Message from the Executive Principal

Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요  

What a brilliant term we have had! From camps to arts performances and great learning in the classroom, our students have excelled by challenging themselves to give their best at every opportunity. A visit from the Easter Bunny this morning was a fun way for students to be welcomed for the last day of term. 

Academically, we have seen students making excellent progress over the term, and I hope you have all enjoyed the opportunity to meet with teachers over the last two weeks. While a holiday is well-earned, steps for improvement must be acted upon when we return to school.  

Our Year 4 students had a great time at their first overnight school camp this week. With only a little rain over the three days, there were many activities to build connections and encourage personal growth, although the real highlight seemed to have been roasting marshmallows! I appreciate the effort of our parent volunteers and staff in helping to build great memories. 

Duke of Edinburgh students working toward gold and silver have been busy over the last two weeks with practice expeditions, and the last group is due to return tomorrow. We have been able to celebrate two past students who recently completed their Gold Award, and we look forward to seeing our current students grow towards this highly regarded qualification. 

An excellent summer sports season has set us up well for success through the winter terms, with our young athletes showing great determination in training and competition. A well-balanced life will see people enjoying a range of activities while maintaining a focus on academic development. We place great value on holistic development at Pinehurst and it is positive to see so many students embodying this value. 

Early next term, I will share dates for consultation meetings regarding the school’s site master plan. This project represents an exciting step on our journey that will have a lasting impact on the school community. Your views are an important part of this process, and I look forward to working with you. 

Last Sunday, it was great to see so many of you, students and parents, participating in the Shore to Shore run. With over 460 people representing the school, I felt very proud of our community, and I particularly enjoyed seeing the encouragement our older students offered to our younger ones. Thank you to everyone involved and to Carmen Stella for leading our involvement. 

Please remember that classes resume on Tuesday, 29 April and that extended absence from school during term time must be officially recorded as ‘Unexplained’ for school records.  

With this afternoon's fine weather forecast, I look forward to seeing many of you at the House BBQ. I hope you all have an enjoyable break and that the school holidays, along with the public holidays, give you a chance to spend quality time together as a family. 

I hope you all enjoy the weekend ahead.

Best wishes,
Mike Waller

Message from the Principal of College

Students Steer Toward Safety at Inspiring RYDA Workshop

Year 12 and 13 students had the privilege of attending the award winning RYDA workshop, and it was a wonderful experience where we got to learn different aspects of road safety and how to keep ourselves and others safe on the road.

The RYDA workshop included six different interactive sessions where groups rotated around. We got to hear the story of a crash victim and had the chance to ask her questions and understand the crash factors that existed. We were able to roleplay different driving scenarios where we experimented with different moods and emotions and learnt how this impacted your driving. 

The ‘I’ in Drive taught us not to be afraid to speak up when you’re the passenger in a car and your safety is on the line. Thank you to RYDA for making this experience so enjoyable and enhancing our knowledge of road safety.  

Toi o te wiki

Toi o te wiki this week has been created by Year 13 student, Olivia.

For her A Level Art and Design coursework folio, Olivia is examining the expression of human instinctual ways of being through her work. This oil painting, titled 'Innocence', explores the nature of purity that exists in all beings and suggests the fleeting nature of innocence. 

'The hand that reaches out to grasp the light briefly holds onto her incandescent purity and innocence —just as day will always arrive and night must inevitably fall.  No one can truly overturn light and darkness. The chaotic nature of the mundane world wraps around people unknowingly; even if one ultimately descends into "darkness," the human spirit once bathed instinctively in light."

Oliva - Year 13. 

Thank you for sharing your ideas and talents with us, Olivia.

Your work is thoughtful and beautiful.

Auckland Secondary School Climbing Series - Round 1 Results

Over the weekend, Round 1 of the Auckland Secondary School Climbing Series took place at Extreme Edge in Panmure. This exciting event marked the beginning of the 2025 series, with climbers from across the region testing their skills in a top rope competition.

