Te Roto Logo
Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 103 | 19 June 2025
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

As we approach the long weekend, we are excited to be looking forward to celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. As a public holiday, Matariki is a time to reflect on New Zealand’s identity and encourage everyone to pause and appreciate our environment and one another.

In a world facing challenges such as climate change and social fragmentation, Matariki offers a model for resilience, sustainability and connection.

Next week promises to be a pivotal time as we wrap up a wonderful term of learning and growth. We look forward to our report evening, where families can meet with teachers, discuss students’ progress, and gain insights into their academic journey. This evening is an invaluable chance to strengthen the partnership between home and school, ensuring every student is supported in reaching their full potential.

It’s hard to believe we are already busy preparing for our Open Night, which will be held in the first week of Term 3 for prospective students to get a taste of life at Westlake Girls.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement within our school community.

This is the last issue of Te Reo o Te Roto for the term.

Have a great holiday.

Jane Stanley

PRINCIPAL

Arts & Culture

Outstanding achievement at the Chinese Bridge Competition

We are proud to share that one of our talented students, Sarah Attraqchi, has achieved remarkable success at the Auckland regional round of the 18th Chinese Bridge -Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, securing 2nd place in this prestigious event.

The competition, held annually, brings together secondary school students from across the region to showcase their Chinese language skills and cultural understanding through speech delivery, cultural performances, and Q&A sessions. This year’s theme challenged students to reflect on their personal journey with the Chinese language and the connections they have made through it.

Sarah impressed the judging panel with her fluent Mandarin, confident delivery, and thoughtful speech content. Her performance stood out among many strong competitors from various schools across Auckland.

She attended the award ceremony last Saturday, where she received her certificate and prize in recognition of her outstanding effort. It was a wonderful moment of celebration not only for her but also for our school community. Sarah has shown remarkable dedication and courage

Congratulations, Sarah,  We are so proud of you!

Main image:  all the price winners, second photo – with Consul General of PCR, Chen Shijie.

 

 

Arts & Culture

New Zealand Chamber Music Contest

On Friday, 6 June, 8 groups of Westlake Girls and Boys students travelled to Raye Freedman Art’s Centre in Epsom to compete in the district rounds of the 60th annual New Zealand Chamber Music Contest (NZCT).

Their sessions featured a wide range of ensembles performing everything from classical repertoire to contemporary works. Students showcased their technical skill, ensemble cohesion, and musical interpretation, impressing adjudicators and audience members alike.

These performances reflect months of dedicated rehearsal time from students, from the selection of repertoire right through to performing on the stage. Congratulations to all the ensembles below from Westlake Music — it was a fantastic celebration of collaborative music-making.

The Octopals (Chloe Liong, Bada Jeong, Limin Khaw, Antonia Georgieva, Coco Pratt, Rosa Morris, Rhea Bourhill, Nanae Sato-Nates)
Clarinet Crescendo (Miya Riseborough, Angela Seo, Afia Naushad, Rosa Morris, Grace Young, Andrea Yang, Chloe Day, Yuri Jung)
Clarivio Keys (Miya Riseborough, Miya Atkin, Amber Liu)
Four is Enough (Limin Khaw, Nanae Sato-Nates, Luke Manley, Joshua Wilson)
Eleutheria (Piper Donaldson, Charlotte Smith, Winnie Meng, Bada Jeong, Tiffany Ma)
Lumina Quartet (Miya Aitken, Amy Malcolm, Afia Naushad, Mimi N’deble)
Triptyque (Jannet Cho, Anna Wang, Angela Seo)
LCVM Collective (Crystal Shangci Xu, Miya Yuxin Wang, Lucy Liang, Veronica Liang).

Academic

Visit from John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld

The Media Studies scholarship students were thrilled to have a visit from TVNZ’s Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell to speak about the New Zealand television industry recently.

John and Carol are among New Zealand’s most respected and well-known journalists and TV industry professionals, and they generously took time out of their busy schedules for a second year in a row to speak to the students about their careers, the television industry, what it’s like working as journalists, and what the future may hold for journalism and broadcast television in our country.

