondary School.
Today I have had the privilege of spending a couple of hours at the wonderful Willows Cricket Club in Loburn. The match today is the inaugural New Zealand Women’s Invitational XI vs Willows School Girls XI. Aine Molony (Year 11) was a member of the Willows team. It is the desire of the Willows Club to promote and support schoolgirl cricket and Aine was very excited to be selected as part of this team. Congratulations Aine!
My final plea is for those who drive children to school to please be mindful of the risks associated with drop-off and pick-up. Nobody wants an accident and our tamariki are too precious to put at risk. We all know that children and teenagers can be unpredictable. Caution and courtesy are both important in the busy times in the carpark, drop off zone and roads outside school. Thank you for your vigilance and please see the further message in the newsletter.
This weekend sees our rowers head away to Maadi Cup at Lake Ruataniwha. Best wishes to all those involved, I know everyone is excited to be able to compete in this major event.
Ngā mihi nui
Christine Leighton
Rector
A summary of important COVID-19 resources and information shared to parents and caregivers in 2022 can be found on StACNet by clicking here.
USEFUL LINKS:
ISOLATION PERIOD INFORMATION TABLE >POSITIVE CASE NUMBERS AT THE COLLEGE > PARENT EMAIL QUERIES > COVID-19 STUDENT ATTENDANCE FLOWCHART > REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES >
The College has decided to implement a compulsory 7-day stand-down from all sport, starting from students' first day back at school. For example, if a student returns to school on a Monday, they will be asked to stand-down until the following Monday. They will then be managed in terms of their return to full participation. This is based on information that we have received through Sport New Zealand and other organisations in New Zealand. Our priority is the safety of all students in returning to sport and ensuring that there are no long-term effects as a result of COVID-19. Even students who are asymptomatic or had mild symptoms are at risk.
If students are concerned about missing trials or trainings, we are asking them to please contact the coach or staff member in charge, explaining the situation. They will not be disadvantaged around team selections. Please do not be offended if they are asked to stand-down from a trial or training because they have recently returned.
Upon returning to school, students may participate in Physical Education lessons and camps, where they will be managed by our staff.
In managing their return to sport, here are the signs to monitor. If any of these symptoms appear, students should withdraw from physical activity and see one of the coaches to explain.
- chest pain;
- difficulty breathing;
- shortness of breath;
- abnormal heartbeats;
- lightheadedness.
It was a busy week for sport at St Andrew’s College, with results below from our first teams who competed this week.
The 1st XI hosted North West Youth Cricket on Saturday. Batting first, North West compiled a very competitive score of 191 with Zack Hedgcock (Year 13) 4/35 and Tim Richardson (Year 11) 3/43. St Andrew’s ended the day on 161/4, with Cameron Paul (Year 13) 80 not out and Will Carrodus (Year 11) 31.
Some outstanding performances over the weekend in other games included Jake Farrelly (Year 9) Blue team 141 not out against Christchurch Boys’ High School, Tom Simpson (Year 9) White team 67 against St Bede’s College, and Christian Knight (Year 10 ) 6/14 and 40 not out against Riccarton High School.
On Monday night, the Senior A Boys’ team continued to show development and improvement. After going behind early against Riccarton High School, the team showed their fighting spirit to win the first set. This can largely be attributed to an amazing service run by Jack Guest (Year 12) who served 12 consecutive points. Unfortunately, Riccarton High went on to win the game, but not without struggle, as the team showed their skill on multiple occasions. Standout performers included Xavier Beks (Year 13), Connor Ott, and Cylas Tauti (both Year 12).
On Wednesday a group of keen Preparatory School basketballers were treated to a skills session with Tall Black Jo Cook-Green and Canterbury Women’s representative Nicole Gleeson. The students were put through their paces as they prepare for the upcoming season.
On Thursday evening the Year 10 students had their Te Waka Departure ceremony. This involved parents meeting (virtually) with their child’s Te Waka teacher, as well as a special moment between parents and their children with sharing letters of thank you and gratitude. Students came back to school the next day feeling positive about the experience, despite the online format due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Year 9 Social Studies students had the exciting opportunity on Wednesday morning to attend an interactive virtual tour of the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York via Zoom. Despite the early start at 6.30am, over 40 students joined the tour. This unique experience gave students exclusive access to the museum with a personal education guide, who interacted with students’ questions throughout the 45-minute tour. Students learned through artefacts, exhibitions, and many personal stories from the day of the 9/11 attacks.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks is one of several case studies examined in Term 1, as students consider the causes, effects and significance of ‘game changing’ historical events. Year 9 students are currently investigating the consequences of 9/11 as a part of a research assessment with sessions in The Green Centre led by Librarian, Margie Broughton.
