"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Hi everyone 
We have two events we would love to see you at this week; tomorrow night’s talk with Rob Cope and our school Picnic on Friday!
Tomorrow night’s talk (Wednesday, 19 February, 7pm-9pm – gold coin entry) in the school hall with Rob Cope is well worth attending. In fact we encourage at least one parent from each whānau to attend. Rob will be talking to parents about how to keep your kids safe online, typical online behaviour and pitfalls. In our ever-increasing digital world, I am sure you’ll agree, adults CANNOT turn a blind eye to these dangers.
If you intend to come along please let me know via this link so I can ensure we have enough seating and refreshments available. https://forms.gle/R7SDq1eh4a6AcL8o8 NB: This session is not appropriate for children.
Don’t stop reading just yet – this newsletter contains information on:
- Addressing Parent Feedback
- HERO app news
- PBS is looking for a second hand freezer – can you help?
- CREST values for all
- PTA AGM
Hoping to see you soon!
Ngā mihi nui,
Jess Ward
Principal – Tumuaki
P.S. Got a suggestion? Let us know through our online suggestion box.
A few upcoming dates:
- Wednesday, 19 February – Parent Education Evening “Our Kids Online” 7pm – 9pm
- Friday, 21 February – School Summer Picnic 4pm – 7pm
- Thursday, 27 February – School closed for Ministry “Curriculum Day’”
- 3-7 March – Senior camp for Rooms 7, 14 & 16
- 10-14 March – Senior camp for Rooms 13 & 15
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
There were no new students this week
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/
Addressing Parent Feedback to the Board
The Board has asked me to re-share the information below from last year’s parent survey. This summary highlights the things PBS parents told us were strengths and areas they would like to see improvements made to. In the summary below I have also added how we aim to address your feedback.
Thanks again for keeping us informed and adding to our ongoing cycle of excellence and improvement!
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 are some essential kupu that you may hear ia ra (everyday)
Kīwaha (idiom)
A super simple saying that you can use in your everyday conversations.
Taputapu kē! – For sure
Hero App
A huge thank you to the parents who took the time to respond to the survey regarding how easy it was for you to access the Hero app.
If you did not respond to the survey please contact me (Vicki Wilson) at school so we can troubleshoot what is happening.
Touch Rugby Season Leg 2
The second leg of the touch season started back up last week- Changes have been made to the draw so please check in with your coach or refer to the draw on the Kapiti Junior Touch website. Please refer to this each week in case further changes are made. https://www.sporty.co.nz/kapititouchjunior/Draw-1/kjt-draw-202425
CREST Values for All of Us
As we prepare for upcoming school trips and events for the year, we want to emphasise the importance of our school values, encapsulated in the acronym CREST: Curiosity, Respect, Excellence, Self Management, and Teamwork.
When you join us in supporting activities, whether as a parent helper in the classroom, trip chaperone, volunteer coach or spectator on the sidelines, we kindly request that you model these values in all interactions with our students. Here’s why this matters:
Curiosity (Pātaitai): Encouraging a spirit of inquiry and exploration among our students, fosters their natural curiosity.
Respect (Manaakitanga): Demonstrating respect for everyone involved—students, staff, and fellow parents—creates a positive and inclusive environment.
Excellence (Hiranga): Striving for excellence in everything you do, sets a positive example for our students to follow.
Self Management (Rangatiratanga): Showing self-management skills by being organised, punctual, and reliable in your responsibilities.
Teamwork (Mahi Tahi): Collaborating effectively with others, supports our school’s collective efforts to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
By embodying these values, you contribute significantly to our school community and help reinforce the lessons we teach in the classroom. Thank you for your partnership in nurturing a supportive and enriching environment for our tamariki.
Second Hand Freezer Needed
PBS is in need of an additional freezer. If anyone has a small chest freezer or an upright/vertical freezer that is surplus to requirements, we’d be grateful to take it off your hands. Please contact the office team and we can arrange a pick up. Thanks.
