If ever we needed some optimism, it’s right now! Today is Friday 1 October, which means you have the perfect opportunity to take full advantage of the “Action for Happiness” Optimistic October calendar.

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• Daily actions and helpful ideas
• Inspiring events with expert speakers
• Monthly calendars and audio guides
• Community forum full of kindness

Look for it at your App Store and download today!

Izzie Newton-Cross

Izzie is Hauraki’s super talented Arts Prefect. Where do we even begin with all the amazing things she’s created over lockdown? Let’s start with these. A Shrek hat for herself, and a Yoda hat for her dad for Father’s Day!

And then there is her Shrek painting. Izzie says “Arts Prefects held a ‘Friday Lunch Livestream’ on our Arts Prefect instagram page (@wghsartsprefects) and we all decided to paint something.  Here’s my Shrek painting I decided to make haha! Keep in mind that my artistic abilities lie firmly in the performing arts and fashion, not really the painting or drawing side of things.”

Let’s not forget her collection of handcrafted masks …

… or finally, her amazing corset top – whipped up in one night from material she had “lying around”. We hope Anna Wintour is watching!

Caitlin McConchie

Meet wonderful Caitlin who leads the Pupuke House team of Tuakana.

What’s something new or different you have tried during lockdown?
I have been playing the game Garticphone with my cousins and my youth group fairly often over Zoom, which has been so much fun and lots of laughs.

What’s the third thing you are most missing (aside from friends and school)?
I really miss just being out in the world, people-watching, visiting places and travelling to beautiful parts of the country such as Glenorchy or Dunedin. Many times I wished I could be amongst the beauty of our world, both in the community of it and the beautiful views.

What creative way have you found to counteract what you are missing?
Seeing as I am unable to leave my bubble, I have taken to exploring a world in a very different way – studying Professor J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.

I have been reading many detailed books, learning about Elvish, watching documentaries, and of course, watching the LOTR films – because it is a way to exploring and learning about such a fantastic fictional world that one man was able to create in his head. The depth and breadth of his imagination continues to astound me the more I research into it.

Judy Zhang

Judy is another of our amazing Tuakana Coordinators, leading the team for Onewa House.

What’s something new or different you have tried this lockdown?
With all this extra time being stuck at home, lockdown has given me the chance to get back into embroidery. It’s a pretty time consuming hobby but the whole process is really fun and therapeutic. Because there isn’t much fabric lying around at home, I’ve been embroidering on my jean pockets and tote bags – it’s a great way to personalise things too!

What’s the third thing you are most missing (aside from friends and school)?
The third-most thing I’m missing is being able to take walks at the beaches, bushwalks, and reserves outside of my suburb (closely rivalled by missing the different cuisines of restaurant food).

What creative way have you found to counteract what you are missing?

The good thing about “exercising local” is that I’ve now figured out all the possible walkways around my neighbourhood, haha! Even though the routes are the same, you can still treat it like an expedition. There are new and interesting things to be spotted every time… such as soft toys in windows, looking at your house/street from afar, and the chubby calico up the road.

Amy Morrison

Amy is one of the most upbeat Prefects we have! She’s the Sports Prefect for Pupuke House, and you might remember her from an earlier story in Te Reo o Te Roto, when she spent time on The Spirit of Adventure.

“The most active thing I have done during this lockdown has been my football trainings. This has always been a large part of my weekly schedule prior to lockdown, so it has been important for me to keep that part of my routine, especially as I am currently training towards a tournament set to go ahead later this month in Napier.

“Whether this is practicing and learning new skills or general fitness, I am trying to make the most of it, however, my team and I do have our fingers crossed that we can be back training all together soon.”

Mia Thomas

Mia is Wairau House’s creative and talented Arts Prefect. “During lockdown, I like to spend my time painting as I find it a great stress relief and nice way of expressing my emotions and creative visions onto a canvas,” she says.

“Here are a few of the paintings I have done in lockdown, that I am planning to give away.”

While she loves art as a hobby, Mia plans on studying communications and focusing on the film and media industry.

Scarlet Hur

Scarlet is the amazing Arts Prefect for Pupuke House. “I haven’t really done anything creative but I did bake some teddy bear cookies! The YouTube tutorial said it would take only 30 minutes so I thought I would give it a try. I ended up baking for 3hours 😅 (I’m not usually a baker)”.

They look awesome Scarlet!

Izzy van der Ent

Izzy is the incredible Sports Prefect for Akoranga House.

“I aim to exercise everyday, whether that’s a walk, run, a workout or a combination. I normally workout and run in the morning then go for a walk with the family after school.

