Te Roto Logo
Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 119 | 29 May 2026
From the Principal

Principal's Welcome

Kia ora koutou,

This week, Associate Principal Nicky Whitham-Blackwell and I were in Queenstown, attending the SPANZ (Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand) Conference. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues from schools across New Zealand, share ideas, and reflect on the opportunities and challenges facing education today.

Meanwhile, school life continues at its usual energetic pace. Tonight, we look forward to Korean Night, a wonderful celebration of culture, food and community.

Looking ahead, our Westlake Choirs Concert takes place on 2 June. This annual event is always a showcase of the talent, dedication and passion of our young musicians, and I know many families and friends will be looking forward to supporting them.

We’re all excited about the Hamilton Girls Sports Exchange happening on Tuesday. This will be the first exchange of its kind in over ten years. Hamilton Girls High School’s premier sports teams will be coming to Auckland for the experience, and will play our teams during lunchtime, so that as many staff and students possible can watch.

Next week is International Languages Week, one of the highlights of the year. It is always fantastic to see students sharing their languages and cultures and embracing the diversity that is such a huge strength of our school community.

The Alumni Class of 1966 is having its 60-year reunion on Friday 5 June. This group of former students started in Form 3 (now Year 9) in 1962, the year that the co-ed Westlake High School separated into Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys. So, these students are the foundation pupils of Westlake Girls. A group of around 25 of them, plus three of their teachers from that period, will have a look around their old school and have morning tea in the Event Centre foyer. Our alumni community is precious to us, and we are delighted to mark this special date with the ‘Class of 1966’.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Jane Stanley

Principal

Sports

Adventure Racers Qualify Once Again for National Final

After months of preparation and training, our combined Westlake Boys and Westlake Girls Adventure Racing team recently competed in the North Island Hillary Challenge Qualifier in the Rotorua region, a demanding six-hour rogaine-style event that tested endurance, navigation, teamwork, and determination.

The event began with an exciting challenge before competitors had even started racing, with teams required to solve a logic puzzle in order to gain access to their course maps. From there, the team set out to maximise points across the course, carefully balancing speed, strategy, and navigation throughout the day.

Our team covered approximately 22 kilometres on foot, running through stunning lakeside scenery around Lake Ōkāreka before travelling over and around Lake Tikitapu. Competitors then completed a team transition into approximately 30 kilometres of mountain biking through the Whakarewarewa Forest Park and surrounding forest trails. The course showcased incredible views, while also demanding resilience and teamwork as teams navigated rugged terrain and challenging conditions.

Despite several team members battling sickness and injuries leading into the event, the team showed incredible determination and perseverance across the entire six hours. Adding to the challenge, three members travelled directly from the Year 13 Ball the night before the race before competing the following morning.

Congratulations to Cayleigh Blackburn, Sasha Bosch, Emma Davies, and Grace Swanson alongside their Westlake Boys teammates, Jayden Whitehead, Callum Hill, Elliot Stephenson, and James Frith, on their outstanding performance, finishing 4th overall and 3rd in the qualifying standings. Their result has secured a place at the National Hillary Challenge Final in October.

The National Final will take place from the 5th to the 9th of October and will see the team compete in a five-day event alongside five other teams from the North Island and six teams from the South Island. With qualification now secured, the team’s focus now shifts towards preparing for the national competition later this year.

This achievement reflects not only the team’s physical preparation, but also their ability to work together under pressure, support one another, and remain composed throughout a physically and mentally demanding event.

A huge thank you must also go to our coaches, staff members, and supporters who dedicated countless hours to helping make this opportunity possible. Their guidance and encouragement played a major role in the team’s success. A special mention must go to Sarah Belcher for her countless hours of dedication and years of experience coaching the adventure racing team, and to Oliver Anderson and Bailey Welch as reserves for their support and commitment (plus Oliver’s bike when we needed it!)

Well done to all involved on an outstanding achievement, and we wish the team all the best as they prepare for Nationals in October.

Written by Cayleigh Blackburn, Year 13.

