PPS Newsletter - Week 6, Term 2

A message from the Senior Leadership Team

Kia ora, Talofa, Malo e leleli, Kia orana, Fakalofa lahi Atu, Taloha Ni, Ni sa bula, 你好 , Namaste, 안녕하세요, Hola, Sat Sri Akaal.

It has been fantastic to see the curiosity and engagement across all year levels as we dive into our Term 2 topics. The Kea and Kiwi team have become wildlife experts, investigating how different animals adapt to their environments. Tīrairaka is getting hands-on with the laws of nature! From the pull of magnets to exploring everyday examples of physical phenomena, such as forces, electricity, and light, our Year 3-4 students are learning how the physical world works. Finally, Moa is studying the New Zealand coastline, exploring how ecosystems thrive and, importantly, the impact humans have on our local shores. This topic emphasises kaitiakitanga (guardianship), learning what we can do to make a tangible difference in protecting our environment for the future.

Support Staff Appreciation Week

Last week, we recognised Support Staff Appreciation Week. Behind every successful school is a dedicated team of support staff who keep everything running smoothly each and every day - Pillans Point is no exception.

With patience, kindness, and flexibility, they work alongside teachers to support students in their learning journeys. From a positive guiding support in class, to a friendly face in our school office, playground, or sports field, our support staff’s ability to build trusting relationships with students makes a lasting difference to their confidence and success at school. As a school community, it is important that we take the time to recognise and thank them. Their compassion and hard work often happens in a quiet and unassuming way, yet their impact is felt everywhere.

To all our support staff: Teacher aides, our office team, Shayne, Kay, and Jay - thank you. Your commitment and care make a difference in the lives of our students and families every day.

Staff Professional Learning: Teacher Only Day

A reminder that the school will be closed for instruction tomorrow, Friday 29th May. Staff will spend the day focusing on the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, and will be exploring new assessment tools released by the Ministry of Education. These days are incredibly valuable; they allow teachers dedicated time to collaborate and ensure our teaching practices remain at the forefront of educational excellence. By aligning our school’s strategic plan with the national curriculum refresh, we ensure your children are receiving the most relevant and robust education possible.

As you may have seen in last week’s pre-budget Education announcement, there are a number of changes facing New Zealand schools at the moment. We are in a fortunate position to adopt these changes as we have already implemented and embedded structured approaches to the teaching of our core learning areas.

Tracking Progress on HERO

From Monday of Week 10, you will be able to access your child’s mid-year curriculum level judgements via HERO. These updates provide a clear snapshot of where your child is sitting in relation to national expectations, and their achievements and next steps in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.

As you may be aware, the Ministry of Education published reporting guidelines for schools earlier this year. We are working hard in the background to make technical changes to our HERO site, so that we can implement these changes from 2027. We are also moderating what these new benchmarks look like across teaching teams, to ensure that decisions are valid, fair, and consistent when formed.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

To discuss your child’s progress and achievements in more detail, we invite you to attend our Parent-Teacher Conferences held during Week 10. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the successes of the first half of the year and set collaborative goals for Terms 3 and 4. We value the partnership between home and school and look forward to seeing you there.

Further information, and including how to book a time with your child’s teacher, is available below.

Keeping Ourselves Safe | Whānau Information Session

Keeping Ourselves Safe is an NZ Police Programme that will be taught in the first few weeks of next term. This programme is taught biennially. Keeping Ourselves Safe has been designed to equip students with the skills to keep themselves safe when interacting with other people, both online and in-person. Children will come home with resources when the programme is taught in class. Having knowledge of the content before it is taught, can help with questions your child may ask.

Further information about the programme is available on the NZ Police website: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/personal-community-safety/school-portal/resources/successful-relationships/kos

The lessons are taught by your child’s teacher, but Senior Constable Den Bidois, who works with our local schools, will also be in school to work alongside us and visit each class. Constable Den will be holding a parent information meeting on Tuesday 9th June, 2:30pm, in the staffroom. Please come along if you would like to hear more about the programme.

Upcoming School Fundraisers

We are thrilled to host our next school fundraiser, a Women’s Health Evening - If I could just tell you one thing. A big thank you to the staff and parents who have organised this event featuring expert guest speakers. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity to gather as a community, but all proceeds go directly towards the school. Further information, including how to buy tickets, is available below.

