"Together we are lifelong CREST learners"
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou,
As Term 1 ends next week, I want to inform you of changes to school dates.
The Board has approved two extra teacher-only days, in addition to the two government curriculum days. We used our first curriculum day on 27 February, and the second is scheduled (as previously informed) for Monday, 28 April.
The new teacher-only days are:
- Tuesday, 3 June: We will be participating in our local Kāhui Ako conference day, joining staff from Kenakena, Waikanae, Kapakapanui, and Paraparaumu College.
- Wednesday, 23 July (Term 3): This day will be for Learning Conferences. NB: We may be able to provide at school supervision for a limited number of students on this day for those parents who cannot get childcare. More information will follow next term.
To meet the Ministry of Education’s required number of school days, we will now need to extend the school year by two days. The last day of school will now be Tuesday, 16 December, instead of Friday, 13 December. We will update the school website with these changes.
Keep reading for information on:
- School FUN RUN – Friday, 11 April – WE ARE SO EXCITED!
- Out of Zone Applications
- Ministry information about measles
- Job advert for Disability Support worker in our community
- Inclusive Whanau Network meeting – this week
Before I sign off, I want to tell you about a gem of a discovery. Recently, former school pupil, Paul Paton, came across his old Paraparaumu Beach School PREFECT badge. Paul was a founding pupil at our school when it opened in 1965. All of Paul’s kids have attended PBS, so he has decided to let us keep the badge for a memento. Thank you Paul; perhaps we should reinstate the tradition of badges!
Ngā mihi nui
Jess Ward
Principal – Tumuaki
P.S. Got a suggestion? Let us know through our online suggestion box.
PRINCIPAL’S C.R.E.S.T CORNER:
At PBS we champion our school C.R.E.S.T values in everything we do.
Curiosity. Respect. Excellence. Self Management. Teamwork
Throughout the past week, I have observed many examples of fabulous writing across various age groups within the school. Notably, the students of Room 28 produced some EXCELLENT short narratives, each inspired by a photograph of a tandem skydive. These narratives showed a high level of descriptive detail and imagination. It was clear to me that the students had spent a long time drafting, crafting and fine-tuning their ideas. Check out some of these excellent pieces of work currently displayed in my office window. Tu Meke!
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 Fun Run!
At PBS we are holding our awesome FUN RUN event on the last day of term (Friday, 11 April) at 1.30pm. There will be lots of cool activities like the slip and slide, a dance off, colour run, pool of bubbles, lots of different fun activities and of course the fire truck to hose kids off at the end. Your child will need to wear old clothes that you do not mind colour getting on, as well as bring a towel and change of clothes.
All the funds raised from this event will be put towards a large permanent sports canopy over the stage area on the field. This will enable the school to make use of the stage all year round, as well as an outdoor field space that can be used rain or shine.
After lots of discussion, the PTA have decided to change the fun run up a bit this year. We are going to have an old-fashioned sponsorship form (on paper) and a different price structure. This is because in previous years we have had an external company managing the payments and prizes, resulting in a big portion of our hard earned funds going to them. This year, we have four individual prizes to give out to the students who raise the most money from their sponsorships. These prizes will be in the form of a voucher from their favourite store (EB Games, Rebel, Warehouse, Sterling Sports etc).
- 1st prize will be $200
- 2nd prize will be $150
- 3rd prize will be $100
- 4th prize will be $50
But wait, there will also be a class prize; yummy pizza for lunch for the class that raises the most money. This will be delivered to the winning class in Term 2 after all the sponsorship money has been collected.
The tamariki will run around the school completing different activities on their way around. The fun run is not a race, it is just about getting physical and having fun with their friends. Parents and whānau members are more than welcome to come and watch the kids in action. Just remember, do not send your child in their good clothes!
Once we have completed the Fun Run, your child will have all school holidays to collect their sponsorship money. In term 2 week 1 we will be collecting the funds, then we can tally up the amounts collected and award prizes. We PREFER that whānau send cash sponsorship money to school in an envelope with your child’s name, room number and Fun Run written on it. Or alternatively you can pay the whole collected amount for your child into the PBS PTA account (02-0733-0148141-02) putting down your child’s name, room number and Fun Run as the reference.
If you have any further questions please contact either: Sandy on sandys@pbs.school.nz or Di on dpuati@pbs.school.nz .
Thanks for your support
PBS PTA
Out of Zone Applications
Twice a year we will call for applications for five year old new entrants who haven’t started school yet and are living out of the school zone. The next round of applications is now open and will close at 4pm on 5 May 2025. This will be for five year old children due to start school during the second half of 2025.
If you have a five year old new entrant due to start school during this time, then please contact the office on 298 5775 and we will arrange for you to receive application papers. If you have already been in touch with your details, then we will have emailed the documents out to you.
