Preparatory student in blue for a charity day.

Student Leadership and Community Service

Ratonga Ākonga Kaiārahi me te Hapori

We are proud of the values and strong sense of community which has developed throughout St Andrew’s long proud history. We pride ourselves on instilling skills and values, which will help our students to become the business and community leaders of tomorrow, providing many opportunities for them to develop and demonstrate leadership qualities. Community service is also an intrinsic part of student life, as we believe that creating purposeful local and global partnerships allow unique opportunities for learning and fosters civic engagement and social responsibility.

Student Leadership

At St Andrew’s College, we pride ourselves on instilling skills and values, which will help our students to become the business and community leaders of tomorrow. We believe it is important to prepare them for that from an early age, with our leadership programme beginning in the Preparatory School and continuing right through to the Senior College, where our Heads of College and prefects are important leaders of the whole school. We understand the power of the peer and the importance of strong role models in our students’ lives. In today’s interconnected world, our young people navigate a landscape shaped by media, marketing, and multicultural influences. We believe it is important to challenge perceptions and provide opportunities for deeper reflection on what it means to be a leader today.

Student leadership in the Preparatory School

We provide many opportunities for our students to develop and demonstrate leadership qualities in the Preparatory School. Our comprehensive co-curricular programme is one of many contexts in which Preparatory School students demonstrate and hone their leadership skills. Students are encouraged to assume leadership of sports teams or cultural groups and take responsibility for bringing the best out in their peers. Motivation, organisation, communication and resilience are some of the essential skills taught. Examples of leadership opportunities include prefect, sacristan, librarian, sports captain, house captain, road patrol leader, science monitor and many more minor in-class responsibilities.
Student leadership in the Middle School

Leadership opportunities and positions of responsibility are offered to students in the Middle School. Being appointed to one or more of these roles, however, is the easy step – becoming a successful leader is the challenge. Leadership is about getting people to gather around a shared vision and then going with them on the journey to make that vision a reality. Great leaders understand that it is not about personal glory or positions or titles. Leadership requires humility, clarity and courage.
A group of 30 students are selected each year as Middle School Leaders, who organise lunchtime events for Year 9–10 students, assist in the organisation of non-uniform theme days, Years 9–10 dance, running the Year 11 Semi-formal, doing charity and community work, reading the lesson Middle School chapel services. Middle School House Captains work alongside the Senior College House Captains, and two students from each Year 9 and 10 tutor group are selected to meet with their Dean to discuss points of view raised at tutor meetings. In addition, Middle School leadership roles are offered with chapel, sports teams and other co-curricular groups.
Student leadership in the Senior College

It is important for our Year 12–13 students to realise by the virtue of graduating to the Senior College they have already gained a leadership role within the school. Senior College students become role models for younger students and are a representative of St Andrew’s College every time they walk outside the school gates.
Special leadership roles in the Senior College include Heads of College, prefects, student captains, Student Council leadership, Peer Support leaders, and Heads of various sporting and cultural activities. Some roles are chosen by the students’ peers and staff. Others require students to apply, then go through a selection process. Being appointed to one or more of these roles, however, is the easy step – becoming a successful leader is the challenge. Leadership is about getting people to gather around a shared vision and then going with them on the journey to make that vision a reality. Great leaders understand that it is not about personal glory or positions or titles. Leadership requires humility, clarity and courage.

The value of Community Service

We believe in creating purposeful local and global partnerships which allow unique opportunities for learning and foster civic engagement and social responsibility. Community service is an intrinsic part of student life from the Preparatory School through to the Senior College. Chapel services, theme days and special efforts driven by students and staff result in a range of support going to both Christchurch charities and international organisations which the College is closely aligned with. On an individual basis, students are encouraged to also be involved with community events and charities through volunteer work.

Community service leaders with donations.

Students on a community service trip to Cambodia.

"It is exciting to see the impact St Andrew’s College students have had on the lives of many through our trips to Cambodia. I am certain that the many students who have gone on this service trip say their lives have been transformed too."
Rev. Paul Morrow
College Chaplain

Our community service initiatives

Our students are regularly involved in a range of community and service activities, in support of both the College and the wider community, including the College’s long-term partnership with the charity So They Can, a not-for-profit organisation which helps disadvantaged students, teachers, and families in poverty-stricken regions in Africa. Every year our Community Service Leaders run theme days raising money to support local charities recently including the Chalky Carr Trust, Qtopia, St John, Farmstrong, Women’s Refuge, and Lifeline. Offerings from chapel services are also regularly donated to the Christchurch City Mission, along with staff and students donating gifts at Christmas time for underprivileged children.

Christmas tree with presents in the Centennial Chapel.

Senior College Community Service Award

Part of the Senior College philosophy is ‘developing social responsibility’. Every student in Years 12–13 complete a set number of community service hours to receive their Bronze, Silver or Gold Community Service Award. This initiative encourages them to get connected to the wider community, increase their social awareness, make new friends beyond school, develop new skills, while improving their mental and emotional health.

Creating global connections

In keeping with the College’s ethos of developing a culture of philanthropy, students are offered the opportunity to take part in service trips to Cambodia or visit a World Challenge destination. Students gather much-needed items for the community to take away with them, enjoy the friendships made, the challenges of new languages and cultural experiences, and a renewed sense of gratitude for our lives here in Aotearoa.

Since 2006, St Andrew’s College has donated our end-of-life IT equipment to the St Vincent De Paul Society (SVDP). This started as just computers, keyboard mice, and screens, and now all manner of computer-related products are donated to SVDP who recycle, refurbish, and repurpose them.