Message from the Executive Principal

Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요  

Best wishes,

Mike Waller 

Message from the Principal of Primary

P15 Maths Adventure: Cracking the Code!

This week, our class embarked on an exciting mathematical journey with a "Crack the Code to Find the Hidden Treasure" activity! Working in collaborative groups, students tackled challenging puzzles that required critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

This hands-on approach not only made maths engaging and fun, but it also helped students deepen their understanding of key concepts like patterns, sequencing, and logical reasoning. By collaborating with their peers, they enhanced their skills of communication skills and supporting one another.

It was exciting to see their enthusiasm as they decoded clues to uncover the treasure. Activities like these demonstrate how maths can be both educational and enjoyable, fostering a love for learning that we hope continues to grow!

We encourage families to try similar activities at home! Simple coding games or treasure hunts using clues and puzzles can reinforce these important skills while making learning a shared adventure.

P15 Art Spotlight: Exploring Typography!

This term, our Year 5 students have begun an exciting new unit in Art which is focused on typography. They’ve been learning how different letter styles can convey meaning and emotion.

As part of their exploration, students tackled the challenge of creating their own bubble letters, played with cut out typography and used animals and objects to represent the letters in their names, further enhancing their understanding of how visuals can communicate ideas.

This exploration of typography will connect to their upcoming PREP projects, as they apply their newfound skills to design eye-catching promotional materials for their PREP Market stall.

Chess Tournament Winners

A group of 3 Pinehurst students attended the Auckland Chess Championships and received a 3^rd place honour. Well done and congratulations to Fiona L, Jeremy Y and Quinn S. We are very proud of them.

Mrs K

Year 3 Ambury Farm Visit

It was with great excitement that P9 P10 and P11 set off to Ambury Farm last Friday. It was exciting because we had read ‘Charlotte’s Web’ as our shared novel in Term 3. It was exciting because many of us have never seen farm animals on a real farm. Lastly, it was exciting to spend the day outside in the fresh air with all of our classmates and friends in Year 3.

We learnt so many exciting facts such as:

• A cow eats 10 wheelbarrows of grass each day
• A cow can produce up to 20 litres of milk each day and pigs lie in mud to stay cool
• That sheep get shorn at the beginning of winter so that the mothers can keep their baby lambs warm (they know how cold it actually is)
• We even saw volcanic rock on our walk around the foreshore

A huge thanks to all the mums and dads for coming to help us, everyone came home very tired but very happy about our exciting day out at the farm.
The Year 3 Teachers and Students

Term 4 Lego

In the Year 2 Lego class, the students are learning about simple machines and their mechanisms. Our focus this term has been on gears.  The students have made gear trains and looked at how they can be geared up to increase speed and how they can be geared down for force.

One of the challenges the students had this term was to build a popcorn cart from a picture without instructions. The popcorn cart had a sign that was connected to a gear train allowing it to spin. The children needed to gear the gear train down so that the sign spun slowly allowing time for the sign to be read. Decisions needed to be made about which sized gear should drive the gear train and which one should be driven. It was decided after some trial and error that the small gear needed to drive the large one to gear down the gear train and make the sign spin slowly.

The children enjoyed building their popcorn carts, they examined the pictures carefully, identified the parts and constructed them independently. They did a great job and had lots of fun while learning all about gears.

Art in P14

We have just started a unit that is focused on the concept of expressing and celebrating viewpoints. We began by discussing the unique wildlife found in New Zealand, particularly its native birds. We then looked at images and illustrations of native New Zealand birds and briefly described some of their characteristics and habitats. Students selected a native bird that interested them. They were encouraged to consider the bird's features and colours. In their art journals we began by drawing our chosen bird in pencil. We recorded the Maori name in our art journal alongside it as a record for future art lesson. Once we had practised drawing our bird, we drew it on a piece of thin card. 

The aim is to create a multimedia piece of artwork, so in future lessons we will create a background using the Maori birds name in block letters.  We will also add paper hills in the midground and place the bird in the foreground. 

