Miss Liz Horn

Greetings!

I am thrilled to be stepping into this exciting role of Foundation Principal for Rolleston Christian School.

I love children and feel that God has given me certain gifts and talents that make working with children a natural fit for me. I am also passionate about the place each individual has in God’s kingdom and the part we all have in God’s big story. I strongly believe in the value of education, and the power it has for shaping lives and societies. This is what makes it so exciting for me to be joining such a fantastic team in setting up a new Christian school in Rolleston.

I have come from the position of deputy principal of a Christian school in Wellington and moved south to take up this position. I have worked in education in a variety of contexts, both in New Zealand and overseas. I am passionate about delivering education that is authentic, inspiring and empowering.

I love to know and understand people, so I look forward to building relationships with the Rolleston Community and building partnerships with parents, so that children are able to become and do everything God has in store for them.

Mrs Lynda Siave

Kiaora koutou te whanau… I’m Lynda Siave (pronounced similarly to the letters c-r-v)
I went straight from school into teacher training and have had a varied career teaching, mostly with primary school aged children in many towns and cities in NZ and Samoa. My most recent position was at Halswell College, where I taught 7-10 students working at level one/two of the nz curriculum with a variety of complex learning needs.

I have been married 28 years to Geoff, my nz born Samoan husband who is the Principal at Shirley Intermediate. We have 3 wonderful children: Irasa (23), Eli (20) and Jacob (17).  We have seen the education system in its entirety now!

Our family worship at South West Baptist Church in Halswell, and enjoy our community life group in the Oaklands area where we live.

I am really looking forward to caring and nurturing your children with God.

Miss Kendra Liggett

Kia Ora RCS Whānau

Mrs Mandy Cleave

Mr Dennis Marshall

Hi all, I’m Dennis Marshall and I’m the Deputy Principal here at Rolleston Christian School.

I’ve been a Primary Teacher for 17 years. Prior to coming to Rolleston Christian School, I taught Year 6 at Middleton Grange. Prior to that, I was living in Cambridge, UK, for 9 years, where I also had the opportunity to complete my Master of Education.

I love being back home in New Zealand. I returned back to my hometown of Christchurch to help my family get over the earthquakes…little did I know that there were two more big ones to come following my December return!

I have really enjoyed being part of the Rolleston Christian School Community and building the school into a powerful place of fellowship and learning, celebrating the best we can be in Christ.

God Bless

Started at RCS:                        2015

Previous Role:                         Teacher – Middleton Grange School

Church:                                     Sumner, Redcliff’s Anglican Church

Mrs Heather Agnew

Hi,

Our family has been living in the Rolleston community for 18 years. We have been involved in the Rolleston Playcentre and in the running of the F.A.B. Club, a school holiday programme.  I have also been a Bible in School teacher for 10 years in many schools in Christchurch and Timaru.

My working background is in Administration/Finance, and I enjoy the variety and challenges in this role.

I am enjoying being a part of Rolleston Christian School.

Started at RCS:          2015

Previous Role:          Finance Team at HOPE Presbyterian

Church:                      HOPE Rolleston

Mrs Monica Verwoerd

Miss Emily Langridge

Kia ora, my name is Emily Langridge and I teach in the Te Kakano space at Rolleston Christian School. I have just completed my Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) and I am thrilled to start my teaching career working alongside a fabulous staff in this wonderful little school.

I have a huge passion for the arts and love bringing this into my classroom. I enjoy playing the piano, drawing and skiing in my free time. I am excited to share my passions and my knowledge to help your children to grow academically and in an environment where we share the love of God.

I am very much looking forward to becoming acquainted with the school’s families and community and working together to support your children in their learning journey.

Mrs Gabrielle Nuthall

Kia Ora koutou. My name is Gabrielle Nuthall and I am thrilled to be joining the RCS team.

For the last 11+ years I have been teaching at Halswell School, the last two years in their modern learning environment. Prior to this, I taught in Christian preschools and state kindergartens, having gained my kindergarten diploma when I left school.

I am married with three adult children. My husband and I worship at Life Church where we are involved in serving in a variety of ways, including moonlighting as a barista!

I am looking forward to walking alongside your children as they discover their God-given potential and take the next steps in their Christian journey.

Mrs Beth Marlin

Born in East London, South Africa (a very long time ago!). Moved to Kwa Zulu Natal where I met and married my conservationist husband Alan and had 3 children, a daughter and 2 sons, Joni, Matthew and Jonathan. I spent the next 15 years living in the wop wops and raising our 3 children in game reserves and mountain parks where we had a menagerie of pets, one being a bushpig called Hamlet whose mother had perished in a bushfire. Many more pets followed.

We then moved to Mafikeng on the Botswana border, where the Boy Scout movement was started by Baden Powell way back when and the children attended school in a very diverse community. I worked at a local preschool and was also one of the 3 swim teachers in the town.

After 4 years we moved back to Kwa Zulu Natal and lived in a town called Hillcrest where I ran my own swim school from home and did my Early Childhood Diploma in my ‘spare’ time. I was employed at Hillcrest Christian Academy in their Sports Department during school hours, coached and taught swimming and relieved in the 4-year old classroom whenever I was needed and ran my swim school at home after school.

Our daughter Joni, the eldest left home and married a Kiwi and now lives in Kaikoura with her husband and 3 children. Our son Matthew (not married) is in the poultry business and lives in Swaziland and our youngest son Jonathan who recently left the Royal Marines is married with 2 daughters and lives in England, but works in the Congo and Zambia.

Alan and I arrived in New Zealand in February, 2013 and lived in Kaikoura for 2 years. In 2015 we moved to Rolleston where I taught and coached swimming at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre and joined Papa Jacks to do the before school and holiday programme. I am at present doing my Primary Teaching degree at Canterbury University (online & part-time) and teacher-aiding at RCS.

Alan and I enjoy the outdoors and cycle when we can. He is a keen fisherman, so whilst he fishes I do adult colouring in or read. Probably the only time I ever sit still! We see our 3 Grandies in Kaikoura whenever we can and are looking forward to a trip to England at the end of the year to see our 2 Granddaughters and celebrate my 60^th birthday together with family.

Miss Emma Whitla

Kia ora! Ko Emma Whitla ahau. I have just completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) and am excited to begin my teaching career at Rolleston Christian School with the Te Pihinga team.

I worship at Upper Riccarton Methodist Church and it will be a privilege to be able to help students grow in confidence through the love of Christ. Within my teaching, I hope I will show students that excellence is not about being the best, but being the best that Christ created them to be! I love seeing the joy students feel when they grasp a new concept and are able to put those skills into practice.

In my free time I enjoy running, catching up with friends, and going to the movies. I love history, reading and current affairs and try to engage students through content which will be relevant to them.

I look forward to working alongside the staff and community at RCS to best meet the needs of your children. Please do come and say hi if you get a chance – it would be lovely to meet you!

Started at RCS: 2017

Previous Role: Graduate

Church: Riccarton Methodist Church