Liberton Christian School
2001 Annual Report
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Two thousand and one marked Liberton Christian School’s second full year as an integrated school. The year was very much one of continued consolidation by the Board of Trustees and the staff, as we all sought to meet the more demanding reporting and planning requirements that are a part of being an integrated school. The more significant events and outcomes of the year may be listed as follows.
- The school developed and implemented an Annual Plan for 2001. Almost all major tasks outlined in the plan were completed during the year.
- Board elections were held early in the year. Two new trustees were elected (John Hannah and Helen Chignell), whilst one Trustee (Ross McMillan) did not seek re-election. During the year the Deputy Chair (Philip Marshall) resigned in order to take up new employment in Rotorua.
- The Board of Trustees formally met 12 times during the year.
- The teaching staff continued to participate in, and benefit from, the curriculum development instruction that was part of the ABEL programme.
- A draft performance agreement was developed for the Principal and will be implemented in 2002.
- The School’s financial goals for 2001 were met with the school showing a year-end cash surplus of approximately $9,000.
- During the year the Board recognised that if the school was to develop then it needed to move from two to three teachers. This was highlighted, in particular, by the size and range of learning abilities found in the senior class. The Board thus made a strategic decision to recruit a third, full-time teacher to begin work at the school in January 2002. This position will be funded from savings made in 2000 and 2001.
- The Ministry of Education agreed to a rescheduling of the School’s capital works programme as put forward by the Dunedin Christian Schools Association, the School’s proprietors. During 2001, new integrated plans were completed for the future development of the School. While the capital works scheduled for 2001 were not fully completed, we are advised that catch-up will occur in 2002, and that the programme will be fully up-to-date by the end of 2002.
John Hannah
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
This second year as a state-integrated Christian school proved more challenging than the previous year with a considerably increased workload.
School Roll and Staffing
WWith a roll of around 40 we continued as a two-teacher school. As we didn’t want to split the group of seven Year 4 students, the senior class (Years 4 to 8) started the year with 26 pupils (Miss van’t Wout) and the junior class with 13 (Mrs Stewart).
Kyra Jones continued as principal’s release, working a full day on Fridays rather than two afternoons only, as in the previous year. The learning needs and abilities were very diverse in the senior class and therefore teacher Jean Corlett worked with groups of children for several hours during the week. Able assistance was also given by parent volunteers.
Last year Rosalin Stewart and I were both involved as associate teachers for Otago University’s School of Education. We both had student teachers in our classes during terms one, two and four. This link with the University is proving very valuable, with children benefiting from the input of these students. We were especially privileged to have Catherine Galloway, one of the two student teachers we had during 2000, and quite a musician, taking weekly music classes in the senior room for most of the year. Glockenspiels were purchased, and all had recorders. Simon Purvis, another of our student teachers has elected to do the teaching component of his honours degree on Christian education at Liberton this year.
A tremendous help has been the secretarial ability and work of Ngaire Knight and Karen Boyes. We were sorry to have Ngaire leave us last year. The secretarial hours have been increased and the school is enjoying the benefit of this.
The change of cleaning firm to Spotless Services is proving beneficial.
Professional Development
Early in the year I attended a two and a half day principals’ induction course, followed by several afternoon meetings throughout the year. Though I have been the principal at Liberton since 1985, I am certainly a novice regarding the state requirements that integration has brought, and I am most appreciative of the help given by School Support staff.
Rosalin attended the Literacy 2001 course.
Rosalin and I continued the ABeL (Assessment for Better Learning) contract started during 2000. Our main focus was the Health and Physical Education document and Reporting to Parents. For both of these areas, parent forums were held to discuss Liberton’s delivery plan for Health and Physical Education, and to give ideas and input into new reporting practices. Parent-teacher conferences, therefore, were held on 14 and 15 June and new children’s reports, which more clearly reflect the seven curriculum areas, were written at the end of the year.
Christian Education Development
We were fortunate to hear Brian Walsh from Canada speak on Christian education and culture formation here in Dunedin, and at the New Zealand Association for Christian Schools’ Conference in Christchurch. Both Rosalin and I attended this conference at the end of June.
In October, the secretary of the NZACS, John Norsworthy, visited Liberton and Amana Christian Schools and spoke to the board and staff members of both schools at a potluck dinner.
I represented the southern Christian schools at a NZACS regional co-ordinators’ meeting in Motueka from 12 to 14 October 2001.
