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Message from the Executive Principal
Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요
Dear Parents/Guardians,
A short week certainly goes by quickly, but it is amazing how five days’ worth of school life seems to fit into four! From the anticipation of exam results for senior students on Tuesday to a zoo trip for Year 3 and plenty in between, there was something for everyone.
Wednesday afternoon saw an outstanding ensemble performance in the theatre, with almost 100 Pinehurst students showcasing their musical talent. While I enjoyed all the acts, the New Entrant and Year 1 choir was a highlight. To see those young people on stage, singing with confidence and joy was uplifting and I look forward to the many shows ahead where our performers are able to express themselves through a range of creative mediums.
Also on Wednesday, our Year 6 Mathex teams did incredibly well with one of the teams finishing 2nd overall on the day. Both teams showed a very high level of problem-solving skills and should be proud of their performance. Activities like Mathex are an ideal way to enrich the curriculum for students who are passionate about the subject. It is great to see their return after a hiatus over recent years and I look forward to seeing more opportunities to support the great learning that takes place in the classroom.
Our College performance of ‘High School Musical’ is coming up very soon and I would encourage you to get in early to purchase tickets for what will be a brilliant show. Our students have been rehearsing tirelessly over recent months and I know they are excited to share their work with you. The show is open to the entire Pinehurst community, please read below for ticket details.
I would be remiss to not mention the brilliant athletic performance of our staff as they took on College netball teams at lunchtime this week. It is great to see the formal interactions in the classroom breakdown into plenty of laughs on the court. While there was a serious intention to help our teams prepare for challenging competitions later in the year, the enjoyment of everyone involved illustrates what makes our school community so special.
On Thursday morning, I was able to share with a group of parents some ideas about helping young people find balance in their lives. This can be a difficult area to manage, we all want the best for our children, but we must also support them in finding a happy equilibrium of work and play. If you or your child need support in finding balance, please contact their teacher or tutor and they will be happy to share ideas with you.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Regards,
如需阅读校长的中文留言和重要事件日期，请点击
Monday 12 June
Year 4-6, Cross Country - Super Cluster (selected students)
Tuesday 13 June
Years 5-6, Saver Date - Rippa Rugby Tournament (selected stu
Wednesday 14 June
- Primary Life Education
- Year 10, IG PE Life Saving Assessment
- Years 4-6, Saver Date - Cross Country Super Cluster (selected students)
Thursday 15 June
- Primary Life Education
- NH Water Polo Zone Day (selected students)
- Year 11, Indian Music Workshop
- Years 10-11, Indian Music Workshop (selected students)
- College Cultural Food Festival
Buddy Pizza Party - P4 New Entrants
Friday 16 June
- Year 10, IG PE Life Saving Assessment
- Year 5, Watercare - in-house field trip sessions
- Primary Life Education
Message from the Principal of Primary
Kia ora,
This weekend I will be rehearsing my ‘happy dance,’ because I promised a group of Year 6 students that I would show it to them. This was because they were chosen to represent our school at Mathex which is a North Shore Maths problem solving competition held each year at Northcross Intermediate. I was a little bit worried before they went because somehow, we had missed the communication to say it was taking place. At many schools there are weeks of lunchtime sessions with past papers, we had a day to train! Fortunately, we could call on Penny Donald an ex-Pinehurst teacher to help our students know what to do and I am pleased to report that out of 51 teams, Pinehurst came 2nd and 5th. Only four schools got full marks of 100 and Pinehurst had both of our teams with full marks. We are so proud of Bianca Jin, Leo Liu, Phoebe Yu, and Ethan Han who got silver medals and Ryann Wang, Eddie Li, Mateo Palliser and Serena Yang who came 5th.
Our New Entrant classes had a wonderful time at the zoo on Wednesday. I heard lots about the crocodiles, a red-tailed monkey, lions, and a tiger. The elephant was in the water apparently and the giraffes were very tall! The weather was stunning and fantastic for looking and learning about wildlife and conservation up close. As always there were some who’s highlight was the bus trip because they had never been on a bus before. Everyone was tired at the end of the day, especially the adults, but they had fun and made some amazing memories.
The theatre was full for the Primary Music Ensemble concert this week which featured choirs, the Primary orchestra, ukelele, woodwind and marimba groups. It was lovely to see Years 1 to 6 perform in the various items and to experience the stage and theatre atmosphere. Many hours go into music both in school and at home and we are often astonished at how competent our students are. Special thanks to our music teachers Ashleigh Pope and Cherrie Leefe for the work that went into the event.
