Meet-the-Teacher Evening

The school year traditionally begins with a meet-the-teacher evening early in week one.
The Friends’ Association, representing parents, holds their Annual General Meeting on the same evening.
Close communication between home and school is encouraged throughout the year.  As well as regular teacher-parent interview opportunities, teachers and parents meet as required.

Back-to-school BBQ

The first social event of the year is the popular annual ‘Back-to-School’ barbeque. Activities are planned to entertain the children, leaving parents free to talk.
Food is available for purchase, or families can bring picnic hampers.
This event is a great way for parents to catch up with each other again after the summer holiday break.

Swimming Sports

Also early in the year, the prep schools hold their annual swimming championships, at the nearby Christ’s College indoor pool.
After much healthy competition, and hearty cheering the winners are determined over a variety of distance and strokes.
Section winners are rewarded with trophies. The House competition culminating in closely fought relays.

Summer Sports

Our main summer sport codes, for the pre schools, are cricket and tennis. Professional cricket coaches are employed to complement staff skills and, in the case of tennis, children affiliate with nearby Hagley Tennis Club.
During the summer, school policy allows children to opt to play for a community club, or play a code that the school does not offer.
Regular interschool fixtures are held on a ‘home and away’ basis with local, North Island, and Australian Prep Schools.
Out-of-school sport is voluntary for The Junior School pupils. With the support of willing parents, for team management and coaching, The Junior School usually joins the local Saturday ‘Kiwi Cricket’ competition.

School Camps

Our school camping programme begins with the Year 5 boys and girls, and a three-day camp at Wainui Park, in September. Activities include orienteering, rock pool studies, archery and high-ropes challenges.
Our Year 6 and Year 7 classes camp at the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp, Monday to Friday, early in the new year. Skill development builds on the Year 5 experience with longer walks and mountain biking on forest trails. Children work together on team challenges and cook one of their meals on camp stoves. Weather permitting, one night is spent in tents.
The Year 8 camp is very special and, for many children, is the highlight of their final year. The format is a six-day camping expedition into the Omarama and Mount Cook regions. Sleeping in tents on most nights, the campers stay at Peel Forest, on a high-country sheep station in the Ahuriri River valley, and at Mount Cook.

Founders’ Day Service

The school family worships together, in March, at the ChristChurch Cathedral to celebrate Founders’ Day.
Early in the service, the work of the Cathedral Choristers is recognised by the awarding of a choral scholarship for each boy.
The school choirs take major roles, children read the lessons and assist with the prayers.

Cross Country

Our cross country is usually held early in Term Two. Regular fitness sessions lead up this, ensuring the children are well prepared.
The Junior School and prep schools combine for this age-group event which is held in Hagley Park.
As with our other sports events, individual and House competition are both closely contested.
The top children from each age represent the school at the Independent School Zone Championships, with some children achieving Canterbury Championship honours.

Winter Sports

Playing team sports is a core part of the ethos of the school.
Our compulsory sports policy requires prep school pupils to play for a school team in the Saturday morning city competitions.
For The Boys’ Prep School, the codes offered are hockey and rugby. The girls may choose either hockey or netball.
Regular interschool exchanges are held, and teams are billeted when playing beyond Canterbury.
Each team is coached by a teacher or by a professional coach.
The girls and boys each have an extended sports period one afternoon per week, at least one additional after-school coaching session and their Saturday competition game.
Our policy ensures that all pupils participate each year as a team member in a competitive major sports code.

Chapel Services

Our religious education programme, and the regular opportunities to worship together in St Saviours Chapel are central to living and learning together in a Christian school, following the Anglican tradition.
Our chaplain is available to pupils and their extended family. From time to time, the chapel is used for family baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Our prep schools’ week opens on Monday morning with Chapel. The Girls’ Chapel Choir takes the choir stalls, and the headmaster introduces the virtue of the week.
During the week, The Boys’ Prep School and The Girls’ Prep School senior pupils lead a service each.
Friday afternoon Chapel brings our week to a close. The Boys’ Chapel Choir sings the anthem.
The chaplain also takes a weekly service for The Pre-School and The Junior School.
During the winter terms, a Sunday service is held for each department. Parents and extended family members are encouraged to worship with us.

Poetry Reading Competitions

Each year the prep schools hold Poetry Reading Competitions. Children each prepare two poems to read, one a set poem for their year level and the second, a poem of their choice. After practice, competition heats are held in each class to determine which children go forward into the finals.

The Poetry Reading Competition  finals are held, in the Statham Hall or the library, in four divisions:

An independent adjudicator gives each finalist feedback on their reading, and selects the section winners

Music Competitions

Music competitions are also held annually in The Girls' Prep School and The Boys’ Prep School.
Competitions include voice and instrumental sections, solos, duets and other ensembles.
Preliminary auditions determine section finalists.
An independent adjudicator judges the keenly contested competitions.