We wished to honour Jane Deans and Ray Blank for their legacy to our school and community.

It was wonderful to finally host the "naming of heritage classrooms",  as we have been so restricted by the Covid Pandemic requirements on schools. It is ironic that these heritage classrooms eventuated because of the Spanish Flu Pandemic in the early 1920s and so it is also incredibly special to have these fabulous 100-year-old classrooms that are owned by the Board refurbished,  to live another life and to tell another story at Fendalton Open-air School

We wanted to ensure we retained the special character of the open-air rooms but also ensure they are warm, and acoustically functional and there has never been any doubt that they would allow sufficient ventilation which is such a topical challenge in schools through the Covid Pandemic.

Thank you to kapahaka, and all the children who have helped to share the stories about our place and why we hold the stories of Jane Deans and Ray Blank so dear. Student video from 2020 - click here Jane Deans & Ray Blank

With the planning and design for the rebuild, there is a significant reference to our bi-cultural stories in the design as there is with all Christchurch Schools. As a school and with Board support we want to also keep other stories alive as well as stories that are authentic to our site. The contributions, courage, vision and determination of people like Jane Deans and Ray Blank is a wonderful legacy and role modelling for children today and we hope their stories will continue to be cherished by creating curiosity in children yet to come as to why the buildings are named Jane Deans and Ray Blank.

A very sincere thank you to relatives of Jane Deans and Ray Blank for allowing us to honour your ancestors, it is like a special gift to FOS for our children today and the generations to come.

Movie of the opening ceremony

Jane Deans & Ray Blank 2021 student film