Dear Parents and Guar dians, 

We’ve had a great week at school, with the flair of a non-uniform day always being a highlight for students. While it is important to celebrate individuality, the message behind Pink Shirt Day is even more important. Often, it is the small acts of kindness and support that make the biggest difference in helping people feel included. 

Teachers across the College continue to refine how they design learning to maximise understanding. Lessons often begin with a purposeful review to activate prior knowledge and prepare students to connect with new content. Learning intentions are clearly shared, and new material is introduced in small, planned steps, supported by explicit teacher modelling that makes expectations and thinking visible. This reflects the deliberate and consistent application of professional learning in pursuit of progress and excellence across the College. 

There were perfect conditions for Primary cross-country yesterday, and it was great to see so many students giving their very best. The learning from events like cross-country goes far beyond competition. They help teach young people the importance of determination and resilience, while also developing an understanding of how their growing bodies respond under physical strain. I was also very impressed by the way students supported one another. From first to last, every runner was cheered across the finish line. 

During the week, I had the opportunity to see the Primary orchestra perform in assembly, and I also managed to sneak into a rehearsal of the College orchestra. My simple response to watching both groups was, “wow”! The focus and dedication required to perform at this level are very impressive, and the students should be proud not only of where they are now, but also of their continued desire to improve. My thanks go to Ms Middleton for the work she does in conducting both groups. 

Next Thursday, Rob Cope will present a very important session on supporting children in the digital world. The presentation is relevant to all age groups, and your attendance will help create a consistent message about how we respond to the challenges of online life. The session will be highly practical, and I am confident you will come away better prepared to support your child with everything from social media to gaming and beyond. 

During peak times, it is important that you do not stop on the marked crossings at either entrance to the school. These are key areas where pedestrians should feel safe, and your support in helping make this happen is appreciated. 

I hope you enjoy the weekend ahead, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the 35th celebration this evening. 

Regards, 
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Monday 18 May

• North Harbour Year 7 Girls Football Zone Day, Becroft Park, Forest Hill
• Year 2 Fire Service Visit

Tuesday 19 May

• North Harbour Year 8 Girls Football Zone Day, Rosedale Park
• Year 1 Visit Howick Historic Village (P1 and P2)
• Year 9-13, Swimming Zone Champs

Wednesday 20 May

• North Shore Career Expo, 4pm (North Harbour Events Centre)

Thursday 21 May

• Blues Leadership Programme
• Year 5-6 Badminton Competition (North Harbour Badminton)
• North Shore Career Expo, 4pm (North Harbour Events Centre)
• Parent Talk on Cyber Security with Rob Cope, 6pm (Pinehurst Theatre)

Friday 22 May

• Senior Year 1 Visit Howick Historical Village (P22 and P23)

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa 

Pink Shirt Day has been a meaningful celebration of our community’s commitment to unity, kindness, and standing against bullying by promoting safe and inclusive environments for everyone. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to making the day a success.  

This coming week, Year 11-13 students should be making preparations for midyear examinations which start during week 6. If there are any concerns or questions about midyear examinations or study leave, please do get in touch. 

On Monday and Tuesday of next week, a group of our Year 7 and 8 talented swimmers will represent Pinehurst School at  Swimming Zone Days. We wish all competitors the very best and look forward to hearing about their achievements. 

On Thursday, a group of Year 11 and 12 students will attend the North Shore Careers Expo alongside our careers counsellor, Lila Pulsford. This event provides students with the opportunity to explore a wide range of career pathways, meet industry representatives, and gain insight into the world of work in an informal environment. 

Have a lovely weekend.  

Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

AS Environmental Field Trip

When: Thursday 21 May, 11.20am – 12.50pm
Where: Alexander Reserve, Bush Road

AS Environmental students will be heading to Alexander Reserve to undertake environmental research as part of their studies. During the field trip, students will work alongside a representative from WaiCare, Auckland Council, collecting and investigating environmental data within the local stream ecosystem.

Students should come to school in uniform and bring:

• Old clothes and shoes
• Gumboots (if entering the stream for data collection)
• A raincoat

There is no cost for this trip. Please note that if weather or safety conditions are unsuitable, the field trip will be postponed and updated dates will be communicated to students and families.

Year 7 & 8 Chinese Bridge Speech Competition

When: Saturday 23 May (afternoon)
Where: OGGB Building, University of Auckland

Selected students will be representing Pinehurst at the Chinese Bridge Speech Competition later this month.

Students attending should wear either full school uniform or traditional Chinese clothing for the competition.

In preparation for the event, students have been working hard during lunchtime practice sessions, developing their confidence and presentation skills. We wish all participating students the very best and look forward to supporting them in this exciting opportunity.

Pinehurst Careers Centre Update

Students and families are encouraged to explore the following upcoming university information evenings and career events:

Tuesday 19 May: Lincoln University Information Evening: 6.30pm – 8.00pm, Parnell Community Centre

Wednesday 20 May & Thursday 21 May: North Shore Careers Expo: 4.00pm – 7.00pm, North Harbour Stadium

Thursday 21 May: University of Auckland Engineering and Design Information Evening: 6.00pm – 7.00pm, 20 Symonds Street

Primary News

Kia ora tatou,

It was good to meet with so many of our New Entrant P5 parents and to see how well everyone is settling in after the first few weeks. This was followed by a phonics presentation, sharing information about how we teach reading and how this develops strong foundations for literacy.

