MARLBOROUGH PRIMARY NEWSLETTER

Learning Power: Guardians

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua.

I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.

Kia ora Marlborough Primary School whānau,

As we reach the end of Term 3, we're filled with a huge sense of pride and gratitude. It's been a busy and productive term, with our students achieving so much both in and out of the classroom. We've seen incredible growth in their learning, and their enthusiasm for school continues to shine.

As we close out the past three years, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the outgoing members of the school board. When you take a look around the school, the incredible changes you have made are clear for all to see. Your dedication has truly made a difference for our community, and the children have been served incredibly well by your vision and commitment. The Reggio-inspired approach you championed has made a big difference in fostering curiosity, and we are so proud of the progress our school has made under your guidance.

As we look to the future, we are incredibly excited to welcome our newly elected school board members, who will serve for the next three years. We look forward to walking alongside them as they continue the important work in our school.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome and a huge congratulations to our new board:

• Tim McMynne - Presiding Member

• Lucas de Jong

• Katie Farrimond

• Jen Frecklington

• Dana Kuoch

• Deanne Wotton - Staff Representative

We wish them all the best for their term and look forward to the great things they will achieve.

We're thrilled to share some fantastic news from the world of martial arts! Chase Cameron, recently competed in the North Island Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships and brought home two shining gold medals.

Chase showcased incredible skill and determination, earning a gold medal in the Gi division and another in the No-Gi division. For those unfamiliar, the Gi division involves competitors wearing the traditional BJJ uniform, which can be used to grip and control an opponent. The No-Gi division, on the other hand, is contested without the uniform, focusing more on wrestling-style grips and control.

His hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship are an inspiration.

What a fantastic netball season it's been for our Marlborough Primary netball team! They've shown incredible dedication and teamwork on the court. From the first whistle to the final hooter, our teams have played with grit, determination, and a huge smile.

What's growing in our garden this season? Our students have been busy nurturing all sorts of wonderful plants, and this week's harvest was a truly new experience for many of them. The star of the show was our vibrant beetroot, which we used to make a delicious and colourful beetroot hummus.

But the real discovery was the addition of nasturtium flowers! These beautiful, bright blooms were a new ingredient for most of our students. They quickly learned that while the flowers are pretty, they have a surprising peppery kick all on their own. However, when paired with the creamy, earthy beetroot hummus, the flavours balanced perfectly.

It was a fantastic lesson in how different ingredients can work together to create something special. The children were excited to try something they had never eaten before and were delighted to find out how tasty it was. It's a great reminder that new foods can be a fun adventure!

We look forward to sharing more of our garden-to-table creations with you soon!

~ Mrs. Jones

Some of our students have earned bragging rights, visiting the principal's office with good work.

What a fantastic atmosphere at our cross country event! It was truly inspiring to see every student participate with such energy and enthusiasm. The students' hard work and training in the weeks leading up to the race were evident on the day.

The course was challenging, but our students showed incredible endurance and determination as they ran. More impressive than their speed, however, was their sportsmanship. The air was filled with cheers as students encouraged their classmates to keep going, even when they were tired. They truly motivated each other to finish the race strong. This display of positive encouragement and teamwork was a wonderful example for everyone.

What a fantastic bake sale we had! We're thrilled to announce that FOS raised an incredible $914.95 for Marlborough Primary School. This is an amazing achievement and we couldn't have done it without the generous support of our wonderful community.

A massive thank you to everyone who baked, bought, and donated. Your delicious contributions and enthusiastic support made this event a smashing success. Special thanks to Woolworths Glenfield Mall for their kind donation, which helped us make even more dough!

We can't wait for our next community event and look forward to seeing you all there. Thank you again for being such a supportive part of the Marlborough Primary whānau!

Our Year 5 students participated in the Bike Ready Skills & Safety course, funded by Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi, delivered by Harbour Sport.

This programme showed all students how to fit their helmet properly and what they should check on their bike before they ride. Students were split into groups according to their confidence level and our new riders had their own instructor too!

There were some cool games and lots of new skills learnt. We’re so proud of the effort and resilience shown by our new riders and excited to see you further your pedaling journey!

