Geia pós eísai (ϒεια πώς είσαι)

Today’s greeting acknowledges the small but wonderful group of students with Greek heritage at PBS. This Greek greeting “Geia pós eísai” is roughly pronounced Ya pos ee-saeh. Give it a try – it’s great to learn new languages in our culturally-rich country.

Last week I attended the New Zealand Principals’ Federation Conference in Christchurch. A few of the keynote speakers really resonated with me as a member of a school community and as a school leader.

Scott Robertson, head coach of the Crusaders rugby team, spoke about the importance of creating a culture within his team so all players felt a connection. He asked Principals to consider what makes up the culture of our schools; what are the common things that hold us together, make us unique, and build a sense of belonging and connection. Scott prompted us by asking us to reflect on eight elements; sequence, stories, sounds, symbols, smell, space, stage and significance.

Below are just some of the things I considered reflect the culture of Paraparaumu Beach School:

Sequence: Our strategic plan sets the direction for our staff and board, reflecting goals which are important to our community. Our CREST values give structure to school life and expectations. An inquiry learning model is used to stimulate curiosty. Routines, such as eating after play, are deliberately planned. An emphasis on ‘Learning through Play’ in the early years helps tamariki transition from kindy and Team Teaching (SWAT) helps to prepare senior kids for college.
Stories: Our school motto – CARING, SHARING, PREPARING promotes elements of school life which are important to us. The narrative behind our syndicate names link us to our coastal environment. The shared memories we create on camps, trips, Senior Syndicate visits to Kapiti Island, and special events like Matariki this year, all bring us together.
Sounds: Our culture can be heard in our school waiata, use of the National Anthem at assemblies, use of CREST words in everyday interactions and use of our school pepeha.
Symbols: Our culture can be seen in murals and artwork around the school, our school logo, CREST certificates, sports uniforms and our beautifully carved Pou. The use of student-led powhiri at school assemblies symbolises our comitment to tikanga.
Smell: Our unique place and position can be smelt in the salty sea air and freshly cut golf greens, reflecting our community and beach location. The smell of newly plucked strawberries, from our junior vegie gardens, hint at some of the unique opportunities we offer.
Space: The clean, tidy, respected school environment, which draws comments from visitors, is a source of school pride. The 600 plants kids planted (3 years back) enhance our grounds and encourage birds to stop and feed. We are grateful for facilities like our upgraded hall, our welcoming library and our solar heated pool which set us apart from other schools.
Stage: Our regular syndicate assemblies and termly school assemblies build a sense of belonging and togetherness. Opportunities for students to achieve enable talent to be witnessed and celebrated, including but not limited to student success at sporting events, competitions (Tournament of minds, Spelling Bees, Wearable Arts, Speeches, Debates), and the annual Kapa Haka hui. The opportunities for student leadership and responsibility e.g road patrollers, librarians, PBS TV Crew, Peace Patrol, Student Council and Sport Ambassadors also promote participation.
Significance: Our school vision “Preparing our Tamariki with the skills to shape their world” embodies the purpose of our school community. Our traditions of annual prizegivings, the Board Outstanding Achievement Award and 15+ years of ERO review excellence are a few examples of our cultural significance.

These things do not happen accidentally, they are all the result of teamwork and dedication. The dedication of staff, Board, PTA and parents to make PBS a fun, safe and successful school for our  children to thrive in. Thank you for your input into this success!

PRINCIPAL’S GREAT NEWS CORNER:

Sharing good news spreads positivity, changes attitudes and ultimately leads to more people feeling encouraged and happy

I always enjoy my time on duty in the playground, watching the kids play, keep active and hang out with friends. On the whole it’s a very friendly playground with lots of things to keep kids engaged and active. However, it’s not often that I stumble across senior kids like this below – relaxing in a pile! This made me smile 🙂

Antio sas (αντιο σας)
Jess Ward
Tumuaki ~ Principal
PS Don’t forget to vote in our Board Elections. Voting closes this Friday at 4pm