Arts & Culture

Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking

Over the course of Week 4 this term, 237 ākonga across our Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Haka class watched Tiri: TE Araroa Woman Far Walking, nā Witi Ihimaera. This was an opportunity given to us by the Auckland Theatre Company to view the production through a digital classroom.

Tiri:Te Araroa Woman Far Walking is about Tiri Mahana. She was born the day te Tiriti was signed, and she carries 185 years of history.

Looking into Aotearoa’s past; the arrival of Captain Cook, the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the New Zealand Wars, the rise of the Ringatū faith, the world wars, the 1918 influenza pandemic, the 1981 Springbok Tour protests, and the Waitangi commemorations that continue into the present day.

The 100-minute bilingual production weaves Witi Ihimaera’s poetic storytelling with Maioha Allen’s language adaptation and Katie Wolfe’s visceral direction. The result asks how we will walk forward together, honouring the past while shaping the future.

 

 

Arts & Culture

International Languages Week

Hola, Konnichiwa, Nǐ Hǎo, Bonjour, Kia Ora and greetings from the Junior Language Ambassadors!

Westlake Girls is rich with cultures from a myriad of different countries. With just one walk around the campus at breaktimes, you can hear lively conversations in a range of languages. Language is one of the only things in this world that can act as a barrier the same as it can be a gateway without taking on any physical form. It seems as though it’s the most sacred and important thing we have. But how important is language to Westlake Girls High School? In readiness for International Languages Week held in Week 7 of Term 2, the Language Ambassadors sent out questionnaires about our languages to both the students and the staff, and the results are in! ¡Vamos!

Among the students and staff that submitted entries, 60% of the staff’ and 50% of the students’ first language was English. Half of the staff can hold a conversation in another language and a third of them are currently learning a new language. Over two thirds of the Westlake staff and 75% of the Westlake students polled can speak 2 or more languages. Sugoi!

The most popular languages that our students are learning are Spanish, Japanese, French, English, Te reo Māori, and Mandarin. Ring a bell? Those are all the languages we offer to learn here at Westlake! Mandarin sets the pace most likely due to it being the most spoken language at home for our students second to English. Yǒu yìsi!

When asked what language they would want to learn if they could do it instantly, the staff had a tie, with French, Spanish, and Te reo Māori being the top contenders. Italian and Japanese came in runners up. Someone even wanted to be able to instantly speak…baby-talk? Now that would be useful! The students’ top answer to that question was French with no debate. The staff were also separately questioned about what their favourite language was, to which the result was an overwhelming response of the French language! Oh là là! Westlake adore le français!

90% of the staff agreed that language learning was important. Their wise words of wisdom were that language learning comes much easier while you’re young, and that it earns you new perspectives and appreciation of cultures and diversity in the world around you. You should take the opportunity to immerse yourself. He reo anō, he ao anō!

Clearly, language and culture get the appreciation they deserve here at Westlake Girls High School. Let’s celebrate that fact during International Languages Week! We have activities spanning the week such as trivia quizzes, a pin-the-map event, and a scavenger hunt. On Friday 5 June, there will be the ‘Culture Catwalk’, where students are encouraged to dress up in their cultural attire for the day and show it off with pride in the Event Centre Foyer. This takes place during lunchtime, with free samples of delicious cultural dishes to be distributed outside.

We Ambassadors loved hearing about the languages that unite our school. We hope you did, as well! Gracias, Merci, Arigatō, Xiè Xiè, Ngā mihi, and thank you!

Written by Junior Language Ambassador, Chloe Birzin

Community

A Night of Glitz and Glamour: The 2026 Combined Westlake Ball

On Saturday 16 May we had our annual Westlake Ball at Shed 10, Queen’s wharf . This year’s Great Gatsby theme saw the historic waterfront venue beautifully transformed. Our students looked absolutely incredible in their formal attire and brought immense energy to the dance floor all night long. Thousands of photos were taken throughout the evening, capturing wonderful memories that will be cherished for years to come. It was a truly magnificent night and an absolute credit to our  Year 13 cohort, whose exemplary behaviour made the evening an overwhelming success.

