5000 tots taught by a Dominican sister
Sister Frances Lister will miss the little notes that slip under her office door from her kindergarten students when she retires.
The St Paul’s Kindergarten founder and manager, who is 84-years-old, has taught around 5000 students since the Massey centre opened in September 1980. Lister, who was originally a primary school teacher, has seen children grow up and bring their own three and four-yearolds to the kindergarten.
‘‘When it first opened we were underneath the parish house. There were nine fouryear-olds and 18 three-yearolds,’’ she says.
A small building was built on the church property next to the church two years later. Now there are around 84 students who attend different class sessions. Lister moved to Henderson in 1979 to live with other Dominican sisters.
Massey’s St Paul’s Parish grew at this time with young families. Lister was asked to start the kindergarten by the then parish priest Father Hughes.
‘‘Back then it was mainly New Zealand Europeans. Now there are more children from lots of different cultural backgrounds.’’
In the earlier days Lister attended night school to learn carpentry skills to make furniture for the centre. Some of it is still being used today. Lister, who lives in Ranui, stepped down from teaching in 2001. She now does the administration for the kindergarten.
Lister’s retirement celebrations will be held on October 29. There will be a thanksgiving mass at St Paul’s Parish, followed by a lunch.
‘‘I don’t know what I will be doing in my retirement. All I know is I won’t be doing gardening, I hate gardening,’’ she says.
Kim Jones will be taking over the manager’s role. She is currently a head teacher.