We also have the Bake Shack Pie Fundraiser underway. Thank you to the PTA for organising this popular event again. Information about sales can be found below.

Finally, this week we farewelled Mrs Johnson, as her whānau prepares to welcome their new addition! Mrs Johnson joined us as our Kea 2 teacher last year, and has been working in a classroom release role this year. We wish Laura and her family all the very best, and thank her for her contribution to PPS.

Ngā mihi nui,

Jason Morgan
Tumuaki Tuarua | Deputy Principal

Featured Sponsor

Pillans Point School would like to thank our featured sponsor - Barfoot & Thompson - for their support.

Click the image below to contact our local agent, and view their listings.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Keeping Ourselves Safe

Report from the EPro8 Team

On the 20th of May, the Pillans Point School EPro8 team "PPS Big Brain Builders" and "PPS Expert Engineer" competed in the Interschool Competition held at Ōtūmoetai Intermediate School. EPro8 is a competition that combines electronics and mechanisms with a lot of engineering. You have to connect metal rods of various lengths with joiners to match the provided dimensions and build your selected challenge. Along with the hardware, you have to make software using electronics such as motors, radio transmitters, and receivers. The "PPS Big Brain Builders" chose the Mario Kart, and the "PPS Expert Engineers" chose the Scissor Lift. As a result, the "PPS Expert Engineers" came 4th with 200 points, and the "PPS Big Brain Builders" came 3rd with 205 points, being the first Pillans Point team to advance to the Waikato & Bay of Plenty Interschool Final. Both teams worked exceptionally and got a great result.

The "PPS Big Brain Builders" were Logan H, Riley M, Kyle D, and Madison P.

The "PPS Expert Engineers" were Sungju P, Serina M-S, Patrick W, and Olivia S.

Book Fair

Thank you to all the students who purchased books from our Book Fair, held on the 18th, 19th, and 21st of May. The fair was very successful, with total sales reaching $3,456.00.

As a result, we are able to select 30% of this amount in books for our library, equating to $1,035.00 worth of books and 78 books in total.

Because we hold Book Fairs in both May and November, we have also received $180.00 worth of free books for a prize draw — providing four books for each syndicate.

A special thank you also goes to the parents who helped with the running of the Book Fair. Your support and assistance are greatly appreciated.

Cellphones and Smart Watches

A reminder that cellphones and smartwatches with a communication or recording function (capable of calls, texts, or camera) are not permitted at school. This helps ensure our classroom environments are distraction-free and focused on learning.

We understand that parents use these devices for peace of mind, but for a number of safety reasons, all communication during the school day must come through the school office. This ensures that school policies and procedures, including health and safety protocols, are followed correctly by staff in a timely way.

In circumstances where your child may require a cellphone or smartwatch for travel to and from school, students are able to hand this to their teacher for safekeeping when they arrive, and collect it at the end of the day.

If your child has a specific need that requires an exemption, such as medical monitoring, please email Jacq, so we can make appropriate arrangements: jacq@pillanspoint.school.nz

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our classrooms safe, calm, and focused for all students.

School Fundraiser - Tickets on sale now!

Buy Tickets Here

East Cluster Cross Country

A stellar day was had at Waipuna Park for the East Cluster Cross Country Championships. Our team of 46 runners showed incredible heart, resilience, and support for one another throughout the day. Creating a positive experience for every athlete was our key focus, and it was awesome to see the team embrace that spirit from start to finish. A special thanks to our volunteer marshals for helping make the day possible.

Our focus now shifts to the WBOP Championships next month, where we’ll have another strong team representing us proudly.

Bake Shack Pie Fundraiser

The PTA have organised the fabulous and very popular Bake Shack Pie Fundraiser again. A brochure and order form has been issued to each child.

Please place your order through the school website with the link below. Please keep hold of your order form so you know who has ordered.

Orders must be in by June 10th. Collection is from school on Wednesday 17th in the hall between 2:45pm and 3:15pm. They need to be collected at this time as they are fresh items. Please bring a bag for collection.

Place Orders Here

PTA Disco

Get ready to glow at the Sno Disco!

