Kia ora Westlake Whānau,
With exams now behind them, our students can finally take a deep breath and enjoy the year’s final weeks.
We’ve had a fantastic last couple of weeks, with highlights including some great outings for our international students, our legendary STEAM Expo showcasing incredible creativity and innovation, and our junior sports teams continuing to give it their all.
On 29 November, our new Y9s for 2025 spent the day with us as an orientation to the school. Every year, we see the same combination of nerves and excitement on the faces of the visiting Y8s as they look around the school in anticipation of their big transition.
We know how quickly those nerves will disappear as they settle into our inclusive and kind community. We’re proud of our ‘big sister-little sister’ system, where Tuakana (special prefects for this purpose) are matched with new students to help them settle into life at our kura.
A huge thank you to all the parents, caregivers, and Year 13 students leaving us this year who have completed our Leavers’ survey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand your experiences at Westlake. It allows us to celebrate what’s working well and to identify areas for improvement.
As this is our final newsletter for the year, I want to take a moment to thank our entire school community—students, staff, and you, our incredible and supportive parents and caregivers—for making 2024 another brilliant year at WGHS. Your contributions, encouragement, and dedication make all the difference.
I wish everyone a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday season.
See you in 2025!
Ngā mihi,
Jane Stanley
Principal