Lihir International School is situated on lihir Island in the New Island Province of Papua New Guinea. The school is located at 'Maruan' in the heart of the Lihir Management Company (LMC) Townsite.
On the first day 27 students were enrolled in Grades Prep to 6 inclusive. The students came to Lihir from other centres in Papua New guinea and across Australia and for most it was their first time in Papua New Guinea.
The school is a low set building centred around a court yard which is covered with artificial grass. The school was constructed by Lihir Management company at a cost of K1.3 million. There are four large classrooms, a library, office, staffroom and canteen, all fully airconditioned. A bank of computers are set up in the year 4/5/6 classroom for students. Enrolments since opening in 1997, have steadily climbed and we currently have approximately 70 children enrolled in the year 2001 children.
Late in 1996, the contract for the management of the school was taken up by the International Education Agency of Papua New Guinea (IEA). The international school system in Papua New Guinea operates independently from the country's community, High and Senior High School system. Each International School operates as a non-profit company, under the auspices of a parent company, the International Education Agency(IEA). The IEA is a non-government body which is responsible to the Department of Education through a government body, the National Education Board.
The Preschool/Kindy opened its doors in 1998. It origionally operated 5 half days a week with 3 and 4 year olds combined. However, due to an increase in projected numbers for 2001, it was decided to extend the operating hours. Kindy children attend Monday and Fridays from 8.30am until 1.30pm. Preschool children attend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The founding staff in 1997 were:- Mr Brendan Wessely, Ms Veronica Long and Ms Ruth Moning.
In 1998, the staff numbers increased as the number of enrollments rose. Ms Kelly Wessely and Ms Elizabeth Daimol joined the staff to teach the Kindy/Preschool and Grade 3,4 class respectively, along with teacher assistant Ms Doreen Eliab and Preschool/Kindy aide Ms Mary Painuk. Mr Steven Pirie joined the staff when Ms Long returned to Australia. In September 1998, with the departure of Mr Pirie, Ms Louise Hunt joined the staff to teach the Kindy/Preschool.
In 1999, Ms Kelly Kruger joined the staff to teach Prep/Grade 1. Ms Jennifer Pesas joined the staff as teacher assitant for grade 2/3.The end of 1999 saw the departure of founding Principal, Mr Brendan Wessely, his wife Kelly and Ms Elizabeth Daimol.
In the year 2000 Ms Pauline Rosenblum (principal) and Ms Ros Williams the Kindy /Preschool teacher joined the staff. The school had an Educational Review. As a result, staffing for the year 2001 was to be increased by one, in order to provide relief and extension. The end of year 2000 saw the departure of Ms Kelly Kruger and Ms Ros Williams.
2001 saw three new teachers begin the school year. Ms Ida Kenneth, Kindy/Preschool, Ms Georgia White, Prep/Grade 1 and Ms Scholastica Pagiran, Resource Teacher.
The school caters for a Mining community which at times can be very itinerant. However, there is a core of the students who are Papuan New Guinean, whose parents work for LMC, and are not as transient as expatriates.
At present there are two children still attending, who began school when it opened on Tuesday 22nd july 1997.