"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia ora PBS whānau,
NEWSFLASH REMINDER: TEACHER-ONLY DAY THIS FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER
Following last week’s ERO visit, we are pleased to share some of the team’s initial feedback. They appreciated receiving our documentation well ahead of their visit and highlighted many positive aspects of life at PBS.
In classrooms, the team noted high levels of respect and engagement, strong working relationships between students and staff, and well-established routines. They also observed examples of explicit teaching and learning tailored to students’ different needs.
Particularly heartening was the feedback from the students they spoke with. Students shared that their teachers care about them, help them with their learning and provide a wide range of opportunities. All spoke very positively about life at PBS—a lovely reflection of the care and commitment of our staff and wider school community.
The ERO team also identified a few areas for further development, particularly around how we evaluate the impact of our teaching and assess achievement against the new curricula. These next steps will help guide our ongoing work as we build on the strengths celebrated during the visit.
Keep reading this newsletter for information on:
- Class request process for 2027
- Tree removal
- Government Elections – Voting Venue at PBS
- Halloween Disco
- Road Safety – e-scooters!
Upcoming dates of importance:
- Pie orders collection – Thursday, 22 October
- Teacher only day – Friday, 23 October
- Labour Day (public holiday) – Monday, 26 October
- Halloween Disco – Friday, 30 October
Ngā mihi nui,
Jess Ward
Tumuaki ~ Principal
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
Kane – Rm 14
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
Road Safety
Over the last few days we have become aware of instances of young people riding e-scooters in a dangerous manner to and from our school and other schools in the area.
In New Zealand, there is no national minimum legal age set by NZTA Waka Kotahi for a child to ride a low-powered e-scooter on a public footpath or shared path. However, a strict legal restriction does apply if ridden on the road – this requires riders to be at least 16 years old.
Also, wearing a helmet is not legally mandatory on e-scooters under national law, though it is strongly recommended.
We do take these concerns seriously and have spoken with those involved when we have been able to identify who they are, but if you are concerned about the manner in which a child is riding an e-scooter please contact the local roading police on *555.
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:
Whakapaingia tō rūma moe – Tidy your bedroom
Tahia te papa – Sweep the floor
Horoia ngā rihi – Wash the dishes
Tree Removal
Over the term break, we sadly had to remove one of the large trees at the back of our field after disease and rot were found in some of its heavy limbs.
The neighbouring pine has also been assessed and shows similar problems, although these are less advanced. While it is currently safe to remain, we have decided to arrange its removal during the December–January school holidays.
It is always sad to lose established trees, but keeping our school grounds safe for every-one is our priority.
Important Reminder - Pie Collection This Thursday
Date: Thursday, 22 October
Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: Room 17 (next to the school basketball court)
Please remember to bring a bag to carry your pies home.
Government Elections - Voting Venue at PBS
The Electoral Commission will once again use our school hall as a voting venue on Saturday, 7 November.
As the school is allowed to fundraise outside the polling booth area, we’ll be firing up the barbecue for a sausage sizzle to raise funds for school camp. Bring along some cash and enjoy a tasty snack before or after you vote—every sausage sold will help support our campers!
NB: Kiwis have less than 5 days left to Register to vote !
Year 7 Immunisation Catch-ups
The immunisation team will be here to do catch-ups for the Year 7s on 27 October.
Student Council
This term we are supporting a group of highly motivated students from Rm 7 on a mission to help clean up our ocean and protect marine life. Their plan is to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes down our school drains and out to sea. Their observations showed that our lunch rubbish is part of the problem. So this term they are running a 6 week class challenge on litterless lunches.
What this means: Classes are being challenged to produce as little rubbish as possible in their lunchboxes, so no plastic cling wrap, jelly pottles, chippy packets and so on.
Here’s some examples of litterless lunches:
There’s even a class prize up for grabs at the end of the 6 weeks! The challenge starts this week. Please help us support this kaupapa ☺️
Here’s a website set up by a kiwi parent that might be helpful. It has lots of ideas and a weekly planning tool for healthy and affordable school lunches based off supermarket specials https://www.kiwilunchbox.co.nz/en
Calendar Art Fundraiser
Have you ordered your child’s Calendar Art yet?
