Meggie and Katie have completed their first year of school at Marsden and last week was filled with prize-givings and chapel services and shared lunches and caroling concerts and all sorts of celebrations. They have had an amazing year and as I sat at each of their prize-givings I was so grateful that they were part of such an incredible school - not only is Marsden at the top of the tables in New Zealand academically, but Marsden also has a higher percentage of girls that participate in extra-curricular school activities like sports, chess, drama, debate and other school related activities than any other school in the country. That, combined with the amazing teachers we've enjoyed and the lovely friendships the girls have formed have been such a blessing to our family. Dugald and I are grateful, as are the girls, for the opportunities presented at Marsden, thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the scholarships!!
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| Faculty and Staff enter for the start of the Upper School prize-giving ceremony. |
Meggie received an award for achievements in science and maths. She and I were laughing on the way home that neither one of us saw that coming - she's usually much stronger in language arts!
Of course I forgot the camera - so this video clip - and the photos - are from my phone. It's hard to hear but you can see Meggie walk across the stage and collect her certificate.
Meggie also was awarded a certificate at school for passing her grade three speech and drama examination with honors.
I went to Katie's prize-giving as well and while she didn't get a specific prize (the rumor is that they never give first-year girls prizes in the primary school), she did have her name mentioned all over the program for outstanding achievements in sports and on international tests, so we couldn't be more proud of her!! Here is a list of her accomplishments:
She participated in Western Zone Athletics Competition (you had to qualify by placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in your school's athletics competition)
Western Zone Swimming Competition
Wellington Primary School Swimming Championships (only she and one other girl from her grade qualified)
Chilton St. James Exchange
Credit for ICAS English
Distinction for ICAS Science
Distinction for ICAS Mathematics
I went to Katie's last chapel service prior to dismissal and got this photo. I was on the committee to make food for the morning tea prior to the service and while we were there setting up there was another big jolt from an earthquake. The little girls were out playing on the vicarage lawn and I did the dumbest thing possible and took off running to find them - Dugald said if it had been a big one I'd probably be dead. I don't think I will ever get used to these things!!
After school on the last day a lot of us went to the pool since the girls were dismissed at lunchtime. Here is a cute photo of Katie and some of her good friends.
I have to give a shout-out to the girls' amazing homeschool math teacher, Daddy, because as I'm sure you noticed they have excelled in that subject. Well done Daddy for laying such a strong foundation and preparing them so well for school.
If you aren't sick enough of all this bragging already, we also received the girls' end-of-the-year school reports and both of them were full of praise for our girls. I'll just include a little excerpt from each here as this blog gets printed at the end of the year and serves as our family scrapbook and we don't want to forget how well they've done.
I'll start with Katie - she had seven marks for outstanding effort and two for commendable over her various subjects. Some of my favorite quotes . . .
English "She listens politely to the ideas of others and will ask relevant questions to gain further information or to clarify her thoughts. . . ."
"Kathryn was always well prepared and is a a natural speaker. . ."
Health and P.E. - "Throughout all physical activities Kathryn has promoted fair play values and shown respect for others."
Final paragraph from her form teacher:
"Kathryn's diligence to her work has contributed greatly to the excellent results that she attained. She willingly accepts responsibility and actively pursues these opportunities. Kathryn's spontaneity and ability to be herself, as well as her capacity to compromise and negotiate with others makes her very popular with her peers. She displays excellent thinking skills and is very perceptive. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching Kathryn as her positive and energetic nature contribute much to our classroom environment."
Last but not least, Katie placed in the 96th percentile or above (stanine 9) in Reading Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics on the New Zealand national standardized tests. We are so proud of you Katie Anne!!
Now on to Meggie. . .
Opening paragraph from her form teacher:
"This is a report of which Meggie can be very proud. It is a reflection of her hard work and determination to give her best in each subject. Her teachers have commented on her strong abilities across the curriculum, especially in Mathematics. Meggie has made a very positive impression on all her subjects. Her cheerful, enthusiastic attitude and respectful manners makes her a special member of the form class. We have been very fortunate to enjoy Meggie's gracious leadership skills in Term 4, as Form Captain. She has undertaken the role reliably and with humility. I have enjoyed getting to know Meggie. Each morning she has a cheerful greeting and a smile, which helps to set the tone for the whole class. I wish her well for Year 8.
Meggie got an A+ in Math, B in English, B+ in Science, and a B+ in Global and Local Perspectives. Her other grades were effort grades in Design Technology, Food Technology, Art, Music, P.E, Religious Education and Introduction to Languages and she did really well with almost all 5's for Outstanding Effort.
We didn't get a comparison to national standards for her but we are also very proud of Meggie for adjusting to school this year, making new friends, being diligent in her work and doing so well academically.
