Welcome back everyone, and a special welcome to students and whānau new to Marsden in 2026. 

Important Dates

Welcome Week Timetable

Monday 26 January 2026

• 8.30am–3.25pm All Year 7 students
• 1.30pm–3.25pm All students new to Marsden in Years 8-13 
• 8.30am–3.25pm Head Students' Committee

All new students should arrive at our main reception. They will be met by student leaders who will guide them to their form rooms. Please wear summer uniform and bring your laptop.

Tuesday 27 January 2026

• Period 1 - Whole school Pōwhiri in Auditorium
• Period 2 - Form/Tutor time for ALL students and teachers
• Period 3 – Y7, 9, 10, 11 academic lessons, Y8 William Pike, Y12/13 NCEA processes
• Period 4 – Y7, 8, 9, 12, 13 academic lessons, Y10 Duke of Ed, Y11 NCEA processes
• Period 5 – Y7-13 academic lessons
• Period 6 – House activity 

Wednesday 28 January 2026

• 8:25am – Form/Tutor Time 
• Period 1 – Google Drive, Hapara
• Periods 2-5 – Y7-13 academic lessons
• Period 6 – Y7-12 Deans' activities, Y13 academic lessons

Thursday 29 January 2026

• 8:25am – Y7-12 Form/Tutor Time (Y13 at Leadership Camp all day)
• Periods 1-5 – Y7-12 academic lessons
• Period 6 – Tuakana-teina activities led by Y12

Friday 30 January 2026

• 8:25am – Y7-12 Form/Tutor Time (Y13 at Leadership Camp until 1.30pm and then return to school to lead ‘Give it a Go’ in the afternoon)
• Periods 1-6 – Y7-12 academic lessons (including the ‘Give it a Go’ afternoon)

Year 13 Leadership Camp

Year 13 students will attend our leadership camp on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January 2026. They will be staying the night at Victoria House, a university hall of residence on Thursday night.  

Information Sharing Evening 

At the start of term, you will be invited to make a 10-minute appointment on Tuesday 3 February 2026 with your child’s form teacher/tutor. The purpose of this brief meeting is to share relevant information to ensure a successful start at Marsden for your child. Appointments will be available from 3pm~5.30pm and 6pm–7.30pm. 

The school day will finish at 2.30pm on Tuesday 3 February 2026. There will be supervision available between 2.30-3.30pm, if required, and buses will depart at the usual time. 

Year 13 Communion, Breakfast and Induction Service

Year 13 students and their parents/caregivers are invited to share communion followed by breakfast and attendance at the induction service assembly from 7.30–9.30am on Monday 9 February 2026. Invitations and a link to register will be sent the week beginning Tuesday 20 January.

Handbook for Year 7-13 Students and Whānau

The School motto “Ad Summa” forms the guidelines for behaviour at Marsden. High expectations are set for all students in academic, performing arts, sporting and social development. All students and their whānau are asked to read this handbook before the start of the school year.

2026 Handbook for Year 7-13 Students and Whānau

Timetables

Timetable information for 2026 will be available in the Marsden Portal from the afternoon of Friday 23 January. Existing families will be able to log in and view their child’s timetable at this time. 

Students new to Years 7–13 will receive a printed copy of their timetable at their Induction Day on Monday 26 January.

In creating the classes for 2026, Deans have given careful consideration to social connections, learning styles and academic interests. It can take a few weeks to acclimate to the social dynamic of a new class and, as always, we will work hard to help everyone to settle as quickly as possible. 

Portal Access

Families new to Marsden will receive their Marsden Portal login details during the first week of school, which will enable them to access key information and update personal details. All families will also receive an email shortly asking them to enter medical information and check that their contact details are correct.

For assistance with the Marsden Portal, please email marsdenportal@marsden.school.nz

Student Buddies

New students will be paired with a Marsden buddy for their first few weeks to support them as they settle in. 

Stationery and Digital Devices (Years 7 -13)

Stationery lists can be found here. Students should bring their stationery on the first day of term. Lockers are available for storage. 

Students in Years 7–13 are required to bring their own digital device for learning. We recommend a laptop or MacBook capable of running the Adobe suite of programs. For further information and device recommendations, please read our information sheet on Teaching and Learning with BYOD.

New students should bring their device on their induction day so logins can be set up.

Performing Arts Programme

Marsden offers a rich performing arts programme, including choirs, orchestras, a rock band, ensembles, handbells, as well as the Music curriculum, which includes our fun and innovative Year 7 Band programme. Specialist teachers are available during the school day for students to have private tuition in the instrument of their choice. 

There are opportunities to perform in the school production, Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, to debate, dance, join Kapa Haka or take music or speech and drama lessons from our specialist tutors.

The Performing Arts Handbook below contains information on the range of activities at Marsden. To sign up for activities, click here.

