Message from the Executive Principal

Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요  

Best wishes,

Mike Waller 

Message from the Principal of Primary

Pinehurst Primary STEM Day

Tuesday was an exciting day in the Primary as we took part in a day dedicated to activities and lessons focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Our goal was to engage our students in hands-on, interactive learning experiences that promoted critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and collaboration.

Ms Speir our STEM teacher organised the fun filled day around the theme, ‘Going Prehistoric.’

Our day began with an action-packed show from a real-life palaeontologist. The show’s theme was ‘Our Air’ and it focussed on air composition, pollutants and how we can filter air and prevent germs spreading. We learnt some very interesting facts about how dinosaurs became so big and the relationship between their growth and the air quality.

As we entered the arena students were handed coloured ping pong balls and throughout the show different coloured ping pong balls represented the components of air – oxygen, carbon dioxide, germs, and pollutants. We witnessed how pollutants can be trapped in a filter and how easily germs can spread when we sneeze.

STEM day saw a range of activities taking place throughout the Primary classes. Here is a snapshot of pre-historic learning taking place.

Exploding Volcanoes

Fossilised Remains

Dinosaur Skeletons

Guess whose skeleton this belongs to?

Our Primary classes had a wonderful day making discoveries, and working together to solve a problem. A big thank you to our wonderful Ms Speir for her organisation that saw everyone engaged in STEM focussed activities.

Vocabulary of Science

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the importance of mastering science vocabulary cannot be overstated. This is particularly true in areas such as the language of dissolving, where precise terminology is essential for students to communicate their knowledge, investigations, predictions, and observations effectively and confidently.

Understanding the vocabulary associated with dissolving, such as "solute," "solvent," "saturation," and "concentration," equips students with the tools needed to describe chemical processes accurately. For example, when discussing why salt dissolves in water, a student with a strong grasp of these terms can explain that salt (the solute) disperses evenly within the water (the solvent) until a saturated solution is formed.

Without a firm understanding of these terms, students may struggle to articulate their scientific ideas, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of confidence. This vocabulary is crucial during scientific investigations, where clear communication of methods and results is necessary. When predicting outcomes, such as whether a substance will dissolve under certain conditions, students who can use appropriate terminology are better prepared to justify their hypotheses and engage in scientific discourse.

Observations made during experiments also require specific language to ensure clarity and precision. Describing a solution's behaviour, noting the point of saturation, or explaining the rate at which solute dissolves are all dependent on students' ability to use the correct terms.

In conclusion, mastering the language of dissolving is more than just an academic exercise; it is a critical component of scientific literacy. As students build their vocabulary, they gain the confidence and ability to communicate their ideas clearly, paving the way for future scientific exploration and discovery.

STEM fun in P14

This week we got to explore fun STEM activities. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. These fields are interconnected and emphasize innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Why is STEM important in education? It builds on 21st-Century Skills: equipping us with the skills we need to thrive in the workplace of the future. Specific skills include critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and adaptability.

We started the day with a beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that enlightened us about the discovery of the dinosaurs. This led into discussion about what is palaeontology and what is a fossil? We then drew a T-Rex skeleton to understand the proportions of a specific dinosaur body and labelled it. Armed with this knowledge, we then dove into making a model of a dinosaur using matchsticks, skewers, and modelling clay.

After lunch we explored volcanoes and chemical reactions. We built model volcanoes using paper cups, a plate, plaster fabric, food colouring, baking soda and vinegar. We learnt that there are over 50 volcanic cones and craters in Auckland. We also learnt that lava is ~1000 degrees Celsius. We noticed that the chemical reaction taking place made gas – carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!

P6, it’s quarter to 4!

P6s were little time explorers in the math lesson! They’ve learnt how to read clocks, tell time to five-minute intervals and understand quarters past and to the hour. It was not easy at first, but they’ve ended up being time-traveling pros! ⏰✨

P6s gathered in a big circle (they said it was an oval), and they have become a living, breathing human clock! Learners cut out numbers for the human clock, they sorted them out in order, and they had to find a longer (taller) person to be a minute hand, and a shorter person to be an hour hand. Learners were the clock hands! 

Mrs Lee called out a time “It’s quarter to 4!”. The learner who was between 3 and 4 was an hour hand, and the learner on the number 9 stretched out as a minute hand toward the 12. Voila! The human clock showed 3:45 exactly!

All learners took turns being the time caller or clock hands. They’ve practiced reading different times and rearranged themselves accordingly. The learners shifted, giggling, to show the new time.

