Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I am writing this message a little earlier than normal, as I will be attending the ISNZ conference on Friday. The conference is for leaders of independent schools across the country and is an ideal opportunity to connect and share ideas. I am sure there will be thought-provoking conversations that both reinforce our approaches and challenge our thinking about how we can best serve our learners. 

Our Primary choir participated in The Kids Sing for the first time at the Town Hall on Tuesday. With over 50 schools participating, this was a very big event, and our performers certainly rose to the occasion in front of a packed crowd. Across three songs, the choir showed outstanding range and was awarded a silver medal, an excellent achievement. My thanks to Mrs Middleton for leading this group and many other key events over the term. 

On Wednesday evening, our College Arts and Culture councils hosted their annual festival in the theatre. I am always blown away by the talent our students show, and this was no exception. From solo performances to duets and groups, there was plenty to get the feet tapping. The performing and creative arts are such an important outlet for students, and I am pleased to see how they continue to grow throughout the school. 

The teams at AIMS have had an excellent week of competition, with all students putting in performances they should be proud of. Our swimmers have had a brilliant meet with plenty of medals and records set. The gymnastics team have also done very well, and we look forward to seeing their medals when they return to school. The girl's basketball kept improving throughout the tournament and given it was the first time we have entered, have set a high standard for the future. Other special highlights, like scoring a goal to win a penalty shootout, are truly memories that will last a lifetime. 

Year 1 and 5 students enjoyed getting out of the classroom on field trips this week and I know they enjoyed the chance to experience learning in very different settings. Activities away from school provide students opportunities to develop in ways that aren't always as easy in the classroom, and these social interactions are an important part of growing up. Thank you to all of the parents who gave their time this week. 

With just two weeks left in the term, next week is looking very busy. Alongside the usual variety of in-school activities, there is a transition evening for students moving from Year 6 to 7, open day tours for prospective families, and exams for Years 9 and 10. Parent conferences take place in Primary, and these meetings are an important opportunity to discuss what learning will look like over the remainder of the year. 

Finally, farewell to Sylvia Lum, who is leaving the School after eight and a half years of dedicated service. I thank her for her commitment to the Pinehurst Triangle and wish her the very best for the future. 

I hope you enjoy the weekend. 

Warm wishes,
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Monday 14 September

• Year 6-7 Transition Information Evening

Tuesday 15 September

• Year 5-6 Football Super Cluster
• Primary Conferences, 2.30-6.30pm

Wednesday 16 September

• College Open Day, 9.00-10.30am
• Primary Choir Performance at the International Conference of Principals
• Auckland Junior High Chess Championship
• Year 9 Checkpoint Exams (Wed-Fri)
• Year 10 Exams  (Wed-Tues next week)
• Primary Conferences, 3.30-6.30pm
• College Piano Competition, 7-9pm, Theatre

Thursday 17 September

• New Entrant Open Day, 9.15-10.45am
• Year 4 Mangare Mountain
• IGCSE Athletics Filming Day

Friday 18 September

• New Entrant Orientation, 9.00-10.30am

Primary News

Tēnā koutou katoa,

It has been another musical week in the Primary, with so much to celebrate and be proud of.

A huge congratulations to our Year 4–6 Choir, who entered the Kids Sing Competition for the very first time. Competing with over 55 schools, our choir achieved an outstanding second place. This is a remarkable accomplishment and showcased the talent of our students and staff.

Next week brings another significant musical first, as we have been selected to open the International Principals’ Convention in Auckland. This honour reflects the growing reputation of our music programme and the exceptional leadership of Eugenie Middleton, one of our Primary Music teachers. We also enjoyed the first public performance from a new student band, The Waves, during a wonderful Year 4 assembly. We look forward to seeing many more performances from this talented group in the future. Our Year 0–2 Primary Music Concert was a delight too, showcasing the confidence and enthusiasm of our youngest performers.

Students, parents, and staff enjoyed learning experiences outside of their classrooms this week, including the Year 5 trip to the Waitākere Ranges and the Senior Year 1 visit to Stardome. We are fortunate to have access to so many local attractions that bring learning to life.

Week 8 Events

• Tuesday 15 September: Supercluster Football (Years 5–6)
• Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 September: Parent Conferences
• Wednesday 16 September: Primary Choir (Years 4–6) perform at the International Confederation of Principals’ Convention 2026 (morning)
• Thursday 17 September: Primary Open Day
• Friday 18 September: New Entrant Term 4 Orientation
• Saturday 19 September: Auckland Marimba Festival 

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

⚽ Year 5 & 6 Football Super Cluster

When: Tuesday 15 September
Where: Ashley Park, Torbay

Our top Year 5 and 6 girls’ and boys’ teams will compete in the Football Super Cluster at Ashley Park next Tuesday.

Students should meet outside the Dance Studio at 8.40am in their PE uniform and will travel by school van to the park.

Students should bring:

• Packed lunch
• Drink bottle
• Warm/waterproof Pinehurst jacket

We wish both teams all the very best for a fantastic day of football!

🎼 Pinehurst Musicians to Perform at International Confederation of Principals’ Convention 2026

When: Wednesday 16 September
Where: New Zealand Convention Centre

The Pinehurst Year 4–6 Choir, Primary Marimba Group and College String Quartet have been invited to perform at the prestigious International Conference of Principals next week.

