No images? Click here
Friday 29 August
Message from Mike
Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today, we held a special service to celebrate the life of Terry Shepherd. Naturally, there were some emotional moments as we farewelled our friend, but the bright stories told of who Terry really was and his impact on so many people will last for years ahead. Thank you to everyone who attended the memorial, shared messages for his book, and contributed to supporting his family.
On Monday, I was delighted to see our golf team win the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament. From second place after the first round, the team played incredibly well, overcoming the pressure of the final round and coming through to win. This is the first time Pinehurst has won the event, and given the history of golf at the school, it is something our team should be incredibly proud of achieving.
The College girls' badminton team play in the national final today, aiming for a gold medal, and we eagerly anticipate their results, especially as it is our first time competing at the tournament. Our other teams at the tournament week have also met the challenge and represented themselves and the school to an outstanding level. While results have not always gone our way, the determination of our young athletes to fight in every game is very impressive and every year we continue to raise our own standards.
The Primary production of Aladdin was simply brilliant! The preparation of the cast and work of our staff paid off as everyone enjoyed two sellout shows. The opportunity to perform on stage presents a real challenge for many young people, and seeing them overcome their nerves and step into the spotlight is truly special. My thanks to all of the staff involved, and particularly Ms Middleton for arranging the music and Ms Thompson for directing the show.
Best of luck to our Year 7 and 8 athletes attending AIMS games in Tauranga next week. I am sure it will be a great experience. Year 5 students will look forward to their field trip and build a deeper understanding of sustainable practices. We also welcome a group of students from Argentina as part of our exchange programme, and it will be great to see them around the campus.
It was lovely to see some of you at Coffee Connect this morning. These events are simply a chance to catch up and enjoy each other's company. Over the coming weeks there are a number of community events and I hope to see you all soon.
Sometimes we all need a little bit of extra support to find our balance. If your child needs some help in developing strategies to look after themselves, please get in touch and we will make sure they have the support they need.
I hope you all enjoy the weekend.
Regards,
Mike Waller
Our New Pinehurst School Website is Live!
We’re excited to announce that our brand-new Pinehurst School website is now live www.pinehurst.school.nz
Our updated site has a fresh, modern design with a stronger, more cohesive look and feel. The purpose of the new design is to make navigation simpler, clearer and more concise.
Some information that was previously public-facing (such as sports registrations) has been relocated. Parents can still access this content via the Sports page, which now links to internal pages designed just for our community. Quick Links are the home to commonly accessed pages, while the menu 'hamburger' (top right) allows for a deeper dive into website content.
If you visit the site and it doesn’t look quite right, your browser may be showing a cached version of the old website. Try closing all your browser windows and reopening, or clear your cache to refresh the view.
We invite you to explore! 🚀
Dates for your Diary
Monday 1 September
- Chinese Language Week (All Week)
- Argentina Exchange (All Week)
- Year 6 Parent and Taster Evening
- Year 7-8 AIMS Games (All Week)
Tuesday 2 September
- College Open Day (9.00am-10.30am)
Wednesday 3 September
- Powhiri for Argentinian Exchange Students, Arena (9.00am-11.00am)
- Year 5 Waitakere Refuse Centre Visit (9.00am-2.00pm)
- Parenting Place Seminar (5.30pm-7.00pm)
Thursday 4 September
- Primary Open Day (9.15am-10.40am)
- Year 5 Waitakere Refuse Centre Visit (9.00am-2.00pm)
Friday 29 September
- Chinese Cultural Day
- IGCSE Physical Education Weight Training (12.45pm-3.15pm)
Message from Dawn
Tēnā koutou katoa
As Winter Tournament Week comes to a close, we can be very proud of our senior athletes who have represented Pinehurst beautifully and achieved some fantastic results. Next week it will be the turn of our Year 7 and 8 students, many of whom will be competing at AIMS in Tauranga. We wish all of them the very best as they represent us in their chosen sports.
We are also delighted to be welcoming a group of 10 Argentinian students from Academia Arguello, along with their teachers, who arrive on Monday. We are sure they will receive a warm Pinehurst welcome, and this will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to practise their Spanish speaking.
On Monday, we look forward to meeting students who will be joining Year 7 in the College in 2026. This will be a chance for them and their families to experience a taste of College life through some typical classes. In addition, our College Open Day will be held on Tuesday.
Have a lovely weekend.
Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan
College News
Chinese Language Week
We’re excited to celebrate Chinese Language Week next week! Each day, students will enjoy a fun quiz in their PODs and homerooms.
The winning team from the daily quizzes will receive a special prize. Teachers are encouraged to learn and use new Chinese phrases in daily conversations to help create a vibrant language learning environment.
On Friday, we’ll host a special event featuring dragon beard candy, a traditional Chinese sweet and part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Visitors will demonstrate how it’s made, and students can watch the process and purchase a box for $5 or individual pieces for $1 at the Amphitheatre during lunch.
We look forward to a week full of learning, sharing, and celebration!
Career Education News
Subscribe to Oxford University for Upcoming Webinars
If you would like to be on the mailing list for webinar invitations for Oxford University sign up here.
Webinar topics include: Agents, myths and social media: fact vs fiction, Super-curriculars: going beyond the classroo” and Oxford and the Ivy League: similarities and differences.”
Interested in Architecture?
