"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou,
As we wrap up 2024, I want to reflect on our shared journey as a community of lifelong CREST learners. Together, we’ve continued to embrace our school values of Curiosity, Respect, Excellence, Self-Management, and Teamwork in everything we do. These values have been at the heart of our many successes, from students excelling in academics and sports, to the vibrant cultural performances that showcased our students’ talents and the opportunities PBS has offered.
This year, we have embraced challenges and encouraged participation to foster growth, inclusivity and school pride. Whether it was through our engagement with local iwi, the enjoyment of CREST Week, or the collective effort of staff and whānau in supporting initiatives like Matariki, PBS Olympics and PBS Book Week, the spirit of collaboration could be seen and felt. Each event, big or small, has strengthened the sense of belonging that makes PBS so special.
A final farewell to our much-appreciated staff members Alice Graham, Kim Hunter and Vicki Howarth, who are all moving on from PBS. We will miss you but of course wish you all the very best! Thanks for all you have each contributed to support students, colleagues and the PBS community in your time here.
To our Year 8 students, best wishes for college next year. It was wonderful to watch you all enjoying your Year 8 Leavers dinner last week; whilst we still consider you to be “PBS kids”, we know you are ready for your young adult years. Continue to carry the CREST values with you, these will serve you well. Take care and stay in touch!
To other PBS students and families who are leaving the region or NZ, best wishes for your new schools next year. Thank you for enriching our classrooms, playgrounds and sports fields in your time here. Go well!
To my incredible staff, the Board, the PTA and our Whānau group, thank you so much for your hard mahi and aroha this year. The teamwork around here truly sets PBS apart and I am forever grateful. Together, we have made 2024 a year to be proud of.
Have a wonderful summer break with whānau and friends and if your whānau celebrate Christmas, then I wish you a happy time with loved ones.
Ngā mihi nui,
Jess Ward
Principal – Tumuaki
Here are some things happening over these last few days of school:
- Tuesday, 17 December – Year 5-8 Prizegiving
- Tuesday, 17 December – School closes for the year at 12.30pm
2025 Dates
- Wednesday, 29 January – Informal “Meet the Teacher” – pop down to school between 9am – 12pm (NB: Parents will receive an email specifically about this)
- Thursday, 30 January – The school year begins for all students
- Thursday, 6 February – School closed for Waitangi Day
- Friday, 7 March – School closed for Ministry “Curriculum Day’”
- Monday, 28 April – School closed for Ministry “Curriculum Day’”
- Tuesday, 29 April – Term 2 starts
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/
Senior Prize Giving
Our Senior Prize-Giving will be held tomorrow in the school hall, and will start at 9:30am. This event is for our Years 5-8 students. It will include performances from our Kapa Haka Group and the PBS school band.
Whānau are welcome to attend this celebration of student achievement. Seating will be limited. Please note that this event is not appropriate for pre-schoolers.
Tātahi Christmas Singing
Last Friday the Tātahi syndicate held their annual Christmas singing concert. They looked and sounded fabulous! We hope the many whānau that came along to support them, enjoyed the show. Well done to the teaching team for all the practising that went into getting our tamariki performance ready!
@school app (eTAP)
It has been confirmed by eTAP that once our subscription has ceased that parents will not be able to access their child/s information through the @schoolapp.
If there is anything you would like to keep, this needs to be printed out before 31 December 2024.
Also, with us changing to Hero, this will be the last time that we will be using the Blog and the Learning Summary on the @school app for reporting.
Junior School Parents (Year 0 – Year 2) please keep a close eye on the Blog button on the @school app as your child’s teacher will be putting your child’s reporting comments on here. The picture below shows what the button looks like. If something new has been posted the count button will show:
eTAP has advised that if you would like to print blog entries on the caregiver app under each individual entry, there is an icon to download that blog to enable you to print it. There is no provision for you to be able to download and print multiple entries at the one time.
Year 3 – Year 8 School Parents please keep a close eye on the Learning Summary button on the @school app at the end of the term, as your child’s reporting comments will be put on here. The picture below shows what the button looks like. If something new has been posted the count button will show:
To print Learning Summaries on the caregiver app, you need to open the Learning Summary which downloads and opens as a PDF to enable you to print it. There is no provision for you to be able to download and print multiple Learning Profiles at the one time.
Hero Parent App
With us moving to Hero parents and caregivers will need to download the Hero App. Hero brings all school communications into a single app to keep parents up to date.
Hero is designed to reduce the number of places that parents need to check for information about school. Parents and caregivers can log into their Hero account to see all their child’s learning and progress and read school notices.
Getting started on Hero
- Either use this QR Code
- Smartphone/device: Download the app
- Computer: Enter go.linc-ed.com on your browser
Year 8 Leavers
If there is any of your work from over the years saved in your school Google drive and you want to keep it, then copy it to your personal Google drive over the summer holidays. When school starts back in the new year, your PBS account will be closed.
Student Council
Thank you for all of your support this year to help us with our different projects. You guys rock!
Meri Kirihemete and we hope you have an awesome summer break!
From the PBS Student Council
Recent Student Achievements
Softball: Congratulations to Zoe Gee who was selected for the U13 Representative team for Wellington in Softball – they have a National tournament in February 🙂
Recent Student Achievements
Writing Competition: Congratulations to Norah Edwards (Room 12) whose entry into the University of Canterbury’s Mokopuna Ora Writing Competition won a Merit Award for Excellence! Norah received a certificate and a $50 book voucher!
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
School Leavers - Notice re ezlunch / Kindo School Shop
School Leavers – Notice re ezlunch / Kindo School Shop
- If your family is leaving our school and has been using ezlunch or Kindo, please make sure to stop any regular automatic payments that have been set up before the school year finishes. You may also need to transfer or close your account which can be done as follows: Not sure if your new school is using Kindo? If you’re not sure if your new school is using Kindo, you can either ask them directly or go to “My Details” in your Kindo account and click on the list of schools to see if your new school is listed.
- New school IS using Kindo. If your new school is using Kindo, simply click on the new school from the list in “My Details” of your Kindo account and you’ll be attached to the new school’s menu. Any balance on your Kindo account will remain available to spend with the new school.
- New school is NOT using Kindo, or you no longer need Kindo. If you need to close your Kindo account, use the “Close Kind Account” button within the “My Details” section of your Kindo account. You can either withdraw your account balance or choose to donate your balance to the school. Please note that all withdrawals will be made via electronic payment to your New Zealand bank account. Kindo is unable to process cash withdrawals.
If you are wanting to withdraw your Kindo account balance or make a donation that exceeds Kindo’s threshold (currently more than $10,000 total within one year), Kindo may need to undertake some identity checks on you to comply with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Act 2009.
Please action the withdrawal or donation in your Kindo account as outlined above and if these AML checks are necessary, Kindo will advise of the next steps required in this regard. Kindo has endeavoured to make this process as pain-free as possible and appreciates your patience.
Kapiti Library Summer Challenge
Kāpiti Libraries have set our tamariki the challenge to keep reading over the summer break. Each day of summer tamariki are encouraged to read something that they enjoy and come along to the summer reading events at the library. Click on the link below to learn more about the competition. This year the grand prize is a $250 Warehouse voucher or 5 extra chances to win a $50 voucher.
Everyone who completes the challenge receives a book, certificate and an invite to the Kapiti Libraries finale party at MacLean Park, Paraparaumu Beach.
Join the PBS Whānau Rōpu
