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Te Reo O Te Roto
The Language of the Lake
Issue 78 | 23 February 2024
From the Principal

From the Principal

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

Last Friday, we were delighted to hold our Academic Assembly on our Covered Courts, in which we celebrated the outstanding academic achievements of 2023’s Scholarship recipients, our 2023 Year 11 and 12 Excellence students, and top scholars. The effort, commitment, tenacity, and self-control that it takes to achieve at this high level is truly impressive.

We also took the time to recognise this year’s student leaders – our fabulous prefects and Tuakana.

It was a wonderful celebration. I was extremely moved to share this precious moment with so many of the Scholarship recipients and their parents and caregivers, as well as with our entire staff and student population.

Life is already vibrant and bustling at Westlake and every week brings new challenges and opportunities to our students. Whether they are rowing at Lake Karapiro, or going on a biology trip to the beach, taking part in a music camp, signing up for one of the approximately 80 extra-curricular clubs and activities we offer here, or breaking records left, right and centre at our Swimming Sports, there’s always something happening!

I hope you and your family keep well and enjoy your weekend.

Jane Stanley

Principal

 

Community Ex-Students' Successes

Two of our own in Cuisine magazine

Check out the March 2024 issue of Cuisine. Not only does it feature former student, Alice Taylor, who won 3rd place in Masterchef New Zealand at 22 and now works in Paris Butter in Herne Bay, but Alice mentions our very own staff member, Louise Clouston, as inspiration!

Community

A staggering number of clubs and extra-curricular activities for 2024

At the time this issue of Te Reo o Te Roto is being published, the list is being finalised for all the clubs and extra-curricular activities that we will be offering this year. There are nearly 80 of them, so there really is something for everyone.

Students, check them out and give things a go. You can’t know if you’ll like something until you’ve given it a decent try.  For most of our offerings it doesn’t matter at all if you don’t have any experience. Just come along. You’ll meet like-minded people and your school life will be so much richer.

“I wish I hadn’t been involved in so many fun and amazing clubs and activities when I was at school” .

Said nobody, ever!!!

Arts & Culture Community

Pasifika Fono evening - 4 March.

Last year, our Pasifika Fono evening was given a 5-star rating by everyone who came. Don’t miss this stunning event, whatever you do!

RSVP  by Tuesday, 27 February (next Tuesday) via the QR code on the poster, or follow this link.

If you have any issues with the link or have any questions, please email our lovely new Pasifika Dean, Mrs Lesila Tu’itupou Kutu

Sports

Is there something in the water?!

A Record-Breaking Start to the Year 

The 2024 Westlake Girls Swimming Sports Day was record-breaking in and out of the pool. Nearly 500 students journeyed to AUT Millennium’s National Aquatic Centre for the first school event of the year on 15 February. Our largest number of participants ever enjoyed the colourful opportunity to earn valuable points for their houses. Hopeful synchronised swimmers, enthusiastic relay swimmers and Manu bombers gave it their all.

 

We were also treated to an awe-inspiring display from Westlake Girls’ top swimmers, who toppled 10 school records in the water!

Wairau’s Brooke Humphries began the record-breaking spree by winning the Junior Girls 200m Freestyle in a time of 2.26.12, more than eight seconds faster than the previous record set in 2023. Humphries then broke three more records, including the Junior Girls 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 100m Medley.

Accompanied by Onewa’s Eva Makarova-Paton, who broke the Junior Girls 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke records, the pair impressively set new records for all Junior Girls events.

Cayleigh Blackburn was the standout performer in the Intermediate Girls events, setting a new record for the 50m Freestyle to become the Intermediate Girls’ Swimming Champion for Pupuke. Onewa’s Julia Kim broke two records in the Senior Girls 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle, while Mia Stanley-Hunt managed to shave 100ths of a second off the final record in the Senior Girls 200m Medley. Humphries won the Junior Swimming Champion title, while Kim and Stanley-Hunt shared the Senior Champion honours.

Overall, Onewa had a stellar day in the pool, winning the House competition with 239 points, 27 points ahead of Hauraki on 212 and 35 points clear of Wairau. Pupuke finished 4th overall with 164 points, and Akoranga was 5th with 130.

Thank you to our Head Girl, Candese Mamaia-Hellesoe, who made a fantastic MC for the occasion!

