Putting risk management skills to use

By Katie Booth
Mrs Bouterey’s Year 12 Outdoor Education Class (pictured above)

Outdoor Education has had a rough start this year, with COVID having a massive impact on various trips planned. However, after some delays, we were able to follow through on our year 12 overnight tramp to the Pinnacles Hut.

I had a blast tramping with my class – it was amazing to explore another one of New Zealand’s gems. We walked up to the hut, and then my class hiked down a particularly steep hill and along a rocky creek to check out a really old dam that exceeded all expectations! We then came back up just before dark for dinner and a good night’s rest before tackling the windy walk up to the summit to see some spectacular views and a nice trip back down the next day.

The trip was a great opportunity for myself and my classmates to demonstrate the risk management skills we have learnt in theory to avoid risks such as hypothermia and injury and experience some real scenarios outside of the classroom. Outdoor Ed is a fantastic opportunity to learn and apply leadership skills as well as work together with and care for classmates.

Pinnacles prove a time of memory-making

By Macka Harvey
Ms Beckett’s Year 12 Outdoor Education Class

Third time lucky and the classes of 12OUTE were able to go on our Pinnacles Tramp in the Coromandel.

Prior to the tramp, each class picked a route, planned our meals for the two-day hike and analysed any risks that we may have faced. My class decided to begin our Pinnacles Tramp with a walk to the old and rather big Kauri tree, and then we decided we would tramp into the DOC hut and wake up early Monday morning to climb the Pinnacles for sunrise!

Throughout the tramp, my classmates and I were surprised by the nature and scenic views surrounding us as well as the track we were walking on. The track into the Pinnacles was no doubt challenging, at times it felt as though the track was constantly inclining, plus there very swing bridges to cross, thousands of stairs to walk up as well as slippery uneven surfaces.

Walking in and out of the Pinnacles was the perfect opportunity to keep bonding as a class but also to get to know our new teacher Miss Becket! I would say a highlight for many of my classmates and I would be watching the sunrise at the top of the Pinnacles summit. As we were walking and sometimes running up the summit we could see the bright and colourful sun rising and the fog moving over the rolling hills. The view was incredible!

My class and I are looking forward to our next and final trip of the year where we will go mountain biking and bouldering! My peers and I are extremely grateful for the opportunities and experiences that 12ODE has exposed us to and the long-lasting memories we have made!

Challenges create strong bonds

By Chloe Salthouse
Ms Jobe’s Year 12 Outdoor Education class

We left the school early on the Sunday morning, 60 students traveling in vans through to the Coromandel, heading towards the start of the Pinnacles track. The atmosphere was full of energy and everyone was raring to go. Each class of 20, made their way through the first stage of the Pinnacles tramp.

The track was muddy and slippery in some areas, as well as steep and rocky in others. Our class was filled with different hiking abilities, but keeping the positive influence, leadership and risk management support running at a constant high throughout our group, meant we could keep pushing. Getting to the Pinnacles hut, we felt we accomplished a challenge individually but also as a class. Walking to the summit was a big highlight for our class, the clouds disappeared as soon as we got to the top and we got to see the rewarding views. Our class all got closer and we really started to get a good idea of how well we all work together, and what is needed to keep our entire class in a strong and happy mindset. With every trip our class does, we get to know each other really well, and we get to feel confident in every trip and challenge to come.

Over all, the trip to the pinnacles, up and down from the hut and summit, our class thrived in taking opportunities to excel physically and mentally on the tramp. We are all thankful for our classmates and our teacher, Ms Jobe, for helping everyone in the class to realise what we are all capable of doing in this subject.

From making and 3D printing her own earrings, making illuminated dresses, and showing robotic pets on children’s TV show Fanimals … there’s no stopping Skills Bright Sparks Ambassador Mikayla Stokes.  She is full ESTEAM ahead!!

Over lockdown,  72 STEAM and ESTEAM students met with Mikayla through a live stream.

Mikayla is now in her second year of Mechatronics Engineering. She is a back-to-back winner and ambassador of New Zealand’s top competition for inventors, Skills Bright Sparks. She co-founded TechGirlsNZ, an initiative to encourage girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Highlighting to girls that engineering isn’t just for boys is extremely important to Mikayla. 

Her advice: Think like an entrepreneur!

“It’s honestly not actually coming up with an idea,” says Mikayla. “It’s coming up with a problem. Because you can come up with a crazy brilliant idea, but if it doesn’t have a purpose or solve a problem, then what is the point?  “Every single project I have come up with, was solving people’s everyday problems. What I find is if you analyse different parts of both your own and other people’s lives, that’s the key to finding a good problem. And then building something to solve this.

“While I was coming up with my inventions, I realised that you are actually engineering a product for a problem, which will be used by real people, your customers. So, as an entrepreneur, for whatever I am building or inventing, I think ‘how can I make it better and solve my customer’s problem? So, try seeing your idea as more of a product to help someone. Why would they buy it? What is the purpose of the product?  What makes this better than any other solution that is currently out there?” 

An example of solving a customer problem was Mikayla’s 2018 Bright Sparks project – an automated vertical garden that could be controlled through a smartphone app, called My Vege Wall. The garden incorporates an automated hydroponics system which maintains the pH and nutrient levels of the plants. It was designed for apartment dwellers, or those with minimal space and time to house a full garden.

It won Mikayla the Overall Female Award for Bright Sparks 2018 and a regional Young Entrepreneur of the Year award – as well as offers to buy the business concept.

Mikayla also volunteers to help out with Startup Weekend, a 54-hour event where people with different skills come together to take ideas and develop them into ventures.

