School Board

The Board is the governing body of the school consisting of five elected community representatives, a staff representative, the Principal and up to 4 co-opted members.

The Board’s role includes responsibility for property, personnel, and finances, reporting to the audit office and the community, and ensuring the quality of delivery of the teaching curriculum.

The Board holds scheduled monthly meetings commencing at 7.00pm in the school staffroom. Anyone is most welcome to attend meetings as an observer. Copies of meeting minutes are available from the school office. The School Charter, School Policies and Education Review Office Reports are also available.

Paraparaumu Beach School Board Members:

Chairperson – Matt Hudson (from Term 2 2024)
Principal – Jess Ward
Rae Bolton
Zoe Pearson
Sam Direen

Sam Chambers

Sarah Hinder-Boyd
Staff Rep – Rachel McDowell
Secretary – Marie Barfoote

2023 Board Members

Financial Statements

To read the 2020 PBS Financial Statements click here PBS – 2020 Unaudited Financial Accounts

To read the 2021 PBS Annual Report for the Year Ending 31 December 2021 click here Annual Report 2021

To read the 2022 PBS Annual Report for the Year Ending 31 December 2022 click here Annual Report 2022

Board Notices & Agendas

Meet Your Board Members

Matt Hudson - Board Chair (from T2 2024)

I am passionate about giving PBS kids the best opportunities and broadest experiences possible, while giving them the critical and lateral thinking skills that have never been more important to succeed in life. I also feel that emotional intelligence is crucial if kids are going to be able to navigate relationships in a society that’s increasingly shaped by technology.

I want to provide our kids with the technical skills that are relevant in an online world, where an ability to quickly master shifting platforms can only help their future success.  I also want to reinforce resilience and growth mindsets that are needed to give our kids the mental tenacity they’ll need to overcome life’s hurdles as they grow into thriving adults.

Zoe Pearson

I have one child at PBS, in Year 8. We have lived in Kāpiti for five and a half years, and feel lucky to have settled in this community.

I have a legal background, completing LLB, LLM and PhD degrees in Law in New Zealand and Australia, and have worked mainly in the legal field in government and academia in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. I have also had voluntary roles with various non-profit and community organisations, including Girl Guiding New Zealand, Trade Aid, and Conservation Volunteers. Most recently and locally, my family and I have been involved in the Friends of Tikotu Stream group that looks after the plantings alongside the stream at the southern end of Gray Ave. I have a strong passion for the environment and I prefer to be outside in the garden, at the beach or in the bush when I get any spare time. 

I am committed to ensuring PBS continues to be a place where all children can thrive and achieve their potential, and to support staff and senior management in what are challenging roles. Listening to and facilitating the involvement of parents and whānau in their children’s learning and the life of the school is also something I feel is hugely important. I value the diversity of opportunities that are offered to students at PBS and the supportive school environment, and I try to assist with these opportunities as far as I can.

You might see me helping in the school gardens from time to time, or checking the rat traps with the Paraparaumu Bird Savers. Seeing children try new things, challenging themselves, working together, gaining confidence and independence is something that I’ve felt privileged to witness on the number of different occasions I’ve been lucky enough to attend school activities or camps as a parent helper.

Sam Direen

Hi there, nice to meet you. I’m Sam and have two kids attending PBS – Devin (Year 3) and Romie (Year 0).

My motivation for becoming a Board member is to understand more about the school and influence these settings for the benefit of all families with kids attending PBS, while also ensuring the staff are supported.

The skills I bring to the Board should help support good decision making, especially anything that would benefit from some solid analysis or risk management. I’m trained in economics, finance and accounting and was Treasurer of Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing NZ) for several years. My current role is managing a large team responsible for the Kāinga Ora Budget and reporting, but ultimately it’s about leadership and helping people make better decisions.

In my 20s I taught English for three years offshore (this was a fun OE gig – I do not claim to understand the pressures that teachers face!) and Jasmyn, my wife, is an ECE teacher and regularly relieves at various kindergartens/centres across town.

