Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou
Our union, NZEI, is concerned about the cost of reviving the Charter Schools initiative in New Zealand, and the impacts this has on state schools like ours. If you want to read the press release about this go to OIA shows the eyewatering true cost of charter schools (nzeiteriuroa.org.nz)
Naturally, as a principal of a state primary school, I am very concerned about the funding Charter Schools receive, when state schools struggle to cover costs to upgrade property/furniture, afford teacher aides for students with additional needs, and cover rising costs of electricity, resources, security, technology and more.
I wish there was more understanding of how far school funding is expected to stretch.
Ka kite ano
Jess Ward
Please keep reading as we have information for you on:
- Senior bathroom refurb
- Parent Voice Focus Group – TODAY at 3.15pm. All welcome to just pop in!
Upcoming dates for your awareness:
- Teacher’s Paid Union Meeting – school closes at 1pm on Thursday, 28 March
- EASTER BREAK – school closed Friday, 29 March – Tuesday, 2 April. Back to school Wednesday, 3 April
- Friday, 5 April Fancy Feet and Wheels Day Parade
- Friday, 12 April – Last day of Term 2
PRINCIPAL’S GREAT NEWS CORNER:
Sharing good news spreads positivity, changes attitudes and ultimately leads to more people feeling encouraged and happy
Growth Mindset is a skill we talk a lot about at PBS. It’s important for kids to know that mistakes are ok, in fact mistakes can be great teachers. Learners of all ages need to have an optimistic mindset, knowing that with time and practice new skills can be learned and success achieved.
Skyla from Room 1 has summed up her thoughts about Growth Mindset very clearly in her work below. She was keen to tell me about how a character in the book “Fish in a Tree” could benefit from Growth Mindset, and how her class had been coming up with ideas which could support the character. Brilliant work Skyla!
Other students showing determination, perseverance and growth mindset yesterday were 40 senior students who scaled Kapit Island. Tu meke!
In fact every second year we try to get all our senior students over to Kapiti Island to explore and enjoy what’s right on their doorstep. We wish the rest of our senior explorers all the best for their adventures throughout this week.
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
Auron and Airi – Rm 25
Have You Checked Out Our Community Notices Directory?
Do you need to advertise your business, an upcoming event, need child care, or looking for a gift or new club to join? Check out the PBS Community Directory on our website https://kapiti.pbs.school.nz/
Refurbishing the Senior Bathrooms - Your Feedback
Last week I asked for parent feedback on whether we continue with separate bathrooms for senior boys and girls or whether we move to fully enclosed toilets which anyone could use. This is because we are going to do up the toilets attached to Rooms 13 – 16, and we wanted to hear from students and parents before starting our planning.
From the parent feedback, it is clear that you still believe it is essential to have separate bathrooms for boys and girls, so we will fulfil your wishes.
I would also like to acknowledge the number of parents who commented on being supportive of some gender-neutral bathrooms being made available elsewhere in the school, as they understand that there is a need. I will look into this as a future project.
The graph below shows the results of our parent feedback:
Parent Voice Focus Group - Today
The PBS Board is seeking parent voice on a couple of areas to help inform our procedures and ensure that our systems are meeting the needs of all stakeholders. The first topic relates to school communication and what sources you use or prefer. The second topic is around the use and functionality of the @school parent app.
The Board will be holding 2 Focus Group sessions today, Tuesday, 12 March. The first meeting will be at 3:15pm in the staffroom. If this time doesn’t work for you then a second meeting is to be held later at 6:30pm, also in the staffroom. We would greatly appreciate hearing your perspective on these topics. Please email the office to register your attendance: schambers@pbs.school.nz Afternoon tea will be provided.
PBS Aroha in Action!
A huge thank you to the Kelly-Weiser whānau for their generous donation of new books for our kura’s library. We are so incredibly grateful and know our avid book readers will be too! Whakawhetai ki a koutou mo to atawhai!
Using the @School App
I will regularly highlight a button on the @school app. This week it is:
This button takes you to our school calendar. This shows you events that are happening in our school which may involve your child/ren.
Using Māori Language at Home
Learning another language provides many benefits including greater academic achievement, greater cognitive development, and more positive attitudes towards other languages and cultures. So, let’s give it a go and help to revitalise this unique language to Aotearoa for our tamariki. Each week our newsletter will include words or phrases that you might like to try out at your kāinga/home.
Here is our Waiata Kura (School Song). This was gifted to us by Chad Chambers who has a connection to our school.
Girls: Tihei
Boys: Mauri ora x2
Tihei mauri ora e
Tu mai a maunga Kotukutuku
E rere te awa o Wharemaku
Papaki kau ana Te Rau o te Rangi
Te Atiawa te iwi e
Anei nga manu o Paraparaumu o te tai
E mihi, kia ora ra
Te ringa maui ki te matauranga
Te ringa matau ki te aroha
Ko te manu e kai i te Miro
Nona te ngahere
Nona te ao
Tu mai a maunga Kotukutuku
E rere te awa o Wharemaku
Papaki kau ana Te Rau o te Rangi
Te Atiawa te iwi e
Girls: Tihei
Boys: Mauri ora x2
Boys: Aue hei
Here is a link to the waiata on You Tube if you would like to sing it at home. This is performed by Rangi Halbert and the 2017 PBS Kapa Haka Rōpū.
Kid's Quote
An astute 6 year old asked “Why is sand in sandwich?”
Humour and genuine curiosity combined – you’ve got to love that!