The students listened intently, took plenty of notes, and asked some insightful questions to the pair, and they came away feeling inspired and hopeful about pursuing careers in journalism or television. The main takeaways from the talk, however, were that the students’ generation will be the ones to bring in real change to the television and journalism landscape, and that they will find that the people they remember the most in their careers won’t necessarily be the celebrities, but the regular people who are brave and kind enough to open up to them in times of crisis or extraordinary events.

It was a privilege to welcome back such seasoned professionals as John and Carol to Westlake Girls.

 

Community

Join us on the staff?

Have you checked out our ‘Work for Us’ page on the website lately? We have a couple of great opportunities on there at the moment!

Feel free to share with any friends and family who might be interested.

Work For Us

 

Arts & Culture

Westlake Choirs

Term Two marks the beginning of a busy concert season for our four Westlake Girls choirs Nota Bella, Cigno Voce, Cantare and Choralation. On Tuesday, 3 June, we held the annual choirs concert, where all six choirs from both Westlake schools performed their recitals before the Auckland Regionals of NZCF’s The Big Sing.

This year, we invited a guest choir to join our concert. The Auckland members of the New Zealand Youth Choir performed a bracket of pieces. NZYC are touring Europe to compete in two international competitions in July, and we were able to support them with some fundraising through audience donations from this concert.

Westlake has a strong representation at national choir level, and eight members in the current Youth Choir have come through our Westlake choral programme. It was a fantastic evening of wonderful music including a range of styles from classical to contemporary and world music.

A week later, the Westlake choirs travelled to the Auckland Town Hall to compete in the Auckland Regionals of NZCF’s The Big Sing. The Big Sing is the largest choral festival held in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 10,000 high school students performing in choirs around the motu. Auckland is the largest region and most competitive region, with 77 choirs competing over three days. All of the Westlake choirs lifted and delivered their best performances of the year. We are very proud of the consistent quality of our Westlake choirs, as well as of our choristers, who are exemplary ambassadors for our school. A new record was set for the number of choirs performing Pasifika works – 26 choirs (who were maybe inspired by the hit film ‘Tinā’) delivered high-energy singing and dancing to the delight of audiences.

Congratulations to the Nota Bella Choir (directed by Elise Bradley), which was awarded the Best Program by a Junior Choir (for the 4th year running). Choralation (directed by HOD Fiona Wilson) also retained the Best Program by a Mixed Choir trophy. By the end of the term, results will be announced of which top 24 choirs will be selected for the National Finale and the next tier down of 12 choirs selected for Cadenza Upper North Island Festival.

Congratulations and good luck to all our choristers!

Arts & Culture

Theatresports: Buddy Night

Westlake Girls and Long Bay College recently came together for a Theatresports Buddy Night, as a part of the Theatresports Youth Programme for 2025. The evening was filled with laughter, creativity, and collaboration as students from both schools joined forces in improvised scenes and games. Both schools were evenly matched, with a range of new and experienced players on their teams.

For new players in particular, the event was a great opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills, and experience the fun and energy of Theatresports in a supportive environment. Feedback from the adjudicator was positive: “Every team played really well, and was supportive of one another on stage, no matter what experience level the players were at.”

A big thank you to everyone who participated and made the night a success!

Sports

Rock Climbing

The rock climbing team had another strong showing at the third event of the season, held at Vertical Adventures. Three of our climbers qualified for the finals, and consistent performances across the entire squad have solidified our position at the top of the overall team rankings.

Congratulations to Amaya Tan-Peters for placing 3rd in the Senior Girls and Bailey Welch for winning the Junior Girls category.

We are very excited to finish the season strong at the final event on 10 August 10th at Boulder Co!

 

 

Community

Driving Community Impact

Volvo Cars North Shore’s Ongoing Partnership with Westlake Girls High School

When you see a Volvo with the Westlake Girls logo cruising through the North Shore, it’s more than just a mode of transport — it’s a symbol of a partnership built on shared values and community pride.