The Primary got to visit the College on Thursday afternoon for a buddy session and there were challenges and games happening all over the site. We love watching how the older students look after the younger ones and spend time organising fun things for them to do together. As teachers it is also great to see some of our past Primary students displaying their organisational skills as well as kindness and caring for current Primary students.
Year 5 had their first Watercare sessions this week and they were interesting. As part of the Cambridge Primary Global Perspectives programme, they are learning about looking after precious resources. The question they have been set as part of a research challenge is, ‘How much water do we use?’
They are going to be looking at water quality in Alexander stream at the back of the property and the role of Watercare in our community. Cambridge provides plenty of opportunities for real-life hands-on learning developing critical thinking skills and preparing our students for their future.
Kia pai tō rā whakata, have a good weekend.
Ngā mihi,
Sian
Year 5 Robotics
Last week, a new group of 14 students started the robotics programme. They are using Mindstorms EV3 and had fun exploring the motors and sensors. The students programmed the large motor to turn, controlled the spinning of the large motor with the touch sensor and made the large motor spin when the colour sensor detected certain colours that had been programmed. There was lots of exploration and modifications to programs as variables were changed.
Next, the students started building their Driving Base and this week, got them moving. They drove forwards, backwards and turned at varying degrees. The students’ first challenge was to move the Driving Base 84cm. Once successful, the students moved on to Robot Educator where they explored more moves and turns and then using the ultra-sonic sensor, they explored objects, obstacles and distance. The Year 5 students are very much enjoying working with these sets and the challenges they face.
P6 This Week!
In P6 we continued to learn about the work of a range of artists and craft makers that specialise in weaving as their medium. We discussed the materials, patterns, colour and equipment needed for weaving and created a special woven bag. This style of bag is very popular in Denmark and Norway. It is traditional for people to put something inside for the person receiving the gift. This could be a handmade picture or a special note to the person. This linked beautifully with our school values programme and the children decided to randomly draw a name and create a bag for that person with a handwritten note about what they liked about them. P6 quickly discovered that telling somebody something nice about them made them feel good, and made the creator feel good too!
Auckland Zoo Trip
This week P1, P2 and P4 went to visit Auckland Zoo. We were very lucky to have a beautiful sunny day for our trip. This term students have been learning about living things, and whilst we were at the zoo, we saw lots of different plants and animals.
In science we have learnt that animals need food, water, shelter, and air to live. At the zoo we saw that all the different animals had different homes. We saw some animals, like the long-necked turtle, flamingos and alligators had water to swim in. The giraffes, zebras and ostriches had a desert, with food up high for the giraffe to eat and lots of space for the ostriches to run around. We saw the seal had lots of space to swim and rocks to sit on in the sun like a mermaid.
It was hard to find some of the animals, we had to look carefully for them. These animals were camouflaged and hid in their environment well. The children were very patient and loved helping their friends find these tricky animals!
R E S P E C T in P10!
In P10, we have been learning about and unpacking what our Pinehurst Value of Respect really means. We discussed the phrase “Respect is learned- earned- returned”, how respect is like a boomerang and what we can do to earn respect from others. We also explored how we can show respect in all areas of the school and what it looks like.
Braeden said “I can show respect in the classroom by keeping it tidy for other people to use”.
Katlynn said “When people fall over in the playground it is showing respect by helping them and not laughing at them”.
Jeremy said “ I can be respectful in the library by sharing books and being quiet, so I don’t disturb other people”.
Here we are acting out ways to be respectful in 'Respect Charades' and showing our garden of tulips to teach people ‘How respect grows’.
Calling all Big Writing Agents in P15!
P15 have been working on a Big Write mission to help author Annie Albright fill her anthology with stories and poems of a timeslip theme! We first explored a timeslip narrative in which a young boy, Jack, slips back in time and explores a castle from the olden days, encountering peculiar objects and people from the past. We noted how the author used ‘show, not tell’ vocabulary to describe both the characters and the setting. We also learned how figurative language, such as simile and metaphor, are used to create vivid imagery for our reader. We wrote our own timeslip stories to be included in Annie’s Anthology.
