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Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 110 | 31 October 2025
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

Kia ora e te whānau,

This week has been one of celebration with our Special Awards and Senior Prizegiving.

It is always bittersweet to farewell our Year 13s. It is hard to say goodbye, but at the same time, it is exciting to see them head off into the world, ready for whatever the next chapter brings.

Led by the exceptional duo of Julia Wilkins and Anahera Petera and their wonderful Prefect and Tuākana team, the Class of ’25 has been a joy to have at Westlake, and we wish them all the very best in everything they do.

At last night’s Leavers’ Event, where we farewelled the Y13s formally, it was wonderful to have so many whānau join us. This was the largest we have hosted at Westlake Girls, fortunately the weather was kind and the beautiful area in the front of the school was buzzing with proud parents and excited young adults.

After this week’s events, with senior students preparing for exams, we have a quieter fortnight coming up on the school calendar. The big event on our radar is next week’s Year 8 Orientation Day, when we will give our 2026 cohort their first real taste of life in our kura.

This day is all about creating a sense of belonging so that our future students feel at ease, inspired, and excited about what lies ahead. For many, it’s their first experience of an all-girls environment, where they’ll discover the confidence and connection that come from learning alongside peers who lift each other up.

As we know, research consistently shows the benefits of girls’ schools in fostering leadership, collaboration, and self-belief. We see that in action every day here at Westlake and Orientation Day is always a lovely occasion to share it with our future students.

For our seniors about to begin exams, we wish you all the very best. Your hard work and perseverance throughout the year will stand you in good stead. Take a breath, trust yourselves, and finish well.

 

Ngā mihi nui,
Jane Stanley
Principal

 

Community

2026 Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect

Congratulations to our new student leaders for next year!

It’s our great pleasure to announce:

Head Prefect: Dorsa Jahedi 
Deputy Head Prefect: Charlotte Mawston

We look forward to seeing these outstanding young women lead with passion, confidence, and integrity in 2026.

L-R Charlotte Mawston, Jane Stanley, Dorsa Jahedi
Notices

Prefects and Tuākana for 2026

Congratulations to our fantastic new Prefects and Tuākana Team for 2026!

Keep an eye on the student leadership page of our website in the coming days to see the full list.

Sports

Tag: Central North Western Zone Day

Congratulations to our Junior Tag Westlake Girls Team who  qualified for the Tag Junior Championships, taking place on Wednesday, 26 November, at Cox’s Bay.

Our Junior Tag team beat Massey High School in a nail-biting drop to qualify.

Congratulations to Arie Tolua, Sadie Bishop – (both pictured in main above) Jaz Adolf, Anika Rawiri, Inese Burkhardt-Aupaau, Zyla Burkhardt- Aupaau, Aki Douglas, Neeva Harvey, Maia Isgrove, Amelie Ivey, Juliette Ivey, Edie Joyce, Alice Whyte, Lauren Williams, Moana Wilson and Kayla Te Huna for their amazing style, grace and efforts. We look forward to the Junior Champs on 26 November.

Academic

Premier Award winners 2025

We are VERY proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of our 2025 Premier Award recipients. These awards celebrate exceptional scholarship, leadership, service, and all-round excellence — values that lie at the heart of Westlake Girls.

Jeffreys Cup – Citizenship (Outstanding Service, Academic & Leadership)
Dora Liu

Phillips Cup – Outstanding All-Round Student (Sporting, Academic & Leadership)
Karmen Maritz

Elise Bradley Cup – Outstanding All-Round Student (Cultural, Academic & Leadership)
Elaine Zhou

International Student of the Year
Jiawei (Vivian) Huang

Prowse Cup – Proxime Accessit Dux
Julia Wilkins & Elaine Zhou

Dux 2025 – Top Scholar
Yena Elamurugu

Congratulations to these remarkable young women on their well-deserved recognition. Each has exemplified dedication, integrity, and excellence, and we are immensely proud of their contribution to our school community.

Academic

Year 11 comic strips

The Year 11 drama class have been exploring new skills now that the assessments are completed. They have created comic strips with different themes this week: Super Hero, Life of a student, and Seasons.

Not only does this get them to create static images, it extends their understanding of drama techniques in still moments. It has been exciting to see different people take the lead while others have shown their creative abilities.

We are constantly striving to motivate our students when a final assessment isn’t the key objective. This has been such a great way to enjoy the subject and what everyone brings to the work.