For Vernon Brown, General Manager of Volvo Cars North Shore, supporting Westlake Girls High School began as a simple, local initiative. But over time, it has grown into something far more meaningful.

“The partnership started as a great community initiative — our local school, supporting young women we see in the area daily.”

Building Stronger Connections

From modest beginnings, the collaboration has evolved into a genuine relationship fuelled by mutual respect and a shared passion for growth.

“Like anything, once you get to know the people involved — look under the hood, if you will — you start to see the amazing things the girls achieve every year.”

Brown reflects on his team’s pride in witnessing Westlake students’ successes — not just at school, but in the broader world of business and sport. Seeing former students thrive offers a powerful reminder of why the partnership is important.

Milestones That Matter

Among the many touchpoints that have strengthened the relationship, Brown highlights the role of April Ieremia, Westlake’s tireless and upbeat Director of Sport.

“Everything is about people. What April has brought to the partnership and the young women on a day-to-day basis has really elevated our relationship — and made everything a little more fun!”

Volvo Cars North Shore’s support has mainly focused on sport — from assisting with travel and outfitting teams, to ensuring April stays mobile in her Volvo as she juggles a packed calendar of school events.

More Than Money

While sponsorship dollars are important, Brown is quick to point out that their commitment goes deeper than financial contributions.

“We’re keen on meaningful engagement. Some of our team have attended school events or supported with logistics. Looking ahead, we’d love to explore mentorship or career exposure opportunities.”

There’s a clear desire to provide real-world experiences for students interested in business, automotive industries, or customer service — turning a sponsorship into a stepping stone.

Shared Values, Shared Vision

For Volvo Cars North Shore, the partnership aligns seamlessly with their corporate ethos.

“We believe in excellence, innovation and community — all of which are reflected in WGHS.”

Beyond brand visibility, the most significant gain has been the sense of connection. Supporting a respected local institution boosts morale within the Volvo Cars North Shore team and reinforces their role as an invested community partner.

Looking to the Future

Brown is optimistic about the road ahead, with aspirations that stretch well beyond uniforms and signage.

“We’d love to deepen our involvement by supporting holistic student development — through leadership, sport, arts, or even future careers.”

He envisions a time when Westlake students see Volvo Cars North Shore not just as a sponsor, but as a place they might one day work, intern, or launch a career.

A Message to Future Partners

To businesses considering educational sponsorship, Brown’s message is simple:

“Don’t underestimate the ripple effect your support can have. Investing in schools is investing in the future — of your community, your industry, and society at large.”

“Partnerships like this go beyond goodwill — they create real opportunities, inspire young people, and leave a legacy you can be proud of.”

Community

International student's success

Congratulations to one of our international students, Riko Nagatsuka (Year 11). She has attained impressive achievements in rhythmic gymnastics recently.

・Wellington Opens All Around 6th (Hoop 5th, Clubs 6th)
・Autumn Glory All Around 1st (Hoop 1st, Clubs 1st, Ball 2nd, Ribbon 3rd)

Achieving such success as an international student in a new environment is truly impressive. Well done, Riko!

Community

MUNA

Model United Nations Assembly 2025

At the end of May, over two days, twenty-five students attended MUNA: the Model United Nations Assembly

After seven weeks of intense research, making decisions about which of four remits to choose and preparations for what to wear in order to best represent each team’s country, our delegates donned their outfits whilst our budding journalists suited up in corporate attire. MUNA was in our sights.

This year, the event was again held at Rosmini College, which saw over 100 teams sign up from schools as far north as Kerikeri and as far south as Hamilton.

The event was a fantastic opportunity for teams to display their quick wit, eloquent speaking skills, and adept use of rebuttals and points of information, all while in character.

Westlake Girls is the resident Press team and, as one would expect, the students do a wonderful job each year of creating a video of proceedings, interviewing teams, attending and reporting back on bloc meetings, and interviewing the Secretary General, this year held by Shanan Halbert, who did a sterling job.  After attending a myriad of meetings and taking notes on witty repartee, the Press team has now completed the final newsletter and sorted through hundreds of photographs to be sent to Rotary and participating schools across the motu.

