Message from Mike Waller

Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요  

Best wishes,
Mike Waller
Executive Principal

Message from Sian Coxon

Life Education is Back at Pinehurst this Term!

The Life Education Truck and programme, featuring Harold the Giraffe, is a well-established health and wellbeing initiative delivered in schools across New Zealand. Designed to support the holistic development of children, the programme promotes knowledge and strategies related to topics such as nutrition, mental health, relationships, resilience, and personal identity.

Harold the Giraffe, a friendly and engaging puppet character, helps create a safe and relatable learning environment for younger students. Lessons are delivered in a mobile classroom using interactive technology, storytelling, and student participation to foster meaningful learning experiences. The programme aims to empower children to make informed, healthy choices. Students across Years 1 - 6 will have Life Education sessions across the first three weeks of Term 2. Based on past experience we know they will enjoy their lessons with Harold the Giraffe and be sorry to see him go when he leaves!

Year 5 Music with Mrs Middleton

We welcome Mrs Eugenie Middleton to our Primary Specialists Teaching Team this Term as our Primary Music Teacher.

Year 5 Music with Mrs Middleton is going to be lively and engaging in Term 2, providing students with a broad range of musical experiences. In our curriculum, students enjoy singing songs from around the world, playing the recorder, and exploring rhythm through body percussion. They learn about pitch by playing tuned instruments such as xylophones and explore dynamics by playing untuned instruments like drums.

Students also develop an understanding of tempo by moving their bodies to different speeds of music and learn about timbre by listening to various sounds, including voices from around the world.

Year 6 Science with Mrs Herbert

This Term students will learn about the properties of gases, including mass, and the temperature at which a substance changes state. Students will be able to describe the difference between boiling and evaporation, and to identify and describe physical changes that are reversible. We look forward to seeing some excited faces in Mrs Herbert's room as some revealing science experiments and demonstrations take place throughout the Term.

Year 2 Physical Education with Mr Taylor

Badminton, Tennis and Volleyball.

The Physical Education program for Year 2 Term 2 at Pinehurst School focuses on developing students' fundamental movement skills and their application in various activities. The curriculum includes learning about the importance of physical activity and how it contributes to overall health and well-being. Students will engage in a variety of games, sports, and fitness activities designed to improve their coordination, balance, strength, and endurance. They will also learn about teamwork, cooperation, and fair play through group activities and sportsmanship lessons

Message from Dawn Sullivan

Outstanding Achievements in the Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition

Last term, 15 students took part in the prestigious Cambridge Upper Secondary Science Competition, an international challenge that encourages learners to tackle real-world issues through scientific investigation. The students were organised into three teams through the YMA Club, Oren and Sissi, with Ms Liu as the teacher in charge.

Each team explored a unique scientific question, developing their own experiments from the ground up. From brainstorming ideas to collecting data and analyzing results, the students demonstrated curiosity, independence, and a strong commitment to tackling real-world challenges through science.

All three teams were awarded Gold from the judging panel and have now been submitted to Cambridge International for global review, where they are being considered for special recognition, including Best in Country, Best in Region, and Best in World awards.

Now, we eagerly await to what Cambridge stores for them!

- Chloe Zhang Y11

Year 8s at the World Vision Youth Conference

Together with Mrs Rakete our Year 8 Dean, a selection of students attended the World Vision Youth Conference on Thursday 1 May in West Auckland. 
Along with students from around Aotearoa, our Year 8 group completed activities and tasks that involved making leadership decisions and formulating strategies to affect global change. Inspirational speakers included Roy Wasi from the Solomon Islands who spoke about the effects of climate change on Solomon Islanders and everyday life.
Stay tuned as our Year 8 World Vision ambassadors are hoping to run some schoolwide events this year to raise much needed funds and awareness for the global causes they learned about. For a snapshot of their amazing one day experience at the Conference, you can watch the reel below.

Golf Team 1 - Runners Up in Auckland Premier Final

Congratulations to our outstanding Golf Team 1 for an exceptional season, finishing as runners-up in the Auckland & North Harbour Premier Golf Competition. In a tightly contested Auckland Premier Final, our team narrowly missed out on the title, going down to Auckland Grammar in a close and hard-fought match.

We are incredibly proud of the team’s efforts and achievements this season, placing 2nd overall in a highly competitive field. A special congratulations to our team members — Sarah L (Year 9), Edward N (Year 8), Yicheng W (Year 11), Sophie Y (Year 12), and Grace K (Year 12) — for their dedication, sportsmanship, and consistent performance throughout the year.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Julie Koopen, the team’s manager, for her invaluable support and organization across the season. Her commitment behind the scenes played a crucial role in the team’s success.

Well done to all involved!

Strong Results at North Island Secondary School Mountain Biking Championships

During the recent school holidays, several of our students took on the challenging terrain of the North Island Secondary School Mountain Biking Championships held in Tauranga, showcasing their skill, determination, and sportsmanship.

