"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia our PBS whānau
As we reach the final stretch of the school year, there are a few important acknowledgements I want to make before we all head off for a well-earned break.
Firstly, in the “brain fog” that seems to be a trademark of Term 4 for Principals, I completely forgot to give a huge shout-out to our incredible Te Moana teachers — Vanessa, Di, Jo, Jalah and Hillary, who organised and expertly led a fantastic three-day camp at Kaitoke. Our students, supported by a wonderful group of willing parent helpers, had an unforgettable experience. For some, it was their very first night away from whānau; for many, their first overnight camp. They threw themselves into kayaking, archery, the climbing wall challenge and bush adventures. Everyone returned home tired, proud, and brimming with stories. A heartfelt thank you to our teachers and parents for ensuring students were safe, supported, and encouraged to challenge themselves.
A huge acknowledgement also goes to our Te Motu team — Cath, David, Colin, Caty, Teresa, Julia and Amanda — for hosting a beautiful Year 8 Leavers’ Dinner on Tuesday night. The hall looked spectacular, the students looked incredibly sharp, and the atmosphere was buzzing. Special thanks to parents and former students who helped Julia and Amanda decorate the hall. It was a wonderful way to honour our Year 8s’ journey through primary school and to recognise the teachers who have guided them along the way. The students rose to the occasion, proudly showing their CREST values and some impressive dance floor moves too!
Yesterday afternoon our Tātahi syndicate delighted a full audience with their Christmas Carol Show. Our youngest students sang their hearts out in festive outfits, reindeer antlers and tinsel galore. The outdoor stage was the perfect venue for this showcase. Thank you to our dedicated Tātahi teachers — Rachel, Laura, Tara, Cherie, Sarah, Nicola and Cristie — and to our fabulous Teacher Aide team for helping our tamariki perform with such confidence and energy.
If you’ve visited the school grounds lately, you may have spotted our brand-new basketball hoops. The excitement among students has been huge! Thanks to Basketball New Zealand’s Courts in Schools initiative — and a nomination from Sarah Chambers — PBS received state-of-the-art, height-adjustable hoops. They are already inspiring future Tall Blacks, and it’s amazing to see how quickly new equipment can lift kids’ aspirations. Even without hoops this term, our Boys’ Senior A team still secured an impressive second place in the local competition last night, narrowly missing out on first by just one point to Raumati Beach! Kia Kaha boys.
Earlier this week, our Ngaru syndicate also hosted a wonderful whole-school assembly. Huge thanks to the Ngaru staff and students for pulling together such a positive celebration of our year. It was a fitting moment to farewell Whaea Lizette and Whaea Jessie, and to acknowledge our CREST certificate winners from across our Year 0–4 classes, school attendance awards and Kotui Ako winners. Thanks to the parents and whānau who joined us in the sunshine to celebrate.
Our final big event for the year is coming up on Tuesday — Senior Prizegiving for our Year 5–8 students. We’re excited to celebrate our senior students’r achievements and discover this year’s top award recipients. We will publish the award results afterwards on our school website: https://www.pbs.school.nz/student-news-posts/
Lastly, thank you to everyone who has placed a Christmas gift under our PBS Giving Tree. Your generosity, and an additional $66 saved up through the year by Frankie and Eloise Willis, will help ensure a little extra Christmas cheer finds its way into PBS homes this year. Wow, Santa will appreciate the support!
Ngā mihi nui,
Jess