Massey University Form Return & Parent Survey
A Massey University consent form came home last week for 12 classes that will be involved in the evaluation of the Healthy Active Learning programme. This is a Sport NZ initiative that our school has been part of since 2022.
Thank you if you have already completed the form. If you haven’t managed to yet, can you please complete it and return it to the school office as soon as you can. If you need another copy of the form, please let the office team know and one can be sent home with your child or if you’re coming into school you can pick one up from the office.
The Massey Team are also keen to gather parent/whānau voice through an online survey. The link to the survey can be found here. There is a $100 supermarket voucher up for grabs for anyone who completes the survey and enters the draw!
Interschool Sports Events – Get Involved!
At PBS, we love giving our students the opportunity to participate in Inter-school Sports Events. You can find the event schedule on the Kapiti Coast District Council website: https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/explore-kapiti/things-to-do-in-kapiti/key-council-events/school-sports/. Unless there is a scheduling conflict, we aim to attend most of these events.
To make these experiences possible, we rely on adult volunteers for supervision and transport. Sadly, we had to cancel some events last year due to a lack of helpers. If you’re a parent, grandparent, or other family member willing to assist, we’d love your support!
If you’re helping with transport, please ensure you have a valid driver’s licence, and that your vehicle is registered and has a current Warrant of Fitness.
Your help means our students can enjoy these exciting opportunities. Keep an eye out for upcoming notices seeking parent help and let Hillary Houston at hhouston@pbs.school.nz know if you’re available to assist.
Thank you for supporting our school community!
Wanted: Donations of Old Resources for Students
As part of our ongoing efforts to support all our students, including those with neuro-diverse needs, we are looking for old resources that could be put to good use here at school. We are particularly looking for:
- Complete puzzles (all pieces intact anything from 50-500 pieces)
- Board Games (in full sets)
- Colouring Books (that are no longer used)
- Musical instruments (drums, guitars, etc.)
These items will be used on rainy days for indoor activities, as well as to provide sensory and therapeutic support for our neurodiverse learners. If you have any of these items that you no longer need or use, we’d be so grateful if you could donate them to the school. Your generous contributions will go a long way in creating a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment for all of our students.
Please drop off your donations into Room 22, or if you have any questions, contact Sandy Saunders sandys@pbs.school.nz
Thank you for your support!
Join Us for the PTA AGM – Your School Needs You!
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of our PTA will be held on 18 March at 7.30pm in the school staffroom. This is an important opportunity to learn more about the events and initiatives we support throughout the year, and to get involved in shaping the future
of our school community!
We’re looking for new members to join our PTA team. Last year, some of our valued members resigned, and we’d love to welcome fresh faces and new ideas to help us continue making a positive impact for our students and teachers. Whether you have a lot of time to dedicate, or just want to help out now and then, your involvement makes a difference.
If you have any questions or want more information, please feel free to contact Sandy Saunders: sandys@pbs.school.nz or Di Puati: dpuati@pbs.school.nz
We hope to see you there!
Join the PBS Team at the Waitārere Forest Run
Mark your calendars for Sunday, 13 April and be part of the PBS Team at the annual Waitārere Forest Run! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun day out, there’s an event for everyone—from a 2km kids’ run to a 21km challenge. Walk or run, the choice is yours!
Why join the PBS Team?
- 20% OFF your registration
- FREE Coffee Voucher for each team member (children can receive a hot chocolate instead)
- Finisher’s Medal—because you deserve it!
How to register:
- Visit: https://waitarereforestrun.co.nz/race-info/
- Enter our PBS Team – Code: 2948
Contact Hillary Houston hhouston@pbs.school.nz if you have any questions.
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
Join the PBS Whānau Rōpu
EzLunch
- Every parent who orders an ezlunch goes into a weekly draw to win $100 Kindo Credit for themselves AND $100 for our school. Starts Monday 10 February 2025 and runs through to Friday 11 April 2025
- Plus, all orders automatically enter the Grand Prize Draw for a $1,000 JB Hi-Fi Voucher + $500 for their school!
Thank you to JB Hi-Fi for making our Grand Prize rewards possible!