Torben W (Year 11) delivered an outstanding performance in a highly competitive field. He placed 4th overall in the U17 Male Enduro race and achieved a strong 11th place finish in the U17 Downhill race, a testament to his technical ability and endurance.

Helena W-W (Year 7) impressed with a 3rd place finish overall in the U13 Female Cross Country race, securing a well-earned spot on the podium through grit and consistency.

In the U15 Male Cross Country event, Xavier W-W (Year 9) put in a solid effort, finishing 30th overall among a large group of determined riders.

Congratulations to all three students for representing our school with pride and for their fantastic achievements on the trails!

North Island Secondary School Orienteering Championships

During the school holidays, a group of dedicated Pinehurst students travelled to Counties Manukau to compete in the North Island Secondary School Orienteering Championships. This challenging and exciting competition featured three distinct disciplines: a fast-paced Sprint event, a technical Long-distance event, and a team-based Relay.

Our students represented the school with great determination across a range of age groups and events. We are proud to share their achievements:

Sprint Results:

                • Doris X (Year 9 Girls): 16th Place

                • Jimmy W(Year 9 Boys): 22nd Place

                • Otto N (Year 10–11 Boys): 47th Place

                • Zachary B(Year 12–13 Boys): 25th Place

Long-Distance Results:

                • Maya M (Year 7–8 Girls): 21st Place

                • Doris X (Year 9 Girls): 15th Place

                • Jimmy W (Year 9 Boys): 33rd Place

                • Otto N (Year 10–11 Boys): 40th Place

                • Zachary B (Year 12–13 Boys): 18th Place

Congratulations to all our competitors for taking on this regional challenge and showcasing Pinehurst's strength in orienteering!

Let’s Dance Together – National Spanish Dance Video Project! 💃🎉

Each year, the University of Canterbury organises a fun project to promote Spanish and connect all Spanish learners in all schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. This year, students and teachers will come together to dance to the popular song “Tacones Rojos” by Colombian artist Sebastián Yatra.

All Spanish students are invited to learn and film a performance using a fun and easy choreography – no dance experience needed! Clips from each school will be edited into one final video celebrating our shared language, culture, and energy.

This is a chance to celebrate Spanish culture and heritage, show off your moves, and be part of something big. We hope to see many of our students join in – bring your energy and your smile, and let’s dance together! ¡A Bailar!

Year 5 Footballers Do Pinehurst Proud

Year 5 students Leslie Y, Braeden T and Xavier W participated in the Auckland International Cup Football Tournament during the school holidays. The tournament had over 70 teams and more than 800 players. They played 7 matches and won 4 of them. Leslie was a midfielder, Xavier played striker, and Braeden was the goalkeeper. Their performance showed great skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Well done boys on your football skills!

Ranoh Wows the Crowd at ANZAC Event

Year 11 Student Ranoh C was approached by Mayfair Village to play The Last Post for their ANZAC service during the school holidays. Ranoh astounded all that were present with his outstanding performance, to the extent that they've asked him to return next year for their ANZAC service again!
Well done Ranoh, it's wonderful to see Pinehurst talent making a positive difference out and about in our community.

Sophie shines at South Island Age Group Champs

Congratulations to Sophie Y (Year 12) on her outstanding victory at the South Island Age Group Championship, held from 15–17 April 2025. Sophie claimed the title in spectacular fashion, finishing 11 under par over three rounds. Her final round was especially impressive—scoring 7 under par and making an incredible 9 birdies!

This triumph follows another remarkable performance just days earlier at the Autex Muriwai Open (10–13 April), where Sophie finished as tied runner-up among a strong field of competitors.

Well done, Sophie, on your incredible achievements and consistent excellence on the course! We look forward to seeing what you do next.

Arissa excels at Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships

The school holidays saw Year 11 student Arissa L compete with great determination in the Hawke's Bay at the Apollo Projects NZ Age Group, achieving some impressive results!

Arissa came away with one Gold and two Bronze medals across individual events, and four Golds from team relays. We congratulate you Arissa, you should be incredibly proud of your accomplishments. Our school community are thrilled to see you succeed  - both in the pool and as a confident, driven individual in everything you approach. 

Xavier selected for NZ Youth Climbing Team

We are incredibly proud to share that Xavier W-W (Year 9) has been selected as a member of the Climbing New Zealand Youth Climbing Team. This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of Xavier’s dedication, skill, and passion for the sport of climbing.

Xavier will represent New Zealand at the prestigious 2025 Australian National Youth Climbing Championships, which will be held in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. The competition runs from the 15th to the 18th of May 2025 and brings together the best young climbers from across Australia and the region.

We wish Xavier all the best as he prepares to compete on the international stage and look forward to following his journey!

Marcus Achieves Gold at National Taekwondo Event

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Year 7 student Marcus Y during the recent school holidays. On Saturday, 12 April, Marcus competed in the Budo South Open 2025, a national-level taekwondo competition.

