Marshall Liang Yearbook - 2020-12-01 LR

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Contents

1. Contents
2. Mr. White
4. Mrs. Soysa
5. Mr. Perry
6. Student Council
7. House Leaders
8. Market Day
9. Kapa Haka
10. Room 1 - Rūma Tahi
12. Room 2 - Rūma Rua
14. Room 3 - Rūma Toru
16. Room 4 - Rūma Whā
18. Room 5 - Rūma Rima
20. Room 6 - Rūma Ono
22. Room 7 - Rūma Whitu
24. Marshall Memories
26. Room 8 - Rūma Waru
28. Room 9 - Rūma Iwa
30. Room 10 - Rūma Tekau
32. Room 11 - Rūma Tekau Mā Tahi
34. Kids for Kids Choir
35. Robotics
36. Enviro
37. Chess
38. 2020 Highlights
40. Class of 2020
41. 2020 Graduation Awards
42. Room 12 - Rūma Tekau Mā Rua
44. Room 13 - Rūma Tekau Mā Toru
46. Room 14 - Rūma Tekau Mā Whā
48. Room 15 - Rūma Tekau Mā Rima
50. Room 16 - Rūma Tekau Mā Ono
52. Room 17 - Rūma Tekau Mā Whitu
54. Travelwise, Kea Crossing & Walking School Bus
56. Room 18 - Rūma Tekau Mā Waru
58. Room 19 - Rūma Tekau Mā Iwa
60. Room 20 - Rūma Rua Tekau
62. Room 21 - Rūma Rua Tekau Mā Tahi
64. Room 22 - Rūma Rua Tekau Mā Rua
66. Room 23 - Rūma Rua Tekau Mā Toru
68. Zones
69. Peer Mediators
70. Classroom Photos

Mr. White

Dear students,

2020 has certainly been an interesting and challenging year, but it’s at its end now. We’ve got
through it and I am so proud of everyone, for the way you coped and adapted. You might not
realise the magnitude of your accomplishments this year but you are part of history. You got
through the global pandemic of 2020. Years later, decades later, you will be able to discuss the
unique challenges that this year has given. What you did, how it affected you, your family, your
school, your friends, and the struggle that a year like this can place upon us. But more
importantly, your triumphs - despite the obstacles. This is what you can be proudest of. As you
move forward, remember the things you learnt from this extraordinary year and use them to help
you in the future.

Being resilient and flexible
COVID-19 helped us to be more resilient. This year was different, things were not the same, but
you coped with it and got on with your daily life. All of you were challenged in different ways but
you adapted and came through it. Remember you can manage change, in fact sometimes you do
it better than the adults!

Family time and people
COVID-19 lockdowns meant that we had to spend more time with our family. Much as
younger/older brothers and sisters can be annoying sometimes, we learnt that going for walks
together, playing games together, learning together could be a lot of fun. We of course missed
our friends and extended family but I hope that the COVID-19 locksdowns proved that family and
people are the most important things. Whilst digital technologies helped us carry on with our
school work and connect with people outside our bubble - I think we all learned that nothing can
replace being with and around other people.

Be kind
We heard this message a lot during the lockdowns and it was the perfect message for everyone.
Why not be like this all the time? Yes we can.

Mr. White!

Mrs. Soysa!

2020 - where do I begin? A year that challenged us in ways that we had never been challenged
before - a year of uncertainty, a year of adapting to learning, teaching and living in new ways...

I learned what it truly means to be adaptable, flexible and resilient this year. I learned to
appreciate things that I usually take for granted - family, friends and ‘freedom to come and go as
I want. Many people I have spoken to this year ‘enjoyed’ lockdown as it gave them time to be
with their families and to reflect on their life. I was one of these people - I enjoyed the time with
my family, I enjoyed my walks and ‘flower bombed’ my friends and family with photos of flowers
and rediscovered my joy of baking. But I also realised how much I enjoy my job and how lucky I
am to be a part of MLPS. I missed the children. I missed the families. I missed my colleagues. So
while I enjoyed lockdown I was also really pleased to be back.

