Back to school in style

William Woodworth

Principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch, Year Nine students Tanisha Langi, Ella Hodgkinson, Izzy Lavirick, Ariana Pedersen, Breese Chilvers, Katie Clarke, and Year Nine Dean Jenny Pullin. Photo: William Woodworth

New Year Nine students at both Blenheim’s colleges started the new school year with a fresh new look.

A new year and new uniforms marked the start of the 2025 school year for incoming students at both Marlborough Girls’ and Marlborough Boys’ Colleges.

Marlborough Girls’ College hosted their Year 9s’ and their families on Friday with the help of the 2025 prefect body, while Marlborough Boys’ College opened its doors on Monday for the start of the year

The mihi whakatau (welcoming ceremony) at both Colleges was followed by a chat with staff and parents.

Prefects accompanied new students through their first day at high school, aiming to create a more unified student body in 2025.

Marlborough Boys’ College Head Boy Nathan Brooke-Taylor, Principal Jarrod Dunn and new Year 9 student Koda Murphy. Photo: William Woodworth.

“We're really delighted to welcome the lifeblood of our school which is our youngest students into our family,” says Marlborough Girls’ College principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch.

“Our senior students are important so Year 9’s are not overwhelmed by the transition - some students will come from really small schools where there's only one or two students in the group, there's 210 or so students in Year 9, and it can be overwhelming.

“We're going to work with these beautiful young students and their families to help them grow into being leaders of tomorrow”.

“It’s fantastic to see the family support behind our new students and start the school year on a positive note”, agreed Marlborough Boys’ College Principal Jarrod Dunn on Monday morning.

“I task our prefects to be the tuakana for our new students, assist them with the transition into our school, and task our new students with getting stuck into their interests across school life through their time here.”

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