On Thursday, we were lucky to have such a beautiful day for our Cross-Country event. There was outstanding competition across all year levels, with records broken and many students celebrating personal success, especially those who were proud to improve on their placing from last year. Students demonstrated our focus value of Aspire by completing the course and striving to do their very best.

This evening, I am looking forward to celebrating 35 years of Pinehurst. It is an opportunity to reflect on how we have grown from humble beginnings and continued to aspire to be the outstanding school we are today.

Key dates for next week:

18 May Fire Service visit for Year 2
19 May Howick Historical Village P1 and P2
21 May Badminton Team Challenge
22 May Howick Historical Village P22 and P23

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

Year 2 Firewise Learning: Monday Fire Truck Visit

When: Monday 18 May, 9.30am

Year 2 Students have recently been taking part in the Firewise Programme, learning important fire safety skills and discussing how to respond safely in different situations at school and at home.

We are excited to share that next Monday, firefighters from Fire and Emergency New Zealand will be visiting the school to see what the children have learned. As part of the visit, they will also be bringing a fire truck, giving students a wonderful opportunity to see it up close and learn more about the important work firefighters do in our community.

We are very proud of how engaged and thoughtful our Year 2 Students have been throughout this learning experience and look forward to this exciting visit next week.

Year 1 Students will visit Howick Historical Village

Year 1 (P1 and P2): Tuesday 19 May
Senior Year 1 (P22 and P23): Friday 22 May

Year 1 students will be visiting Howick Historical Village next week, to take part in the engaging Toy Time: Exploring 19th Century Play education programme.

During the visit, students will explore and play with Victorian-era toys, discovering how children entertained themselves before modern technology. If weather permits, students will also participate in a range of traditional outdoor games and activities from the 1800s.

In wet weather, students will instead enjoy nursery rhymes, songs, and simple parlour games inside one of the village cottages.

Important Information:

• Students should wear full winter school uniform
• Please bring a packed lunch, morning tea, and a water bottle
• Lunch orders will not be available on these days
• Travel will be by bus, departing school at 9.30am and returning at approximately 2.30pm

We look forward to a wonderful day of learning and exploring. Please contact your child’s class teacher if you have any questions.

Year 5 & 6 North Harbour Badminton Competition

When: Thursday 21 May, 8.45am – 2.30pm

Eleven Year 5 and 6 students will be representing Pinehurst at the North Harbour Badminton Competition later this month. The team has been training weekly over the past four weeks in preparation for the event, developing their skills and teamwork ahead of competition day.

Students should wear their PE uniform and trainers.

We wish all team members the very best for the competition.

Community News

College Grooming and Uniform

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers

We would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the support you have shown to uphold the uniform and grooming expectations we hold for our College students. 

From time to time, a collective effort is needed to remind students of what these expectations are. At school, students have had the standards for grooming and uniform communicated clearly to them. Some common areas of confusion have been addressed and we would like to share with you the messaging that has been given to students:

Grooming:

• Hair must be ONE natural colour and above the collar or tied back from the face
• Boys must be clean shaven

Uniform:

• If ears are pierced, one small silver or gold stud on each ear
• Tights should be navy, or girls may wear navy knee high socks in winter
• Skirts should senior style and reach the knee 
• Blazers to be worn to and from school every day and for assemblies each Thursday fortnightly
• Boys should wear a long sleeved shirt, tucked in
• Boys socks should be pulled up and should reach the knee

General:

• Ear buds and ear phones can only be used on permission from a staff member - wearing during break time and between classes is not permitted

Please follo the uniform policy link https://www.pinehurst.school.nz/parent-information/uniforms/ for further clarification. We value your support in ensuring that our students wear their uniform showing pride in our school. 

Nga Mihi, 
Kate Cousins (Matai House Dean)
Nicole Rakete (Rimu House Dean)
Oliver Boden (Totara House Dean)
John Foden (Kauri House Dean)

Bites & Insights with Mike: Pinehurst Strategic Plan

We invite parents and caregivers to our first Bites & Insights with Mike session for the year on Friday 29 May.

Bites & Insights is a relaxed parent session where families can enjoy a light breakfast while hearing directly from Mike about important topics relating to the school, future direction, and the wider educational landscape. There will also be an opportunity for parents to ask questions and be part of the discussion.

This session will focus on Pinehurst’s new Strategic Plan - the bigger picture of where the school is heading, what this means for our community, and some of the developments parents can expect to see over time. Mike will also share how a number of the initiatives and changes already underway fit into this longer term vision for the school.

This session is open to both Primary and College parents.

Please RSVP by Friday 22 May if you would like to attend.

'Bites & Insights' with Mike - 29 May 2026 – Fill out form

Please note there will also be a second Bites & Insights session held in mid June for parents who are unable to attend this one. Further details will be shared closer to the time.