In keeping with our timeslip theme, we moved on to investigate timeslip poems. After investigating a poem based on a time slip story, we learned about beat, rhythm and how to structure a poem effectively. We explored how to use personification to give human qualities to non-human things and looked at how personification can be used to create transformative imagery in poetry for maximum impact. We also explored how onomatopoeia can be included to create a heightened experience for reader, entertaining and engaging them throughout. Here is a sample of our work:
Richie Liu – Snow Success
Richie Liu in Year 3 recently competed in the 365 Open Event at Snow Planet which was constructed of a Kombi race; mix of Giant Slalom turns and smaller SL turns from the top of Snow Planet. Richie placed third in the U8 Boy Ski group which is an awesome achievement! We look forward to following Richie’s progress throughout the upcoming Winter Season.
Magnificent Mathematicians
On Wednesday, our Year 6 mathematicians competed at the annual Junior Mathex competition. This year there were 18 schools with 51 teams competing and we entered 2 teams which both performed extremely well. Only 7 teams scored 100 points, Pinehurst were two of those seven! In the end it all came down to speed. Our fastest team had 13minutes left on the clock which put them in second place. Our other team had 1minute and 15 seconds left on the clock, which put them in fifth place.
The organisers said all the teams represented their schools with pride - in particular, demonstrating respect towards each other, their teachers, the markers and Northcross student leaders, and resilience in persevering even when they were stuck or feeling overwhelmed.
Second Place Team – Silver Medal Winners
Leo Liu
Phoebe Yu
Bianca Jin
Runner: Ethan Han
Fifth Place Team
Serena Yang
Ryann Wang
Mateo Palliser
Runner: Eddie Li
Non Travelling reserves: Laura Liang and Isabella Zeng
Message from the Principal of College
Kia ora e te whānau o Pinehurst School
After a very wet and windy start to a short school week, college students settled into their usual busy schedule. A rather grey Tuesday was brightened up by a bake sale organised by the Unicef group and students were able to treat themselves to something nice to brighten up the day. Thank you to all of those who contributed to the bake sale to start the week.
The focus this week for Year 11-13 students was on receiving feedback from their midyear examinations. These assessments are an opportunity for students to gauge where they are up to with their learning, and to set goals and targets for the future. Whilst teachers will be using data from the midyear examinations to inform teaching focus areas moving forward, it is also very important that students identify their needs to manage their own learning. Acting on feedback is a very important part of the learning journey and one which John Hattie (2013) places in the top 10 influences on student achievement.
At Pinehurst we are lucky to have an exceptional careers counsellor. Ms Kaye Griffiths is extraordinarily knowledgeable and helps to guide students on their tertiary study and career pathway. This week, Year 11 students started their careers interviews to enable them to make informed choices about their next steps. These interviews will continue into next term for Year 11. Early in the week, there was also a meeting for those applying to United Kingdom universities in 2024. The application process is quite complex, but Ms Griffiths ensures that our students are equipped with the information they need. We now have a group of Year 13 students who are on the pathway to making university applications in the UK for a 2024 start.
There was lots going on for other year groups in the College too. The teachers had a clean sweep at the students versus teachers House netball during Wednesday lunch. There were hard fought matches and lots of spectators with many students out supporting their House. We attended Hockey zone days on Wednesday and Thursday for girls’ and boys’ hockey teams. Additionally, Year 7 and 8 students have been working hard recently in preparation for Mathex. Ms West took eight teams to the competition and we had some fantastic results; Ms West will give us a full run down once all of the results are in. Excellent work Year 7 and 8 Mathex students! Yesterday, PODs hosted their buddy classes in the College. It was wonderful to see primary and college students getting together and having fun and a lovely end to the week.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Ngā mihi nui
Dawn
Year 9 Social Science
This term in Year 9 Social Science we have been learning about Ancient Civilisations and as part of our study on Ancient Egypt we mummified an apple with Ms Yu. It was super cool to see how it mummified over the last few weeks – it didn’t disintegrate, or rot, but slowly lost its moisture and became squishy.. but as everyone who was in 514 knows, it really stunk!
Volunteering Club
From the beginning of Term 2, our College Volunteering club has started up and undergone some great community work. With the leadership and guidance of Natalie Raphael and Katrina Gao, we have managed to visit and help out at Settlers Lifestyle Living - a retirement village straight up the road on Albany Highway. Many students have jumped at this service opportunity that enables us to use our self-management and problem-solving skills; as well as our ability to take action which are all crucial skills among the four Pinehurst leadership pillars. Through the volunteering club, I have walked dogs and spoken with many wise and thoughtful residents. I am so grateful my school offers amazing experiences like this!