If you have any questions, please email our Director of Performing Arts, Sarah Wilson at sarah.wilson@marsden.school.nz or phone (04) 476 8707 Ext 844.

Performing Arts Handbook

We proudly nurture a vibrant performing arts culture, offering students the opportunity to discover their talents, grow in confidence, and participate in a rich variety of creative activities.

2026 Performing Arts Handbook

Private music lessons

Private music lessons are available for students in Years 3-13. Please see here for details and the registration form. Registrations are due by Tuesday 30 January 2026 if requiring lessons in Term 1.

Performance Diploma in Speech and Drama

Students can leave school with a Performance Diploma in Speech and Drama. They may begin this pathway in Years 7, 8 or 9. Speech and Drama classes are also available for students in Years 3–6. Classes are offered at lunchtime or after school, with no classes running in Term 4. For registration details and further information, please visit our Speech and Drama page

Swainson Memorial Music Competition

On Wednesday 1 April 2026, we will hold the annual Swainson Memorial Music Competition, which showcases the vocal and/or instrumental talents of our Year 7-13 students. 

Your child may like to consider entering a musical performance (no more than 5 minutes in length). A registration form will be made available early in Term 1 through the weekly newsletter, with entries closing mid-March.

The competition takes place during the school day, followed by a prize giving at 3pm, and a prize winners' concert immediately after. There are three awards at each level for Year 7-8, Year 9-10 and Year 11-13, along with the Nell Clere Music Scholarship, which is valued at $1,000 and awarded to a Year 7-12 student who shows considerable potential.

Sport

Sports Programme

Sport plays an important part in the lives of most Marsden students. With an 85% participation rate, Marsden offers students the opportunity to participate just for fun or in pursuit of excellence. We encourage all students to take up a sport in 2026. Whether competing in a team or as an individual, there’s something for everyone.

Director of Sport & Active Recreation Rosie Kirkpatrick and Sport & Active Recreation Coordinator Jessica Gill organise all registrations, teams and sporting opportunities for our students. Rosie looks after sports for students in Years 9-13. Jess looks after sports for students in Years 1-8. 

Marsden Sports Website

The Marsden sports website is the best place to find all information about sport at Marsden. This site is dedicated to Marsden sport information, including season details, draws, how to register, results, and a space to share news. It is kept up-to-date, so please refer to it throughout the year: www.marsdensport.school.nz/

Sports Registrations

• Registrations for summer sport (Term 1) in 2026 close on Wednesday 28 January 2026. A list of all sports available at Marsden can be found on the Marsden sports website. You can click on each sport for information about important dates, uniform, and cost. Please note that trials or pre-season practices for some summer sports will be happening in the holidays, so check dates carefully. You are then able to register for each sport via a link on the right-hand side of the individual sports page. Registrations need to close early due to the early start of many sports, however we will likely be able to accommodate late sign ups as well if necessary.
• Registrations for winter sport (Terms 2 and 3) in 2026 close on Wednesday 4 February 2026. There will be opportunities for students and parents to find out more about our winter sports programme at the beginning of the school year. Our ‘Give It A Go’ afternoon, 1.35-3.25pm on Friday 30 January 2026 will provide students with an opportunity to experience the various sports on offer at Marsden.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to rosie.kirkpatrick@marsden.school.nz or jessica.gill@marsden.school.nz if you have any questions about sport at Marsden.

Athletics Day, Newtown Park 

Our first sports event of the year is Athletics Day, which will be held at Newtown Park on Thursday 26 February 2026 (week 5). This is a fun, high-spirited day and a key event in our House calendar, giving all Year 7–13 students the opportunity to take part in both track and field events.  

Students are to wear their House t-shirts, PE shorts or track suits, and sports shoes. They should make their own way to Newtown Park for an 8.25am roll call and will be dismissed from the park at approximately 2.45pm. A bus will be available to return students to Karori, and regular school buses will depart from Marsden at 3.30pm. You will receive an email to reserve a seat on the returning bus. 

The day’s activities include the March Past, a sausage sizzle, and concludes with the always-popular form class and House relays. A programme will be emailed closer to the time. Parents are encouraged to come along and support students on this exciting and action-packed day.

Subject selection - new students Years 9-13

Newly enrolled students who have not yet completed subject selection should email their completed form to our Enrolment Registrar Chunxiao Lu (enrolmentregistrar@marsden.school.nz).  

You can find copies of our Year Programmes and Curriculum Overview for 2026 under the Academic sections in Our Schools here.

After School Care

Parents with students in Years 1-8 are welcome to use Manaaki at Marsden, our onsite after school care programme running daily till 5.30pm. Based in the Manaaki room in the Primary School, it provides a relaxed, supervised space where students can enjoy afternoon tea, a range of indoor and outdoor activities, complete homework, unwind, or spend time with friends.

Spaces are limited and bookings can be made up to one hour before the session using our booking system. For full details and booking information, please click here.