Your little rider should have had a flyer in their bag from their lesson. This has links for FREE kids (Age 2-13) Learn to Ride sessions which you can also access here https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/courses-events/kids-learn-to-ride

There are also courses available for 14+ and adults https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/courses-events/adult-bike-courses

For more information on the Bike Ready Programme facilitated by Harbour Sport click here https://harboursport.co.nz/cycling/

~ Rosie Bohling

This term, our Kererū Whānau has been on an exciting journey, learning all about what it means to be kaitiaki (guardians) of our environment and how we can look after Papatūānuku (Earth Mother). A big part of this learning adventure was a trip to the Henderson Transfer Station.

Our tamariki were fascinated to learn all about tiger worms! We discovered what these amazing little creatures love to eat—fruit and veggie scraps—and what they don't, like meat, dairy, or oily foods. We even helped build a new worm farm and got to see and gently touch the wriggling worms and their tiny eggs.

We also got a firsthand look at how we can reduce, reuse, and recycle. The children learned what happens to Auckland's rubbish, how many landfills there are, and what ends up in them. A real highlight was a bus tour of the landfill station, where we saw huge piles of recycling being sorted and watched garbage trucks empty their loads.

Back at school, the children have continued to embrace their role as kaitiaki by creating fantastic art from recycled materials. This project has been a great way to show that even what we think of as rubbish can be turned into something beautiful and useful.

~ Tasmin Jooste

This term in ESOL, our students have been busy developing their oral language skills through conversations and games, but their learning didn't stop there! We also explored a very important concept: how we can be kaitiaki, or guardians, of our environment.

By focusing on the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, our young learners discovered creative ways to protect our world. They brought in used brown paper grocery bags from home, transforming what might have been waste into wonderful works of art. Inspired by vibrant Pasifika patterns, the students reused these simple bags to create unique and beautiful pieces.

To celebrate their learning and creative writing, the students also published their very own kaitiaki stories. These imaginative tales shared their ideas on how to care for our environment, showcasing their growing language skills and commitment to being good guardians.

It has been a fantastic term watching our students embrace their roles as kaitiaki, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts!

~ Shar Lee

The event showcased the incredible talent and hard work of our senior students. Each senior class nominated a representative, and the competition was fierce, with every speaker delivering a thoughtful and engaging speech.

The finalists—Dillon Cumming, Soane Sinisa, Emma Needham, Maya Cazeiro, Amelia Smorag, Jamie Law, Maya Riddell, Kaiden Ruka, and Evin Abesinghe Gunawardane—all spoke with confidence and clarity, making the judges' job incredibly difficult. They tackled a variety of topics, from the serious to the humorous, and it was a joy to see the passion in their delivery.

A huge congratulations is in order for our outstanding winners! Taking home first place was Evin Abesinghe Gunawardane, in a close second Kaiden Ruka and Jamie Law secured third place.

We extend our gratitude to Lucas de Jong for mentoring our finalists. We also want to thank our esteemed panel of judges for their time and careful consideration: Whaea Michelle, Mark Whitford (Principal of Glenfield Intermediate School), and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills. Their expertise and encouragement made the event truly special.

Located just outside the school office, the pantry is a simple concept built on a powerful idea: caring for one another. It's here for anyone in our school community who needs it. Whether it’s a non-perishable food item, a hygiene product, or a pantry staple, please feel free to take what you need. We only ask that you be mindful of others and take only what is necessary for your family.

The pantry also works in reverse. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have a little extra, we invite you to add to the pantry. Your donation of an extra fresh produce, a can of beans, a box of pasta, or a jar of jam can make a significant difference to another family.

We have a Breakfast Club running in the hall every morning. We welcome any students that might just need a top up before school starts. Please join Mrs. C in the hall from 8:15 till 8:45.

A reminder to parents that we have a number of different companies that supply lunches at school, particularly on Thursdays. We love to support our community and your patronage is appreciated.

Sushi Day - Sushi

· To order weekly sushi lunch, please visit www.sushiday.co.nz and if you are a new parent, you can go to the link www.sushiday.co.nz/sushi-login to register under Marlborough Primary School.

