News Archive

News from 2011

ICAS Results

Congratulations to our students who performed well in this year's ICAS (International Competition and Assessments for Schools) competitions:

Scarecrow

Most Valuable Player

Georgina Peterson has been named Most Valuable Player for the Wellington Under 11 Development Representative team for 2011- what a great way to end the year! (15/11/2011)

Tuatara Video fourth at MADE Awards

Well done to Y6 students Sarah, Rebekah, Annabelle and Hannah whose video, The Life and Lies of a Terrific Tuatara, on the endangered Tuatara, came fourth equal in the Interface Documentary 4-6 category at the 2011 Media and Digital Excellence (MADE) Awards judged in Taurange on 10 November. Also available to view on YouTube MarsdenNZ Channel

Folk Dancing

‘Strip the Willow’ is the quaint name of the folk dance Marsden Primary students have been  learning as part of their unit studying Dance. Following on from a workshop with Footnote Dance Company they are looking at other types of dancing, including folk dancing, square dancing and dancing for fitness (Zumba etc). (10/11/2011)

Primary Enterprise Programme

Students in Marsden Primary, Years 4, 5 and 6 were very industrious and entrepreneurial within their Primary Enterprise Programme (PrEP).  The excitement was evident as the girls named their groups, planned, budgeted, priced and produced their goods for Market Day. The range of businesses in 2011 included a podcast group, sweets, baking, sewing, a holiday fun book publication, a museum, a filming group, crafts and jewellery. 78 students and 5 teachers worked with the Programme which teaches students about teamwork and financial literacy. (03/11/2011)

Video Award Finalists

Congratulations to Sarah, Hannah, Rebekah and Annabelle in Y6 whose documentary about the tuatara has made the finals of the MADE (Movie and Digital Excellence) Awards.  Winners to be announced 10 November in Tauranga - good luck girls!
The MADE Awards have been created by schools for all schools to showcase student work to the wider audience. In partnership with business sponsors, they reward the best efforts of entrants with ICT equipment to further enhance the place of ICT in the learning world.
(27/10/2011)

Scottish Bagpipes

The sound of Scottish bagpipes rang eerily through the playground thrilling Primary students this morning. Mr Ferguson (Evie's father) came to school, dressed in a kilt and played the Scottish national anthem and other songs while delighted students followed behind him.
(26/09/2011)

Making a splash at Artsplash

The theme for this year's Artsplash Concert was songs from the countries of the Rugby World Cup. Our Y4-6 girls performed beautifully,
	along with several other Wellington schools, accompanied by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, Chilton/Gallery Orchestra and the Artsplash Festival Band at the Wellington Town Hall on Monday evening.(20/09/2011)
Soloist was Abbie George Y6J (pictured above centre) The girls wore black t-shirts – the colour of the All Black uniform.

Successful Swimmers

Well done to our swimmers who had a successful day at the Primary Interzone Swimming Championships held at Kilbirnie Pool last week. The Marsden team of Jessica Seow, Zoe Smith, Jessie Jamieson and Laura Stewart won the Year 7 relay. Emma Wilson came 2nd in the Year 5 50 metre freestyle, Laura Stewart came 2nd in the Year 7 50 metre freestyle, 25metre backstroke and the 25 metre butterfly. (19//09/2011)

Tuatara talk A group of Year 6 students visited the tuatara at Victoria University this morning.
	They spoke to Ms Sue Kealls to find out what is involved in looking after one of New Zealand’s endangered species and were even able to hold a young tuatara. (15/09/2011)

Four seasons in one day Thunder, lightning and hail the size of marbles has once again created a "winter wonderland" at the Karori campus as a southerly front storms up the island. (13/09/2011)

Poi Practice

Y4, 5 and 6 practice their pois for Artsplash to be held on Monday 19 September in the Wellington Town Hall. The POI dance was originally used by Maori women for keeping their hands flexible for weaving and by the men for strength and coordination required during battle. (08/09/2011)

