Volunteers making a difference

Volunteers

making a difference

St Andrew’s is lucky to have a team of wonderful volunteers who assist in many different areas at the College.

The time and expertise they give ensures the wheels keep turning on everything from events, sporting fixtures, productions, Ballet, and cultural activities, to the Year 9 Class Parent Programme, camps, the PTA, Cafeteria, Second-hand Uniform Shop, community projects, fundraising, and more.

Director of Development, Miranda Newbury, says each year, St Andrew’s needs to find more volunteers, to replace those who leave when their children finish their education. “We really value the contribution volunteers make to the College. Some of the roles only require a few hours’ commitment, or even just one day a year. We love to hear from parents who have some time to give, and who might want to feel more connected to the community through volunteering.”

Around 40 parents answered the call for new volunteers which went out via email early in Term 1. The Year 9 Class Parent Programme, which sees two parent volunteers per class organise four family oriented activities each year, is being reimagined so it can go ahead under COVID-19 restrictions. The once a term, hosted meetings for class volunteers with the Director of Development, will be hosted online in the meantime.

Miranda says volunteers offer ‘immense’ value to St Andrew’s College. “Building relationships with people within our community who generously donate their time, creates savings for the College, and develops tighter, closer bonds, with stronger community engagement. We are grateful to them all.”

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Fill out the online volunteer form at stac.nz/Volunteer. The Development team will help you to determine which volunteering positions would suit you best. A Police Vetting Clearance is required for all volunteers.

Cafeteria volunteers, Renee Brook, and Nita Young, serve a customer.

A star behind the scenes

The last of her four children may have left St Andrew’s in 2019, but that hasn’t stopped Nicky NewmanStick from continuing to be a highly valued volunteer at the College. She started helping with musical theatre at St Andrew’s when her two youngest children, Louis Newman (OC 2018 – Pipe Major) and Juliette Newman (OC 2019 – Head Girl), became involved.

“I’m part of a small team with Performing Arts Co-ordinator, Ginnie Thorner, Sylvia Campbell and Karen Smith, who work behind the scenes for all the productions. I’m in charge of the hair-dos, which is fabulous. It’s lots of fun and I love giving back to the College.”

Creating memorable hairstyles for the stage may be one of the least well known volunteer roles at St Andrew’s, and it is just one of many ways in which Nicky has supported the College over the years. She first became a volunteer when her older children, Ellen Stick (OC 2008) and George Stick (OC 2010), joined the Pipe Band. “I was in charge of record keeping for the parent committee’s monthly meetings, and my husband, Ed Newman, and I were involved with lots of fundraising and work behind the scenes. This continued when Louis and Juliette also joined the Pipe Band,” says Nicky. Juliette took part in Ballet from Years 5–13, and kapa haka from Years 6–11, and Nicky, who is a talented sewer, made numerous costumes for both. She also served on the Events Committee, which arranges parent volunteers to host big events at the College, and still likes to help when COVID-19 restrictions allow.

Nicky says being a parent volunteer is a great way to gain more insight into the College, and get to know other parents. “It’s also a wonderful way to support your children in their interests and pursuits. Would I recommend becoming a volunteer to other parents? Absolutely.”

Nicky Newman-Stick (right) creating a beautiful hairstyle for Estee Wilke (currently Year 13) for the 2019 Middle School Production, Peter Pan.