From the Rector

From

theRector

We are halfway through the school year and, despite the challenges of staffing the College through the impact of COVID-19, we have managed to continue with full curriculum delivery and a busy programme of student activity.

Many activities are celebrated in this edition of Regulus with our World Champion Mathematics Modeling team gracing the cover of this magazine. These students demonstrated that embracing opportunities and seeking ways to grow, develop, and apply their knowledge and skills can lead to unexpected opportunities. You can read their story on page 13.

Another international achievement was the outstanding success of Hannah Withers (Year 9) as runner-up in the International Future Problem Solving Challenge. Hannah, along with the Year 9 Future Problem Solving team, are profiled on page 12. These students are creating new knowledge and applying creative solutions to the world’s challenges. Their ability to collaborate effectively in teams, work across disciplines, and understand the creative learning process is inspirational. Recently, St Andrew’s College students once again competed in the Ngā Manu Kōrero competition here in Ōtautahi. Five years ago we introduced Te Reo Māori as an optional subject. The employment of Pete Westrupp as teacher of Te Reo Māori has helped us to grow in confidence as a school community, as we deepen our understanding of Te Ao Māori and our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

At the recent Ngā Manu Kōrero competition, four speakers from St Andrew’s, supported by our Māori Pasifika and Waiata Tautoko, represented St Andrew’s College with pride and confidence. In an emotional prizegiving ceremony, Metua Cranwell (Year 9), came second in the Junior section – speaking in Te Reo Māori and Charlotte Galvan (Year 9) also gave an excellent speech in English. In the Senior section, Lily ChampionSmith (Year 12) came third speaking in English and Penelope Taulafo (Year 12) fourth speaking in Te Reo Māori. It is worth noting that most of the other placegetters were from Kura Kaupapa schools where the curriculum is taught in Te Reo Māori. St Andrew’s College won third place overall.

In recent years, a number of St Andrew’s College staff have retired after more than 20 years of service to the College. Three staff members who have given loyal service left at the end of Term 2; Dianne Voyce (Payroll Manager/Credit Controller for 25 years), Stephanie Brooks (Teacher in Charge of ESOL for 20 years) and Pip Dinsenbacher (Preparatory School Art Specialist for 22 years). Pip, along with her teaching role, has also assumed the position as Curator of Archives in the College Museum and Manager of Special Displays and Stories over the last six years. Old Collegians will particularly appreciate the importance of this responsibility as they witness the history of St Andrew’s which is captured in displays and records across the College.

As we head into Term 3, we are anticipating the 2022 Senior College production Songs for a New World. This production is usually performed early in Term 2, but COVID-19 delays has moved this to August. Congratulations to the creative team of Head of Drama and Dance Laurence Wiseman, Head of Music Duncan Ferguson and Performing Arts Co-ordinator Ginnie Thorner who have found a way for the students to perform when the Theatre has been demolished and the Performing Arts facilities are much compromised. The $20 million new Ben Gough Family Theatre and Performing Arts Centre is underway and on track for completion in June 2023. This ambitious project is a huge investment for the College and any support you could give through the upcoming Annual Giving Appeal would be a great endorsement of the wonderful Performing Arts programme at St Andrew’s, both past and present.

The cumulative effect of the generosity from so many, helps us to continue to provide the very best facilities to support the learning of present and future St Andrew’s students.

Pai ake te iti I te kore rawātu. Little is better than nothing at all.

Ngā mihi maioha

Christine Leighton Rector

Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition

Four St Andrew’s students spoke extremely well at the Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition – a Māori speech competition for all schools in Canterbury. Lily Champion-Smith (Year 12) delivered her powerful speech to an appreciative audience and came third in the Senior section (English). Metua Cranwell (Year 9) was second in the Junior section Te Reo Māori, while Penelope Taulafo (Year 12) was fourth in Senior Māori, and Charlotte Galvan (Year 9) was eighth in Junior English. The four speakers from St Andrew’s were supported by 32 students from the Māori and Pasifika Group who sang their waiata tautoko (supporting song) following the speeches. Overall, St Andrew’s finished third behind two Kura Kaupapa (schools taught primarily in te reo Māori) which was a wonderful result.

Charlotte Galvan (Year 9), Lily Champion-Smith (Year 12), Penelope Taulafo (Year 12) and Metua Cranwell (Year 9 – inset). Head Shave for Charity

On the second-to-last day of Term 2, an act of selfless generosity was witnessed by hundreds of students in the Quad. Some time ago, Secondary School Commerce Teacher, Jo BigfordFleming, sought approval to shave off her hair to raise money for two charities important to her, Paralympics New Zealand and Breast Cancer New Zealand. It was wonderful to see so many students and members of the St Andrew’s community get behind her, with Jo raising over $13,700. On the day, students were encouraged to wear pink and/or black in support of these charities.

Jo Bigford-Fleming

Special leaving gift for Pip Dinsenbacher

This page is from a special gift book from the Preparatory School in recognition of Art Specialist, Pip Dinsenbacher’s retirement.

This beautiful drawing of Pip is by Ruby Richards (Year 4). The book includes a letter from each class in the Preparatory School acknowledging the impact of Pip’s art on every individual in the school.