Many Dunedin primary school pupils will don red and black clothing today in a mufti-day to raise money for Christchurch earthquake victims.
St Francis Xavier School secretary Rochelle Stanton, after parents asked what could be done to support Christchurch school children, has been ringing city schools to ask them to join in.
Sixteen had joined in by yesterday afternoon and the number was expected to grow.
The 17 participating schools as of yesterday were Abbotsford, Balmacewen Intermediate, Bradford, Fairfield, George Street Normal, Grants Braes, Macandrew Intermediate, Musselburgh, Opoho, Pine Hill, Sacred Heart, Sawyers Bay, St Brigid's, St Clair, St Francis Xavier, St Mary's (Kaikorai) and St Peter Chanel Schools.
Mrs Stanton said pupils would be collecting financial donations.
Dunedin North Intermediate, North East Valley Normal and Sacred Heart Schools have offered to take friends and family in Christchurch who have primary and intermediate school-aged children and give them temporary places in their schools if residents could offer them accommodation.
• Dunedin schools are receiving calls from families in Canterbury, inquiring about enrolling their children as they flee Christchurch.
Kavanagh College principal Tracy O'Brien said he received several inquiries yesterday, and expected the number to grow over the coming days.
"It's because of the earthquake, but whether these people plan to move to Dunedin permanently or not, we don't know yet."
• Mt Aspiring College has opened its doors to Christchurch pupils fleeing the earthquake.
Principal Wayne Bosley said yesterday four pupils started school yesterday and another 12 families had requested enrolment forms.