– Diana Shao
From behind the scenes of the Volunteering club, it’s so nice to see the amount of students who come along to our meetings, where we write wholesome and heart-warming messages to the residents on cards, as well as making stunning origami creations. It really shows the amount of respect people in our community give to the elderly.
– Charles Shen
Year 8 Playground Design
The year 8s were tasked with designing a new playground. Jon Horne talked to the class about projects management, costings and safety standards that needed to be considered. The students had to calculate the perimeter and area of the park, the cost for the edging and the volume and cost of the bark. They also had to work out the gst on the total cost. The winning project was submitted by Felisha Zhao and Zoe Qin.
North Harbour Hockey Zone Day – Girls and Boys
On Wednesday, the Boys Year 7-8 Hockey Zone Day team competed at the Boys North Harbour Zone Day which was held at North Harbour Hockey Stadium. The boys team faced a very hard pool with the team being drawn against Rosmini College, Kristin, TNIS and Northcote. The boys played exceptionally well in their pool games, however a few crucial losses and draws meant that the team was playing off for 11th place. The boys team played Glenfield in their playoff match and came away with the win which was an awesome finish to the tournament.
On Thursday, the Girls Year 7-8 Hockey Zone Day team competed in the Girls North Harbour Zone Day which was also held at North Harbour Hockey Stadium. The Girls had a tough first up match against Carmel in which the teams drew 2-2. Pinehurst then went on to play Wairau and Birkdale, winning both of these matches comfortably. The last pool game was against a strong Northcross team in which Pinehurst was narrowly defeated 2-1. At the conclusion of pool play, the team was ranked 7th and would play Albany Junior in the 7th/8th playoff. This was a very intense game, with both sides being neck and neck the whole game. At the final whistle, the teams were drawn 2-2. The final result would come back to which team had the most penalty corners, which unfortunately was Albany Junior. The Girls team played amazing throughout the whole tournament and continued to build as a team each game.
Girls 1st XI Girls
The 1st XI girls played the final of Grade 2 last night against Kristin School. It was a very tight match with plenty of opportunities, the winning goal coming in the last few minutes of the game. Our girls came away with the win to finish first in Grade 2. The team will now move up to Grade 1, which will be an excellent challenge. I am sure the girls will be keeping their very lucky Jump Jam warm-up going!
Pinehurst Cultural Market!
The Student Council is exciting to be hosting the Pinehurst Cultural market on Thursday 15th June. There will be such a great range of food for sale for the students during lunchtime. To help raise money we are organizing a raffle again this year! With even more AMAZING prizes such as $200 Pak ‘n save hamper, a Freshly baked breadbasket from Mad Hatter Baker plus a baking lesson, $50 Westfield gift card and much more! This years raffle is one of a kind and should not be missed! Only $2 a ticket or 3 for $5 and can be purchased from reception. All proceeds go to Starship hospital who are an amazing organisation that strives to ensure healthcare equity for all kiwi children.
High School Musical!
Gather round, Wildcats, Pinehurst's production of High School Musical is nearly here! The cast and crew have been working so hard for the past two terms to bring you a phenomenal show filled with singing, dancing, and basketballs.
We are so excited to perform for you, so get in quick to get your tickets before we sell out! The show opens in Week 10 on Wednesday the 28th of June, and runs through until Saturday the 1st of July. Getcha Head in the Game and keep an eye out for the Humantix link that is going live on Monday the 12th of June at 7pm to buy tickets.
Get ready to Break Free and give a big Wildcat Cheer for High School Musical
We listened and it's back by popular demand!
Dad's Fantail & Turtle is back for 2023, and never too soon! It's time for an event for just the Dad's to come together and eat, drink and take part in some banter!
- Thursday 22nd June
- From 5.30pm to late
- The Goodside at Smales Farm – Fantail & Turtle, 72 Taharoto Rd, Takapuna
- Parking at the rear of the venue
Hosted at the Fantail & Turtle at The Goodside in Smales Farm. A casual drop-in, eat, drink and engage-in-banter after work. Based at Smales Farm, an ideal location - close to the motorway and central for many.
Our Dads - Tamuka Nyawo (Year 6) and Wei Lu (Years 3, 7 & 8), have kindly volunteered to be your host for the evening. Pizzas and food will be served on the night so if you are interested, please use the RSVP Form so catering can be arranged.
Please contact sylvia.lum@pinehurst.school.nz if you have any questions.
