Kia ora parents and caregivers,
It’s been lovely having our students back for the start of a busy Term 2. On Anzac Day we were represented by a group of our Prefects at the North Shore Service that included a reading from our Head Prefect Isabella Drummond. The following day we held our own Anzac Day service in commemoration of Australia and New Zealand armed forces which was a very special occasion.
For our Year 13 students the School Ball was a much-anticipated event held on Saturday 29th April at Shed 10 on Queens Wharf. We celebrated this occasion along with Westlake Boys and it was a very successful evening that was enjoyed by all.
We understand your frustration with the current PPTA industrial action, particularly on the back of the interruptions caused by Covid and this year’s extreme weather events. The secondary teacher’s collective agreement expired in July 2022 and the PPTA have now been in negotiations for 10 months with minimal progress towards an agreement of the new collective conditions and pay. Teachers’ salaries have not been kept in line with inflation which is up over 10% since their last pay adjustment in July 2021. The reduction in the number of quality teachers applying for positions over the past three years is also very concerning. We hope this will be resolved quickly and we are able to get on with teaching and learning for the long term good of all students.
Winter sports are now underway along with rehearsals for the two School Productions and our Music and Dance groups continue their preparations for these co-productions in Term 3.
We had a number of students representing the school during the holiday break and had outstanding success. They included the combined Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls Ki-O-Rahi team winning the National Championship and our sailing team winning the Girls Division of the Team Sailing National Championship. You can read more about them in the sections below.
In the coming weeks we have our first public concert of the year ‘Music of the Lake’ and the Business Trade Fair Evening where parents and whānau will have the opportunity to buy unique products made by our Senior Business students.
Have a lovely weekend.
Kind regards
Jane Stanley
Upcoming important dates:
- Wednesday 10 May & Thursday 11 May – North Shore Careers Expo (North Harbour Stadium).
- Friday 12 May – Music of The Lake concert (WGHS Events Centre).
- Wednesday 17 May – Business Trade Fair Evening (WGHS Events Centre).
- Friday 19 May – Soloist Competition (WGHS Events Centre).