Our three delegate teams were:

Qatar: Jana Kak , Dorsa Jahedi and Laura Mackenzie

France: Nicole Lao, Zara Gillard and Melody Choi

Rwanda: Foram Patel, Zara Shaikh and Kayla Gallagher

The Press team was ably led by Tazkia Ahmed (Editor-in-Chief), Ann Chen, Tiffany Ma, Diya Kansara, Lane Hutchison, Joanna Jacob, Haylee Kansara, Danya Kim, Rachel Kim, Jessica Lee, Lila McElroy, Naba Rahman, Chanithi Liyanage, Jessie Qian, Nicole Sun and Nehansa Wijewardana.

Our special thanks go to Rosmini College for the use of the Tindall auditorium and to the Rotary Club Downtown Auckland District 9920, who worked tirelessly to ensure that students had an opportunity to believe that they were indeed the real United Nations Assembly, and to Jan Malcolm and her team, without whom the event would not run like a well-oiled machine.

Our team, Qatar, won Best Overall Country Representation and a

Special mention to team France.

Thank you, as always, to North Shore Rotary District 9910, Jerry, Nickie, and their incredible team, for their unwavering  tautoko (support) of our students and school community.

By MUNA team leaders, Carmina Villaruel, Kay Brown and Ella Wilson.

 

 

 

Academic

EDUtech Australia 2025

Showcasing Westlake Girls’ Leadership in AI Integration

Last week, Westlake Girls’ Futures Education & AI Lead Susana Tomaz was invited to speak at EDUtech Australia, one of the region’s largest and most influential education and technology conferences. Over two dynamic days, Susana led three sessions. She engaged with a global network of educators, researchers, and policymakers, sharing insights from her journey in developing and implementing a strategic roadmap for whole-school AI integration at Westlake Girls.

Her presentations focused on the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in education, drawing on research from her Master’s degree with academyEX, as well as her international work through the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), under the auspices of UNESCO.

A personal highlight for Susana was meeting Professor Rose Luckin, a leading voice in AI and education from University College London (UCL). As a proud UCL alumna, Susana holds a special place in her heart for the university, which helped shape her early thinking as an educator and leader. She maintains strong ties with UCL through her work with the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), coordinated by fellow UCL academic Professor Wayne Holmes. Meeting Professor Luckin, whose pioneering work at the intersection of metacognition and AI has long influenced her, was inspiring and affirming. Their shared philosophy on ethical, learner-centred AI integration reinforced Susana’s belief that technology must always serve pedagogy, not the other way around. It was a powerful reminder that the work at Westlake Girls aligns with some of the most respected international thought leadership in the field.

Susana with Professor Luckin

 “I always say to educators, learn fast, but act more slowly. Do not feel pressurised to buy into an AI. Do not feel pressurised to select an AI tool until you are ready. It’s really important that you learn enough about artificial intelligence first so that you can decide what purpose you want the AI to serve you and then design the way that you interact with AI strategically.” Rose Luckin

Susana also reconnected with Christina Wiremu-Brook, a trailblazing Māori leader who has played a key role in developing NSW EduChat, a secure, curriculum-aligned AI tool at the New South Wales Department of Education. Hosted on the Department’s cloud infrastructure, EduChat prioritises privacy, equity, and critical thinking.

Susana thanks the organisers and those who contributed to insightful conversations. Through this experience, she has reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Westlake Girls remains at the forefront of future-focused, ethical, and inclusive education.

Sports

Y10 in Auckland Women's Rep Ice Hockey Team

About a month ago, Caitlin Foley (Y10) was selected to play for the Auckland Women’s Rep Ice Hockey Team. She had her debut game over the weekend before last in Dunedin, competing with women up to their mid-30s. Caitlin had an incredible time, representing Auckland and playing alongside and against members of the New Zealand Women’s Team. Although they narrowly lost the first game 1-0 in the final minute, they made a strong comeback in the second game with a decisive 7-4 victory. Caitlin was on the starting line for both games, playing in defence.

