News

Gymnasium Ready

Our gymnasium is ready! Parents, former pupils and members of the wider Whitby community are welcome to view our brand new Bradford Gymnasium at any time between 11am and 2pm on Friday 30 July, 2010. Light refreshments will be provided.  Join us as we celebrate the completion of this wonderful facility.

Science Fair

The Science Fair exhibits produced an outstanding crop of displays and topics.  The students’ work was judged on the originality of the questions they were investigating, the process they went through to investigate their ideas and the conclusions and recommendations they made. Seven projects have been recommended to go forward to the Wellington Science Fair, held in August at Victoria University – Autumn Prow and Needhee Patel 'Oil Spill' (pictured); Sam Mills ‘Eco-friendly Paints’; Caitlin MacDonald and Katie Holcroft ‘Shampoo and Conditioner’; Sean Irving ‘A Silent Killer’; Beth Middleton and Rebecca Burge ‘Exercising in Daily Life’; Mario Forsythe ‘River Sweeper’ and Michael Fell ‘Is Marsden Whitby prepared for an Earthquake?’. (16/05/2010)

Mufti Day

A recent mufti day held to raise funds for the World Vision 40 hour Famine campaign produced some very interesting costumes.  Our theme was “Everyday Heroes” so the school corridors filled up with doctors, nurses, firemen, St Johns’ personnel and a great many mums! (16/06/2010)

New Gymnasium

The new gymnasium is almost completed and there is a growing sense of excitement as we count down to the official opening early next term. (9/05/2010)

Year 10 Camp

Last week Year 10 students attended a hugely successful camp at YMCA Kaitoke.  Despite variable weather they threw themselves (sometimes literally) into a wide variety of activities, such as the giant swing, orienteering, bush craft, kayaking and tramping. (13/05/2010)

Time Capsule

It was a significant milestone in the life of Marsden Whitby, as staff and students buried a Time Capsule under the new gymnasium.  Director of Marsden Whitby, Mrs Anne Winnall, accompanied by senior school leaders and the youngest member of the school (Kate Godwin pictured sitting on the time capsule) represented the school community as the capsule was made ready to be laid in its specially prepared space in the gym entrance.

The galvanised metal box contained a variety of items which will help to provide a snapshot of Marsden Whitby in the year 2010.  These included a piece of writing from every student in the school, some recollections of the school’s early days from staff, photographs of all present staff and students plus mementoes of school events such as camp photographs, music concert programmes and the school year book.  Principal Ms Jenny Williams, emphasised the importance to the current students of remembering this day and of keeping the story of the time capsule alive so that in years to come it will provide a wonderful example of living history.  (13/05/2010)

Year 7 Battle Hill Field Trip

Year 7 students participated in the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s ‘Take Action for Water’ programme on Tuesday 16 March. They visited Battle Hill Regional Park at Pauatahanui to complete a variety of tasks for their Science unit ‘Take Action for Water’. Students examined flora and fauna, assessed stream water quality and went on a bush walk. An exciting part of the day was when the class visited the tame eels and were able to feed and stroke them! Towards the end of the day the students were transported to Kenepuru stream where they made some comparisons. (07/04/2010)

New Gymnasium Update

The new gymnasium is really coming to life and looks very impressive in its surroundings.  We have been offered the opportunity to bury a time capsule in the foundations so this week all students and staff have been busy writing pieces for inclusion and gathering together not only mementoes of current school life, such as a school diary, school tie and many photographs, but also of contemporary daily life, such as currency and a daily newspaper.   We look forward eagerly to the roof going on very shortly and being able to move into this wonderful new facility in Term 2. (19/3/2010)

Soccer

Joanne Sullivan (Y12) is playing for the Waikanae Women’s soccer team at Premier League level.  She has also achieved the Advanced Diploma in American Jazz dance with Honours and Level 9 Tap with Honours – both of which are the highest qualifications you can achieve in those disciplines.  Joanne is currently studying Level 6 hip hop and contemporary ballet – again, the highest level that can be achieved.  In 2009 Joanne gained her purple belt in karate but has given that up temporarily to concentrate on her academic priorities. (19/3/2010)

