Celebrating the Past and the Future at Rangi Ruru Girls' School

The old and the young came together at Christchurch’s Rangi Ruru Girls’ School on Friday to celebrate Founder’s Day, a significant date in the school’s calendar.

Founded in 1889 by Miss Helen Gibson, Rangi Ruru was administered by her and her sisters for nearly 60 years. In August 1923 the school was moved to its present site on Hewitt’s Road, operating from Te Koraha – the large house and grounds formerly owned by the Rhodes family. Te Koraha was reopened late last year after extensive repairs and renovations were completed following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

Rangi Ruru, the name of the school, was suggested by an old Maori Chief of Rapaki Pa, Paora Taki. It is translated “wide sky shelter” and indicates that the school stands for hospitality and generosity.

There was plenty of that on Friday as a large cake was brought into St Andrews at Rangi Ruru chapel, supported by St Andrew’s College piper, Liam Allan.

10 Old Girls were invited to the service and joined staff for morning tea in Te Koraha, together with Rangi Ruru head of school Rosie Sloan and youngest student Miriam Shipley, and their families.

Principal Julie Moor says crossing the generations and valuing our heritage is an important part of the school’s ethos.

“As we move forward with our school site development which creates a living, evolving, vibrant learning environment specifically designed for girls, we must also acknowledge and celebrate what has gone before. It helps us to be respectful resilient and informed, while valuing one another,” she says.

Rangi Ruru will next year celebrate 125 years since it was founded in 1889.     www.rangiruru.school.nz