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Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 117 | 1 May 2026
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

Kia ora e te whānau,

As we begin the new term, it has been good to see the school settle quickly back into routine, with students focused and engaged in their learning. Term Two is always a steady and purposeful part of the year, and it is encouraging to see such a positive start.

Congratulations to Associate Principal Nicky Whitham-Blackwell on her appointment as Principal of St Hilda’s Collegiate School. Nicky has made a phenomenal contribution to Westlake Girls. While she will be greatly missed, we are proud to see her step into this next stage of her leadership journey. You can read more in the article below.

Year 9 Camp has once again been a highlight. It is always a pleasure to see the shift in our students. The girls arrive excited but apprehensive and return with a real sense of pride in what they have achieved, along with a noticeable lift in confidence. Thank you so much to the teachers and whānau who volunteered their time to help – we couldn’t do it without you.

We are very proud of all the student leaders who represented the school with pride at the ANZAC service in Takapuna on Saturday 25 April. Dorsa Jahedi gave a dedication, Charlotte Mawston a prayer, and Zoe Oram and Laura Mackenzie laid a wreath on behalf of the school. We also marked ANZAC Day here on campus. This was an important opportunity to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who came before us, and to consider the values of courage, service and community.

In Wellington, on Wednesday this week, we celebrated outstanding academic success at the Top Scholar Awards held at Parliament. It was a privilege to attend with Psychology teacher Grace Williams. Congratulations to Diya Kansara, who was awarded Top in Subject for Psychology, and to Elaine Zhou, who received Top in Subject for Sculpture. These are exceptional achievements, and we are very proud of them both.

Pasifika Night last night was a vibrant and joyful celebration of culture and community. We look forward to sharing more from the evening in a future issue of this newsletter.

Today we also acknowledged a significant milestone, celebrating Moira Clarke and her 30 years of service to Westlake Girls. As our Event Centre and Sports Facilities Manager, Moira contributes enormously to the life of our school.

I look forward to the term ahead as it continues to unfold.

Ngā mihi,

Jane Stanley
Principal

Sports

Sailing Mega-Achievement!

Four consecutive titles, a semifinal breakthrough, and victories over the very best.

For the fourth year in a row, Westlake Girls High School has claimed the New Zealand Secondary Schools Girls Team Racing Title. This is a massive achievement. This team is no longer simply the best among girls’ schools. They are among the best, full stop.

Across the regatta, which included 28 schools, Westlake Girls sailed with great clarity and cohesion against both boys’ and girls’ teams. Starts were sharp, manoeuvres were deliberate, and every finish was hard-earned.

Guided by coach Robbie Wooldridge and Manager Paula Satterthwaite, communication on the water was understated and precise.

The defining moment came in their race against Westlake Boys, the eventual Open Champions and widely regarded as the strongest school sailing team in the country. Westlake Girls met them head-on matching aggression with composure, strategy with execution and secured a decisive 1, 4, 5 victory. Then came the breakthrough that elevated this campaign into something truly historic: a run to the semifinals of the Open Competition. In doing so, Westlake Girls became the first girls’ school in over two decades to reach the Petite Finals, a barrier now firmly broken.

At the helm was captain Jess Handley, whose leadership anchored the team throughout the regatta. Calm under pressure and fiercely competitive, she set the tone both on and off the water. Alongside fellow Year 13 sailor Gretel Satterthwaite, Handley has been part of the team since the beginning of this remarkable title streak in 2023 – a core of experience underpinning sustained success.

The team’s depth is equally striking, highlighted by rising star Charlotte Handley. Fresh from her national triumph at the New Zealand Starling Championship in Wellington where she claimed the Girls’ title and an outstanding third place overall in a fleet of more than 80 boats. The Year 11 sailor played a pivotal role in Whangārei, anchoring boat #3 to success. Charlotte’s focus now shifts to the international stage for the World 420 Championships in France followed by the European Championships in Germany. Her trajectory mirrors the team itself – ambitious, fearless, and accelerating.