Well, Year 6 - here we are - did you ever think this year was going to end? What were your
thoughts at the start of the year? Did you set goals for what you wanted to achieve? Did you
have any idea what was really going to happen in your last year of primary school? Did you really
put in your best effort? How proud are you of your effort? Did you decide "this is too hard, I'll
never get there?" Or did you think, "I can't do this, so I'm not going to try? If I try and fail I'll feel
bad, so I won't really try, then not finishing doesn't really matter." Or did you think, "what a
challenge, I'm going to see if I can make it?" If I know you as well as I think I do - I suspect that
you all took up the challenge of ‘being better than before’! Be proud of yourself and be proud of
your achievements this year. You all have people in your lives that are there to support you, to
point you in the right direction, to give you advice and love you regardless of the mistakes that
you will make. Trust them to understand, even if you strongly believe that they can’t possibly!
Finally your friends. You are each others’ support. Stay in touch - as REAL friends, not social
media ones. Connect with your friends face to face … turn your phones on silent and leave them
in your pockets. Finally, as Dr Suess says in his book Oh the Places You’ll Go:

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting, So … get on your way!”

To those of you who are leaving us for new places and adventures, I wish you all the best. To our
returning staff and students, thank you for a wonderful year. I hope you have a fantastic summer
and a very happy, healthy 2021.

Mr. Perry!

E pari ana ngā tai o mihi ki te whānau whānui o Marshall Laing.
Ki tō tātou tumuaki, David White, tēnā koe mō tāu mahi hei rangatiratanga kaha i te tau kua hipa.
Ahakoa ngā tai e karekare ana, nāu i whakatere tō tātou waka tōtika ai.
E ngā kaiako o tō tātou kura, he mihi whakamiha mō ā koutou mahi e whakapau kaha ana.
He mihi whakamutunga ki ngā tamariki katoa. Kei a koutou te kākano mana nui i roto i o koutou
manawa. Nō reira, kia mau, kia whai o koutou moemoeā kei te āhuatanga o te ururoa!
Nō reira, nei rā te mihi o tōku ngākau ki a koutou katoa.

Needless to say, 2020 was a year we will never forget. Virtually every country in the world was
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In New Zealand,schools had to be closed under Alert Level
4. This meant that normal teaching programmes had to be readjusted to suit the new learning
environment that now took place at home. Electronic devices became the standard learning tool
and ZOOM meetings became the regular forum for teacher-student, interactions. Again I want to
acknowledge how well our teachers, parents and students came together to navigate their way so
adroitly through those unprecedented times.

On a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed my second year in the role of Associate Principal
at Marshall Laing. There have been many highlights, especially in the areas of property
development. Along with close support from Solomon Heke and Ian Milne, we embarked on a
school beautification programme which involved the establishment and maintenance of
ornamental and vegetable gardens. Additionally, alongside Vanessa Buys our Visual Art
specialist, we have created and installed several permanent artworks that showcase our
children’s voices and further enhance the beauty of our physical environment.

Another highlight this year has been the launch of MLTV (Marshall Laing Television). This
initiative has provided a more interactive platform from which to broadcast daily information to our
community. It also provides an authentic communication context and further leadership
opportunities for our Student Council who have done a brilliant job in adding their own screen
presence!

Finally, I want to wish all our Marshall Laing leavers all the very best for the future. You have all
left an indelible mark on MLPS as part of our school whakapapa. In a year of great distress and
sadness, our tamariki have come out the other side with heightened positivity and a growing
resilience to face the challenges that will inevitably come their way.

E haunui ana i raro, e hari ana i runga.
The difficult times are over and the way ahead is easier.

Student Council

This year I was chosen for the Student Council. The Student Council has helped me
become a better leader. This year we had the Hell's Pizza reading challenge where
students would read a book, then get their token stamped by their teacher. They
earned tokens if they read at school, or a public library. We also had the character
parade where the Student Council gave out prizes for the best costume. Also, we
started MLTV this year which was run by the Student Council. Two students would
read out the Daysheet in the morning on a certain week! The Student Council is a
GREAT opportunity to show leadership, so if you ever get in… dont back out!
Manha Mirza
Room 22
My favourite memory of Student Council was getting to work with some amazing
people and Mr. Perry. My happiest memory was having the costume parade and
starting up MLTV. I hope that in the future, the Student Council can make MLPS
grow to become a better school.
Matthias Coleman
Room 20

House Leaders

It was a privilege being a House Leader for Alexander Southgate
Rimu. I was lucky to be one of the six to
represent the houses of MLPS. We
organised a few things but sadly could not
do it because of COVID-19. It was cool that
at assembly we got to give out the 'Student
of the Week Award'. It has been a great
experience being a House Leader.

Logan Callander
Room 22

Being a house leader for Pōhutukawa and being able to learn at Marshall Laing
have both been a huge privilege. Marshall Laing is like my second home and
leaving is really hard for me and every other Year 6 in the school. I loved meeting
everyone and leading my house. The year, 2020 has been really hard with COVID-
19 around. I hope I have done my house well, and I will miss being at Marshall
Laing so very much. I wish everyone well for 2021!

