Te Roto Logo
Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 99 | 4 April 2025
From the Principal

Kia ora,

It was wonderful to welcome the Class of 1990 back to Westlake last Friday evening to enjoy a wonderful reunion, thanks to the efforts of our Alumni Coordinator, Cathy Roughan. There have been a lot of changes over the last thirty years!

The two recent report evenings were well attended, and I’d like to thank both staff and our parent community for the effort and care they continue to invest in our students’ education.

This Saturday, our Kapa Haka group will take to the stage for their performance at Polyfest. They have clocked up many hours of preparation, and we wish them well as they line up against the other groups in Division 1 of the competition. We hope that the weather is kind to them!

Our WGHS Jazz Band is attending the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga next week, from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th April. This is our first time attending this festival, and we are extremely excited to provide this opportunity for our students to be exposed to our country’s biggest and most prestigious Jazz Festival.

We are proud of our students who represented us at the summer sports tournaments around the country last week.

Rowing and Volleyball competed in National Championships at Karapiro and Palmerston North, respectively. NZSS Rowing – 2 x Silvers in U18 pairs (Charlotte Mawston and Maeve Lockett) and U17 pairs (Talia Chatfield and Sacha van der Net).

NZSS Volleyball – 10th, an encouraging improvement from 17th place last year. NZ Volleyball player Katie Adamson coaches the team.

NISS Water polo – 10th. New Zealand Water Polo player Bridget Layburn coaches the team.

AKSS Teams Racing Sailing Championships – We won 1st for the 4th consecutive year. The players now head off to the NZ Secondary Champs in New Plymouth in the second week of the holidays to defend the national title.

AKSS Cricket Championships  – 7th. Board member Sunny Patel and Caleb Ward coach the team.

Meanwhile, our Year 10 Business Studies students experienced the real world of entrepreneurship through a vibrant market day on campus. The Year 11 students will sell their wares on Tuesday lunchtime next week.

We’ve also had almost the entire student body participate in the Challenge Success survey – an important part of our commitment to evidence-based wellbeing and learning strategies. The information students provide through this survey informs teaching and learning practices and how we work in many areas.

Finally, the teachers and students from the Social Sciences department and those from the Art department are in the final stages of preparing for their trips to Vietnam and the US during the holiday break.

We wish them safe travels.

 

Jane Stanley

PRINCIPAL

Community

Join the Social Media Team!

Likeable Lab are still looking for a few more applications for the Westlake Girls social media team, so the deadline has been extended to Monday 7 April. This is an amazing opportunity to learn about real-life social media strategy and content creation from professionals in the industry. If you’re interested in digital media, communications, or just want to help share Westlake life online, make sure you get your application in by the new deadline.

Students from any year level can apply!

Sports

Athletics gold and silver

Last weekend, Miya Riseborough and Lula Free competed in the New Zealand Combined Events Championships, which also incorporated the Auckland Secondary Schools Championships.

First place went to Miya Riseborough, and Lula Free took second.

In the Under-16 Women’s Pentathlon, Miya is the New Zealand champion, and Lula won silver.  This was also combined with the Auckland Champs, so the girls have also got Auckland Champs gold and silver.

Great effort, Miya and Lula, well done!

Academic

Y11 surf camp

The Year 11 PE surf camp at Mangawhai was an unforgettable experience that combined adventure, friendship, and personal growth. Over the course of our stay, we immersed ourselves in a variety of activities that not only tested our physical limits but also created lifelong memories. From the exhilarating rush of surfing and paddle boarding to the thrill of kayaking, sand duning, and water sliding, every moment was filled with excitement and joy.

Our main goal was to come home surfing legends. We were taught at Mangawhai Heads beach where the instructors helped us with the basics of surfing and how to turn with our bodies. The instructors guided us through the basics, ensuring that even the most novice among us felt confident in the water. Surfing, in particular, was a highlight, as we learned to read the waves and ride them with ease. The sense of accomplishment when we finally stood up on the board was indescribable, and the cheers from our peers made it even more special. Paddle boarding and kayaking added to our water experience, allowing us to explore the waters of the Mangawhai Harbour and observe marine life up close. We were always on the lookout for stingrays!

