"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou
Spring has sprung! Ka whāngaia, ka tipu, kapuāwau ~ That which is nurtured will grow and blossom.
In April, my gorgeous dad passed away after a long illness. Tomorrow, I head back to England to spend time with his family. I look forward to catching up with my whānau in Deryshire and Yorkshire, and raising a toast to dad at his local village inn. I want to thank the staff and Board for granting me this time away, and for being there for me especially over the last 18 months.
I will be away for the remainder of Term 3, returning in time for the beginning of Term 4. During my absence, Sarah Chambers will step into the role of Acting Principal, supported by Vicki Wilson, so I know the school will be in very capable hands.
On my return, PBS will be welcoming the Education Review Office (ERO) for an onsite visit as part of our school review. I have completed all the necessary preparation ahead of my departure, ensuring the review team have all the necessary documentation in advance. It will be a privilege to show them around our school and share, with pride, who we are and all that we do.
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- PBS Board update for Term 3
- Board Survey Prize draw
- Free online GP care for kids 13 and under
- Digi Tech corner
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Term 4 Teacher only day – Friday, 23 October (end of week 2, attached to Labour weekend)
Ngā mihi nui whānau,
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
Sporting EXCELLENCE is abundant at PBS! Participation in both our Junior and Senior Winter Tournaments was once again strong this year. Our students gave their all in their chosen sporting codes, and the feedback about their behaviour, sportsmanship and demon-stration of our CREST values was outstanding.
The netball season also finished on an incredible high, with our Acers, Blazers, Conquerors and Express teams all celebrating wins—and adding even more trophies to our display! We are incredibly proud of the teamwork, commitment and pursuit of excellence shown by all our players throughout the season. Naturally they couldn’t have done this without wonderful adult support, so thank you all.
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/
PBS Board Update - Term 3
Kia ora students, whānau and our wider school community, below is an update from the Board.
Board Appointments
The Board welcomes Glen Olsen as a member of our Board. Glen has a long-standing connection with Paraparaumu Beach School, as a former pupil and parent of three students. He brings experience in governance and business management, along with professional skills relevant to the Board’s legislative responsibilities.
The Board looks forward to Glen’s participation in its governance work.
Policy and Governance
Mid-year achievement data has been presented to the Board, noting patterns across curriculum areas under the new five-descriptor framework.
Supported by a recent annual statutory audit advising the Board is financially well-managed, the Board has completed the School Improvement Framework assessment and the Board Assurance Statement for the Education Review Office.
Three further policy reviews have been completed.
Property and School Environment
Routine maintenance has been completed by JT, ensuring the comfort of our staff and students.
The Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) project is progressing. A Ministry of Education-approved Project Manager has been engaged. An initial funding application has been submitted to a formal funding provider.
Finance & Administration
The school remains financially stable and July expenditure tracked below benchmark.
Electricity costs continue to be monitored due to increased charges.
The Board has approved the proposed 2027 term dates.
Staff and Community
The Board acknowledges the ongoing commitment of our staff and the support of our wider school community. Through consistent teamwork between staff, whānau, and the Board, Paraparaumu Beach School remains a place where students can learn, grow, and feel included.
Ngā mihi nui
Sarah Hinder-Boyd, on behalf of Paraparaumu Beach School Board
Board Survey Prize Draw
Thank you again to everyone who completed our recent parent/whānau survey. The prize draw will be conducted later today with a police officer and results will be announced via HERO (as the newsletter is published before this time). Who will be the two lucky recipients of the $100 Warehouse vouchers?
Lockdown Practice Success
Your kids may have come home yesterday talking about our lockdown practice. The students and staff did a great job during our drill, which has enabled us to identify where we need to tweak a few small aspects.
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
Ka mau te wehi! – That’s awesome
He toki koe – You’re so awesome
Kei runga noa atu koe – You’re top-notch
Ka nui taku aroha ki a koe – I love you so much
Planning Time Away Out of Term Time?
A quick reminder that if your child will be absent during the term for reasons other than illness, please complete the Student Leave Form on our website prior to their absence.
To comply with Ministry of Education attendance guidelines, we require this form to be submitted rather than a text message. Thank you for your support in keeping our records accurate!
Term Dates 2027
Term dates for 2027 have been set as follows:
Term 1
Mon, 1 February – Fri, 9 April
Term 2
Tues, 27 April – Fri, 2 July
Term 3
Mon, 19 July – Fri, 24 September
Term 4
Mon, 11 October – Thurs, 16 December
Digi Tech Corner
From Triple P Parenting
LEVEL UP: HOW TO RAISE A HEALTHY VIDEO GAMER AND AVOID GAMING ADDICTION
Parenting a child or teenager who loves gaming can feel overwhelming at times. You might be worried or feeling guilty about the amount of time your child spends playing video games. Or perhaps struggling to monitor the games they’re playing and who they’re playing with. Or maybe you’re unsure about how to handle the outbursts that can happen when it’s time to switch off.
As a parent or carer, you may be wondering whether playing video games is good for tamariki at all. Or perhaps, on the flipside, what all the fuss is about. It might seem like everyone you talk to has a different view on gaming. Some parents allow unrestricted play, others ban it outright, and many try to find a happy medium.
Parenting in the digital age isn’t always easy, but there are ways to reduce the guilt and find a healthy balance. By understanding the benefits and risks involved with gaming and using positive parenting strategies, you can level up your tech parenting skills to help your child have fun and stay safe.
