St Andrew's College

On Tuesday 21 July, St Andrew’s College hosted the inaugural Business Network event, bringing together parents, business owners, professionals, and students for an evening of connection and sharing ideas. 🤝

Guests enjoyed drinks and canapés while expanding their networks and strengthening relationships within the College community.

The highlight of the evening was a presentation from economist Tony Alexander, who shared insights into New Zealand’s economic outlook, housing market trends, and the factors shaping future growth. His practical approach to complex topics sparked plenty of interest, discussion, and laughter from attendees.

This successful first event marks the beginning of an exciting new initiative designed to foster meaningful engagement and strengthen connections across our business community.✨

Learning has taken our Preparatory School students beyond the classroom recently, with opportunities to build confidence, explore new concepts, and develop lifelong skills. ✨

🏊 Year 7 students have begun a six-week swimming programme at Wharenui Pool as part of their Health and Physical Education learning. Focusing on technique, water safety, endurance, and personal survival skills, the programme helps students build confidence in and around the water while setting personal goals and tracking their progress. Swimming is an important life skill, and it has been wonderful to see students embracing the challenge.

🥏 Meanwhile, Year 4 students have been developing their skills through an ultimate frisbee PE unit focused on teamwork, game understanding, and fair play. Through skill challenges, partner activities, and modified games, students have strengthened their throwing, catching, movement, and decision-making skills.

🐧 Year 3 students recently visited the International Antarctic Centre as part of their inquiry unit, Animals and their Habitats: From Aotearoa to Antarctica. From meeting Little Blue Penguins (Kororā) and experiencing an Antarctic storm simulation, to exploring interactive exhibits and enjoying the Husky Encounter, students gained a deeper understanding of how animals adapt to different environments. The visit was a memorable way to bring classroom learning to life.

🎼 There has been plenty to celebrate for our musicians recently, with St Andrew's College students performing in a variety of settings.

🏆 Two St Andrew’s College chamber groups, along with two mixed-school ensembles featuring St Andrew’s students, performed at the Southern Regional Chamber Music Final in late June. Sparks Trio, featuring Ethan Waines (Year 10), was awarded Second Place and selected for the NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Final. The trio was one of just eight ensembles from across New Zealand to perform at the final last Saturday and received a June Clifford National Finalist Award in recognition of this outstanding achievement.

🎸 Senior Rock Band Pretty When It Burns, featuring Annie Young, Ethan Lam, Oliver Hill (all Year 13), and Hamish Bilton (Year 11), has been named among the top 20 bands in Smokefree Rockquest 2026 from more than 1,000 bands nationwide. While they did not progress to the National Finals, this achievement reflects years of commitment to the College rock programme and their continued development as performers and songwriters.

🎷 Recently our ākonga travelled to Nelson for the Nelson Jazz Festival, performing as members of the Big Band, Jazz Combo, Senior Soul Group, and Junior Soul Group. Across four days, they performed at schools, cafés, and venues throughout the city, gaining valuable experience in a range of settings. A special highlight was performing for local primary school students, who danced and sang along, a reminder of the joy live music can bring to a community.

Whakamihi to our students who have been selected for Canterbury representative teams this season, recognising their hard work in their chosen sports. 💪

🔴 Canterbury Metro Red U16 Rugby: Sam Dunlea, Macully Greer (both Year 12), Iosefo Tito, Nixon Dooley (both Year 11)

⚫ Canterbury Metro Black U16 Rugby: Noah Fihaki, Angus Quade (both Year 11)

Their place in these teams provides an exciting opportunity to compete alongside some of Canterbury’s leading young rugby players. 🏉

🏏 During the term break, two students also represented Canterbury Development indoor cricket teams: Emmett Gillespie (Year 9, Canterbury Development U13) and Harriet Geare (Year 11, Canterbury Development U15).

Whether through the arts, business studies, or accounting, St Andrew's students are developing real-world skills, broadening their perspectives, and exploring future opportunities. 🌟

🎨 The Senior Digital Art Exhibition is on display in The Green Library and Innovation Centre, featuring outstanding work from Year 12 and 13 students studying Graphic Design, Character Design, and Photography. The exhibition highlights the creativity, technical skill, and unique perspectives of our students, while providing an opportunity to share their mahi with the wider College community.

🐋 Year 13 Business Studies students recently went to Kaikōura to explore the success story of Whale Watch Kaikōura. Through an educational session and a whale-watching excursion, students gained valuable insights into business growth, sustainability, and community impact while preparing for their NCEA Level 3 external assessment.

📊 Year 13 Accounting students visited PwC Ōtautahi, where they toured the offices and heard from partner Pete Cody and members of the PwC team. Discussions covered career pathways in accounting, graduate opportunities, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the profession. The visit provided valuable real-world context and insight into future career possibilities.

Celebrating sporting success 🏆

🎯 The College trap shooting team travelled to Hamilton for the Hamilton Boys’ High School Interschool Shoot and the North Island Secondary Schools Championships, achieving some outstanding results. Charlotte Oliver (Year 13) and Samuel Jones (Year 12) delivered outstanding performances, with Charlotte earning multiple podium finishes and Samuel named High Overall Champion in Single Barrel.

