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Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 101 | 23 May 2025
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

One of the things I admire most about our students is their curiosity – their willingness to embrace the unknown rather than shy away from it. That’s been especially evident during AI Awareness Week, where the energy and enthusiasm around exploring new tools have been inspiring.

With guidance from our AI Lead, Susana Tomaz, students (and staff alike) have been exploring thought-provoking questions, experimenting with innovative approaches, and learning how to harness AI in a wise, ethical, and creative manner.

This spirit of curiosity and enthusiasm has been consistently evident throughout the term—from the vibrant cultural celebration of Indian Night to the thoughtful engagement displayed at the Auckland Writers Festival, the glamour of the School Ball, and the outstanding recent performances by our premier choirs and instrumental groups. I have also been particularly impressed by the strong attendance at our weekly Career Bites sessions, where industry professionals from a wide range of fields generously share their insights with students during Wednesday lunchtimes. In Term 1, we welcomed health professionals representing fields such as chiropractic, nursing, physiotherapy, and dentistry, with trades specialists visiting in the final weeks. So far in Term 2, students have had the opportunity to hear from practitioners in psychology, aviation, finance, and marketing. It is especially encouraging to see students—some as early as Year 9—actively exploring such a diverse array of future career pathways.

Now, as we head into a more academically focused stretch of the term, that probing, energetic mindset will serve our students well. Numerous assessments are coming up, including the NZQA Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisites which began this week. We have plenty of support available, so parents, please remind your daughters to make the most of this.

Staying open, curious, and adaptable makes all the difference – whether learning about AI, tackling a tricky assignment, or working out where your future might take you. We don’t need to have all the answers. However, we still need that curiosity and drive to continue asking the important questions.

Ngā mihi nui,

Jane Stanley

Arts & Culture

Korean Night

2025 Westlake Korean Night is back again!

Westlake Korean Night is an annual cultural event hosted by the Westlake community with the aim of promoting and sharing the essence of Korean culture through a range of performances. The event features both traditional and modern acts, portraying the beauty, depth, and diversity of Korean culture. Now in its 15th year, our event draws an average of about 1,500 people. 

The 2025 Westlake Korean Night will be held on Friday, 30 May, starting at 7:00 PM, at the Westlake Boys’ High School Auditorium. The auditorium will be open from 6:00 PM. 

Tickets can be purchased online at: 

https://shop.kindo.co.nz/app/community-shop/Westlake%20Boys%20High%20School

Two types of tickets are available: 

  1. Standard: $8
  • Includes general admission and one raffle entry
  1. VIP Ticket: $17 (SOLD OUT) 
  • Includes all benefits of the Standard ticket, with the addition of a complimentary drink and snack, priority entrance, and a reserved seat. Limited to 150 seats. 

Terms and Conditions: 

  • After purchase, you will receive a receipt. This is NOT your ticket. 
  • Tickets will be emailed closer to the event date. Please ensure the email address provided at the time of purchase is correct. 
  • Tickets must be printed. Showing with your device will not be accepted.
  • The printed tickets will include a unique barcode and cannot be duplicated. 
  • Cancellations will incur a $2 administration fee. 
  • For refund queries or other questions, contact: [email protected] 

For further updates or information, visit the Westlake Korean Night Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/westlakekoreannight?igsh=bjI4YzA5d3BvdG5p&utm_source=qr  

Community

Westlake Ball

This year’s Westlake Ball took place last weekend and was a fantastic success. Keep an eye out on our socials and the next issue of Te Reo O te Roto in two weeks for lots of lovely photos and more about this epic evening!

Community

Your news, our news!

Students, staff, friends and families of Westlake Girls – Got a great story to share? We’d love to hear it.

Whether it’s an achievement, event, or special moment — help us celebrate our fantastic school community  by sharing your stories here in our school newsletter, Te Reo o Te Roto.

Send your stories and up to six images (JPGs or PNG files please) to [email protected].

Notices

Student safety notice

Cyclespot is currently doing construction near WGHS, closing off a common walkway. Some students have started walking through the nearby car dealerships instead – including the Volvo and Jaguar/Land Rover yards. This is not safe due to moving vehicles and limited visibility. Please use the footpaths and avoid cutting through any car yards.

Sports

Rhythmic gymnast's success

Representing New Zealand, Sophie Ovshtein recently travelled to Canada to compete in the Koop Cup and Manitoba Provincials — and she absolutely shone!

1st in Ribbon
5th Overall at the Manitoba Provincials

What an incredible achievement on the international stage. We’re so proud of you, Sophie!

Community

40-Hour Challenge

On 2 May, twelve of our WGHS students from the World Vision Leaders Committee attended the World Vision Youth Conference, where they watched passionate climate change, child protection, and gender equality advocates push for the world to take action. 

