Principal's Message
Kia Ora koutou
This Friday our school is
closed for a Staff Only day. On this day staff will be developing their knowledge of Te Ao Māori by visiting significant iwi sites within our community. We are taking a bus tour with Ra Higgott, from Paraparaumu College, and will be visiting sites from Whareroa Farm in the south to Waikanae Beach in the north.
Staff are excited about expanding their own knowledge of our community pre-colonisation. Establishing a collective knowledge of the place we live and work in will enhance our teaching and contexts for learning.
We had a wonderful Pink Shirt day last Friday. The support for this Anti-Bullying event is always well supported by PBS staff, students and parents. I think we must have been one of the most ‘pinked out’ schools in the country. We know every school has incidents of bullying and we work hard to stamp out any that happens at PBS. Celebrating days like Pink Shirt day really sends a clear message to all that bullying is not okay and will not be tolerated at PBS. Thanks everyone for getting behind this cause with us.
Ngā mihi,
Jess Ward – Tumuaki ~ Principal
Welcome to Our Recent New Students
Malakai – Rm 24
Ameerah – Rm 3
Dominic – Rm 10
Zijia – Rm 6
PBS Junior Cross Country
Tomorrow (Wednesday, 26 May) PBS is holding the 2021 Junior Cross Country for all Year 1-4 students on our school field. The event starts at 9.15am. We invite you to come along, join us and enjoy the fun.
Please remember to support from the concrete areas around the edge of the field.
New Board Member - Welcome Lisa!
Kia ora PBS parents and whānau
The PBS Board met recently to select a new parent representative. We felt very privileged to be in the position of considering three strong candidates for the vacancy, who we felt sure had the energy, enthusiasm and skills to fill the position. Thank you to those who put themselves forward for the role.
I am delighted to announce that we have selected Lisa Patterson to be the new parent representative. The statement below outlines the skills, experience and values that she will bring to the role:
“I have many years’ experience in the tertiary education sector including under-graduate and postgraduate study, working and lecturing. For the past two years I have been working towards a PhD in Computer Science, Cybersecurity. I am currently contracted in the design and delivery of a new qualification. Previously I have worked in corporate financial services, and I co-owned a local small business. Having been a full-time single parent, I am empathetic with the struggles that many of our school whānau face. I have a passion for education and the possibilities that it enables and facilitates.”
Ngā mihi, Zoe Pearson
Chairperson, PBS Board
Problems in our Drop Off and Pick Up Zones
As the more wintery weather sets in we are receiving more parental complaints about other parents misuse of the school drop off and pick up zones. Most commonly we are hearing that parents are parking in the pick up zones at the end of the day for long periods of time. Please follow the rules below so that congestion is eased and we can provide a safe environment for students.
Our School Community Police officer has offered the following advice to help eliminate the problems we are experiencing in these areas:
*To take advantage of the drop off zone, get your child(ren) to wait beside it so you can drive in, pick up and drive on without delay. If your child is not waiting there when you arrive, drive further down the road and park or drive back around.
*Get your child(ren) to wait in school for 5 – 10 minutes so you pick them up at 3.10pm.
*Park well away from the school gates and encourage your child(ren) to walk the last metres to/from school
Remember, School drop off/pick up zones require a quick turnaround and are designed for people to stop, drop off/pick up and go. Parking is not allowed in these areas. If there are no spaces, please move on, as stopping to wait for a space causes congestion and risks the safety of pedestrians and other road users.
Using Māori Language at Home
It’s important for all Kiwi to learn te reo. Each week our newsletter will include phrases that you might like to try out at your place. After all, it will take the whole nation to keep this unique language alive.
Whakamaua tō pōtae mārō – Wear your helmet
Were Your Ears Burning?
Staff Gratitude Section
Thanks to everyone who is lending a hand to get extra jobs done around the school in John Trask’s absence. John has had surgery on his hand so is off for 3 weeks. Luckily current staff members and students have been willing to pitch in.
Special thanks to Melissa, Bek, Kayla, Bella, Cherie, Cath and Sarah. C for taking on some of John’s regular tasks. Thanks also to Kade and Thomas (pictured) for volunteering to sweep up leaves during their break time too.
Kid's Quote
When reading some Year 3-4 writing last week I was puzzled by the last part of the sentence as it read ‘te’. I paused and the student looked at me and said:
“That’s an acronym for The End”.
Student Work
Matariki is a main learning context across the school this term. It’s wonderful to see the different ways students are exploring, learning about and responding to this special context. This week I have had some wonderful poetry cross my desk from Year 3 and 4 students – see Quinn’s one below (Room 5). I have also had the pleasure of watching students in Room 4 creating narratives about Matariki through the coding tool ‘Scratch’.
Their talent blew my socks off!
STARS by Quinn
Glassy, magical
Shining, glittering, shooting
Sparkling, powerful, bright
Constellation!
Teachers' Union Meeting
Our Teachers’ Union has recently signalled a paid union meeting on 30 June from 1.30pm. This means our school will finish at the earlier time of 12.50pm on this day.
However, if you cannot pick your child/ren up earlier we will have two staff remaining on site who can provide limited supervision. Please contact the school office if you can not arrange childcare and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Movin' March
At the end of Movin’ March, all WOW passports and art competition entries were sent to the Greater Wellington Regional Council to be judged against the rest of the Wellington region. Bruce Johnson, from the Kapiti Coast District Council, came to last week’s Ngaru Syndicate Assembly with some very exciting news and awarded the students listed below with prizes.
In the Art Challenges, the judges were super impressed with the creativity and imagination of all the entries this year. All district winners have won a $30 voucher and regional winners have won a $100 Prezzy card each.
From Paraparaumu Beach School, the regional winner was Eden Kavakura from Room 10 and the district winners were Jasper Smith from Room 4 and Frankie Houston-Manuel from Room 5. Next, Bruce announced that Sean Taylor from Room 4 was a WOW passport winner, winning a $400 Myride voucher.
Congratulations to all this year’s winners!
Though Movin’ March has come to an end, we encourage all our tamariki to not stop walking, scootering or biking to school. Thank you to all the parents and whanau who supported their children during this month-long event.
Yarn Bombing Art Project
Thank you for all the wonderful donations of wool, knitting needles and crochet hooks we’ve received. This project is coming along well.
This group takes place every Thursday lunch time (12.50 – 1.30pm) in Room 13 if parent or grandparent helpers wish to join us.
Found Jewellery
Have you lost a piece of significant jewellery? We have had an item handed in that was found on the school grounds. We hope a child didn’t bring it for news without telling their parent!
If you have lost a special item recently – please describe it to the office staff and we’ll cross our fingers it finds its owner.
Order Your School Memories Photos Now!
Don’t forget orders close on 2 June.
You can order your school photos either online at www.schoolmemories.co.nz or fill in the envelope sent home enclosing the correct cash amount and return to the office.
If you have lost your order envelope with your unique order code on it, please contact the office.
For all other queries, please contact School Memories direct on 0800 437 447
Reminder About Cheques
As advertised earlier in the year (and in line with new banking practises), we will no longer be accepting cheques after the end of May 2021.
