The students’ favourite day of the year – filled with fun, energy and House spirit.
From Kindergarten to Year 12, students came together for one of the most anticipated events on the calendar – Gala Day – and this year’s celebration was even more special, commemorating 140 years of St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
Held on Friday 27 June, the last day of Term 2, the day was filled with colour, energy and House spirit. Gala Day has been a fixture in the life of the School since the 1980s and has taken place on the final day of Term 2 since 1996. Every year, it brings together students and staff for a joyful day of fun and friendly competition.
“There’s something incredibly powerful about watching Kindergarten students cheer alongside Year 12s. Gala Day reminds us that while our students span 13 years of schooling, we’re one community — and that’s something worth celebrating, especially in our 140th year,” said Deputy Head of School, Mr Brad Swibel.
This year’s activities included everything from volleyball matches and dance-offs to a banner design contest and LEGO displays, ensuring there was something for everyone. Celebrations kicked off early with our very own version of a morning show: SACS Sunrise. Broadcast from 7.30am on school screens and social media, the show delivered top stories, weather, traffic updates and a preview of the day ahead.
Throughout the day, Houses faced off in a range of competitions – chess, debating, sporting challenges and more – all earning points towards the Dean Pitt Shield (Secondary) and Rod Macqueen Shield (Primary). Congratulations to Hereford (Secondary) and Canterbury (Junior School) for taking out this year’s titles!
Our heartfelt thanks go to the Parents and Friends Association (P&F), who provided a delicious barbecue lunch. An enthusiastic team of parent volunteers helped serve meals and birthday cake to hundreds of students throughout the day.
A special highlight was the announcement of winners in the 140 Year LEGO Competition, where students and families were invited to create a build on the theme: What St Andrew’s Cathedral School and Gawura School mean to you. With heartwarming and imaginative entries, winners included Ashwin, Riley and Aiden, along with the Hooper family – Robin (Kindergarten), Edward (Year 3) and their dad, Michael, an Old Andrean. Their creativity was outstanding.
The LEGO excitement continued with the arrival of our limited-edition 140 Year LEGO minifigs, distributed across the School to mark this historic milestone.
At 2.45pm, the whole school community gathered for an official birthday celebration. Accompanied by a band of student musicians on French horns, saxophones, clarinets and trumpets, students, staff and parents sang Happy Birthday before sharing a spectacular birthday cake designed in the shape of the Yarn Wrap pillar.
The day ended on a high with the much-anticipated reveal of the School’s new mascot: Andi the Gargoyle. Streamers then filled the air bringing to a close a memorable day in our 140 Years: A Legacy of Light celebrations.
