On Friday 5 August, the annual Westlake Gala Concert was held for the first time in the new Event Center at Westlake Girls. The Gala Concert is a combined school celebration of every music group that is run within the two Westlake Schools and there are so many groups that there are two sessions for audiences to attend.
Both concerts were well attended by audience with the evening concert at capacity. This year the concert MC was alumna Te Ohorere Williams, who is finishing her Masters in Vocal Performance at Auckland University.
All the music groups performed with a professionalism well beyond their years, and included girls in the following groups:
- Cantare Choir – Premier Girls’ Choir
- Choralation – Premier Mixed Choir
- Cigno Voce – Senior Choir
- Nota Bella – Junior Choir
- Westlake Symphony Orchestra – Premier MixeWestlake Chamber Orchestra – Premier Mixed
- Westlake Concert Band – Premier Mixed
- Westlake Big Band – Premier Mixed
- Taharoto Orchestra
- Westlake Girls Symphonic Band
Congratulations to the students and directors involved and special thanks to the team who worked hard to bring the night to fruition – Rachel Carson, Jono Howan, Dan Bernadie, Kasey Lui, Moira Clarke, Linley McCallum, Michael Foster.
Seeing all different types of women pursuing their dreams and not letting stereotypes stop them was inspiring. Although we all loved the whole lesson, my favourite part was the WEN team having a meeting after our first half of the lesson just discussing what they could improve on. I was really captivated by what they were saying and it really inspired me because they wanted to improve for the next class.
The Peace Foundation of New Zealand promotes this annual event which encourages young people to think about how we can work together to promote a more peaceful community, country, and world. We also reflect upon the importance of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s long standing nuclear-free policy. 
On the Tuesday of Peace Week, we had the great opportunity to hear about Bob Narev’s Holocaust survival story. Along with this, we organised a lunchtime peace/unity quiz and to finish the week off, we hosted our all-time favourite Project Runway. 
On Thursday 4 August, 12 PE students across Years 12 and 13 went to Kumeu Showgrounds to participate in the Tough Gal Mud Run. 
Naisi Chen. 
On Monday 15 August a group of enthusiastic learners from Westlake Kaitiaki set off to Onewa Domain ready to plant some native trees. As luck would have it, it began to drizzle as we left, but the team kept in sunny spirits as we made our way to Smith’s Bush, led by Enviro Prefect Anja, Ms. See and Ms. Bhavsar. Once there, we met our park ranger, Anna, who guided us through the bush to our planting site. To refresh our memory, we were briefed on how to plant a tree and a little more about the bush’s biodiversity, as well as the significance of native plants.
On 30 July, Cantare choir performed in a concert with Auckland Choral to a full audience at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (pictured above). The choir was an invited guest performing a special programme of works by New Zealand composer David Hamilton. David is the composition tutor at Westlake Girls High School and his 40-year membership with Auckland Choral was celebrated with a performance of two works, one specifically written for Matariki. The Cantare Year 13 students were enjoying the school ball on the same night, so the choir was reduced to 30 singers from Year 9 – 12, who received wonderful reviews for their performance.
Cantare, Choralation and Cigno Voce choirs are preparing for their national competitions coming up next week. To develop their performance craft, the singers enjoyed a day tour on Wednesday 17 August, performing at Northcross Intermediate, Mayfair Retirement Village and Fairview Village.
As part of the topic ‘Food and Eating Out’ the Spanish Students from Year 10 to Year 13 had a dinner experience at the Mexican restaurant Mexican Cafe recently.
Year 10 Fabric Technology students have been busy making Santa sacks for the charitable venture Present for You. The sacks will be personalised and filled with presents for children from Women’s Refuge and the Teen Parent Unit.
Squash
Basketball
Netball
Recently Brooke James (Year 13, pictured left) completed in a Women’s Interprovincial Indoor Cricket Tournament. Her Northern District team won the Tournament with Brooke getting Player of the match in the Final.
Results were:
“Participants must present a 5 to 6-minute prepared speech, as well as a 2-minute impromptu speech. The New Zealand Lions Club Young Speech Makers’ Competition usually begins with District contests throughout the country. I first participated in the Auckland district competition, and I was very grateful to have been sponsored by the Hillcrest Lions Club.
“At nationals, I decided to stick with the topic of my prepared speech from regionals, as it was something I was still passionate about. The impromptu topic we were given was “Should New Zealand host the Common Wealth Games?” I said that we should, considering it would be a great opportunity for Aotearoa to gain representation and global attention.
Shalinee, Year 10, also participated in the New Zealand National Gymnastics Championship, and was awarded 3rd in Rope in Level 7 Rhythmic and 1st (champion) in Grade 6 Group. This competition was held from 12-16 July.