· Don’t forget – Order cut off time is 9pm (Wednesday) for THURSDAY order delivery.

· Any question, please contact Dan on order@sushiday.co.nz or 021 339 700.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls only.

Summer rolls can be prepared in a packet of 2 pcs for $6. The ingredients are as follow.

- Rice Paper

- Mixed green salad including cabbage

- Carrots

- Capsicum

- Cucumber

- Chicken Katsu (Crumbed Chicken)

- Honey Mustard and Sweet Chili

Please call 09-442 2040 to place your order.

Online Subway orders

Most of the communication going out goes through our Skool Loop and Facebook apps. Please make sure to join these.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marlborough-Primary-School-112129594831867

A reminder to parents that we are open for in zone enrolment applications for Term 4 of 2025 and Term 1 to 4 of 2026. If you have a child that is due to start school between now and November 2026, please complete your enrolment forms so we're able to plan appropriately.

Enrolment can be done online (the link is on our website) or on paper, with application packs available from the office.

Out of zone enrolments:

Term 1 2026

Deadline for receipts of applications - Monday 17 November 2025 at 15:00

Term 2 2026

Deadline for receipts of applications - Monday 23 February 2026 at 15:00

Term 3 2026

Deadline for receipts of application - Monday 08 June 2026 at 15:00

Term 4 2026

Deadline for receipts of application - Monday 31 August 2026 at 15:00

Please contact the office if you have any queries regarding enrolment - office@marlboroughprimary.school.nz

2025

Term 3

14 July - 19 September

Term 4

6 October - 19 December

10 October - Senior Assembly

17 October - Junior Assembly

22 October - Board Meeting 17:30

24 October - SCHOOL CLOSED

27 October - Labour Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

31 October - Junior Assembly

07 November - Senior Assembly

11 November - photo day (class / portrait / sibling)

14 November - Junior Assembly

19 November - Board Meeting 17:30

21 November - Senior Assembly

21 November - Onepoto Cultural Festival

26 November - Cluster Athletics

28 November - Junior Assembly

05 December - Senior Assembly

11 December - Marlborough's Got Talent

12 December - Junior Assembly

15 December - Yr.6 Graduation

17 December - Board Meeting 15:30

19 December - Senior Assembly

2026

Term 1

3 February - 2 April

02 February - Pre-Booked Goal Setting with students and parents

06 February - Waitangi Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

Term 2

20 April - 3 July

27 April - Anzac Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

29 May - SCHOOL CLOSED

01 June - SCHOOL CLOSED

Term 3

20 July - 25 September

21 August - SCHOOL CLOSED

Term 4

12 October - 18 December

23 October - SCHOOL CLOSED

26 October - Labour Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

20 November - SCHOOL CLOSED

School Hours and Late Pick-Ups:

Our school hours are from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Please note that there is no supervision available for children outside of these times. If you are late to pick up your child after 3:00 PM, they will be taken to KidsKlub aftercare, and you will be billed accordingly for the service.

Warmer Weather:

Just a quick reminder that Term 4 starts on Monday, October 6th.

With the warmer weather arriving, our swimming lessons will be starting again this term. Please remember to send your child to school with their togs (swimming trunks/swimsuit) and a towel on their scheduled swimming day.

Also, as a reminder, it is compulsory for all students to wear a sun hat to school during Term 1 and Term 4.

Gate Closures:

The gates to Archers Road and Chartwell Road will be locked promptly at 3:10 PM. If you anticipate arriving late for pick-up or know you will be on school grounds after this time, please park near the Wykeham Place gate for easier access.

"Pack In, Pack Out" Policy:

We kindly remind all caregivers that children's rubbish must be taken home in their lunch boxes. We do not have facilities for students to dispose of their waste at school. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a clean and sustainable environment.

A clean change of clothes:

From time to time ‘accidents’ may happen or clothing gets wet/muddied. For this reason, it is important that ALL STUDENTS have an extra set of clothing in their bag at all times. Non-uniform items of clothing are acceptable.

We hope you'll have a wonderful spring holiday!

We look forward to seeing you all back at school soon! Stay safe and enjoy your break.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your children's education.

🌿 Your MPS Team 🌿