StAC: Our Earthquake Story | The Preparatory School Stories

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Celebrating the Future St Andrew’s celebrated a noteworthy start to 2012 with the official opening of the new Preparatory School by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae. The day saw the fruition of Preparatory School Principal Jonathan Bierwirth’s 10-year dream and vision for a revolutionary learning centre. The building started with a simple brief as part of a strategic capital development plan to be a progressive rebuild that incorporated good learning spaces.

The youngest St Andrew’s students had an important job at the opening of the new Preparatory School – letting go 95 silver and blue helium balloons to celebrate every year of the school’s existence.

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“The design was based on clear and fundamental thinking with a flexible layout and the latest in technologies,” says Jonathan. “We’ve been developing a style of learning around the key competencies that we recognise and accept as integral to learning. We have lovely and high achieving students, a hardworking and talented teaching staff, and now we have the environment to match.”

Part of Jonathan’s philosophy was to incorporate wide learning hallways, to replace corridors. These expansive areas provide the opportunity for quality discussion and break-out groups. The classrooms have foldaway doors so learning can extend effortlessly into the learning hallways. “This gives students a chance to discuss, to learn from hearing and thinking about others’ views.

Different classes and groups of children can easily work together. The word for me is ‘learning’. These days the learning process is about people, relationships, about quality teachers, and a stimulating environment with high-level engagement,” says Jonathan.

“Anyone who sees our classrooms will want to come back to school again.”

Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Henry Gilbert officially open the new learning centre.

The day’s celebrations included the release of 95 blue and silver helium balloons – one balloon to mark every year of St Andrew’s existence. “St Andrew’s, like many other schools in Christchurch, has faced challenging times in the last year, and this new building symbolises our hope for a strong future for independent education in Christchurch,” says Rector Christine Leighton.

The new Prep School includes a café, specialist rooms for food, science and art, plus tutorial facilities for music and drama.

View a video of highlights from the opening ceremony at stac.school.nz

Year 6 student Shea Laws with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Elizabeth Stevenson, Rector Christine Leighton, Garry Moore (Chairman Board of Governors), Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, Henry Gilbert, Lady Janine Mateparae and Jonathan Bierwirth (Principal Preparatory School).

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The Building Development Team A dedicated, skilled team of people is leading the restoration and future development of the College.

The Capital Development Committee is chaired by Peter Eggleton retired from Rawlinsons (Quantity Surveyors).

Committee members include Garry Moore (Chair, Board of Governors), Jay Scanlon (Board of Governors) Christine Leighton (Rector), David Evans (General Manager), Tim Taylor (Octa). Regular advisors to this committee are Richard Seville and Renee Brook (Structural Engineer, Holmes Consulting), Alun Wilkie and Tony Hoare (Architects), and Julian Mace (Rawlinsons). All members of the Board of Governors are kept fully informed of the workings of the Capital Development Committee and have final approval for any decisions. Relevant members of school management and teaching staff are consulted as is appropriate with regard to any development project.

subsequent aftershocks is testimony to the commitment

by St Andrew’s and Mainzeal to do everything possible to create a leading edge educational facility in which staff, parents and students could have utmost confidence.

General Manager David Evans said the award was well deserved as Mainzeal had been an exceptional company to work with. “They were obliging, considerate to all our staff and students and always willing to “go the extra mile.”

See video updates on campus at stac.school.nz

Sterling building win The new Preparatory School buildings earned builders, Mainzeal Construction a silver medal in this year’s Canterbury Registered Master Builders Commercial Projects Awards. The company received the highest medal awarded in the Hays Recruiting Experts Worldwide Education Project category.

Principal of the Prep School Jonathan Bierwirth says the award reflects the high standard of work and design that has gone into the building. “We focused on creating the ideal learning environment for students and Mainzeal were able to deliver on this vision to superior standards.”

He said the fact the building remained stable and undamaged after the February earthquake and

The silver medal winning new Preparatory School building.

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NEW BOARDING HOUSES

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