Principal's Blog
Paula Wells, Principal
Welcome to my weekly blog
Issue: 2023
View another issuePrincipal's Blog: Term 4 Week 9
Friday, 1 December 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to our final newsletter of the year at this jubilant and anticipatory time. We are able to look back on the year that...
Welcome to our final newsletter of the year at this jubilant and anticipatory time. We are able to look back on the year that...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 8
Friday, 24 November 2023Kia ora whānau
It’s that time of year when we are poised between celebrating this year and planning for next, with arrangements for 2024...
It’s that time of year when we are poised between celebrating this year and planning for next, with arrangements for 2024...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 7
Friday, 17 November 2023Kia ora whānau
As the end of the school year approaches, Christmas trees have popped up in reception areas and in the preschool, decorations...
As the end of the school year approaches, Christmas trees have popped up in reception areas and in the preschool, decorations...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 6
Friday, 10 November 2023Kia ora whānau
This week we distributed copies of Word from Marsden...
This week we distributed copies of Word from Marsden...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 5
Friday, 3 November 2023Kia ora whānau
A huge bouquet to the Class of 2023 who stepped out of school on Monday in a mana-enhancing way. At Leadership Camp at the beginning...
A huge bouquet to the Class of 2023 who stepped out of school on Monday in a mana-enhancing way. At Leadership Camp at the beginning...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 4
Friday, 27 October 2023Kia ora whānau
There has been a real celebratory atmosphere about the place this week with the tone well and truly set at the annual Head Student...
There has been a real celebratory atmosphere about the place this week with the tone well and truly set at the annual Head Student...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 3
Friday, 20 October 2023Kia ora whānau
Sport is part of the Kiwi psyche and has an ability to galvanize the nation. The All Blacks’ gutsy and classy win over a...
Sport is part of the Kiwi psyche and has an ability to galvanize the nation. The All Blacks’ gutsy and classy win over a...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 2
Monday, 16 October 2023Kia ora whānau
It has been a high octane start to Term 4 with Week 1 bringing Mihi Whakatau to welcome six new students, including two proud...
It has been a high octane start to Term 4 with Week 1 bringing Mihi Whakatau to welcome six new students, including two proud...
Principal's Blog: Term 4 Week 1
Monday, 9 October 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to the first newsletter of Term 4. I trust students have had an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate these school holidays,...
Welcome to the first newsletter of Term 4. I trust students have had an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate these school holidays,...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 9
Friday, 15 September 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to the last newsletter of Term 3. The realisation has hit for our senior students that their time in school this year...
Welcome to the last newsletter of Term 3. The realisation has hit for our senior students that their time in school this year...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 8
Friday, 8 September 2023Kia ora whānau
It was wonderful to have Te Manawa o Te Kura alive with engaging learning conversations this week, and we look forward to a second...
It was wonderful to have Te Manawa o Te Kura alive with engaging learning conversations this week, and we look forward to a second...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 7
Friday, 1 September 2023Kia ora whānau
I have had the privilege of travelling the country across the course of the past week in support of Marsden students and their...
I have had the privilege of travelling the country across the course of the past week in support of Marsden students and their...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 6
Friday, 25 August 2023Kia ora whānau
The Board of Management recently engaged in a recruitment exercise and we were humbled to receive a number of expressions of interest,...
The Board of Management recently engaged in a recruitment exercise and we were humbled to receive a number of expressions of interest,...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 5
Friday, 18 August 2023Kia ora whānau
Lights have been strung, outfits have been angst over and anticipation abounds as we embark on the tradition that is the Mid-Winter...
Lights have been strung, outfits have been angst over and anticipation abounds as we embark on the tradition that is the Mid-Winter...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 4
Friday, 11 August 2023Kia ora whānau
Winter temperatures have really begun to bite, and the inevitable coughs, colds and germs have again raised their ugly heads....
Winter temperatures have really begun to bite, and the inevitable coughs, colds and germs have again raised their ugly heads....
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 3
Friday, 4 August 2023Kia ora whānau
It was a privilege to attend the Term 3 Primary Leaders' Chapel Service this week, and to learn of the emphasis being placed...
It was a privilege to attend the Term 3 Primary Leaders' Chapel Service this week, and to learn of the emphasis being placed...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 2
Friday, 28 July 2023Kia ora whānau
I write on the anniversary of Kate Sheppard's 1893 petition demanding women suffrage, signed by more than 25,000 women, being...
I write on the anniversary of Kate Sheppard's 1893 petition demanding women suffrage, signed by more than 25,000 women, being...
Principal's Blog: Term 3 Week 1
Friday, 21 July 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to Term 3. I know that many folk have taken the gift of the three-week school holiday break, leveraging the opportunity...
Welcome to Term 3. I know that many folk have taken the gift of the three-week school holiday break, leveraging the opportunity...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 10
Friday, 23 June 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2, pre-empting a fabulous final week at school celebrating Spirit Week. Fittingly, we...
Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2, pre-empting a fabulous final week at school celebrating Spirit Week. Fittingly, we...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 9
Friday, 16 June 2023Kia ora whānau
Last week we held our NCEA Information Evening. We had a fantastic turnout, and it was wonderful to have so many people there...
