A heartfelt welcome to all our new students and their whānau as they begin their journey with us.

 

Please see our 2025 term dates here.

 

If your daughter is new to Marsden in 2025 she will have a student buddy for her first few weeks and we encourage her to ask questions. A good idea is for her to go through the school calendar for the upcoming week with her buddy, so her buddy can explain the events coming up.

 

All staff and students are here to help her settle in. Things may be different at Marsden than at her previous school but please assure her that she is not expected to know everything, she can observe and participate as best as she can to start with. For example, we don't expect her to know all the songs and actions straight away!

 



Stationery and Digital Devices (Years 7 -13)

Stationery lists for Years 7-13 for 2025 can be found here. You will find details about digital device requirements on the same page, and details of the specials that OfficeMax is offering Marsden families. Year 7-13 students, please bring your stationery to school when you start, it can be stored in your locker., 

Students from Year 7 upwards are required to bring their own digital devices for learning. We recommend a laptop or MacBook for Years 7-13, which must be capable of running the Adobe suite of programs. The iCentre has a range of devices that can be issued on a day-to-day basis. New students, please bring your device to school on your induction day so that we can organise logins for you. 

 

Performing Arts Programme



Marsden offers a wide range of performing arts activities and there are many opportunities for your daughter to get involved. Playing and enjoying music at Marsden opens the door to a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts. We have choirs, orchestras, a rock band, ensembles and handbell ringing, as well as the academic 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 Speech and Drama lessons from our specialist tutors.

 

Please find further co-curricular details and registration forms here. 

 

The Performing Arts Handbook 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.



Private music lessons

Private music lessons are available for students in Years 3-13. Please see here for details and the registration form.

Performance Diploma in Speech and Drama

Your daughter can leave school with a Performance Diploma in Speech and Drama. She can start her journey at Years 7, 8 or 9. Speech and Drama classes are also available for students in Years 3-6. Classes are available at lunchtime or after school. There are no Speech and Drama classes in Term 4. For registration details and further information please visit our Speech and Drama page.

 

Sport

Sports Programme

At Marsden, we believe that sport teaches students about sportsmanship, teamwork, courage and healthy physical activity. Sport plays an important part in the lives of most Marsden students. With an 80% 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 2025. 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 draws, registration information, news, results, details of the Swifts Talent Centre, our Physiotherapy Clinic and more. Please refer to it throughout the year: www.marsdensport.school.nz/

 

Sports Registrations

Once your daughter has been placed into a team for the 2025 season, all draws for sports can be found here on the Marsden sports website.

 

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

 

Subject selection - new students Years 9-13

If you have recently enrolled and have not yet completed a subject selection form, please complete your subject completion form and email it to our Enrolment Registrar enrolmentregistrar@marsden.school.nz.

 

You can find copies of our Year Programmes and Curriculum Overview for 2025 under the Academic sections in Our Schools here.

 

Houses

Marsden has six Houses in the Upper School (Years 7-13): 

• Baber - green
• Hadfield Beere - purple
• Jellicoe - yellow
• Johnson - orange
• Richmond - blue
• Swainson Riddiford - red



Houses are allocated to students on enrolment. If a student has a family member who has previously attended Marsden, she will be allocated to the same House. Houses will otherwise be allocated to keep group numbers within each House even. Houses in the Upper School consist of students Years 7-13, with senior students looking after the younger girls. The girls quickly make friends within their House groups.