Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to drop my tamariki off for visits? 

Arriving around 8.45 am allows your tamariki time to settle in, and follow the school routine, such as putting away the drink bottle and signing in. This gives your tamariki time to mingle without being rushed and not too long that they feel anxious.

Should I stay when my tamariki are on a school visit? 

You know your tamariki best, and you are welcome to stay. However, we encourage you to leave if you feel your tamariki are happy, even if it is to walk down to Te Rito Cafe for a coffee. This is in the Office Block area. In our experience, we find that tamariki grow in confidence and mix with other tamariki when their parents are not around. It is nice for the tamariki to have time at school without you as it reassures them that they 'can do it'. 

When do I pick my tamariki up if they are on a school visit? 

Picking tamariki up at 11:00 am gives them time to have morning tea to play amongst their friends and familiarise themselves with the playground. The Kiwi playground is solely for the Kiwi tamariki, but when Kiwi tamariki feel comfortable can also play on the Pukeko playground. There is a duty teacher allocated to each playground. 

What if my tamariki or I feel anxious because they don't know anyone on the visit? 

We totally understand this worry that you or your tamariki may have. For this reason, we buddy our visitors up with one of the tamariki who are already at school, and during their visits, we will refer to these buddies as 'glue buddies'. They will sit together on the mat, the buddy will show and take your tamariki to the toilet, complete activities together and play together at morning tea time. We send home a photo of your tamariki and their glue buddy after their first visit so you can both refer back to it during the week. This helps as it's a familiar face for the next time they come to visit. 

What should my tamariki bring on their visit days? 

When your tamariki comes to visit, they need to bring their school bag and their morning tea. If your child is visiting during Term 1 or Term 4, they will also need a sunhat. 

Does my tamariki need to wear a uniform to visit? School uniforms are optional during visiting days. However, in our experience, it does give the children a sense of belonging. The Marshland School uniform can all be purchased from The Warehouse - Northlands. For more detail, please see our school website www.marshland.school.nz 

What time does school start on a normal day? 

School learning begins at 9.00 am. School is open for your tamariki to enter the hub at 8.30 am. If you require before or after-school care, ‘Kidsbase’ is available from 7.30 am and closes at 6.00 pm each day. If your tamariki are absent or you are running late, please notify the school office via the absentee button on the HERO App, phone (03) 385 2239, or email admin@marshland.school.nz. 

What time does school finish? 

Teachers will say goodbye to your tamariki at the end of the day (3:00 pm) and will ensure they are picked up outside the Kiwi hub by their parent or a designated person. You are welcome to come and talk to the teacher or enter the hub after all tamariki have been picked up. 

Tamariki of all ages, must be picked up or supervised in play from 3:15pm. Please contact the school office if you are running late or there are any issues picking your tamariki up after this time. On these occasions, we can provide supervision for your child.

When do tamariki eat lunch? 

Tamariki must remain seated to eat their snacks for the first 15 minutes of the 10:30 pm - 11:00 am break. This occurs again for the final lunch break at 1:30pm - 2:00pm. A Duty Teacher will release each child when they have eaten enough of their lunch. All tamariki get a play and snack break at 12:10-12:30pm.

What does my tamariki need to learn before beginning school?

In terms of learning, we have no expectations of what children should know when beginning school. Our priority when each tamariki begins school is that they feel happy and secure and develop a sense of belonging while they are at school. 

Does my tamariki need a sunhat? 

In Term 1 and Term 4, sun hats are a compulsory part of our school uniform. We have Marshland School sun hats that can be purchased from The Warehouse. Please make sure this is clearly named. 

Where do I get the stationery from? 

Stationery can be purchased online from Office Max or through the school Office (cash only). If you choose to purchase it from another place, please make sure you follow the list carefully. 

Do I bring in all the stationery on their first day? 

Stationery can be brought in during visiting days or on the first day. Please bring in everything as we have a place in the hub where we keep spare books and pencils etc. Please note that our pencils, glue, whiteboard pens, whiteboards, and crayons are all communal items, so these do not need to be named. Your tamariki will not need a pencil case while they are in the Kiwi Hub. 

Do you have after-school care? 

Yes, Kidsbase Marshland operates from the Toroa (Intermediate) Makerspace. They open at 7.30 am and close at 6.00 pm each day. You can look at their website for more information - https://kidsbase.co.nz/marshland/

At my child’s ECE, they share photos and stories with us using Storypark. Do you use that or a similar app so we can see some tamariki learning? 

We believe in a strong home-school connection, and we use Seesaw Family to share photos of your tamariki at school. We will send you a link closer to the time so you can join, and we encourage you to share that link with your wider family (e.g grandparents) so they too can see our posts. What kind of school bag should I purchase? Tamariki school bags need to be big enough that the following items fit comfortably inside:

• Lunchbox and drink bottle 

• Reading folder 

• School jersey or jacket 

• School hat (Term 1 and Term 4).

How does the Flexible Learning Environment work in the Kiwi Hub? 

When your tamariki starts school, they spend the day with their Homegroup teacher. As they grow and learn more, they may need to move to a different teacher for a small period of the day (e.g phonics). This will only occur if their needs can be better met in another group and for a short period. It is important to note that the majority of their school day is still spent with their Homegroup teacher. 

What Year Level is my tamariki?

The Year Level classification of your tamariki is based on their Cohort Entry date. Please see the Cohort Entry information to identify if your child is identified as a Year 0 or Year 1 on enrolment. If they are classified as Year 0, they will finish that year in the Kiwi Learning hub and stay in the Kiwi Learning Hub as Year 1 the following year. If they are Year 1, they will be classified as Year 2 the following year and will move through to the Pukeko Learning Hub.