Last week we held our NCEA Information Evening. We had a fantastic turnout, and it was wonderful to have so many people there...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 8
Friday, 9 June 2023Kia ora whānau
The cornerstone of a Marsden education is our exceptional academic offering. Our innovative programmes are rigorous and grounded...
The cornerstone of a Marsden education is our exceptional academic offering. Our innovative programmes are rigorous and grounded...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 7
Friday, 2 June 2023Kia ora whānau
Marsden students continue to flourish and thrive with some recent phenomenal successes to celebrate. Congratulations to Year 11...
Marsden students continue to flourish and thrive with some recent phenomenal successes to celebrate. Congratulations to Year 11...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 6
Friday, 26 May 2023Kia ora whānau
We are excited to be taking registrations for our Experience Marsden days, where we open our doors for a day at school to the...
We are excited to be taking registrations for our Experience Marsden days, where we open our doors for a day at school to the...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 5
Friday, 19 May 2023Kia ora whānau
Our school production, BROADerWAY, has proven to be a huge hit! The Broaderway Foundation brought us a star-studded line-up of...
Our school production, BROADerWAY, has proven to be a huge hit! The Broaderway Foundation brought us a star-studded line-up of...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 4
Friday, 12 May 2023Kia ora whānau
Only a few sleeps now until the curtain lifts on our school production, BROADerWAY, and the excitement is palpable! Final rehearsals,...
Only a few sleeps now until the curtain lifts on our school production, BROADerWAY, and the excitement is palpable! Final rehearsals,...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 3
Friday, 5 May 2023Kia ora whānau
The Marsden Management Board are a group of loyal and committed professionals who give their time and expertise to governance...
The Marsden Management Board are a group of loyal and committed professionals who give their time and expertise to governance...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 2
Friday, 28 April 2023Kia ora whānau
Schools are fascinating microcosms. They each possess a unique culture, created by the combined heritage and values of the people...
Schools are fascinating microcosms. They each possess a unique culture, created by the combined heritage and values of the people...
Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 1
Friday, 21 April 2023Kia ora whānau,
Welcome to the beginning of Term 2. I hope the school holiday period has been restful and that the season of Easter brought the...
Welcome to the beginning of Term 2. I hope the school holiday period has been restful and that the season of Easter brought the...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 10
Thursday, 30 March 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to the last newsletter of Term 1, and what a term it has been. We have had such a buoyant beginning to the school year,...
Welcome to the last newsletter of Term 1, and what a term it has been. We have had such a buoyant beginning to the school year,...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 9
Friday, 24 March 2023Kia ora whānau
This week we were privileged to host Jake Bailey, and to hear from him regarding what he had learned, and continues to learn,...
This week we were privileged to host Jake Bailey, and to hear from him regarding what he had learned, and continues to learn,...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 8
Thursday, 16 March 2023Kia ora whānau
The week that was saw 50,000 teachers across the motu standing in solidarity in their quest for better conditions. Although wages...
The week that was saw 50,000 teachers across the motu standing in solidarity in their quest for better conditions. Although wages...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 7
Thursday, 9 March 2023Kia ora whānau
Hot off the press is the nationwide news of industrial action from the PPTA with teachers striking on Thursday 16 March, and the...
Hot off the press is the nationwide news of industrial action from the PPTA with teachers striking on Thursday 16 March, and the...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 6
Friday, 3 March 2023Kia ora whānau
Our annual Athletic Sports were a triumphant celebration of inclusion, participation, enjoyment and individual excellence and...
Our annual Athletic Sports were a triumphant celebration of inclusion, participation, enjoyment and individual excellence and...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 5
Friday, 24 February 2023Kia ora whānau
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch to suggest ways that Marsden could support the Cyclone Gabrielle relief efforts. ...
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch to suggest ways that Marsden could support the Cyclone Gabrielle relief efforts. ...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 4
Friday, 17 February 2023Kia ora whānau
Like me, you are no doubt being confronted with the ever-increasing sense of enormity of the horrific effects of Cyclone Gabrielle....
Like me, you are no doubt being confronted with the ever-increasing sense of enormity of the horrific effects of Cyclone Gabrielle....
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 3
Friday, 10 February 2023Kia ora whānau
The best bit about starting the school year before Waitangi weekend is that we prioritise days to deliberately managing and supporting...
The best bit about starting the school year before Waitangi weekend is that we prioritise days to deliberately managing and supporting...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 2
Thursday, 2 February 2023Kia ora whānau
It was my absolute privilege to welcome the Marsden community to our first day of school together this new year. It was wonderful...
It was my absolute privilege to welcome the Marsden community to our first day of school together this new year. It was wonderful...
Principal's Blog: Term 1 Week 1
Friday, 27 January 2023Kia ora whānau
Welcome to 2023 at Marsden, a new year, and a new-look newsletter that has been delivered to
your inboxes at a new time. We...
Welcome to 2023 at Marsden, a new year, and a new-look newsletter that has been delivered to
your inboxes at a new time. We...