With COVID-19 restrictions now a thing of the past, Pre-school staff and children are enjoying the opportunity to reconnect with the wider College campus, forge links with older students in the Preparatory and Secondary Schools, and strengthen bonds with the children’s whānau, says Head of Pre-School, Mandy Jenkins. “For such a long time we couldn’t run some of our events or visit the wider College. It’s wonderful to be able to access the amazing resources on our doorstep, and fully involve whānau in our programmes again.”

Small groups of children interested in mini creatures such as caterpillars and cicadas, have enjoyed exploring the wider College grounds to find and study them, with Pre-school teachers, Jan Marshall and Nadine Freeborn. Visits to the Preparatory School classrooms as part of the Transition to School programme have recommenced, and new links are being forged with groups of students from the Secondary School, says Mandy. “The Pre-school children really love it when the Senior students come to visit. Members of the Fuel our Future Club are helping us to make worm farms, and we are looking forward to working with AgriScience students on projects to do with animals and planting. We’ve also had visits from some Year 9–10 Te Reo students, who read books and sang to the children in Māori. There are such positive benefits from these connections.” 

In addition to attending Pre-school events, the return of informal Parent‑Teacher interviews, and a Parent School Readiness evening run by Head of Junior Syndicate, Heather Orman, have also helped to strengthen relationships with whānau in the post-COVID environment.

Mandy says the setting of the Pre-school as part of the wider St Andrew’s College learning community is something truly special. “It is wonderful to see the children who start in the Pre-school, build links from a very early age with the Preparatory School and Secondary School. All children at the Pre-school learn the important values and traditions that are such a special part of the St Andrew’s culture, and if they are lucky enough to spend their whole learning journey at the College, they have the roots and foundation on which to build as they travel through the rest of their schooling.”