Josephine Sor
Room 19



Kapa Haka

E ngā mana, e ngā waka, e ngā hau e whā, tēnā koutou katoa. Tuatahi, he
mihi nui ki a Papa Jarrod mō tāu mahi ako tino pai rawa atu! He mihi anō
ki a koutou katoa mō tō koutou āwhina ki taku haerenga Māori. Nō reira,
tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, mauri ora koutou katoa!
Houda Majdi
Room 21
For me, Kapa Haka was really good at first. We got to dance to Māori songs, but when it
came to singing I was really scared. My heart was beating fast but as I said the first word
I gained bucket load of confidence! I just imagined that no one was there. I just closed my
eyes, took a deep breath, let it out and sang and it wasn't so bad at all!
Dakshesh Arora
Room 18

In Room 1 we
like to be…

Having
Fun!
Smart

Brave

Honest Loved

Singing

…and together
we all can be!!





Room 3

Ryan Nikki

Our koru bubble art represents
who we spent time with during

home learning this year.

Rūma Whā



RRmm55ggiviveesstthhaannkksswwitithh

aaggraratteefuful lhheaeartrtinin22002200





The Busy Bees of
Room 7

I love art because I love I love to do art with Mrs I love to hang on the
making things. Buys and do maths. monkey bars.

I love art with Mrs Buys. I love making things and I love art because I learn
art. how to make stuff.

I love to play lego and tag I love playing with dice I love building
with my friends. and doing maths. spaceships with lego.

I love having friends and I love to paint beautiful I love skipping one on
playing with them! pictures. the monkey bars.

I love to do art and I love the playground I love to play dice games
make so cool things. and the sandpit. with counters.

I love to play with my Here’s what
friends and do art. we love about

school!

I love learning how to I love hard maths. I love learning maths.
skip one monkey bar.

Marshall Memories

In my six years at MLPS I have had so much fun. I As I sit here thinking about the years of school that have
remember going to camp which took place last year in 2019.
Last year we also did a trash to fashion catwalk where we gone by, I am filled with a happy-sad feeling. When I first
made stuff out of trash and turned it into fashion! My class
tie dyed pillow cases for the animals at the SPCA. I started kindergarten I had always wanted to go to school,
remember last year, at the end of the year Mr. Walker let us
have an end of year water fight. Some of us including me, and when I started school I wanted to go to intermediate,
gave Mr. Walker some water, and in return he poured his
whole BUCKET on our HEADS! I am pretty sure it was but now that I am in the last month of primary school I now
about 1L! This year we had Market Day which was a fun
experience. We all sold cool stuff and I have to say the want to go back to Year 1 and redo school all over again! I
treats the kids made looked sooo yum. My team made
about $90! MLPS was pretty fun, and I will miss it very have many happy memories, but I will mention two. During
much.
Manha Mirza school camp in 2019 we had so much fun playing games,
Room 22
facing our fears, eating yummy food, and being with our
It has been an amazing experience going to Marshall Laing.
I have been able to participate in a variety of zones and friends! Another happy memory was when Logan and I
events out of school. I have also had amazing teachers that
have helped me get through Marshall Laing successfully. I made friends with a worm, and named him Wormy! Now, I
love Marshall Laing because the staff are incredible and
they have a wide range of fun things to do that will keep you . can’t go back in time and play around with Wormy, or go
busy all the time. Thank you for supporting me right through back to camp. I can however take with me the happy
to the end MLPS!
Logan Callander memories that we made. Thank you Mrs. Cooke, for an
Room 22
amazing start to my school years, you helped me count,

read and write. Thank you Miss Lee, for teaching me how to

write a narrative story and for teaching me how to do the

monkey bars at school! Thank you Mrs. Nayyar for teaching

me advanced reading and writing. Thank you Mrs.

Latchoumanane for helping me improve in the three

subjects of school. Thank you MR. WALKER!!!!! For being

one of my best and coolest teachers. You boosted my

confidence. Thank you Mr. Broman for making my last year

at school fun and exciting. Thank you to all the teachers that

taught me and helped me grow. I appreciate you all!

