Te Roto Logo
Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 108 | 19 September 2025
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

Kia ora koutou,

With exams and end-of-term assessments, things have been quieter around school than usual, and we’ve been very impressed by the focus and dedication of our students.

I had the privilege of attending the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Symposium recently, along with other senior leaders. I felt very proud of Susana Tomaz, Teresa Winstone and Lizzi MacCormack, who presented workshops on the day, sharing the recent research and trailblazing programmes they have been working on. You can read more about their sessions in this issue of Te Reo o Te Roto. We are so fortunate to have such innovative staff who have a passion for learning and leading in their fields. The day was affirming and inspiring, and a reminder of the unique opportunities our environment creates for young women.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori has brought plenty of colour and energy to our school this week, with activities celebrating language, culture, and identity. We also held the first of our end-of-year celebrations — the Prefect Graduation.

At the event, the House Captains and our Head and Deputy Head Prefects presented their prefect project, which this year focused on sharing study skills across the school. Facilitated by Hannah McLean, the project formed part of their leadership development, involving student voice, identifying opportunities to add value, and researching effective strategies to support their peers.

All of our prefects and Tuākana have made a fantastic contribution this year, showing commitment, creativity, and care in their roles. We are proud of everything they have achieved.

As we wrap up a very successful Term 3 across so many areas, my thanks go to our students, staff, and whānau for the effort and support you’ve shown. I wish you all a safe and restful holiday break, and look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed and ready for Term 4.

Ngā mihi nui,

Jane Stanley
Principal

 

Arts & Culture Community

WGHS Technology Showcase

We warmly invite you to attend the Technology showcase to help celebrate student work from Design and Visual Communication, Hard Materials Technology, Food Technology, Digital Technology and Textile Technology.  Everybody welcome.

WGHS Event Centre, Tuesday, 7 October. Exhibition 3.30-6pm ending with fashion show. Hair and makeup by Servilles Academy.

 

Notices

Share your news with us

We love hearing about students and staff achieving great things. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact the editor of Te Reo o Te Roto with your stories – and photos if you can – we love them!

Te Reo o Te Roto is published fortnightly. Email Bridget Ellis-Pegler with your submissions.

Community

Youth Parliament

Just last week, I finished my Youth Parliament tenure! Every three years, the Ministry of Youth Development hosts the Youth Parliament, a programme in which students from all over the country have the opportunity to learn about the political process and issues that shape their lives and futures. Each of the 123 MPs chooses a Youth MP to represent them and their electorate, and a panel selects 20 people aged 16-24 to be members of the Youth Press Gallery. This year, I had the privilege of being selected for the Youth Press Gallery. The application process involved sending a portfolio of my work, a CV of my community involvement, and writing an opinion piece.

Throughout my four-month tenure, we had several insightful online meetings with a range of organisations and people within the political landscape in Aotearoa, including the Electoral Commission, the Ombudsman, and political journalists from RNZ.

The tenure also included a three-day trip to the Parliament building in Wellington, during the recent school holidays. On the first day, we were given tours of the Parliament precinct and the National Library of New Zealand. Over the following two days, we immersed ourselves in the environment of politics. This included watching and reporting on general debate speeches, being mentored by Jason Walls, chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and working in our Parliamentary Working Groups (PWG). This year, each participant was allocated to one of twelve PWGs of their choice, each focusing on a specific issue faced by young people. I was assigned to the Online Safety group, in which we worked with the Ministry of Justice to discuss potential recommendations and solutions to the issue (eg, increased education on online safety in schools), and also spoke with MP Catherine Wedd, who put forward the bill to potentially ban social media for under-16s. Some other highlights of this event were interviewing the Minister of Youth Development, meeting the Prime-Minister, and the parliament catering! Since then, I have also had articles published in the Ministry of Youth Development’s website and the Independent Herald.

To anyone interested in community involvement and shaping policy, I highly recommend considering Youth Parliament, as it is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Beyond the skills I’ve gained in civics and community change, the experience also allowed me to meet and become friends with some really amazing people.

By Aman Khalid, 13HBH

 

Sports

New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Squad 

Congratulations to netball defender Imani Rasmussen and midcourter Talia Chatfield, who were named in the 2025 New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Squad on Friday, 12 September. It is a phenomenal achievement, and we are very proud of them. 

The NZSS squad of 24 will meet for a final trial at Labour Weekend, when two teams will be named – the New Zealand Secondary Schools team and a NZSS A team. They will then compete in a 3-day Quad tournament over the weekend, which will include an Aussie state team from ACT. 

Notices

Dates for your diary

Keep an eye on our website page for important dates coming up.

Bookmark it here!