Bird feeders

On Friday 26 August, Hannah Sampson (Y11), Lucinda Wong (Y12) and Jemima Holborow (Y12) led a lunchtime session for girls who were interested in making bird feeders.
	Students from Years 3-6 were excited to be part of this with most of them remembering to bring along a used plastic milk bottle. Jemima, Hannah and Lucinda explained the steps involved in creating an interesting looking feeder and were on hand to give any help that was needed. The atmosphere in the room was one of quiet concentration as each girl cut out and decorated her own feeder. Lucinda, Jemima and Hannah also created an information handout for each girl with advice on where to hang the feeder and how to fill it.  By the end of the session many happy girls proudly took home their unique bird feeders. Thanks to our Seniors!

Art Appreciation

Marsden's Artist in Residence, Lynne Sandri, was only too happy to share her time and artistic experience with Year 6 students while she was preparing for her exhibition at Mercedes Benz Wellington Star.
(29/08/2011)

Snow Surprise

Marsden Primary students experienced the joy of having snow in their playground this week as an unusual and extreme weather front moved over the country. They created a snowman, threw snowballs and watched in awe as soft snowflakes fell. See photos (17/08/2011)

Chinese Visitors

Marsden hosted a group of visiting teachers from China today.  They enjoyed meeting our teachers and students and were particularly impressed with the ability of our senior Chinese language students.
(02/08/2011)

Tuatara Visit

On mufti day last week students were thrilled to meet a special visitor to the Primary school, Spike the tuatara from Victoria University. They were surprised to discover how soft it's prickly looking body felt. See video clip (06/07/2011)

Science Fair

Senior Primary Students have been busy putting the finishing touches on their Science Fair projects in time for their Tuesday exhibition. Parents have been invited to come and view these diverse Science Investigations.(22/06/2011)

Cross Country

All the girls that represented Marsden at the Primary Western Zone Cross Country held in sunny but muddy conditions at Karori Park on Tuesday should be proud of their efforts. A special mention to the following girls who finished in the top 10 of their year group and we wish them well when they represent Western Zone at the Inter-zone event at Martin Luckie Park on Tuesday 21 June:

Victoria-Rose Manu Y4
Anna Saxton Y4
Hannah Kennedy Y5
Rebekah Hartley Y6
Georgina Peterson Y6
Isabella O’Meeghan Y6
Emma Harding Y6
Christy Robinson Y7
Jessica Seow Y7
Madeline Wilson Y8

Cherry on the Cake Cupcake Sale

	Year 1 students had a Cupcake sale today.  They have just completed a unit on money and it was a good way to reinforce their learning and put a "cherry on the cake".  There were cashiers, managers, supervisors and girls who worked in the bakery department.  The money raised will go to World Vision.  Thank you to all the parents who baked for us. (25/05/2011)

Puppets

These fabulous puppets were designed and made by Year 1 students. 

The cute Green Frog was made by Emma, the stunning Cinderella by Ede and Grace made a lovely job of Little Red Riding Hood. (25/05/2011)

Sharing

Part of caring and sharing in the Primary involves older students engaging with our young ones. Every Friday Year 3 and Year 6 girls have a 15 minute interchange where they pair up and share with each other the work they have been doing over the previous week. (25/05/2011)

Quiche is good

Several Marsden Primary classes have baked silverbeet quiches this week using silverbeet freshly harvested from our own garden. For some girls this was a new taste, however the result was a big thumbs up! (18/05/2011)

Theatre Visit

The Little Dog Barking Theatre performed for Preschool and Years 1-3 students last week with a zany and entertaining show. (18/05/2011)

Marae Visit

Year 1-3 students received a traditional Maori greeting (Hongi) during their visit to Ako Pai Marae yesterday. They really enjoyed their visit to the marae arranged by Year 2's student teacher, Gaea Ladley. (18/05/2011)