A massive thank you goes out to the incredible student Ball Committee, whose months of hard work and meticulous planning truly paid off. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors and the many staff members who gave up their Saturday night to supervise and support this unforgettable event. Thank you to everyone involved for making the 2026 Westlake Ball such a glittering success!

The prizes on the night were awarded to the following students :

King of the Ball – Kris Hollings
Queen of the Ball – Charlotte Mawston
Life of the Party – Siddharth Mone
Life of the Party – Sasha Bosch

Cutest Couple – Troy Blijlevens & Amelia Birzin
Best dressed male – Leo Fabricius

Best dressed female – Ilaisaane Mau

A special thank you to Bob Wilson from Monstavision and Jeremy Hill Photography for once again being part of the special event.

 

Notices

Important Update Re Attendance

From next Friday, we will begin sending automated attendance update emails through KAMAR. These updates will provide each student’s attendance information for the year to date, term to date and week to date.

Regular attendance remains a key foundation for learning, wellbeing and achievement, and these updates are designed to help keep both parents/caregivers and students informed and engaged with attendance throughout the year. This also aligns with the Government’s national focus on improving school attendance.

If you would like to learn more about attendance expectations under the Education and Training Act 2020, and the steps Westlake Girls is taking to support positive attendance, please visit the attendance section of our website here.

Alumni

WGHS Alumna Selected for NZ Sr Women's Lacrosse Team

Westlake Girls’ High School is proud to celebrate former student Zoe Taylor, who has been selected for the New Zealand Senior Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Zoe will represent New Zealand at the Women’s Lacrosse World Championship later this year, an outstanding achievement that reflects her dedication, hard work and commitment to the sport.

We are delighted to see Zoe continuing to excel on the international stage and congratulate her on this significant milestone. We also acknowledge the important role school sport plays in supporting young athletes to pursue opportunities at the highest level.

Congratulations, Zoe, and best wishes from the Westlake Girls’ community for the World Championship.

Photo by kari ham on Unsplash

Arts & Culture

Ngā Pāoa Wānanga Series - Whīkoi tō Whakapapa.

Wānanga tuatahi – Hauraki.

Earlier this term, a group of Year 11 and Year 12 students took part in the first of three iwi wānanga with Ngāti Pāoa. On Wednesday 15 April, we travelled to Hauraki to explore the whakapapa and history of Ngāti Pāoa through visits to significant cultural and environmental sites. Highlights of the haerenga included visiting Makomako Marae, the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, and other important landmarks along the coastline as we made our way back to Auckland.

Wānanga tuarua – Tāmaki.

Our second wānanga took place on Saturday 24 May and focused on the whakapapa of Ngāti Pāoa in Tāmaki Makaurau. Throughout the day, students visited Maungarei, Te Kai-ā-Hiku, Mokoia Pā, and Karaka Bay, gaining valuable mātauranga and strengthening connections to the whenua and local history. The wānanga was filled with learning, challenges, meaningful kōrero, and plenty of delicious kai shared together.

“I really enjoy the Ngāti Pāoa wānanga, as they give me the opportunity to learn more about the history of Auckland and Ngāti Pāoa. The past two wānanga have been both educational and enjoyable. We have had the chance to meet new people and take part in different team challenges, which have brought us closer together while also helping us learn more about each other and Ngāti Pāoa.

I am really excited for the overnight stay at Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island, as it provides an opportunity to learn more about the culture while being immersed in a warm and welcoming environment. The marae carries so much history, from the moment the karanga echoes across the ātea to being inside the wharenui, surrounded by ancestral carvings that breathe life into history. The space is a sanctuary for learning, curiosity, and mutual respect. It is an environment defined by manaakitanga, where knowledge is shared like family stories. Having the opportunity to be part of this wānanga series is such a privilege to me. ” – Aiyanah Letham-Haenga

E rere ngā tai o mihi ki a Ngāti Pāoa mō ō rātou koha mai i tēnei whai wāhitanga ki ētahi o ā mātou ākonga kia whai wāhi atu ki tā rātou raupapa wānanga, ‘Whīkoi tō Whakapapa’. Ahakoa kāore mātou e whakapapa ana ki a Ngāti Pāoa i runga i te toto, he kaitiaki mātou nō tō rātou whenua, ā, e mārama ana mātou he mea nui kia mōhio, kia mārama hoki ki ō rātou kōrero tuku iho.