Community

Class of '25 Leavers' Event

A ticketed event with the cost covering canapés and non-alcoholic beverages. To ensure space for all our graduating students and their whānau, we kindly ask that no more than three family members attend per student. If you would like more than four tickets, including the graduate, we will create a waitlist for the extra tickets, which we will action if we do not sell out.  

It would be wonderful to see you at this special occasion.  

Get your tickets here.

Academic

Instant Restaurant success

During the recent school exam period, our Year 13 Hospitality students showcased their talent and professionalism by running their very own Instant Restaurant as part of their pasta assessment.

As part of this challenge, students were responsible for every aspect of the dining experience. They planned and designed a restaurant-style lunch service, invited guests, and prepared a range of exceptional pasta and gnocchi dishes. In the weeks leading up to the event, students worked tirelessly — carefully planning menus, testing recipes, trialling flavour combinations, and refining their final presentations.

On the day, our budding chefs created a welcoming atmosphere and served beautifully plated dishes that would not have been out of place in a professional restaurant. Guests were highly impressed by the quality, flavour, and creativity on display, and many commented on how confidently the students ran the service.

A key feature of this event was the way the students demonstrated manaakitanga. They prepared and served food of a very high standard and showed genuine care for their guests, ensuring they felt valued, comfortable, and well looked after. This commitment to hospitality and respect was evident in the way they greeted diners, presented their dishes, and maintained a warm and professional atmosphere throughout the service.

This assessment highlighted not only the students’ technical cookery skills but also their teamwork, organisation, and ability to perform under pressure. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the spirit of care and hospitality they displayed.

A huge congratulations to our Year 13 Hospitality class for delivering such a memorable and successful event.

Arts & Culture

Join an instrumental group in 2026

The Music Department will be running auditions in October for Westlake’s instrumental groups for 2026.

Sign up and find all the audition material by scanning the QR code on the poster, or by clicking here.

STEAM

STEAM Year 9 Electronics and E-Textiles 

Last term in the STEAM programme, we did a course called ETPT, which stands for E-textiles and Papertronics. ETPT combines art and technology in an interdependent way. It includes a mix of projects such as Paper circuits, Makey Makey instruments, and Microbit Create AI.

In Papertronics/circuits, we learnt how to make simple circuits using copper tape, LED, and coin cell batteries, then used them to create interactive paper designs.

We learnt about how to use ‘Makey Makey’ circuits, which let us turn everyday objects, such as bananas or foil, into keys/buttons, or even musical instruments. We took inspiration from Disney’s classic ‘The Little Mermaid’ movie and made an interactive project where sea animals trigger music when touched. For example, we connected the clams and octopus to Makey Makey and programmed through Scratch to play parts of the music.

We also used Microbit Create AI, which allowed us to explore Artificial Intelligence through movement and machine learning. It worked by recognising patterns in the movement data we collected and then used those patterns to control the Microbit’s behaviour.

By Ayesha Rustam

Main image: The STEAM banner created by Y10 student Lily Maurice, who used digital tools as inspiration and then drew the design on an online art programme.

Community

Uniform Shop hours

Thursday, 18 September was the last day of trading for Term 3, 2025.

Term 4 (note, there are two parts to this schedule).

Part Two

Community

2nd place in Checker of the Year competition

Y12 Amelia Birzin has won 2nd place in the Foodstuffs ‘Checker of the Year’ competition!

This is an impressive achievement. The ‘Checker of the Year’ competition recognises outstanding performance at the checkout — including speed, accuracy, customer service, and overall professionalism. For Amelia, a Year 12 student balancing academics and extracurriculars, to place second is proof of her dedication and skill.

And that’s not all!

Amelia was tasked with creating a TikTok page for Pak’nSave Wairau. She created an account and on one of her first posts, she received over 50K views!

Management has asked Amelia and her colleague (and boyfriend), Troy, to spend a few hours each week creating more TikToks to boost engagement.

Congratulations, Amelia!

Sports

Year 9 Olympics Challenge

Term 3 is wrapping up with an awesome accomplishment – the Year 9 Olympics Challenge, led by our form classes. They have been going head-to-head in a series of activities designed to test teamwork, build class spirit, and add a touch of competitive fun!

The competition was fierce and the events were diverse, pushing students to bond and strategise. From classic tests of speed and coordination like the three-legged race and egg-and-spoon relay, to more strategic games such as Capture the Flag and the Lily Pad Race, every event provided a chance to earn valuable points. Students also tackled intellectual challenges including quizzes, riddles, and building tasks that put their problem-solving skills to the test. One of the toughest events was the blindfolded obstacle course, which demanded trust and clear communication between teammates.

