"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia Ora Koutou 
With major changes to the English and Mathematics curriculums last year teachers countrywide are still trying to develop a full understanding of all the new content. To address this the Minister of Education has given schools two additional “Curriculum days” (Teacher-only days) to use during the year for our professional learning.
At PBS we will be taking the first of these days on Friday, 29 May (attached to King’s Birthday weekend). As school will be closed for instruction on this date parents will need to make alternative arrangements for childcare.
Our teachers will be using this particular day to focus on new expectations for teaching the writing process and the associated assessment components.
Thank you in advance for your support of my team who are doing their very best to understand and deliver these significant curriculum changes.
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Parent Education evening – tell us what you’re interested to learn about
- Out of Zone Applications
- School Memories Photo Orders
- Moving March and Wheels Day
- Hockey Registrations
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Friday, 27 March – New Entrant Parent Information Presentation at 10am in the staffrom
- Wednesday, 1 April – End of term whole school assembly at 9.15am followed by Fancy Feet and Wheels Day Parade
- Thursday, 2 April – Term 1 finishes at 3pm
- Monday, 27 April – Out of Zone Applications close
- Friday, 15 May – Pink Shirt Day
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
This week marks the end of the touch rugby season. We had 15 PBS teams competing in the inter-school competition that started in Term 4 last year.
We could not enter so many teams and offer the touch rugby experience if parents from our school community didn’t volunteer to coach and manage, so a big mihi to our coaches for giving up their time and energy. Well done, also, to all of our tamariki who took part. It has been great to see our kids being active and having fun!
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/
Scooter Helmet Use at School
It is fantastic to see our students enjoying riding their scooters on the scooter court during morning tea and lunch breaks. At this time, we strongly encourage all students to wear a helmet when they are riding their scooters.
Parent Education Evening – What would you like to learn more about?
Parents often ask us, “What do all the curriculum changes actually mean for my child?”
Over the past two years the Ministry of Education has been refreshing the New Zealand Curriculum. While curriculum documents for all learning areas (Arts, Science, Technology, Health/PE and others) are being rewritten, the English and Mathematics curriculum changes are the ones impacting schools most significantly right now. Changes to assessment and reporting are also taking place this year and will continue through to 2027.
With all this change happening, teachers are working hard to stay on top of what needs to be taught and how learning will be assessed. At the same time, we want to ensure that parents and whānau feel well informed and understand what these changes mean for their children.
To support this, I am planning a Parent Education Evening in Term 2. The aim of the evening would be to share information about the curriculum updates and give parents the opportunity to learn more about other aspects of learning and teaching at our school.
To help us plan the evening, we would really value your feedback. Please click on the survey link below and tell us what you would most like to learn more about as a parent.
Depending on the responses we receive, we may set the evening up so parents can visit a number of classrooms or information stands to talk with teachers and gather information about different topics.
Please take a minute to complete the survey and let us know what would be most helpful for you – click here
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 phrases a try this week:
Me karawhiu! – Give it heaps
Ae mārika! – For sure!
Ka kino kē koe! – You’re too much!
Student Council
Next week we will be hosting our end of term whole school assembly – Wednesday, 1 April 9:15am (weather permitting). Feel free to come along and join us. The Sports Ambassadors will be holding the Fancy Feet and Wheels Day parade straight after.
Mrs Houston and some of our team will be holding Karaoke during break times on the field on Wednesday too.
To celebrate the last day of term we’ll be encouraging everyone to wear their Whānau colours – Thursday, 2 April. Points for Whānau Groups will be awarded for those who put in a super effort.
Next term we will be holding Pink Shirt Day on Friday, 15 May. We’ll share some of our other upcoming events and projects soon!
Out of Zone Applications
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 student here in Terms 3 or 4 2026, please ask them to contact our school office as soon as possible. Thank you.
The process for “Out-of-Zone” applications for Terms 3 and 4 2026 five year old new entrant students is being advertised in upcoming newsletters and on our school website. Applications opened on Thursday, 19 March and close on Monday, 27 April.
School Memories Photos
All class and individual/sibling photos were taken last week. Order forms will be sent home next term for ordering your photos.
New Entrant Parent Information Presentation – Tātahi Syndicate
A New Entrant Information Presentation will be held for all parents of new children this Friday, 27 March at 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.
