Message from Mike

Mike Waller
Executive Principal

Message from Sian

Parent Teacher Conferences:
Tuesday 17 June and Wednesday 18 June

We have our parent teacher conferences coming up, from 3.40pm to 6.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Parents of all students from New Entrant to Year 6 are invited to make a time to discuss their child’s learning.

We encourage you to bring your child along to the conference. Specialist teachers are available to meet with, as well as your child’s homeroom teacher.

To make a booking, please click here by 12pm, Monday 16 June - if you have any questions or concerns, please email Kate Johnson.

Matariki this week in Primary

Matariki, also known as Māori New Year, is a time of remembrance and celebration. Matariki itself refers to a cluster of stars (also known as the Pleiades) which rise in midwinter. The exact dates vary year to date, depending on moon cycles, and not all iwi celebrate Matariki at the same time. 

Our children in Primary will be celebrating Matariki in their classrooms in a variety of ways this week. From learning some te reo words and phrases to reading stories about this special time of year in Aotearoa and completing Matariki themed maths and craft activities. We look forward to a special week ahead, including a Matariki themed assembly on Tuesday hosted by P13.

Wishing our Year 5/6 Flippaball team luck!

Our Year 5/6 Flippaball team are hoping to take Gold in Sunday's final against a strong Murrays Bay team. This is the first time our School has played in the A Grade, and they now have a chance to snatch a win to take the final.

We wish them every success for today's final - we are so proud of their hard work, dedication and all the effort they've put in to getting this far!

Fun at Book Week last week

We had a wonderful Book Week last week - if you haven't already, check out some of the photos of our children, teachers and visiting authors from throughout the week below... We look forward to doing it all again next year!

Message from Dawn

Sharing Kai for Matariki: Thursday 19 June

This week we celebrate Matariki. In Māori culture, Matariki is the Pleiades star cluster and a celebration of its first rising at this time of year. The rising marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.

We will celebrate with a hangi - dug and prepared by students on Wednesday and lit at dawn on Thursday by our Head Prefects and Kapa Haka group. Pre-order a plate of traditional hangi OR homemade vegetable soup and bread for $15 - orders open online here until 9pm Wednesday 18 June.

Year 11 Students win Cambridge International Science Competition Country Award for NZ!

We’re excited to share that our team of Year 11 students have won the 'Country Award for New Zealand 2025' in the Cambridge International Upper Secondary Science Competition!

Their investigation stood out for its thoughtful cultural awareness, particularly in how it acknowledged and incorporated Māori perspectives. The project was praised for being both environmentally and culturally mindful — a sustainable project, carried out in a truly sustainable way.

The judges highlighted:
- A strong cultural introduction
- A clear explanation of the degradation process
- Great awareness of controls and variables
- Excellent data collection
- Thoughtful suggestions for next steps

Cambridge will be displaying their project on their website and social media to showcase their amazing work. Congratulations to the students Annie H, Linda C, and Kay W with the support of senior students Sissi Y and Oren D — a fantastic achievement that reflects both hard work and genuine curiosity. 

Last week for Lumino Dental Unit for Years 9-13

The Lumino Dental Unit is here for our Year 9-13 students until this Thursday 19 June. If your child hasn't had an appointment made yet, please ensure you complete the online enrolment form here to have your child is seen this week.

Year 7 and 8 Cross Country Results

Our Year 7 and 8 Cross Country results from what was a bit of a damp and muddy run on Thursday are below. Congratulations to all placegetters and to all who participated!

A delicious finale to our Year 10 Food Unit

To celebrate the end of our Food Unit, our students cooked and shared dishes from Spanish-speaking countries—and what a spread it was! From savoury delights to sweet treats, the variety was incredible. So much delicious food and so little time to try it all!

What truly stood out was the effort, care, and commitment our students poured into their creations. Their creativity and enthusiasm were inspiring, and it was clear that the support from home played a big part in their success.

¡Gracias a todos! 🌮🍤🍰

We bid farewell to Cherie Peters

Last week marked the final days at Pinehurst for our much-loved P.E. teacher, Cherie Peters (pictured far right below with her P.E. colleagues). It is with both sadness and gratitude that we bid her farewell, as she embarks on an exciting new chapter in her career. Cherie is stepping into a SENCO management role at Rangitoto College, and we wish her every success in this new adventure.