The furthest run I have done has been around 8km. One of my favorite active moments was when I climbed up Mt Victoria and watched the sunset.”

Danica Madeira

How’s this for a Lockdown Legend?

Danica Madeira made these amazing cupcakes for the staff at the vaccination centre when she got her second dose recently.

Well done Danica – we’re sure they were very appreciated!

Zoe Ziting Wu

Zoe is the awesome Akoranga House Arts Prefect. Here’s how she has kept herself challenged creatively.

“Lockdown can be a difficult time for creative minds and though it has been hard, I’ve been trying to challenge myself by drawing something everyday, even if it’s small and insignificant.

“This practice helps retain a flow of creativity, as each day can bring forward new ideas and inspirations. I can start afresh every day without looking back or getting bored of whatever I was drawing yesterday, which is often what creates a creative block.

“I’ve also been experimenting with drying flowers and plants from my backyard and arranging them in glass jars – these add a nice touch to any room!”

By Lizzie Beaumont
TIC Food Technology

This is not going to be an article about buying yourself a gift or treating yourself to chocolate but more about how you can live a rewarding life.

Regularly take time to reflect on what you actually like to do. Find out as much as you can about the things you enjoy, it could be school related, a sport or hobby. Could you take it to the next level? In sport you could aim for team captain, coach, referee or a manager. In your class subjects could you ask for extension tasks, enter for a scholarship or aim for top in the subject. You may have a hobby that, with further skills and experience, could become a possible career option.

Find ways to become more independent. As a student this is more challenging but could you do some part-time work to provide you with the resources to gain some independence? Having the ability to pay for the things you need and want, or to contribute financially if needed, is worthwhile. Can you navigate your way to activities, school and appointments by yourself?

During adolescence you will be establishing what your key values are, what matters to you and why. People and their opinions can make you doubt yourself and question your own beliefs or abilities. Think carefully about how much you value their opinion, if you don’t, it’s not worth worrying about.

Value your genuine friends, you deserve to have them but make sure you make time for them and treasure the part they play in your life. Look for ways you can let them know you are there for them and care for them.

Be a volunteer – doing things for others is really rewarding, when you are aware of other people’s situations it can help to put your own in perspective. This can be informal and small such as bringing in rubbish bins for a neighbour or more structured like collecting for Youthline at an event.

If you want to discuss any of these areas further, speak to your tutor teacher, Dean or a guidance team member.

One of the good things about Alert Level 3 is that the landscaping around Westlake’s new Event Centre is able to continue.

This week concrete was laid outside the Centre. Planting will turn the area into a garden space where students will be able to meet and have lunch. Some of the area will be covered by a canopy, which was also being installed this week (see photos below). Once erected, it will provide a sheltered space outside the Centre for outdoor gatherings.

Lastly, the new plinth was installed. Once it’s up and running the screen on the plinth will feature the latest news from Westlake. You might remember the smaller screen that used to feature on the site. Meet its very advanced big sister!

We are looking forward to getting back to school and putting it to good use.

One of the luckiest families in lockdown at the moment has to be that of Year 10 student Charlotte Lockie.

Guessing by the photos surrounding this story, you probably don’t need to ask why! Fifteen-year-old Charlotte has an exceptional talent for baking, and while she’s keen to keep her passion a hobby rather than a career, the enterprising young baker did start up a small cake-making business earlier this year.

Called Char Bakes, her business has been commissioned to make around 20 cakes in the past six months.

“I have always enjoyed baking and for Christmas I was given a book that was written by a local baker that has a sweet cafe, Magnolia Kitchen,” says Charlotte. “That was the inspiration for the start of my cake baking. I started making birthday cakes for family members then friends of the family and so on.  That’s how my little business started to grow.”

Charlotte says her speciality is Macarons. “But after a lot of practice and tears and I also make a mean chocolate ganache,” she says. Pictured left is her chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and chocolate macaroons.

“I explore cake decorating designs on social media and often combine aspects from multiple cakes along with my own personal touch. I like to be creative with each design so no cake is the same.”

Pictured at the top is Charlotte’s favourite cake: Strawberry and Pistachio with strawberry compote filling, Swiss meringue buttercream and strawberry macarons.

If you’d like to see more of Charlotte’s amazing designs, check out her Instagram @char._.bakes

Here are a few more images to make you hungry.

Silver-themed Baby Shower cake. Vanilla with berry filling, vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream and vanilla macaroons.

Above left: Banana cake with its gluten-free mini version. Right: Banana cake with chocolate ganache and dark chocolate and caramilk discs.

Above left: Vanilla cake with mixed berry filling, swiss meringue buttercream and macaroons – lilac-themed. Right: Lemon cake with lemon curd filling, vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream and macaroons.

