Dear Parents and Guardians, 

The campus transformed into a world of wild imagination on Tuesday as our Primary students went all in on dressing up for book week. I loved seeing the excitement as they saw their favourite characters come to life, and our assembly was impactful as James Russell (author of the Dragon Hunter books) shared the joy of reading and writing. 

On Wednesday evening, we hosted an Australian universities fair that was well attended by students from across the city. Throughout the night, the greatest feedback I received was about our students who had volunteered to support the evening. They were outstanding ambassadors for the school and my thanks go to them and all of our staff who organised the event. 

During the day on Wednesday, I enjoyed a brilliant performance of ‘The Animal Orchestra’ by our College orchestra. The performance was shared with our Primary students as part of the Book Week festivities, and the quality of the music was incredible. My highlight was when they were joined by our Primary orchestra and it was very impressive to see our younger musicians rise to the occasion. 

Yesterday, I enjoyed sharing our strategic future with a small group or parents at ‘Bites and Insights’. If there are particular topics that you would like to hear more about, please let me know so that I can plan to address your ideas at future events. 

Please note an important date change for the 2027 calendar. On May 17th next year, we will be hosting Tom Sherrington for a staff professional development day. Tom is one of the key authors whose work we are using to pursue ongoing improvement in the quality of teaching and learning. His work aligns with Rosenshine’s Principles, and he is highly sought after internationally. Practically, this means April 26, 2027, will now be a normal school day to start Term Two, and Monday, May 17th, will now be a Teacher Only Day. 

Next week is relatively quiet in terms of events, so we can look forward to focused attention in the classroom. In writing that, there is still plenty happening in sports and the arts, with our students throwing themselves into all aspects of school life. 

Traditionally, this part of the school year is very busy and tiring across campus. As a result, sometimes the smallest things become the biggest deal as students struggle to regulate themselves. If your child needs any support in managing their emotions, please get in contact, and we will make sure they get the help they need. 

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the basketball on Sunday. 

Regards, 
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 16 June

• College Photos: Class, Leaders, Teams (School Gym)
• ID Photos Catchup
• Primary Years 3-4 Mandarin Conference

Wednesday 17 June

• Intermediate Chess Competition
• PE Lifesaving
• Primary Years 3-4 Mandarin Conference
• College (Years 7-13) Principal Tour: 9.00-10.30am

Thursday 18 June

• New Entrant (Years 0-1) Principal Tour: 9.15-10.45am
• Primary students take part in College Buddy Classes

Friday 19 June

• Primary Chess Championship: 9.00am-2.15pm (Willow Park School)

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa 

It was wonderful to see so many Pinehurst families attending the Australian and Selected Universities Careers Expo last week. Events like these provide valuable opportunities for students and parents to explore future study pathways, and we hope those who attended found the information helpful as they begin considering their next steps beyond school. 

Congratulations to all students who participated in the House Cross Country event today.  It was great to see such strong participation across year levels, and the competitive spirit on display made for an exciting event. Thank you to the staff, students, and supporters who helped make the day run smoothly and contributed to the positive atmosphere. 

Looking ahead, there is plenty to be excited about during Arts Week, which runs throughout next week. The Arts Council has been very busy organising the week and students will have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, including bake sales, theatresports, and creative craft sessions.  

We will be hosting our College Open Day on Wednesday. This is an excellent opportunity for prospective families to visit the school and learn more about the opportunities available at Pinehurst.  

As always, thank you for your continued support. 

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

🔬 Science Update

It has been a busy term in the Science Department, with Year 7 and 8 students recently completing their Science Fair presentations and Year 7–9 students attending the Science Roadshow this week.

As we move towards the end of Term 2, students will be focusing on completing their current units of work while also exploring opportunities to connect their learning with Matariki. For example, Year 7 students studying Forces in Space will investigate constellations, star clusters, and the use of lunar calendars.

For students in Years 11–13, this is an important time to reflect on mid-year examination results and work with teachers to identify areas for improvement. AS Chemistry students will also be preparing for their practical examination, with a practice assessment scheduled for Week 9.

We look forward to seeing students continue to build their scientific knowledge and skills as the term progresses.

🎉 National Spanish Dance Video Project

Spanish students are invited to take part in a fun national project celebrating Spanish language and culture.

Organised by the University of Canterbury, the project brings together Spanish learners from schools across Aotearoa New Zealand to create a collaborative dance video to the popular song Canción Bonita by Carlos Vives and Ricky Martin.

Students will learn a simple choreography and film a group performance, with footage from participating schools combined into a final nationwide video. No dance experience is required — just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved!

Filming is expected to take place in the final week of Term 2 or first week of Term 3.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to celebrate Spanish culture, connect with other learners around New Zealand, and be part of something special.

¡A bailar! 💃🎉

🎓 Career Education News

• Tahatū Career Expo: 16-17 June
  More info here: https://careersexpo.org.nz/event/auckland
• University of Otago Info Evening in Auckland: 18 June 6.30-8.00pm
  Register here: University of Otago Auckland Information Evening

👉 Book a time to meet with Lila Pulsford here

Primary News

Tēnā koutou katoa,

What an exciting and busy week of learning it has been across the Primary. Book Week was a wonderful celebration, filled with author visits, quizzes, creative door decorating, and a fantastic array of wild animals and cowboys who were truly “wild about reading.” We loved seeing students so engaged, reminding us of the importance of reading in developing imagination, knowledge, and a lifelong love of learning. A huge thankyou to our wonderful Librarians, Lisa, Deb, and Sharon for all their hard work in giving us a Book Week to remember.

Our Year 3–6 students were delighted by a special performance from the College Orchestra, showcasing talent and giving them something to aspire to. Congratulations to our Supercluster Cross Country runners, with Calla achieving an outstanding second place! Well done Calla and all our runners.  Our super mathematicians also represented the school this week at Mathex, demonstrating perseverance and teamwork.

Next week’s dates:

• Thursday 18 June: College Buddy Classes
• Friday 19 June: Reports released

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

⚠️ Road Safety Lessons with Constable Murray Fenton

Stop, Look, Listen, Think!

Next week, our local Community Constable, Murray Fenton, will be visiting Pinehurst to deliver road safety lessons to students in New Entrant to Year 2 classes.

Through hands-on pedestrian training around the school, students will learn the four key steps to road safety - Stop, Look, Listen, Think - while identifying safe places to play and practising how to cross roads safely, including at the school crossing.

Constable Fenton will also help students recognise common traffic hazards and develop safe crossing behaviours, providing valuable skills to support their safety both at school and in the wider community.

Community News

⭐️ Pinehurst School Ball 2026: Final Call for Tickets

Lights, camera, glamour! The countdown is on for the 2026 Pinehurst School Ball, with this year’s Hollywood Glam theme set to transform the Grand Millennium Hotel into a night of elegance, celebration, and unforgettable memories.

All Year 11, 12 and 13 students are warmly invited to attend, with Year 12 and 13 students welcome to bring one guest.

• Date: Saturday 27 June
• Times: Arrival 7.00-7.45pm; Concludes midnight (pick up Vincent Street)
• Venue: Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland
• Tickets: $180 per person (plus booking fee)
• Ticket sales close Thursday 19 June

Whether you're looking forward to dressing up, spending time with friends, dancing the night away, or simply being part of one of the highlights of the senior school calendar, don't miss your chance to be there.

👉 Tickets are available now via Humanitix