Away from the water, we enjoyed the thrill of sand duning and water sliding. The sand dunes were challenging as we had to hike up the steep hill to the top. But once we were there it was super fun racing to the bottom, trying to get the fastest time. The water slide, located at Moirs Point camp, was another highlight, providing endless fun as we also had a competition, whoever was the fastest getting gold, silver, and bronze medals.

In quieter moments, we indulged in sandcastle making, unleashing our creativity and imagination. This activity allowed us to understand the background to Mangawhai, learning all about the special stingray, and get to know each other on a more complex level. It was fun seeing all the creative sandcastles everyone created.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the camp was the opportunity to forge new friendships and create lasting memories. The evenings were filled with laughter as we played spotlight, many card games and shared our favourite activity that day.

In conclusion, the Year 11 PE surf camp at Mangawhai was an incredible adventure that offered a mix of adventure, learning, and creating new friendships. Each activity, whether on water or land, contributed to an unforgettable experience that not only enhanced our physical skills but also enriched our personal lives. The memories we made during those days will remain with us forever, a testament to the power of shared experiences in shaping our lives.

By Y11 PE Camp students.

Academic

Smiths Bush field trip

For the past few weeks, we – the year 9 STEAM class of 2025 – have been looking into biodiversity and why it is important for the Earth. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things on our planet. We learnt that the decline of biodiversity is a crucial problem, and pests such as stoats or possums are endangering our native wildlife.

To put our research and ideas into action, we created pest monitoring devices out of recycled materials; small ‘tunnels’ made out of milk cartons and camouflaged them into the environment. Inside the tunnels, we placed sponges coated with red food dye and put small bits of peanut butter to attract the pests. We also put pieces of paper on each side of the tunnel so we could track the footprints of the pests, and make it easier for us to identify them.

After all this, we went to Smiths Bush to deploy the tunnels and monitor what kinds of pests live in the reserve. This may sound complicated, but don’t worry! There are a lot of easy ways that you can help protect our country’s biodiversity! Whether it is making sure your trash is securely in your bin or setting up store-bought traps in your backyard, even the smallest things can help make a big difference.

The trip was an enjoyable experience and we had a lot of fun creating the tunnels, we hope our experiment will be a success!

By Aima Khalid and Miriam Cowen

 

Arts & Culture

Equinox Concert

Westlake Boys High School hosts the Westlake Equinox Concert annually at the end of Term One. It is an opportunity for our musicians to show their ensembles’ progress to an appreciative audience of students and whānau.

Our Westlake Girls musicians performed in our mixed premier ensembles: Westlake Symphony Orchestra, Westlake Chamber Orchestra, Westlake Concert Band, Westlake Big Band and Choralation Choir.

Our premier treble choir, Cantare, also performed. It was a stunning evening of music outside in the quad, and was an outstanding first performance for our premier ensembles to kick off the 2025 Westlake music season.

 

Sports

Rowing success!

WGHS achieved great results in the NZSS Rowing Championships. Charlotte Mawston and Maeve Lockett finished second in the U18 pairs, and Talia Chatfield and Sacha van der Net finished second in the U17 pairs.

Sacha, Charlotte and Maeve have also been selected to trial for the North Island U18 squad.

Congratulations, all!

Main image: Charlotte Mawston (L) and Maeve Lockett (R). Image above: Sacha van der Net (L) and Talia Chatfield (R),

Arts & Culture

Show tickets are live!

Don’t forget to secure your tickets to the Westlake Productions 2025 Season at:

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/apr/westlake-schools-production-season

Our two productions are the heart-warming, dance-in-the-aisle sensation that is Mamma Mia! by ABBA, and also Three Birds Alighting on a Field, by Timberlake Wertenbaker, a brilliant, insightful, witty play about the value of art in a world obsessed with image.

These two productions boast 135 actors, 10 musicians, 25 stage crew and a host of staff and parent helpers! And, if you are concerned that a school production is not for you, do know that Westlake Productions have won Auckland’s top drama honour two years in a row, for Into the Woods (2023) and The Three Musketeers (2024).

Come. Enjoy. Bring friends to an outstanding night of theatre.

Career Bites

Career Bites - Urban Planner and Landscape Architect

This week we were joined by Melissa Pearson, Principal Planning Consultant, and Melissa Davis, Landscape Architect, both from SLR Consulting. Students got to learn about two fascinating career pathways where they could really make a difference to people and communities.

Melissa Pearson started with the example of Maungawhau/Mt Eden, and the different values placed on it by different stakeholders. These are the perspectives she has to consider and argue for in her role as a planner. Planners help manage how land is used in urban, suburban and rural settings, balancing the demands of development with community needs, sustainability and good design. 

Melissa relishes the strategic aspect of the role and says that students with good communication skills, who enjoy things like debating, geography, and writing reports, would make good planners. For her, job satisfaction comes from seeing a project come to fruition and knowing that it has had a positive impact on a group or community. 

Melissa Davis began her section of the talk with a quote from comedian Suzi Izzard: “What do you add to the human existence – that is what matters.” Melissa’s job is all about positively contributing to people’s lives, by designing beautiful, functional, and sustainable outdoor spaces. Like Melissa Pearson, her best career moments come from visiting a project over the years, seeing it grow and bring benefits to its users.

Landscape architects work on projects big and small, from private gardens to Olympic sites. Melissa showed us two very different examples of projects she has worked on. One was a huge development near the Auckland International Airport, where giant ‘big box’ buildings had to be balanced aesthetically with green spaces, and wastewater dealt with sustainably. The other was a small, intimate garden in the grounds of a hospital, where patients and visitors might sit for a moment of serenity.

Both of these career pathways offer plenty of opportunities for employment, professional growth, travel, and variety. Students left the talk inspired with new understandings about these roles. Thanks to the two Melissas for sharing their expertise with us!

Photo: students with (left) Melissa Pearson, Principal Planning Consultant, and (right) Melissa Davis, Landscape Architect.

Academic Community

Y13s lead by example

The 13 OUTE students went to Takapuna Normal Intermediate School (TNIS) throughout March to run some physical activity sessions as part of their leadership internal assessment. They led the Year 7 and 8 students through problem solving and team building challenges, sports, dance, and Outdoor Ed  based activities.

Their goal was to practice different leadership styles whilst engaging the students in fun, interactive, and physically active sessions.

The Year 13’s had a great experience and had the following comments to share:

“Over the course of the session, the personalities of the intermediate students shone through and we were able to form good connections.”

“It was good to be able to relate to them on a personal and genuine level, and we felt like we really got to know them.”

“It was really cool to see their faces when they announced that we were in year 13. We felt like role models.”

Everyone had a great time throughout the three weeks. We look forward to returning again next year!

Academic

Year 10 Market Day

A Showcase of creativity and enterprise

The Year 10 Market Day at Westlake Girls High School (WGHS) is an event held at lunchtime that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of our students. This event combines creativity, teamwork, and business acumen as students form startup groups to design, produce, and sell products aimed at their target market—fellow students and teachers.

Highlights of the day

The enthusiasm and dedication displayed by the students are remarkable. From brainstorming innovative ideas to setting up visually appealing stalls, each group demonstrates a high level of commitment to their business ventures. Products range from handmade crafts to delicious treats, showcasing the creativity and resourcefulness of our young entrepreneurs. The energy on Market Day is infectious, with students eagerly pitching their products and interacting with customers, creating a vibrant marketplace atmosphere.

Participating in Market Day provides invaluable learning experiences in several areas. Students learn the importance of group collaboration, effective communication, and problem-solving within their teams. They develop critical business competencies such as identifying a unique selling point (USP), setting pricing strategies, financial forecasting and applying the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion) to attract their target audience. By engaging in this hands-on activity, students gain insights into customer preferences, supply and demand dynamics, and the challenges of running a business.

Year 10 Market Day is a platform for students to explore entrepreneurship in a supportive environment. It equips them with practical skills that extend beyond the classroom while celebrating their creativity and dedication. WGHS is proud to nurture future business leaders through this experience.

Y11 Market Day is next Tuesday,  so don’t forget your coins because it is cash-only!

Academic

Geography trip to Tongariro

Recently, the Level 2 Geography students embarked on an overnight trip to Tongariro National Park. Big plans were made to collect data for their assessment, walk the great outdoors and see some fantastic scenery. Unfortunately the weather thought otherwise: it was rainy and very foggy.

We still managed to complete the important field work was still completed and had a visit to the local hot pool to warm up.

Despite the weather, it was successful trip and a few nice snaps were still taken!

Arts & Culture

Art Drawing Club

The Art Drawing Club has been focusing on a step-by-step approach to figure drawing. The first step maps in the length and angles of the bones and then the basic shapes of the musculature shapes. Then the students observe and record the light, medium and dark tonal areas on the body and setting. The final step is to simply spend the time working on refining the tones and textures of the drawing. 

