Dear Parents and Guardians, 

The bonds within our community are one of the key reasons Pinehurst is such a special school, and these were clearly evident yesterday afternoon. With Primary hosting buddy classes, our older learners enjoyed spending time with their younger peers, reinforcing the strong sense of connection across our students. 

Last weekend, seven College students competed in the AKSS Rogaine Championships (orienteering). The results from all our athletes were impressive, particularly Zachary, who finished 2nd in the Senior Boys competition. We also celebrate the achievements of our gymnasts at last week’s Auckland Secondary School Championships. Caity and Sabine finished first and second respectively in the Overall Artistic event and, together with Serena and Eugenie, won the Team Overall Artistic title. Guy and Amelia also performed strongly, placing 3rd in their respective Overall Tumbling categories. Congratulations to all students for their success at such a high level. 

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, we held Open Days for prospective College and Primary families. Attendance was very high and feedback extremely positive. While a small number of families were seeking enrolment for next year, many visitors are already looking ahead to places in 2028 and beyond. 

Looking ahead, Primary students will be excited for ‘Wheels Week’—an opportunity to bike, skate, and scoot during breaks and lunchtimes. We also have Term 3 New Entrant visits on Thursday, which will bring great excitement as these students prepare to begin school after the holidays. Our senior College students are also looking forward to the ball next weekend and are reminded that any related appointments must be scheduled outside of school time and other commitments. 

Primary conferences will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week and provide an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s progress. These conversations are most effective when focused on key areas, so I encourage you to read your child’s report together, discuss it, and identify where you would value a deeper conversation. 

Please be mindful that, outside of busy drop-off and pick-up times, there are still many people on campus. Cars must move at walking pace to help prevent accidents, and it is important to wait until all pedestrians have cleared crossings before proceeding. 

With just two weeks remaining in the term, please remember that attendance is expected through to the final lesson on July 3rd. 

I hope you all enjoy a great weekend. 

Warm wishes,
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Monday 22 June

• Year 1 Wheels Day

Tuesday 23 June

• Senior Year 1 Wheels Day
• Harbour Sport Leadership Day
• Legal Mooting
• North Harbour Table Tennis Zone Day
• Primary Conferences

Wednesday 24 June

• Year 2 Wheels Day
• Year 6 Netball Field Day
• Readers Cup Competition
• Primary Conferences

Thursday 25 June

• Year 5 & 6 Wheels Day
• Cultural Market
• NS Intermediate Chess Competition
• North Harbour Netball Field Day

Friday 26 June

• Coffee Connect & Winter Warmer Prize Draw
• Year 3 & 4 Wheels Day
• PE Lifesaving
• New Entrant Term 3 Orientation Visit
• Readers Cup Competition

College News

Tēnā koutou katao 

As we move into the final two weeks of Term 2, there is still plenty to look forward to. This Thursday, we will be hosting our annual Cultural Market, featuring the popular MasterChef Challenge and a raffle with some quite spectacular prizes. The Student Council has worked incredibly hard to bring this event together, and we encourage everyone to come along at lunchtime to support their efforts. 

Tickets are now on sale for our school musical production of Anastasia. Our talented cast, musicians, and production team have been working tirelessly to bring the story to life, and their hard work is sure to result in a fantastic show. Please do come along and support our performers. Details on how to purchase tickets can be found later in this newsletter. 

We are also looking ahead to our much-anticipated School Ball at the end of next week. Open to students in Years 11-13, this year’s event will be held at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland City. With the theme Hollywood Glam, students can look forward to a memorable evening. A huge thank you to the Ball Committee, whose outstanding efforts in planning and organising the event will undoubtedly make it a wonderful occasion. 

Have a lovely weekend. 

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

🎓 College Upcoming Events

🌏 Update from Social Science

The final weeks of Term 2 are a busy time for our young Social Scientists.

Senior students are consolidating their feedback and next steps from the midyear examinations whilst also moving on with learning new content and skills. Our Junior students are focused on their end of topic assessments and inquiry projects. Below is some further information about what some of our courses have coming up before the end of term.

Year 7 & 8 Global Citizenship: Students have been working towards completing one of the components of their Service and Leadership Awards. They are researching and creating a presentation on the importance of helping others, as well as looking into how charities can benefit our national and global community. This will be completed before the end of term.