Moving March and Wheels Day
It is the last week of Moving March already! It’s been great to see so many students walking, riding or scooting to school.
Our Wheels Day will be Wednesday, 1 April and our school parade will follow the Whole School assembly on Wednesday morning. There will be lots of spot prizes plus prizes for the best dress ups and best dressed bikes. A great way to celebrate the end of Term 1!
Futsal Fever Hits the Court
Last Friday, we had an incredible day at the Girls’ Futsal Tournament, with 76 of our Year 4–8 students getting involved! The teams brought great spirit to the event, dressing up in fun themes, sharing their chants, and competing enthusiastically in a range of games against other Kāpiti schools.
Run by Capital Football and Kāpiti Primary Sports, the day was packed with excitement and non-stop action. Our players demonstrated perseverance, teamwork, and growing confidence on the court, finishing the day with some fantastic skill development. With plenty of goals scored and smiles all around, the atmosphere throughout the tournament was vibrant and full of fun.
A huge thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who helped manage teams, supervise students, and walk with us to and from the event. We simply couldn’t provide these opportunities without your support. It was also awesome to see all the whānau and supporters who came along to cheer on our teams throughout the day.
A special shout-out to our amazing Sports Ambassadors, Niko and Aidan, who supported and managed our Year 4 team. Their encouragement and leadership of their younger peers was admirable and truly reflected our school value of manaakitanga.
PBS Hockey
Last week we were lucky to have Paul Tessier from Kapiti Coast Hockey Club on site providing some hockey sessions for our Year 2-6 students. Paul was impressed with the skill and ability at PBS! Hopefully many of the students enjoyed the sessions and will be keen to play school hockey this year.
Hockey is a great team game. It’s easy to get involved as the turf is just at Mazengarb and we always have awesome coaches and helpers. The year groups play on different days , and Years 3-8 also train at the turf together on Friday afternoons.
Please use the link below to access the google form for registration. The form has lots of information about times, dates and costs, so if you are not sure, go and have a read. Kindo fees will be loaded once you have registered. If you are not sure, or your child wants to give it a go for a week or two before committing, please fill in the form and email cspencer@pbs.school.nz.
There is a quick turnaround on registrations this year. Please complete the form by 3pm on Friday, 27 March so I can put the teams together.
https://forms.gle/g1ycPwfZE9nNqtYH9
Lost Property
Please take a look at all the lost property accumulated already this term! Items will be displayed near the tennis courts on fine days until the end of term.
Year 6 & 7s Camp 2027 – Fundraising Reminders
Easter Raffle
Don’t forget that Easter raffle donations can be dropped off in Room 28 up until this Friday (27 March) for treats, chocolate, soaps, smellies, toys, vouchers etc.
PTA
Support PBS PTA Toilet Paper Fundraiser!
Ezlunch Easter Draw
Just a reminder that the Ezlunch Easter draw is still running, and your orders are already counting. Every Ezlunch order you place between now and the end of term is another entry in the draw. The more you order, the more chances you have.
A reminder of what’s up for grabs:
- $100, $25, and $10 Kindo credits
- Credits land straight in your account, ready to use
You don’t need to do anything differently. Just keep ordering, and we’ll do the rest.
The Ezlunch Team
Recent Student Achievements
Weet-Bix Tryathlon: We are pleased to share that Austin Wilson successfully completed the 2026 Wellington Weet-Bix TRYathlon on Sunday, 15 March. Austin approached the event very excited, with some initial nerves, particularly around the swim, but showed great determination and confidence to complete the course. A fantastic achievement. Well done Austin!
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
Girls Rugby at Paraparaumu Junior Rugby
We’re making a big push in 2026 to get more girls involved in rugby — and we’d love to see as many wāhine down at the club as possible! Whether you’ve played before or are completely new to the game, Club Day is the perfect chance to come down, check it out, and give it a go.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐮 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟏𝟐 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬?
A dedicated Girls Rugby stand
Come ask questions, meet our team, and learn what rugby is all about Tackle clinic — a fun, safe intro to contact skills
A supportive, welcoming environment for all ages and abilities
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
That’s all good — just come down anyway!
Bring a friend, have a go, and see what it’s all about.
No pressure, just good vibes and a chance to try something new 
Plus all the usual Club Day fun: Bouncy castle, games, sausage sizzle, coffee cart and more! 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!
Join the PBS Team at the Waitārere Forest Run this Sunday!
