News and events for the week ending 1st March 2019 Friday 1st March 2019 Opening words from the Executive PrincipalKia ora tatou, good afternoon, 你好 The weather was just right at Millennium Stadium today: our whole College spent the day running, jumping and throwing at our annual Athletics Day. There were some fabulous performances – we have some amazing athletes – and I was delighted to see that so many students took part in so many events. This week, we have also taken the whole of Year 7 to Auckland Museum to learn, amongst other things, about our Pacific ancestry; a group of Year 10-13 Art students have spent time at Auckland Gallery; and, on Wednesday after school, our Senior House Captains and Prefects organized a sausage sizzle, a bouncy castle and – I hesitate to add this – a little gumboot throwing. There was a water slide too, so I apologise if any of your children came home a little wet, or a little soapy. Next week sees our final Primary Camp for the year, as the Year 4 students head up to Whangaparoa. It’s always a great camp, and I’d like to say a big thank you in advance to the parent helpers involved. We also have a Year 10 Geography field trip, and a meeting for the re-launch of our USA Basketball tour. This is aimed at Year 10-13 students, and the evening is on Wednesday at 6.30 pm. It’s one of a number of overseas tours that we will be launching in the next couple of months, so please keep a look out! Mr Verryt is the person to ask if you have any questions about the tours. It has been an unusual couple of days for me. On Thursday, I spent the day with some Aspiring Principals in Wellington, talking about my experiences since I arrived at Pinehurst eighteen months ago, and listening to more experienced Principals, including Tim Oughton, who is retiring from Kristin at the end of June. A very valuable day. This morning I attended an Auckland Secondary Principals’ meeting with the people who are leading the review of schools in New Zealand. There were a range of views expressed, and I hope that the review can be conducted in a positive, collaborative way. The good news is that it won’t affect us: there may well be changes in state schools, but we will continue to develop our school in the way that we choose. Finally, the Annual General Meeting is coming up towards the end of March, and we will be sending out the Annual Report a week or so before the meeting, as well as publishing it on our website. A number of you have asked about different aspects of this, so I thought I’d let you know that it’s on the way. Have a lovely weekend. WEEK 6 Monday 4th March
Tuesday 5th March
Wednesday 6th March
Friday 8th March
WEEK 7 Monday 11 March
Tuesday 12 March
Wednesday 13 March
Thursday 14 March
如需阅读校长的中文留言和重要事件日期,请点击此处 Kia Ora, By the time this newsletter is being read our College Athletics Day will have concluded. This is always a really enjoyable day with high levels of participation from students across years 7 to 13. Many students have told me that they are planning to enter at least 5 events. A great deal of planning goes in to ensuring a day like this is such a success and well done to every student who took part, running, jumping and throwing. It’s been another busy week of activities. Two major visits involved Art and Design students visiting Auckland Art Gallery and Year 7 students spending the day at Auckland museum. These events are important to us at Pinehurst. They provide valuable experiences designed to enrich and enhance the work that goes on in a classroom. Well done to our senior student leaders who organised Wednesday’s House BBQ. This was a great opportunity for students to let their hair down and have some fun after school. This week we have finalised the members of the 5 councils, Arts, Citizenship, Environmental, Sports and Student Council. Well done and thank you to every student who put themselves forward. These councils play an increasingly important role in the life of our school. I am really pleased that so many students have opted in to our scholarship programme. This year senior students will have the opportunity to study for scholarship courses in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Design Technology, Drama, English Literature, Geography, Economics, Music and Physics. These programmes are intended to challenge students. We are currently setting up an extension programme that will enable Year 10 students to complete an IGCSE Combined Science programme. There will be more information available on this next week. This week we farewell Linda Gair after 13 years of service to the school. During this period every student who attended our Junior College will have been taught by Ms Gair and had the opportunity to share in her passion and enthusiasm for Art. We wish her all the very best for her future. Ngā mihi, Chris Wiggin and Kieran Verryt Principals of College Year 7-8 Winter Hockey & Netball Registrations – closing soonA friendly reminder that registrations for Year 7-8 Winter Netball & Hockey will be closing soon. We have extended registrations over the weekend – these will now close at 3pm on Monday 4th March. Please note - any late