Year 10 Global Perspectives: this group are working on projects to raise awareness of a local issue currently facing New Zealand. Students are in the final stages of preparing to present and will be using their last lessons to check their references and slides, as well as practising as a team before their present to the class.

Year 11 Global Perspectives: Their final lessons are being used to finish their research report. By the end of this week, all students should have given an indication of whether they are opting in to complete Global as an additional IG subject from next term. This is an optional opportunity for our Year 11 students. Those who do not choose to do it will continue developing skills through the Global Citizenship program.

Year 7, 8 and 9 Social Science: All these year groups have an end of term assessment next week. Please speak to your student at home about what they are being assessed on and look out for an email from your child’s teacher with more information about the specific dates and content of the assessment. We are looking forward to seeing their progress and skill development.

📣 Years 7–9 Cheerleading Trial Session

Cheerleading is coming to Pinehurst!

Students in Years 7–9 are invited to attend a trial session with Midnight Athletics and learn more about joining our new Pinehurst Cheer Team.

When: Thursday 25 June, lunchtime
Where: Drama Room

The team will meet weekly and work towards competing in cheerleading competitions throughout Terms 3 and 4. Whether you have experience in dance, gymnastics, or sport, or simply want to try something new, cheerleading is a fantastic way to develop confidence, teamwork, coordination, and performance skills. We look forward to seeing interested students at the trial session. Any questions can be directed to Mrs Curwood.

Update from the Careers Centre

University of Sydney Info Night for NZ students: Tuesday 23 June at 6pm

Designed for prospective students in Years 12–13 studying in New Zealand, as well as parents, this session will help you plan your next steps with confidence.

Register here: Undergraduate events - The University of Sydney

STEMinism Engineering and Technology Evening: Thursday 25 June at 6pm

STEMinism is UC’s Women in Engineering and Technology evening for Year 11–13 students interested in exploring a future in engineering and technology, with a focus on young women. 

Register here (livestream): STEMinism 2026 – UC’s Women in Engineering and Technology!

World Leading School Association College Admission Network: Wednesday 29 July

Its mission is to create face-to-face communication opportunities between top international universities and local students, parents and education professionals. The event will focus on key topics such as admission standards and trends in global education. It aims to provide participants with insights into how leading universities select and cultivate talent. Confirmed universities attending include Boston, Brown, Northwestern, Rice and more!

Register here: 2026 WLSA CAN Oceania Conference Tour

Primary News

This week marked a truly special milestone for our youngest learners, as P5 took to the stage for their first ever assembly. While they will be involved in many assemblies over their next 13 years at school, there is something memorable about the first. It was fantastic to see their confidence shine through as they shared their talents with us. From dancing and singing, to playing instruments and sharing their learning, every moment was engaging. Our two presenters were impressive. They learned all their lines off by heart at just five years old! It was a magical and entertaining assembly, and we are incredibly proud of P5 for such a wonderful start.

We were also pleased to welcome Constable Murray, who has been working with our students on safe road crossing habits. Students have been learning to stop, look, listen and think before crossing, and we are already seeing the positive impact of this around the school. It is a great reminder for all of us, as a community, to model these important habits every day.

Our College Buddy afternoons continue to be a highlight of the term and enjoyed by both our Primary and College students. This time Primary hosted, organising a range of activities including treasure hunts, indoor and outdoor games, and a fun challenge in Year 1 to see who could make the longest paper chain. These moments continue to build the strong sense of connection that makes our school community so special. We love our College buddies!

Dates for next week:

• Wheels Week (All week)
• 23 and 24 June: Parent Conferences
• 24 June: Year 6 Netball Field Day
• 26 June: New Entrant Term 3 Orientation Visit

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🎓 Primary Upcoming Events

🏀 Year 3 & 4 Basketball Trials

We are looking forward to welcoming our registered Year 3 and 4 players to the upcoming Basketball Trials.

When: Thursday 25 June, 3.30pm – 5.00pm
Where: Arena

This session provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills, teamwork, and enthusiasm for the game as teams are selected for the season ahead. Please note that the trials are for registered players only and will be closed to parents. We wish all participants the very best and look forward to seeing them on the court.

🏐 Year 6 Netball Field Day

Our top Year 6 netball players will be representing Pinehurst at the Year 6 Netball Field Day next Wednesday. Students should meet outside the Dance Studio at 8.30am before travelling to the venue.