One of the highlights was listening to Brad Smeele, a former professional wakeboarder who suffered a severe spinal injury, which caused paralysis from the neck down. He spoke on stage about how, while his vertebrae were shattered along with his dreams, his ambition lived on. Now a speaker and author, Brad shared his inspiring journey from despair to acceptance and how taking ownership of his life led him to become the leader he is today.

The student leadership team, featuring representatives from schools nationwide, including Westlake, also shared how they’re running the 40-hour challenge back home. 

Youth ambassadors Asher and Joel took the stage to share their personal experiences with World Vision, such as their trip to the Solomon Islands, the country that will be the focus of this year’s World Vision efforts. Here, they met Polyne, a young girl struggling with food poverty due to rising sea levels destroying crops and livelihoods. Polyne’s resilience in the face of hardship deeply moved them, and stories like these, they say, are what motivate their commitment to driving change. 

Roy Wasi, a 19-year-old from the Solomon Islands, spoke about his difficult childhood amid climate-driven resource destruction and why the need for action has grown increasingly urgent.

How can we play our part?

Drawing on NZ’s Pacific identity, this year’s 40-hour challenge seeks to connect young Kiwis with the experiences of their Pacific neighbours, bringing attention to the impact of climate change on food security. 

To inspire empathy in young New Zealanders, World Vision challenges everyone to go offline for 40 hours. The ‘switch-off’ can be social media, gaming, the internet, or even electricity.

Please mark your calendars: On 4 June, we will host our lunchtime activation, where a World Vision Youth Ambassador will share more about the 40-Hour Challenge. Expect fun quizzes with prizes for the top performers! 

Our $15,000 Fundraising Goal: To support people like Polyne and World Vision’s life-changing work, we’ve set a bold $15,000 target this year.

Raise $20: See it recorded in your report.

Raise $50: Receive a badge.

Top 3 Fundraisers: Everything above, alongside special prizes

Every contribution helps, no matter how small.

As the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Participating in the challenge means standing with thousands of children who need our support.

Together, let’s prove that Westlake doesn’t just talk about change – we make it happen!

Notices

Uniform Shop hours

DEAR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS,

The uniform shop will be open this Saturday, 24th May:

10.00am – 2.00pm.

Stay Warm this Winter

More and more windy, rainy & frosty days are on the way as winter gets closer – make sure you have essential winter uniform items on hand before temperatures drop.

Pick yours up from THE U SHOP during open hours while there’s plenty of winter stock available.

Term 2 Hours 2025:
Monday: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 2.30pm – 5.00pm
Saturday: refer to website.

 

Alumni

School founders reunion

Last week, around 60 former Westlakers (1957 – 1961) gathered for their annual reunion at The Bays Club in Browns Bay.  The group included two former staff, Shona Follas and Jill Williams, as well as one Westlaker who made the trip over from Wales.

They were joined by the principals of both High schools and Community Relations staff who shared updates and successes from both schools, noting the high regard in which the schools are held nationally and internationally, building on the legacy of the founding group.

The luncheon was a very enjoyable one with plenty of stories shared about their school life in the 50’s and 60’s. Thanks to Robin Reid, foundation pupil 1957, for organising the event.

Career Bites

Career Bites so far 2025

Career bites has been running since early in Term 1. We began the year with three brothers who are You Tubers and run a golf channel. This was followed by a series of speakers in the Health related fields which were very well attended. Speakers spoke about occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dentistry and much more. This is always a popular pathway for our students.

 

Recently we have heard from women in trades, aviation, finance and food technology. As the year goes on, we will aim to cover as many fields as possible. We usually have two speakers in one session from a similar sector.

If there are any parents in our community who would like to come and speak about their career we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected]

Community

Pink Shirt Day

A powerful show of compassion and unity

Westlake was a sea of pink on Friday – Barbie would have been impressed! Our school community celebrated Pink Shirt Day by wearing pink as part of a national campaign to stand up against bullying and promote kindness, inclusion, and aroha.

A huge thank you to our student leaders and staff who helped make the day so successful, and everyone who dressed up for the cause and donated.

At Westlake, we’re proud to say: we choose kindness.

Academic

Business Studies Trade Fair

What an incredible evening at our Year 12 & 13 Business Studies Trade Fair!

Our talented students had the chance to launch and sell their innovative products, putting their creativity and business skills to the test. It was fantastic to see so many friends, parents, and whānau supporting our young entrepreneurs-your presence was very much appreciated.

Throughout this journey, students learned hands-on about production, marketing, finance, sales, and logistics, gaining real-life experience from planning to the excitement of Trade Fair evening.

