In 1976 and 1977, some parents in the Dannevirke Christian Fellowship were looking for alternatives for their children’s education.  Pastor Ross Davies had already begun investigating the growing Christian education movement in New Zealand and in particular, the Accelerated Christian Education programme used by a school operating from a church building in Auckland.  A visit by Pastor Davies and interested parents confirmed that this was the path they too wanted to follow. 


At that time, the Dannevirke Christian Fellowship did not have their own building and met in the Concert Chambers above the Town Hall.  The unused Baptist Church in High Street became available and parents and willing DCF members put in many hours building and painting to make the building ready.  


The Dannevirke Christian School opened in the second term, on the 22 May 1978, with 24 pupils, 12 boys and 12 girls aged from 7 years to 13 years.  Mike Connell was the Principal and Jeanette Lloyd, the Supervisor.


Three years later it was decided to extend the roll by bringing in 5 and 6 year olds.  The first term of 1981 saw the junior school start with 10 students under Supervisor, Glenys Scott, in the remodeled Baptist Manse next door.


When the Fellowship was advised that the Baptist Church wanted to re-open so they could no longer use the buildings, they started seeking other options.  A parcel of land on Ruahine Street was looked at and in faith, building commenced on the framing for three classrooms and a toilet block in the old Collett Buildings at the northern end of town.  Local MP John Falloon, assisted by fast tracking the red tape and the land was eventually purchased on 28 November 1984.   Immediately the purchase was finalized, many parents and church members worked long hours preparing the Ruahine Street site by doing extensive draining, levelling, tree falling and clearing.  As soon as the site was ready, building began with a group from the church in Hawera coming over to help lay the foundations on two of the buildings.  Chris Sandbrook was the building overseer and Gary Scott and Margaret Thompson oversaw the painting.  With the help of many men and women from the church, the building and even the plastering and painting, was completed in just six weeks!  The buildings were officially opened and school started on the first day of the new school year, the 30 January 1985. 


Integration


As a private school, Dannevirke Christian School was often faced with difficulties and opposition from the Education Board.  After the loss of provisional registration and along with it, the secondary classes, came a significant decrease in roll numbers.  With the smaller roll, finances became difficult.  It also meant that with fewer families, parents were rostered more frequently to clean the school buildings and undertake grounds maintenance.

Ray Green was appointed Principal in January 1995, and with his assistance, the Board began to look into State Integration.  After much work, in November 1996, the school became an integrated Christian Area School with the Dannevirke Christian Fellowship as Proprietors.   At the same time, the name of the school was changed to Totara College of Accelerated Learning and with it, a change of uniform.  Being an area school meant secondary classes could now resume.  With the increase in the roll, over the proceeding years, additional facilities have been built including a secondary block, hall, technology suite, computer suite and administration block. 

History of the School