Cricket

Taylor Wenlock (Y10) bowled a hat trick against St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, in February.  As a result of this tremendous feat he has been invited, as a guest, to attend the Australia/New Zealand Test Match starting Friday 19 March. (19/3/2010)

Stock Car Racing

Kellie Bullock (Y11) is a stock car racer and achieved 2nd placing nationally for her age group at the “Mini Stocks in Paradise”, held in Rotorua in February.  She also won the Rep’s Trophy which is presented to the driver whose car is presented well, has high safety standards and  who is prompt to the grid and in the correct place for the start of the race. Pictured: Kellie taking a lap of honour at the latest meeting. (19/3/2010)

Swimming

Oliver Lusk (Y10) broke a Wellington swimming record at the National Age Group Swimming Championships in Christchurch last week.He took the 14yr boys 100m breaststroke record and gained a bronze medal - it was the first new record for 13 years. He was also third in the 50m breaststroke and fourth in the 200m. As a result of this Oliver has qualified for the Commonwealth Games Trials in April.  Oliver’s connection with the Marsden family is significant.  His aunt, Felicity Lusk, was Head Girl of Samuel Marsden Karori in 1968.  She is currently Headmistress of Oxford Girls, in England, and will shortly move on to Abingdon School. (10/03/2010)

More Swimming

Rosemary Dore (Y10) has qualified out of the Raumati Swimming Club to compete in the 100m breaststroke this coming weekend and we wish her well for that. (19/3/2010)

Athletic Sports

Student participation levels were at an all time high and the competition was great at the Marsden Whitby Athletics sports on Monday 1 March. Congratulations to our school champions and runners up.

New Gymnasium

Building of a full-sized gymnasium has begun at Marsden Whitby. Students are enjoying watching progress as earth is moved to prepare the site.   The gymnasium is expected to be completed by the beginning of Term 2, allowing students to play basketball, volleyball and badminton as well as practising netball indoors. (24/02/2010)

Entertainment Book

Marsden Whitby is now offering the 2010 Entertainment Book as part of our fundraising for resources for our new gymnasium. The books will be available at the beginning of term two however we are taking pre-sales orders. As a special incentive for the first 15 books sold you will receive an additional $130 of more discounts over and above the ones already in the book. Entertainment Books contain hundreds of discounts from popular restaurants, cinemas, hotels, the arts, and leisure activities, including high value offers from Logan Brown, Reading Cinemas, The Hurricanes, Wellington Phoenix, and more.
For more information and pre-sales, please contact Monique Pead on (04)2348955

Year 10 Camp

Y10 camp date has changed. They will now be attending YMCA Camp Kaitoke on Monday 26th – Friday 30th April (Term 2, Week 2)
Students will soon be receiving their camp packs containing information, a gear list, medical forms etc. A meeting for parents and students will be organised towards the end of Term 1.

New Director

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Anne Winnall as the new Director of Whitby from the beginning of March. 

In making the announcement, Marsden Principal, Ms Jenny Williams said: "Anne is coming to Marsden Whitby after being Deputy Principal at Corran School in Auckland for the past seven years.  In addition to her extensive experience in educational management, Anne is an exceptional teacher of English, Drama and Media studies.  Anne brings with her a love of reading and singing and a wonderful sense of humour.

She is a passionate and enthusiastic leader and is very excited to have the opportunity to lead Marsden Whitby into the future." (03/02/2010)

Academic Results (Provisional)

Marsden has continued its fine record of academic excellence in the latest provisional results from the 2009 Cambridge AS Level and NCEA examinations.
At Whitby, 90.5% of NCEA students gained their Level 1 Certificate and all students gained Level 2.
Congratulations to Terence Collins-Hawkins (Y10, 2009) who gained 97% in Cambridge AS Maths.

Welcome

A special welcome to the 30 new families who have joined the Marsden family this year and to existing students and their families who can look forward to an exciting beginning to the year.

Welcome also to our two new teachers, Ms Olivia Feary teaches Geography and Humanities and Mr Richard Grasse teaches Science.

Congratulations to our 2010 School Leaders: