Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Sparkles brought fun and a little glamour to the campus on Wednesday as we raised money for Starship Hospital. A visit from one of the nurses who specialises in paediatrics brought the message to life for our Primary students. I am always proud of the way our school supports those in need, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. 

Our College cheerleading team have had an excellent first year of competition, capped off with a gold medal at a national event last weekend. The team has made very impressive progress since coming together, and their performance will only improve as they gain confidence as a group. Our Primary gymnastics team earned a number of medals this week, and their performance was a reflection of the growing participation and quality of the programme on offer. 

On Tuesday, I had a chance to see our College students preparing for their Lego Robotics competition and was very impressed by the skill and creativity on display. Far more than just playing with blocks, the students are solving complex problems and putting their plans to the practical test. Our co-curricular programme is incredibly expansive, and there is something for everyone to get involved in. 

This week, I have spent a lot of time planning for 2027 with both the Primary and College leadership teams. Progress towards our development plan targets was the theme for each meeting, and while we have made great steps forward, the really exciting part was seeing where we can go next. Our focus on teaching and learning will never waver, and the plans for the holistic growth of our students will see them flourish away from the classroom. 

Being able to contact you directly in an emergency for your child is very important, and I ask for your help in making sure both your details and those of your emergency contact are up to date on Veracross. Also, if you see the school number pop up (09 414 0960), please answer, as the call is likely to be important. 

As a reminder, if you need to visit the campus during the day, please make sure that you sign in and out at reception, where you will be given a light blue lanyard. If you need to see a member of staff, please make arrangements in advance so that an appropriate time can be arranged. 

Next week sees lots of events across the school, with transition and camp evenings in Primary, Open Day tours for prospective 2028 families, and the bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition. For the first time, we are hosting an evening prizegiving for Year 11-13 students. The timing of the ceremony was chosen to ensure that our students can be recognised as their exams come to an end next week. 

A gentle reminder also, that registrations for our first Friends of Pinehurst event are closing soon. Whether you'd like to stay informed, share ideas or join us for our informal evening on Thursday 26 November, we'd love you to be involved. If you haven't already done so, please complete the registration form shared last week. Registrations close Friday 13 November. 

I will keep you updated as we progress with our plans for the construction of a new building in College. Our aim is to have works begin before the end of the month, and I will make sure you are well aware of any work that will impact movement around the school. 

Shubh Diwali! Wishing everyone celebrating a joyful Festival of Lights. 

Regards, 
Mike Waller

🗓️ Dates for your Diary

Monday 9 November

• North Harbour Golf Zone Day
• Road Patrol Rainbow's End Trip
• Year 11–13 Exams (All Week)
• Year 11–13 Study Leave (All Week)

Tuesday 10 November

• North Harbour Badminton Boys Zone Day
• Year 2 to 3 Transition Meeting
• Year 3 Camp 2027 Information Evening
• Year 4 Camp 2027 Information Evening
• Year 4 to 5 Transition Meeting
• Year 5–6 Camp 2027 Information Evening
• Year 0–2 Showcase, 2.00pm

Wednesday 11 November

• Year 5–6 Rhythmic Gymnastics
• College (Year 7–13) Principal Tour

Thursday 12 November

• Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifier
• North Harbour Badminton Girls Zone Day
• Year 11–13 Prizegiving
• New Entrant (Year 0–1) Principal Tour

Friday 13 November

• Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifier
• Primary Sports Photos

Primary News

Kia ora e te whānau,

It has been another fantastic week in the Primary. One of the highlights of the week was the Year 6 Orewa Surf Trip, which many students are already describing as the "best trip ever!" With cooler weather, some excellent surf, and the opportunity to learn a new skill, it was a memorable experience for everyone involved.

We are also celebrating outstanding success in gymnastics. Our Year 5 and 6 teams retained the North Harbour Primary Schools Gymnastics Trophy, while students across Years 3 to 6 achieved some exceptional individual and team results. Congratulations to all involved. Be sure to visit our social media pages for the full results and photos.

Our school community also shone brightly in support of Starship. Students and staff looked fantastic in their shiny outfits, and it was good to welcome former Pinehurst student Ellie, now a Starship nurse, for some special photos. It was a great opportunity for students to see the positive impact of their fundraising and support for this important cause.

Our Year 0 to 2 students, along with parents and staff, had a wonderful time at Bounce. Once again, our students demonstrated our Pinehurst values and were an absolute joy to be with.

Thank you for your continued support of our school. Have a wonderful weekend with your family and enjoy the opportunity to spend time together.

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

🌈 Road Patrol Reward Trip: Rainbow's End

When: Monday 9 November
Where: Rainbow's End
Departure: 9.00am by bus
Return: 1.45pm pick-up

Our Road Patrol students are heading to Rainbow's End for a well-deserved reward trip in recognition of their contribution throughout the year!