Congratulation, Caitlin!

Arts & Culture

Journalism Club

Westlake Times – Issue 1.pdf – Google Drive

Community

Uniform Shop hours

Community

Thank you to our generous PTA!

Over the past few months, Mrs Stanley and Ms Bickerstaffe have joined The Top 7 (Head Prefect, Deputy Head Prefect and House Captains) during our weekly meetings to ask for suggestions and support on issues needing to be resolved around the school.

Ms Bickerstaffe often says that the prefects, especially the Top 7, are “the connection or the bridge between the staff and the students.” As a House Captain, I can raise issues or concerns (whether my own or from other students) and get advice or assistance from both Mrs Stanley and Ms Bickerstaffe. It’s a way of being a student voice for students across the school.

Some issues around the school may not be obvious to staff, but students notice them, so our meetings are a great chance to bring these things up.

Some time ago, the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) generously gifted the school some money.

One of the things we considered together was how to use this PTA money. Whatever we chose needed to benefit the whole school and all the students. As prefects we collaborated with other students from different year levels to come up with ideas for the money and unanimously decided between the seven of us that the money should go towards cold and filtered water fountains around the school that all students can use.

By Wairau House Captain, Leah Kim

 

Arts & Culture

Your art on our Yearbook?

Last year, we began a new tradition for our school Yearbook. We invited students to submit artwork for the front and back covers. Then we featured the artwork of the winning two on the covers of the 2024 Yearbook.

This competition was very popular and we had some fantastic submissions. All art forms are welcome.

We’re doing it again this year! Interested? Check out this video featuring the 2024 Yearbook.

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Sports

North Island Artistic Swimming Championships

Westlake Students shine at the North Island Artistic Swimming Championships June 13-15 

A significant number of Westlake Girls students took part in the recent North Island Artistic Swimming Championships as participants and volunteers.  

The North Island Synchro Committee sent the following account, for which we are very grateful. It is always lovely to get such positive feedback from our community! 

 

From the Committee 

I would like to express gratitude for so many Westlake Girls students who participated and volunteered to make this event a success.  

Volunteers: 

These competitions require numerous volunteers to run smoothly. We reached out via Sofia Brandolino to the Volunteer Club and over 20 students responded to the call. We were able to find positions for about 15 of them and they were happy to attend and volunteer throughout the weekend. Everyone showed up to their shift on time and were respectful and helpful. We are so appreciative of their efforts.   

Coach: 

Westlake student Gracey Lee is our 12U coach and her team placed 2nd this weekend! 

Athletes:  

We have numerous athletes from Westlake Girls in our club and they achieved great success this weekend at the North Island Artistic Swimming Championships held in Auckland on June 13-15. They worked hard as a team and they achieved the following placing: 

Ashley Armstrong 

  • 1st Senior Women’s free solo representing Westlake 
  • 1st Senior open tech team 
  • 2nd Senior tech solo representing Westlake 

Sofia Brandolino 

  • 1st Senior open tech team 
  • 5th Youth solo representing Westlake 

Zara Gillard 

  • 2nd Aquanaut duet 

Laura Mackenzie 

  • 1st Aquarina duet 
  • 2nd place Aquarina figures 

Rose Pankhurst 

  • 1st Youth combo 
  • 1st Senior open tech team 

Jolly Yin 

  • 2nd Youth combo 

Liese Yin 

  • 2nd Youth combo 

Congratulations! 

 North Island Artistic Swimming Club

If you are interested in giving synchro a go, they offer free trial sessions See their website here.

 

Community

Mother-Daughter Breakfast

Two-thirds of the tickets for this fab event have already sold. Don’t miss out on this special morning! Get yours today here.

 

Arts & Culture

Chinese Night

Westlake Chinese Night 2025 tickets are officially out! Come along to experience a night of modern and traditional Chinese performances, as well as delicious food!

