Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I hope it has been a great week at school for your child and that you have enjoyed hearing about the learning that has taken place, the activities they have enjoyed, and the challenges they have overcome. 

On Saturday, I was very proud of our students who represented Pinehurst at the Albany and Coatesville ANZAC services. These occasions are an important part of our shared history and culture, and seeing the meaning they hold for a younger generation is a powerful reminder that, despite differences we may have, there are always common reasons for us to come together. 

In the Primary School, the theme for the term is Aspire. This has been highlighted in assemblies and lessons where students have shared their talents and spoken about what they aim to achieve. A culture of aspiration is central to our school, as it connects directly with our value of excellence, not as an outcome, but as an ongoing journey focused on what we do each day to move closer to our goals. 

In the College, it has been a pleasure to see training sessions and rehearsals underway as students prepare for the season ahead and for performances that are quickly approaching. Occasionally, I notice that one or two students are absent from these sessions, and it is clear that this impacts the entire group. Commitment means turning up and doing the work, even when it is challenging. If any students need support in managing their time or commitments, we are always happy to help. 

Primary and sibling photos will take place on Tuesday next week, and we ask that uniforms are clean and tidy on the day. You will have received separate information regarding sibling photos, and it is important that bookings are completed, as the schedule is very tight. On Friday, David Zhu will be performing a piano concert after school. If you are able to attend, it will be well worth doing so, as David will be leaving Pinehurst at the end of the term to further his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Next week will see the final Open Days of the year before applications close for 2027 entry. If you are yet to complete an application for sibling entry, please do so as soon as possible to assist us with planning. Many visitors to our Open Days share that their connection to Pinehurst comes through your recommendations, and I appreciate the support you continue to show. 

Finally, if you intend to attend the 35th Anniversary Dinner, please ensure tickets are purchased as soon as possible so we can confirm our final arrangements. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 

Warm wishes,
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Monday 4 May

• Years 5-6 Basketball Trials
• Years 7-8 NH Orienteering Zone Day

Tuesday 5 May

• Primary School Photos
• Years 4-6 North Shore Swimming Champs

Wednesday 6 May

• College Open Day (9.00-11.00am)
• Years 7-13 Principal Tour (9.00-10.30am)

Thursday 7 May

• Primary Open Day (9.15-11.00am)
• Years 7-13 Principal Tour (9.15-10.45am)
• Year 8 NH Boys Football Zone Day
• AI Parent Information Evening, Theatre (6.00-7.00pm)

Friday 8 May

• Spanish Immersion Camp
• Piano Concert with David Zhu, Theatre (3.45-5.00pm)

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa 

Thank you to the parents who joined me online last Thursday for our “Inside the College” session. I hope you found it a valuable opportunity to connect and share insights into College life at Pinehurst. We are planning to offer a series of similar informal online sessions over the coming weeks and would really appreciate your feedback on these; what you found useful and what you would like to see covered next. 

Looking ahead, we invite you to attend an in-person parent information evening next week focused on the use of AI at Pinehurst. This will be held in the theatre at 6pm and will provide an overview of how we are integrating AI into learning, along with guidance on supporting your child in this evolving space. 

College students are encouraged to engage in and sign up for the 40 Hour Challenge and go 40 hours offline in support of children in the Solomon Islands to access nutritious food. This is a meaningful way to build awareness, resilience, and empathy while making a difference. Details can be found in the College News.  

Football zone days take place next week. Good luck to all students representing Pinehurst at these events.  

Have a lovely weekend.  

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

👨🏻‍💻 AI Information Evening for Parents: Thursday 7 May

Who: Parents and caregivers
When: Thursday 7 May, 6.00pm
Where: School Theatre

We invite parents and caregivers to join us for an AI Information Evening, where we will share how Pinehurst is guiding students to use artificial intelligence responsibly at school.

This year, AI has been introduced into the curriculum, with students learning both about AI and how to work with it effectively and ethically.

The evening will be hosted by Georgia Green (MPsych, specialising in Artificial Intelligence in Educational Environments) and Dawn Sullivan, Head of College, and will provide insight into our approach, along with the opportunity to address parent questions.