In coming weeks, we will experiment with pastels to add richer colour and visual impact in larger works. 

 

 

Community

Student in the Sub-Antarctic Islands

I have had the privilege of joining the 2025 BLAKE Expedition to the Sub-Antarctic Islands – an experience that has changed how I see the world. Alongside a team of scientists, conservationists, and like-minded students, I explored the breathtaking landscapes of the Auckland and Campbell Islands, some of the most remote and ecologically significant places on Earth.

This expedition was a collaboration between different groups, each with a vital role in protecting and understanding these fragile ecosystems. The Royal New Zealand Navy, Air Force, and Army provided the transport and protection that made our journey possible.

At the same time, the Department of Conservation focused on pest monitoring and hands-on conservation efforts. Ngāi Tahu representatives explored the potential of native botanical resources as a commercial solution to sustain pest control funding.

The Defence Force Science and Technology team tested life-saving devices that use satellite technology to locate people lost at sea. Meanwhile, our scientific research covered a range of crucial environmental studies.

We worked on dating glaciation on Campbell Island by peat coring and sampling rocks for chlorine-36, an isotope formed by radiation exposure, which helps figure out whether an area has been ice-covered in recent history (our past climate is the biggest tool we have to predict our future!). We studied kelp diseases using environmental DNA (eDNA) to understand potential climate change impacts, surveyed invertebrates such as weevils and springtails, and gathered data on megaherbs—unique, oversized plants that thrive in extreme conditions.

One of the most unforgettable moments of the expedition was standing at the top of one of Campbell Island’s many mountains, helping GNS scientist Greer Gilmer collect peat to be carbon-dated, looking south and knowing there was nothing between me and Antarctica. No civilisation in sight—just the vast, endless ocean stretching into the distance. Right beside me, an albatross sat with its chick, completely unbothered by us. The scale of it all was overwhelming—I had never felt so small yet so connected to the world around me.

This journey also surprised me in many ways. Despite the seasickness, I absolutely loved ‘navy life’ and being on the ship—it gave me a whole new appreciation for our defence forces and a love for the HMNZS Canterbury, which quickly became my home away from home. But more than that, the experience changed how I think about conservation.

Before this trip, I often felt overwhelmed by the scale of environmental challenges, but now I have hope. I’ve seen something truly worth fighting for and realised that conservation isn’t just about distant policies or complex scientific concepts—it’s about real places and real action. Being given this opportunity made me understand that I wasn’t just learning – I was contributing.

Young people should have the chance to take environmental responsibility, to be part of these efforts, and to know that their actions matter – the Sir Peter Blake Trust has changed my life in this exact way. I urge all members of the Westlake community to check out the programs that Blake offers. My relationship with Blake started with the Blake Inspire residential camp (Year 11 -13), and for teachers, the Blake Teachers’ Inspire camp applications are now open as well!

By Rosa Morris, Y12

Academic

Pi Day celebration!

On Friday, 14 March (3.14), we had our annual Pi Day celebration. It was an action-packed day filled with a unanimous joy for mathematics. We had an extensive number of participants cueing up to squeeze into C5 and thank you all for participating and we are pleased to say we had a turnout of 200+ students!

Congratulations to our top three winners!

Manrui He (Year 13) in first place with 151 digits correct, Amelia Raines (Year 9) in second place with 105 and tied third place with 101 digits between Saki Tominoto (Year 11), Christine Lu (Year 11) and Nadia Maru (Year 10)

By Fiona Yang and other Academic Prefects

 

Alumni Community

Westlake Class of 1990 reunion

A group of nearly 50 former students from the Westlake Girls Class of 1990 got together for a class reunion on Friday, 28 March. The school was abuzz with chatting and sharing memories. Approximately 30 alumnae caught up as they looked around their old school, guided by Alumni Co-ordinator Cathy Roughan and WGHS Community Relations Manager Dean Flyger.

Others later joined in for the main function at the Fantail and Turtle at Smales Farm. People came as far away as Gore in New Zealand and even from Australia to meet up with old school friends.

Several people already had a renewed Westlake connection with a daughter attending the school either currently or in recent years, but for others in the group, this was the first time they had been back to Westlake in 35 years!

