Message from Mike

You’ll notice a few small changes to our newsletter format - while it may look the same for now, we’ve shifted the focus to what’s coming up in the week ahead, rather than just recapping the week that’s been. Articles are shorter and more to the point, and you’ll see school events featured first, followed by student achievements outside the classroom. We’ve also introduced a video commentary and moved to a Sunday send-out so you’re prepared for the week ahead. A full visual refresh will come later this year - so watch this space!

Message from Sian

The NED Show is coming to Primary!

Never Give Up - Encourage Others - Do Your Best!

The NED show is coming to Pinehurst on Tuesday 13 May. This fun, engaging 45-minute show focusses on how to overcome challenges and achieve goals.

NED Yo-yos for sale this week: in P4 between 8:15am – 8:45am on Wednesday 14 May, Thursday 15 May and Friday 16 May. A unique aspect of the NED programme is its Pay-It-Forward model, with proceeds from Yo-yo sales funding future NED shows at other schools around Aotearoa.

Primary Solo and Duo Performance Showcase: Auditions close Friday 16 May

Year 3 and 4 students who would like to perform in the Primary Solo and Duo Performance Showcase should register their interest by completing this form AND upload an audition video of the student performing their piece here by Friday 16 May.

We welcome students of all ability levels and encourage a variety of instruments and music genres, including voice, to provide a balanced and entertaining programme. Please note that places are limited to 16 students and performances are limited to three minutes or less. If you have any questions, please email Mrs Jaques.

P22 and P23 Howick Historical Village Trip:
Friday 16 May

The trip will offer students a chance to see how the science curriculum connects to the real world by linking classroom concepts and processes with relevant ideas and events. The itinerary includes an introduction and morning tea upon arrival, followed by three activities, lunch, and a self-guided tour.

Reminder: We will depart from the school at 9:15am and return around 2:30pm. Students will travel to and from Howick Historical Village by bus. All students must wear their correct winter uniform, bring their lunch and a drink bottle, (please remember lunch orders will not be available on that day).

Year 6 Chelsea Sugar Factory Visit: Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 May

Our Year 6 students will visit the Chelsea Sugar Factory this week. P20 and half of P21 will go on 14 May, and P19 and the other half of P21 on 15 May.

Students will leave Pinehurst at 9:00 am and return by 1:45 pm. They will explore the working factory, learn about sugar production and even participate in a baking lesson. A visit to the educational zone to learn about food production and safety will link closely to our Global Perspectives and Well-being units of work.

Students need to bring a packed lunch (no lunch orders), water bottle, long-sleeve top, long trousers, and closed-toe shoes for safety reasons. No hair accessories or jewelry please. We look forward to hearing all about this trip!

Spanish this Term for Senior Year 1s

Mrs Cadag is looking forward to building on our Senior Year 1s' Spanish knowledge this term. Students will learn new and different ways to greet people, numbers 0-10 and how to talk about age in Spanish. They'll be using basic sentence structures, develop confidence in introducing themselves, and explore the Spanish alphabet - comparing it to English. Stories and nursery rhymes will be used to spark enthusiasm for Spanish language and culture.  

P5 Parent Phonics Information Session: Tuesday 13 May

We invite all P5 parents to join us for a phonics information session on Tuesday 13 May at 9:00am in Room P4. This session will provide an overview of how phonics is taught at Pinehurst and offer practical tips on how you can support your child’s phonics and reading development at home.

We are so proud of our P5 students, who have already made new friends and are really enjoying exploring the school environment. In just two weeks, the students have settled in wonderfully, feeling happy and comfortable at school. 

The anticipation of their first PE lesson, assembly, and library trip has provided much excitement. With such a positive start, P5 are sure to go from strength to strength, embracing each new experience and opportunity with enthusiasm and confidence. 

Message from Dawn

Calling Stallholders for the Cultural Market Day:
Tuesday 24 June, lunchtime in the Gym

Get ready for the ultimate lunchtime food fest; Cultural Market Day is back! 
Want to run your own food stall? You'll keep all the profits you make (minus a small stallholder fee that goes to charity). 

It’s just $25 for a table, and +$15 for another table if you would like extra space. Be quick, as there are only 25 spots, and it’s first in, first serve! Year 7, 8, and 9 students must have supervision from a caregiver or a Year 12/13 student if they wish to run a stall.

No cash will be used - just like previous years, we'll be using a system of stamps (1 stamp = $1). These will be available for exchange before the event. All key information is on this sign-up form. Read it carefully and don’t miss out! 

Please note this event is for students and staff only, (plus supervisors). Help us make Cultural Market Day 2025 a food-filled celebration to remember!

Spanish this Term for our Year 9s

In Year 9 Spanish this Term, we are currently learning about the human body and how to talk about our health. This topic is not only useful but also very engaging for students, as it allows them to learn vocabulary that connects directly to real-life situations.

This week, we have been focusing on learning the names of body parts, both through written and spoken activities. One of the highlights was a fun and interactive activity where students worked in groups to label their peers using sticky notes with body part names in Spanish.