We are deeply grateful to Ngāti Pāoa for generously offering this opportunity for some of our students to take part in their wānanga series, Whīkoi tō Whakapapa. While we do not share whakapapa with Ngāti Pāoa, we are kaitiaki of their whenua, and we recognise that understanding and respecting their history is essential.

We have one more wānanga left at the end of the term which is an overnight stay at Piritahi Marae.

Academic

Equations, Enthusiasm and Excellence: Westlake Takes on the Olympiad

Seven of Westlake Girls High School’s finest mathematical minds recently stepped up to the plate at the annual Auckland Maths Olympiad. Run by the University of Auckland, this prestigious competition brought together the sharpest students from across the region for a day of intense intellectual rivalry.

The competition was divided into two fiercely contested categories. The Junior Division featured talented problem-solvers from Years 9 to 11, while the Senior Division tested the analytical skills of Year 12 and 13 students against the best in Auckland.

This was not your average math test. Participants were pushed to their absolute limits, tackling ten incredibly complex mathematical questions designed by university staff to test deep problem-solving abilities and advanced logical thinking.

“The day was very rewarding, as it gave me the chance to challenge myself and work through problems at a much higher level. It was also interesting to see how different students approached the same questions in completely different ways. I’m glad I got the opportunity to participate and feel more motivated to be part of it again in the future.” (Saashwat Kaur, Year 11)

Despite the daunting nature of the questions, our Westlake students approached the event with immense enthusiasm, determination, and grit. They proudly showcased the school’s spirit of academic excellence, proving that no equation is too tough to tackle when met with passion and persistence.

Congratulations to all seven students for representing Westlake Girls High School so brilliantly on the regional stage!

Image above: Students from left to right: Claire Lin (Y12), Tiffany Ma (Y12), Yifan Aliyah Zhang (Y13), Miya Wang (Y13), Saashwat Kaur (Y11), Jessica He (Y9), Shenuli Kodithuwakku (Y9).

Sports

Diving Success

Congratulations to Year 11 student Charlotte Wilson, who recently had a great weekend away at North Island Diving Champs in Wellington, winning three gold medals in Age Group A Girls 16-18 years. Events were 1m Springboard, Platform 5 &7m and Synchronised. She represented North Harbour Diving.

Not only that, but Charlotte has also won a Sports Scholarship at Athlete Development Academy at AUT Millennium!  This involved four trials with over 50 athletes trialing, with only six Scholarship Athletes chosen.  Well done, Charlotte!

Academic

Nothing Dry About This Subject!

Ever wondered what Year 9 students got up to in their science lessons? Check out this video to see what they’ve been doing recently.

DRY ICE

The students learnied how dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) turns directly to a gas without melting into a liquid first – a process called sublimation.

Here is student’s account.

In Science class, we did some interesting experiments to demonstrate sublimation. Sublimation is the action of solid converts into gas. We used dry ice as the material and worked on it.

 So, what is dry ice? There’s an experiment that impressed me: we put some dry ice in a plastic bottle with little amount of water, put a cork in the bottle to block the bottle mouth, and then observe what will happen. We found that most of the corks came out of the bottle with a loud pop. The teacher told us substances all have three states: solid, liquid and gas. Dry ice is the solid state of Carbon Dioxide, if dry ice gets into room temperature, it will convert into carbon dioxide without getting into a liquid state. When the bottle is filled with a big amount of carbon dioxide gas, the power of gas will inflate the bottle then push the cork out of the bottle, making the loud pop sound.

 The teacher used many fun experiments to let us have a clear intuition grasp of how sublimation works, and they really helped me understand changes between each state of matter better.