registration enquiries for Hockey or Netball after this date will be subject to team availability. You can find all the information about the season (including copies of the information letters) on our website here. To register, please click here. Year 7-8 Inter-house Swimming 2019Last week our Year 7-8 students made their way to the Northern Arena Pool for the annual Junior College Interhouse Swimming Event. There was outstanding house spirit on display this year, with skirts, masks, aliens, banners, coloured hair, flags and some amazing house chants! Mr Johansen also introduced a new house ‘noodle’ relay which was lots of fun! Well done to Kauri who were the overall winning house for JC Swimming 2019! Congratulations to all students who took part, and a special mention to the students who were the overall medal winners in 2019, and to our new record holders Jack Potier & Jasmine Lyles who each broke 2 long standing records on the day. Last, but certainly not least, our sincere thanks to all the parents who assisted us on the day, with a very special mention to Brad & Melissa Potier (Judges) for your time and expert knowledge. For additional photos of the day and full event results, please see our Pinehurst Facebook Sports Page College BBQThis year’s House BBQ was organised by the Year 13 leaders. The event took place on Wednesday afternoon and it was a huge success with everyone who attended. The Senior College students came dressed in their house colours and took part in a variety of activities such as the three legged race, a water-slide, an inflatable obstacle course and an egg and spoon race. In addition to that, students were treated to a free sausage sizzle and ice cream. Year 7 Museum TripOn Thursday Year 7 were lucky enough to go and explore the Auckland Museum. They have been learning about Polynesian - Early to Modern Maori, and were given the task to complete a mini documentary on one of the exhibitions that they discovered. Students directed, acted and investigated to find some very interesting information. Our group also participated in a guided learning session. Students became scholars and learnt about DNA evidence proving the origins of Polynesians and Maori in NZ. They have roots from China, Taiwan, Papa New Guinea and Australia! Then they searched the landscape for resources used by early Maori, finding how they adapted and changed to their environment and the people around them. It was an exceptional day. A special thank you to the parent helpers who made this experience possible. Year 9 Musical Heritage ProjectYear 9 students are currently doing their music rotation, through their Musical Heritage presentation this week. Students were issued with a task to get to know the musical instruments and general characteristics that come from their heritage. Brazil, Venezuela, Korea, China, Russia, Whales, Germany, and Scotland are some of the many countries we have covered so far. Although our students come from far and wide, it quickly became evident that many of the instruments are very similar or exactly the same but are known under different labels, and then there were some very different ones to anything else we have seen before. Philip Lykov, presented to the class music from Siberia and the Jaw Harp, which had the jaw-dropping effect on the class he was hoping for. To see the Jaw Harp in action, click here. Year 10 DramaThis term the students are learning Shakespeare group scenes. Lockie and J’Aimee tackle the twosome of Beatrice and Benedick from 'Much Ado about Nothing'. Annie, Zahra and Brianna form the ladies from the Capulet clan. Brie, Evan and Frankie will show how to 'Tame a Shrew' while Emily manipulates Alyssa in the scene between Lago and Othello. Last, but certainly never least, Joey and Roza bring a glimmer of glitz as the royal rumbling romantic leads, Titania and her Oberon. We had a particularly fun day in the sun getting in full Elizabethan garb and frolicking outside! Year 10 HistoryThis week in Year 10 History the students were put into pairs and each given a topic to debate about the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Each pair did really well to research their topic and come up with arguments for their side even if they didn't necessarily agree with it. It was great to see the depth of knowledge the students have and how passionate they get while debating. Year 13 BiologyLogan, Harry and Luke extracting pigments from plant material Subin and Isobel investigating separation of chloroplast pigments Yijie runs a chromatogram of silverbeet extract to identify chloroplast pigments Pinehurst GolfThe Pinehurst top golf team continued their unbeaten run last Monday at the Pupuke Golf Club. They comfortably beat Westlake Boys, with all our players putting in a solid performance. Our second team were not able to secure a win against Wentworth. Despite the loss, Luke Ho and Towa Usui played an excellent nine holes. Daniel Fang, our youngest and least experienced player, was not able to match the scores of his team-mates but is gaining experience each week he plays. Introducing Pinehurst #2 Luke Ho (16 years old, Year 13) Luke came to Pinehurst this year from Westlake Boys. He has been playing golf for five years. His best friend from Singapore, who plays golf, came to visit him in New Zealand and that was how Luke started in golf. His handicap is 6.7 and he practices about four times a week. Towa Usui (14 years old, Year 10) Towa started golf two years ago. His mother asked him whether he would like to learn piano or golf. Towa chose golf. He practices every day and has a handicap of 8.3. He has won a number of smaller tournaments and is a valuable member of the second team. Daniel Fang (12 years old, Year 9) Daniel has been playing golf for one year. His father organised some lessons for him and that was how he started. Daniel practices most days and he has a handicap of 20.7, which he hopes to reduce to 10 by the end of the year. He trains once a week but also enjoys basketball. Kalan Evans (11 years old, Year 8) Kalan started golf one year ago. His grandfather and his parents played, so he naturally tagged along. Kalan won the 2018 Junior College Sportsman of the Year Award and is an all-round sportsman. He has a handicap of 37.1, which is only the beginning for him. Kia Ora, I have been reminded many times this week why I love working with Primary children. They have a raw passion for life and have not yet learned to hold back and keep their feelings to themselves. They have very few filters and they will tell you exactly what they are thinking, there are tears sometimes but usually laughter and lots and lots of smiles. The times that have stood out this week are the leadership assembly and how proud our students were to go up to the front and get their badges. Parents and family members were so pleased to see their children take on the job of leading the Primary, and younger students who are not yet leaders, were inspired by their peers to one day be the person receiving a leadership badge. Congratulations to all of our Primary leaders for 2019. Other magical moments were at Bubbles Day which was organised by Mrs Jones Hill and our brand new leaders. The fields were a sea of bubbles enjoyed by 5 year olds to 50 year olds alike and especially it seems by the College students who came over to help as part of their service awards but actually spent more time chasing after their own bubbles! The Primary/College sharing afternoon is always a highlight and very much anticipated by both parts of the school, again far too much fun on the climbing frame by the College students but they did let us get a look in every now and again. Some were painting planets, drawing pictures and coming up with fun games. Others were taking photos of their favourite places in school using the iPads but for everyone it was a chance to connect and for our younger students to spend some time with the people they look up to. When you have a Primary aged child it seems hard to imagine what they will be like when they grow up, as parents we have so many dreams for them and as teachers we hope we have been an influential part of their journey. It was fantastic to see some ex students yesterday at Linda Gair’s farewell. They joined us in the Primary, went through to the College and now are leading exciting and successful lives, travelling the world, experiencing life and following their passions. It’s a great gift to get a big hug and know that you have been a little part of their journey so far. Kia pai tō rā whakatā. Sian Coxon, Principal of Primary Primary Winter Hockey & Netball Registrations – closing soonA friendly reminder that registrations for Year 1-6 Winter Netball & Hockey will be closing soon. We have extended registrations over the weekend – these will now close at 3pm on Monday 4th March. Please note - any late registration enquiries for Hockey or Netball after this date will be subject to team availability. You can find all the information about the season (including copies of the information letters) on our website here. To register, please click here. Year 3 CampAfter much excitement and wonderment, the day had finally come. The Year 3 cohort were off to Camp Maynard. Thursday was jammed packed with fun, challenging activities. The confidence course created lots of apprehension before camp. However, every student that came to camp gave it a go and did the absolute best they could do. Water archery was a hit, literally! After shooting the target, the area became a big water fight. There was some very strategic planning from a few of the teams and an ambush even took place. The kite making, and the bush art were also a success. The kites were guaranteed to fly, and they all did. Students created some creative pieces of art from what they collected in the bush. On Friday, the weather was a bit ominous and clouds were looming over the camp, however, everyone got to climb the climbing wall before a shower closed this activity. Many of the students were able to get to the top and ring the bell, some even managed to do their second climb blindfolded. There was totem pole making, which was a yummy activity that involved fruit and marshmallows, team games and a treasure hunt. To finish off the amazing time had by all, the teachers and fabulous parent