Newsletter 2023/23

Kia ora koutou,

Today’s newsletter is packed with useful information for our whānau, with a few highlights being: 

• Information about the second round of school photos
• An update on when the school office will return to the Administration block
• Rail safety awareness week

Yesterday we had Tania from Healthy Active Learning running some sessions with our Ngaru tamariki. Healthy Active Learning is a joint government initiative between Sport NZ, Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, and the Ministry of Education to improve the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi through healthy eating and drinking and quality physical activity. PBS students have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and our teachers have been inspired by the different approaches and varied activities. 

Earlier in the year Massey University evaluators conducted a survey across some of our classes, their whānau and a sample group of teachers. Some of the findings from this were: 

• 86% of whānau surveyed agreed that their child uses skills and attitudes gained from participating in physical activity
• 88% of students surveyed agreed that there are lots of things they can play with to make up games at lunchtime
• 77% of whānau agreed that healthy food and drinks were promoted at PBS
• 100% of teachers surveyed agreed that their school sees physical activity as a key part of student wellbeing
• 74% of PBS students surveyed recognise that physical activity is good for them

Te Moana syndicate was visited by New Zealand illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, last week. Isobel has worked with authors such as Witi Ihimaera and Miriama Kamo on a variety of books. Isobel loves superheroes so helped Te Moana students to imagine and draw their very own superhero. She then answered many questions and talked through her creative process. This was an awesome experience that sparked curiosity and has inspired many of our tamariki to want to become illustrators.

Our office team are hoping to be fully back up and running in the Admin block from Monday next week, with transitioning starting this week. 

Fencing will start going up next week around Rooms 28 & 29 as the builders set up their worksite. It’s important that everyone adheres to the safety rules and measures during the duration of the build.

Please reach out to your child’s class teacher if you have any questions regarding the learning programme or learning progress. This can be done face to face, via email, the @school app or Seesaw for our junior classes. 

Have a great week everyone!

Noho ora mai rā, nā
Sarah Chambers
Acting Principal

Upcoming dates for your calendar:

• Tuesday, 15 & Wednesday, 16 August – Tātahi Class photos & Portraits (Year 1-2, Rm 16), sports teams and extra curricular groups
• Monday, 21 August –  Tātahi Little Dog Barking Show
• Tuesday, 29 August –  Senior Winter Tournament 9am -3pm, Epro8 Internal Event Year 5 & 6 
• Wednesday, 30 August – Epro8 Internal Event Year 7 & 8

ACTING PRINCIPAL’S GREAT NEWS CORNER:

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

Phoenix and Max proudly demonstrated their electronic circuit learning by using their Makey Makey kit to create a joystick. The characters/players on the screen of their chromebook were playing football and through their circuit they could direct the players to score goals.