Kia ora everyone,

It’s been an exciting and successful start to the term.

We have been busy competing at the KBB Music Festival with our orchestras, jazz, and symphonic bands this week. This fantastic festival showcases secondary school orchestras, concert bands and jazz bands in Auckland. Groups perform in professional venues, competing for awards and a place in the gala concerts. We wish them well for the KBB Gala Concert on Saturday night.

This week, we’ve also enjoyed having a range of dynamic guest speakers and visitors at school for Youth Peace Week.  It has been an inspirational and eye-opening week for many of our students.

Nota Bella, our junior choir, has also been performing at assemblies this week in preparation for the Big Sing Cadenza in Rotorua next week as one of 24 invited choirs (and the only junior choir to attend). We wish them well next week also; I know they will be superb.

Students have been choosing their subjects in the last week, and it was great to see people taking advantage of the subject choice information afternoon last week. As a reminder, all students will have personalised one-on-one subject counselling in early Term 4, so it’s important to have ongoing conversations about subjects with teachers and deans this term.

Heading into the weekend, I’m looking forward to attending our inaugural Westlake Pinoy (Filipino Culture) Night tonight. I hear the food is amazing, as is the talent. I hope to see many of you there.

Sarah Hooper
Acting Principal