Everyone was impressed with all the new facilities built since their departure in 1989 (Form 6) or 1990 (Form 7). Only a couple of things are relatively unchanged: Gym 1, which opened in 1964, and the swimming pool, which opened in 1976.

A wonderful surprise for the group was seeing former Head of PE Beth Beever, who enjoyed meeting up with many of her past pupils.

The evening was packed full of fun and was truly a memorable one. We give huge thanks to the Class of 1990 Reunion Committee: Jane Knox, Nikki Horne (McGeown), Verity Bliss, Rachel Winder (Sharples) and Jodi Preston-Thomas for organising such a fantastic, highly successful reunion.

Uncategorized

School productions camp

In preparation for the upcoming school productions, 133 students recently spent a weekend at camp in Marsden Bay. The three days were filled with intense rehearsals, workshops and group activities, leaving the students and staff exhausted but proud of the enormous progress they made. The students formed tighter bonds and were fully supportive of each other’s work.

Both the musical, ‘Mamma Mia!’ and the play, ‘Three Birds Alighting on a Field’ will showcase the admirable singing, dancing and acting talents of our students.

Tickets are available now at iTicket for all performances from 29 April to 10 May.

Arts & Culture

2025 Westlake Productions Open Rehearsals to the Public

As we head into the holidays and then into Technical Week and the Production Season, we would like to invite our community to an Open Rehearsal. At this rehearsal you can get a glimpse of what will be presented in the final, fully staged version of each production: Mamma Mia! and Three Birds Alighting on a Field.

Please understand that these rehearsals are primarily focused on the actors: there will be no set, no microphones (especially important for Mamma Mia!), no costumes. However, there is a great deal to enjoy, and from these rehearsals you will get to see a moment in these students’ process and artistry.

The two opens rehearsals are as follows:

Three Birds Alighting on a Field

  1. Saturday, 5 April
  2. 10am-1pm
  3. Westlake Boys Auditorium
  4. Cost: FREE

Mamma Mia!

  1. Friday, 11 April
  2. 5-7pm
  3. Westlake Boys Auditorium
  4. Cost: FREE

 

Community

Westlake Wellness - Planning for Success

To achieve in life, you need a plan and a plan that will lead you to success! We plan our day around school or work, then plan for sports, meals and socialising, so it makes sense to have a plan for achieving in school.

Just writing a plan helps your subconscious mind develop strategies to achieve.

There are a range of ways you can go about this:

  • Write a list at the end of the day of the things you want to achieve the next day.
  • Keep good records of assessment tasks, identify what is required and when.
  • Keep a journal of what you have completed as you go, use your device for reminders and keeping records.
  • Discuss with your teachers any goals you could set yourself (daily, weekly, termly).
  • Set aside a quiet time each week to go over any incomplete work or areas you are struggling with, this will help you stay up to date.
  • Ask for help with aspects you do not understand and get support early. Discuss your school work with your family and friends.
  • Plan to start work and have a completion date for a draft, this allows for extra time to refine work before it is due to be submitted.
  • Use your time in class effectively.
  • Be prepared, bring your device and support material to class – arrive in time.

There are a range of planning tools online:

Best Time management apps

https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/best-time-management-apps-students

Printable Planners for students

https://www.yellowblissroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/daily-calendars.jpg

https://templatelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/homework-planner-03.jpg

By Elizabeth Beaumont

Photo from Unsplash credit Content Pixie

 

 

Arts & Culture

Westlake Symphony Orchestra & Westlake Concert Band Camp

From Friday, 28 March to Monday, 31 March, the Westlake Symphony Orchestra and Westlake Concert Band students boarded three buses and headed to Willow Park Christian Camp in Eastern Beach for a four-day combined camp of music making.

Over the weekend, students were immersed in rehearsals as full ensembles, sectionals, and workshops with their directors and guest mentors from the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Students also had evening activities to bond as a group, including folding over 1000 paper origami cranes on Saturday evening to create artwork to display in our music departments.

The Year 13’s organised fun music activities and competitions on Sunday night. After over 24 hours of rehearsal time, the students shared their progress in a final camp concert.

It was a fantastic four days of music-making and team bonding, and we look forward to sharing the music with our school community in Term 2 performances.

Music Department Concerts coming up in Term Two:

Music of the Lake Concert (presented by the Westlake Premier Ensembles)

Tuesday, 20 May, 7.30pm in WGHS Event Centre. Tickets are on sale soon!

