Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou
Today’s newsletter is packed
with useful information for our whānau, with a few highlights being:
- Pink Shirt Day THIS FRIDAY!
- Mid-year learning conferences Tuesday, 20 June
- Measles information for Kiwi kids
It’s PINK SHIRT DAY time again – Dress in pink this Friday! Pink Shirt Day is about all people feeling safe, accepted and valued in all areas of their lives. It is a time when we remind our students and our community that bullying is not ok. It’s a time when we encourage kids to be upstanders not bystanders.
Bullying is not OK. Bullying others does not make you cooler, tougher or more popular. Bullying is a waste of everyone’s time. It’s very important for kids to understand the difference between a poor behaviour choice and bullying, so we can work towards tackling the issue. Not all unkind behaviours that happen in schools, workplaces or in society are examples of bullying, but perhaps that of a poor behaviour choice. Sometimes poor behaviour is a spur of the moment decision or a response to anger, upset, or an assumed slight.
So how is bullying defined? There are four widely accepted factors that can be used to identify bullying behaviour –
- Bullying is deliberate – harming another person intentionally
- Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship
- Bullying is usually not a one-off – it is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time
- Bullying involves behaviour that can cause harm – it is not a normal part of growing up
Pink Shirt Day is always very well supported each year at PBS. Everyone is encouraged to wear something pink to show their support of the campaign to show they will SPEAK UP, STAND TOGETHER and STOP BULLYING. The first step is to tell someone – after all a problem shared is a problem halved.
PRINCIPAL’S GREAT NEWS CORNER:
Sharing good news spreads positivity, changes attitudes and ultimately leads to more people feeling encouraged and happy
Term 2 is Cross Country time, so classes are all trying to increase their fitness by participating in regular runs around the field. We also have a runner’s club for our more competitive Year 5-8 runners. Thanks to Caty Spencer, David Parr and Ginny Hawke these students are supported on runs beyond the school gates. Go Team!
Ngā mihi nui,
Jess Ward
Principal ~ Tumuaki
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/
From the Student Council
This Friday, May 19 is PINK SHIRT DAY! We like to support this day because it is all about KINDNESS. Bullying is not okay and is the opposite of our school CREST values.
We’re planning some cool stuff like a scavenger hunt and a photo booth PBS style. Come wearing as much pink as you can to show your support for this kaupapa.
Video Screening of "Our Kids Online"
Did you miss Rob Cope’s presentation “Our Kids Online”? Parents who were able to attend were rocked but left feeling very informed. We will be showing the video of Rob Cope’s 1.5 hour video presentation next week at the following times. We hope you’ll be able to come along at the following times:
- 1.20pm next week on Wednesday, 24 May in Room 25 (Your kids will be in class)
- 3pm next week on Thursday, 25 May in Room 25 (Your kids can play on the playground nearby or be supervised in the school library).
Learning Conferences (Parent Interviews) - 20 June - Don't Forget to Bring Your Child Along!
This year we are bringing our mid-year learning conferences forward, to hold them at the end of Term 2 rather than the start of Term 3. Our Board has granted us a Teacher-Only day to run these important conferences. This means parents will need to book in for an interview slot and bring their child/children along at that time. Normal teaching will not occur on this day. Please put this date in your diary and book yourselves in via the Skool Loop App (see details below).
Ten minute conference time slots will go through the day until 6pm. Whilst we prefer face to face, zoom slots can be offered.
- The role of the teacher is to facilitate and lead the conversation about the student’s learning. They may use supports such as Spotlight, Seesaw or other examples of learning within the classroom
- The role of the student is to share some of their learning and join in the discussion as they feel comfortable or as prompted by their teacher
- The role of the parent or whānau members is to listen, ask questions (of their child or the teacher) and encourage their child to participate
Involving students enables them to gain more confidence and ownership of their learning journey. Furthermore, we hope that student involvement will enable parents to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s strengths and needs.
The school playgrounds and library will be available for siblings to play or wait at this time. The library will have adult supervision during the conferences. These, or other alternative arrangements for siblings, mean that your child can have your full focus during their learning conference slot. NB: We are also investigating options for child care through the day for those parents who cannot arrange alternative care for their child. Spaces will be limited.
Please note that there will not be time to raise complex social issues or confidential matters, but you can arrange a time to do this with your child’s teacher at another time by emailing them.
Please note that only one interview is available per child. You will be sent a confirmation email once you make your booking. If you can’t remember if you have booked or not, please check your emails or feel free to contact the school office to check for you 🙂
Kid's Quote
Teacher “What did you do for Mother’s Day?”
Student “Mum asked my brother and I to say something nice to each other!”
Building Planter Boxes - Can You Help Out?
Some of our eager Enviro kids would love parent help to build new planter boxes behind Room 28. Our old boxes have rotted and fallen apart. If you are able to give an hour or so of your time or some timber, we would love to hear from you. Just email jtrask@pbs.school.nz
Thank you
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.
rūma moe = bedroom
Whakapaitia tōu rūma moe = Tidy your bedroom
https://kupu.maori.nz/kupu/r%C5%ABma-moe
Out of Zone Applications Open
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 3 or 4, please ask them to contact our school office asap. Thank you.
“Out of Zone” applications for Terms 3 and 4 Yr 0-4 students are currently being advertised in the Kapiti Observer.
Applications close at 12 noon on Monday, 29 May.
School Photos - Yrs 3-8 Classes and Touch Rugby Teams
Order forms for photos recently taken have been distributed to classes. You can order photos online using the order code on the envelope. Orders close on Tuesday, 23 May. Please contact the office if you have lost your order code.
Thanks from the PTA
The PTA would like to pass on a belated thank you to Mike Newman from our local Kenakena 4 Square for his kind generosity in donating the hot chips for the fun run night. This was extremely unexpected but gratefully received.
I know lots of us use Kenakena 4 Square and will continue to do so, but if you are ever stuck for something little they have a great range of grocery items and it is always good to support our local business.
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
