"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou
It was great to discover last week that our school features in the recently released Healthy Active Learning 5-Year Impact Report. This follows our school’s involvement in the programme’s national evaluation.
Over the last six years, Healthy Active Learning has supported more than 1,000 schools, kura and early learning services throughout Aotearoa to create environments that promote movement, wellbeing, belonging and learning. The report highlights the positive impact the initiative is having on tamariki, helping them to be more active, connected and engaged in their learning.
Our school’s experience is included as one of the stories within the report, recognising the work happening at PBS and the contribution our team has made. It’s cool to see our school contributing to a national picture of how schools can support the growth of great Kiwi kids!
(NB: You can read the full report on Sport NZ’s Healthy Active Learning website).
In other sporting news, it was fantastic to see former PBS student Michael Barry making headlines last week after being called up to join the Wheel Blacks, New Zealand’s wheelchair rugby team.
Michael is fondly remembered at PBS for his positive attitude and determination. With all our recent talk about heroes at PBS, I think Michael has certainly earned a place among ours. It’s wonderful to see him chasing his dreams and achieving at such a high level.
Congratulations, Michael, and thanks for inspiring us!
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Lockdown Practice
- Netball Thanks
- Touch Rugby registrations
- Student Council update
- PBS Hockey Season
- Delicious Pie Fundraiser
- Interschool Book Battle
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Fri 25 Sept – Last day of Term 3
- Mon 12 October – First day of Term 4
- Friday, 23 October – Teacher-Only 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
At PBS, every class has a buddy class, giving our students regular opportunities to connect with children from a different age group. Sometimes they read together, sometimes they take part in shared activities, and sometimes they simply enjoy social time together.
Buddy classes help build connections across our school and strengthen our sense of belonging and community. They also provide wonderful opportunities for our older students to show respect, teamwork and leadership, while our younger students gain confidence from learning alongside and building relationships with older role models.
It’s a simple part of school life, but a great example of our C.R.E.S.T values in action.
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
Talulah, Ryan, Mieke, Kristiana, Delilah, Aliza and Quinn – all in 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/
Lockdown Practice - Heads up
Between now and the end of term our school will be practising a lockdown drill with all classes. Before the drill takes place, teachers will talk their students through this so that they know it is a drill.
Practising procedures for lockdown and ‘shelter in place’ scenarios enable the school staff to check and review the measures we have planned in the case of a chemical spill, bee/wasp swarm, unwanted trespasser on school grounds or another kind of safety hazard which would require students to stay indoors.
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.
I nē – No way (disbelief)
Engari mō tēnā – No way
Whakamutua atu – Stop it
Ehara i te hanga – That’s cool
Hangareka ana – That’s funny
Netball Thanks
This is the last weekend of netball and we have a number of teams in the finals. Thanks to all coaches, managers, and supporters. Without your help, we would not be able to provide this opportunity to so many players.
To the players, if your team is in a final or not, have a great game, give it your all and remember to use your CREST values while you are on the court.
From the Student Council
Exciting update to our message last week – our school Account Manager discovered that we’d missed one of our floats when adding up our fundraising efforts and we actually raised just over $900 for the Ronald McDonald House charity!! We’re super stoked and so is RMH. Thanks again for making this possible 😀
What’s next on our agenda?
- We now have a suggestion box which we put out each day to collect student ideas.
- We’re working out how we can support a group of younger students to roll out their enviro friendly project across the school.
- We’re researching rugby goal posts to see if we can look to replace the one that’s missing on our field.
Touch Rugby
Touch rugby registration forms came home last week for the 2026/27 season. Please complete the form and return to the school office before Monday, 7 September.
Thank you to Michelle Ferris, who is taking on the role of Touch Coordinator for this season.
Key details are as follows:
Season Dates
- Leg One: 8 weeks, 20th October – 10th December 2026
- Leg Two: 6 weeks, 9th February – 17th March 2027
Grades & Game times
- U7, U8 & U10 grades play Tuesdays. U12 & U14 play Wednesdays. All games are at Mazengarb Reserve. Game times can be anywhere from 5:10pm-6:50pm
Costs
- $45 for first child ($25 per subsequent family member)
- Year 8s – Year 8 students finish playing in December. The cost for these students is $35
Te Motu Camp 2027 Fundraising
Family Pie Fundraiser
Tuesday Treats
Morning tea treats of yummy homebaking will be for sale from Tuesday, 18 August until Tuesday, 15 September at morning tea time. Everything is 50c – $2 and everything is delicious! Thank you for supporting Te Motu Senior Camp.
Interschool Book Battle
On 14 August, we went to the Interschool Book Battle Competition at Naenae Intermediate and had a great time. There were tables with all the different school names on them and the buzz in the room was very exciting. The prizes were boxes full of books and other goodies although we didn’t place. We were very proud of our overall efforts.
To prepare for the competition we had six books and had to try and read as many as we could. There were also general knowledge quizzes which could be about any book. The overall experience was awesome and if you ever get the chance to be in the competition we recommend taking the chance because you won’t regret it.
Written by Anna, Charlotte, Sophia and Indigo.
PBS Hockey 2026 Season
School Hockey finished last week. We have had a fun and successful season, with an awesome group of players, coaches, managers and parents. In the Sunday morning Year 3/4 grade, we had two teams, the Wekas and the Takahes. These teams were coached on Friday afternoons by three of our experienced Year 7 players, Devin Direen, Maxwell Willis and Joey Olsen. On Sundays they were managed and coached by Devin and Jasmyn Direen, and Hannah Coulson, assisted by Keely Collier-Fiske.
Our two Year 5/6 teams, the Keas and the Kakapos, had a very competitive season, and we were lucky to have two fantastic coaches, Freya Hawes and Steph Caldwell, whose energy and enthusiasm made every training and game fun for the players. In the Year 7/8 grade, we had two teams, the Kotukus and the Huias, who combined part way through the season to form a united 11 a-side PBS team, ably coached by Danika Stratford, Sam Willis and Paul Tessier, with support from Garth Weiser.
We ended the season with a celebration at the turf on Friday, and the players all enjoyed some kai very kindly sponsored by Coastal Diggers. Many thanks to them, and to the whole PBS hockey community – it was a great way to finish the season!
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
