"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou
With less than two weeks remaining in Term 2, I would like to remind families about our mid-year reporting process.
- Throughout Term 2 you will have received progress updates in reading, writing, and mathematics via HERO. These updates have been shared at different times, depending on when your child’s teacher completed assessments.
- Next week (the last week of term), parents/caregivers will receive their child’s mid-year progress descriptor for reading, writing and maths via HERO (see further details of what the descriptors mean later in this newsletter). These descriptors indicate how your child is progressing in relation to the curriculum expectations for their year level.
To support these reports, the school will be closed for instruction on Wednesday, 29 July (Week 2, Term 3) so that teachers can hold individual Learning Conferences with students and their whānau. Booking information will be shared in next week’s newsletter. We strongly encourage all families to book a conference time, as these meetings provide a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress.
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Explanation of the 2026 reporting ‘Progress Descriptors’
- Important notice from our PTA!
- Closure of our school Facebook page
- Food Guidelines – items to keep at home
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Friday, 3 July – Last day of Term 2
- Monday, 20 July – First day of Term 3
- Wednesday, 29 July – Learning conferences throughout the day (school closed for instruction)
NB: For your awareness: Term 4 – Friday, 23 October is our second Curriculum day (as gifted by the Minister for Education)
Mā te wā
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
Recently our Year 7 & 8 Sports Ambassadors have been running a lunchtime round-robin football tournament for Year 1-6 students. Inspired by the Football World Cup, teams are named after participating countries and play matches each week across two fields, with the Sports Ambassadors organising, setting up, and refereeing the games.
It has been fantastic to see so many students involved, with mixed teams, enthusiastic spectators, and plenty of excitement. The Sports Ambassadors have been pleased with the positive feedback from staff and players.
A huge thank you to our Sports Ambassadors for demonstrating such excellent leadership, organisation, and self-management in making this opportunity such a success.
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
Phoenix – Rm 22
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/
2026 Progress Descriptors for Student Reporting
This year, NZ schools are required to change from the four progress descriptors used in 2025, to the five new progress descriptors. Below is a brief explanation of each of the descriptors.
2026 Progress Descriptors | Details |
Emerging | Students require support to meet curriculum expectations for their year level and/or goals as described in their personalised learning plan. |
Developing | Students are making some progress towards curriculum expectations for their year level. |
Consolidating | Students are meeting many curriculum expectations for their year level and are steadily strengthening their understanding across learning areas. |
Proficient | Students are meeting curriculum expectations for their year level. |
Exceeding | Students are exceeding curriculum expectations for their year level. |
Notice of Special General Meeting – PTA
The PTA Committee invites all parents, caregivers, and members of the school community to attend a Special General Meeting.
Date: 8 July 2026
Time: 7.00pm
Location: Paraparaumu Beach School Staffroom
Purpose of the Meeting
Due to a lack of committee members available to continue running the PTA, the committee is proposing to formally wind up and close the PTA.
Before any decision is made, we are seeking expressions of interest from any parents, caregivers, or community members who would be willing to join the committee and take over the operation of the PTA. If sufficient new members come forward, the PTA may be able to continue.
Agenda
- Welcome and apologies (Briar and Sarah)
- Overview of the PTA’s current position
- Call for nominations and expressions of interest for new committee members
- Discussion regarding the future of the PTA
- Motion to wind up and close the PTA (if no new committee can be formed)
- Closing finances
- Any other business
We encourage anyone interested in supporting the school community through the PTA to attend this meeting. If you want to join but can’t make the meeting please email sandys@pbs.school.nz
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Additional Note from the Principal:
After 60 years of PTA service at Paraparaumu Beach School, it would be incredibly sad to have no PTA to continue the decades of hard work, support and success of our current PTA. Saying that though, I understand people have busy lives – so a HUGE and heartfelt thank you to the current members who are moving on or stepping down. Your efforts have been appreciated and admired.
Kids at PBS have benefitted immensely from this group’s fundraising efforts and working bees, big and small. So I encourage anyone thinking of joining the PTA to attend this meeting. Ngā mihi nui, Jess Ward
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)
He pātai tāku? – Can I ask something? I have a question.
Kia āwhinatia au? – Can you help me?
Kāore au i te mārama. – I don’t understand.
Tēnā whakaaturia mai? – Can you show me?
Closure of Our School's Facebook Page
As a school, we have been reflecting on the placement of student and staff photos on publicly accessible digital spaces. This is in response to global concerns about the growing misuse of personal images. As a result, and as a starting point, we have closed our facebook page.
Fortunately, our Hero app has proven to be an excellent, highly secure communication platform. Moving forward, we will utilise Hero as our primary channel for all school updates, notices, and celebrations.
Our next step is to remove/replace images on our school website. Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep our digital environment safe for us all.
Chess Club
This week we have 3 teams competing at the Wellington Regional Chess Tournaments. There is a Primary and an Intermediate event.
Well done to G-Singh, Damen, Harvey & Ryan (team Captain) who took part on Monday.
Good Luck to Devin, Carter, Gryphon, Finn, Aidan, Charlie, Casey & Maxwell who will be competing tomorrow at Hutt International Boys’ School.
Food Reminder
A quick reminder to families about our school expectations for food and drink at PBS.
To help keep our learning environments clean and our kids from ‘bouncing off the walls‘, please remember that fizzy drinks, energy drinks, sachets of powdered drink mixes, sweets, and chewing gum are not permitted at school.
Thank you.
Interschool Cross Country
On Tuesday, 16 June PBS took a huge team to the Interschool Cross Country event at Waikanae Park – 103 competitors over Years 4-8. The athletes worked extremely hard on a tough course over varied terrain. Congratulations to all of them for their awesome effort and attitude across the day.
Our podium finishers were:
- Bradley Bly – 2nd AWD
- Harrison Jarvis – 3rd Year 4 Boys
- Romie Direen – 2nd and Aafryn Kaur – 3rd Year 4 Girls
- Jack Thomson – 3rd Year 5 Boys
- Ty Gardiner – 1st Year 8 Boys
- Lucie Thomson – 2nd Year 8 Girls
Best of luck to our 18 qualifiers for the regional event later in the term:
Harrison Jarvis, Ryan Ferris, Archer Little, Romie Direen, Aafryn Kaur, Daisy Powell, Bradley Bly, Jack Thomson, James Kirton, Kohen Cooper, Makena Winiata, Aurora van Reenan, Jackson Ferris, Charlie Atmore, Hayley Kirton, Ty Gardiner, Lucie Thomson and Nevaeh Shallcrass-Hall
Midweek Munchies
Delicious morning tea treats will be available for the next two Wednesdays. Yummy home baking and treats from 50c – $2. Fundraising for Te Motu Camp 2027.
Year 3/4 Disco
Years 3 and 4 are you getting ready for your lunchtime Disco this Friday? It will be lots of fun so make sure you buy your tickets on KINDO by Thursday night.
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