SENIOR House
Mia Stanley-Hunt – 39
Julia Kim – 39
Annabel Van Wyk 18

 

INTERMEDIATE House
Cayleigh Blackburn – 45
Tannah Strombeck – 29
Ashleigh Fox – 16

 

JUNIOR House
Brooke Humphries – 40
Eva Makarova-Paton – 19
Kayla Alarcon-Bustmante – 18

Overall House Points

239
212
204
164
130
Academic Community

Meet our core student leadership team!

Take note of these faces. These very special people have been chosen to lead the student body this year. Each one of them displays a range of fabulous leadership qualities. Keep an eye on this newsletter and our socials to learn more about them!

From left to right:

Back: Tara Yoo, Angela Kim, Maia Hunter.

Front: Emily French, Candese Mamaia-Hellesoe (Head Prefect), Georgia Brackebush (Deputy Head Prefect), Anna Greenhalgh.

 

Community

Westlake Wellness - Hydration and School Lunches

By Elizabeth Beaumont

In the very hot and humid weather at this time of the year, it is really important to stay hydrated throughout the day, to remain alert, feel comfortable and get the most out of time in the classroom.

We recommend your child brings a water bottle to school and frequently refills it during the day. There are chilled water filters for the students located around the school, as well as water fountains and taps for refilling water bottles. Fruit and vegetables are a great source of liquid as they have a high water content, contributing to daily liquid intake, as well as providing additional fibre and nutrients. Seasonal examples are watermelon, cucumber and tomatoes, all of which are readily available and reasonably priced at this time of year.

If your child struggles to eat breakfast before school, encourage them to include additional food when they make their lunch that they could eat before school to provide fuel for the start of the day. Planning and preparing what they will eat during the day develops feelings of responsibility and independence in your child and can be an opportunity to learn more about food and its role in their body. Inspiration for school lunches can be challenging, I have listed a few helpful websites for ideas below:

http://www.5aday.co.nz/

https://www.nutritionfoundation.org.nz/nutrition-facts/healthy-eating-for-all-ages/Teenagers-2

https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/food-activity-and-sleep/healthy-weight/healthy-eating-teenagers

Arts & Culture

Pasifika News

We are excited to start the year with the fantastic addition to our Westlake Whanau of our new Dean of Pasifika students, Lesila   Tu’itupou Kutu. Welcome!

Pasifika Morning Tea

On Wednesday, 14 February, over 80 Pasifika students gathered for a Welcome Morning Tea where they were introduced to some of our Pasifika Mentors and the Pasifika Student Leaders who are planning many events in 2024 to celebrate Pasifika Culture and to help our students thrive at Westlake. One initiative starting soon is the Pasifika Club on Wednesday lunchtimes. Keep an eye out for the notices.

 

 

 

 

 

One of our student leaders noted, “It felt really good to see how much our Pasifika students here at Westlake are evolving, especially seeing the girls show up to our little events such as our Welcome Morning Tea. It went really well, everyone was very excited and social with the mentors and the 2024 leaders.

Mālō ‘Aupito!”

Community

School Gates Notice - Don't Get Locked In!

Just a reminder that our gates are locked daily at 3:00 pm for safety reasons while the students leave the grounds.

If you are coming to sign out a student close to the end of the school day, please be aware of this and park elsewhere. Otherwise, you might find yourself locked in 🙁

Thank you very much for your help in keeping our  students safe.

Sports

Zoe Crawford Impresses in Germany

2023 Westlake Girls Sportswoman of the Year, Zoe Crawford, left New Zealand for the International German Cup before most students had finished their NCEA exams. 

Crawford’s first international event with the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Team was impressive, helping the Black Fins to finish second overall, just behind Australia. Crawford finished fifth in the overall individual women’s standings, the highest New Zealand female placement, while Fergus Eadie (NZ) claimed the top overall men’s spot. 

The two-day pool rescue competition is an annual event that tests the skills and expertise of surf lifeguards. The NZ Open team won gold and two silver medals in the Women’s Relays; individually, Crawford won silver and bronze medals in the pool. The amazing performance saw the eight-person team break eight NZ records – excellent preparation ahead of the Lifesaving World Championships on the Gold Coast next year. 

Zoe is on the left in the featured image.

 Zoe Crawford Individual:

2nd 100m Manikin Tow 

 3rd 100m Manikin Carry

4th 200 Super Lifesaver

NZ Woman Relays:

1st 4x 50m Obstacle Relay

2nd 4x 25m Manikin Relay

2nd 4 x 50m Medley Relay.

Congratulations, Zoe, we are so proud of you!

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