Thursday 9 July

Message from Mike

Kia ora koutou, good afternoon, 下午好, 안녕하세요 

Dear Parents/Guardians

Yesterday afternoon, I walked around the campus, well after classes had finished, and as always, I was impressed by the range of activities on offer and the number of people involved. The students at Pinehurst are clearly dedicated to getting the most from every opportunity before the term finishes next week.

Our Ethics Olympiad teams did incredibly well on Tuesday, with the Year 9 Green team finishing 7th and the Year 10 Blue team winning the gold medal! As a result, the team has earned a place at the international final in February next year. The number of clubs and activities available to our students is a reflection of their willingness to be involved in school beyond the classroom, and I am thankful for all the staff who give their time to support these opportunities.

On Wednesday, 26 members of our Middle Leadership team from across all parts of the school came together to share ideas around what effective leadership can look like at Pinehurst and how they can support their teams to reach their potential in 2026. The day was highly impactful, and I am confident that the alignment of approaches and aspirational thinking will benefit our entire community.

Over the summer break, we have extensive works planned in all parts of the school, with the feature being the installation of a new playground in the New Entrant – Year 2 play space. Removal of the existing structures is planned for the first days following the end of term, and installation work is scheduled for completion during the teacher-only week in 2026. Other work includes the conversion of a science lab in College, as well as extensive refurbishment of classrooms across the school. We are also continuing with the preparation needed for the first phase of our site plan.

Our Primary students had a wonderful morning at the PrEP market yesterday, and I am sure they enjoyed showing their purchases. The opportunity for our youngest students to learn about enterprise is a key part of their learning, and with a focus on creating sustainable products, they are developing the thought process needed to be positive global citizens.

Our Year 8 students had a brilliant trip to the Pinnacles this week and while they looked very tired upon their return, there was a real sense of satisfaction from overcoming the challenge. Our Gold DoE trip is currently walking the Heaphy Track in the South Island, and I look forward to hearing their stories next week.

With just one week to go, it is easy to start thinking of the holidays, but as always, there is a lot on before we get a well-earned break. With four prizegivings, two Christmas concerts and our Christmas picnic on Wednesday, there will be lots of excitement across the school. I hope to see many of you next week.

I hope you all enjoy the weekend ahead.

Regards,
Mike Waller

Dates for your Diary

Tuesday 2 December

Primary Prizegiving: Years 3–4 (11.00am – 12.30pm)
Primary Prizegiving: Years 5–6 (1.15pm – 3.00pm)

Wednesday 3 December

Year 7–8 Prizegiving (10.00am–12.00pm)
Year 9–13 Prizegiving (1.00pm–3.00pm)
Christmas Picnic (5.00pm–8.00pm)

Thursday 4 December

Coffee Connect (8.15-9.15am)
Primary Christmas Concert (11.00am-12.30pm)
College Christmas Concert (1.30-3.00pm)

Friday 5 December

Teachers Only Day

SEE MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Message from Sian

This week has been full of excitement and achievement! Our athletes shone at the Supercluster Athletics, bringing home many podium finishes. Year 6 students celebrated the end of their Primary school journey with a memorable Graduation Assembly, followed by a fun Ten Pin Bowling evening on Wednesday to mark the occasion. Adding to the excitement, our PrEP Market Day was a huge success! Students showcased creativity and entrepreneurial skills by making products and selling them for our PrEP currency, “pines.” It was fantastic to see teamwork and innovation in action. We had a few Black Friday sales by the end of the market to sell any excess stock!

Looking ahead to our final 4 days:

2 December: Year 3–4 Prizegiving at 11:00am; Year 5–6 Prizegiving at 1.15pm
3 December: Christmas Picnic at 5.00pm
4 December: Christmas Celebration in the Gym at 11.00am

We are looking forward to celebrating these special moments with you.

Have a great weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Coxon

Primary News

Upcoming Primary Christmas Concert 2025

Thursday 4 December, Gymnasium (11.00am - 12.00pm)

Come and celebrate with our Pinehurst Primary students and enjoy a wonderful evening of Christmas songs and music from the School Orchestra, Woodwind Ensemble, Marimba Group, and School Choir!

We can’t wait to see you there — come along, join the festive fun, and don’t forget to wear something Christmassy! 🎄✨

Message from Dawn

Tēnā koutou katoa

As we move into the final week of the school year, there is a great deal to look forward to in the College.

On Wednesday, we will proudly celebrate the academic achievements of our students with two prizegiving ceremonies; Year 7–8 in the morning, followed by Years 9–13 in the afternoon. These occasions are always a highlight, and we look forward to recognising the hard work and success of so many students. We will then come together for our annual Christmas Picnic on Wednesday afternoon which is always a lovely way to round off the prizegiving celebrations.

Thursday is the last school day of the year for students. The morning will run as normal, and students should attend in full school uniform. In the afternoon, we will wrap up the year with some festive fun at our Christmas Concert.

A reminder that Friday is Teacher Only Day.

I wish all our families a wonderful break and a very Merry Christmas.

Enjoy a safe, happy, and restful holiday season.

Ngā mihi nui,
Dawn Sullivan

College News

**Student-Led Sustainability Project Brings LittaTrap to Our Campus**

Over the past few months, Year 11 student Annie H has been leading a fantastic sustainability initiative aimed at reducing litter and improving the quality of stormwater leaving our school grounds. Thanks to Annie’s dedication, a LittaTrap has now been successfully installed in one of our campus drains.

The project began with a fundraising drive to cover the cost of the equipment. To generate the funds, Annie organised a range of activities - including a giant tag game, busking and selling handmade fish plushies. Her determination paid off, with donations and fundraising efforts reaching the required total this term.

Once the funds were secured, Annie worked closely with the LittaTrap supplier to confirm the correct catch-pit measurements, and coordinated with our Property Team to prepare for installation.

This week, Annie and Mr Wilson worked together to install the LittaTrap on-site, bringing the project to an exciting completion.

The LittaTrap will help capture plastic litter and debris before it enters our waterways, improving the health of our environment. It will also help reduce flooding on our tennis courts by preventing blockages during heavy rain.

Annie’s initiative is a wonderful example of leadership, service and environmental stewardship in action. Congratulations to Annie on an outstanding achievement and thank you to everyone who supported her initiative along the way.

College Art Exhibition on display in the Theatre

Message from Nicole Rackete

By the time you read this, our school Art Exhibition will be set up and the hours of commitment placed into making work will be on display for you to admire.

I wanted to take the time to acknowledge our five stunning young artists who will be leaving Pinehurst at the completion of their Y13 studies. These five young women have made an impact on those around them through the work they have created and have left a legacy for younger students to aspire to.

Toi o te wiki this week celebrates the work these young women have created in 2025. Olivia Zha, Elizabeth Francis, Soraya Su, Holly Yuan and Hailey Li - thank you for sharing your talent with us.

The College Art Exhibition features an impressive selection of student artwork, including paintings, drawings, photography, design technology and digital art. It will remain on display in the Theatre Foyer until Tuesday 2 December.

Register for Y9 Cricket (Colts Grade) in 2026

We’re calling for Year 8 boys moving into Year 9 in 2026 who are keen to play cricket in the Colts (Year 9) grade. Competition Details:

Dates: 7 February – 28 November (Terms 1 & 4)
Game Day & Time: Saturdays at 12:30 pm
Entries Close: 10 December at 11:59 pm
Team Requirement: Minimum of 9 players
Please note: This grade is boys only.

If you’re interested, please email ethan.agi@pinehurst.school.nz so your name can be added to the list. Let’s get a strong team together for 2026!

Register for Y7–13 Girls Basketball in 2026

We’re excited to announce the start of our Girls Basketball Programme for 2026 with Mr Tony Hill! Details:

When: Monday lunchtimes (2026)
Where: Pinehurst Arena
Focus: Skills development, scrimmaging and building confidence on the court

If you’re keen to be part of this programme, please email:

Ethan Agi: ethan.agi@pinehurst.school.nz
Mr Tony Hill: tony.hill@pinehurst.school.nz

We’re looking to get an idea of numbers and shape the programme to suit you. Don’t miss out—get involved and help us make this an awesome experience!

South Korea School Exchange: July 2026

Pinehurst is delighted to offer students who will be in Years 8–13 in the 2026 school year the opportunity to participate in our international exchange programme with IMAE Middle School in South Korea.