Tickets can be purchased through the link in our Instagram bio (@westlakewcn) or by scanning the QR codes on posters around the school. Tickets can also be purchased directly here.

27 June, Westlake Boys High School

Arts & Culture

Senior Treble Voices Festival

Don’t miss out on this wonderful event. Get your tickets here!

Next week is our annual Senior Treble Voices Festival, hosted here at WGHS. We have several schools from across Auckland involved. Don’t miss this wonderful event.

See here for tickets and information.

 

 

 

 

Arts & Culture

Smoke Free Rockquest

Congratulations to Mistress, an all-female metal band featuring our talented students Becky Bartlett and Hayley Middleton, who recently competed in the North Shore Regional Heats of the Smoke Free Rockquest. This prestigious competition celebrates original student music, and Mistress stood out with its impressive play style. The judges feedback particularly highlighted the members’ originality and musicality, stating that they were “playing and sounding beyond their years”.

A special mention goes to Hayley, who received an award for her exceptional musicianship on lead guitar. The Music Department is incredibly proud of their achievements and wishes them continued success in their musical journey!

“Rockquest was a great experience for me and my band. We had so much fun getting to showcase our original works in a competition. Getting through to the regional finals in our first year competing was a huge accomplishment for us! Hayley who plays guitar in the band won the Musicianship Award which was amazing as well! Follow the band on instagram @mistressband_”

  • Becky Bartlett, Lead Singer and Bass Player

Kiera Miller also participated in the competition with her band and made it through to the North Shore finals. Reflecting on the experience, she shared: “The Rockquest experience was awesome! The band and I loved having a supportive environment to perform in and share our music. It’s definitely something I would love to do again!”

Notices

Yoga at WGHS

Academic

NCEA Me Te Whānau Workshops Term 3

Sports

Premier Netball Coaching Clinic for Year 1-8 netballers

The Westlake Girls Premier Netball Team will be holding a Netball Coaching Clinic on Sunday, 13 July at school from 9.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm and we would like to invite Year 1 – 8 students to come and get ready for the business end of the season as everyone heads into the playoffs in August.  It will be ideal for individuals, but we encourage teams to come together and improve together.

The Clinic is focused on polishing your skillset and tactics as well as gameplay so you are fresh and ready after the holidays. There will be two sessions, one in the morning and then it will be repeated in the afternoon. The cost of a 3-hour clinic is $35.

If you would like to take part in this event and help the Westlake Girls Premier Netball Team raise money for their campaign to the Upper North Island Champs, then please register below and ensure payment is made to the account below before Tuesday, 2 July, 2025.

DATE:             Sunday, 13 July, 2025

TIME:              9.30 am – 12.30pm OR 1.30pm – 4.30pm. 

ARRIVE:        9am OR 1pm to sign in and be allocated your court

VENUE:          Westlake Girls Netball Courts 

ADDRESS:     2 Wairau Road, Takapuna 

AGE:                5 – 12 years old

DRESS:          Athletic shorts, top and shoes

COST:             $35 per student

Registration Link: https://www.westlakegirls.school.nz/student-life/practical-information/payments/netball-clinic/

If you have any questions, please email April Ieremia at [email protected]

 

Sports

Adventure racers win

Westlake Adventure Racers Win North Island Hillary Challenge Qualifier

Congratulations to our combined Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys adventure racing teams, who recently competed in the North Island Hillary Challenge Qualifier held in the Rotorua Redwoods Forest. Out of 26 teams from across the region, our top team claimed 1st place, while our second team finished a very creditable 11th, a fantastic result for both teams.

The six-hour event tested every aspect of endurance, navigation, and teamwork. Each team of eight students covered approximately 25km on foot and 30km on mountain bikes, navigating through rugged terrain using only a map and compass in a fast-paced rogaine format. It was a true challenge of physical grit, strategic planning, and relentless teamwork.