With winter training a few months away, the Westlake Girls team now sets its sights on the Inter Dominion Championship in October, where they will face Australia’s top school teams at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

Results:

Race 1: Win v Whangarei Girls 1,2,4

Race 2: Win v Auckland Girls Combined 1,2,4

Race 3: Win v St Kents College 1,3,5

Race 4: Loss v Garrin 3,4,5

Race 5: Loss v Napier Boys1,5,6

Race 6: Win v Westlake Boys 1,4,5

Race 7: Loss v Glendowie College 1,5,6

Race 8: Win v Rangitoto College 1,2,5

Race 9: Win v Wellington College 2,3,4

Race 10: Win v Nelson Boys 1,2,5

Race 11: Win v Takapuna Grammar1,2,4

Race 12: Win v Christ College 1,2,5

Race 13: Loss Auckland Grammar 1,3,6

Race 14: Win v Macleans College 1,3,5

Race 15: Win v Garrin College 1,2,4

Race 16: Win v Mt Aspiring College 1,2,3

Race 17: Win v Glendowie College 1,2

Semifinal v Westlake Boys: Loss 2-0

3rd v 4th v Macleans: Loss 2-1.

Community

Associate Principal appointed as Principal of St Hilda’s Collegiate

We are very proud to announce that Associate Principal Nicky Whitham-Blackwell has been appointed Principal of St Hilda’s Collegiate School in Dunedin after a thorough and competitive recruitment process.

She will be beginning her new role in Term Three this year.

With more than 26 years’ experience in girls’ secondary education, including nine years in senior leadership, Nicky brings a depth of expertise and a strong commitment to girls’ education. She also holds a Master of Educational Leadership, with research focused on the wellbeing of girls in high-performing, single-sex schools.

Nicky has made a very significant contribution during her time at Westlake Girls High School. Her mission has always been to create the conditions within which our young women can flourish and influence the world around them in positive and brave ways.

She shared the following message:

“I would also like to say that I am so grateful for my time here at WGHS. I am especially grateful for Jane, who has been the most wonderful mentor and role model. She has allowed me the space to grow and develop as a leader, and has been inspirational in demonstrating how to lead change and how to have a culture of continuous improvement.

It has been an absolute privilege to work at this amazing school. I am so proud of all the students and of all the ways that they shine. I will miss my colleagues, the students and the whole team of staff who daily make this the most fabulous place to work.

I am excited about this next stage in my educator journey, but WGHS will always hold a piece of my heart.”

We wish Nicky our warmest congratulations, and every success when she takes up this exciting new role in Dunedin next term.

Academic

New Zealand China Bridge Spring Camp

Ten selected students from Year 10 to Year 13 Chinese classes went on an amazing China trip over April break with their Chinese teacher, Ms Song. Here are reflections from some of the participants.

It’s a bittersweet moment to be back in New Zealand after the extraordinary experience I had indulged in. The New Zealand China Bridge Spring Camp was a unique and once in a lifetime experience which I will never forget. From climbing the Great Wall of China in Beijing, to biking the Xi’an City Wall, to haggling in the alleyways along Huiminjie, these activities did not only immerse me in Chinese culture, but also help me in my confidence. The camp pushed me to do things I had never done before like asking a shopkeeper to lower a bag by 50元 entirely in Mandarin. My favourite place and experience in particular was 白鹿原 Bailuyuan), a place which offered both a traditional and modern environment. I will forever remember laughing with my friends for undeservingly winning “Best Actress” in the theatre, screaming during the rollercoaster ride in the amusement park, and being wowed by the realism of the fake food props. Beijing and Xi’an are two beautiful cities in China which I hope to visit again. They’re places you could never get bored of, and I hope to come back one day.

