Marsden Primary Senior Teacher

Christine Barlow is a legend in the Primary School, having taught the Year 5 girls for 19 years. Year 5 is a huge year for social and emotional growth in girls and Christine is well-known and valued for her experience and expertise in helping her students make that transition. Her personal philosophy and strength is providing an environment that fosters and develops her students’ emotional intelligence through initiatives and methodology such as Circle Time. 

Background

Born and raised in Wellington, Christine attended St. Catherine’s and earned a Diploma of Teaching from Wellington College of Education. She followed that with a Bachelor of Education from Victoria University of Wellington.

Christine began her teaching career at Waiouru School carrying out her Country Service in Pongaroa for three years. Next she and husband John headed to the Wairarapa and Christine taught at Featherston School and in Carterton before taking some time off to have daughters Kate and Laura. A stint in Palmerston North was followed by the family moving back to Wellington, and Christine came to teach at Marsden in 2002. “Having taught in both co-ed and single-sex education, one difference I have observed, is that in a single-sex school the girls feel safe and willing to ask for help, and take risks, while understanding that in doing so success is not guaranteed. This allows them the capacity to overcome difficulties and achieve greater academic success and resilience along the way.”

Service is Important

In addition to teaching Year 5, for the past 10 years Christine has taken many of our senior girls on a service trip to the St. James School in Levuka, Fiji. Service is an important part of our students’ experience here at Marsden and this partnership has been life-changing for both our girls and the students in Fiji.

What matters to Christine

As Senior Teacher in the Primary school Christine says every decision is guided by the question, “Will the children benefit?”. When she is not at school she enjoys time with her grandchildren, gardening, going to performances and spending time with friends and family.