"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia ora Parents and caregivers
Over the weekend you would have received communications from me, via the HERO portal, regarding warnings about Coloured Sand products. The Ministry of Education has informed all schools that certain types or batches of these materials have had asbestos detected in them.
You may also have these products in your homes. If so, please visit the Health New Zealand website and follow the advice https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/healthy-homes-environments/hazardous-substances/asbestos/asbestos-in-sand. Below are the products and batch numbers to look out for:
- EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg)
- Creastistics Coloured Sand (1kg)Kmart 14 piece Sandcastle building set (Batch no: 42975724)
- Kmart ANKO Blue Magic Sand (batch no: 42304364)
- Kmart ANKO Green Magic Sand (batch no: 432919650)
- Kmart ANKO Pink Magic Sand (batch no: 42304371)
At PBS we have followed Ministry guidance and acted with an abundance of caution. All products were collected, secured and sent for testing. A specialist Asbestos company was on site yesterday testing all the rooms that housed or used coloured sand products. Such companies are now inundated with work of this nature, in schools around the country, so we will need some patience before some classes can return to their usual spaces .
Students in Rooms 1, 11, 12, 18, and 25 used alternative learning spaces for the day and will continue to do so until testing results come back. Room 23 will also use an alternative teaching space from today. Rooms 19 and 21 were out yesterday, but their rooms are deemed safe to use.
Huge thanks to the entire PBS staff for their relentless positivity and can-do attitudes. I will keep you updated as new information comes to hand.
Please keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Protecting kids from the sun
- PBS Christmas Giving Tree – have you got a gift to place underneath it?
- Performing Arts showcase
Upcoming dates of importance:
- This Friday (21 November) – Whānau Fun activities (Dress in your whānau colour)
- Monday, 1 December – Performing Arts showcase 9:20am-10:30am – please join us!
- Wednesday, 10 December – Whole school End of Year assembly 9.15am – All Welcome
- Tuesday, 16 December – Last day of the school year. School closes at 12.30pm
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
I was so proud last Friday to sit in the audience at Southwards to watch our Kapa Haka group perform in the Tākiri o te Āta hui. Their performance was strong, polished and inspiring. It made it all the better to see so many PBS parents, whānau members and former students in the audience too, supporting our rōpū with applause and haka.
Although principals often get thanked when kids perform well, I simply cannot take the credit. The credit for this incredible mahi goes entirely to Cath Franks, Colin Siversen, Di Puati and the students themselves! I just get to beam with pride on the sideline. Tu meke koutou!
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/
Outstanding Achiever Award
Paraparaumu Beach School Board is now seeking nominations for this year’s Outstanding Achiever Award.
The purpose of this award is to acknowledge students who have achieved at a very high level, and to promote these students as role models throughout our school community in a manner that reflects and incorporates our school CREST values. We encourage nominations for Years 4-8 students.
The nomination forms are available on Hero, our website and, paper copies are available at the school office. Nominations close at 3pm on Friday, 21 November.
PBS Christmas Giving Tree
We are giving Santa a helping hand again this year as his finances are stretched!
To do this, we will be setting up a Christmas Giving Tree in the school office. If you’d like to contribute, simply wrap a small gift, attach a note with the age and type of child who might enjoy it, and pop it into the office. Our PBS elves will make sure it finds its way to a child who could use a little extra Christmas magic this year.
Protecting Kids from the Sun
With summer approaching, I want to ask parents to ensure kids have clothing for school that provides good coverage and protects skin from sun damage.
Dresses with shoe string straps, singlet tops and cami-tops are discouraged for this reason.
And wide-brimmed hats are a must! Thanks
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)
Give these kīwaha (idioms) a try this week
Taihoa koa – Hold on please. Give me a sec
Kei runga noa atu koe – You are amazing
Whānau Fun
On Friday, 21 November we’re holding a whole school Whānau Fun session. Come dressed in your Whānau Colours for an afternoon of cool activities!
Performing Arts Showcase
On Monday, 1 December from 9:20am-10:30am some of our school groups will be sharing their hard work and talent with our junior syndicates. This performing arts showcase is open to parents/caregivers, who might want to come along and be entertained (limited seating). A few of the groups that will take the stage are our Kapa Haka group, Choir, senior dance crew and this year’s 48 hour film entry.
New Entrant Parent Information Presentation – Tātahi Syndicate
A New Entrant Information Presentation will be held for all parents of new children on Friday, 5 December from 10am – 10.30am in the school staffroom.
This session will:
- provide an overview of the ‘Transition to School’
- provide an overview of the New Entrant Programme in reading, writing and mathematics
- highlight how you can help at home with learning
In Tātahi Syndicate, we believe that successful partnerships between home and school are established when both parties have a shared expectation and knowledge of their child’s learning.
We would love to see you there.
Senior Interschool Athletics
Last Wednesday a team of 22 Te Motu athletes headed to the Domain for the Interschool Athletics competition. We had a great day, with all the students working hard and supporting one another.
Congratulations to our many Regional qualifiers: Jermayne Inoke, Ceejay Kraus, Lucie Thomson, Jayden O’Brien, James Lawton, Ty Gardiner, Zoe Gee, Libby Ryan, Kade Gardiner, and Cash Va’a. And a huge thank you to the parents who gave up their time to support us so that we could attend the event.
Please send any permission slips straight back to Mrs Houston!
Iceblocks for Sale
Iceblocks will be for sale on Wednesday lunchtimes for $1 each outside Room 1. This is fundraising for the Year 5 and 6 Camps.
Yr 7 Immunisations
Our public health nurses are coming to school on 28 November 2025 to continue with the immunisation programme for Year 7 tamariki.
- If you have changed your mind or your child’s medical situation has changed please contact us at gw-nphsimmunisation@tewhatuora.govt.nz, or call us on 04 587 2949
- If you have not yet consented, but want to, please collect a consent form from the school office or contact us
- If you declined the vaccines last year but you have changed your mind and you now want your year 8 child to receive the vaccine(s) please collect a consent form from the school office or contact us
- If your Year 8 child missed out last year and you would like them to catch up on their vaccinations, please collect a consent form from the school office or contact us
- If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at gwnphsimmunisation@tewhatuora.govt.nz, or call us on 04 587 2949
Ezlunch
Please note that the final day for ordering Ezlunch will be Friday, 12 December and the first day for ordering next year will be Monday, 9 February 2026.
Recent Student Achievements
Moto Trials Champs: Over Labour Weekend James Lawton travelled to New Plymouth and competed in the NZ 3 day Moto-Trials Champs. He was chosen to represent New Zealand in the Oceania Teams Challenge – New Zealand vs Australia. James competed in T5 Clubman Grade and won all 3 days against riders of all ages. He also finished off the North Island Series with a clean sweep of 8 wins.
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
