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Principal's Blog: Term 2 Week 10
Friday, 23 June 2023
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Kia ora whānau Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2, pre-empting a fabulous final week at school celebrating Spirit Week. Fittingly, we farewell Caroline ‘Frau’ Robertson during this week of celebrations, sending her off to her new opportunity at Chilton St James with equal measures of pride and gratitude. Caroline has been a loyal servant of Marsden for 27 years, and across that time has had immeasurable influence on the lives of countless Marsden students and their families who will remember her with fondness. I know that this community joins with me in saluting Caroline, congratulating her on her promotion and in wishing her every success and happiness in her new role. Our Head Students have exciting plans afoot for Spirit Week, ranging from whole-school games and activities to special treats. However, another important aspect of being a Marsden student is showing consideration for others through meaningful opportunities to actively serve, authentically living out our school value of Oha. Student leaders have arranged a service afternoon on Tuesday, with a number of activities in the community; volunteering at St Mary’s Church, Huntleigh Retirement Village and MetLife; grave clearing at Karori Cemetery; baking for Bellyful; assisting at Sisters of Compassion Soup Kitchen, Vinnies, Frees Stores, Boys’ and Girls’ Institute (BGI) and more. Many of our students are already actively volunteering and experiencing the personal satisfaction that comes with being of help to others. However, for some, our service afternoon might provide new insights and maybe provide the spark for future opportunities to give of themselves for all of the benefits that volunteering and serving others brings. This week Years 7-13 school reports have come available on our school portal and Primary reports will be available on 29 June. These mid-year reports summarise learning progress and assessment results thus far and provide constructive feedback for students and caregivers around areas for improvement. A firm believer in open two-way communication, these formal written reports are intended to encapsulate student progress at this moment in time and should come with no surprises to either the student or their caregivers. We welcome further communication should there be follow up questions or queries, preferably with the subject teacher in the first instance. Congratulations to every student who has given their very best this term, be that in the classroom, on the sports fields or courts, on the stage, or in their own unique way in being their most stunning selves. We continue to be inundated with requests for enrolment for next year, with visitors continuing to comment upon our welcoming, encouraging environment, and our reputation for unapologetically high standards and exceptional academic offering. In an environment where educational standards and differences are constantly questioned, scrutinised, and politicised in the public domain, we can proudly hold our heads high. It has been a busy, fully engaging and highly successful first half of the year, and we couldn’t be more delighted. Have a wonderful, well deserved winter holiday break one and all. Be safe and take care. |