Science Week

Junior syndicate

As part of science week the junior syndicate investigated whether it was possible to put a stick through an inflated balloon. You can listen to Lily's mp3 and find out whether this was possible on the Junior Syndicate Science Week page

Senior syndicate

Y6 Students create their own Lava Lamps

Listen to our students describing some of the exciting projects they have undertaken for Science Week and how Y6 students made their Lava Lamps. Senior Syndicate Science Week page includes mp3

Collage Art from Year 6

Fish Dance

Exchange students from Toin Gakuen School in Japan performed a colourful fish dance for Marsden Primary students before they returned to Yokohama last week. While at Marsden the girls took part in classes, visited Taupo and experienced New Zealand culture.
Arigatou gozaimasu - your visit has enriched our lives. (14/04/2011)

Kiwi Inspiration

Following a visit to the Art Gallery last week to learn about Graham Percy, a New Zealand artist and book illustrator, Year 1 students have used charcoal, hatching and cross hatching techniques to draw their kiwis. Here are some of their efforts:

T-Ball Exchange

Year 6 students travelled to Chilton St James last week for the annual T-Ball exchange. It was a beautiful day for the competition which Marsden narrowly won.
(23/03/2011)

Bountiful Garden

Harvesting a crop of sweet juicy tomatoes you have grown yourself is especially rewarding for Year 6 students as they collect the bounty from the Marsden Primary garden. (22/03/2011)

Red and Black

It was red and black for the day instead of green and blue as the entire Marsden School showed its sympathy with Christchurch after the earthquake. The Mufti Day raised funds for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. The effort made by Year 6 is evident in the photo. (09/03/2011)

Bike Wise

New and experienced cyclists had a great time bringing their bikes to school for the  annual Marsden Bike Wise ride around the block to mark Bike Wise month, February. Cyclists gather here with teacher, Andrew Tideswell. (09/03/2011)

Gala Bunting

The girls from Years 1-6 have each painted a fabric triangle to make 200 metres of bunting for the Gala on Sunday. We were lucky to have some fabulous Mums who came in today to sew it all together. (02/03/2011)

EOTC

Sailing, flyfishing, orienteering, skating, rock climbing and camp at Palm Grove were all part of our annual Education Outside the Classroom week.  Perfect weather meant the outside activities were enjoyed by all. (23/02/2011)

Carter Observatory

The Junior Syndicate enjoyed spending time at the Carter Observatory during EOTC week. They had talks from the experts and discovered  lots of interactive displays that helped explain about the planets in our universe. They could even try to lift a real meteorite, which is really heavy. It was an "out of this world" experience! (18/02/2011)

Chapel in the garden

Marsden Chaplain, Rev. Rosemary Poland, held a Chapel service in the garden yesterday. It was the perfect space to hear a story about a little boy called Felix, who decided to turn a barren patch of dirt into the most beautiful garden in the world. (10/02/2011)

Fiji Visit

The Director of Marsden Primary School, Mrs Celia McCarthy and Mrs Christine Barlow, Senior Syndicate Leader in the primary school, are leading a group of Y13 students to help out at a small Fijian primary school in the April holidays. St James Anglican School in Levuka, the old capital of Fiji, is a poorly resourced school which caters partly to the children of subsistence farmers on the island of Ovalau.

The Marsden girls are fundraising for the cost of their visit and for resources for the school, including books and sports equipment.
Mrs McCarthy and fellow teacher, Mrs Christine Barlow, visited the school in July last year to assess needs and see how they could help. St James was recommended by the Anglican Church in Fiji as needing aid and Marsden will take up a long term relationship with the school. The 12 girls going to Fiji were chosen from a large number who volunteered for this trip and another to Samoa in July. (02/02/2011)

Coffee Evening

We look forward to meeting as many parents as possible at the Coffee Evening on Thursday 10 February at 7pm in the Cultural Centre. This will be a good opportunity to meet with other parents in your daughter's class and to hear about the year's programme from your daughter's classroom teacher.