Pinehurst was proudly represented in the Year 9-10 Boys category by Noah R and Xavier W-W. Both athletes gave it their all on the wall, climbing with focus, strength, and determination.

Xavier delivered an outstanding performance, placing 1st overall in the Year 9-10 Boys competition. His experience and control on the wall were evident as he claimed the top spot in a highly competitive field. Xavier will be looking to maintain his strong form and dominance throughout the remainder of the series.

Noah, new to the climbing scene, also put in a fantastic effort and finished in 35th place – a commendable achievement for his first event. His natural ability and willingness to challenge himself are already shining through, and we look forward to seeing his progression in the coming rounds.

The next event in the series will be a boulder competition, set to take place in Term 2 at Northern Rocks. We’re excited to see how our climbers adapt to the new format and continue their success in the series. Well done, Xavier and Noah!

Auckland Secondary Schools Orienteering Sprint Finals

The Sprint Finals were held on Sunday for competitors who had qualified in the top 10 of their age group after five weeks of the exciting Sprint Series competition.

Seven students from Pinehurst (Lavender, Doris, Celina, Joel, Ben, Dev, and Zachary) competed in two runs: one in the morning at Macleans College and another in the afternoon at St Kentigern College.

Both courses were challenging and long, set in locations that had never been run by Pinehurst students before, with a few surprises along the way. These included map flips for Year 9 competitors, 31 controls for Seniors, and even some forest orienteering thrown in. There were some great performances from everyone, especially in the afternoon run.

The Most Consistent Award goes to Doris. After finishing second four times in the five-week series, Doris made it into the Top 10 in her age group at the Finals, placing 7th in the first run at Macleans College. Starting from the quarantine area at St Kent’s (for the morning top 10 runners), she then placed 7th overall in the Year 9 Girls category. Well done, Doris!

Year 7s Decode the Digital World with Image Compression Challenge

Our Year 7 Digital Technology students recently took on the challenge of learning about image compression, focusing on a method called Run Length Encoding (RLE). As part of their lesson, they worked collaboratively to decode compressed image data and reconstruct the original images.

Working in teams, each group was responsible for decoding a section of the image using the RLE technique. Once all the parts were completed, they came together to assemble the full picture—just like a digital puzzle!

This hands-on activity not only helped students understand how images are stored and transmitted efficiently, but also encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and a deeper appreciation for how technology works behind the scenes.

Well done to all involved!

Good luck to our Science Olympiad Students

We would like wish good luck to Oren, Kelly and Sissi as they attend the Biology and Chemistry Olympiad Selection Camps over the break.

Oren is hoping to make the New Zealand Biology Olympiad team while Kelly and Sissi are competing for places on the New Zealand Chemistry Olympiad teams.

To make it this far these remarkable students have already demonstrated that they are among the very best young science students in New Zealand. We wish them the best of luck and hope they enjoy this amazing opportunity.

Year 8 Speech Finals: Powerful Voices on the Theme of Conflict

The Year 8 Speech Competition took place on Wednesday in the theatre. Over the past two weeks, all Year 8 students wrote and delivered speeches in English class, around the theme of ‘Conflict’.

From these presentations, six students were selected by their English teachers for the competition. The speakers faced a challenging task: presenting their speeches in front of the whole Year 8 cohort. Mrs. Coombridge, Mrs. Schulte, and Miss Woodall had the tough job of judging the competition and determining the winners.

The six students and their speech topics were:

• Abbygrace W – "Why You Shouldn’t Bully"
• Daniel K – "How Social Media Fuels Conflict Both Online and in Real Life"
• Mimie L – "Why Adults Create Conflict Out of Anything"
• Natalie W – "Why Learning to Resolve Conflict Matters for Our Future"
• Serena Y – "Why Waking Up Early Should Be Illegal"
• Oliver F– "Why We Need to Act on Climate Change"

All the speakers demonstrated remarkable confidence and enthusiasm in their presentations. A special congratulations to Serena Y for securing 1st place, Mimie L for 2nd place, and Daniel K for 3rd place!