Here’s what a couple of our students had to say about their live stream with Mikayla:

“I enjoyed the part where Mikayla shared her works and projects. I also liked how she shared her experience in the STEAM pathway and how it helped her through high school and life in general.” Angeline Lulu, Year 10 STEAM student

“She inspired me with her words on confidence and courage, standing up against stereotypes and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Her projects are also spectacular and gave me a look into the creative side of E-STEAM with entrepreneurship.”
Shella Dabbach, Year 12 ESTEAM student

“It was very enlightening as STEAM/ESTEAM is usually mistaken as a ‘nerdy’ subject. I learnt how I could use STEAM and relate it to other subjects and link them with one another.”
Angeline Lulu, Year 10 STEAM

If your feeling inspired by Mikayla why not find out more about our ESTEAM programme here

It seems lockdown brings out the creative juices!

This week some of our senior Technology students came onsite in a very controlled environment to work on projects that were tricky to complete at home. Above are students in our Year 13 Fabric Technology workshop, and below are Year 13 Food Technology students hard at work.

“Year 13 Food Technology students attended a 6-hour workshop on Wednesday to carry out practical trials and testing associated with their new product development,” says TIC Food Technology, Lizzie Beaumont. “Their experience from previous years and knowledge of processes, allowed them to confidently carry out individual work and make considerable practical progress during the day. Due to social distancing they were spread over several rooms.”

“Year 13 Fabric Technology students completed a full day workshop,” says TIC Fabric Technology, Kate Luisetti. Students worked on individual projects including using the sublimation printer as part of a climate change protest costume, designing a screen print for a protest costume, construction of costumes reflecting students’ cultures (Filipino, Chinese and Korean), garments inspired by the 1940s and a costume made from waste paper/card to demonstrate awareness of sustainability.”

We also wanted to share these images of Year 12 Fabric Technology student Izzie Newton-Cross modelling her self-made gorgeous red velvet trousers and beautiful matching red brocade mask.

Junior Reports

Due to the loss of our normal half-year Junior Reports because of IT issues last month, we are issuing a special Progress Report for our Junior (Years 9-10) students which covers the subjects they did in the first half of the year. The report will be issued via their Form Teacher on Tuesday 1 September, as well as placed on the Parent Portal as soon as the portal comes back on line.

Gala Concert rescheduled

Our Gala Concert planned for 13 August has been rescheduled to Tuesday 22 September. Aside from the date, all of the details on the poster below remain the same. If you have purchased tickets already, they are valid for the 22nd. We look forward to a fantastic turnout.

Voices Together cancelled

Sadly our Voices Together concert planned for Friday 4 September has had to be cancelled due to Level 2 gathering restrictions. If you purchased tickets, you should have received notification of a refund last week, and the money should be in your account shortly. If you have any issues with your refund, please contact Christina at [email protected]

Out-of-Zone Enrolment Application

Don’t forget that out-of-zone enrolment applications close on Wednesday 2 September at 5pm. This applies to all out-of-zone applications – even if you already have a daughter at Westlake Girls. It would be great if you could also remind friends of the date – we’d hate anyone to miss out! If needed, a ballot for out-of-zone placements will take place on Wednesday 9 September.

Term 3 Key Dates

Wednesday 2 September: Last day for out-of-zone enrolment applications
Tuesday 22 September: Gala Concert
Friday 25 September:  Chinese Night
Friday 25 September: Last Day of Term

By Mia  Wisniewski and Serena O’Dea
13OUTE

We ran up the stairs to the Pinnacles singing at the top of our lungs – it was like a scene out of Mamma Mia!

Reaching the Pinnacles summit gave us an amazing sense of accomplishment – seeing kilometres of lush green bush from a towering 759-metre-high summit, we realised how small we are in this world and that all our worries are insignificant.

Each trip as part of outdoor education has taught us that life is so much better outside! We have realised that cell phones are not a necessity and that there is so much more to experience than the confines of modern life. Being in the bush is such a great feeling of relief from the city, it lets you reset and have a fresh mindset.

In having the same team for two years, we have created an unbreakable bond through every tramp, camp and adventure. These trips bring everyone so close – together we created memories that will always be looked back on once the time comes to leave Westlake Girls.

This subject has taught us resilience and built up our stamina. Most importantly, it has helped us to appreciate the amazing outdoor attractions that we are lucky to have on our own doorstep.

Although the scrapes and bruises are healed, our memories of outdoor ed will stay with us for a very long time, even if it is just to be thankful for your warm, dry, COMFY bed!

A note from PE teacher Rebecca Bouterey

The hike talked about above was a 3-day tramp in the Coromandel Forest. We spent 2 nights in the hut at the top and explored other tracks on the other days. We went off track to search for a Dam and went up to the summit. The students were absolute champs and were very welcoming of all other guests and schools when we in the hut for dinners and breakfasts.

By Francine Widjaja
Year 12 Hospitality Student

It was a memorable experience for me to be able to organize a High Tea for our teachers. We planned everything – from the food preparation to the decorations for the tables that represent our cultures.

I was allowed to be the head chef for my group and I was honored to be able to guide my group, and think about some tasty dishes that we could make for the High Tea.

What I liked about this experience was the diversity that we had from the hospitality class, that made us able to produce foods from all around the world, that represented each different culture. The interesting part was combining those different cultures into a dish. It was challenging at first, but it was worth it once we finished all of it.

From this experience, I learned that communication is very important in group work, along with time management to make all the dishes and present them in a short time.