The trip will take place from 4–14 July 2026 during the term break and provides an exceptional chance for students to experience South Korean culture, attend school abroad, and engage in enriching cultural activities. This programme is designed to foster global awareness and lifelong friendships. Spaces are limited, so we encourage interested families to register promptly using the online form: Korean School Exchange 2026.

If you would like to discuss the trip or need further information, please contact Laurie Cadag at laurie.cadag@pinehurst.school.nz

Notices and Events

Coffee Connect on Thursday 4 December

Join us for our final Coffee Connect of 2025! A chance to come together, unwind and celebrate the end of an amazing school year.

We’d love to see you on Thursday 4 December, 8.15am - 9.15am in front of the Pinehurst Main Reception Building for a relaxed, festive catch-up over coffee. Everyone is welcome!

Music Lesson Registration for 2026

Registrations for music lessons at Pinehurst in 2026 are now open!

Lessons are 30 minutes long, held during the school day. Experienced teachers come on-site to teach a range of instruments, from Piano to Trumpet, Drums, Singing and more. You can register via our website under the Music Tuition page. Students who have had lessons at school this year, must register again for next year.

Please email Mrs Jaques if you need more information: cynthia.jaques@pinehurst.school.nz

Co-Curricular Groups Registration for 2026

We have opened registrations for our Co-Curricular Groups for 2026 and have some exciting opportunities for music involvement next year.

You can read the list of groups on offer and register here. Students who have been in a group this year also must register again for next year. Primary and College Orchestra members have been sent an email with audition video instructions.

Please email Mrs Jaques if you need more information: cynthia.jaques@pinehurst.school.nz

Holiday Reading: Wheelers eBooks and eAudio

The Wheelers eBooks and eAudio platform is a great resource to use while we are all on holiday.

The school library may be closed but the ePlatform remains open 24/7. It can be accessed while you are overseas, and books and audio can be downloaded to a variety of devices. The ePlatform APP can be found in any Appstore.

If you find yourself on a family road trip or even stuck in traffic heading across town, listening to an audiobook can keep the whole family engaged. This can be done as simply as having the APP on your phone and playing the one of the incredible stories. There is a great selection of audio books on there, from classic titles to all the popular fantasy favourites.

Primary Platform - https://pinehurstpri.eplatform.co/
Some recommendations for eAudio enjoyment are:

Year 7-13 (college) Platform - https://pinehurstcol.eplatform.co/
Some recommendations for eAudio enjoyment are:

Another feature on the two platforms are the Decodable Readers – great for emerging readers and building on literacy levels. Have a happy holiday and enjoy your holiday reading!

🎄 Uniform Shop Holiday Hours 🎄

As we head into the festive season, please note that the Uniform Shop will close from Friday, 5 December 2025. We will reopen in January with special holiday hours to help you prepare for the new school year.

🌟 Holiday Shop Open Days

WEEK 1
Monday 12 – Friday 16 January

WEEK 2
Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Thursday 22 & Friday 23 January
Please note: The shop will be closed on Wednesday 21 January

⏰ Holiday Shop Hours

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Regular operating hours will resume from Tuesday, 27 January onward.

📞 Need Help Outside These Hours?

For any urgent uniform needs, please contact Anna Xu:
📞 09 414 0960 ext 629
📧 uniform@pinehurst.school.nz

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New YearQ I look forward to seeing you in 2026. 😊

Donations for Pinehurst Christmas Hampers

Thank you! Your generosity is greatly appreciated... we are still collecting

Many thanks to those of you who have contributed donations for our Xmas Hampers. It is tradition for Pinehurst to present these at our Pinehurst Christmas Concert on the last day of the school year, Thursday 4 December (1.30pm-3.15pm).

Contributions of non-perishable food, Xmas treats, vouchers, toiletries, new toys and games would be greatly appreciated. Please bring donations to your son/daughter’s homeroom or to the Admin Area.

If you have access to good quality cardboard boxes which you can donate, please contact Nicole Webb directly nicole.webb@pinehurst.school.nz

Thank you again for your support with this. Families in need will greatly your kind donations in what can be a stressful time of the year.

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