Cantare and Luminata Voices 

Sunday 18 May, 2.30pm in WGHS Event Centre. Refreshments are provided afterwards. Tickets are on sale soon!

Westlake Choirs Concert (presented by all choirs from Westlake Boys and Girls High Schools)

Tuesday 3 June, 7pm in WGHS Event Centre. Entry by koha.

Arts & Culture

Polyfest 2025

POLYFEST 2025 – Celebrating Culture and Unity

Toi tū te kupu, toi tū te mana, toi tū te whenua

Hold fast to our culture, for without language, mana, and land, the essence of being Māori would no longer exist.

Polyfest is already underway, so if you haven’t been yet,  get ready for an unforgettable celebration of culture, dance, and music tomorrow! This vibrant festival showcases the incredible talents of our Pacific and Māori communities through traditional performances, food, and art.

We proudly announce that our kapa haka group, Te Rerenga Wāna, will perform on Saturday, 5 April, (TOMORROW!) on the Division One stage, sponsored by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Unlike many other years, in 2025, we don’t have Pasifika groups from Westlake Girls, but we will be taking some of our Pasifika students and hope that many families will be able to attend this wonderful event too.

Polyfest Dates: 2-5 April 2025

Location: Manukau Sports Bowl & Velodrome, Auckland

Time: Varies by stage and performance

Māori Stage – Manukau Velodrome

See the Polyfest website for more information and to check that there are no weather-related changes.

Come and experience the incredible talent, passion, and cultural pride at Polyfest 2025. Whether you’re performing, supporting, or simply enjoying the festivities, this event is not to be missed!

Tickets

General admission tickets: $7.50. Available through iTICKET

Photo: Westlake Girls at Polyfest, 2023

Sports

Westlake Sailing’s 4-Peat

For the fourth consecutive time, the Westlake Girls Sailing team won the Auckland Secondary Schools Teams Racing Championship at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club last week. The three-day event moved into Gold and Silver Fleets after pool play on Day One, and the Girls team faced some of the toughest competition in the country in Gold fleet.

Racing 420’s, they were set to meet Diocesan in a sail-off for the top girls’ school. Westlake’s successes over Auckland Grammar 2, Glendowie College and later St Kent’s helped them to hone their connection for the encounter, which they enjoyed with 1, 2, 3 finishes in both races.

The growth of the sport allowed the school to enter a second crew in the regatta this year who performed impressively in the Silver Fleet.

Now, led by New Zealand Youth Sailor and Captain, Jess Handley, the top team turns its attention to defending its New Zealand Secondary Schools title in New Plymouth later next month.

 

Sports

WGHS Black wins NZSS Keelboat Girls title

It was a great start to the sailing season for Westlake Girls after the top crew won the Girls’ title of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Keelboat Championship at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Sunday, 16 March for the second year in a row.

Led by Captain Jess Handley, the WGHS Sailing team entered two teams into the Keelboat Nationals, with WGHS Black team competing in the Gold fleet against the best schools in the country and the WGHS Red finishing 3rd in the Silver fleet.

Next, the sailors moved from the 7-metre-long Elliott boats with five crew to the two-handed 4-metre 420 dinghies in the Auckland Secondary Schools Team Racing Championship at Royal Akarana Yacht Club the following week.

Sports

Silver and Bronze for Westlake Equestrians

The Westlake Girls Equestrian Team competed at the Pegasus Cup, a premium secondary schools’ show jumping competition in Cambridge on 17 and 18 March.

The school’s top rider, Samantha Syme, was successful over the two-day event, finishing second place in the 1.05 Accumulator, fifth place in the 1.05 2-phase, and eighth in the 1.05 Equitation.  She placed 15th overall, out of 193 riders, an outstanding result!

Neve Anderson also rode very well, securing third place in the 70cm Accumulator and fifth place in the 70cm Equitation.

The team placed 16th overall out of 50 teams.

Well done to the team – a great achievement and reflection of the students’ hard work in their sport. We wish them all well in their future events.

Main image: Samantha Syme with Rednalhgih Galaxy Fleur Dior’.

Photos L>R. Rhea Bourhill on The Little Prince, Neve Anderson on Our Silver Lining, Mikayla Gow on Douglas Park Dexter.

Community

WGHS Podcast Episode 3!