Wear your coolest white outfit, bring your best dance moves, and join your friends for an awesome night of music, pizza, face paint and fun.

Tickets are $5 and available now via the shop on the school website — get yours now!

Buy Tickets Here

School Speed Zone Update

Kia ora koutou,

Improving road safety near schools

We’re reducing speed limits outside Tauranga schools during drop-off and pick-up times to make it safer for people to move around.

Tauranga City Council resolved to reduce speed limits outside school gates following a review of the safety risks and strong community support for lower speed limits.

Speed is a critical factor in whether a crash is avoidable or, if it does happen, how serious it is. Speed limits have a key role to play in keeping people safe, especially people walking and cycling.

As our roads become increasingly busy, the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and children is of increasing concern. The roads outside schools are often perceived as dangerous for children, with school communities concerned about the speed of vehicles travelling past their school, drivers not stopping at zebra crossings, or insufficient gaps to enable school patrols to put out signs.

Introducing variable speed limits

We’ve developed a speed management plan that will see a 30km/h variable speed zone outside school gates during school drop-off and pick-up times. This is a change from our original speed management plan which proposed a 40km/h variable speed zone and follows a Ministry of Transport amendment for the setting of speed limits in late 2024.

We’ll activate the new 30km/h variable speed limit on a rolling basis between late May and June 2026. All signs are planned to be operational by July 2026. You can read more about the speed management plan at letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/saferspeeds.

In the Pillans Point School zone (see map attached), the new 30km/h variable speed limit will apply between 8:20am to 9:00am and 3:00pm to 3:20pm. Outside of those times, the variable speed limit will revert to the normal permanent speed limit.

Thank you for helping keep our children safe on our roads. If you have any questions, please email saferspeeds@tauranga.govt.nz.

Ngā mihi

Azad Singh

Project Manager

Tauranga City Council

New Netsafe Resource: The Digital Guardian Guide

Being online is a normal part of life for young people, but navigating the digital world doesn’t always come with an instruction manual.

That’s why Netsafe has launched the Digital Guardian Guide, a free multimedia resource designed to support parents, caregivers, whānau and trusted adults as they help young people navigate digital life with greater confidence.

Created in response to the increasing complexity of online spaces, the Guide explores both everyday online experiences and emerging challenges, including social media, gaming, AI, algorithms, and online harm. Rather than focusing solely on rules and restrictions, the Digital Guardian Guide encourages connection, understanding, and ongoing conversations as the foundation for online safety.

The Guide includes:

• Short-form videos and easy-to-follow explainers

• Podcasts featuring expert and rangatahi perspectives

• Interactive tools and activities

• Conversation starters, practical resources and more

Designed to support families at every stage of digital life, the resource can help when:

• A young person is getting their first phone or device

• Something online doesn’t feel quite right

• A caregiver is unsure how to start a conversation

• Support is needed after something online has already happened

The Digital Guardian Guide is designed to help trusted adults feel more prepared, informed, and supported through all these moments and more, no technology expertise required.

You may also begin seeing Digital Guardian Guide materials appearing in libraries nationwide and across Netsafe’s social media channels as the campaign continues rolling out across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Explore the Guide Here

SchoolDocs - Policies

After-School Programmes

What’s Happening At sKids – Term 2

Explore our Term 2 programme at sKids!

We have a jam-packed programme of activities this term including creative recycled play , Mother’s Day crafts , Global Games Week , dance and movement , and finishing off the term with the Great sKids Bake Off

Plus, two more exciting new programmes launching at our Stay and Play sessions on Wednesdays!

From 6 May, Move Masters brings energy, confidence and skill-building together as we explore active play , sport foundations and movement challenges. We’ll build strength , coordination and resilience through fun drills, teamwork games and creative motion activities.

Then, from 10 June, Taste Trek is a hands-on learning experience through planting, cooking and tasting activities. Children will learn about food groups, where food comes from, seasonal produce , healthy choices and how it supports wellbeing.

And of course… we’re celebrating our birthday all year round!

To celebrate 30 years of sKids, sites will enjoy themed celebrations including talent shows , art projects, dress-up days , cultural events and sports challenges. There will also be opportunities to share photos, videos and stories nationwide.

Check out the sKids website for more details!