To report an absence, please use the HERO app.

Starting from Term 1, 2026, all state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand will be required to implement an Attendance Management Plan. These plans aim to improve student attendance by providing clear pathways to identify and address absences. Read our Attendance plan here.

Stationery is ordered for our tamariki.  An invoice will be sent at the end of each term. Children are welcome to buy a different book bag from that supplied and in Years 4-8 they can also buy a different pencil case- otherwise we provide a clear case to keep their items in.

HERO is our main delivery of communication. HERO is a Student Management System used in  1000's of schools and the platform includes features such as digital learning portfolios, real-time reporting, and a parent app. Download the Hero by LINC-ED app from the app store/play store. Please note -  use the keywords Hero LINC-ED when searching for the app. Alternatively, open your browser and enter go.linc-ed.com. More tips can be found in the link below:

Logging into HERO for the first time 

On HERO you are able to view our calendar to keep you up to date with what is going on and also report an absence.  Your child's / children's learning is also celebrated on HERO alongside up to date reporting using the new New Zealand Curriculum and Progress statements.

On HERO there is a Contact the Teacher function that also connects you to us.  Feel free to call the office or email - however we may not be able to answer straight away due to being in the classroom or having reduced office hours.

Newsletters are published online on HERO, Marco School Facebook page, Whangamomona Local's Facebook page and on this website. Copies are printed out for every family, and community members as requested.

Our Marco School Van page on messenger is the preferred contact for van notices. 

From time to time, in a people oriented activity such as education, there will be concerns. These are always best to be addressed in person with our Principal. Pleaes call or email to make an appointment.  We have a great range of Policy and Procedure information available online through School Docs, which you can access in the section below  or by clicking on the School Docs icon at the bottom of the page.

In Term 2 2025, Marco School finalised  the shift to School Docs. This is still a programme that staff  and the B.O.T are learning and developing to best suit our school. Our school works with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our school policies. SchoolDocs updates policies in response to changes in legislation and Ministry guidelines. 

Please access SchoolDocs by clicking the link below, and entering the username and password:

SchoolDocs 

Username: marco  Password: whanga

Please do get in touch with us  to arrange  transition visits to get your child used to school life.  Transitions are normally held once a week on the same day. The first few visits are for the morning session till 11:20am. As your child  becomes settled, we can increase these times to a 1:20pm pick up. When you feel the time is right you can ask for an enrolment pack and bring this back to us with a start date.

When your child is ready to be enrolled you can click on the following link: Hero Enrolments This will take you directly to our HERO SMS enrolment form and be sent back to us for processing. 

Please be aware of the following documents that we need in order to enrol any student.:

Documents for enrolling

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport as proof of age. (Compulsory)

• Medical information including your doctor’s contact details.

• Any legal documents, for example, custody or access agreements the school should know about.

• If your child has been enrolled in early childhood education, their National Student Number (NSN), and ECE leaver’s record.

• Up to date contact details - these include your family phone numbers and address and someone the school can call in an emergency if they can’t get hold of you.

Because we are Ministry funded, we have to adhere to the guidelines set by the Transport Advisory team who are in contact with us regularly. The guidelines make sure that our tamariki are safe and we have plans in place in case anything should go wrong. 

If you wish to read the guidelines, or talk to the Transport Advisor in charge, please make contact with the school and we will happily give you their details.

Please  use the HERO app  to alert the school if your child is going to be absent - please also provide the reason for the absence so that it can be correctly coded.

As you are aware, we have a high focus on student attendance across New Zealand because of the effect being away can have on learning and wellbeing. The B.O.T has developed a plan as part of Ministry requirements called STAR- Stepped Attendance Response.  This is located at the top of this page under Attendance.

Please remember, we are parents as well as teachers so we understand sickness and sometimes just needing ‘a day’, however for 10 days or more of absences per term an alert is made to the Ministry Attendance team so a plan for the child and family is put in place. 

Marco School is not part of the Free Lunches in Schools scheme. Our school has Weetbix and toast available for Breakfast Club if needed in the mornings. We also make popcorn and have fruit available if children are still hungry during the day.

We encourage healthy, packed lunches and water bottles to come to school EVERYDAY from home. These are to be brought into the classrooms to be stored during the day. We ask that lunches include two good "Brain Break" snacks such as fruit, yogurt, cheese or crackers. 

All students have multiple times in the day to eat - especially our Piwakawaka students who are still learning how to follow routines and get into the flow of school. 

These times are:

• Breakfast Club 8:20am - 8:40am

• Brain Break 10am

• Designated Morning tea eating  11am -11:10am

• Brain break 12pm

• Designated Lunch eating 1pm - 1:15pm

All rubbish brought to school is to be taken back home- we call this "bring in- take out".  

Students can order their lunch on a Wednesday from our "Tuck Shop " menu. We accept cash on the day or an invoice can be sent at the end of each term.

Marco School Tuck Shop Prices 2026

Mini mince pies                                      $1.00

Big pies                                                  $2.00

Lasange toppa                                      $2.00

Hash brown                                            $1.00

Noodles                                                  $1.00

Potato chips                                            .50c

Popcorn                                                  .50c

Juice box                                                .50c

Chicken patty                                         $2.00

Sausage roll                                           $2.00

Juicies                                                    $1.00

We have an amazing Fundraising Committee who are constantly supporting our school. All parents are added to the Marco School Fundraising Page on Messenger - Please support them in their efforts!

If you would like to help by being a volunteer in school hours such as reading to the children, offering a new activity or coaching a sport we would love to hear from you! 

Please note, all Parent helpers and Volunteers will be Police Vetted.

In 2026 we have be very lucky to have new sport / EOTC uniforms for our tamariki- kindly purchased from the Fundraising Committee. 

Polo shirts are numbered and sent home with students to be well cared for and worn on the day of events. The jackets will be kept at school and given out for events.

We supply coloured hats that match our Houses (Kowhai, Kahikatea  and Totara) to every student to wear in Term 1 and 4.

Currently, Marco School will report by:

• Showing digitally on HERO progress graphs showing mid and end of term results, snapshots of learning twice a term in core curriculum areas (Literacy, Mathematics and Oral Language) as well as goals achieved and next steps aligned with the NZC.

• Snapshots of Connected Cultural Curriculum learning - covering Social Studies, Science, Health and PE and the Arts as well as Self Reflection slide-decks that are created by students after events or at the end of the term.

• Learning Celebrations (Parent / Teacher Interviews) are held in week 8 of Term 2 and Term 4.

Progess  Descriptors:

We are now using new descriptors to help you see exactly where your child is on their learning journey. These descriptors      tell you how your child is performing against the curriculum expectations for their specific year level.

• Emerging: Your child is beginning to understand some ideas for their year level and needs significant support.
  
  

• Developing: Your child is starting to understand key ideas and can use what they’ve learned in familiar situations with some help.
  
  

• Consolidating: Your child is meeting many expectations, is getting better at remembering what they've learned, and is starting to use knowledge in new situations.
  
  

• Proficient: Your child is meeting curriculum expectations. They can use learning techniques on their own and clearly explain their reasoning.
  
  

• Exceeding: Your child is performing above expectations. They show advanced thinking, solve tricky problems, and use their learning in creative ways.

Understand what your child is learning at school or kura, how they are progressing against the curriculum, and what you can do to support them at home. 

Link to Parent Portal