Cherie has been an integral part of the Pinehurst community for an incredible 14 years. She has truly been the glue that holds the Health and P.E. team together, consistently contributing not only to the curriculum but also to the wider sporting life of the school. Her dedication also extended beyond the classroom, having served as a committed Dean for several years.

Cherie’s absence will be deeply felt across the school, especially by the students she has supported with such genuine care and compassion throughout her time here. Her legacy of kindness, leadership, and commitment will remain a lasting part of Pinehurst.

As we say goodbye to Cherie, we also extend a warm welcome to Ms. Ashleigh Rose-Chibnall, who will be joining us in Term 3. Ashleigh comes to us from Green Bay High School bringing a wealth of experience and talent. We look forward to the energy and expertise she will bring to our community.

Five Pinehurst Teams Shine in ASLM Mooting

Mooting is a simulated court experience where students present legal arguments, developing their research, reasoning, and advocacy skills. With the 2025 ASLM Mooting General Rounds now complete, we are proud to announce that Pinehurst Teams 2, 3, and 7 have been recognised among the top performers, each earning the Distinguished Counsel award. This is given to teams that narrowly missed Quarter-Final qualification.

We are also excited to share that Year 12 student Jamie H has been nominated for the Best Mooter award, an honour awarded to fewer than a dozen students each year!

Congratulations to all of our students for their dedication and success.

And to our Quarter-Finalists—well done!

• Junior Division: Team 6 
• Senior Division: Team 1 

Best of luck in the next round!

Upcoming information evening events this week include:

• Tuesday 17 June, 6:30pm University of Otago Information Evening at Ellerslie Events Centre
   
• Tuesday 17 June, 7pm Toi Rauwhārangi Creative Arts Information Evening. Register here
   
• Tuesday 17 June, 8pm Bond University Parent Information Webinar. Register here

Chamber Music Successes: Wins for Hyun Jae with 'Fellas with Cellas' along with PineHarps Pro 

Congratulations to Year 13 student Hyun Jae L who performed at the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 14 June in the regional finals of the NZ Chamber Music Competition. His group “Fellas with Cellas” recently won the Stringed Instrument Company Prize – awarded to the best group with only string instruments, along with receiving a Highly Commended Award in the District Finals.

This coupled with the success of Pinehurst’s Harp Quartet, PineHarps Pro who won the District Adjudicators Award for their outstanding playing last week, demonstrates the excellent work our students are putting into Chamber Music. Well done to all these Pinehurst students for their truly outstanding musical successes and achievements - we are so proud of you!

Sophie Y shines on the Golf Course

Sophie Y (Year 12) has had a remarkable run of success in recent golf tournaments, showcasing her consistency and competitive edge.

Most notably, she secured 1st place at the North Shore Classic on 25 May 2025, with impressive rounds of 69, 74, and 75. Earlier in the month, Sophie tied for 3rd at both the North Harbour Strokeplay at Redwood Park (77, 72, 72) and the NextGen Amateur Tour at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club (77, 71, 70).

She also finished in the top 10 at the prestigious Auckland Stroke Play Championship, tying for 9th with rounds of 74, 77, and 78. These results highlight her rising profile in the amateur golf scene and her determination to excel under pressure.

Anna L triumphs at CMBA U15 Open Badminton Tournament

Last weekend, Anna L (Year 8) competed at the CMBA U15 Open badminton tournament held in Papakura, achieving fantastic results. Anna secured the Girls Doubles title as the tournament winner, showcasing excellent teamwork and skill on the court. In addition to this impressive victory, she also reached the semi-finals in both the Girls Singles and Mixed Doubles events, demonstrating her versatility and competitive spirit across multiple categories.

Anna’s dedication and hard work continue to pay off as she consistently performs at a high level in regional competitions. Her achievements at the CMBA Open highlight her rising talent in badminton, and we are excited to see what the future holds for her in the sport.

Congratulations, Anna, on a fantastic tournament!

Wizard of Oz College Production: Tickets on Sale

Please come along and support our College Production - buy your tickets here!