helpers threw water balloons off the deck down to the students. If they caught the water balloon they received a treat and if they did not, they got wet! A massive thank you to our parent helpers who gave up their valuable time and energy to ensure that the 2019 Year 3 Camp was a wonderful experience for everyone. P14 BuddiesOn Thursday we had our first session with our POD buddy classes for 2019. In P14 we have been exploring the concept of tuakana-teina relationships. Tuakana-teina refers to the relationship between an older (tuakana) person and a younger (teina) person. This is a part of traditional Maori society and provides a great model for a buddy system where everyone is a teacher and a learner. We were very excited to meet Ms Perrin and our tuakana from the college. We started off with some students introducing themselves through their pepeha and asking questions to get to know each other better. The buddies then moved on to a fun ice breaker activity involving balloons! We are looking forward to our next catch up and very excited about working together during the year! Primary PEAll classes are now underway in their PE programmes for Term 1 and there are plenty of new games, skills and sports being learnt. With a focus on team building all classes have been learning skills involved in Netball and Hockey that help them to better develop their fundamental skills while also assisting those around them in team environments. Lunchtime Sports - On Tuesday we had our first lunchtime training session for Year 1-2 which was a huge success with over 50 students participating and learning the game of football, I’m looking forward to seeing them all down there again next week. Shore to Shore Fun Run - On 31st March the Shore to Shore Run starts at Takapuna Grammar and finishes at Milford Reserve. It is followed by prize giving and loads of spot prizes. Pinehurst School is kindly providing a FREE sausage sizzle and cold drinks to our participants at the Pinehurst marquee at the end of the event. Every student, family member and friend who enters the 2019 Shore to Shore, and nominates Pinehurst School on their online entry, will earn Sports Equipment Dollars that will go towards purchasing new sports equipment for the school!! CLASS PRIZE – in 2019, once again,the class with the highest number of registrations for the 2019 Shore to Shore will win an amazing prize – a CLASS TRIP to JUMP – INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK ! So make sure you register your whole family – parents, grandparents, siblings and friends! For further information and to register ONLINE please visit http://shoretoshore.co.nz/register/. Please don’t hesitate to contact jack.taylor@pinehurst.school.nz with any questions. I Spy in the PrimaryI Spy... Math in Year 6. I Spy... reading in Year 5. I Spy...little drummers in Year 1 Music. I Spy...acrobatics on the playground. I Spy...learning rhythm in Year 4. I Spy...bubbles, bubbles everywhere! Jazz Band off to a roaring startThe Jazz Band had their fourth rehearsal this week and it was a pleasure hearing them run through their current set of pieces. Ben Fernandez, their mentor, is adapting existing repertoire to suit their skill level and needs and he is writing an original piece for the band for the upcoming KBB competition in August. Road PatrolPinehurst is situated on one of the busiest roads in Albany. Our fantastic Year 10 and Year 6 children are out on the crossing every morning and afternoon, no matter what the weather, to ensure that pedestrians can cross this road safely. These students are all trained by a Police Officer before they are allowed to take on this responsibility. We also have a staff member who monitors these children each session. When arriving or leaving the school grounds, please be aware of this crossing and prepare to stop if the students put their signs out. We try very hard to let traffic flow as much as possible, though our main concern is for students who may be crossing the road. Parents Yum ChaThank you to all the parents who came along to the Pinehurst Yum Cha Luncheon on Wednesday and helped to make it a success. We truly appreciate your support. If you brought along friends or family, please thank them on our behalf. We hope to see you all at our next parent event. A big thank you to Pinehurst Parent - Johnson Jin for hosting this event at his Browns Bay Restaurant. Johnson was a gracious host who ensured our stomachs were full and parents were happy - we saw plenty of takeaway boxes going home so we know the food was enjoyed! Northern Regional Championships Surf LifesavingSenior student, Danielle Wheeler, raced in 12 races for surf canoe for Orewa Surf club and her crew won the following despite being one of the youngest teams at 15 years:
Service to NetballMarcia Hardcastle, (3rd from the right) our College Netball Coach and Coordinator was recently nominated by Netball North Harbour for a Netball New Zealand Service Award which was awarded at the NNZ AGM & Council Meeting last Saturday 23rd in Hamilton. Marcia has given 35 years to Netball and has coached our college students for since 2004. Congratulations Marcia! |