Learners cheered, having learnt to tell time in a playful way. They’ve become a magical human clock, ticking away the minutes. Remember, learning can be an adventure-even when they’re the hands of time! ⏰🌟

Busy Times in P20

We have been busy this term in P20. This week we had Inter-House Cross Country and a STEM day where we made volcanoes and dinosaur fossils. Meanwhile, in class we have been reading Hatchet. It is a great novel written by Gary Paulsen, describing how a young boy called Brian survives after his plane crash lands, leaving him alone and stranded in the Canadian wilderness. We made some trioramas which show our visualisations of the setting as described in chapter 6. In maths, we have just started a new geometry unit on drawing 2D shapes, and we are practicing using measuring tools correctly. We hope these images give you a small window into our learning

Pinehurst Planet Protectors Are Back!

We’re excited to share that the Pinehurst Planet Protectors are up and running again! Our Year 5 and Year 6 students kicked off the first week by brainstorming important questions about the environment, such as:

• What are the biggest environmental issues that Pinehurst face?
• How can we make our school and community more eco-friendly?
• What small changes can we make in our daily lives to help the planet?
• What projects we can do as Planet Protectors to help?

We came up with lots of great ideas and are eager to start making a difference. From improving recycling at school to organising community clean-ups, there’s plenty planned for the year ahead.

Keep an eye out for updates on our projects and see how our Pinehurst Planet Protectors are helping to make our school more sustainable. It’s going to be an exciting year!

Message from the Principal of College

Social Science

Over the past two weeks,  Rhiannon from Whitebait Connected has worked with the AS Environmental Management class. She spent two periods in the classroom discussing the environment, our rivers and how to test the health of them. On Friday 17 May, the class met up with Rhiannon and Susan from Whitebait Connection by the river just off Bush Road. The students undertook an investigation into the health of the river. They tested different factors such as nitrogen levels and temperature, as well as exploring what macroinvertebrates can be found. Thankfully, the small investigations showed the river to be in good health especially for an urban river. Rhiannon will be back in the classroom going over the results with the students and seeing if we can make a plan moving forward to how we can best support our local Pinehurst environment.

Seussical Set

'And oh, the places you'll go! You're on your own, you know what you know, don't worry about how fast or how slow! 
Be certain you step with caution and tact, 'cause life is one great big balancing act! 
And will you succeed? 
You will, yes indeed!'

Our wonderful visiting student teacher from the USA has made a huge contribution to this Seussical inspired set design. The painting of the set for Seussical is in full swing as students ready themselves for opening night. 

Ethics Olympiad

On Monday 20 May, the Senior Ethics Olympiad team from Pinehurst competed against 23 other teams from top schools right across the North Island in the Senior Ethics Olympiad held online. 

The result was a great success with our Pinehurst team (Percy Kuang, Michelle Hao, Oren Dabbach, Emma Liang, Gloria Kim) coming in third place and receiving bronze medals! For three of the team members, this was their first time ever participating in an Ethics Olympiad and for the entire team this was their first time competing in the Senior division.

The Senior Ethics Olympiad discusses the morales and ethics of 8 difficult cases. Each case gives context and a background to 3 questions. The purpose of the competition is to have an effective and deep discussion regarding these questions using ethical theories. These ethical theories include Utilitarianism, Consequentialism, and Deontology, just to name a few. You would explore the question using the framework of these to lay out your perspective. For instance, if you choose to use Deontology, you will measure the action/decision’s moral principles, social norms, and land laws to see whether or not it fulfils these categories and therefore whether it is ethical.

This competition is great for anyone who is interested in discussing insightful questions that have no definite answer and those who enjoy a pleasant debate.

 - Michelle Hao Year 11

48 Hour Film Festival

Last weekend a team of students took part in the national short film competition, the 48 Hour Film Festival. This competition has been taking place in Aotearoa for 21 years; Miss Greaves even did it when she was in high school! To make the festival interesting, teams are assigned genres and compulsory elements they must include in their films - like a character, a shot type, or even a line of dialogue. However, this information isn't given until the competition starts at 7:00pm on the Friday night; from then, teams have 48 hours to plan, script, film, and edit a 5 minute short film that is handed in at 7:00pm that Sunday. Our team had a great time creating our short film, despite the long hours being at school until 10:00pm. This was a fun, creative, and exciting opportunity for students; Pinehurst will definitely be entering in another school team next year! If you want to watch our film Love is Like an M, head on over the 48 Hour Film Festival website and click on the screening room.