We eagerly look forward to hearing more outstanding speeches from the Year 7 and Year 9 students in Term 2.

Pinehurst Students Shine in the Blues Student Leadership Programme

This year, Pinehurst was honoured to be part of the Blues Student Leadership Programme, a unique opportunity that brought together young leaders from across Auckland to learn, grow, and be inspired through sport. Over four Thursdays throughout Term 1, ten of our outstanding student sport leaders represented our school with pride and passion. These students were chosen not only for their performance in sport but for their outstanding contributions to our school community as student coaches and referees.

Throughout the programme, they’ve engaged in a series of workshops focused on career planning, nutrition, different types of leadership, and strategies for overcoming challenges. The group will finish with a session in Term 3 and reflect on how they have implemented their learning in their own environment.

A highlight for many was hearing directly from Blues players themselves, who shared powerful stories of their own journeys — including the setbacks they’ve faced, how they’ve stayed focused under pressure, and how they lead within a high-performance team environment.

It’s been a transformative experience, equipping our students with skills and insights that go far beyond the field.

Last week, Sky Sport and Seven Sharp shone a spotlight on this fantastic initiative — and our Pinehurst students were right in the middle of it all! Some of our Pinehurst students also got the opportunity to be in the Guard of Honour at last week’s Blue’s match at Eden Park.

Our Pinehurst Student Sport Leaders:
• Ivy R
• Callum M
• Lucas G-C
• Andrew G
• Jasmin J
• Alistair R
• Zoe L
• Tilly W
• Deonna Q
• Douglas B

We are incredibly proud of these students for representing Pinehurst with excellence, heart, and leadership. We can’t wait to see where their journey takes them next and we know they will continue to lead at Pinehurst within our sporting teams.

Facing Adversity – Year 9 Camp

Our Year 9 students and staff faced some challenges with mother nature last week for our annual “Out There” Year 9 Camp.

Like other 'Education Outside The Classroom' (EOTC) experiences, the Year 9 camp is designed to promote holistic growth of our students. They encountered a range of experiences that challenged them physically, mentally, emotionally and socially – especially towards the end of the week when the weather turned.

Navigating adverse situations in the outdoors translates to resilience and adaptability in various environments such as the classroom, playground, sports field, stage, and at home. Our external providers consistently comment on how resilient and adaptable Pinehurst students are, especially at such a young age as Year 9. 

Message from the Principal of Primary

Exciting Adventures at Butterfly Creek!

This term, Year 2 went on an unforgettable journey to Butterfly Creek as part of our Science unit on animals and their habitats. The day began with an enthusiastic bus ride, filled with chatter and anticipation. Upon arrival, a special guide introduced us to a bearded dragon and several other small reptiles. The children were fascinated by these unique creatures and learned a lot about their habitats and features.

Next, we hopped on a train that took us around the park, where we encountered some enormous dinosaur statues. The lifelike statues sparked the imaginations of all the students, making them feel as though they had travelled back in time.

One of our favourite parts was watching Goldie the Crocodile at feeding time. The children were in awe as they watched the crocodile's powerful jaws in action!

Another highlight of our trip was the butterfly house. The warm, humid environment was perfect for the butterflies, and we had to stay very quiet to encourage them to land on us. The children were delighted when the delicate creatures fluttered around them, creating a magical experience.

Our trip to Butterfly Creek was a fantastic experience that brought our science learning to life, and the children had an amazing time exploring and learning about the world of animals. A big thank you to our wonderful parent helpers who helped make it an enjoyable experience. 

