Newsletter 2025/26

"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"

Principal's Message

Kia ora koutou

One thing our community is rich in is KINDNESS. When we know a child is in need, we try to give some additional support because not everyone’s circumstances are the same. We do our best as a school to ensure every child has equal opportunities regardless of finance or personal circumstance.

For this reason we set up the PBS AROHA fund so anyone in our school community, including businesses, can donate money throughout the school year to help those kids in need. This means we can help families cover basic costs. It also means that we can provide lunches when children don’t have any (NB: PBS doesn’t qualify for the school lunches scheme).

If you would like to contribute to this fund you can find it in KINDO labelled PBS AROHA. You can contribute $5, $10, $20 or $50 at any time during the year. If a local business wants to make a contribution, they can contact Debbie Weekes on dweekes@pbs.school.nz

Thank you in advance for your kindness!

Please keep reading this newsletter for information on:

Thank you to our outgoing Board members!
Board Elections – Don’t forget to vote
Netball, Touch Rugby and Basketball news

Upcoming dates of importance:

Wednesday, 10 September – Voting in the Board Elections closes
Monday, 15 September – End of Term School Assembly 9.15am – All Welcome
Friday, 19 September – last day of Term 3

Ngā mihi nui

Jess Ward
Principal – Tumuaki

P.S. Got a suggestion? Let us know through our online suggestion box.

PRINCIPAL’S C.R.E.S.T CORNER:

At PBS we champion our school C.R.E.S.T values in everything we do.
Curiosity. Respect. Excellence. Self Management. Teamwork

Wow – check out these examples of EXCELLENCE and TEAMWORK! Our Year 5-6 netball teams played their finals during the weekend with awesome results. We are so proud of these achievements and all our players’ efforts.

Congratulations to:

PBS Express Year 6 Grade – 1st
PBS Fusion Year 6 Grade – 3rd
PBS Galaxy Year 5 Grade – 2nd

Our gratitude to all the magnificent coaches, managers, scorers, umpires, supporters and the players! Your mahi adds to our PBS pride.

NB: Photo shows PBS Express with the cup they won for the second year in a row! Well done girls and a huge thank you to Daph Thomson for coaching this team.

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/

BOARD ELECTION NEWS

Voting Open

Voting is open for the election of five parent representatives to the Paraparaumu Beach School Board. Election Pilot have been appointed as the Returning Officer for this election, and you will be receiving voting information directly from them.

All eligible voters will receive voting instructions as well as candidate profiles and photos from those that have provided them.

If you have any questions about the election process, please contact the Returning Officer directly on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.

Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday, 10 September.

Thanks to Our Board

Last week we held our last official meeting with our current Board members.

Matt, Zoe, Sarah, Sam and Rachel (staff rep) have been incredible to work with and I have valued their support in their governance roles and responsibilities. Professionally, I have valued their dedication, reliability, and their thoughtful, intelligent contributions, which have added to our school’s reputation and success. Moreover, I have appreciated their compassion, understanding and support.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you have achieved for the students, staff and community of Paraparaumu Beach school over your tenure. (PS; we hope you enjoyed your certificates, thank you cards and chocolates!)

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)

Ko tāku pēke tēnei – This is my bag

Ko tāku pukapuka tēnei – This is my book

Ko tōku waka tēnei – This is my car

Important Reminder to Notify Absences

With the huge amount of sickness throughout the school currently, it has become very time consuming for the office staff to chase up un-notified absences in the mornings. Please remember to notify the office if your child is going to be absent. This can be done on the Hero app, by phone on 04 298 5775, text to 027 755 7915; or for absences other than sickness via the student leave form on our school website.

Thank you 🙂

SPORT

Other Netball News

We are now at the end of the netball season. This Saturday is finals day for our Year 7 & Year 8 teams. Don’t forget to use your CREST values on court and have great games.

Netball tops and shorts – can you please start returning these to school. They need to be washed and dried and handed into the Office.

Touch Rugby

Registration forms for the upcoming 2025/26 touch rugby season were sent home in Week 5 (spare copies are available in the office). Please return completed forms to the school office before Monday, 8 September.

Season Dates

Leg one – 14 October to the 2 December 2025
Leg two – 10 February to the 25 March 2026
U7, U8 & U10 play Tuesdays; U12 & U14 play Wednesdays

Any Year 7 & 8 students interested in training to be a referee, register with Mrs Chambers.

Basketball

Year 7 & 8 Basketball trials will be held over the next 2 weeks in preparation for the Term 4 interschool league. If you are interested in coaching one of our school teams, please get in touch: schambers@pbs.school.nz

Zespri AIMS Games 2025

We are proud to acknowledge and celebrate our students who are heading to Tauranga Moana to take part in the Zespri AIMS Games, Australasia’s largest junior sporting event. With over 14,000 athletes registered from across New Zealand and international schools, the AIMS Games is a highly regarded competition that provides an incredible opportunity for young athletes.

This year, we are excited to have 27 students representing our school across a range of sports:

Cross Country: Lucie Thomson (Year 7)
Mountain Biking: Mason Gestro and Ryan Carter (Year 7)
Netball Team: Jermayne Inoke, Ceejay Kraus, Eden Kavakura, Aliyah Hudson, Alyssa Hudson, Kaya O’Brien, Kaycee De Wit, Peyton McGarry-Paku, Lilyana Coutts, Zoe Gee, Sapphire Tiata, Sophia Duseigneur
Football Team: Leo Holloway, Kade Gardiner, Ty Gardiner, Lilly James, Ashton Chester, Hosheia Bolton-Smithson, Jacob Wood, Mason Morrison, Niko Grant, Noah Maligieri, Regan Tidy

As they travel to Tauranga on Saturday, we wish all our athletes the very best in their events. We know they will represent our school with pride, determination and great sportsmanship.

A huge thank you also goes out to all the managers, coaches and supporters who have worked tirelessly to ensure our tamariki have the opportunity to attend and succeed at this amazing event.

School Polo Shirts

Don’t forget you can purchase your school polo shirt through Kindo or with correct cash at the office. Shirts cost $50 each and it is necessary that students have their own top for sports such as touch rugby, basketball etc.

Poetry Competition

Room 11 got to celebrate their mahi tahi in entering the Paraparaumu Poetry Competition held at the Library on Friday, 22 August. With over 100 entries, it was incredible to hear all the different entries and what the four other schools had entered. Te Horo School won the night, but if it wasn’t for the work of our Year 3 and 4 students, the book wouldn’t have had such creativity and imagination included. Room 11 can now celebrate being published poets!

If you would like to have a look, a copy is available in Room 11, and the Paraparaumu Library is currently selling more, with the book also available on loan.

As there were so many entries, those who wanted to read their poem out on the night were entered into a draw. Sammie Olsen was one of the students drawn to read out his poem, and with fabulous courage, he walked up and read it out to a huge crowd! Great stuff, Sammie.

TE MOANA FUNDRAISING

Midweek Munchies

Teacher Aide Position

Want to join a fabulous team? Paraparaumu Beach School is looking for an experienced part-time Teacher Aide. This position is temporary for Term 4, based on 25 hours per week and is term time only. This role involves supporting teachers with curriculum delivery, working 1:1 and in small groups. Previous experience working with neurodiverse children is preferred.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, flexible and patient person who is capable of working well as part of a team.

Please apply with a cover letter and CV to Sarah Chambers, Deputy Principal at schambers@pbs.school.nz

The closing date for applications is Friday, 13 September 2025.

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