Academic

Young Enterprise Scheme Regional Awards

This year, WGHS had the honour of three of our Year 13 Business Studies groups selected as regional finalists in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES). The businesses, Toi Rongoā, Azure Essence, and Bee Glo, all had the opportunity to attend the regional awards evening. This was a tremendous achievement, reflecting months of dedication, teamwork, and enterprise from these groups.

At the regional awards evening, each team had to present its business to a panel of judges, showcasing the problem their business aimed to solve, the solution they developed, their marketing and sales achievements, and how their venture advanced the quadruple bottom line (economic, social, environmental, and cultural outcomes). The team members only had a short timeframe to put their presentations together. The judges were impressed by the professionalism, clarity, and business acumen with which all three teams promoted their ventures and showcased their real-world skills. Each group represented Westlake Girls High School with outstanding pride and confidence.We are especially proud of Toi Rongoā, who created a Māori Sign Language book for young children. This group’s enterprise stood out for its cultural awareness, creativity, and authentic social purpose. Not only did the girls meet the rigorous NCEA Level 3 Business Studies criteria while managing and selling their product, but their innovation was also recognised with the Regional Excellence Award for Social Enterprise. This team’s confident pitch went on to secure them the Runner-Up Company of the Year title in the Northern Region, an outstanding achievement. Toi Rongoā will now represent Westlake Girls at the National YES Finals in Wellington on 4 December. Congratulations to all involved for their remarkable achievements and for setting an inspiring example of enterprise and leadership.

Arts & Culture

WGHS Soloist Competition

On 22 October, the WGHS Soloist Competition took place at the Event Centre. 17 Westlake musicians competed in three age divisions of Junior (Year 9 – 10), Intermediate (Year 11) and Senior (Year 12 – 13).

Performances were of an extremely high level, and there was a vast range of musical styles and instruments on display, including a sitar for the first time! Mark Bennett, Head of Strings at Auckland University School of Music, adjudicated the competition. Mark has a long association with Westlake Girls, having served as director of the Westlake Chamber Orchestra for many years.

Congratulations to all the finalists who were selected and performed in the evening.

2025 Results:

Junior Winner – Amber Liu (piano) 

Runner up – Eden Peoples (tenor saxophone)

 

Intermediate Winner – Hannah Kay (oboe)

Runner up – Vicky Xie (piano)

 

Senior Winner – Valarie Sin (acoustic guitar)

Runner up – Lucy Liang – (piano).

Academic

Rotary recognises high-achieving Y12s

The Rotary National Science and Technology Forum is a highly successful programme for high-achieving Year 12 high school students. Students are selected based on their passion for science, mathematics, and technology from across the motu. Held at the University of Auckland over two weeks during the summer holidays, 168 places are offered to students keen to pursue a career in these subjects.

The programme is packed with activities, including lectures, labs, field trips, campus visits, meetings with experts, visits to organisations (such as TVNZ, Air New Zealand, Watercare), and much more. This programme involves a wide range of subjects and exposure to such disciplines as molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and electronics/robotics. It is an excellent opportunity to excel academically, explore what university life is all about, and participate in non-academic activities during free time. Apparently, volleyball games are a big hit and ultra-competitive! The Forum is a fantastic opportunity to network and connect with like-minded students who are passionate about STEM subjects. Many participants make lifelong friendships.

The application process began as usual in August and involves three main requirements. The first is to complete the application form with the required information, including personal achievements and awards. Secondly, students must obtain a letter of recommendation from the school. The final requirement is a carefully written letter to the President of the local Rotary club.

If the local Rotary Club accepts a student’s application, they will undergo an interview and, if successful, be shortlisted. The Rotary District Coordinators then decide on the final selections.

We are incredibly privileged to have Rotary North Harbour support our students at Westlake.

This year, three students applied, and two were selected for their strong academic performance, capability, and enthusiasm to make the most of this immersive two-week experience.

Congratulations to Hannah Smith (12WWR) and Saisha Kamat (12WMD), who were selected to attend the Forum. Each will receive a $1,000 contribution towards their participation.

We look forward to hearing from our two young scientists in a future edition of TROTR and wish to once again thank Rotary North Harbour for their generosity and belief in our young women.

Image above: L: Hannah Smith, R: Saisha Kamat

Arts & Culture

Theatresports

A year of laughter and quick thinking!