Read Triple P’s latest article and find out how to help your child play video games in a healthy, safe and balanced way. And don’t forget, their comprehensive online courses are available now for families in New Zealand.
Would You Like to Sponsor a Child to Attend Camp?
For many Kiwi kids, school camp is a rite of passage — a chance to step outside their comfort zone, try something new, build friendships and create memories that last. Our Year 7 & 8 Te Motu camp is an exciting opportunity for our students to experience adventure, independence, teamwork and a whole lot of fun together.
We know the cost of camp can be a challenge for some families, especially with the rising cost of living. Every Year 7 & 8 student will have the opportunity to attend camp, regard-less of their family’s ability to pay. However, when camp fees aren’t able to be covered, the cost is absorbed by the school, putting pressure on an already stretched budget and these additional costs can have a real impact on the funds we have available for other important resources, opportunities and experiences for our students.
We are inviting our school community, whānau and local businesses to consider sponsoring a child, or contributing towards camp costs. Every contribution, big or small, can make a difference. You might choose to cover part of a camp fee, contribute towards a particular activity, or sponsor the full cost of a child’s camp. If you or your business would like to Sponsor a Child or contribute towards our camp, please get in touch with Debbie in the school office for more information at accounts@pbs.school.nz.
Netball
School Netball finished on Saturday for our Year 5 – Year 8 players. The season for the Year 3 – Year 4 teams had finished on the 24th July. We have had a successful season, with an awesome group of players, coaches, managers and parents.
In the Monday afternoon Year 3- Year 4 grade, we had three teams, PBS Jewels, PBS Sparkles and PBS Diamonds. Thanks to the following coaches who did a fantastic job with these teams – Conor MacNeilage, Joy Ransfield and Brooke Manabe.
Our two Year 5 teams PBS Galaxy coached by Grace Beissel and PBS Hotshots coached by Lusia Duseigneur and our Year 6 teams PBS Express coached by Pip Dorn and Clare Coleman and PBS Fusion coached by Stefanie Meaclem and Bridie Wall had a tough season. Thanks to the coaches for keeping the players motivated and enthused and giving them the skills and confidence to turn up each week.
In the Year 7 – Year 8 grades, we had three teams – PBS Acers coached by Courtney Thomson and Hillary Houston; the PBS Blazers coached by Daphne Thomson; and PBS Conquerors coached by Garth Weiser. These teams had a fantastic season and ended it by each winning their respective finals. Thank you, coaches, for giving up your valuable time and ensuring that practices were enjoyable, enabling the players to grow their skills.
Many thanks to them, and to the whole PBS netball community – without your support we would not be able to provide netball to our students.
Celebrating Dance NZ Made 2026
A massive congratulations to our talented dancers who recently represented the school at the Dance NZ Made Wellington Regional Competition!
- Hip Hop Trio: Madi Grant, Sophie Tee, and Lily Coutts brought incredible energy to the stage with their dynamic hip-hop routine.
- Troupe Performance: Clara Patterson, Bella Watt, Kendall Treweek, Frankie Houston-Manuel, Aglika Angelova, Grace Dorn, Lani Vertongen, Lily Coutts, Madi Grant, and Sophie Tee delivered a powerhouse group performance set to Holding Out for a Hero.
Both teams demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and teamwork throughout their preparations, resulting in outstanding stage performances.
Looking ahead, we extend our best wishes to Lani Vertongen as she prepares to showcase her tap solo at the Palmerston North Regional Competition. Good luck, Lani!
Finally, a sincere thank you to Kayla Robertson for generously donating her time and expertise over the past year. Her dedication to choreographing and coaching our teams was instrumental in bringing these fantastic routines to life.
Good Luck at the Zespri AIMS Games!
We wish Lucie Thomson and Ryan Carter all the very best as they head to Tauranga this weekend to compete at the annual Zespri AIMS Games!
Lucie will be representing Paraparaumu Beach School in the Year 8 Girls’ Cross Country Championships, while Ryan will take on the Year 8 Boys’ Mountain Bike Enduro Event during the week.
We are incredibly proud to have Lucie and Ryan representing our school on the national stage. Good luck, Lucie and Ryan — we’ll be cheering you on! Go PBS!
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.
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
Free Online GP Care for Kids 13 and under
With health services experiencing high demand, online GP care is an option for accessing care and the service is now free for all ākonga up to, and including, the age of 13.
Appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call and the service can prescribe medicine and send prescriptions to your nearest pharmacy. It also provides another care option for rural communities.
To learn more visit https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/online-phone-healthcare/online-gp-care
Hurricanes Super Rugby Trophy Visit to Coastlands
Coastlands is excited to share that after their title-winning season, the Super Rugby Pacific trophy is now in the hands of the Hurricanes! To celebrate, the Hurricanes are going on their Kia Trophy Tour and are stopping in at Coastlands on Wednesday, 2 September from 3:30-5:30pm. Make sure to pop in and get your photo with the Super Rugby Pacific trophy and their special guest, Captain Hurricane!
This is a fantastic opportunity to have your photo taken with the Super Rugby Trophy, meet a Hurricanes player, and say hello to Captain Hurricane.
Be sure to arrive early and join the queue so you don’t miss out!
We look forward to seeing you there!
