Principal's Message
Hi Everyone,
Today’s newsletter is packed
with useful information for our whānau, with a few highlights being:
- PBS Strategic Planning and Parent Voice Focus Group – Your feedback is important to us!
- PTA Grocery Grab – be in to win!
- Book Fair this week
- Senior Production details
I hope you all enjoyed a nice long weekend. The All Blacks win over Argentina certainly made it all the more enjoyable. In the lead up to the World Cup Rugby final this weekend, we’ve decided to have a ‘BLACK OUT FRIDAY’ at the end of the week to show our support for our national team and PBS parent and former student, Dane Coles. It would be great to have all the kids and staff decked out in black clothing in support. Go the All Blacks!
Friday is also World Teachers Day, so there’s double reason to celebrate awesomeness! Perhaps you and your child could think of a way to show you appreciate their teacher’s hard work; even an unexpected compliment can make a teacher’s day. Thank you.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Our strategic plan is currently being reviewed; we do this every three years to ensure our planning fits the needs of our students, staff and community.
Next month, the Board will review our current plan and set down a new strategic plan for the next three years. We want to know what is important to our school community as we go through this process. If you would like to contribute your ideas and comments, please click here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PBSsurvey8X3TFJ6 to answer six quick questions. If you want to refer to our current strategic plan Click here to see our current strategic plan
PARENT FEEDBACK GROUP
In addition to our Strategic Planning above, our Board is seeking feedback from parents on our online communication methods and how well they meet the needs of all stakeholders.
- The first topic relates to school communication and what sources you use or prefer
- The second topic is around the use and functionality of the @school app
The Board will be running a Feedback/Focus Group on Wednesday, 1 November (week 4) in the staffroom from 3:30-5:30pm. If you have any thoughts on what currently works well or how we could improve things, it would be great to have you along and hear your views.
Please email Sarah Chambers to register your attendance: schambers@pbs.school.nz Afternoon tea will be provided.
Ka kite ano,
Jess Ward
Principal ~ Tumuaki
PRINCIPAL’S GREAT NEWS CORNER:
Sharing good news spreads positivity, changes attitudes and ultimately leads to more people feeling encouraged and happy
Term 4 is a term full of creativity! Students are busy preparing for end of year productions, showcases, Christmas carols and the annual kapa haka hui. We hope that you will be able to join us later in the term to see the culmination of our efforts. In the meantime our students will keep practising and learning new skills. These photos of Te Moana students show instrumental sessions in action.
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/
PBS Board Outstanding Achiever Award Nominations
If you have a child in Years 5-8 you would have received an email last week regarding this award. Our Board is now seeking nominations for this year’s Outstanding Achiever Award.
The purpose of this award is to acknowledge students who have achieved at a very high level, and to promote these students as role models throughout our school community in a manner that reflects and incorporates our school CREST values. We encourage nominations from Years 5-8 students.
This award is made annually to students who attend the school and who during the previous 12 months have made an outstanding contribution (in-school or out-of-school) in areas of academic, cultural, sports, community service or other activities. Paraparaumu Beach School’s Board is keen to promote high achievement in a positive manner.
There is a link to the nomination form in the email or paper copies can be collected from the school office. Nominations close on 17 November.
Class Requests
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.
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, 27 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.
Aroha Fund
One thing our school community is rich in is KINDNESS. It’s something we work hard to promote amongst our students. When we know someone is in need we try to give some additional support because not everyone’s circumstances are the same. We do our best as a school to ensure every child has equal opportunities regardless of finance or personal circumstance. Our PBS AROHA fund was set up to enable our whole community to offer support to such families.
The PBS AROHA fund enables anyone in our school community, including businesses, to donate money to help those in our school community who find it hard to make ends meet. It also means that we can provide lunches when kids don’t have any.
If you would like to contribute to this fund you can find it in KINDO labelled PBS AROHA. You can contribute $5, $10 or $20 at any time during the year. If a local business wants to make a contribution they can contact Libby on lrichardson@pbs.school.nz
Please talk to the office, Sarah Chambers or Jess Ward if you would like to know more about our PBS AROHA fund. All discussions will be confidential.
Giving a little means a lot!
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.
Cheer on Your Team:
Kapa Ōpango – All Blacks
Putupōro/Hutupōro – Rugby
Kaitākaro – Player
Kaiwhakaako – Coach
Kaiwawao – Referee
E oma! – Run!
E tere! – Quickly!
Maranga! – Get up!
Titiro – Look
Kia manawanui – Hang in there
Kia toa! – Be determined!
Ka mau te wehi! That’s outstanding!
Kia kaha ake e kare mā – Let’s go team
whariki.co.nz
Te Motu Syndicate Production
Learn some New Zealand history the modern way – through reality television. Watch NZ’s Top Survivor Island
Coming soon!
Te Motu Syndicate proudly presents the Senior Production for 2023 – NZ’s Top Survivor Island. This original show will be performed next week, Wednesday, 1st November at 1:00pm, and Thursday, 2nd November at 7pm in the PBS hall. Tickets are free, and are available from Rm 8.
Will your favourite contestant survive? Who will win the million dollar first prize? How many times will your host, Brock Starwell, say “Be a star New Zealand”? Don’t miss an episode!
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is on this week in the Hihi Room (at the Room 5 end of the 5-8 block). There is a fantastic range of books and stationery items available for sale before and after school. We have EFTPOS.
There will be a salesperson available for 15 minutes after the morning bell in case you want to buy sneaky Christmas presents.
Grocery Grab Raffle - Help Needed Please
As you know we are not sending the raffle books home for you all to sell this time but are selling raffles outside New World on a few days each week for the next few weeks. If you are able to help out on any of the days below please come and see Sandy in Room 22 or email her at sandys@pbs.school.nz.
Thursday, 26th October – 3.30-6pm
Thursday, 2nd November – 3.30-6pm
Saturday, 11th November – 1-4pm or 4-7pm
Friday, 17th November – 3.30-6pm
Saturday, 18th November – 1-4pm or 4-7pm
Friday , 24th November – 3.30-6pm
Alternatively if you would like to take a raffle book home to sell to your whanau and friends please also come and see Sandy.
A little incentive for you too – New World have kindly donated a $100 gift basket for the child that sells the most raffles.
Thanking you in anticipation.
PBS PTA Committee
Click on the link to read the full Terms & Conditions Grocery Grab Terms & Conditions.
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