To help us make the session as valuable as possible, we encourage attendees to submit questions in advance via the RSVP form.

We look forward to welcoming you to this informative evening.

🎹 David Zhu Farewell Piano Recital: Friday 8 May

Who: Free admission to all Pinehurst families
When: Friday 8 May, 3.45pm
Where: School Theatre

As David Zhu (Year 12) prepares to leave Pinehurst at the end of Term 2 to take up his place at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he will be sharing a special farewell piano recital with our community.

While many will know David for his achievements on the oboe, this concert offers something a little different – a chance to hear him as a pianist, performing a programme of Romantic works including music by Liszt and Alkan.

The perforrmance is for about an 1 hour and refreshments will be served prior to the concert starting. This is a good opportunity for students and parents to come along, support David, and be part of this moment as he finishes his time at Pinehurst.

🎓 Updates from the Career Centre

Veterinary Science

Veterinary Science Webinar on 7 May at 7.00pm. This online information session is for anyone intending to apply for veterinary selection as a domestic student into the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University. Join the webinar to learn more about becoming a veterinarian and have your questions answered by a team of experts.

North Shore Career Expo

The North Shore Career Expo is on 20-21 May from 4pm-7pm at North Harbour Stadium. Entry is free. This is an opportunity for students to speak with universities, employers, support programmes and more.

We are organising a trip to the North Shore Career Expo for Year 11 and Year 12 students during the school day on 21 May. If your teen would like to attend, please fill in the permission form here: North Shore Career Expo Parent Permission Form – Fill out form

Primary News

Kia ora tatou

Mornings have been crisp and then the sun shines so we can get outside to play in the sunshine. Today Year 2 travelled to Butterfly Creek to discover more about the Living World, enjoying hands-on experiences and close-up encounters with very large butterflies and some farm animals to look at.

On Tuesday I attended a wonderful assembly hosted by P6, all about this term’s value of Aspiring. We watched a video about a puppy who aspired to be a guide dog. Although he failed many times, he kept going, learning and improving. We then heard all about P6’s own aspirations, and saw some of their developing talents.

The Tread Lightly van has now moved on to the next school, but we all learned so much about looking after our world. Thank you to the many parents who joined us and supported the groups so generously. We were also delighted to welcome back Ms Shaw, now Mrs Hodder, following her wedding to Mr Hodder in Bali.

Next week is our first full week of the term and it is a busy one:
• Tuesday 5 May: Class and Sibling Photos; NS Swimming Championships (selected students)
• Thursday 7 May: Primary Open Day; AI Information Evening for Parents (6pm in the Theatre)
• Friday 8 May: House Competition Winners’ Reward

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

🏊🏼 North Shore Swimming Championships

Who: Selected Year 4–6 Swimmers
When: Tuesday 5 May
Where: AUT Millennium

Twenty of our top Year 4-6 swimmers will be representing Pinehurst at the North Shore Swimming Championships, competing against 19 other local schools. This is a highly competitive event, and we wish all our swimmers the very best as they take to the pool.

🎼 Solo Duo Performance Showcase: Register Now

Who: Calling all Year 3 & 4 Musicians!
When: Thursday 28 May, 3.30pm
Where: School Theatre

We are looking forward to celebrating our Year 3 & 4 musicians with our Term 2 concert on Thursday 28 May at 3:30pm in the School Theatre.

Year 3 and 4 students who would like to perform this term should register their interest by Friday 8 May by completing this form AND uploading an audition video here showing them performing their intended piece.

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 for this one-hour concert and performances should be three minutes or less. If you have any questions, please email Mrs Jaques: cynthia.jaques@pinehurst.school.nz

We look forward to seeing you and your children at our upcoming performance showcase.

Community News

🚌 Pinehurst School Bus: A Smarter Way to Travel

With fuel prices remaining high, choosing the school bus is an easy way to reduce weekly transport costs. Fewer car trips mean savings on fuel, less wear and tear on vehicles, and less time spent in traffic, while also helping to ease congestion around the school.

Pinehurst buses are safe, reliable, and social, giving students a positive start and end to the school day while supporting our wider community. We encourage families to consider using the bus during this period of rising energy costs, and beyond.

Bus routes and timetables are available on the school website.