Watch this space for our finished pieces… 

In English as an Additional Language

This week in English as an Additional Language, one group has been learning about implied meaning and responding to this appropriately, which for EAL students is very difficult to identify. The New Entrant group has been looking at ways we classify different modes of transport, then linking this to using prepositions correctly. The older junior groups are using the simple present and present continuous tenses to discuss aspects of the weather, differentiating between the two and using them correctly. One of my senior groups are using countable and uncountable nouns in relation to the weather. Another senior group has been highlighting the structural and grammatical conventions of biographies and autobiographies and then summarising these

Exploring Visual Art Through Koru Designs

This week in visual art, P22 has been experimenting with koru designs. The students learned that "koru" is a Māori word meaning folded or coiled, representing the spiral shape of a fern sprout. The koru symbolises life, new beginnings, and the connection to tradition.

They began by drawing a large koru in the center of their paper, which became the focal point of their artwork. From there, they drew lines extending out from the koru, dividing the background into different sections. Within each section, they created repeated patterns to add detail and texture. Once the drawing was complete, they outlined everything using black vivid markers for boldness.

The most exciting part came next—adding color! Using both dye and watercolors, the students painted their artwork, bringing their designs to life with vibrant colors. The results were stunning, and everyone had a lot of fun learning about this traditional art form.

Message from the Principal of College

ECOH Wins Excellence in Technology Award

ECOH is a student-run business that specializes in creating customizable 3D-printed chess sets. Our products are made using commercially biodegradable materials, making them eco-friendly and sustainable. This year, we focused on improving the customizability of our chess sets by introducing new designs to offer our customers more options.

Led by CEO Kohtaro, along with Colen as CFO, Sissi as Production Manager, Raymond as Marketing Manager, and Edward as General Manager, the team has expanded into new markets. Through our efforts in promoting our products on Instagram and at various markets, we achieved high sales this year.

This is the second consecutive year that ECOH has been recognized by the Young Enterprise Scheme. Last year, we earned the Finance Award, and this year, we are proud to have won the Excellence in Technology Award. The Young Enterprise Scheme is run by both the Auckland Business Chamber.

Toi o te wiki

Our semester two, Year 7 students have just put the finishing touches on their drawings of flora and fauna.

Students have challenged themselves when applying shading techniques and have shown fantastic observational skills when identifying the light and dark areas of their plants.

They have reconsidered the use of their eraser and have understood the way and eraser can be a tool for adding interesting highlights into their drawings.

These beautiful works were completed by Yiru (kowhai flowers), Evy (lemons) and Matthew (protea flower).

Year 7 PE 

The Year 7 students have been learning about effective communication skills in Health. There has been a range of games for classes to experience how important communication and active listening skills are in conversations. The students thoroughly enjoyed playing telephone/ whispers which highlights how information can change as it is passed on from person to person and how important it is to relay exact messages or going to the original source. They have experienced non-verbal games that encourage eye contact and hand gestures to communicate and how we link these in during a verbal conversation. This week students experienced blind folded origami. Students identified how important it is to give precise verbal instructions that use vocal qualities like voice projection, timing and clarity as they guided their peer thorough the activity. As we progress through this unit students will be able to describe the difference between passive, assertive and aggressive communication and use problem solving models to solve relationship issues through communication and active listening. 

Jax launches his WellPulse Initiative

We had a great assembly at Pinehurst School recently, where Ruth Morse, CEO of the Well Foundation, Mr Johansen, and Jax J (Year 13), spoke about the difference our community has made to the local hospital. It was inspiring to see everyone so engaged.

Jax has been deeply involved with the Well Foundation, especially after his experiences volunteering at North Shore Hospital. He saw how tough treatments could be for elderly patients and decided to help make their care better and less invasive through the WellPulse initiative.

WellPulse is raising funds to purchase 'blue phantoms,' which are crucial for training staff in ultrasound-guided cannulation—a much gentler way to treat patients. Jax’s past projects, including the Healing Garden and Whanau Room, raised significant funds and made a big impact at the hospital.

We're aiming to raise $8,700 to help improve how our healthcare professionals are trained. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us get closer to this goal. You can donate online at www.wellfoundation.org.nz/donate—just add "WellPulse" in the comment section to make sure it goes to the right place.

Your support means safer and more comfortable treatments for our elderly. It's about giving our medical teams the tools they need to provide the best care possible.

Thanks for considering a donation to WellPulse. Together, we can make a real difference in the quality of healthcare in our community. 