The event will bring together more than 2,000 principals and educational leaders from around the world, providing a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their musical talents on an international stage.

Pinehurst is especially proud to be the only primary school invited to perform musical items at the conference. This invitation reflects the exceptional calibre, dedication and professionalism of our students and staff, as well as the strength of our music programme.

Our musicians have been working hard in preparation and are honoured to represent both Pinehurst and New Zealand music education at this significant international event.

We wish all our performers every success for what will be a very special experience and a proud moment for the Pinehurst community.

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Welcome back to all of our AIMS athletes and congratulations to athletes and coaches on a very successful AIMS Games tournament week. Teams had some wonderful successes and, more importantly, were excellent ambassadors for Pinehurst School.  

Next week, Year 9 and 10 students will be completing examinations; mock Checkpoint assessments for Year 9 and year level examinations for Year 10 students. Students are expected at school for the whole examination session even when they are not sitting an examination paper. Normal school expectations are in place for the whole week. This can be a stressful time for young people and I encourage all students who are sitting examinations to prioritise their health and wellbeing by taking breaks, eating well and getting enough sleep and exercise.  

On Monday evening, we are excited to be welcoming families of students who will be joining the College in Year 7 next year. There will be an opportunity for visitors to meet teachers and get a feel for College life whilst sampling some lessons in the College classrooms. The evening starts at 6pm in the Theatre.  

Have a lovely weekend.  

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

📣 First Competition for Pinehurst Cheerleading!

When: Sunday 13 September, 10.00am
Where: Eventfinda Stadium

Our Pinehurst Cheerleading Team (comprising Year 7-9 students) will take to the floor this Sunday for their first ever competition, performing at the Spring Carnival at 10.00am. We would love to see members of our Pinehurst community there to cheer them on! Prizegiving will take place at 11.00am.

Cheerleaders: Please arrive at 9.00am to meet Mrs Curwood and your coach and get stage ready. Students should arrive in full costume, with hair and makeup completed.

Family and friends wishing to attend will need to purchase a spectator ticket through the Spring Carnival Eventfinda link provided.

We wish our cheerleaders the very best for this exciting milestone and welcome your support! 📣

🎹 Pinehurst College Piano Competition

When: Wednesday 16 September, 6.00pm
Where: Pinehurst Theatre

We are thrilled to be hosting our third annual Piano Competition next Wednesday, with 13 talented College students taking to the stage to compete for first, second and third place.

Audiences can look forward to an inspiring programme featuring works by Chopin, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Debussyand other celebrated composers. Our competitors have dedicated many hours to preparing for the event, and we congratulate them on their commitment and wish them every success in their performances.

We are also delighted to welcome renowned pianist, teacher and adjudicator Justin Bird, who will serve as our judge for the evening.

Everyone is warmly invited to attend and enjoy an evening showcasing the exceptional talent of our Pinehurst piano students.

🎓 Pinehurst Careers Centre Update

Students and families are encouraged to explore the following upcoming career opportunities, university events and scholarships:

Wednesday 16 September: University of Sydney Bachelor of Arts Webinar
Learn more about studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney. Registration is available through the link provided.

Thursday 17 September: Automotive Careers Information Evening at Sancta Maria College, Flat Bush
Students and whānau are invited to explore career opportunities and meet industry professionals from the automotive, commercial road transport, and mining and quarrying industries. Check out the Drive Your Future Information Evening through the link provided.

Jane Street – Women in STEM Education (WiSE) Programme
Applications are now open for Year 13 girls and non-binary students interested in finance and trading. This challenging multi-day programme explores how Jane Street applies mathematics, computer science and probability concepts to trading. Students can find further information and apply through the Jane Street WiSE programme link provided.

Thursday 1 October: Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust Scholarships Open
Applications open for scholarships supporting Rainbow (LGBTTQIA+) young people planning to begin tertiary study. Further information is available from the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust via email.

Community News

🛍️ Uniform Shop Term 3 Holiday Hours

Days: Tuesday 6 October - Friday 9 October 2026
Times: 9.00am – 12.00pm & 12.30pm – 3.30pm

The Uniform Shop will be open during the Term 3 holidays to help families get ready for summer uniform before Term 4 begins. We look forward to seeing you 🤗

🎺 Pinehurst Students Performing in Synergy

Pinehurst students will take to the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre this October as part of Synergy, an exciting showcase bringing together live music, circus, dance and cultural performance.

Aaron Chow, Jessica Wang, Derek Guo, Jasper Chow and Jasper Chen will perform as part of the pre-show entertainment, ahead of the main performance featuring North Shore Winds, a professional-level 40-piece symphonic wind band. Fellow Pinehurst students Callum Morgan and Jerry Luo are also members of the organisation.

The main show brings North Shore Winds together with nine Auckland performance groups, featuring everything from acrobatics and aerial artistry to high-energy dance and cultural performances.

A shorter Matinee performance, at half the length of the full show, is also available and includes the special pre-show featuring the Youth Band and junior dance groups.

We wish our Pinehurst musicians all the very best and encourage our community to support them at this fantastic celebration of local talent!