CREST - Our School Values
At Paraparaumu Beach School we believe that positive relationships between all members of our community is at the heart of a happy, safe and healthy school. This promotes well being and success for all.
Our school values are the foundation for enabling positive relationships. They reflect what is important to us as a school community, and foster a secure and supportive environment where our tamariki can learn and thrive. Through our CREST values students develop respect for themselves, others and their surroundings, promoting resilience and collaboration, all of which are important life skills.
Over the last few weeks we started sharing each of our 5 school values. This week the focus is on the S in CREST which stands for Self-Management.
Self-Management Rangatiratanga
We are self-managing citizens.
We take responsibility for our learning, behaviour and well-being.
Out of Zone Applications Second Half of 2024 - Applications Open
If you have any children due to start school soon that you have not let us know about, or if you have friends or neighbours who don’t currently have a child at PBS, but may be hoping to enrol a Year 0/1 student here in Terms 3 or 4 2024, please ask them to contact our school office asap. Thank you.
“Out of Zone” applications for Terms 3 and 4 Yr 0/1 students will be advertised in the Kapiti Observer on Thursday, 28 March.
Applications close at 12 noon on Monday, 6 May.
Movin' March
Movin’ March is in full swing, and we had our first prize draw on Friday, Congratulations to all the lucky winners! Keep getting those fully stamped passports into the box at the PE Shed to be in with more chances to win.
Netball Trials
Trials for our Year 7/8 players will take place at school on Tuesday, 19 March and Tuesday, 26 March from 3.15pm – 5.00pm. Please ensure that you wear the appropriate clothing and have a drink bottle.
Ms Wilson
Netball Coaching
Information from Camell Netball Kapiti about Netball Kapiti offering a coaching programme for netball coaches.
Hi Everyone
I am pleased to advise that Netball Kapiti is now offering a Netball Kapiti Level 1 Coach Award. This is a 6 week block course focusing on new coaches and any coach that has not undertaken any formal development and would like to add some fantastic resources to their coach toolkit.
I have attached a full brief of the program and would encourage our Clubs, Colleges, Primary School to promote this program to your netball coaches. Registrations close on Friday 15th March.
The registration link is on the document, but in case it does not work I have also attached it here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/286422.
Here is the link to the document Carmell mentioned. https://docs.google.com/…/1XXiZDb7yEnuzYOtW4Go4…/edit…
Here is a brief outline of what is being offered:
AIMS Games - Saturday, 7 - Friday, 13 September
Thank you to the parents who expressed an interest in the AIMS Games by attending the information meeting last Wednesday evening in the school staffroom.
Some of the key information that was shared regarding the Games is as follows:
- It is for Year 7 & 8 students only.
- There are individual and team events. Click on the link to see which sports are on offer (Sports tab, second from the left). https://www.nzaimsgames.co.nz/more/future-dates#
- The teams created for this event are for the sole purpose of competing at the AIMS Games and are not necessarily our official teams that compete in local competitions.
- School staff will support student involvement in the event by registering students/teams and connecting parents interested in having their child participate.
- Parents will be responsible for coordinating and financing accommodation, travel & food arrangements, managing their child/ren and attending the event.
- Due to this event taking place in Tauranga it is costly and fundraising may be necessary. PBS Camp fundraising is a current priority, so please be mindful of this with any fundraising planning.
- We have parents who are keen to register a girls hockey team and possibly a football team.
If you are interested in knowing more, speaking with a parent who has experience with this event or connecting with a parent coordinator for one of the teams mentioned, please email Hillary hhouston@pbs.school.nz
Class Photos - 26/27 March
As per the flyer below class photos/family photos/individual portraits will be taken on 26 & 27 March.
- You do not order/pay for your child’s portraits or class photos until after photoday
- Family/sibling photo orders MUST be returned to the school office before photoday for photos to be taken
Sport/team photos will no longer be taken at school.
Yr 7/8 Camp Fundraising 2025
Win a Double Family Pass to "Madagascar the Musical"
Be in to win a Double Family Pass for this live show at Wellington’s St James Theatre in the April School Holidays valued at $130.
Get your tickets now! Raffle Tickets only $5 each available through Kindo or Room 14 (cash sales only)
Ticket sales close next week on 21 March – Drawn 22 March
Delicious Doughboys Hot Cross Buns
Help our campers get to Bridge Valley in 2025.
Hot cross buns (traditional and chocolate) can be ordered through any Yr 6 or Yr 7 student. Funds raised will go towards their camp fund for next year.
Cost is $8 per 6 pack. Orders must be in before this Sunday, 17 March.
Future Student Achievements
If your child has an achievement you would like us to share in our newsletter, then please send details (and a picture if you would like) to mbarfoote@pbs.school.nz
Fundraising with Entertainment
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Kindo
Your support makes a world of difference! As we strive to maximise our funding and provide added benefits to our students, we ask you to consider making a donation now! By doing so, you can quickly claim your 33% tax rebate from 1 April 2024.
When you make your donation through myKindo, keep an eye out for the option to “amplify your donation” where you can choose to gift this tax rebate back to the school. Even if you don’t typically claim rebates, consider selecting YES. It’s a win-win situation. More funding means more resources for students.
See more at support.mykindo.co.nz
NOTE: Kindo cannot change the details on your donation receipt, so please ensure your Account Holder name is correct BEFORE paying any donations. Donation receipts will only be issued for items that the school has nominated as ‘donation receipt required’.