Ethan Fernandes

Room 22

One day after brain break, my class Room 12 went out to Hi, my name is Rashi and I am a Year Six student. I joined
the courts to do skateboarding. The week before we had Marshall Laing Primary School in 2017 in Year Three. At
already learnt the basics, so after a while they let us have first I did not like going to this new school because I did not
free time. Mr. Wilson joined in on the fun, but about halfway have any friends. Later I made many friends and started
through he fell off! He started rolling even before he hit the liking my new school. My favorite thing at Marshall Laing is
ground, so he was almost untouched except for a couple of basketball! It is the best game I've ever played with my
rocks that were sticking to him. The class laughed and friends. Now basketball is my favorite game!
cheered and even the instructors started clapping, they Rashi Rasbhara
thought it was funny too. This was the highlight of my Year Room 17
Three. I can tell you it was epic! I really missed Mr. Wilson
when he went away. I hope other Year Threes in the future Hi, my name is Saira, and I have had a great year at
have funny moments like this too. Marshall Laing. I have learned amazing things like how to
Kiara Kyd skateboard and ride a bike! I also have great teachers and
Room 17 friends that have always been caring towards me. I will be
sad when I leave this school, but I’m sure that everyone else
A favourite memory from 2020 is Kea Crossing. It's the day I will have a great time here! I have not joined any sports but I
got out of class to help people cross the road safely. It's fun! still have learned amazing things in maths, reading and
You get to see all your friends, and if it's raining you get a writing. I also got really enjoy art and music! I have had the
hot chocolate! Another cool thing about Kea Crossing is that best time over my six years at Marshall Laing
you get to make new friends with the buddies you're Saira Unni
rostered with. Kea Crossing is something I love! Give it a go! Room 17
Eva Tilakaraj
Room 22

Marshall Memories

I’m leaving Marshall Laing already! I remember in One of my favourite memories from 2019 is probably when
assemblies looking up at the bleachers wondering if I’ll ever we had a water fight, where we all brought our water guns
be a Senior. I guess I jinxed things! Time flew past and now and drenched each other! Some of our classmates didn't get
here I am, sitting in front of the computer writing my last to do it because they had no water guns, so our amazing
couple of words before I go to intermediate. Marshall Laing teacher Mr. Walker let us run around while the others with
is an amazing school and I’m so grateful I got to spend my 7 water guns sprayed us. This year my favourite memory was
years here! probably when we went to MOTAT! Another funny memory
Thanmayi Sreekumar for me was when it was brain break, and Mr. Jolly put a
Room 19 paper bag on my head in front of everybody. It was
embarrassing!
As I approach the end of my time here at Marshall Laing, my Setahish Hashemi
thoughts return back to the beginning. When I was a Year Room 22
One, my friend and I came across a dinosaur bone near the
playground! It was greying and dried. It looked as though it Hi, my name is Sunehri and this is my last year at Marshall
had been broken, perhaps in a fight with a T-Rex! Our Laing Primary School and I would like to share my Marshall
imaginations filled with all the things we would say when we Laing memories with you. I have loved doing my studies and
were interviewed for the evening news. We scuttled back to learning. There have been many great opportunities! I am
class, exclaiming our remarkable findings to our teacher. very grateful for having friends. I also have had wonderful
Ms. King, with negation of our remarks embedded within her teachers. I am so happy that I got to attend this school! I will
voice, told us "Throw the chicken bone in the bin, it's be upset when I leave this school. I would love to thank my
absolutely filthy!" Whilst our paleontological stardome was teachers for supporting me. Marshall Laing has made me
stricken from us, Marshall Laing has prepared us for happy, and I would love to thank everyone for what you
whatever triumphs and hardships may come our way in the have done for me. I will always remember this school
future. My parting advice, look ahead with big dreams no forever. Thank you Marshall Laing.
matter the time, and I will scan the news for reports of Sunehri Prasad
anyone finding the elusive dinosaur bone. Room 17
Houda Majdi
Room 21 I enjoyed being part of the Peer Mediators and Student
Council this year. I liked helping other children solve their
Marshall Laing has been awesome, and my favourite part problems. I will miss all the teachers and I will miss selling
would probably be Market Day! I loved organising and ice blocks at lunch time. I am looking forward to the Year 6
watching our merch sell so quickly. I was happy that people party!!
liked it!! Jamien Thio
Shruti Anand Room 17
Room 17

"You will face many defeats in your life,

but never let yourself be defeated."
Amna Said
Room 19 Maya Angelou



ROOM 8
CLASS OF

2020

Room 9’s Superstars 





Meher Bhanushali Zainab Bi Manu Bremner Mei-Lan Brougham

Elisha Canja Aveer Deo Usitha Gunuwardena Alexis Johnson

Abby Katani Sarah Khan Maaiza Sadath Mehwish Nikhat

Rehaan Patel Shivaan Patel Rayhaan Sadiq Shagun Shah

Heeya Soni Lyla Tafea Zoey Thapar Aika Vitanachy





Kids for Kids Choir

It was an amazing night! Everyone got together and Kids for Kids Choir is a great opportunity to sing in
had a wonderful time. Jackie Clark and Nathan King a concert at the end of the year, and the best part
(the hosts) did a great job. The set up was also is that it is free! It has been a fun and amazing
great. The choice of songs were nice. All the songs experience, and I suggest it for any children from
were famous NZ songs that have been around the Years 3 to 6
top of all the song charts. At the Kids for Kids Choir,
you do not have to be nervous about anything Georgina Souness
because there are so many people singing the Room 18
same song and sometimes you can not even hear
yourself! I will not forget that amazing night.

