We are looking ahead to 2023 at Marshand School - Te Rito Harakeke while maintaining teaching and learning programmes for as long as possible in 2022.

Kia ora e te whānau 

While there are still some staffing decisions and potential changes, we can provide you with some essential information regarding our school organisation and staffing structure for 2023.  

Within Learning Hubs (other than Kiwi - Year 1), Homebases will work in collaboration again in 2023. While the Homebase teacher will have an assigned class of students, students will work with others across the collaboration, alongside one or two other Homebases throughout the day.  

This collaboration will look slightly different across the school as students progress through year levels. For example, students in the Pukeko (Year 2) learning hub may be taught predominantly by their Homebase teacher for core learning areas (literacy and mathematics) but be taught by another teacher in their collaboration at different times of the day. Whereas students in Korimako (Year 5-6) may be taught by their Homebase teacher for a minimum of one core learning area (e.g. literacy or mathematics) and will be taught by the other collaborative teacher/s at different times. 

The two or three-teacher collaboration approach was introduced in 2022. This has proved highly successful in supporting Homebase teachers to hold the overall relationship, accountability and communication for student progress, as well as social and emotional well-being. It has also allowed collaborative teachers to meet the diverse needs of students across the collaboration and draw on each other's strengths or areas of expertise. 

We factor likely collaborations in when making staffing appointments at this time of the year, along with considering staff placement to ensure a balance of curriculum strengths or expertise across the school. 

New Staff Appointments 

• Samantha Hill is a highly experienced and capable teacher currently working at St Alban's School. She has worked in our school as a reliever and part-time staff member in the past. She is a dedicated teacher with excellent interpersonal skills and a great sense of humour. 
• Rosalind Quatermass has recently graduated from University in Dunedin and currently works at St Clair School in Dunedin. She has a Master of Teaching and Learning, with distinction, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music. Rosalind is also very sporty, playing lacrosse, tennis and hockey at representative levels.
• Sheradyn Limmer has worked part-time in the Korimako hub during 2022. During this time, Sheradyn has displayed a tremendous commitment to our school and the teaching profession. She develops nurturing relationships with students and demonstrates high adaptability by confidently teaching across all year levels.

Staff Leaving

• Taryn Kerin, a teacher in the Korimako Learning Hub, is on leave next year. We are going to miss her great sense of humour and ability to make us laugh. Taryn provides a high degree of pastoral care to Korimako students and cares deeply for their well-being. This, along with her wealth of teaching experience, will be missed by us all in 2023. We look forward to Taryn's return.
• Caitlin Mummery is leaving Marshland School after maternity leave to care for her cute little son, Leo. Caitlin has been a highly competent Teacher Aide (TA) at Marshland School for nine years. Her ability to connect to students of all ages and support classroom learning programmes will be missed greatly. 
• Samantha Jones, a teacher and the Team Leader of the Pukeko Learning Hub, is taking leave to go on an Overseas Experience (OE) in 2023. So naturally, we are very jealous and want to be packed in her suitcase to remember how much fun it is to experience this feeling of freedom and adventure. We know Sam's leave will come as a shock to many of you, but feel assured we are expecting her back. Kellie Sim will competently step into the Pukeko Learning Hub Team Leader role while Sam is on leave. 
• Bryony Charleston-Astall, a teacher in the Kiwi Learning Hub this year, was snapped up for a position at Prebbleton School. Bryony brought a high degree of warmth and kindness to the teaching role, making a strong impression on staff, students, parents and whānau. We wish her well in her new school. 
• Azeezunissa (Azeez), a teacher in the Toroa Learning Hub this year, is leaving us and going on to do wonderful things with her teaching. Azeez's positivity and bubbly personality had a great impact, and we thank you for bringing this much joy to our school in 2022.  

Other Staffing Announcements

• Sonya Bell, a teacher in the Tui Learning Hub, is stepping down from full-time to part-time next year. We are thrilled we can continue to benefit from her experience and expertise. 

Now that we have confirmed our organisational structure, teaching staff have begun the collective process of identifying student Homebase placements. Several academic, social, emotional and peer-support factors underpin all student Homebase placement decisions across Years 1-8. This includes deep consideration of how students will engage with each other within collaborations, their diverse needs, learning preferences and interests. 

Keeping this collaborative structure in mind as we approach class placement is helpful. For example, knowing that your tamariki will have peers strategically placed in either their Homebase or their collaboration.  

You will be informed of your child's Homebase placement for 2023 in their end-of-year report, which goes out Friday, 9th December. A 'Meet the Teacher' activity is planned for students on 14th December to support tamariki with 2023 transitions. If you have any questions, concerns or information to support these transitions, don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher. 

I talked to a few students to identify how they felt about transitioning to a new Homebase, Learning Hub or school in 2023. Most students were excited and identified many things they were looking forward to. For Jacko, Dylan, Frankie, Lila and Aiden, Year 8 students in the Toroa Learning Hub, this related to what Secondary School has to offer, such as graphic design, learning second languages and economics. Frankie is, of course, looking forward to joining the cycling team. They felt they were well prepared because of how they responded to the high expectations of learning in Toroa Learning Hub and developed ways to self-manage or become more independent.

Brooke, Ella and Kaia talked about how much they are looking forward to fashion design, second languages and the opportunity to learn new things, including trying new sports at Secondary School next year. They said they would miss their friends from Marshland School and the feeling of being in a safe and familiar environment. It is lovely to hear them identify what they have gained from being senior role models and leaders where younger students "Look up to us", but next year Brooke, Ella and Kaia will be "...looking up to others".

In the Tui Learning Hub, Cooper, Lily, Max, Jack and Josh talked about how excited they were to know which teacher they would have when staying in the same hub as Year 4 students next year. Whereas Miller, Cian, Mourtiz, Hadleigh and Chihilo can't wait to do Friday sports, Road Patrol and athletics as Year 5 students in the Korimako Learning Hub next year. Cian got pretty excited about the science opportunities ahead, and Miller articulated she was looking forward to increasing responsibility and becoming more independent. What a mature answer for a Year 4 student! 

Finally, I had an early morning chat with Zanthie, Ann, Elish and Grace in Korimako. They made me laugh because they were generally looking forward to everything about next year. They have really enjoyed aspects of this year and feel that their learning space is calming. They then informed me about the Science Roadshow and how they got to help with the balloon experiment, which is supposedly still frozen!

While we are all looking forward to what the next year brings at Marshland School - Te Rito Harakeke, we still have our sights firmly on the weeks ahead and maintaining structured learning programmes for as long as possible. I captured this in some of the photos gained when visiting learning hubs today. 

We look forward to sharing more of this learning with you in the coming weeks! 

Ngā mihi nui 

Leigh