Science Fair

The Year 7 and 8 students put enormous amounts of effort and some creative flair into their Science Fair Projects since the beginning of Term 1. Their science teachers have been so impressed by the quality of their projects, interesting questions, and scientific rigour. They wished there were more prizes! The students’ work culminated in the Pinehurst Science Fair, held on Thursday. Their fascinating projects and scientific discoveries were all on display and shared with the Pinehurst community. Even our year 6 classes attended to get some ideas for next year. Every student who completed a project should be so proud of their accomplishment. A special congratulations to this years’ winners: Elizabeth D.W. in Year 7 with her project on resistance in wires; and Abby C. in Year 8 with her project ‘Plant Power’.

NZTrio visit to Pinehurst School

On Monday 20 May, the NZTrio performed in the Pinehurst Theatre to a selected audience of Pinehurst students. Members of the Primary and College Orchestras and the Harp, Woodwind and Marimba groups were treated to a variety of music played outstandingly by violinist Amalia Hall, cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Sarah Watkins. 

A variety of musical genres were on display – Classical, Romantic and modern music performed beautifully, with a number of New Zealand works also displayed, especially relevant as this month is New Zealand Music Month. 

At the close of the performance students were able to ask questions of the performers. It was especially rewarding to have such a professional group perform in our theatre with its specially designed acoustics for music groups such as this.

Toi o te wiki this week goes to Year 7 student, Raymond

Finding solutions about how to best approach shading each area of this ammonite fossil challenged Raymond to persevere. It was wonderful observing students giving Raymond feedback as he worked and hearing the intelligent ideas they had about how to problem solve areas to intensify the unique light and dark areas of the shell. 

Well done, Raymond! You showed courage as you worked!

Well done too, to your peers who supported you by sharing their understanding. 

Ugly Shakespeare Company at Pinehurst

This week we were lucky enough to have the Ugly Shakespeare Company perform Macbeth for all Year 9s, as well as Year 10, 11, and 12 drama students. This version of Macbeth was not the typical tragedy; it was a shortened, comedic, and improvised version that helped to contextualise the more confusing Shakespearean language! This was a really exciting opportunity, as year 9s studied Macbeth in English last term, and are currently exploring it in Drama this term. The students had heaps of fun (particularly when the water gun came out) and really enjoyed talking to the actors afterwards. Thanks again to the USC!

Visit Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Year 12 and 13 Digital media and design students went on a trip to the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki where they are participating in The Pat Hanley Creativity Award. This year’s theme for Pat Hanly Creativity Project and Awards is ‘Tokū Tūrangawaewae’: You are who you are because of where you stand.  This is an opportunity for students to make higher-level connections between contemporary art, history and the context upon how they place their own art. The art gallery people then come to our school to view and judge the artworks for inclusion in an exhibition at the AAG later on in the year. Students attended two workshops that incorporated part of the whenua into the art.

Year 7-8 Netball Masterclass

On Wednesday this week several of our Year 7 and 8 Junior College girls took advantage of the opportunity to attend a Shooter Masterclass organised by Netfit. Great to see the commitment shown to improving their netball by attending this specialist session in their own time. Well done girls! It seemed a great time was had by all as well as learning new skills.

Pinehurst Interhouse Cross Country

Last week, we held the Pinehurst Interhouse Cross Country in very bleak conditions at Rosedale Park. Although the weather was a bit moody, this did not dampen the spirits of our students. It was awesome to see everyone giving it their all and there was some exceptional sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the event. The house points were hotly contested this year due to a large participation in both the individual and relay events. A huge thank you to our amazing Parent supporters that turned up in the cold conditions and also to our Teachers for contributing to the event as officials and marshals, we could not do it without you!

Please see the overall results below:

Auckland Secondary Schools Swimming Champion of Champions

On Friday, 5 students competed in the AKSS Swimming Champion of Champions competition after qualifying as the top 16 swimmers in the whole of Auckland from the North Harbour Zone competition. The 5 swimmers consisted of Bruce Shen, Jack Potier, Sonny Liu, Osbert Gu & Eleanor Saunders.

The following students/teams placed in the top 5 in their respective event/s which is an amazing accomplishment as this is the best swimmers from Warkworth, to Takaninni.