By Sinya Xia

Academic

Chinatown Trip

Year 10 Chinese classes recently enjoyed a day full of laughter, friendship, and cultural immersion during a recent trip to Chinatown and the Fo Guang Shan Temple in East Auckland. The action-packed day started in Chinatown, where students brought their language skills to life by navigating the area, shopping in Chinese, and hunting for characters to decipher shop names and Chinese traditional festival elements.

Afterwards, they visited the temple to learn about traditional oriental architecture and courtyard design, completing missions to identify unique building features in person.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip that perfectly combined hands-on language learning and practice with valuable peer bonding.

Career Bites

Chris Clay – Futurist and Microsoft Educator of the year 2011.

Futurist and innovation expert Chris Clay recently visited our Year 11 and 12 students to share insights about preparing for an unpredictable future. Chris has worked with major organisations to help them position themselves for change, minimise risk, and make informed decisions in rapidly evolving environments.

A key message from his presentation was that no one can predict the future with certainty — not even large corporations. Instead of trying to map out every detail, Chris encouraged students to focus on taking the ‘next right step’, embracing uncertainty with resilience, optimism, and courage. Drawing on examples of historical change and disruption, he reminded students that periods of upheaval have always been part of history, and adaptability is one of the most important skills for the future.

One memorable slide referenced Frozen 2 and the song The Next Right Thing, reinforcing the idea that progress often comes from making thoughtful decisions one step at a time. Chris also emphasised the importance of being able to adjust and pivot as opportunities and challenges arise, focusing on direction rather than a fixed destination.

Students were inspired by Chris’s practical and encouraging approach to future pathways and decision-making.

Sports

Auckland Schools Mountain Biking Cross Country Series – Race 1 Summary

Race 1 of the Auckland Schools MTB Cross Country Series was held at Maraetai on Sunday 10 May 2026, where riders faced extremely challenging conditions. Heavy rain leading up to the event left the trails slick and muddy, making both climbing and descending difficult. The significant elevation throughout the course added another layer of intensity.

Despite the demanding terrain, the WGHS riders showed determination and composure.

  • Grace Swanson placed 6th in the U16 Female race (main image above)
  • Emma Davies finished 2nd in the U20 Female race (image below).

 

Both riders handled the slippery conditions with maturity and represented Westlake Girls with pride. It was a strong start to the series in very testing circumstances.

 

Community

Careers Trip to Auckland Transport HQ

A group of 20 aspiring student engineers and planners recently had the opportunity to visit Auckland Transport’s headquarters, gaining valuable insight into careers in transport and infrastructure.

A highlight of the visit was hearing from Auckland Transport’s newly appointed CEO, Stacey van der Putten, who shared her leadership journey — one that began in the New Zealand Air Force and developed through a range of roles across her career. She spoke candidly about stepping into leadership and encouraged students with her memorable motto: “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.”

Stacey emphasised that gender should never be a barrier to leadership, and that confidence often grows through experience rather than arriving beforehand. Even when people don’t feel fully prepared, she encouraged students to trust that skills can be learned and developed over time.

Students also heard from a panel of professionals who described their ‘squiggly careers’ — pathways that were anything but linear. The message was clear: there is no need to have everything figured out at this stage. Careers often unfold through exploring interests, making decisions, and adapting along the way. Many of the speakers, including Stacey, reflected that they did not begin with a fixed career plan, but rather followed opportunities as they emerged.

A major highlight of the visit was an exciting opportunity announced for Westlake Girls students: a bespoke internship programme with Auckland Transport. Students selected for the programme will be paired with an AT mentor, work in teams to solve a real-world transport challenge, and present their findings at Auckland Transport headquarters in August. Participants will also receive a certificate of completion, along with guidance on how to effectively present their internship experience in future job or university applications.

The visit provided students with both inspiration and a practical pathway into the transport and planning sector, highlighting the many directions a career can take.

Community

Moira’s 30th Year Celebration

We are absolutely delighted to celebrate a remarkable milestone for a very special member of our staff. This year marks Moira Clarke’s 30th year of outstanding service at Westlake Girls High School!

