The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”, (Alvin Toffler - Future Shock and The Third Wave).

Our purpose at Te Rito Harakeke is to provide all students with a safe and caring environment to become confident and capable learners who continue to evolve, contribute to their community and achieve. We pride ourselves on fulfilling our vision to be:

• Progressive and Inspiring

• Inclusive and Nurturing

• Community Connected

While we prioritise the development of literacy and maths daily through quality teaching and learning programmes, we also value the importance of tamariki developing a sense of wonder and understanding of the world around them. We do this through a conceptualised curriculum that supports students to apply their developing understanding, knowledge and competencies to authentic learning opportunities. We share learning regularly with our community, parents and whānau. 

We have created a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students from Year 1 to Year 8. Caring for and valuing each other’s differences is part of our Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland culture. This culture reflects a 'family feel', which is evident as soon as you walk in. We promote MANA values (Manaakitanga - Care and Respect; Ako - Learner; Ngātahi - Togetherness; and Aumangea - Resilience) and beliefs, identified through meaningful consultation with parents, whānau and staff. 

We feel very privileged to have such beautiful and new architectural school buildings. While we teach within a modern, innovative learning environment, we support student learning with a high degree of structure and developed systems to ensure equity and success for all. Learning Hubs from Year 1 to Year 8 are calm and orderly, and there is clear evidence of explicit teaching and meaningful learning from the minute you walk in. We have learnt what constitutes quality teaching within these environments to ensure we maintain practices to support diverse learners and child development.

We are very fortunate at Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School to have enthusiastic, passionate staff committed to supporting student social, emotional and learning development - the whole child. Student wellbeing is very important to us, as well as academic success. Our staff are highly skilled and demonstrate consistent teaching practice across the school, demonstrating our unified and collective approach to school improvement actions that benefit student learning outcomes. We do not leap on the next shiny education initiative at Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School at the risk of your child's education. We take a comprehensive approach, simulating old ways of teaching with new, contemporary approaches, using evidence and expertise to measure the impact of school-wide initiatives. We call this teaching 'The Marshland Way'. 

There is an exciting range of sporting and cultural opportunities for all our students, and a specialised programme for the intermediate (Year 7-8) part of our school. We are lucky to have many parents and whānau who support at our school. This includes a wonderfully active Parent Community Group (PCG) and a very highly skilled Board.

Our feedback from Secondary Schools is that they can always pick Te Rito Harakake - Marshland ex-students, as they are confident to take risks, get involved and demonstrate respect. They have the motivation to learn, the skills to engage and the confidence to succeed.

This is a lively, vibrant and happy place to be. I am incredibly proud to have the privilege of leading such a high-performing school with delightful, enthusiastic students and a supportive, positive community. It's a place where you and your children will feel a strong sense of belonging and identity. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about the school. My email address is principal@marshland.school.nz

Leigh Fowler

Dip Tch, B.Ed, B.A, M.Ed