Osbert Gu:

• 2nd Place: 50m Backstroke Intermediate Boys
• 5th Place: 50m Breaststroke Intermediate Boys
• 5th Place: 50m Freestyle Intermediate Boys

Senior Boys Relay Team (Bruce Shen, Jack Potier, Sonny Liu & Osbert Gu)*

• 3rd Place: 100m Freestyle Relay Senior Boys
• 4th Place: 200m Freestyle Relay Senior Boys

Bruce Shen:

• 5th place: 50m Backstroke Intermediate Boys

We are really proud of our swimmers that qualified for this event, and we can’t wait to watch them represent Pinehurst at the upcoming AKSS Individual Championships & New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships in July.

Borneo Camp

Yar 7-8 North Harbour Football Zone Day

Last Friday, 8 students from Year 7-8 competed at the North Harbour Football Boys Zone Day which was held at Rosedale Park. It was a tough day filled with enthusiasm and determination resulting with the team placing 12^th overall. It was awesome to see the encouragement and team spirit coming from everyone involved. A huge thank you to Mr Reynolds and Mr Boden for coaching the team.

Auckland Secondary Schools Cross Country

On Thursday, 6 students represented Pinehurst at the AKSS Cross Country Championships which was held at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga. We had 3 students racing in the Junior Boys division, which was Stanley (Year 9 ), Nicholas (Year 9) and Aaron (Year 9). Wen Yao (Year 10) raced in the Intermediate Boys division and Taine (Year 12) raced in the Senior Boys division. The Junior boys completed a total of 4km with the Intermediate boys completing 5km and the Senior Boys running a total of 6km. All students ran very well against a tough and rather large field.

Auckland Secondary Schools Climbing – Round 2

The 2^nd Round of the Auckland Secondary Schools Climbing series was held over the week with 11 climbers showing off their skills in the bouldering discipline. The event was held at Northern Rocks and included 200 climbers from across all of the Auckland schools. Xavier (Year 8) placed 3^rd overall in the Junior Boys division and received his bronze medal on the day. Taine Turner made it into the finals of the Senior Boys division and placed 7^th overall which is an exceptional result for Taine. Anshuo (Sherry) Li also made it into the finals for the Senior Girls and placed 7^th overall. Pinehurst now sits in 7^th place overall after the 2^nd round, with 2 more rounds to go in the series. We would like to wish all of our climbers the very best of luck for their last 2 rounds of competition.

School Ball

All Year 11-13 students are cordially invited to attend this year's School Ball. We look forward to celebrating this special event with you!

Date: Saturday 29 June 2024
Time: 7.15pm - Midnight
Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 128 Albert Street, Auckland Central
Ticket Price: $165.00

• Ritsumeikan University in Japan Webinar on May 25. Register here.
• Otago University Open Days are on May 26 and 27 Head to www.otago.ac.nz/open-days for further information and FAQs.
• University of British Columbia is in Pinehurst School Theatre May 29 at lunchtime
• Victoria University of Wellington Open Evening in Auckland’s Aotea Centre June 10. Register here.
• University of Melbourne is in Pinehurst School Theatre June 11 at lunchtime
• North Shore Career Expo June 12 and 13
• Australian National University is in Pinehurst Theatre June 14 at lunchtime
• Massey University – College of Creative Arts Experience Day. June 14 in Wellington. Portfolio reviews available. Register here: Creative Arts Experience Day Massey University Tickets, Fri, Jun 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

Hello everyone! We are your Totora House Captains Lingyao and Austin

Pink Ribbon Breakfast 2024 – We Came Together For Good!

Yesterday, we hosted our second sold-out Pink Ribbon Breakfast for our parent community. We had the privilege of welcoming Caro McCourtie, a breast cancer survivor, as our guest speaker. Caro shared her inspiring story, leaving us all uplifted and motivated.

It was a real morning of community, good food, fun and laughter!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended. It was wonderful to come together for such a worthy cause. Together, we raised an impressive $5,175!

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and donors. Your generous support made this event possible. Thank you!

Swimming NZ National Age Group Pathway Selection – Jack

Last week, Jack Potier was invited into the Swimming New Zealand National Age Pathway. This is the very top pathway for all New Zealand swimmers and there are normally only 19-20 age group swimmers selected for this pathway. Jack has qualified for this pathway for Open Water swimming.

Dad's FnT is Back by popular demand!

Dad's Fantail & Turtle is back for 2024, 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 20 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 Dad - Tamuka Nyawo (Year 7) will 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.

Coffee Connect

If you have any news or submissions you’d like considered for our newsletter, please contact news@pinehurst.school.nz