Message from Mike

Message from Sian

Primary Cross Country: Tuesday 27 May

Our annual Primary School Cross Country event will take place on the school fields on Tuesday this week. Remember to send your child to school with a full water bottle, plenty of lunch/snacks and suitable shoes for running along with their PE gear. Parents are encouraged to come along and watch, please look at SeeSaw for more detailed information around the timing of your child's race. 

An Important Message for our Year 3 Families

Some of you may be aware that the Auckland Museum is closed indefinitely due to asbestos being found. They are in the process of removing this. Due to this fact a decision has been made to CANCEL the Year 3 trip to the Auckland Museum on Friday 30 May 2025.

Thank you to everyone that volunteered to parent help. Your help will no longer be required on this day. Please be assured there will be other trips for our students to be involved in later this year and helpers will be required then. 

STEMania! Roadshow for our Year 6s

This Friday our Year 6s will have the opportunity to experience the College Science Roadshow STEMania! Combining high energy sketch comedy with improvisation to entertain and educate students, our Year 6s will learn how science is all about asking and answering questions, innovation drives technology, how engineers solve problems and how we use maths every day!

Introducing Learning Support at Pinehurst

Our Learning Support team at Pinehurst is managed by Catherine Jones-Hill, Deputy Principal of Primary. Comprised of Teacher Aides, Teaching Assistants, SENCO specialists and Learning Support Co-ordinators, they are a very talented bunch! With a hub in both Primary and College, Learning Support has a range of resources to help students in Years 1 - 13 with their learning. 

Mandarin this Term for Years 5 and 6

This week, Year 5 and 6 students began an exciting journey into the world of Chinese calligraphy (书法), a traditional art form that beautifully reflects Chinese culture, language, and values. With a history spanning thousands of years, calligraphy remains a meaningful and relevant practice today.

We are fortunate to be learning from Mr. Wang (王老师), calligrapher with over 30 years of experience in teaching Chinese painting and calligraphy. This week, 王老师 introduced not only the techniques and history of calligraphy but also the deeper values it embodies—patience, a calm and focused mind, good posture, and perseverance.

Students quickly discovered that while calligraphy is challenging and requires concentration and control, it is also deeply rewarding. They described the experience as enjoyable and satisfying and look forward to learning more in the next five weeks.

New Sports Hoodie Now Available in Uniform Shop

Get your hands on our latest Pinehurst sports hoodie at the Uniform Shop. Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00am - 10:30 and 2:30 - 4:00pm or order via the MyKindo App anytime.

Message from Dawn

Year 11 Exam Revision

Year 11 students are working hard to revise for their upcoming examinations. The below pictured Mathex style quiz required students to work in groups to recall information and race against other teams. Students are now well on their way to preparing for exams and are working hard in class to revise content and skills. Students have been taught a number of 'how to study' techniques, and it is now up to them to implement these techniques at home. 

Remember we can support our students during these periods of revision by ensuring they have regular breaks and time to relax and rest. It is vital that our children don't feel too pressured as this can be detrimental to their mindset, mental health and wellbeing. Please reach out to your child's Dean if you need advice or help if your child is struggling with feelings of pressure or overwhelm.

STEMania! for Year 7, 8 and 9: Friday 30 May

Celebrating Science & STEM in 2025, the education program STEMania! is coming to our school this week. Year 9s will experience STEMania! in the morning on Friday, with Year 7s and 8s in the afternoon. 

STEMania! combines high energy sketch comedy with improvisation to entertain and educate students through four key science-based messages where students will learn how science is all about asking and answering questions, innovation drives technology, how engineers solve problems and how we use maths every day!

Toi o te Wiki: Art examination preparations

Preparation for art examinations requires students to present their learning to date, showing their exploration and thinking. The below video captures the preparation our students are doing to ensure they are making progress and moving their ideas forward.

The creative process is always moving, always changing, and observing ideas develop is one of the greatest parts of being part of the art faculty. 

Science Fair Displays in Theatre Foyer:
Monday 26 - Wednesday 28 May

Congratulations to our Year 7 and 8 students for a fantastic Science Fair last week! We were blown away with their topics of investigation, research and methodologies, not to mention some creative and expertly presented displays.

We invite parents to view a selection of our students’ Science Fair Projects in the Theatre Foyer this week from Monday 26 May until Wednesday 28 May. 

All upcoming Term 2 events are listed on the Pinehurst Career Education website. 

• May 28, 29 4-7pm - North Shore Career Expo. No registration required, just pop over to North Harbour Stadium. Full list of exhibitors here.
• June 1 - Scholarship applications open for NZ universities
• Interested in being an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer? Complete the NZQA approved, 36-week, Level 3 Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering, then move on to an apprenticeship with Air New Zealand Engineering & Maintenance and other general aviation industry employers including Christchurch Engine Centre, Defence Force, Rocket Lab, Dawn Aerospace, Salus Aviation, Mt Hutt Aviation, Hamilton Jet & Mission Aviation Fellowship. To express your interest click here. 
• USA Applicants SAT Preparation – Register now for upcoming SAT Prep course happening in Auckland starting July 7. It's a highly-recommended course which prepares students for the digital SAT. Register here now.

North Harbour Boys Football Zone Day

A group of Year 7 and 8 students took to the field last week for the annual North Harbour Football Zone Day —and what a day it was! Under clear blue skies and shining sun, the team faced strong competition from schools across the area. Competing against Year 8 teams, our Year 7 students really stepped up, holding their own and proving they could match the intensity and skill of the older players.

Despite a challenging start with a 4–1 loss to Orewa in our first match, the team showed great resilience and spirit throughout the day finishing 14th overall. It was a great experience full of learning, teamwork, and determination. A big thank-you goes out to our coach and supporters and well done to the team for representing the school with pride!

Coffee Connect: Friday 30 May from 8.15am

On the final Friday of each month we invite parents and caregivers to enjoy a coffee on us! Come along for a free barista brew and a chance to chat with other Pinehurst parents. The distinctive black Coffee VW Kombi van will be parked directly outside reception, serving coffee orders from 8.15am - 9.15am.

Parent Consultation: Friday 30 May, 9am in Library

We’ve really enjoyed connecting with our community and sharing Pinehurst’s development plans through our recent Parent Consultations. Our final session for the term will be held this Friday 30 May at 9am in the School Library.

If you’re free on Friday, come and join us for Coffee Connect outside Reception from 8.15am, then make your way to the Library where Mike will briefly talk through the future development plans for Pinehurst. We'd like to hear your thoughts, concerns and any feedback you may have. Please RSVP here.

Harbour Sport Empowering Youth Workshop: Monday 9 June

Join Judith Quinlan, a Youth Sport Advisor from Harbour Sport for an inspiring and informative evening designed to help parents empower our kids in sports and recreation. Discover cutting-edge research, practical tips, and expert advice on energy availability and exercise, promoting healthy eating, fostering sportsmanship, and achieving a balanced sport and recreation lifestyle.

Xavier represents New Zealand in Climbing Champs

Last week, Year 9 student Xavier W-W proudly represented New Zealand at the Australian Youth Climbing National Championships, competing in the Under-15 Lead Climbing category. Against a tough international field, Xavier delivered an outstanding performance, narrowly missing the podium and finishing 5th overall - just edged out on countback.

Despite the tight result, Xavier once again cemented his reputation as one of New Zealand’s top youth climbers, consistently pushing the limits and challenging for podium finishes both at home and abroad. His commitment, strength, and technical skill continue to place him among the elite in his age group.

Well done, Xavier! We look forward to seeing where your climbing journey takes you next.