The Theatresports crew recently wrapped up their 2025 season with a shared lunch and a farewell to their Year 13 leaders. This year’s group was bursting with creativity and enthusiasm, diving into improvisation games that turned imagination and a single audience prompt into hilarious, unpredictable scenes.

They built confidence, forged friendships, and shared many laughs along the way. From Actor’s Nightmare where one actor speaks only in lines from a book, to our very own Switch Left challenge, where three scenes rotate between three actors, it’s been a year full of quick wit and brilliant moments.

Community

Second Hand Uniform Shop

The Second-Hand Uniform Shop is currently looking for uniform items to meet the high demand from new students. We need more Junior Uniforms, as well as Senior Blazers, Blouses and Long Skirts.

The Second-Hand Uniform shop can sell your uniform on your behalf. Please complete the online form in the link below, then drop the uniforms (with your name or a copy of email confirmation) at reception.

Register 2nd-Hand Uniform For Sale Here

We gratefully accept donated uniforms too!

The shop is open every Friday at lunchtime from 12.25pm – 1.15pm in B8 behind B Block.

Arts & Culture

Y13s and Sargeson Prize

Recently, two of our Year 13 students, Helianth Nguyen and Polly O’Sullivan-Watts were awarded a prestigious Highly Commended recognition in the Sargeson Prize for the following work.

• Helianth Nguyen: As a mother to a mother

• Polly O’Sullivan-Watts: Ritualistic Hunger

The Sargeson Prize, administered by the University of Waikato, is New Zealand’s largest short story competition. It honours the legacy of renowned writer Frank Sargeson, whose former home at 14a Hurstmere Road in Takapuna is now a museum dedicated to his life and work.

The competition is open to writers nationwide, with both an Open Division and a Secondary Schools Division. We are delighted that two of our students have been recognised at this national level.

“I was so excited to find out, I told all my friends immediately! Writing is one of my greatest passions and I hope to pursue it in the future.” Polly O’Sullivan-Watts

“I was surprised and very grateful to have received this award even when I completely forgot I had applied for it earlier this year! When attending, NZ Poet Laureat Chris Tse delivered a wonderful lecture, and it was a memorable experience to see all the winners my age talk about their writing.”  Helianth Nguyen.

Arts & Culture

Westlake Girls at NZ Sculpture OnShore

Our Year 10 Art students will have their organic sculptures featured in this year’s Schools Exhibition at NZ Sculpture OnShore, held at the stunning Ō Peretu Fort Takapuna from 8–23 November.

The event showcases more than 100 outdoor works by leading and emerging New Zealand artists, alongside the always-popular Schools Exhibition set within the historic underground fort. It’s a wonderful celebration of creativity and a unique opportunity for our students to share their work with the wider community.

Proceeds from the exhibition support Women’s Refuge NZ, helping women and children across Aotearoa find safety and strength.

Families who’d like to visit can find details and ticket information here. 

Notices

Renew your locker for 2026

It’s time to renew student lockers for 2026

We are now taking locker renewals for 2026. If students would like to retain their current locker, the renewal fees must be paid by 17 November. From 18 November, all remaining lockers will be placed in the general pool for allocation on a first-come, first-served basis for 2026.

The cost is $60.00 for the school year.

Payments can be made through the Website Payments Page:

https://www.westlakegirls.school.nz/student-life/practical-information/payments/lockers/

 

 

Academic

Junior Mathematics Competition 2025

On Wednesday, 7 May, 48 Year 9-11 Westlake Girls High School students sat the University of Otago Junior Mathematics Competition. The results have only recently been released and it was very pleasing to see 19 students gain a certificate of Merit or Distinction. The results were as follows:

Distinction

Lara Hu   Year 9

Julia Ouyang   Year 9

Rebecca Xie   Year 10

Merit

Yiel Koh   Year 9

Valie Nguyen  Year 9

Sophie Wu  Year 9

Yusra Zafar  Year 9

Joey Jiayi Chen  Year 10

Hazel Fox  Year 10

Bi Shin  Year 10

Janu Vijay  Year 10

Susie Wuyou Zhang  Year 10

Quinn Dong  Year 11

Kristin Kim  Year 11

Jiah Lee  Year 11

Claire Lin  Year 11

Rahma Moussa  Year 11

Saki Tomimoto  Year 11

Vicky Xie  Year 11

 

Sports

Nailing it in netball!

