Selwyn House School

We were delighted to be joined by representatives from the Christchurch City Mission Foodbank at our annual Harvest Festival Service last Friday. This is an special time for us at the school, as it highlights the importance of giving back to the community. The girls and the whole Selwyn House School Community contributed to a donation of food items to be used by the Christchurch City Mission Foodbank to support the local Christchurch Community. This year's service was led by the Reverend Megan Herles-Mooar; Students shared their perspectives on some of the things they are thankful for and the Senior Chamber Choir performed 'Give Me a Kite'.

Middle Years Academic Scholarship (Year 5). Students in Year 5 during the 2026 school year are eligible to apply for the Middle Years Academic Scholarship. Applicants are required to complete an scholarship application and the academic examination. External applicants must also submit a completed online enrolment application.

If you would like more information about this scholarship or any of the other scholarships offered at Selwyn House School for the 2026 school year, please visit: https://selwynhouse.school.nz/scholarships/

At Selwyn House School, we have been authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) since 2008. Last week we were honoured to host teachers from Mount Pleasant School for a PYP Induction Day.

During the day, our teaching staff were able to form bonds and share their extensive PYP knowledge with the team that joined us from Mt Pleasant School.

Learning is a lifelong journey and we love surfacing opportunities like this to support our staff and our community to enhance their own learning and their passions, and ultimately better support our students.

Our much anticipated Open Day is fast approaching. We are looking forward to welcoming prospective families to our campus. If you would like to learn more about Selwyn House School and Selwyn House Pre-school, please register to attend Open Day, Tuesday 18 March: https://enrol.selwynhouse.school.nz/open-day

Our Year 6 girls had a fantastic time at Wainui Camp this term, it was a three-day adventure, with memories they will hold onto for a lifetime.

The girls showed their courage, and became risk-takers as they completed adventurous camp activities including high ropes and coasteering. The camp included some quieter activities too; archery was a big hit, and required the girls to focus on their targets and techniques. The girls enjoyed recharging and reflecting with friends, as they roasted marshmallows around the campfire.

The girls had a great time supporting one another and having fun throughout the three days. These activities and the time away together helped each girl to deepen their friendships and boost their self-confidence.

Our girls had an absolute blast at our recent School Swimming Sports! 🏊‍♀️✨ Thank you to all the whānau who came to support the girls. This event is always eagerly awaited, providing an incredible opportunity for the girls to showcase their swimming skills, courage, and commitment to personal growth.
Throughout the summer, they engage in swim programs that enhance their abilities and water safety knowledge, and the swimming sports event allows them to put this learning into action. The girls exhibit extraordinary risk-taking by challenging themselves in the water, demonstrating principled behaviour through fair play, and inspiring each other with their caring attitudes. By earning points for their houses across various races and thrilling events, they truly embody the spirit of perseverance and sportsmanship. Well done to all the girls for their remarkable efforts in the pool. 🏅

A special shout-out to Ngāti Awa House for accumulating the most points on the day and winning the Years 5-8 4x50m House Relay. Finally, heartfelt congratulations to all the girls who qualified to represent Selwyn House School at the ISSA Zone Swimming Sports today!

Years 7 & 8 at Selwyn House are designed to set each student up for success, not only in secondary school but beyond. With opportunities for leadership, exploration, and development, each child will be ready for the challenges ahead.

To learn more about the Senior School at Selwyn House School, please contact [email protected] or attend the upcoming Open Day on Tuesday 18 March, 9am - noon https://enrol.selwynhouse.school.nz/open-day

At Selwyn House School, we foster strong connections between tamariki of all ages, creating opportunities for younger tamariki to be inspired by and learn from their older peers, while also giving older tamariki the chance to build leadership skills and confidence.

Last week our Year 8 STEAM Leaders visited the pre-school, they arrived with all the ingredients needed to make Oobleck: cornflour, water, and food coloring. In small groups, the tamariki watched as the girls mixed the ingredients, creating a gooey substance for them to explore. At first, it was solid, but as they played with it, it turned runny—what a fun, messy experience! This marks the beginning of our regular fortnightly visits from the STEAM Leaders, who will continue doing science experiments with the pre-school.

These hands-on experiences help strengthen our school community, promoting tuakana-teina—older tamariki guiding and supporting younger tamariki—while enjoying the joy of learning together.

On Friday, we celebrated International Women's Day with a dress-up day at school, where students and staff dressed up as women and girls who inspire them.

This was a fun way for everyone to pause and reflect on what it means to be inspirational and to explore the sources of our own inspiration. It was truly heartwarming to see the girls speak courageously about the stories of women who inspire them, and equally special to watch them engage with the stories of women who inspire others.

There were some amazing costumes that celebrated a wide range of women and girls—from students and teachers to peace advocates, artists, lawmakers, athletes, princesses, and many more.

As we reach the halfway point of the term, we celebrate the Year 5, 6, and 7 Camps, where students participated in unforgettable experiences designed to challenge, inspire, and empower them.

From the initial excitement and nerves on the first day to the longing for camp life to continue on the last day, these camps are much more than simple adventures; they strengthen friendships and foster deeper connections between students and teachers.

The Year 5, 6, and 7 camps have once again proven to be a highlight of the year. They leave our students with lasting memories, newfound strengths, and the belief that they can accomplish anything.

Scholarships for the 2026 school year are open to both prospective and current students. Students who will be in Years 5, 6 or 7 during the 2026 school year are welcome to apply. For more information please visit https://selwynhouse.school.nz/scholarships/ contact [email protected]. The application deadline is Friday 9 May, 4PM.

Selwyn House had 13 students compete in the Canterbury Schools Triathlon in West Eyerton on Tuesday 25 February.

Competing in 50+ fields, our girls did extremely well in hot conditions, navigating a tricky swim leg, and competitive races, producing some fantastic results in their respective races.

Year 6 - Annabelle H - 2nd, Macie R - 4th, Sienna M - 11th, Sophia K- 15th, Cynthia Y- 31st, Bianca L- 36th

Year 7 - Poppy O- 2nd, Holly W- 6th, Matilda P - 10th, Lucy V - 16th

Year 8 - Pippa B - 15th, Rose M -18th, Isabella L- 36th

In Week 4, we had the pleasure of welcoming educators Murial and Anthony from The Canterbury Museum to kick off our new unit of inquiry, "Where we are in Place and Time." 🌍✨
The girls participated in workshops where they used their curiosity to understand Pacific and Antarctic navigation, built navigational aids with LEGO, and even got to handle replica heroic era clothing from Antarctic explorers! 🧳🌏❄️

Scholarship applications for the 2026 school year are now being accepted. For more information please visit https://selwynhouse.school.nz/scholarships/ or contact [email protected]. The application deadline is Friday 9 May, 4PM.

Scholarships - Selwyn House School Scholarships Selwyn House School is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2026 school year. Middle Years Academic Scholarship (Year 5)Girls starting in Year 5 during the 2026 school year are eligible to apply for the Middle Years Academic Scholarship. The scholarship is valid for cons...