P16 Debate on Saving Endangered Species

P16 recently showcased their debating skills in a lively discussion on whether to save endangered species. The debate featured passionate arguments from both sides, with one team emphasising the importance of biodiversity and ethical responsibility, while the opposing team highlighted the need to prioritize human welfare and development. After completing research in this topic area, students came prepared with arguments for and against. This debate not only highlighted the students' critical thinking abilities but also their engagement with important global issues. They will use some of these key points to write a balanced argument in their big write this week.

Here are some of the points that were raised:

For

“Species interactions maintain the balance of ecosystems. Losing one species can disrupt food chains and ecological processes” – Katlynn.

Against

“Conservation efforts can be costly, and some argue that resources could be better spent on pressing human needs like healthcare and education” – Rex.

P19 Launch Creativity into Orbit with Space-Inspired Collages

P19 students were tasked with designing and assembling a collage inspired by space exploration. Once completed, they were encouraged to give their creation a title and craft a unique, imaginative blurb to describe its artistic vision.

Gabrina, Caroline and Elina created Space Junk - This collage was made to represent space junk. We wanted to show people how much space junk was in space and hope that in the future people learn to clean up not just earth but space. In this way we will continue to celebrate space travel. We used the medium of Collage using: pipe cleaners, bottle caps, sponge, tin foil, and paint.

Charlotte, Lisa, Kasey created Unknown space - To bring this artwork to life, we incorporated materials such as newspaper, baking paper, paint, tinfoil, and string. The piece symbolizes how perseverance in exploring the uncharted depths of space inevitably leads to remarkable discoveries. Looking ahead, humanity will uncover ways to land on mysterious planets and venture into distant galaxies, pushing the boundaries of exploration.

Miranda and Daisy created Space Odyssey- We crafted this space collage using felt fabric, tinfoil, bubble wrap, and textured paper to create its distinctive look. Its purpose is to honour space travel and its role in deepening our understanding of the world. Moving forward, we aim to keep how we see space simple and avoid unnecessary complexity.

Junda and Vincent created Alien attacks- They came to attack however through showing good values and welcoming nature they settled into New Zealand (they didn’t like USA) life and enjoyed the seafood. Materials glad wrap, tin foil and bubble wrap.

Year 4 Camp at Peter Snell Youth Village: A Memorable Adventure!

We are thrilled to share some photos of our recent Year 4 camp at Peter Snell Youth Village. The two-night adventure was packed with excitement, learning, and unforgettable experiences for our students. Adventure and teamwork were themes for the camp. The students rotated through a series of activities, each designed to challenge and entertain.

Some particular activities were:

• Waterslide: The waterslide was a huge hit! The students couldn't get enough of the exhilarating ride down the slide, splashing into the cool water below.
• Archery: Under the guidance of experienced instructors, the students tried their hand at archery. It was wonderful to see their concentration and determination as they aimed for the bullseye.
• Slug Guns: Safety was our top priority as the students learned to handle slug guns. They enjoyed the target practice and celebrated their hits with high-fives and a leaderboard.
• Initiative Course: This course session was a favourite among many students. They strategized and worked together in teams, showcasing their competitive spirit and camaraderie.
• Frisbee Golf: Combining the fun of frisbee with the challenge of golf, this activity was a great way for the students to practice their throwing skills while navigating the course.
• Burma Trail: The Burma Trail was a thrilling experience for the students. Navigating through the trail through the bush in the dark, they relied on their senses to make it through.
• Bivouac Building: The students had a fantastic time learning how to build bivouacs. Using a range of materials, they worked in teams to construct shelters, showcasing their creativity and resourcefulness.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our parent volunteers who made this camp possible. The Year 4 Teachers are proud of our Year 4 students for their enthusiasm, teamwork, and positive attitude throughout the camp. This experience has undoubtedly created lasting memories and valuable life skills.

Riddles, Reading, and Chinese Characters: A Busy and Brilliant Term for Senior Primary!

It's been a very busy term for our senior primary students. Learning different reading strategies and working out the best way to memorise Chinese characters. Year 5 students worked hard in finishing their self-introductions before the term ends. We will continue to build these profiles through the year.