Besides the cultural experience, I made connections with other students which I am eternally grateful for. If you asked me about the highlights of my trip, it would involve the 9 other amazing Westlake Girls’ students and the amazing Ms. Song. Although the cultural sightseeing was incredible, I will remember the wind blowing through my hair strolling down the road on a breezy night, hand-in-hand with my girls, excited to visit our third mall, and struggling to walk back to our dorms while carrying mountainous amounts of 淘宝 (taobao) packages. I will remember the late night gatherings in Ysabelle’s and my room sharing snacks, gossiping, and playing Monopoly, and I’m so thankful to have been given the chance to experience them. The camp brought me closer to people whom I didn’t even know prior to the trip, and now, they’re people who I struggled to part with at the airport. The China camp not only gave me a taste of Chinese culture, but also close bonds with people whom I plan to get even closer to.

The New Zealand China Bridge Spring Camp was a special experience that I will never forget, and one that I will treasure and tell everyone about. Thank you to everyone (especially Ms Song) for making this unforgettable event possible. By Cassidy Bernas 13PHR

Going to China for the Chinese Bridge Spring Camp has had a profound effect on my view of the world. By experiencing the culture, traditions, people, food, and history firsthand, I’ve been able to expand my perspective and notice the reality of the country in contrast to how the media portrays it. I’ve realised there is so much more to a place than what it may seem, making every moment of this trip its own special experience.

I now also understand how important it is to learn new languages and form your own perspectives based on personal experience. In many ways, knowing Chinese for me was the key to unlocking the country’s fullest experience. In moments where I was unsure of certain phrases, I realised that language is a foundation that connects people from all around the world. Without it, we lose the basic foundation that brings us together.

Key highlights for me were climbing the Great Wall, visiting the Forbidden City, and haggling for treasures at the Muslim Quarter. Every moment was memorable, and I am so grateful for the new friends I made! Experiencing China in person strengthened the connection between the language I learn in class and the country itself. I can’t imagine what my Year 9 self who first walked into Chinese class in 2024 would say about this trip! I’m excited to build on this milestone in my language learning journey and see what the future holds!  – By Sarah Attraqchi 11OVS

I was fortunate to spend two unforgettable weeks in China over the Term One school break. During this time, we visited a wide range of cultural and historical sites, including the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, and many more. Each location offered a unique insight into China’s long and fascinating history, and it was incredible to see in person the places we had previously only learned about in class.

One of my favourite experiences was cycling over 13 km along the Xi’an City Wall. This gave us a completely new perspective of the city that we had previously only seen from the ground. It was a memorable way to appreciate how Xi’an has grown and changed over time. Our daily Chinese lessons were another highlight of the trip. These classes allowed us to immerse ourselves in the language and culture. We also took part in a variety of cultural activities, including taichi, fan painting, and clay sculpture. Each activity helped us understand different aspects of Chinese traditions and craftsmanship, and many of us discovered new interests along the way.

Beyond the cultural learning, the trip was also an opportunity to build strong friendships. I made more than 30 new friends and created countless memories that I will cherish forever. Sharing these experiences with students from different backgrounds made the trip even more meaningful.

Thank you to Xi’an International Studies University for hosting us so warmly, and to all the volunteer teachers who introduced us to so many fascinating aspects of Chinese culture. Thank you also to Dr Yang from the University of Auckland for organising such an eye opening and enriching experience.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Ms Song, who encouraged us to explore everything with an open mind, supported us throughout the trip, and helped us make the most of our time in China. Her guidance made a significant difference to our experience.  – By Lily-Grace Ng 13HSM

The 2026 New Zealand – China Bridge camp has taught me a lot about the culture and life in China. Initially, I didn’t know much about China and its cultural heritage past famous attractions like The Great Wall. Seeing it first-hand was an unreal experience. The vastness of the Great Wall proved exactly why it is a wonder of the world, as it snakes its way through the mountains as far as I can see. From the nightlife, full of light and crowds, with new foods to try, and unlimited trips to Mixue for brown sugar boba tea. To haggling with street vendors to get a good price, and even the occasional event of being scammed! My favourite memory in Beijing was visiting the Sicha hai street in Beijing, where there was a beautiful river right in the heart of a bustling evening street. I loved seeing the crowd, and taking photos by the river. My favourite activity in Xi’an was cycling the Xi’an City Wall which was almost 14km! It was so fun cycling with my headphones in while I took in the breathtaking architecture of the Wall while I enjoyed the view of the passing city. Personally, going to China has fostered a deep respect for the people, their hospitality, and Chinese culture; from the food, to Hanfu, and intangible cultural heritage. I would love to come back to China one day, and I will always cherish the memories I made there with the most wonderful group of girls, and all the friends I made along the way. Thank you China!  – By Trisha Kansara 11OVS