Congratulations to Year 11 Westlake Girls netballer, Imani Rasmussen

We are delighted to announce that Imani has been selected for the 2025 New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Team — an outstanding achievement that reflects her exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work.

This accomplishment is particularly remarkable, as the last time a Westlake Girls High School player was named to the New Zealand Secondary Schools team was Kate Burley in 2014.

Imani, who was recently named the 2025 Westlake Girls Sportswoman of the Year, continues to impress both on and off both the netball and basketball courts. She is truly a player to watch in the future.

Congratulations, Imani — Westlake Girls is incredibly proud of you!

We’re also delighted to announce that Year 13 student Talia Chatfield was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools A Team. Well done!

STEAM

E-STEAM Re-Imagined Spaces Expo

Our Year 11 STEAM students recently held their ‘Re-Imagined Spaces Expo’ in the school’s Event Centre Foyer. It was a vibrant showcase of innovation, design thinking, and community awareness. The exhibition marked the culmination of the students’ project, which had spanned multiple terms, in which pairs worked to reimagine a real-world site on Auckland’s North Shore into a space that better serves the local community.

Each student pair collaborated across two key design roles. One student took the lead on landscape planning – carefully considering the layout of paths, plantings, and hard and soft landscaping features. Their partner designed a creative sculptural structure for the site. These structures ranged from interactive sculptures and fountains to playgrounds and community art installations, all tailored to the needs and character of the local area, as identified through a community-wide survey of residents.

We invited parents, teachers, students, and special guests to the event, which featured concept models, landscape diagrams, design booklets, and strategic plans addressing sustainability, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness. Among the attendees were North Shore Councillor Richard Hills and Drina Paratene of Ngāti Pāoa, both of whom had previously supported the project as guest speakers. Their return visit allowed them to see how students had developed their ideas in response to the insights they had shared earlier in the year.

We encouraged visitors to interact with the projects and offer insights and feedback directly to the student designers. This feedback proved invaluable. Students used it to inform their final reflections and to evaluate the effectiveness of their outcomes, a vital part of their assessment submissions.

The Expo celebrated student achievement and highlighted the power of applied, cross-curricular learning in STEAM education. Through this project, students demonstrated how thoughtful design can make a meaningful difference in the community.

Main image: The STEAM banner created by Y10 student Lily Maurice, who used digital tools as inspiration and then drew the design on an online art programme

Academic

New Zealand Economics Competition

Congratulations to our economics students who participated in the Auckland University School of Economics New Zealand Economics Competition.

A special commendation goes to Nailah Rafis and Isla McHarg, who achieved High Distinction, which places them in the top 10% of students nationally. Both students, along with their families, have been invited to attend the 2025 New Zealand Economics Competition Awards Presentation Evening on 17 October at the Sir Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland.

We also congratulate Mia Christie, Yusra Chowdhury, and Kayla Taylor-Gallagher, who each received a Distinction Award for their commendable performance.

This prestigious national competition attracted over 2,500 students from across New Zealand and assessed their overall knowledge of economics.

 

Well done to all participants on their impressive achievement and commitment to economics.

 

 

Community

Life-giving donations

This month, senior students participated in what has become our annual blood drive. The day was a huge success with a packed schedule of donations from students and staff.

The New Zealand Blood Service is a not-for-profit Crown entity that is the only organisation in New Zealand to collect, process, test, store, and distribute blood and blood products across Aotearoa.

The Service relies on voluntary, non-remunerated donations to ensure a constant supply of precious blood products to hospitals and health services across the motu, saving thousands of lives each year.

A heartfelt thank you to our students and staff who selflessly donated to this wider community cause, to the New Zealand Blood Service’s registered nurses, phlebotomists, and admin staff. Thank you too, to Mrs Stanley and the SLT, who allow the NZBS to use our facilities for this valuable day of giving.

The Blood Service emailed us a few days after the donation day to say that this year’s drive had potentially saved 171 lives and to thank the students and staff who donated. Everyone who gave received a certificate of acknowledgment.

Senior students over the age of 16 will have an opportunity to volunteer again next year to give a life-saving donation here at school.

 

 

Notices

Share your news with us

We love hearing about students and staff achieving great things. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact the editor of Te Reo o Te Roto with your stories and photos – we love them!

Te Reo o Te Roto is published fortnightly during term time. Email Bridget Ellis-Pegler with your submissions.

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