Currently our Events Centre Manager, Moira expertly manages the bookings and events that bring our fantastic performance space to life for both our school and the wider community.

Moira first joined the Westlake whānau back in 1996 as the Music Department Administrator. Over the past three decades, she has been the backbone of the department, working alongside three Heads of Department: Elise Bradley, Rowan Johnston, and our current HOD, Fiona Wilson.

Moira’s dedication to championing girls’ educational opportunities and her unwavering support of musical excellence have been instrumental in developing Westlake Music into one of New Zealand’s highest-performing music communities.

Among her many highlights are the multiple international music tours she single-handedly organised and managed—a significant achievement, especially considering her early tours were planned in the days before the internet!

To honor this incredible milestone, we recently hosted a special High Tea. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with past and present Westlake staff, as well as Moira’s family, all gathering to celebrate her immense contribution and lasting legacy.

Thank you, Moira, for 30 years of passion, dedication, and heart. Westlake Music wouldn’t be the same without you!

Community

Chess Competition

To kick off our competitive season for 2026, our chess team competed in the Term 2 Auckland Senior Regional competition. The event was hosted by Mount Albert Grammar School, where seven of our best competed in six rounds against ākonga from schools across Auckland.

They all did an amazing job, showed great effort and represented our school’s value and spirit. Special congratulations to Amelia Bull, who was awarded the Bravery award for acting with great bravery in the face of adversity, Fatima Noor, who was awarded the Candor award for acting with great honesty and integrity, and Sayuni Dahanayaka Pathiranage, who was awarded the Best Girl award and was invited to the Chess Power National Finals Chess Championship later this year.

“It was a enjoyable experience, and we went up against a lot of friendly students from a variety of schools. Seeing so many great players giving it their best was super inspiring too!” Kavin Vignesh, WGHS Chess Club Captain.

Arts & Culture

Pasifika Night 2026

The vibrant spirit of Moana Nui came alive at our annual Westlake Pasifika Night, a spectacular celebration of culture, heritage, and unity. The evening brought aiga and whānau together from across the different cultures of the Pacific, filling the venue with an undeniable mafana (warmth) and a vibe that can only be felt within the presence of aiga Pasifika.

Five cultural groups took over the stage, showcasing the rich traditions of Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Niue. Audience members were mesmerizing at the 17 items, including the special graceful Tongan tau’olunga, the proud, commanding Samoan siva taupou and the powerful Fijian meke. Fijian group continued to deliver powerful collaborative performances with our brother school, Westlake Boys High School. The boys also performed a special guest Samoan sasa to start off the last half of the night.

Beyond the incredible stage performances, the night also provided the luscious island kai and the infamous ‘otai drink. It was truly an unforgettable night of pride, community, and cultural connection.  Vinaka vakalevu, Meitaki maata, Fakaaue lahi, Malo ‘auito, and Fa’afetai lava to everyone who made it possible, especially to our student tutors, performers and supervisors.

 

Notices

Father-Daughter Breakfast

Tickets will go on sale in June and we will publicise this on social media and our next newsletter. Don’t miss out!

Arts & Culture

Westlake Music Choir Concert 2 June

Community

Special New Name For Our Student Leaders

Within the WGHS team of prefects and tuākana, the five House Captains and the Head and Deputy Head Prefect work closely together. We meet weekly to discuss, organise, and brainstorm, forming the link between the various prefect teams within our kura.

At our leadership camp in mid-December 2025, we decided our core values for the year were: being approachable, inspirational, passionate, and resilient, while showing integrity, humility, and genuinely connecting with others. We strive to reflect these values, making it clear that all are on a level platform of mutual respect. Leadership, to us, is about supporting and standing alongside the student body, not sitting at the ‘top’.

Over the last term, we have been working towards creating a more inclusive name, reflective of the work we do within school. Historically, we have been referred to within the school based on our prefect positions, and not the characteristics we embody as a team.

