Dear Parents and Guardians, 

There was plenty happening across the school this week, with Primary conferences providing a clear focus on teaching and learning. Some wet weather during the week led to disruption to outdoor activities and the postponement of some Wheels Week days. Despite this, it was lovely to see many of you at Coffee Connect this morning 

Thank you to all parents and student chefs who supported the College Cultural Market with some home cooking yesterday. It is amazing to see how food brings people together, and there were many delicious dishes that reflected the diversity of our community. This event is a highlight of the calendar, and for me, it is the stories shared because of the food that gives the day its true meaning. 

As Matariki falls during the holiday, we will have celebrations at school on Thursday next week. If you would like your child (Year 5 and up) to enjoy a hangi lunch on the day, please follow the instructions that have been shared with you. 

The College production of Anastasia takes place next week, and after having seen a number of rehearsals, I can’t wait to see the full performance. There are still a small number of tickets available, and I encourage you to book quickly for Wednesday and Thursday, as the weekend will certainly be a sellout once word spreads about the quality of the show and our talented performers.  

Our top College badminton teams have had a brilliant season, with both the boys and girls winning the A Grade competition. Impressively, the girls' team went undefeated, winning all 42 games in the season! Our top table tennis team have also had a brilliant season and has won the A Grade competition. Three Primary basketball teams have won their grade, well done to the Firebirds, Golden Eagles, and Hawks. These results reflect the broader performances of teams across the school this term, and while not every game can be a victory, the determination to succeed is what sets our athletes apart.  

Holidays can often represent uncertainty for young people, as the routine of school disappears. If you feel like your child needs some help managing this change, please get in touch, and we can offer strategies to help. 

I hope you all enjoy the weekend, and your children feel excited for the last week of term. 

Take care,
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 30 June

• Ai in Business Workshop
• Primary Matinee Performance of the College Production - Anastasia

Wednesday 1 July

• North Harbour Hockey Zone Day
• College Production - Anastasia
• Primary Sports Photos
• College Sports Photos

Thursday 2 July

• Matariki Celebrations
• College Production - Anastasia

Friday 3 July

• New Entrant Orientation Visit, 9.00-10.30am
• College Production - Anastasia

College News

Tēnā koutou katao 

There is a real sense of excitement around the College as many of our senior students prepare for tomorrow evening's School Ball. Our Ball Committee has worked incredibly hard under the guidance of Ms Rea to create what promises to be a memorable and special occasion for everyone attending. 

Next week is our final week of Term 2, and students are certainly looking forward to a well-deserved break. Before the holidays begin, we will come together to celebrate Matariki on Thursday, with activities starting at first light. We are looking forward to sharing this special occasion as a school community, preparing and enjoying a hāngī together during the day. 

We are also excited to open our College production of Anastasia next Wednesday, with performances running through to Saturday. The cast, crew, and production team have dedicated countless hours to bringing this wonderful show to life, and it promises to be an outstanding performance. If you have not secured your tickets yet, I encourage you to book using the link further down in this newsletter. 

Have a lovely weekend.  

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

🎭 Outstanding Screen Projections for Anastasia!

Anastasia is set to open on Wednesday next week which culminates the huge effort that has gone into this production by the Pinehurst performing Arts department since the start of Term One.

As with the past two College Productions, the technical team have been able to make use of the projected images that have previously been used with this show and the results are outstanding. Staff and students have all commented on the outstanding scenes created which include, ballrooms, train stations, soldiers, swan lake ballet, and many more elaborate scenes. Many of the images have moving animations too which change as the scenes and music play and which bring a further layer of professionalism to the show.

Tickets are selling fast to the production next week – which runs from Wednesday 1 July to Saturday 4 July and with the extra matinee performance on Saturday afternoon too.

👉 Buy your tickets here

✈️ Argentina Cultural Exchange 2027

Expression of Interest Reminder

Who: Current Years 9–12 students (travelling as Years 10–13 in 2027)
When: Thursday 8 April – Saturday 24 April 2027 (April school holidays)

👉 Parents and caregivers are reminded that Expressions of Interest for the Argentina Cultural Exchange 2027 close on the last day of term.

The tour includes four nights in Buenos Aires, followed by a cultural exchange programme in Córdoba, where students will stay with local host families and attend Academia Argüello School.

This is not a formal commitment. At this stage, we are simply gauging interest to determine whether there are sufficient numbers to proceed with an information evening.

The estimated cost of the trip is approximately $8,400, plus spending money for incidentals and some meals while in Buenos Aires. As part of the reciprocal exchange, Pinehurst families will also be invited to host students from Academia Argüello when they visit New Zealand in September 2027.

For further information, please contact Nicole Lorimer via email nicole.lorimer@pinehurst.school.nz

🎉 Pinehurst Cheerleading 'Give it a go!' 2nd Session

If you missed Thursday’s trial class, don’t worry! We have another one on Monday at lunchtime in the Dance studio.

Come along to meet the coaches and give Cheerleading a try! Open to all Year 7, 8 and 9 students of all experience levels. Feel free to come along again if you attended Thursday’s session, too.

When: Monday lunchtime
Where: Dance Studio

The programme is led by Michelle Tukukino, CEO and Head Coach of Midnight Athletics, a world champion cheerleader and award-winning coach. During the first session, students learnt key cheerleading stances, jumps, and even performed group lifts, demonstrating fantastic teamwork, enthusiasm, and a willingness to try something new.

Cheerleading is a great opportunity for students interested in sport, dance, or gymnastics to develop new skills, build confidence, and be part of an exciting team. We look forward to seeing you there!