🏉 Hannah Papali'i Taimalelagi Malietoa and Metua Cranwell (both Year 13) were selected for the New Zealand U18 Girls’ Pathways Squad, joining 50 of the country's leading young players for a six-day camp where they had the opportunity to develop technical, tactical, physical, and personal skills.

🏇 Everley Gilmore (Year 10) attended the 2026 New Zealand Dressage Awards, winning the Pony Medium and Above Section of the AMS Pony Rider League and being named National Pony Rider for the series. She also achieved both Canterbury and national championship honours in the Pony Elementary to Advanced Medium Section of the Tackshop.co.nz Pony Rising Stars League.

⚽🏑 The Preparatory School hosted the annual ISSA Winter Tournament on Friday 24 July, with teams competing for places at the Primary Sport Canterbury Winter Tournament. The Years 7–8 Mixed hockey and Years 7–8 football teams both finished unbeaten to win their respective competitions, alongside several other strong team performances throughout the day.

Last Friday, our students gathered to celebrate John Ruge and his 11 years of dedicated service as Head of Senior School. The occasion began with a flag-raising ceremony, accompanied by a piper and drummer, before students and staff reflected on the significant contribution John has made to the life of the College. 🙏

Principal of Secondary School, Evert van Florenstein, alongside Head Prefects Charlotte Galvan and Tom Simpson, acknowledged the positive culture and strong sense of community John has helped foster within the Senior School.

The celebration included waiata, a collection of photographs spanning John's time at St Andrew’s College, and one final Year 12–13 Challenge. Students concluded the occasion with a heartfelt haka. 💙

As John prepares to take up a new role in Bathurst, Australia, we thank him for his dedication, leadership, and service to the College, and wish him and his wife, Kathryn, every success for the future.

🗣️✍️ Student voice, creativity, and confidence have been on full display through a range of speaking, poetry, and performance opportunities.

At Speaking for the Planet 2026, 11 students represented the College at the Australasian competition, exploring this year’s theme, “Seeding Change: A Feast for the Future”. Students achieved strong results across speech and visual art categories, with Hanxi (Cicy) Chen and RuoLin (Lauren) Li (both Year 12) placing first and second respectively in the Years 12–13 Prepared Speech section. 🎤🌏

St Andrew’s ākonga also achieved remarkable results in the New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition. Highlights included three podium places in the Secondary category and one in the Primary category, as well as a number of Highly Commended and Commended awards, and a poem selected for publication on the Poetry Box website. 📖✨

Over the term break, more than 30 students competed in the Christchurch Speech and Drama Competitions across poetry, public speaking, drama, prepared reading, and improvisation. With numerous placings, commendations, and several first-time competitors, students embraced the opportunity to build confidence, communication skills, and stage presence. 🎭💪

From ethical reasoning and neuroscience to strategic thinking, St Andrew’s College students have been putting their minds to the test through a range of academic opportunities. 💡

⚖️ At the 2026 Senior High School International Ethics Olympiad Final, Hanxi (Cicy) Chen and Fraser Walls (both Year 12), alongside Angela Yang, Samuel Hu, and Daniel Kenyon (all Year 11), represented St Andrew’s College against 62 teams from around the world. The team demonstrated impressive critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and respectful dialogue, earning an Honourable Mention and International Ethics Olympiad certificates.

🧠 Angela Yang and Samuel Hu also represented the College at the South Island Brain Bee Final and Neuroscience Experience Day at the University of Canterbury. Students explored neuroscience through hands-on activities, including brain dissections and practical challenges. Angela was awarded a prestigious University of Otago Neuroscience Internship when she will gain first‑hand experience within the University’s Neuroscience Department during the Spring break.

♟️ Our Preparatory School ākonga also put their strategic thinking to the test at the Canterbury Interschool Chess Competition. The Years 7–8 team of Tianyu (George) Feng, Anqi (Angie) Qin (both Year 8), Alexander Mazey, and Henry Streeter (both Year 7) placed fourth in the B Grade competition, with several students achieving strong individual results.

🎶🥁 StAC Attack 2026 and the biennial Pipe Band Ceilidh recently brought together the St Andrew’s College community for a fantastic celebration of everything Scottish.

StAC Attack 2026 marked 20 years of the much-loved event, bringing together members of the College and wider Pipe Band community at the Christchurch Town Hall. The audience enjoyed performances from the A, B, and C Pipe Bands, emerging learners on chanter and drum pads, and Highland dancers. 🎵✨

A highlight of the evening was the finale performance of 'StAC Attack', with Old Collegian Ben McLaughlin (OC 2005) joining the Pipe Band on stage to perform the tune that inspired the event’s name. The evening also celebrated the A Pipe Band as current New Zealand Juvenile Champions ahead of their trip to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. 🌍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The celebrations continued the following evening at the College with the Pipe Band Ceilidh, which welcomed more than 160 guests who enjoyed Scottish music, dancing, auctions, and entertainment while helping raise funds to support the A Pipe Band’s imminent trip to Scotland. 🙌

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make both events such a success. 💙