 

Community

Year 9 Camp

This year for our Year 9 camp, we went to Totara Springs Christian Centre. There were a lot of fun activities to do there, including abseiling, slides, river, rock climbing, crate climbing and more.

Our favourite activities were the slides and river because the river had tubes to sit on and float down and a slide that went into the river. The slides were really fun because there was a hydro slide and a big tarp that went down a large hill.

The night activities included a campfire with smores, Burma trail and gym games. We did two activities each night but our two favourites were the night slides and the Burma trail.

Camp was a great experience and a great way to meet new people.

By Nikita Strombeck 9HCO and Brielle Smith 9HCO

Academic

Year 11 Textile Technology Collaboration Project

The students from the three Year 11 Textile Technology classes have each created a square of fabric using a variety of techniques (such as screen printing, embroidery, beadwork and applique) to represent their identity. The students enjoyed working alongside each other and connecting with others while creating.

“It was nice to have the opportunity to link my identity and the things that are important in my life to those of my friends and classmates.” Carys Meikle

“I’m grateful to my classmates for inspiring me with ideas for this project. Our overall class relationship is harmonious and unique, exactly like our collaborative project.” Grace Jiang

Photos show each of the three classes with their combined collaboration project to represent the diversity of each class.

Sports

Rock Climbing

At the end of March, our six-strong rock climbing team began strongly in defence of the Auckland College Series title they won last year.

The event was held at  Extreme Edge, Panmure.

Three of our team made it to finals; Amaya, Bailey and Jessica, with Amaya and Bailey placing 1st and 3rd respectively, in the Senior Girls division.

Round two will be held at Northern Rocks on May 10th.

Team: Amaya Tan-Peters, Bailey Welch, Jessica Allen, Summer Malins, Aisling O’Leary and Jodi Potter.

Arts & Culture

Te Puna o Hiwa-i-Te-Rangi Term One Pānui

Kia ora e te whānau

Te Puna o Hiwa-i-te-rangi continues to grow as a vibrant and connected space for our ākonga. One of the key initiatives this year is Ngā Rangatira ō āpōpō, led by Whaea Maddi Gerbes. This programme supports students to step into leadership roles, working within rōpū to guide and contribute to kaupapa across the year.

One of these rōpū is Termly Pānui. This group is responsible for creating a pānui each term, keeping whānau informed about what Te Puna has been involved in.

Our Term One pānui shares highlights from across the term and offers a glimpse into the learning, leadership and activities taking place within Te Puna.

We hope you enjoy reading it. There is more to come, so please keep an eye out for future editions.

View the pānui here.

Sports

WGHS Shines in New Zealand Tag Team Selections

An outstanding number of Westlake Girls High School students have been selected for New Zealand’s Tag Teams this year to compete in the 5th ITF (International Tag Football) World Cup in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales from 15-18 October 2026.  Eighteen Westlake Girls students will represent the country in the New Zealand Under 16, Under 18 or Under 21 Mixed Teams in Australia.  The event is expected to feature 30 nations, more than 250 teams, and approximately 6000 players and team management, making it the largest gathering in international tag history.

The non-tackling tag game keeps the space, ball skills and teamwork of rugby league but removes the heavy contact and breakdown contests and replaces it with ‘tags’ and has become extremely popular in New Zealand over the past decade especially with the growth among school aged students.

Congratulations to the following Westlake Girls students.