School Programmes
The senior camp at Warrington, held together with the Year 5 to 8 pupils of Southern Lakes Christian School has become a yearly event. We included the Portobello Aquarium, Larnach’s Castle, Sandfly Bay and Port Chalmers in the camp programme. This year, at the picnic on the last day of camp, we were joined not only by the junior half of our school, but also by pupils of the newly-established Amana Christian School. Earlier in the year Amana and Liberton enjoyed a morning of sports and games and watched a police dog demonstration at Liberton. Year 1 to 4 pupils also visited Amana for their Christmas assembly.
Other involvement with Christian agencies, or Christian service, included raising $180 for the Heart Foundation by participating in Jump Rope for Heart and the Get Outta Bed and Wear Red day. The Bronze Award was presented to us by Don Lord for raising $1,326 for World Vision during the 20-40 Hour Famine weekend, a record achievement. We presented a short musical programme for the Radio Rhema-thon in August. Two of the items were broadcasted. Liberton joined Pine Hill School pupils at St Mark’s Church for Easter and Christmas services and contributed with music and song. Several missionaries came to speak. The Jasperses spoke about Guam, Graham Fleming about the Philippines, and Peter Free talked with the seniors about the work of Barnados.
Swimming lessons continued to be held during terms one and four at the Dunedin North Intermediate pool. The School participated in the various North Dunedin schools’ sports events. All pupils received some professional coaching in soccer, miniball, netball, cricket and hockey during the year. Years 7 and 8 enjoyed the full primary schools’ sports day at the Edgar Sports Centre. They did well in the after-school miniball competition also. Year 8 pupils, Alicia F. and Julianne H., gained valuable experience coaching the netball team, which did very well in their Tuesday after-school games.
The invitation to participate in a writers’ workshop with author Ken Catran enhanced the writing of Year 7 and 8 students. They were also at the launch of Nestlé’s Write Around New Zealand with author Penelope Todd and Otago Daily Times journalist Jane Smith. The children enjoyed reading and acting out plays for classmates and parents. The Keep Dunedin Beautiful theatre group was therefore well-received, as was the Kids up the Road puppet show. The ‘book characters’ afternoon tea, the culmination of Book Week, was enthusiastically entered into also.
Year 6 pupils participated in Otago Polytechnic’s Compuletics and tested their computer skills. During term four the School’s computers were networked, and updated where necessary. With further teacher training, computers can be used more effectively to enhance the school programme.
Outlook
During 2001, good progress has been made in many areas – Board and staff have worked hard to understand and begin to implement the National Educational and Administrative Guidelines. Stronger ties have been forged with various outside support and educational agencies. These have not only helped the School directly, but have made Liberton, and its cause, better and more widely known.
The new fence and the transformation of the pink utility shed enhances the feeling of security and draws many positive comments from the public. Proprietor’s plans for further upgrading of facilities are exciting. However, the decision to employ a third teacher and revert to a three-teacher school will, I think, prove the most beneficial.
Though much was accomplished, the demands on my time and energy were such that I had to spread myself too thinly and could not meet all the various needs of the children in my Year 4 to 8 class, a class in which a number of children needed constant supervision and guidance.
I thank Kyra and Rosalin for their hard work, support and encouragement during 2001, and look forward to Ché Luke joining the staff in 2002 to share the teaching load. As a school community, let us strengthen and support each other to honour God in our task of educating our children.
Nel van’t Wout
TREASURER’S REPORT
It gives me pleasure to report a healthy surplus for the second consecutive full year of the School’s operation under integration. The accounts show a surplus for 2001 of $52,141, (including the one-off gift mentioned below). This, together with the previous year’s surplus, has contributed to a very sound bank balance of $24,905. In my 2000 report I alluded to the need for careful budgeting to ensure that available funds are employed to best effect. With the School’s employment of a third teacher in 2002, out of operational grant and uncommitted funds, this concern has been fully addressed.
The Board of Trustees gratefully acknowledges the gift from our proprietor, Dunedin Christian Schools Association, of the School’s chattels valued at $38,645. The Board now has the responsibility for insuring, maintaining and replacing the assets so gifted.
The investment in technology as a learning resource continued, with the acquisition of computer equipment to the value of $6,790. The balance sheet position has consequently continued to strengthen, with public equity now at $80,629, an increase of 183% over the previous year. In terms of working capital, the current surplus stands at of $21,851.
In 2002 the Trustees will again work closely with staff, parents and our proprietor to ensure that proper stewardship is exercised over the public money with which the Board has been entrusted.
John van Dyk
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