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our future business leaders!

Community

Mother-Daughter Breakfast 2025

Don’t miss one of our most special annual traditions!

Mark your calendars for Wednesday 20 August – our much-loved Mother-Daughter Breakfast is back, with the wonderful Toni Street as guest speaker. See below for her promo.

 Toni Street Video

This is a cherished occasion on our school calendar – a chance for students to share a meaningful morning with their mum or another special wahine in their lives.

Tickets go on sale early June – don’t miss out!

Academic

Health Practitioners Workshop

The Year 13 Health cohort held their annual Health Practitioners Workshop in Week 1 of Term 2. We hosted six health practitioners from various disciplines, including yoga, Reiki, mindfulness, and Rongoa Māori. A GP and a breast cancer surgeon presented to the students.

Each presenter shared valuable information about their practice in general and how their practice helps with breast cancer treatment and symptoms.

The students will use this information and learning for life in general and their internal assessment. Some students commented they felt “more connected to the topics” and “learnt new information and exercises.” In addition, the information “gave us a lot of insight into other treatments, making it easier to go in-depth for the internal.”

We really appreciate the community support from our local practitioners who take time out of their busy schedules to pass on their knowledge.

Notices

Two no-school days to note!

Important! Please note that there is no school on the following days.

Friday, 30 May: Teacher-only day.

Monday, 2 June. King’s Birthday.

 

Sports

Rock climbing

The Rock Climbing team completed their second event of the 2025 season this past weekend (18 May) at Northern Rocks. Four of our seven climbers made it to finals, and three of those climbers ended up in the top 3. Congratulations to Amaya Tan-Peters and Sakura Tsunoda for coming 1st and 2nd in the Senior girls category and Bailey Welch for coming 3rd in the Junior category.

Their performances (along with some great placings from Amaya, Bailey and Jess Allen in the first event at Extreme Edge) have put the Westlake Girls team in a strong position atop the overall points ranking.

Well done to all of our climbers and we’re looking forward to the next event at Vertical Adventures on 15 Jun!

Arts & Culture

Indian Night

Our second-ever Westlake Indian Night was an unforgettable evening filled with colour, energy, and joy! The event brought together our school community to celebrate the richness of Indian culture through incredible performances, delicious food, and vibrant traditions.

Energetic Bollywood numbers, soulful songs, talented musicians, stunning fashion, and traditional dances from across India were on display, showcasing the next-level talent of our students. A huge shoutout to our amazing performers whose passion and energy lit up the stage and had the crowd cheering all night!

None of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated student committee and incredible student leaders. Their behind-the-scenes work ensured that the audience enjoyed every moment and made the night a huge success.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make Westlake Indian Night 2025 such a vibrant, inclusive, and memorable celebration! We look forward to welcoming you to the next one!

Photos by students Dina Attraqchi and Manrui He.

Community Sports

Donation from WGHS Rowing

Some months ago, whilst reading Rowing Hub, we came across an article about Otahuhu College and their desire to have a crew rowing at a school regatta. The school had not competed in nearly 50 years.

The decision to donate the boat came from Westlake Girls, who, after learning about the need for more resources at Otahuhu College, jumped into action. Westlake had recently purchased a new boat for its fleet and thus were looking to retire an older boat. Contacting principal Neil Watson, Westlake offered the “Joan Scott” to him to help start the rowing programme at Otahuhu. Neil valued the support stating a new boat would be gratefully received.

“Rowing has been a part of Westlake Girls for decades, and we know the impact a great boat can have on athletes’ development. We’re thrilled to pass on this boat to Otahuhu College, knowing it will help foster their talent and passion for the sport,” said Paul Howker, Chairperson of Westlake Girls Rowing Society.

The boat was presented to Neil with the help from some of Westlake’s current rowers with the bonus of having Joan Scott herself make the presentation.

Westlake Girls High School look forward to the potential of racing against Otahuhu College at a regatta in the near future.

Main image: Official Presentation of the Joan Scott by Joan Scott

Sports

Football triumph

Year 13 Alessia Martin recently took a trip to the USA and represented NZ Girls Secondary School U18 Team in the Dallas Cup. The team did the best it has ever done, getting into the semi-finals and finishing in the top four. There were over 10,000 participants and 100,000 spectators.

See below for an article on the event that mentions Alessia and Westlake

Girls.https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/04/20/new-zealand-schools-u-18-girls-team-reach-last-four-at-tournament-in-texas/

Congratulations, Alessia!

Notices

Dates for the diary

Stay up to date with key events on our website’s ‘Upcoming Dates’ page — your go-to guide for what’s coming up in the next little while at Westlake Girls.

Click here or access it via the quick links on our website’s home page.

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