Kia ora families
Just a reminder that our Calendar Art fundraiser order is still open. If you haven’t ordered yet, there’s still time. Your child’s artwork can be turned into personalised calendars, cards, diaries, mouse mats and sketch pads – perfect gifts that arrive in time for Christmas.
To place your order:
- Go to kidsartworks.com
- Enter your school code: KZ1995
- Select your child’s room and name, view their artwork and place your order
Orders close Monday, 9 November 2026. Payment is made securely online by credit card or account2account. Don’t miss out!
If you have any questions, you can contact Paula James at office@pbs.school.nz.
From the PTA
I’m Chris Tullock, your PTA Chair. I’m looking forward to helping bring our school community together, supporting our tamariki and having some fun along the way.
We’re building on the work of our PTA and would love you to be part of it. Whether you’ve got fundraising ideas, a useful skill or an hour to help at an event, every contribution is welcome—you don’t need to commit to everything to make a difference.
Coming up, we have a school disco on Friday 30 October! Pop the date in your calendar and check out the PTA Halloween posters around school for more details.
To share an idea, ask a question or lend a hand, contact us at pta@pbs.school.nz. We’d love to hear from you!
Help Us Spookify the School Halloween Disco
To help make this event a success without stretching our budget, we are asking for donations of any Halloween decorations you might have at home and no longer need. If you could drop them off to the office it would be greatly appreciated.
Pizza for Lunch for Te Motu Students
Fill Your Boots Firewood - Te Motu Camp Fundraiser
Touch Rugby
Sausage sizzle, bake sale and drinks available at touch rugby every Tuesday and Wednesday this season. Please bring cash, although Eftpos is available for the first week.
The touch rugby season starts this week. As we kick off the season, we’re focusing on our school’s CREST values of Curiosity, Respect, Excellence, Self-Management, and Teamwork. We encourage everyone, players and parents alike, to embody these values on and off the field.
A key part of this is supporting our volunteer coaches. They are dedicating their time and energy to help our kids learn and grow. Please show them your respect and trust their guidance.
We also ask that all parents model good sportsmanship on the sidelines. By demon-strating respect for the referees, opponents, and fellow supporters, we can show our children what it means to be great team mates and competitors.
The draw for the first round can be found on the Kapiti Junior Touch Association website using the following link: https://www.sporty.co.nz/kapititouchjunior/Draw-1/kjt-draw-202627
Key information reminders:
- Leg 1 runs from 20th October – 10th December 2026
- Leg 2: 9th February – 17th March 2027
- All games are played at Mazengarb Reserve
- Under 7, 8 & 10 Grades play Tuesday nights
- Under 12 & U14 play Wednesday nights
- Students wear a school t-shirt (these can be purchased through KINDO), navy blue or black shorts and suitable shoes
- There is an information desk by the pavilion
Map of touch fields below:
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
Sleeping Soundly: Helping babies, kids, teens (and parents) sleep well
Are you a new parent or carer wondering how to help your pēpē sleep through the night? Or perhaps how to help your tamaiti or taitamariki happily go to bed each night and wake up refreshed the next morning?
Getting enough sleep is important for babies, kids and teens – not to mention parents and carers – for lots of reasons. Along with eating well and getting plenty of exercise, it’s one of the fundamental building blocks to good health and wellbeing.
For new parents and carers, knowing what to do when it comes to sleeping, feeding and settling their baby can be extremely difficult with so much conflicting advice around. And in today’s busy world, children and teens seem to be struggling with sleep more than ever. In a worrying sign of the times, sleep problems now affect almost half of children aged 5 to 17, and teenagers are getting less sleep than in previous decades.
New parents and carers can learn how to help their baby, and themselves, get a good night’s sleep with gentle routines, responsive settling tips and practical self-care strategies. Bedtime routines can also help children and teens overcome sleep problems and develop the skills they need to sleep well for life.
Read Triple P’s latest article on sleep to learn more about how to help babies sleep at night and how to help children and teens develop healthy sleep habits. And don’t forget to check out Triple P’s online parenting courses, available now in New Zealand!