We are back for 2025 with a brand new episode of our Westlake Girls High School podcast, He Kōrero Wāna! Listen as we kōrero with Saascha, Brooke, and Karscha about their experiences in Kapa Haka and they share what drew them to this kaupapa.

These wāhine toa tell us about their journey of learning and performing, and how it has shaped their lives. With Polyfest approaching, they also talk about preparations and what it means to take the stage. Tune in to hear their stories, insights, and passion for Kapa Haka!

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/TxqUYYXI2Rb

Arts & Culture

Westlake Choir Camp Season 

Choralation Choir

March is a busy month for our Westlake musicians and staff as they get stuck into learning their music and getting to know their team. So far, three of our choirs have enjoyed weekend camps at various locations around Auckland.

First up was Choralation, our premier mixed voice choir. This choir is made up of 25 sopranos and altos and 26 tenors and basses from Westlake Boys High School. The choir enjoyed beautiful weather at Peter Snell Youth Village camp on the Whangaparaoa peninsula. Although there was a lot of rehearsal on the schedule, there was also time to enjoy games of volleyball and ‘Choralympics’ which are fun team games run by the choir leaders: Jaymie Chee, Annie Yang, Constantine Mata’afa and Aaron Shi. Choralation are working towards their first public concert in Hamilton, which is a collaboration with Hamilton Civic Choir, directed by Elise Bradley (also director of our Nota Bella Junior Choir). The concert ‘Ceremonial Splendor’ includes some of the great, timeless choral anthems and will be on Saturday 12th April 4:00pm in Hamilton. Tickets are available at this link: https://events.humanitix.com/hccceremonial

Nota Bella Choir

Last weekend, our junior and senior choristers went on camps at two different locations. Nota Bella junior choir stayed at Houghtons’ Bush in Muriwai, located in the midst of the West Coast lush, native bush. Nota Bella has almost 50 Year 9 and 10 singers who are developing vocal technique through weekly singing lessons, and their musical knowledge through theory and learning their choir music. One of the camp highlights is the Talent Night, run by choir leaders Charlotte Murphy and Shanie Faller. At the end of the camp, Nota Bella gave a concert to their parents and families, singing five pieces from their year’s repertoire.

Cigno Voce

Cigno Voce travelled to Peter Snell Youth Village in Whangaparaoa, and had a vibrant and enriching weekend of music making. This year our Senior Treble choir is singing a range of repertoire including texts in Malaysian, Latin & German. Students spent their weekend in workshops and rehearsals, learning notes and applying musicianship to their pieces.

The camp was not only about musical growth but also about building lasting friendships, as the students bonded with fellow choir members through collaborative activities and team-building. Friday night saw the students playing human-bingo and a choir quiz, and Saturday night included a camp talent-show concert, where every student participated. At the end of camp, Cigno Voce performed to parents and families, singing five pieces they had learnt at camp.

The atmosphere at both camps was one of creativity and excitement, allowing the students to develop both their musical and interpersonal skills. We look forward to seeing our choristers performances throughout the year and their growth as singers.

 

Sports

Interschool rock climbing

Jessica Allen in Year 9 competed at the Auckland interschool rock climbing competition last weekend, placing third. Well done, Jessica!

Sports

Diving

Congratulations to Charlotte Wilson, who recently went to an International Diving Competition in Dubai, where she won two gold medals and one silver. That’s a mighty effort from the youngest member of the NZ National Diving Team!

 

“It was a really great experience, we did lots of sightseeing and shopping. They have a tradition over there where when you win a medal, you dip the medal in the pool water to see if its real gold which is really cool. It was a really enjoyable trip and an amazing opportunity I am so grateful for.”

– Charlotte Wilson.

 

Notices

Uniform Shop hours

Thursday, 10th April is the Uniform Shop’s last day of trading for Term 1, 2025. Please note that the shop will be closed during the school holidays.

 

Community

Your story, our story!

Students, staff, friends and families of Westlake Girls – Got a great story to share? We’d love to hear it.

Whether it’s an achievement, event, or special moment — help us celebrate our fantastic school community  by sharing your stories here in our school newsletter, Te Reo o Te Roto.

Send your stories and up to six images if you have them, to [email protected].

Notices

Upcoming dates to note

Stay up to date with key events on our ‘Important Dates’ page — your go-to guide for what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Click here or access it via the quick links on our website’s home page.

 

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