Year 11 Art students have just completed their first Internal for the year in the form of a diorama. Students looked at the works of Joe Figg, Peter Madden, and Ronnie van Hout, and used these artists to help inform their practice. The students were tasked to construct a space which represented their identity in some way or replicate a space in which they felt most like themself. Students were encouraged to use found or recycled materials and to include as much detail as possible. These sculptures will be on display in The Green Centre for the remainder of the term.
Year 12 students have once again shown their kindness by holding a Bake Sale, raising $927.00 for the World Central Kitchen, a Non-Profit Organisation which is feeding Ukrainian refugees. The students, led by Juliette Noordanus and Mia Walker, have encouraged their peers to bring along some baking as a way of raising funds to support the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. The idea of baking to support others stems from a connection that the Year 12 students had two years ago, feeding people at the Latimer Square Community luncheon on Sundays over 14-months. Year 12 Dean, Donna Jones, is delighted to see the sense of community and kindness shown by many of the Year 12 students who are looking to do more fundraising in the coming weeks.
Rylee McBride (Year 10) competed in the South Island Swimming Championships in Dunedin at the beginning of March, in the 13–14 year old Girls’ Division.
Rylee also competed in the Otago Long Course Swimming Championships in Dunedin at the end of March in the 14 year old Girls’ Division, winning gold in 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle.
Three St Andrew’s College debating teams competed in the recent Canterbury Regional Championships. The St Andrew’s top team of Year 13 students Tom Edwards, Thomas Kamo and Ethan Adams met our second team in the semi-final, with the Year 12 students Millie Keith, Luke Wylie and Mia Fraser winning the debate and going on to win the title over Christ's College.
Tom Edwards and Luke Wylie were named in the Canterbury team, and Thomas Kamo was awarded Highly Commended Speaker, while Millie Keith and Kate Simcock were named in the Canterbury Development Squad.
Cohnor Walsh (Year 9) raced in the 49km Leeston Classic cycling race and placed sixth in the Open Men’s Division, with a time of 1:16:30.
Good luck to all students who are representing the College over the coming weekend in sports and cultural activities.
There have been some concerning incidents and near misses at the drop-off zone recently, as well as a recent near-miss reported by a member of the public, where students were reported to be running through busy traffic across Papanui Road instead of using the dedicated pedestrian crossing. We would like to remind everybody to be proactive regarding safety in this area.
We have good systems in place, including having a dedicated school crossing on Normans Road staffed by the Preparatory School teachers (and students) and other staff, senior teachers and senior students patrolling the drop-zone vicinity to ensure that students, parents, staff, and visitors use the safe school crossing to cross Normans Road. These staff and teachers are now wearing ‘high-vis’ vests so they can be easily identified.
Key points to note:
Future Problem Solving International has just released the topic, ‘Antibiotic Resistance’ for the International leg of its competition in June 2022. As New Zealand champions in the Junior Division at the end of 2021, our Year 9 team will compete alongside around 80 other teams. Are you an expert in this area or know of someone who has the expertise and would be willing to share their valuable insights and knowledge? Please email Future Problem Solving Coach, Susannah Debenham, SDB@stac.school.nz.
Saturday, 26 March, 8.30pm–9.30pm is Earth Hour. Please consider joining millions of people around the world by turning out your lights for an hour. Natural systems are vital for all our futures – and yet, the rate of global loss of nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history. Nature not only provides us food, water, clean air, and other services worth over US$125 trillion a year. Nature is one of our strongest allies against the climate crisis. Earth Hour aims to increase awareness and spark global conversations on protecting nature, tackling the climate crisis, and working together to shape a brighter future for us all.
EARTH HOUR MESSAGE >
Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, the Black & Bling Ball was postponed, and the new date of Saturday 21 May 2022 was scheduled. Christchurch needs to be under an Orange COVID-19 Protection Framework setting for the Black & Bling Ball to proceed. Currently, there are no additional Ball tables available for sale if the Ball goes ahead in May. The Committee will confirm the date of the event at the beginning of May. If we are not able to proceed, then the postponement date will be Saturday 17 September.
The College Shop, Thistles, will be closed from Thursday 14 April and will reopen on Tuesday 26 April. During the term break, the shop’s opening hours are 9.00am–4.00pm.
Please note, the Second-hand Uniform Shop will not be open during the term break.
Our general enrolment round for St Andrew’s College for 2023 is now open.
Due to the large amount of interest we have in places next year, please ensure your applications are submitted by the due dates above.
Apply Online >
The Community Business Directory is on our website under Alumni & Community and represents over 100 parent businesses. Please do 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 >
Monday 28 April – Secondary School House Athletics Sports Day
Friday 8 April – Term 1 ends
For a full list of upcoming school events, please refer to the fixtures page on StACNet.