🎓 Update from the Careers Centre

World Leading School Association College Admission Network: Wednesday 29 July

Its mission is to create face-to-face communication opportunities between top international universities and local students, parents and education professionals. The event will focus on key topics such as admission standards and trends in global education. It aims to provide participants with insights into how leading universities select and cultivate talent. Confirmed universities attending include Boston, Brown, Northwestern, Rice and more!

Register here: 2026 WLSA CAN Oceania Conference Tour

Primary News

Kia ora tātou,

It has been a week where the weather at times interrupted our plans. We had to postpone some of our much anticipated Wheels Week until the predicted forecast of sunshine next week. Our Year 6 netballers were also understandably disappointed not to be able to compete at the Netball Field Days, and we look forward to future opportunities for them to showcase their skills.

A highlight of the week has been our parent conferences, and it has been fantastic to share student progress, achievement, and effort with so many families. As we move into the second half of the school year, our students are well on track to meet their academic targets and, importantly, continue to demonstrate a genuine love of learning and school.

Today we welcomed 15 new families to Pinehurst at our first Term 3 New Entrant visit. The children settled beautifully, and it was wonderful to see parents connecting and beginning their journey within our community.

Congratulations to our Chess teams who competed at the North Shore Chess competition last Friday, they will be going to the National Finals later in the year! Quinn was also recognised as the top player which is an amazing achievement.

Dates for next week:

• 1 July: Sports Teams Photos
• 3 July: New Entrant Orientation Visit

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

🏀 Year 5 & 6 Basketball Trials

We are looking forward to welcoming our registered Year 5 and 6 players to the upcoming Basketball Trials.

When: Monday 29 June, 7.20pm – 8.20pm
Where: Arena

This session provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills, teamwork, and enthusiasm for the game as teams are selected for the season ahead. Please note that the trials are for registered players only and will be closed to parents. We wish all participants the very best and look forward to seeing them on the court.

📸 Sports Photos Reminder

A reminder that Sports Photos will be taking place on Wednesday 1 July in the Gym.

When: Wednesday 1 July
Where: Gym

A reminder that Sports Photos will be taking place on Wednesday 1 July in the Gym. Information outlining photo times and what students should wear was emailed to all parents and caregivers on Monday. Please ensure students arrive prepared and in the correct uniform for their scheduled team photo.

Community News

🎭 Pinehurst School Production of Anastasia

Join Anya, a courageous young woman with no memory of her past, as she journeys from St. Petersburg to Paris in search of her true identity. This year we are delighted to have a double-casting of the role of Anya, shared between Sofia Baumann Korneeva and Ece Dalgic. Their shows are outlined below:

• Wednesday 1 July at 7pm - Ece 
• Thursday 2 July at 7pm - Sofia 
• Friday 3 July at 7pm - Ece
• Saturday 4 July at 2pm - Sofia 
• Saturday 4 July at 7pm - Sofia 

Our shows will run for approximately 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission. Tickets ($25) are available to purchase on Humanitix NOW!

👉 Buy your tickets here

✨ Matariki Hāngī Lunch

To celebrate Matariki, our Kapa Haka group and student leaders will be preparing a traditional hāngī lunch accompanied by homemade bread.

When: Thursday 2 July, lunchtime
Who: Students in Years 4–13
Cost: $15 per student
Collection: From 12.50pm at the basketball courts on the backfield

Families wishing to purchase a hāngī lunch for their child are invited to place an order via the online form here. The cost will be charged to the student's school account.

👉 Please note:

• One order per child
• Orders close at 4.00pm on Wednesday 1 July
• No cash sales will be available on the day

We look forward to sharing this special Matariki celebration with our students.

🏆 The Mindset for Success

Reach Your Potential

Many parents ask the same question: how do we help our children become resilient, motivated, confident, and successful in an increasingly competitive world?

On Thursday 30 July, Pinehurst is delighted to welcome internationally recognised speaker Jake Bailey. Jake has worked with over 100,000 people worldwide, including students from more than 200 schools, helping young people develop resilience, confidence, and the mindset to succeed. He became a number one bestselling author in New Zealand at just 19.

In this engaging parent session, Jake will share practical strategies to help young people perform under pressure, stay motivated through challenges, and build habits for long-term success.

This is a complimentary event and one we highly recommend to every Pinehurst family.

Thursday 30 July | 6.00-7.00pm | Pinehurst Theatre
👉 Please register for this free event

💳 Going Cashless at the Tuck Shop & Busy Bean Cafe

From Term 3, the Tuck Shop and Busy Bean Cafe will be moving to a fully cashless system, so now is a great time to get your family set up and ready to go.

We use Monitor, a cashless payment system that makes managing school spending simple and convenient. Through the My Monitor interface, you can manage account balances, view transactions, and load credit to your child's account - all online. When it comes time to pay, students can use their ID card (Monitor payment) or a bank card.

Monitor is available to students in Years 7 to 13, and for Year 6 students from Term 4. To get started or find out more, visit our Monitor Cashless System page.

Please note that cash fundraising activities and student-run events will continue to accept cash payments. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

🛍️ Uniform Shop: Holiday Opening Hours

The Uniform Shop will be open on the following dates during the Term 2 holidays:

• Tuesday 14 July
• Wednesday 15 July
• Thursday 16 July
• Monday 27 July

Opening Hours

• 9.00am – 12.30pm
• 1.00pm – 3.30pm

Please note that these holiday hours apply only on the dates listed above. Normal term-time opening hours will resume from Tuesday 28 July. Families can also place orders at any time via the MyKindo app.