What to wear and bring:

• PE uniform and comfortable PE shoes

• Hat and sunscreen

• Water bottle

• Packed lunch or money to purchase lunch at the park

We hope our Road Patrol students enjoy a fantastic day out!

🎨 Junior School Showcase: The Magic Paintbrush 

When: Tuesday 10 November, 2.00pm
Where: School Theatre

We are excited to welcome families to our Junior School Showcase, The Magic Paintbrush, next week!

Our New Entrant, Year 1 and Year 2 students have been working hard to prepare a special performance filled with storytelling, music, singing and dance.

This original production follows the story of a young artist who sets out on a journey to find the colours that have mysteriously disappeared from his paint palette.

We are incredibly proud of the confidence, teamwork and enthusiasm our students have shown throughout rehearsals and look forward to sharing their talents and hard work with our Pinehurst community.

We warmly invite our Junior School families to come along and enjoy this wonderful celebration of creativity and performance. There is no cost to watch the performance but to ensure we have enough seating, bookings are required. Please register here.

🎓 Year 2 & 4 Primary Transition Evenings

When: Tuesday 10 November, 6.00pm
Where: Primary Classrooms

We invite parents and caregivers of current Year 2 and Year 4 students to attend our upcoming Transition Information Evenings as children prepare to move into Year 3 and Year 5 in 2027. These sessions will provide an opportunity to learn more about the curriculum, expectations and social development within the next syndicate, with time to ask questions about the transition.

Meeting Locations:

• Current Year 2 parents: P11 (Year 3 Transition)

• Current Year 4 parents: P21 (Year 5 Transition)

We look forward to seeing you there ☺️

🏕️ Years 3–6 Camp Information Evening

When: Tuesday 10 November, 6.30pm
Where: Primary Classrooms

Our Years 3–6 Camp Information Evening will take place on Tuesday 10 November at 6.30pm, following the Year 3 and Year 5 Transition Information Evening.

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend the session for their child's year level in the following classrooms:

• Year 3: P11

• Year 4: P13

• Years 5–6: P21

These sessions will provide important information about the upcoming 2027 camps, including dates, locations, planned activities and what students will need to bring. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and ensure families feel well prepared for their child's camp experience.

We look forward to seeing you there ✨

🤸 Years 5–6 North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition

When: Wednesday 11 November
Where: North Shore Gymnastics
Meeting Point: Outside the Dance Studio, 10.40am

Our Years 5–6 rhythmic gymnasts will represent Pinehurst at the North Shore Gymnastics Competition next Wednesday.

Students should meet outside the Dance Studio at 10.40am and will travel to and from the venue by school van, returning to school by approximately 3.00pm.

We wish our gymnasts all the best as they showcase the skills they have been developing throughout the year. Good luck, team!

🚜 Year 3 Ambury Farm Trip Reminder

When: Wednesday 18 November
Where: Ambury Farm

A reminder to Year 3 families that our trip to Ambury Farm takes place next Wednesday.

What to wear and bring:

• PE uniform and correct PE footwear

• Sunhat

• School jumper or PE sweatshirt

• Drink bottle

• Morning tea and packed lunch

Important: Due to health and safety requirements at the farm, students must wear the correct PE footwear. Any student without appropriate footwear will be unable to attend and will remain at school. Please check this carefully before leaving home.

Lunch orders will not be available on this day.

Thank you for helping us ensure students are well prepared for a safe and enjoyable learning experience!

The Year 3 Team - Mrs Snellaert, Mrs Berry and Mrs Martincic

🎶 Primary Music Extravaganza Concert

When: Thursday 26 November
Where: School Theatre

Our Primary Music Department is excited to present its first Music Extravaganza Concert, showcasing the wonderful musical talents of our Primary students.

Join us for an hour of music featuring performances from our Primary Orchestra, Years 4–6 Choir and Marimba Group.

Whether you're curious about what happens in our Primary Music Department or looking to inspire your child to learn an instrument, this is a fantastic opportunity to see our young musicians in action.

We warmly invite our Pinehurst families to come along and enjoy this special celebration of music!

College News

Tēnā koutou katoa 

It has been wonderful to welcome our Year 8 students back from camp. They took on the camp experience with enthusiasm and challenged themselves to step outside their comfort zones. Well done, Year 8 students! 

We are looking forward to hosting the Year 11-13 Prizegiving Ceremony on Thursday evening of next week. The end of year Prizegiving Ceremonies are always highlights in the school calendar, and we look forward to recognising the hard work and success of our senior students. Prizegiving for Year 7-10 students will take place later in the term.  

On Wednesday, we will be welcoming a large number of prospective families to our College Open Day. This will be an opportunity to showcase Pinehurst College and to give families an insight into the learning experiences and opportunities that make our school special.  

On Thursday and Friday of next week, Year 10 will undertake their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze qualifying journey on Motutapu Island, hiking, camping, and building resilience together in the outdoors. We are proud of our expectation that all Year 10 students work towards the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This is a point of difference for our school, reflecting our commitment to providing opportunities that challenge students and build resilience. I look forward to hearing about their camping experience on their return.  