NZ U16 Girls

Alice Whyte

Juliette Ivey

Sadie Bishop

 

Lauren Williams

Maia Isgrove

Neeva Harvey

 NZ U18 Girls

Hadley Deed

Atlanta Hetariki

Michelle Catterall

Freya Beaumont

Madison Tauelima

Shyloh Udomsak

 

 NZ U21 Mixed

Charli Latoa

Georgia Hikuroa

Serini Petelo

Nataliah Uesi-Scully

Kaia Jamieson

Jaime Darvill

 

 

 

Meet our Staff!

Get to know - Ashia Ismail-Singer

For many students, Mrs Ismail-Singer is a familiar face as Senior Nurse in the Health Centre. What they may not know is that her career spans nursing, real estate, and cookbook writing!

Ashia trained as a nurse in the UK more than 30 years ago, before travelling to the United States and eventually settling in New Zealand. After returning here with her young family, she moved into school nursing — a role she has now held for 14 years.

“I love that every day is different,” she says. “I can see up to 40–50 students a day, supporting both their physical health and wellbeing.”

Her interest in food writing began in 2013 with a blog, shaped by her Indian heritage and upbringing in Malawi, along with time spent in the UK and New Zealand. Her cooking blends these influences, with a focus on flavour and spice.

She published her first cookbook, My Indian Kitchen, while continuing to work as a nurse and raise her family.

During Covid, while working on the frontline, Ashia made the decision to branch into real estate. It’s a move that draws on the same people-focused skills she developed in nursing.

“I love meeting new people and helping them through important moments in their lives,” she says.

Ashia has been part of the Westlake community for many years, including serving as Chair of Westlake Boys’ PTA and supporting the school as a sponsor. She is also a Board adviser to the charity Feed The Need.

Outside school, she has spoken at the Auckland Writers Festival, appeared at international book fairs, and featured on RNZ and television an impressive five times.

Who knew our nurse was a woman of so many incredible hats?!

 

Arts & Culture

Upcoming Production - Pride and Prejudice

Dearest Readers,

The air in the Great Hall has been positively thick with more than just the scent of floor wax and ambition. If the rhythmic thumping of slippers and the frequent giggles are any indication, the rehearsals for our upcoming production of Pride and Prejudice are reaching a fever pitch.

Your faithful Lady Cygnet has been observing from the shadows, and I must confess: the scandal of a missed step is nothing compared to the sparks flying between our Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

While some may think a dance is merely a dance, we know better. It is a battlefield. Our young players have been perfecting the art of the Regency gallop and the intricate patterns of the Quadrille.

Mark your calendars and ready your finest waistcoats. The curtains will rise during the first week of next term. Whether you come for the razor-sharp wit or the swirling silks of the ballroom scenes, it promises to be the social event of the season.

One wonders… who will secure their ‘happily ever after’, and who will be left as a wallflower? I shall be there, quill in hand, to record it all.

Yours in anticipation,

Lady Cygnet

Sports

Westlake success at Rowing New Zealand Trials

During the Term 1 holidays, three of Westlake’s top rowers attended intensive selection trials run by Rowing New Zealand at Lake Karapiro. Zara Bosch and Lyla Carrancho were invited to trial for the North Island Under-18 team, while Deputy Head Girl and Rowing Captain Charlotte Mawston trialled for the New Zealand Under-19 team.

Zara and Lyla completed three days of land and water-based assessments, competing against the top Under-18 rowers in the North Island. Both athletes were successfully selected, with Zara named in the Pair and Eight, and Lyla in the Quad. They then competed alongside their North Island teammates against the South Island Under-18 team, where Zara helped secure victory in the Eight on both days. Congratulations to Zara and Lyla on their selection and outstanding performances—an exciting step towards future New Zealand representation.

Charlotte competed against the country’s top Under-19 rowers at the New Zealand Under 19 trials, enduring a gruelling week of testing that challenged triallists physically, mentally, and emotionally. She demonstrated exceptional consistency, adaptability, and athleticism, earning selection into the Women’s Under-19 Four. Charlotte is one of only 12 athletes selected to represent New Zealand at this level. She now begins her campaign towards the World Under-19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to be held from 6–9 August. Congratulations, Charlotte, Westlake Girls wishes you all the best for the World Championships.