Open Studios is a series of events where Architects open their offices for visits from the public. It’s an opportunity to go behind the scenes of an architecture office and find out what architects do and how they do it. Open Studios are great for students considering a career in architecture.
Go to nzia.co.nz to find an open studio and book tickets.
All University Applications should be completed by the End of Term 3.
Please refer to the country-specific timelines on the Pinehurst Career Education website.
The following Open Days are coming up:
University of Auckland Open Day: Saturday 30 August
AUT Open Day: Saturday 30 August
University of Sydney Open Day: Saturday 30 August
University of Canterbury Open Day: Friday 5 September
UNSW Open Day: Saturday 6 September
Unitec Open Day: Saturday 6 September
Message from Sian
Kia ora tatou,
A huge congratulations to all the students and staff involved in our spectacular production of Disney’s Aladdin Kids! Their talent, teamwork, and dedication lit up the stage and brought the magic of Agrabah to life. We are so proud of each one of them and the wonderful staff that supported them.
Looking ahead, we’re excited for our Year 6 students as they prepare for their next big step into the College. There will be a Year 6 to 7 Transition Evening held on September 1 in the College. This is a valuable opportunity to explore what lies ahead in their educational journey.
This week, P6 will lead the Y0–2 Assembly in the Arena, while P16 will host the Y3–6 Assembly in the Theatre. Year 5 will deepen their understanding of sustainability during their visit to the Zero Waste Zone at Waitakere Transfer Station on the 3rd and 4th of September.
Parent conferences are coming up in Week 8 and we will open bookings for those at the beginning of next week.
Have a lovely weekend,
Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon
Primary News
Year 5 Students to visit Zero Waste Zone Waitakere Refuse Recycling Centre
We’re excited to let you know that our Year 5 students will be heading out on a special Global Perspectives trip to the Zero Waste Zone at the Waitakere Refuse and Recycling Centre.
Wednesday 3 September: P17 and half of P16
Thursday 4 September: P15 and half of P16
This trip links directly to our current Global Perspectives unit 'Where Does Our Packaging Go?'. Students will explore what happens to waste - where it goes, how it’s treated, and most importantly, how we can all reduce it.
Through the Zero Waste programme, children will:
Get up close to worms and learn how food waste can be transformed into a valuable resource.
Take part in hands-on activities, such as sorting rubbish, learning about recycling, and discovering how everyday choices make a difference.
Visit The Tipping Point, a community initiative that rescues unwanted items and gives them a second life instead of sending them to landfill.
What to Bring:
- Children should wear their normal school uniform
- Bring their water bottle, morning tea & lunch
- No extra items are needed
This promises to be a fun and eye-opening learning experience, helping our students connect classroom learning with real-world action.
Community News
Dad’s F&T: Hazy Tiger
We’re excited to launch a new venue with our Dad’s F&T event on Thursday 11 September from 5.30pm. This will be all about dads in our community coming together, sharing stories, and showcasing the diverse cultures that make our school so special.
Our very first evening will be hosted by John Kim, at Hazy Tiger Korean Fusion Restaurant & Bar at 22 Durham Street West, in the city. There will be bold flavours and a vibrant atmosphere, Hazy Tiger is a great way to enjoy modern Korean dishes with someone who know how to order!
A light dinner will be provided, and any extras can be purchased directly from the restaurant.
This event is more than just a night out—it’s the start of something new, where dads can connect, celebrate their backgrounds, and introduce others to the food and traditions that matter to them. A light dinner will be supplied and any extras can be added
We’d love to see you there as we kick off this journey of culture, conversation & community.
Notices and Events
Summer Youth Hockey (Years 7-10)
Are you keen to carry on playing hockey this summer or would you like to give it a go before next year? Consider joining Hibiscus Dairy Flat Hockey Club Youth Hockey!
This opportunity is for current Year 7-10 students to play on a Monday night with a mix of students from across the North Harbour region, there are grades suitable for every player.
This will be a 9 week competition starting on Monday 6 October, and will run until Monday 8 December (with a break for Labour Day).
Link to register: https://forms.gle/hySzkcws8314z9c27
Sailing Holiday Programme
Torbay Sailing Club are running their popular Junior and Youth Learn to Sail courses again in the September School Holidays.
Dates: Monday 22 September - Thursday 25 September
OR Monday 29 September- Thursday 2 October
Time: Sessions run 9am - 3pm daily
Cost: $400
Place: Torbay Sailing Club, Waiake
Ages: Juniors: 9 to 13 years / Youth: 14 to 17 years
Link to register: https://www.torbaysailing.club/learn-to-sail.html
Uniform Shop School Holiday Hours
The Uniform Shop will be CLOSED in Week 9. If you need to purchase a uniform, please do so before Week 8.
During the school holidays, the shop will be open on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 October from 9.00am–12.00pm and 12.30pm–4.00pm.
Visit website for regular term time Uniform Shop Hours.
Keep up to date via our Pinehurst School (Official) Facebook and Instagram pages
We’re in the process of refreshing our newsletter format, meaning some of our stories and student highlights will be shared on social media.
@PinehurstSchool
@PinehurstSchoolSport
Stay up to date with exceptional achievements, standout student moments, event highlights, and celebrations of our school spirit and community values.
So jump online - it’s the best way to catch quick, inspiring updates and feel-good stories from across Pinehurst.
If you have any news or submissions you’d like considered for our newsletter, please contact news@pinehurst.school.nz