When: Wednesday 24 June, 9.00am – 2.30pm
Where: North Harbour Netball

Students should bring:

• New netball dress
• Packed lunch and water bottle
• Pinehurst jacket or hoodie

We wish all players the very best for the day and look forward to seeing them showcase their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship on the court.

Community News

☕️ Coffee Connect Winter Warmer Prize Draw!

Join us for our Coffee Connect Winter Warmer event, next Friday 26 June 8.15–9.15am outside Reception – a cosy and cheerful way to connect this season.

Wrap up warm in your favourite beanie, scarf and/or gloves. For EACH of these items you wear, you’ll receive ONE entry into our prize draw – so the more you wear, the better your chances!

🍫  Enjoy a Whittaker’s chocolate on arrival
☕  Free hot drinks - coffee, tea or hot chocolate
🔥  Outdoor heaters to keep you warm
📸  Plus a winter-themed photo backdrop for fun snaps

🎁 Winter Warmer Prize Draw:

One lucky winner will take home a $50 Gift Voucher from Endota Spa – known for its tranquil, welcoming spaces and calming treatments. With 5 locations in Auckland including Albany, Takapuna and Ponsonby, it’s the perfect winter escape.

We can’t wait to see you there!

💳 Going Cashless at the Tuck Shop & Busy Bean Cafe

From Term 3, the Tuck Shop and Busy Bean Cafe will be moving to a fully cashless system, so now is a great time to get your family set up and ready to go.

We use Monitor, a cashless payment system that makes managing school spending simple and convenient. Through the My Monitor interface, you can manage account balances, view transactions, and load credit to your child's account - all online. When it comes time to pay, students can use their ID card (Monitor payment) or a bank card.

Monitor is available to students in Years 7 to 13, and for Year 6 students from Term 4. To get started or find out more, visit our Monitor Cashless System page.

Please note that cash fundraising activities and student-run events will continue to accept cash payments. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

✨ Matariki Hāngī Lunch

To celebrate Matariki, our Kapa Haka group and student leaders will be preparing a traditional hāngī lunch accompanied by homemade bread.

When: Thursday 2 July, lunchtime
Who: Students in Years 4–13
Cost: $15 per student
Collection: From 12.50pm at the basketball courts on the backfield

Families wishing to purchase a hāngī lunch for their child are invited to place an order via the online form here. The cost will be charged to the student's school account.

👉 Please note:

• One order per child
• Orders close at 4.00pm on Wednesday 1 July
• No cash sales will be available on the day

We look forward to sharing this special Matariki celebration with our students.

🎭 Pinehurst School Production of Anastasia

Join Anya, a courageous young woman with no memory of her past, as she journeys from St. Petersburg to Paris in search of her true identity. This year we are delighted to have a double-casting of the role of Anya, shared between Sofia Baumann Korneeva and Ece Dalgic. Their shows are outlined below:

• Wednesday 1 July at 7pm - Ece 
• Thursday 2 July at 7pm - Sofia 
• Friday 3 July at 7pm - Ece
• Saturday 4 July at 2pm - Sofia 
• Saturday 4 July at 7pm - Sofia 

Our shows will run for approximately 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission. Tickets ($25) are available to purchase on Humanitix NOW!

👉 Buy your tickets here

🏆 The Mindset for Success

Reach Your Potential

Many parents ask the same question: how do we help our children become resilient, motivated, confident, and successful in an increasingly competitive world?

On Thursday 30 July, Pinehurst is excited to welcome internationally recognised speaker and New Zealand's youngest ever number one bestselling author, Jake Bailey.

This session is about developing the mindset, habits, resilience, and confidence that allow young people to perform at their best - through exams, setbacks, and the challenges that lie ahead at university and beyond.

This is a complimentary event and one we highly recommend to every Pinehurst family.

Thursday 30 July | Pinehurst Theatre
👉 Please register for this free event

🛍️ Uniform Shop: Holiday Opening Hours

The Uniform Shop will be open on the following dates during the Term 2 holidays:

• Tuesday 14 July
• Wednesday 15 July
• Thursday 16 July
• Monday 27 July

Opening Hours

• 9.00am – 12.30pm
• 1.00pm – 3.30pm

Please note that these holiday hours apply only on the dates listed above. Normal term-time opening hours will resume from Tuesday 28 July. Families can also place orders at any time via the MyKindo app.