Dear Parents/Guardians, 

In the blink of an eye, we are just a few school days away from the end of term. While the time has passed quickly, this should not detract from all that has been achieved, and there is still much to look forward to next week. The commitment of both students and staff throughout the term has been impressive and is the reason so much has been accomplished. 

This week, I had the opportunity to visit both our Year 4 and Year 7 students at camp. I always value seeing our students in action outside the classroom and am consistently impressed by how they come together to support one another through challenges. I was particularly impressed with the Year 4 students, who adapted quickly to a change in programme and transitioned seamlessly to indoor activities. My thanks to all staff involved for their time and effort in creating such valuable learning experiences and lasting memories. 

The poor weather conditions this week affected a number of activities, particularly the camps. Each trip required adjustments, particularly for our Year 9 students returning to Auckland earlier than planned. While safety will always remain our priority, I recognise that these changes can be frustrating, and I appreciate the understanding and support shown by our community. 

The Pinehurst AGM on Wednesday provided an opportunity to share our new strategic plan, which can be viewed online. The plan outlines an ambitious yet carefully considered pathway for the future of the school. Next term, I will host a series of information sessions to provide further insight into the developments you can expect to see, both in the short and long term. 

View the 2025 Annual Report and Strategic Plan documents here.

A highlight of the weekend is the Shore to Shore fun run on Sunday morning. With almost 400 Pinehurst participants, it promises to be a fantastic community event. I look forward to seeing many of our students in action and catching up with families at the BBQ at the finish line in Milford. 

A reminder that the term concludes on Wednesday next week. A Teacher Only Day will be held on Thursday, 2 April. 

The holiday period can bring a degree of uncertainty for some students as the structure of the school day changes. If your child would benefit from additional support during this time, please do not hesitate to get in touch—we are here to help. 

I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend, and I look forward to seeing many of you at Coffee Connect and the House BBQ next Wednesday. 

Regards,
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 31 March

• Year 2 Easter Hat Parade, Arena
• Year 4-6 Mid Bays Swimming Competition

Wednesday 1 April

• Coffee Connect (Easter Theme), 8.15am
• New Entrant Visits
• House BBQ, 3.15pm

Thursday 2 April

• Teacher Only Day

Friday 3 April

• Good Friday (School Holidays)

⭐️ Parent Reminder: Term 2 will begin in Full School Winter Uniform

Primary News

Kia ora,

The weather certainly did its best to stop us enjoying ourselves outdoors this week, especially our Year 4 campers at Peter Snell Village. But in true Pinehurst style, they rose to the challenge! The rain didn’t dampen their spirits; they took on the water slide anyway (they were already wet!) and made the most of indoor games and activities. This morning the sun finally appeared, giving them the chance to fully enjoy the stunning venue.

Today we also welcomed our Term 2 New Entrants for their first visit. It was wonderful to see their excitement, and we can’t wait to welcome them properly next term into our Pinehurst community.

Next week is short, finishing on Wednesday, but we’re looking forward to the Easter Hat Parade on Tuesday, as well as hearing about the successes of our students at the Mid Bays Swimming competition.

Upcoming dates:
• 31 March: Mid Bays Swimming Y4–6
• 31 March: Easter Hat Parade, Arena
• 1 April: New Entrant Visits
• 2 April: Teacher Only Day

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

💦 Year 4-6 Midbays Swimming Competition

Who: Selected Year 4–6 swimmers
When: Tuesday 31 March
Where: AUT Millennium

Our top Year 4–6 swimmers will be representing Pinehurst at the annual Midbays Swimming Competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, showcase their hard work, and experience competition in a supportive environment.

We are very proud of all students selected and wish them the very best for the day.

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa,

A warm welcome back to all our campers and trampers. Despite some challenging weather this week, our students showed impressive resilience, flexibility, and determination, ensuring the week finished on a positive and uplifting note.

As we head into Week 10, there is plenty to look forward to as we celebrate the end of a productive and dynamic term. It’s a wonderful time to reflect on achievements, strengthen connections, and enjoy the final few days of Term 1.

Students will finish the term on Wednesday, with our much-anticipated POD Challenge taking place in the afternoon. This event is always filled with colour, energy, laughter, and a strong sense of community. Following the challenge, we will host our House Barbecue, and we warmly invite all families to join us for this special occasion.

We look forward to celebrating together and wrapping up the term on a high note.

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

💻 Aotearoa New Zealand Bebras Challenge

Following participation from our Year 8 students last week, Year 7–9 Digital Technology students will take part in the Aotearoa New Zealand Bebras, an international computational thinking challenge.

This international competition, involving students from over 50 countries, features interactive, logic-based puzzles that require no prior programming knowledge. Students will complete a familiarisation session during their Digital Technology classes beforehand.

The challenge provides a fantastic opportunity for students to strengthen their problem-solving and computational thinking skills in a fun and engaging environment. We wish all students the very best as they take part.

🔥 Pinehurst House BBQ – Don’t Miss It!

Get ready for one of the most exciting afternoons of the term: the Pinehurst House BBQ is back, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever!

Who: All Pinehurst families and staff
When: Wednesday 1 April, 3.15pm – 5.30pm
Where: Pinehurst Back Field

Bring your friends and family and enjoy an action-packed afternoon filled with fun, food, and house spirit. There will be something for everyone, including:

• Giant inflatable obstacle course
• Climbing walls
• Zorb football
• Pop-up games
• Multiple food trucks
• BBQ and drinks available for purchase

Students who want to get involved in the activities can purchase a $20 activity pass, which includes a wristband for unlimited access to the obstacle course, climbing walls, and zorb football for the entire afternoon.

🎟 Pre-purchasing is strongly recommended — it guarantees your spot and helps avoid queues on the day. Tickets are available via Humanitix until 4pm, Tuesday 31 March.

Come along, get involved, and enjoy a fantastic afternoon with the Pinehurst community - we look forward to seeing you there!

Community News

🐰 Join us for our Easter Coffee Connect!

Coffee Connect is a simple but special way to pause, connect and enjoy the company of fellow Pinehurst parents and friends. Whether you stay for five minutes or the full hour, we’d love to see you there.

When: Wednesday 1 April, from 8.15am
Where: Main Reception

Join us on Wednesday 1 April, between 8.15am–9.15am in front of the Pinehurst Main Reception Building, for another relaxed morning of coffee and conversation. 

Everyone is warmly welcome!

🛍️ Uniform Shop – Holiday Opening Hours

If you need to purchase or replace uniform items during the upcoming school holidays, the Pinehurst Uniform Shop will be open at the following times:

Monday 13 - Friday 17 April

• 9:00am – 12:30pm
• 1:00pm – 4:00pm

The shop will reopen for Term 2 on 20 April. Please plan ahead if your child requires any uniform items before the new term begins.