Each class rose to the occasion, showcasing different strengths as they worked towards the ultimate Olympic prize. This gruelling but fun challenge was not just about winning – it was about teamwork, resilience, and celebrating the spirit of competition.

A huge congratulations to Pupuke House’s 9PSN, who have been crowned our first ever Year 9 Olympic Champions!

Also, well done to the runners-up for each House – 9ACN, 9OMK, 9WOY & 9HCP

By Elise Whitehead, Tuākana Co-Ordinator.

Photo credit: Aditya Patil on Unsplash

Sports

Mountain Biking

Image above: Girls College 2025 Champs – Westlake Girls High School

On Sunday, 7 September, the WGHS Mountain Bike Team competed in the final race of the Auckland Schools Cross Country Mountain Bike Competition. The results of the final race are:

Under-20 Girls

U15 Girls:

1st – Astyn Nasmith

2nd – Kaylan Nasmith

6th – Grace Swanson

Under 15 Girls

U20 Girls:

2nd – Talia Hosking

4th – Stella Beale

The overall results for the WGHS MTB Team for the 2025 Auckland Schools Cross Country Mountain Bike Competition are:

U15 Girls:

1st – Astyn Nasmith

2nd – Kaylan Nasmith

6th – Grace Swanson

7th – Molly Walker

U17 Girls:

4th Emma Davies

U20 Girls:

2nd – Talia Hosking

3rd – Stella Beale

College Compilation:

Overall College (Female, Male and Co-ed):

5th Westlake Girls High School

Female College:

1st Westlake College 

Cross Country Relay Race:

Female College Champions – Westlake Girls High School 

Cross Country Relay Race

 

Academic

Girls’ Schools Symposium

On Friday, 5 September, a contingent from WGHS attended the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Symposium, hosted at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch. This inspiring event brought together educators from across Aotearoa and beyond to share research, practice, and innovation in girls’ education.

We are especially proud of three of our staff who were selected to present workshops at the conference:

  • Ms Lizzi McCormack shared findings from her action research into three evidence-based strategies that are successfully lifting numeracy confidence in her Year 9 maths class.
  • Ms Susana Tomaz presented on AI literacy, exploring how both staff and students are developing the skills to foster agency, critical evaluation, and responsible use of AI. She highlighted how engaging the wider school community helps to build trust and a shared understanding of the purpose and value of a whole-school approach to AI integration.
  • Ms Teresa Winstone led an interactive workshop on the role of teachers as career influencers. Drawing on Dr Candy Ho’s research and Edgar Schein’s helping model, she explored how everyday teaching practice can embed meaningful career conversations. She then equipped participants with practical strategies to support students in their career development.

The symposium also featured powerful keynote sessions from internationally recognised speakers. Dr Denise Quinlan spoke on whole-school wellbeing and EROs.

Ruth Shinoda (Deputy Chief Executive – Head of the Education Evaluation Centre) delivered a compelling, data-driven presentation highlighting the higher-than-average achievement and attendance rates at girls’ schools in New Zealand.

The conference was a valuable opportunity for our staff to contribute to and learn from the global conversation on girls’ education. We are proud of their leadership and commitment to shaping future-focused learning for our students.

Photo above L-R: Teresa Winstone, Ms Lizzi McCormack, Susana Tomaz

Sports

Lacrosse

The Premier Lacrosse season wrapped at the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament, held on Saturday, 30 August, and Sunday, 31 August, at Rosmini College. Battling through extremely wet and windy conditions, the team displayed remarkable resilience. They finished 2nd in their pool after victories against Te Awamutu and St. Paul’s Collegiate. On the final day, they faced strong opposition from St. Peter’s Cambridge and Matamata College, securing a 4th fourth-place finish.

A special mention goes to Sharaya Naidu and Zoe Taylor, whose outstanding performances throughout the tournament earned them spots on the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament Team.

Arts & Culture

Joint Westlake production - Aladdin

Don’t miss this fabulous musical that the combined Westlake schools are doing on the last Sunday of the school holidays.

Participants will be rehearsing and doing costumes and set design on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then the show is on the Sunday evening. The entire thing will be pulled off in 48 hours!

Scan the QR code on the poster or click here for tickets.

Arts & Culture

Be the cover artist for 2025's Yearbook!

Last year, we launched an exciting new tradition — inviting students to create the front and back covers of our school Yearbook. The response was amazing, with incredible artwork submitted. Two winning designs were proudly featured on the covers of the 2024 edition.

We’re doing it again for 2025 — and we want to see what you’ve got!

All art forms are welcome, and you DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ART to participate. Let your creativity take centre stage.

Keen to enter? Watch the video below for a glimpse of last year’s winning artwork and get inspired.

Questions? Email Aimee Wheeler

Menu