Our winning team of Milly Knox Haines, Sasha Bosch, Talia Hosking and Emma Davies (alongside their Westlake Boys teammates) showed exceptional composure and strength throughout the course, securing a well-deserved victory and earning Westlake a spot at the National Hillary Challenge Final in October, a five-day event where the top 12 teams from across Aotearoa will compete for the national title. Our 11th-placed team of Cayleigh Blackburn, Ella Wernham, Tessa Walker and Grace Swanson also performed with great determination and spirit, representing Westlake with pride and pushing themselves to the limit. This success reflects the hours of training these students put in before and after school, honing their navigation, mountain biking, and fitness in preparation for the event.

A special shoutout to Milly Knox Haines and Ella Wernham, who showed exceptional dedication by travelling down to Rotorua at 4am after attending the school ball and still gave their all throughout the race, an inspiring example of commitment to their team and the sport. Another notable mention is Grace Swanson stepping up as a junior to compete in the senior competition last minute, she was amazing on the course with her team.

A huge thank you to the dedicated staff, coaches, and parent supporters who helped prepare and support the teams, your contribution made this achievement possible. Well done to all our adventure racers, you’ve done Westlake proud. Ka mau te wehi!

Community

World Vision Lunchtime Activation Success

On Wednesday, 4 June, we hosted our annual lunchtime activation, kickstarting this year’s 40-hour challenge with a moving presentation, fun quizzes, and, of course, prizes up for grabs.

We were honoured to welcome World Vision Youth Ambassador Asher Harkness (pictured above), who shared his personal experiences working for World Vision. He expressed how seeing struggling communities with his own eyes fueled his why – his motivations to advocate for change.

The crowd of students was eager to ask questions and share their fundraising ideas too – the engagement was outstanding. We played a few interactive games, with winners taking home candy and orange ribbon pins.

Our own passionate team from the World Vision Leaders Committee then shared their personal takes on this year’s challenge and what they did last year. Some notable ones included walking 40 km, delivering 40 meals to children at a local mosque, 40 hours offline, and 40 hours of silence in commemoration of those who are unable to speak out for themselves. They also gave tips for getting funding, like spreading the news on your mum’s Facebook group, asking friends for donations, or gaslighting your parents! (joking).

The event was a massive success, and a great sign that this year’s 40-Hour challenge will be the best one yet. Let’s join together and knock our $15,000 goal out of the park! Remember, it’s not about donating as much as possible, but taking little steps towards a bigger, collective goal.

We are collecting donations until the last day of term, 27 June.

As the African proverb summarises, “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”

By Hannah Tegg and Audrey Malloy.

Community

Mrs Stanley on the school podcast!

He Kōrero Wāna – new episode out now.

In the latest episode of our school podcast, He Kōrero Wāna, we go behind the desk with our principal, Mrs. Stanley! Students from across the school submitted their burning questions, and Mrs. Stanley didn’t hold back—sharing her journey to leadership, her goals for Westlake, and even a few fun facts about her life outside of school (including her taste in music!).

Listen now on Spotify or Rova – just search He Kōrero Wāna and look for Episode 4: Tales from our Tumuaki, Jane Stanley.

COMPETITION TIME!
To celebrate the episode, we’re running a prize draw!
Question: Name one of the bands Mrs. Stanley mentions as her favourites—and tell us YOUR favourite song by that band. You can enter here: https://forms.gle/yo3tCcrZTPs9YTGN8

Entries close on Thursday, 27 June, the last day of Term 2. The winner will be drawn and announced in Week 1 of Term 3.

Get listening and good luck 🙂

 

Community

Boost your brand and support WGHS

Limited spots – don’t miss out!

We’re excited to offer fantastic advertising space on our premium Football Fields and Hockey Turf! These high-traffic areas are in high demand from students, families, and the wider community — making them a standout platform for brand visibility.

Align your business with youth sport, education, and community engagement while gaining powerful exposure through strategic signage placement.

To learn more, see Westlake Girls High School Football Fields | Rectangle and Westlake Girls High School Hockey Turf | Rectangle.

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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