Charlotte Mawston

Main image above: Left Lyla Carrancho. Right, Zara Bosch.

Alumni Arts & Culture

Elizabeth Whiting MNZM

Costume Designer, Class of 1969

Congratulations to former Westlake student Elizabeth Whiting (née Pomeroy-Wood) who was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2026 New Year Honours. She is an award-winning costume designer with more than 40 years’ experience working in theatre, dance and opera.

Since she began her career in costume design in the late 1970s, she has designed for every major theatre company in New Zealand, including the Auckland Theatre Company since its inception in 1992, as well as New Zealand Opera and multiple dance companies such as Limbs, Black Grace and Okareka.

She has represented New Zealand twice at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, and won several accolades for her work, including the 2010 Chapman Tripp Costume Design Award for The Arrival at Red Leap Theatre and the inaugural Out of the Limelight Theatre Award in 2021, from the Sir Roger Hall Theatre Fund.

She is known as a collaborative and versatile designer who is committed to mentoring the next generation of designers, many of whom have gone on to be high impact costumiers.

Image above: Facebook page of Governor General.

Sports

2nd XI Hockey Team in Rotorua

The WGHS 2nd XI Hockey team travelled to Rotorua for an invitational tournament featuring six girls’ teams. It was a fantastic weekend of hockey, with the team showing resilience, growth, and great spirit both on and off the field.

WGHS fought hard with a 1–0 win over John Paul College. In game two against Rotorua Lakes High School, the team showed real character, coming from behind to secure a 3–2 victory, with Rosalie Graf stepping up and inspiring the team. Their third match against a well-structured Western Heights High School proved a tough challenge, with WGHS going down 2–0 despite a determined performance.

On day two, they produced an impressive 6–0 win over Rotorua Girls’ High School, with Samantha Bayer leading the way with a hat-trick, before finishing pool play with a controlled 5–0 win over Matamata College.

This result saw WGHS progress to the Grand Final, where they faced Western Heights once again. With only 40 minutes between finishing game five and the start of the final, Western Heights proved the stronger side on the day and claimed the trophy with a 4–0 win, but Westlake continued to fight hard and give everything they had until the final whistle.

WGHS 2nd XI, finished runners-up showing tremendous effort in extremely  hot  conditions. The team can be especially proud of how the younger Year 9 players stepped up and contributed so strongly, highlighting a bright future for Westlake Hockey. A special mention also goes to Carina de Koster for an outstanding performance throughout the weekend, showing great composure under pressure and leading by example. All of the girls represented Westlake Hockey exceptionally well and made the tournament a great showcase of the team’s talent and spirit.

Alumni Notices

Westlake Girls Class of 1966 Reunion - 5 June 2026

The Foundation Class of Westlake Girls High School – Form 3 in 1962 – are getting together for a reunion at Westlake Girls on Friday 5 June 2026. For this year group – the Alumni Class of 1966 – it will be 60 years since their final year.

We are in touch with a number of former students who studied at Westlake through to their fifth year (1966) and maintained a strong connection, but have little information on most of that founding cohort. They likely finished schooling at Westlake in Form 5 (1964) or Form 6 (1965). We’d love to find more of our founding group from the then-newly established Westlake Girls High School.

If you know of any former students from that founding class, please pass on this information. The contact for further details and registration is Cathy Roughan, Alumni Coordinator [email protected] Ph 021 151 5613.

Notices

Online Child Protection Session

Community

Premier Sports Teams Receive Professionally Fitted Mouth Guards

Thank you very much to Mo, Irina and the team at Shakespeare Orthodontics, who recently provided the Premier Basketball and Rugby Teams with professionally fitted mouthguards prior to their respective competition seasons starting.

The Shakespeare Orthodontics team is a highly valued member of our school community, offering support in a wide range of areas, from sponsoring the Parent Daughter Breakfast and Year 9 Camp, to supporting our school productions, sports teams and contributing to the Empowerment Fund.

We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support.

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