We ended the term with a House event organised by our Year 6 leaders. Each day of the week we had a different year group solving riddles that Year 6 students had prepared. A House point was awarded for each riddle solved. Much fun was had by all and the Year 6 students did a fantastic job in helping and supporting the younger students read the riddles.

Here are some samples of riddles for you to solve –

1. What has holes but still holds water?  
2. It belongs to you, but your friends use it more. What is it?
3. I have keys but can't unlock locks. I have space but don't have rooms. You can enter but you can't exit. What am I?
4. I am something that you have but you can’t touch, you can change me whenever you want, you use me every day but you never see me. What am I?
5. 什么东西总是陪着你并且可以被叫出来以引起你的注意？
6. 我每年的庆祝活动都充满了食物，我是什么？
7. 我是你拥有但不能碰到的东西，你可以随时改变，你每天都在使用但从来没有见过我。我是什么？
8. 什么有洞但仍然能装水？

P11 Science Spotlight – Learning About the Human Heart

This week in science, P11 have been exploring human organs. We started with one of our most important organs, the heart.

We have learned that the heart is about the size of our fist and that it is found in the centre of the chest. It is a muscle that works non-stop to pump blood to every part of the body. We were amazed to calculate that a human heart beats around 115,000 times every day!

We discussed how scientists use models to learn more about organs. Then, we created our very own working heart model using a jam jar, red-coloured water, a balloon, and straws. This demonstrated how the heart pumps blood and how valves help control the flow.

P11 now not only understand more about how the heart works where it is, but also what it looks like! It is definitely not heart-shaped, it is more like an upside down pear!

Irina: “It was a really good to make a model because it looked like real blood.”

Liam: "I learned that the heart is the size of a fist and it works all the time without stopping!"

Jasper: "We made a heart model and when we pushed the balloon, it pumped the red water out like real blood!"

Nathaniel: "The heart is in the middle of your chest, not on the left."

Katherine: "Our hearts beat around 115,000 times every day. When we run, our hearts beat faster because our body needs more oxygen and energy."

Pinehurst Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Hours

A reminder that from the start of Term 2 ALL students across Primary and College are required to wear winter school uniform. Our Uniform Shop will be open over the school holidays as per the below times:

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEK 1

• Wednesday 16 APRIL: 9:30-12:30, 1:00-3:30
• Thursday 17 APRIL: 9:30-12:30, 1:00-3:30

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS WEEK 2

• Wednesday 23 APRIL: 9:30-12:30, 1:00-3:30
• Thursday 24 APRIL: 9:30-12:30, 1:00-3:30
   
• Monday 28 APRIL (Teacher Only Day): 9:30-12:30, 1:00-3:30

Regular operating hours will resume from Tuesday onward.

If you have any questions, please email uniform@pinehurst.school.nz. Wishing you a wonderful holiday!  

Pinehurst Shines at Shore to Shore

What an amazing turnout from the Pinehurst community at this year’s Shore to Shore 5km fun run/walk! With perfect weather, a buzzing atmosphere, and smiles all around, it was fantastic to see so many families, students, and staff taking part in this much-loved event.

Our Pinehurst tent was a hive of activity, and the sausage sizzle was a big hit—thank you to everyone who helped on the BBQ and cheered from the sidelines. Events like these remind us of the strength and spirit of our community, and we’re proud to have represented Pinehurst with such energy and enthusiasm.

A big thank you to all who joined us—we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Nicholas Makes a Splash with 7 Golds at Waikato Junior Swimming Champs!

We are incredibly proud of Nicholas, who competed at the Swimming Waikato Junior Championship last weekend in the 9 and under age group. He delivered an outstanding performance—bringing home 7 gold medals and 1 silver medal.

His success is a testament to his talent, dedication, and sportsmanship. Congratulations, Nicholas, on an exceptional achievement—we look forward to following your continued success in the pool!