Community and service – August 2024

Cans for Humanity

During a school-wide annual House competition, Cans for Humanity, over 1230 cans of food were collected across the Preparatory and Secondary Schools for Christchurch City Mission. MacGibbon House won the competition, with 389 cans collected.

Canteen Fundraiser

The College Quad was packed with students to watch the selfless act of Alexandra Shepherd (Year 13) and her older sister Christina (OC 2017) shave their heads during Non-uniform Day, to fundraise for Canteen, a New Zealand charity which supports rangatahi impacted by cancer.

Careers Expo

There was positive feedback from students and parents who attended the annual St Andrew’s College Careers Expo. Twenty-six exhibitors attended, including six of the eight New Zealand universities, Ara and SIT (Te Pukenga), as well as several industry training organisations and private training providers. The event provided an excellent opportunity for parents and their children to ask questions directly to the providers about the types of courses, accommodation, and scholarship options as well as potential job opportunities.

International Club

The International Committee launched the 2024 International Club in Term 2 and ran a fun piñata activity to celebrate Spanish Language Week in late May. The Club also ran an activity to coincide with Matariki, and at the end of Term 2, organised food trucks, Roma (Mexican food), Empire Chicken, and the Black Forest Waffle Hut to come to school.

Pink Shirt Day

Students across the College supported Bullying-Free NZ week and took part in Pink Shirt Day, doing their part to end bullying by celebrating diversity, spreading aroha, and promoting kindness and inclusion, while raising money for the Mental Health Foundation.

Service to Production

Year 13 students, Tamaroa Connelly, Edward Pitts, Jack Flanagan, Alexandra Shepherd, Dara Ballard, Shaun Cooper, Hugo Ranken, Sea-am Thompson, Matthew Lee, Chantelle Xiong, Hayden Lam, Jenna Howell and Xanthe Pearce, were acknowledged by the Cultural Council for giving service to five or more productions during their time at the College. As well as performing, the group assisted with leading vocal sectionals, dance rehearsals, set creation, director assistance, hair, make-up, front of house, backstage, and helping younger students.

Sign Language Week

The St Andrew’s prefect team encouraged the College community to embrace New Zealand Sign Language during Sign Language Week, which included them making a short video demonstrating everyday sign language in action.

Whānau hui

The first whānau hui was held at St Andrew’s in June, to connect with our Māori ākonga and whānau. A shared time together gave a time for introductions, discussion, and kai. Kaiako Wiremu Pickering and Mary Leota lead the College’s Te Ao Māori strategy which has developed our understanding and confidence over several years.

World Vision Leadership Day

Community Service leaders, Isobel Bhatia, Madeline Clucas, Benjamin Bolton, and Samuel Ferguson (all Year 13), attended the World Vision Leadership Day in Christchurch, attended by around 30 schools from the upper South Island. Samuel Ferguson shared St Andrew’s approach to supporting the 40-hour Challenge. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to learn, connect and get re-energised to support the amazing work World Vision does globally.

Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards Days Out

As part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards, Year 10 students planted over 2500 native trees in the Red Zone, gained invaluable first aid, child minding and self-management skills during a course run by Red Cross, and attended an interactive half-day session at the Antarctic Centre.