Representing his age and belt level division in the Poomsae category, Marcus performed exceptionally well and was awarded a gold medal.

Ka rawe, Marcus! 

Bruce brings home Gold, Silver and Bronze!

Join us in celebrating Year 12 student Bruce S’s recent achievements at the New Zealand National Age Group Swimming Championships held in the April school holidays.

Bruce delivered an exceptional performance, securing four gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals. The most remarkable accomplishment was his record-breaking swim in the 50m backstroke event, where he shattered the New Zealand national record for the 16-year-old age group.

Our heartfelt congratulations Bruce, your phenomenal success is well deserved and the result of countless hours of work and training in and out of the pool. We look forward to following your swimming success into the future.

U16 Super Challenge Tournament Success 

The Super Challenge national hockey tournament took place over five days from April 11th at St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton, with four regional teams selected from the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Five players from the North Harbour region were selected, including Andrew G (Year 12) and Shuntaro N (Year 11) from Pinehurst School.

Their team, Heat, which was made up of players from the Auckland and North Harbour regions, demonstrated outstanding teamwork and resilience. They won all their preliminary matches and advanced to the finals. In a thrilling final, Heat secured a 4-3 victory to claim 1st place!

Andrew played a crucial role as the goalkeeper, making key saves during critical moments, while Shuntaro made his mark as a striker by scoring two goals, greatly contributing to the team’s victory.

In addition to the on-field competition, players participated in valuable off-field sessions covering health, diet, nutrition, well-being, and life skills. The strong team spirit developed during these sessions played a key role in their success.

North Harbour Hockey U18 Selection

We would like to congratulate both George H (Year 12) and Aayoung J (Year 11) on their outstanding selections into the North Harbour U18 representative teams. George has been named in the U18 Premier Men's Team, and Aayoung has been selected in the U18 Premier 2 Women's Maroon Team as part of the upcoming representative programme!

Being selected for a North Harbour representative team is a huge accomplishment, and we are thrilled to see both George and Aayoung achieve this outstanding milestone.

George will be heading to Timaru during the July holidays to compete in the U18 Men's regional tournament, while Aayoung will be showcasing her skills at the U18 Women's regional tournament right here in North Harbour at the same time.

We are also looking forward to watching them in action for our Pinehurst 1st XI Girls & Boys teams this season, which kicks off this week. Best of luck to both George and Aayoung — we are all behind you!

Arts Festival in the Pinehurst Theatre: Friday 9 May

The Arts Council are putting on the Arts Festival once again. It’s a night that showcases Pinehurst’s many talents. There’s singing, dancing, live music and more. There’s something for everybody..!

Where: in the Pinehurst Theatre

When: Week 2, Friday 9 May

What time: 5pm 

What to bring: $2 for Lolly bags! 

Please come and join us and have some fun. 

Dads' F&T Presents: Football Showdown

We’re swapping the bar for the field! Join us on Saturday 17 May, 3.00pm for a friendly Dads vs Dads football match — a fresh twist on our popular Dads' F&T event. After the game, stick around for drinks, a BBQ, and a chance to catch up with other Pinehurst Dads.

If you’re not into football, you can come afterwards for a beer and BBQ!

Register your interest via the QR code. Questions? Contact Sylvia Lum here. 

Recital Invitation: 

Year 11 Pinehurst Student David Z will be performing with his teacher Bede Hanely (Principal Oboe of Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra) and renown pianist Gracie Francis in a recital at Symphonia Hall in Freeman's Bay on Sunday 18 May 2025. This is an important moment for David, so please book your tickets for what will be an incredible evening of music and support him. Best of luck David, we know your performance will astound all who attend!

Pinehurst Pink Ribbon Brunch and Paint

To book your ticket please click on the image above, or click here.

Many Worlds Academy 3D Modelling and VR

Many Worlds™ Academy is offering an exciting after-school program designed specifically for Pinehurst students (Year 7 and above) to start learning 3D modelling and VR development. Through fun, hands-on learning, they will learn the fundamentals of professional 3D modelling tools like Autodesk Maya and the Unity game engine, so they can start designing and developing their own VR experiences. Whether they want to create characters, environments, or fully interactive experiences, this course will help them get started and unleash their creativity.

Beyond creativity, students will enhance their spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities. Strengthen their understanding of math and physics concepts by applying them in a realistic and immersive environment. Increase their engagement and motivation by making their learning interactive and memorable.

Our course is perfect for beginners with no prior experience. You'll work in a supportive environment with an industry expert guiding you every step of the way. 

Age: Year 7 and above

Time & Days: 4 - 5 pm, Wednesdays or Thursdays

Dates: Starts Term 2 (Week 4), to the middle of Term 3

Location: Room 402 or 401

Course duration: 12 weeks

If you can not find a suitable time slot, please let us know your preferred time, and we may be able to accommodate you. 

Enrolment and Contact information: To enrol and for further information, please visit: www.manyworlds.academy.