Have a lovely weekend.  

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

👏 Year 8 Technology Challenge

When: Friday 13 November, 9.00am (Periods 1–4)
Where: School Gymnasium
Who: All Year 8 students

Our annual Pinehurst Technology Challenge returns next Friday, bringing Year 8 students together for a morning of creative thinking, teamwork and problem-solving! Students will work in six groups within their homeroom classes, tackling a series of practical challenges and putting their technology skills to the test. There will also be prizes up for grabs!

What students need to know:

• Attend homeroom as usual for morning roll call.

• Homeroom teachers will escort students to the Gymnasium for a 9.00am start.

• Students will be off their regular timetable for the first four periods.

• Morning tea will take place at the usual time.

We look forward to an exciting morning of innovation, collaboration and friendly competition.

🏆 A Busy Week in Sport!

It's another action-packed week of sport at Pinehurst, with our students representing the School across a range of North Harbour competitions, alongside our Term 4 Sports Photos.

Monday 9 November
Years 7–10: North Harbour Golf Zone Day, Warkworth Golf Club

Tuesday 10 November
Years 7–8: North Harbour Badminton Boys Zone Day, North Harbour Badminton Centre

Wednesday 11 November
Years 7–8: North Harbour Rhythmic Gymnastics Zone Day, North Harbour Gymnastics

Thursday 12 November
Years 7–8: North Harbour Badminton Girls Zone Day, North Harbour Badminton Centre

Friday 13 November
Years 7–8: North Harbour Triathlon Zone Day, Long Bay Regional Park
Years 7–10: Term 4 Sports Photos

We wish all our students the very best as they head into a busy week of competition. Good luck to everyone representing Pinehurst!

🎓 Your Child Doesn't Need an AI-Proof Career

Parents often wonder whether their child is heading towards a career that will still exist in ten years. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, it's understandable to feel uncertain about what the future might hold.

Rather than jobs being simply 'safe' or 'at risk', most careers involve a wide range of tasks. AI may change how some aspects of a role are carried out, but human qualities such as judgement, creativity, communication, empathy, teamwork, ethical decision-making and adaptability will continue to be valuable.

History shows us that new technologies don't just change existing jobs. They also create opportunities and career paths that were previously unimaginable.

A practical takeaway for families: Focus less on finding the 'perfect' future-proof career and more on helping young people develop curiosity, resilience, strong interpersonal skills and a willingness to keep learning. These qualities have served generations well and remain some of the best preparation for whatever the future brings.

Community News

☕ Parent Helpers Thank You Morning Tea

When: Friday 27 November
Who: Parents and caregivers who have volunteered during 2026

We are looking forward to hosting our annual Parent Helpers Thank You Morning Tea, a special opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful parents and caregivers who have generously given their time to support Pinehurst throughout the year.

Whether you've helped with school trips, camps, sports teams or other volunteer activities, we would love to thank you for your contribution to our School community.

⭐️ Invitations with further details and RSVP information will be emailed on Monday 16 November.

If you have volunteered this year but do not receive an invitation on that date, please contact Josip Martincic, our new Events & Engagement Lead via email: josip.martincic@pinehurst.school.nz and let us know how you have been involved.

We look forward to celebrating and thanking our wonderful parent helpers.

🎅 Donations Welcome for our Pinehurst Christmas Hampers: Collection Boxes in Classrooms

Our Christmas hamper collection is now underway, and we warmly invite all Pinehurst families to contribute to this year's appeal in support of Women's Refuge.

What Can You Donate?

• Non-perishable food
• Christmas treats
• Gift vouchers
• New toiletries
• Toys and games

Where to Donate: Christmas-wrapped collection boxes are now in classrooms, with student helpers collecting donations each morning.

All contributions will be used to create Christmas hampers for families in need, to be presented at our Christmas Service on Thursday 3 December.

⭐️ Cardboard Boxes Needed: If you have any good-quality cardboard boxes suitable for hampers that you would be happy to donate, please contact Nicole Webb at nicole.webb@pinehurst.school.nz.

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us share a little Christmas kindness with families in need.

👕 Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Hours

The Pinehurst Uniform Shop will close for the summer holidays on Friday 4 December 2026, reopening on Monday 11 January 2027.

Holiday Opening Dates
Week 1: Monday 11–Friday 15 January
Week 2: Monday 18–Friday 22 January

Opening Hours
Morning: 9.00am–12.30pm
Afternoon: 1.00pm–4.00pm

Please Note: Wednesday 20 January
Open 1.30pm–4.00pm only, as the shop will be closed in the morning for meetings.

Regular term-time opening hours resume on Monday 25 January 2027.

Enquiries: Please contact Anna on 09 414 0960 ext 629 or email uniform@pinehurst.school.nz.