This hands-on approach helped reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation while keeping students active and engaged. It was also a great opportunity for peer collaboration and lots of laughter!

Upcoming Term 2 events are listed here: Pinehurst Career Education website. 
Check out this week's events below - please come along if you're interested!

• Thursday 15 May, 8-9pm - University of Sydney Subject Selection Presentation for students in Years 9-11. Register here.
• Thursday 15 May, 6-8pm - University of Canterbury Information Evening. North Harbour Stadium. Register here.
• Friday 16 May, lunchtime - UK applicants workshop for Personal Statement and UCAS in Library Boardroom.

Pinehurst at the AKSS Orienteering Relay Champs

Last Tuesday Pinehurst students competed in the AKSS Orienteering Relay Championships held in Riverhead Forest. We entered six teams: a Year 7-8 Girls team, a Year 7-8 Boys team, Junior Boys and Girls teams, and Intermediate Boys and Girls teams. This event provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain valuable experience navigating challenging forest terrain. Some of the courses were particularly tough, testing both skill and endurance, but our students rose to the occasion. They showed resilience, determination and great teamwork, pushing through to support each other. We’re incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented Pinehurst.

We invite ALL Pinehurst Dads to register here for the Game and/or BBQ. 

Hear from inspiring guest speaker Karin Horen, enjoy barista coffee, a finger food brunch, and take part in a guided painting session hosted by A Splash of Colour. Remember to wear your best pink outfit — there are spot prizes to be won! Tickets: $60 per person (adults only, parent and alumni community). Book HERE by Friday, 16 May. Can’t attend? Support us by donating here. 

Aaron our Year 11 Fencing Champion!

Year 11 student Aaron S achieved first place in the Fencing North 2025 U15 Championships recently, along with third place in the Fencing NZ National U15 Championships.

Huge congratulations to you Aaron for your hard work and determination!

Richie and Leo win 1st Place at Riley Rescue Open

Year 5 students Richie L and Leo D (team name 'Dragon') attended the Robocup Junior Competition New Zealand for the Auckland Region on 3 May. The Dragon team won FIRST Place out of 12 teams in the Riley Rescue Open competition, qualifying both boys for the National Robocup Competition in August. Well done boys, we are super proud of your efforts and wish you all the best for the National competition!

Celebrating Musical Excellence: Jeremy and Aaron

Over the school holidays, two of our talented students achieved outstanding success on the international stage. Year 4 students Jeremy Y and Aaron J were awarded First Prize in their respective age groups—Jeremy for cello and Aaron for piano—at the prestigious Pacific International Music Competition.

Their incredible dedication and skill didn’t just earn them top honours, they were also invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House Winners’ Concert!

We are immensely proud of Jeremy and Aaron for representing our school with such distinction. Their achievements are a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and practice. Congratulations to both students!

Diving NZ Junior Team - European Tour

Congratulations to Noah A and Zara R, who have recently returned home after representing the Diving New Zealand Junior Team on the European Tour. They have delivered outstanding performances across all events and continue to represent New Zealand with pride and determination.

Their first stop was the Dresden Youth Diving Championships in Germany.

• Noah placed 10th in the 1m final and 9th in the B Final of the 3m event.
• Zara competed strongly in the preliminaries, placing 14th in the 1m and 21st in the 3m.

Next, they travelled to Plymouth for the British Junior Elite Championships, where they continued their impressive form.

• Noah achieved 5th in the 1m final and 4th in the 14–18 Boys 3m Synchro.
• Zara placed 8th in the 1m final, 6th in the platform final, 5th in the 14–18 Girls Platform Synchro, and 10th in the 3m prelims.

Their final competition was in Bergen, Norway, where both divers capped off the tour with strong results:

• Team Event – 1st Place for New Zealand (featuring Noah)
• Girls 14–18 Platform Synchro – 1st Place for Zara and her partner
• 13–15 Girls Platform – 10th Place for Zara
• 14–15 Girls 1m – 7th Place for Zara
• 14–18 Boys 3m Synchro – 2nd Place for Noah and his partner
• 14–15 Boys 1m – 2nd Place for Noah
• 14–15 Boys 3m – 6th Place for Noah

The team now returns home after an incredible European tour, having competed against some of the world’s best divers. We are extremely proud of both for all they have achieved. Their performances have not only showcased their talent but also their dedication and resilience on the international stage.

Badminton Success for Elsa and Anna L

Year 8 student Anna L achieved excellent results at the 2025 North Island BOP U15 Champs in Tauranga last weekend, winning the Girls Doubles and reaching the semi-finals in both Girls Singles and Mixed Doubles.

Last weekend she, together with her sister Elsa L, Year 11, competed at the 2025 Waikato U17 Open in Hamilton. Elsa won the Girls Singles title, placed second in Girls Doubles with Anna, and reached the Mixed Doubles semi-finals. Anna also placed second in both the Girls Singles and Girls Doubles.

Well done to both players on their outstanding performances!