There was a lot to celebrate this week, including the fact it was the last week of term!

This week was:

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week in Y12 Health, students were allowed to do what they wished for their classes – which would also have happened if classes had been at school. “In class we would have allowed them to watch movies, complete any other subject work, draw/colour, or we would have gone for a walk,” says TIC Health, Tayla Boyd.

“In Y11 & 13 Health we buttoned-off on the workload leading into the holidays this week – we always try to end the terms this way.”

Here are a few things you might want to try:

• We all have Mental Health (Youtube Clip)
• How to be more mindful
• mhaw-2021-guide
• Mindful colouring template

Most importantly focus on our four dimensions of wellbeing – social, physical, spiritual and lastly mental & emotional.

• Social- make connections with friends/whanau/teachers/neighbours
• Physical – move around, eat well/treat yourself too, and rest
• Spiritual – remind yourself about your values, your identity, set a goal
• Mental & Emotional – discover your feelings, try/learn something new, like this Online Escape Room

Don’t forget if you or anyone in your bubble needs to talk, you can text 1737 and someone will be in touch.

Tuvalu Language Week

This year’s theme for Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week is Fakaakoigina tou iloga kae tukeli ke magoi mote ataeao which means, embracing our culture and a more secure, vibrant future.

Fakaakoigina tou iloga kae tukeli ke magoi mote ataeao highlights the important role language and culture has when securing a vibrant future for Tuvaluans across Aotearoa. It encourages language and culture to be embraced to build strong foundations of perseverance, success, and health equity.

By taking a holistic view of wellbeing and positive outcomes, the theme is also a reminder of the power of embracing both traditional and new ways of doing things especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s theme reflects the overarching 2021 Pacific Language Week theme of Wellbeing, by linking the importance of language to overall wellbeing.

Due to COVID-19 Alert Levels across Aotearoa Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week will be celebrated online.

Resources to explore:

• Languages cards
• Tuvalu languages week

New Zealand Chinese Language Week

This week is also New Zealand Chinese Language Week. Here are some funs to explore:

• One of our students, Julia Wilkins, made this tutorial on paper cutting: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUVvIDGB5CN/?utm_medium=copy_link
• Are you interested in folk arts? There is a tutorial on Window Flower-Paper Cut, which you can enjoy with your little ones.
• Do you love eating dumplings? Why not learn to make your own? Watch this tutorial, Dumpling Making Challenge (tutorial from Moe Tun https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUOkulCDPtP/?utm_medium=copy_link)
• Are you sick of your music playlist? Why don’t you try something new, a list of Chinese songs have been selected
• Do you want to challenge yourself in-between the boredness of lockdown? Join the One Chinese Phrase Per Day Challenge
• Craving for even more challenges? There are daily quizzes and a Kahoot Game on Wednesday
• There will be a Movie Night on Thursday and also a list of selected dramas and movies for you to indulge in during the school break.

Follow  wghs_chineseclub for more details

Here is another awesome video from our Enviro Group with another great challenge.

Throughout the first four weeks of Lockdown, 20 junior students took part in weekly Wednesday lunchtime sessions as a part of a Happiness and Hauora active programme with AUT placement student Georgia Calverley. This was for her final project of her Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.

Students learnt about the significance of keeping active for mental/emotional, physical, social and spiritual hauora, how to create an effective workout from home, ways to stay connected, while additionally completing short session evaluations to contribute towards the AUT study.

Results from this study demonstrated an increase in positivity towards the four dimensions of Hauora, increased sense of belonging, increased motivation towards physical activity participation, greater knowledge and awareness around physical activity and increased feelings of happiness/positivity after participation.

All students were eager to continue participation in weekly physical activity/movement sessions both online or at school, which is encouraging when considering student wellbeing!

Special thanks would like to be given to the students involved and the kind donation of products from Juicies, Sanitarium and Pita Pit to be gifted to the participants.

By Tina Kim and Estelle Fernandez

This year a group of students from Years 10-13 at Westlake Girls High School volunteered to help out primary school aged children at Milford School to develop their reading.

On the cold Thursday mornings, everyone would find their way to the Milford School and we were paired up with a buddy who we would get to know as well as helping them with their reading skills. This experience was exciting and it felt wonderful knowing we were helping the next generation find a love and passion for reading.

There were many enthusiastic young readers, eager to learn how to pronounce new words every week and even the less enthusiastic ones were smiling at the end of sessions.

Although our time with them may have been cut short due to lockdown, the many weeks we spent with them will stay with us – and them.

By the end of everything, both the wee readers of Milford, and the big readers from Westlake were left very fulfilled and happy with their reading.