My free time is usually micro-managed by my son Devin, who is into absolutely everything, but also includes catching up with my two sisters and parents (also on the coast), having all originally come from Christchurch.

Rae Bolton

Tēnā Koutou Katoa
Ko Taranaki tōku maunga
Ko Waiwhakaiho tōku awa
Ko Tokomaru tōku waka
Ko Te Atiawa tōku iwi
Ko Moturoa tōku marae
Ko Ngāti Te Whiti ko Puketapu hapū
Nō Taranaki au
Kei Paraparaumu tōku kāinga ināianei
Ko Love, ko Tanirau tōku whānau
Ko John Bolton tōku Matua
Ko Madeliene Bolton tōku whaea
Ko Rae ingoa
Ko Solomon Tāwhiri ko Hosheia Wairua, kō Mahālia Atawhai, k Aineias Tīaho āku tamariki
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

Tēnā koutou katoa, my name is Rae and I have the privilege of being Māmā to my four beautiful children, Solomon, Hosheia, Mahālia and Aineias who are currently all students at PBS. As tangata whenua my connectivity to the local area is steeped in history and for generations my tūpuna and whānau have identified Kapiti as our tūrangawaewae.

My passion for Te Ao Māori, and my desire for all cultures living in Aotearoa to embrace the Māori story and identity, motivated me to stand for the board. I am focused on enhancing our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, fostering the engagement of whānau within the learning environment and contributing to learning spaces that imbed tikanga Māori for all ākonga, whānau and kiako at PBS.

Sport is a major focus in our whānau across numerous codes, I enjoy contributing to PBS and my community by coaching. Creating positive sporting environments where tamariki want to engage creates numerous positive outcomes, improving social and emotional connections while helping to develop resilience, independence and leadership. I am committed to the kaupapa of engagement in sport for all tamariki at PBS creating lifelong health outcomes and community connectivity.

Sarah Hinder-Boyd

I’m a mother of two daughters, and we have chosen to settle back in Kāpiti to raise our girls. We’re an active family, spending our time tramping, cycling and running.

As a former student of Paraparaumu Beach School with excellent memories of the school and teaching staff, I’m pleased that my daughters follow in my footsteps. There is a strong sense that Paraparaumu Beach School is a wonderful, supportive, and nurturing school. My whānau feels incredibly fortunate to be a part of the PBS community, therefore I’ve accepted the offer of a Board position to use my skills to assist the Board and give back to the school.

My professional experience encompasses Risk Management, Governance, Finance and Strategy. Informal experience and past volunteer roles have provided me with insight into service and decision-making roles. 

As a recent graduate of the Kāuru Level 2 Te Reo Māori program, I have worked to increase my knowledge of Te Ao Māori and have a good base from which to support our students and continue learning.

Of importance to me is the inclusive, equitable, individualised education of all students. PBS has an amazing foundation of excellent staff and parents who give students the opportunity to thrive.

Sam Chambers

Tēnā tātou e te whānau,
Ko Sam Chambers tōku ingoa
Ko Hata tōku ingoa whānau
 
PBS & the wider school community has always been a part of my life; having been a pupil myself, alongside my siblings and now being a parent of current pupils.  Being on the school board does not just stem from this connection but a desire to be involved in the future of Paraparaumu Beach School beyond my own whānau.
 
I believe that education is as equally as important as a sense of belonging; I would like to represent the Māori whānau in this kura and I have taken steps to do so by joining the whānau rōpu and encourage other whānau to do the same so that they too, can be involved in the emerging kaupapa Māori of this wonderful school.
 
I bring over 10 years experience in administration and team management, and am closely involved with the operation of a locally owned and operated Before, After School Care and Holiday Programme. Thinking outside the box is second nature to me; but I still consider all aspects when making decisions, be it the wellbeing of the tauira (students) or the school as a whole.
 
I am enthusiastic and dedicated in utilising my skills on the School Board and in our kura.