Logan Callander
Room 22

In 2019, Choir was one of the most exciting things.
I looked forward to it all week and so I decided to do
it again in 2020. I sometimes get nervous on the
stage, but by the time I got back up there this year it
all felt normal and I enjoyed the whole night. At
times we had a little laugh, especially in the last
practise when me and a boy called Logan were
dancing around the room like mad-men! Our
teacher Mr. Greenwood put so much effort into
teaching us to sing and I really appreciate it. All our
practises helped us get ready to be on the big
stage, and I mean like a BIG stage. Don’t worry
though, there's about 400 other children on stage
with you! So if you're wondering, hmmm... should I
be in the school choir, but you're not too sure... I
recommend you joining! I think you’ll have just as
much fun as I did!!!

Lucie Fleming
Room 18

ROBOTICS

Cool Kids Spider

The Crab Ravers

THIS YEAR MLPS COMPETED IN Snake Reapers
THE EPRO8 ROBOTICS

COMPETITION AND HAD TO
BUILD ROBOTIC ANIMALS FOR A

ROBOTIC ZOO. THE ANIMALS
THAT WERE MADE INCLUDED: A
SNAKE, A CRAB AND A SPIDER.

THE CRAB RAVERS (JOSHUA
HANNA, AIDAN CHUI, JOSHUA
FLEMING AND GABRIEL SAMUEL)

PLACED 5TH AND WERE PUT
THROUGH TO THE SEMI FINALS.

ENVIRO

I love Enviro, it's somehow one of my favourites. We help plants and
keep them safe from bugs and other things that kill them. It's a very big
problem. Gardeners who have never heard of weeds think that they are
going to go away by themselves, but it takes patience and, well, lots of
hard work everyday! I go to the garden and work by taking out weeds
little by little, and now they are almost gone thanks to all of the kids who
have helped the garden which is now healthy.
Dakshesh Arora
Room 18

Chess

Chess is amazing, if you're a year two be sure to join Chess is a very hard and it is a strategy
chess next year.Don’t worry about if you're not good game. I love being on the white side as it
because I was like that when I started. I didn’t even has a greater chance of winning than the
know what to do. Chess is fun, you go to tournaments black side. I thought that if i go to chess
and you verse people you have never played before! instead of staying in class then I would be
It is very challenging in different ways, but getting losing learning time but I don't lose learning
challenges are always good for your brain. By playing time because chess is a maths game, so it
chess, I have learned to think ahead and plan some was maths made fun! I got to learn from my
strategies. I also learned that sometimes you win and mistakes and have fun at the same time.
sometimes you lose. Playing chess is always exciting,
but now I know that you don’t always have to be good Dakshesh Arora
at it, just enjoy it. Room 18

Benjamin Robinson
Room 18

2020

HIGHLIGHTS

...GYMNASTICS!

COVID
safe...

Beautiful Garden...

...MOTAT

MUSEUM...

Class of 2020

2020 GRADUATION WINNERS

Principal's Award Outstanding Sporting Outstanding Sporting Fair Play Award
Josephine Sor Stephen Nakamura
Achievement Achievement
Astin Overton Juliette Tofilau-Seluini

Leadership Award Leadership Award Citizenship Award Citizenship Award
Tanvi Rana Matthias Coleman Maahi Patel Cameron Brown

Performing Arts Performing Arts MLPS Values Language Learner
Bhumi Patel Houda Majdi Jamien Thio Jeremy Yang

MLPS Learner MLPS Learner Service Awards
Grace Kora Simativa Lia
Setahish Hashemi Joshua Fleming
Eloise Robinson Alexander Southgate
Manha Mirza Sadath
Logan Callander Phoebe Zhang
Juliette Tofilau-Seluini
Jamien Thio
Adi Totha Sabaa Kothiwala
Matthias Coleman Tanvi Kantawala
Vaniya Kumar
Amna Said
Dharani Mankal

Houda Majdi

Room 12







Room 14
2020 to 2040



What I enjoyed
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