"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Deputy Principal's Message
Kia ora PBS whānau,
Welcome to Week 9 of Term 3. This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week).
At PBS we champion te reo Māori all year round. Some of the ways that we do this is through our daily greetings. If you step into classrooms in the morning you will hear students being greeted or greeting their kaiako (teacher) using te reo during roll call. Many of our classes start and end their day with a karakia (traditional chant) or waiata (song). Kupu (words) are displayed on classroom walls and simple phrases are used as part of daily instructions. Each week, our Assistant Principal, Vicki Wilson, includes Māori kupu or phrases in our school newsletter that our school community can try at home.
Every Friday we are fortunate enough to have Matenga Baker conduct Waiata Māori sessions with all of our syndicates. During these sessions Matenga shares local Māori knowledge, history and customs. Cath Franks leads our 130 strong senior Kapa Haka group and is supported by Colin Siversen and Di Puati. They attend the local schools’ Kapa Haka festival every year, and tomorrow the Year 7 & 8s in the group will be performing at Coastal Villas Retirement Village (photos below of them practising in preparation for this).
In past years we have hosted Māori language classes for our staff and community, facilitated by experts in the field. As a staff we know that it is an ongoing journey and we’re always looking for ways to improve and build on our skills. So karawhiua whānau! Give it a go, and we can all contribute to keeping this language, unique to this whenua, alive!
Below are some photos from EPro8 last week. Well done to all of the tamariki who participated. The school hall was the place to be to see excellent problem solving and team work in action!
This week Te Motu Syndicate will be presenting their production, Justice City. Weeks of preparation has gone into this original performance so come along and enjoy the show! Performance days and times can be found further in the newsletter.
And finally all the best to our PBS representatives heading to the Interzone Swimming Champs on Friday!
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Te Motu’s Production – Justice City
- Class request process for 2027
- BYOD Chromebook offer
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Te Motu production evening performance – Wednesday, 16 September
- Whole school assembly – Tuesday, 22 September
- Last day of Term 3 – Friday, 25 September
- Term 4 Teacher only day – Friday, 23 October (end of week 2, attached to Labour weekend)
Ngā mihi nui,
Sarah Chambers
Deputy Principal
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
The visit from Project Jonah last week inspired some great class discussions and writing opportunities. I had the pleasure of listening to some students from Rm 25 as they read their facts about whales. Ka pai koutou!
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/
Class Request Process for 2027 For Exceptional Circumstances
The process of putting class lists together for a new year is an extremely complex and time consuming task. There are many variables to consider, for example; equal class sizes, the gender balance in each class, the distribution of students with social/behaviour and learning needs, medical needs, splitting cousins/siblings, and so on.
In a small school there may only be one class at each level and therefore no opportunity to group students in different ways. In a school our size, whilst we do have the advantage of flexibility, the process takes time and consideration. I can assure you that we act professionally and thoughtfully when placing students in classes. Therefore, we ask that parents are understanding and supportive of the complexities involved.
At PBS we prefer that parents do not submit requests unless there are exceptional circumstances. If parents want us to consider any exceptional circumstances that their child may have in regards to class placement for next year, then the formal process below must be followed:
- Requests must specifically describe the exceptional circumstances around the child’s needs
- It is preferable that parents do not request a specific teacher by name
- Requests must be from the child’s parent/legal guardian
- Requests must be in writing to the Principal jward@pbs.school.nz
- Requests must be received no later than Friday, 23 October
Whilst we allow parents to submit such requests, we do ask in return, that the final decision on class placement (whether or not a request has been met) is both respected and promoted positively by parents to their child.
Thank you, Jess Ward
Justice City - Year 7 & 8 Production for 2026
This week is the performance week for Te Motu’s Production. Justice City is an original, superhero comedy.
Performance dates and times are:
- Tuesday, 15 September at 11:20am (Dress rehearsal)
- Wednesday, 16 September at 7pm (Main evening performance)
- Friday, 18 September at 11:30am (Matinee)
All performances are in the school hall.
Parents and caregivers are warmly invited to the Wednesday or Friday performances.
Entry is free. Come along and support our wonderful performers.
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! – Awesome
Hei aha! – Nevermind
Kei runga noa atu koe! – You’re on it!
Pai mutunga! – Sweet as!
Nē rā? – For real!
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 1 or 2 2027, please ask them to contact our school office as soon as possible. Thank you.
The process for “Out-of-Zone” applications for Terms 1 and 2 2027 five year old new entrant students is now open. Applications close on Monday, 19 October at 4pm.
Road Safety Around the School
So far, most drivers who are dropping off children at school have remembered that we have clearways and drop-and-go zones around our school, which have been in place since 2016.
Unfortunately, we have had phone calls from neighbours saying it seems drivers have forgotten that there is a clearway in operation on the north side of Beachwater Grove. This is signposted and is in operation between 8.30am – 9.30am, and 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
If you live in Beachwater Grove and have a parking issue, please contact these staff members at Kapiti District Council: Dylan Perrett 0273255827, Dylan.Perett@kapiticoast.govt.nz or Bruce Johnston 0275555854, Bruce.Johnston@kapiticoast.govt.nz, as they are responsible for traffic management around the school or contact the police on *555 or 027 555 5854
New Entrant Parent Information Presentation – Tātahi Syndicate
A New Entrant Information Presentation will be held for all parents of new children on Friday, 18 September 2026 from 10.00-10.30am in the 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.
BYOD - Affordable Chromebook Offer
Students in Years 4-8 use Chromebooks and Google Classroom to access different parts of their curriculum learning. An affordable chromebook option can be found through the New Zealand company, Insite Technology. They sell refurbished chromebooks. A website link for what they can offer PBS families can be found here: https://www.byodnz.co.nz/school?school=paraparaumu-beach-school
Hero
We have had queries from parents asking how they can find past Community Posts which they have previously read. Hero have provided the following advice:
Once a notification has been read (the red bell shows there is still a notification), it does not disappear. It goes into the folder at the bottom of the Hero screen called Feed. You will only see community notices that are relevant to you (that is, if you are in the group the notice was sent to).
The most recent notices are at the top, so if you are looking for an older notice, you can scroll through or search for it by keyword. The image above shows where you type the keyword in the ‘Feed’ folder.
Te Motu Camp 2027 Fundraising
Family Pie Fundraiser
Sausage Sizzle
Friday, 25 September – $2.50 per sausage. Order now on KINDO by 24 September for your last day of term treat! Thank you for supporting the Year 7/8 2027 camp.
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.
Recent Student Achievements
Rugby: Ka rawe Jermayne, Mila and Ceejay who over the weekend took part in the Global Games NZ Junior Rugby Festival in Taupō. Jermayne and Mila were competing in the rugby division (different grades). Jermayne played against Year 9 & 10s. Her team won their grade and Jermayne was named best player within that grade. Ceejay competed in the Rippa division and her team also won their grade.
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
Ezlunch September Shout
One of our families is guaranteed to win!
The Ezlunch September Shout is now on. Every lunch order this month goes in the draw to win a share of $10,000 in prizes, including $200 fuel vouchers drawn every week.
Best part? Someone from our school is taking home a prize. 
Every order = an entry. So the more you order, the more chances you get.
Order on Kindo today 
https://bit.ly/orderezlunch
Promo T&Cs https://bit.ly/4icRzAl