Protect Against Measles - Information from the Ministry of Health
Measles is one of the most dangerous viral illnesses a person can get. Measles makes people feel very unwell and 1 out of every 3 people with measles will be sick enough to need hospital care. In Aotearoa New Zealand, being immunised with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way to stop you getting and spreading measles. You can still get and spread measles with only one dose of the MMR vaccine, but 99% of people who receive 2 doses will be fully protected against the disease.
Symptoms of Measles
The first symptoms of measles are similar to other respiratory illnesses such as a cold, COVID-19 or influenza (flu) which can make it hard to tell in the early stages of this illness that a person has measles.
Symptoms include:
- fever (a temperature of at least 38°C)
- cough
- runny nose
- sore red eyes
The next symptom is a red or dark pink rash. The spots are blotchy and join together. It usually starts on the face or behind the ears 3 days after the other symptoms, before moving down the body.
There has been a big increase in measles globally with outbreaks occurring in many countries with strong travel connections to Aotearoa New Zealand, including South-East Asia, Europe and the United States.
What You Can Do to Prevent Measles
Preventing measles is much easier than controlling a measles outbreak. Immunisation is the best way to prevent measles. To be fully protected from measles, a person must have received 2 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines. Getting immunised also protects people who cannot receive the MMR vaccine. This includes pregnant people, young infants and immune-compromised people.
The MMR vaccine is free for all:
- tamariki (children) aged 18 and under in Aotearoa New Zealand
- adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free local healthcare
Knowing If Your Child is Well Enough To Go To School — Guidance for Parents & Caregivers
Click on the link here to find out if your child is well enough to attend school
Job Vacancy in Our Community
We were recently approached by a member of our community looking for support with his adult daughter. The father felt it would be ideal for a school parent as they could drop kids at school, attend the job and then return to school for the 3pm pick up. As a result we agreed to place this advert in our newsletter:
Disability Support Worker: To support a very sociable 25 year old (Nikki) who has an intellectual disability. The candidate needs to be able to drive. If interested, please phone Michael on 027 462 1842 for more details.
Inclusive Whānau Network - This Week
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.
Here are some essential kupu that you may hear ia ra (everyday)
Kīwaha (idiom)
A super simple saying that you can use in your everyday conversations.
Kia manawanui – Hang in there!
Photo Ordering
We have been advised that order forms for school photos will be with us at the start of next term 🙂
Moving March and Fancy Feet & Wheels Day
On Friday we celebrated the end of our Moving March promotion with an awesome Fancy Feet and Wheels Parade, organised by our new Sports Ambassadors for 2025. Huge thanks to local business Biking Mad in Raumati Village for sponsoring all our prizes!
Te Moana Syndicate Fundraising
Easter Raffle
Te Moana Syndicate are selling raffle tickets for Easter – $2 a ticket and you could win one of three baskets full of Easter and holiday treats!
The raffle will be drawn at the last Te Moana assembly on Wednesday, 9 April.
Iceblocks for Sale
Iceblocks will be for sale on Wednesday lunchtimes for $1 each.
Hockey Registrations
Hockey Registrations need to be in by the end of tomorrow Wednesday, 2 April please. Fill in this google form to register your student. There are lots of details in the form. Please contact cspencer@pbs.school.nz if you have any questions.
https://forms.gle/KJ6yWGSBJBUuAA1p9
Lost Property
Please check the lost property on the fine days over the next 2 weeks around by the netball courts. Anything un-named or un-claimed will be sent to the Koha Shed at the end of Term.
Recent Student Achievements
Jiu Jitsu: A big congratulations to Teina Walker who won a Gold medal at his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition at Kapiti College on Saturday. He won both his matches in the no-gi division. Well done Teina!
Planitpro Tennis: Devin was selected to represent the “Kapi Mana” team in U10 boys at the 2025 Planitpro Tennis Central Junior Teams Event, covering the lower half of the North Island. It was a fantastic experience for Devin to play and meet some of the top players in their regions. The team came into the tournament as sixth seed and surprised everyone with 2nd place. Well done Kapi Mana team!
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
Waitārere Forest Run
Join the PBS Whānau Rōpu
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Going overseas for the school holidays? Everyone travelling into New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, including returning New Zealand passport holders. Its FREE and you can do it on the online form or on the NZTD app.
If you’re travelling as a family or group and completing multiple declarations, the NZTD app allows you to copy your travel details into another declaration, making it easier to complete multiple declarations for the same journey. The submitted declarations are
then all easy to see within the app.
The New Zealand Traveller Declaration collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information and aims to improve the safety and security of New Zealand. It replaces the paper card you used to fill out on the plane.
To make your arrival easier, do your digital declaration before your flight back to New Zealand.
Head to travellerdeclaration.govt.nz today!