• All students intending to go to a UK university next year, should have their application complete by Thursday 14 November. This is because staff need time to complete their sections of the application process and will not be available to assist after 4 December or during the summer holidays.
• If you applied to the University of Canterbury, students with room offers have until Tuesday 29 October to respond to their offer, and if accepting, to pay the required deposit. Students on the general waitlist will be contacted on a weekly basis to keep them updated on availability and to keep our waitlist active. Students are required to make a decision on scholarship offers by Monday 4 November.
• Unitec invites students to a webinar on their Medical Imaging qualification. The programme includes over 2000 hours of clinical placement in radiology departments across New Zealand, giving students valuable hands-on experience. Saturday 9 November 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Register here.
• Nelson Aviation College offers Summer Aviation Experience. More info here: Summer Aviation Programs - Nelson Aviation College
• Lincoln University is offering a new Bachelor of Science - Plant and Horticulture Science major, which will provide students with a firm grounding in a variety of agricultural and horticultural industries
• Blue Light Skills Camp is happening in Whenuapai on 20–24 January and 18–22 August 2025. Blue Light Camps offer students a unique opportunity to develop essential life skills alongside the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Full details here: Youth Mentoring & Programmes // Youth Organisation >> Youth Camps (bluelight.co.nz). If you would like to register your teen, please email lila.pulsford@pinehurst.school.nz
• AA Driver Training have offered to run a private course for Pinehurst students in 2025 if there is enough interest. If your teen is interested in learning how to drive in 2025, please email lila.pulsford@pinehurst.school.nz

A Spook-Tacular Morning at Coffee Connect!

This morning, our school community had a fantastic time at the Coffee Connect event! With a dash of Halloween spirit, everyone gathered to enjoy warm drinks, share stories, and socialise in a fun and festive atmosphere.

The event was filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of good conversation, making it a morning to remember. It was a great way for our community to connect and enjoy some light-hearted fun together.

We can’t wait to see you at the next Coffee Connect!

Pinehurst Christmas Hampers

It is traditional for Pinehurst to donate Christmas Hampers to those in need.  This year we have chosen the charity organisation, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This organisation supports grandparents who are struggling financially to provide a normal life for their grandchildren, many who have been traumatised, neglected, abused and end up living with them.

We would greatly appreciate donations of non-perishable food, Christmas treats, gift vouchers, new toiletries, toys and games. Your contributions may be given to your child’s homeroom teacher from Tuesday 29 October onwards so that we can make beautiful hampers to present at our Christmas Service.

You generosity is greatly appreciated.

Dad's F&T presents: WHISKEY MIX 'N' MINGLE

Thursday 7 November - from 5.30pm

We know some Dad's were disappointed when the Whisky and Chocolate Soiree was cancelled, so we’re bringing the whiskey back! Join us for a relaxed evening at Fantail & Turtle, where you can enjoy two single malt whiskeys, a light dinner, and plenty of great company.

Not into whiskey? Don't worry – wine, beer, and non-alcoholic options will also be available. It’s a perfect chance to catch up with other Pinehurst dads, enjoy a casual drink, and make some new connections – both social and business.

Your first two drinks are on us, and we’ll take care of the food – the rest is up to you! Keep an eye out for your hosts, Ryan Shearer and John Kim, who are new to Pinehurst this term.

Scan the QR code on the poster to RSVP, and if you have any questions email sylvia.lum@pinehurst.school.nz.

2024 Oceania Dancesport Championships

Jack P (Year 13): Finalist for Harbour Sport Excellence Award

We are thrilled to announce that Jack P (Year 13), a standout athlete at Pinehurst, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Harbour Sport Excellence Award in the Junior Sportsman of the Year category. Jack's achievements this year in swimming have been exceptional, highlighted by his gold medal in the 2024 NZ Open Water Championships and his representation of New Zealand at the World Junior Open Water Championships in Italy.

Jack’s dedication, discipline, and passion for swimming have truly set him apart. His success on both national and international stages has not only brought pride to Pinehurst but also earned him a well-deserved spot among the top young athletes in the Harbour region. We wish Jack the best of luck at the upcoming awards ceremony!

Climbing Boulder Nationals – Xavier W (Year 8

Xavier W (Year 8) recently continued his successful streak from his AIMS Games victory last term by competing in the Climbing New Zealand National Youth & Masters Boulder Championships. He delivered an outstanding performance, securing 3rd place overall in the Youth C Boys division. Congratulations to Xavier for this incredible achievement, adding to his growing list of accomplishments!