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All Blacks find time for smaller players

The might be preparing for the big game, but the All Blacks still found time to play alongside some of their younger fans. Rugby players from six Dunedin primary schools were joined by six considerably older players from the slightly better-known New Zealand team at the Edgar Centre yesterday for a fun Rippa Rugby tournament. The pupils from Liberton Christian School, Milton School, Waikouaiti School, North East Valley Normal School, Grant’s Braes School and Sawyers Bay School were joined by All Blacks George Bower, Ethan Blackadder, Asafo Aumua, George Bridge, David Havili and Tupou Vaa’i for some fun and a few tips, before signing posters and taking photos with the children. Source: Otago Daily Times – See full article

18-year classroom block idea now realised

An idea that started almost 20 years ago has become a reality as Liberton Christian School in Dunedin opens a new junior classroom block. Eighteen years ago Dunedin couple Ross and Catherine Pettigrew bought No3 Hillary St in the northern suburb of Liberton with the idea that it could be used in the future as a classroom at their children’s school. Sydney Harlow lived in the flat next door and shared the Pettigrews’ vision. Source: Otago Daily Times – See full article

Shout out from World Vision’s CEO

Liberton Christian School raised $6667 in the 2016 World Vision Famine. The money raised will go to help refugee children living in Jordan. The school’s extraordinary effort placed them as the top fundraising school in Dunedin, despite their small size, and earned them a ‘shout out’ from World Vision’s CEO Chris Clarke. “You might be one of the smallest schools in the country” Mr Clarke said in his personal video message to the school, “but you have one of the biggest hearts.” [youtube https://youtu.be/WzwkmKouMUg center=1 rel=0]

Food for thought

For the first time in 41 years, the focus of the annual 40 Hour Famine has changed to 40 Hours for Refugee Children, putting the spotlight on the Syrian crisis – the biggest humanitarian crisis of recent times. Liberton Christian School ran a sleep-over, simulating a refugee camp, at the school last night. Principal Fiona Sizemore said about 40 pupils participated in the event, which they hoped would raise about $5000 for World Vision. If the school was successful in its bid, the money would help furnish and provide resources for two classrooms at one of the refugee camps in Jordan, she said. Printed in the Otago Daily Times, June 13, 2016

School children take on inventive famine challenge

A group of school children are preparing to spend the night in refugee-like conditions to help raise money for those less fortunate. Liberton Christian School pupils are taking on the inventive challenge as part of this year’s 40 Hour Famine. And they’re looking to raise more than ever before. Source: http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/news/school-children-take-inventive-famine-challenge

Christian school expands with fourth classroom

An integrated Dunedin school battling the Ministry of Education to have its roll cap increased, has gone ahead and built a fourth classroom in the hope the ministry will approve the increase later this year. Liberton Christian School principal Fiona Sizemore said the school board of trustees applied to the ministry for the increase last year, but was declined. “One of the key reasons given by the ministry was we had not built a permanent fourth classroom, which we said we would build, should we get a roll increase.” The lack of a waiting list of children waiting to enrol at the Pine Hill-based school was also a factor, she said. She said the school was marginally over its roll cap of 75 at present. Previously, pupils had been turned away. However, seven pupils were on a waiting list to enrol, and the number was continuing to grow. The school’s proprietor, the Dunedin Christian Schools Association, decided to spend more than $250,000 on building a new classroom and a new library which greatly enhanced the school’s facilities. Mrs Sizemore said the development had freed up the school’s hall, part of which had been used as a fourth classroom to fit the present roll. “Having the hall back means we can have community functions and indoor sports in there again. “We feel like we’ve doubled in size.” The school was trying to meet the demand for Christian education in Dunedin, Mrs Sizemore said. Having now met the key reasons why the rise was declined last year, she said the board of trustees would reapply for a bigger maximum roll later this month. It was hoped the roll cap could be raised to 100 pupils, she said. The new development was just the first stage in an ongoing development plan. It was hoped new courts and a playground would be built in the next year, and a fifth classroom in the next five years, she said. The school will officially open the new fourth classroom and library with a celebration assembly at the school tomorrow. By John Lewis Printed in the Otago Daily Times, August 1, 2013