L>R: Zoe Oram, Laura Mackenzie, Dorsa Jahedi, Charlotte Mawston, Hannah Smith, Amelia Birzin, Nicole Lao

Through discussion with Matua Eddie Hudson, we worked together on a number of names which could better fit with our collective kaupapa. Our final choice is ‘Ngā Pou Herenga’, a name which describes how the House Captains, Head Prefect, and Deputy Head Prefect act as a central pillar of connection and support within our kura, helping bind our school community together.

Translating to the ‘binding pillars’, Ngā Pou Herenga reflects our leadership as being grounded in relationships and aligns more closely with our school’s identity and direction. Through this name, we hope to encourage more student engagement, and for our goals and roles to be clearer in our kura.

We thank the school community for supporting us to make this change, and for allowing us to listen, to support, and to work with students as a collaborative team.

Ngā mihi nui,

Ngā Pou Herenga

Dorsa, Charlotte, Zoe, Laura, Amelia, Nicole, and Hannah

Community

Compassion and Initiative From Y13 Students

Over the month of May, as part of their Year 13 Social Action internal assessment, Westlake Girls High School students Georgia Clarke and Isla McHarg organised a winter drive in support of Give a Kid a Blanket.

When choosing an issue to focus on, the students wanted to make a meaningful impact within the local community. After learning about Give a Kid a Blanket from their Social Studies teacher Mrs Charlesworth, and the incredible work they do to support families during winter, they were inspired to get involved and support the charity’s mission.

The response from the school community exceeded all expectations, with donation boxes overflowing with warm winter supplies, including brand-new and handmade items generously donated by Westlake Girls High School students and staff. The students were incredibly grateful for the support received and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help local families in need. Through this experience, they also had the chance to meet Bernie Harfleet (pictured above), the co-founder of Give a Kid a Blanket, whose compassion, generosity, and dedication to the community left a lasting impression and provided valuable lessons about kindness and social responsibility.

Community members can continue to support v by donating clean blankets, warm clothing, sleeping bags, or winter essentials through local collection points which can be found on their website https://giveakidablanket.co.nz/about/. Every contribution helps provide warmth and comfort to families across the community during the colder months.

 

Sports

Y13 in Rhythmic Gym Competitions

Athena Li, one of our Akoranga Year 13 students, is representing NZ at two upcoming rhythmic gymnastics comps in July.

Athena is working extremely hard to balance her academic studies alongside her sporting commitments. She is highly motivated and hopes to achieve a 2027 High Performance Sport Science Scholarship at either the University of Auckland or AUT.

We wish you all the very best, Athena!

Arts & Culture

Korean Night!

Arts & Culture

Cantare Camp

Our premier treble voice choir Cantare enjoyed a weekend away at camp, polishing their upcoming performances for NZCF’s The Big Sing regional competition. Choir camp is always a highlight on the music calendar as singers spend three days together – developing their vocal skills, making new friendships and having fun as a team with games and activities.

This year the  annual camp concert featured a wide range of comedic talent as well as stand out musical numbers.

 

If you’d like to hear Cantare and the other Westlake Choirs perform, come along to our concert on Tuesday 2 June at 7pm in the Events Centre. Entry is by koha. There will be six  choirs featured including Voicemale and Momentum from WBHS, as well as barbershop and solos from Westlake Alumni. It’s going to be a wonderful night of music – we would love to see you there!

Arts & Culture

Westlake Girls Kicks Off Theatresports Season with Westlake Boys 

On Friday 22 May, Westlake Girls was excited to host the first of our Theatresports matches for 2026 – a ‘buddy night’ competition with Westlake Boys. We all had a great time learning the new competition format and building our skills in front of a live audience.

Our players were Reecy Tokhtarova, Eleanor Healy, Sreya Nair, Amelia Robinson, and Zara Rahim.

“It was great to see everyone having a go and stepping out of their comfort zone.” says Eleanor, “It was eye-opening to see everyone’s creative improvisational skills”.

Many thanks to the teachers from both schools who came to support us!

Notices

Make Life Easier - Use our App!

Download and use the SchoolBridge app to access the timetable, calendars, interviews, report absences, and make payments all in one place.

Sincere thanks to our valued partners!

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