Artist and ex-Westlake student Sara Moana joined the team from Depot,  Devonport’s  Centre for Creative Futures, for an inspiring Career Bites session about careers in Visual Art. 

Sara Moana is a full-time illustrator who has been commissioned to work on a variety of projects for organisations ranging from Amnesty International to Converse. Sara graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, from Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland. “I didn’t plan my career; I hadn’t given much thought to what I would do after year 13,” explains Sara, “but my art teacher made a fleeting comment that ‘I am Elam material,’ which encouraged me to apply for Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland.” Sara encouraged students to pursue their dreams and be proactive about networking to make a successful career out of fine art. 

Depot staff members Dilohana Lekamge (Exhibition Curator and gallery Manager), Amy Saunders (Director), and Catherine George (Wayfind Creative Programme Manager) discussed how their individual arts careers have developed and introduced the specific programmes at Depot that artists can use to develop their careers. Dilohana is a writer, curator, and gallery manager at Depot; she reinforces the importance of networking when it comes to career opportunities.  

“Some of the work offers I have received have come from places I didn’t expect – from the network of people I have met and stayed in touch with,” explains Dilohana. Catherine George and Amy Saunders described some of the skills, such as marketing, accounting and business skills, that artists may need to develop to make a career out of being an artist. Depot runs a programme for artists that teaches these skills and a programme to help artists find work. “You never know who is going to help you next in your career, so make good relationships with everyone,” advises Catherine.

“I got my break in the world of television production by being organised and doing a little bit extra; people notice that.”  

Catherine and Amy highlighted the importance of creative thinking in a changing world, “If you are creative, that means you can think outside the square and solve problems, which is what the future workplace is going to demand.”

Note from the editor about our featured photograph: In an exemption from the ‘Phones Away for the Day’ rules, students are allowed to use mobile phones in school when staff authorise them to do so, as in this instance.

Have you ever wondered what Year 9 Hangarau Kai (Food Technology) is like at Westlake Girls High School? 

During your practical lesson each week, you enter the classroom with your apron tied and hands washed, wearing hairnets and covered shoes, eager to try out new recipes or design and create your own products. All this while cooking with new friends and gaining valuable knowledge and experience. If you make a mistake, that’s fine! It’s all part of learning in this subject. 

In our first practical lesson, we were challenged to turn a pikelet recipe into our own creation. By changing some of the ingredients, shape, size and colour, our group was able to create a dark chocolate pikelet, made in a waffle maker, changing it into an entirely different product. 

Hangarau Kai is all about teamwork and collaboration. We swap tips and share techniques, and when we’re done, we share the food we have made within our group. Our classmates act as stakeholders to give us feedback on our creations and provide advice on what we can improve on. And if being able to work together isn’t enough, we also had creative freedom in our practical assignments, with the opportunity to make anything from waffle stacks to savoury soups.

It is not just about making food; in our non-practical classes, we have learnt about the design process, a little bit about the science involved in cooking, measurements and ensuring accuracy, using our senses to evaluate food, we learnt about harmful bacteria and the temperature danger zone, and even a little bit about nutrition. We have also had the opportunity to use our own culture as the inspiration for the dishes we created. Some examples from our class included; kumara and lamb dumplings, sapasui baked potato, pani popo twists, pork and coconut rice, and parāoa parai (fried bread) burgers.

Our final practical in the unit was a mystery box innovation challenge. For this, each group was given a list of ingredients, and the challenge was to create a new product by utilising the ingredients in a different, more unique way. This was a great opportunity to showcase our creativity. We began by sketching out our initial ideas for the design and ended up inventing a completely new dish that we would never have thought of before.

All in all, this course was not just about practising cooking skills, but also encouraging our creativity (auahatanga), encouraging problem solving, building relationships and working together with others (whakawhanaungatanga). We had to work together throughout the entire process, including the cleaning at the end of every practical. 

It was a valuable experience for us, and we hope to be back again someday.  We’ll remember all we’ve learnt and take away the knowledge and experience home to share with our whānau.

Teachers of Food Technology: Ms Clouston, Mrs Beaumont, Mrs Segetin, Ms Pike, Ms Bickerstaffe.

By Heidi Geertsema & Sophia Tremain-Choudhary 

In our final Career Bites session of Term One, we delved into the thrilling world of animation, visual effects, and game design. Welcoming esteemed speakers Dr Jason Kennedy, Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and motion graphic artist Aishwarya Raman, we gained invaluable insights into these dynamic industries.

Dr Kennedy sparked our imagination with thought-provoking questions: Do you relish the opportunity to breathe life into characters and tell compelling stories? Are you drawn to technical challenges and thrive in collaborative environments? Animation and game design could be your perfect career path. He emphasised the abundance of game design and animation job opportunities, particularly in Auckland and New Zealand.

Highlighting the importance of the creative process, Dr Kennedy said that it’s not just about the final product but the journey. He urged students to showcase their design process, highlighting the significance of subjects beyond visual arts. English and mathematics are essential for developing logical thinking and problem-solving skills, while history and media studies provide a broader cultural context that is essential for storytelling.

Following Dr Kennedy’s insightful talk, Aishwarya Raman took the stage to share her experiences as a motion graphics designer at the successful Kiwi ed-tech start-up Kami. 

What exactly is motion graphics? Aishwarya’s answer was succinct yet illuminating!

 “Make pictures go zoom zoom.”

As a key member of Kami’s marketing team, Aishwarya plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s visual identity. She walked us through the various stages of project development, from pre-production to production and post-production, underscoring the collaborative nature of her work. Aishwarya’s passion for animation shone through as she shared her journey. “I’ve been a creative and artistic person all my life,” explained Aishwarya. What I love about my job is  that you get to bring visuals to life.” 

Aishwarya revealed that while she attended Elam, she didn’t pursue art for art’s sake. Instead, she was drawn to the challenge of designing to a brief – a sentiment echoed by many aspiring animators and designers.

As we wrap up another enriching Career Bites session, the allure of animation, visual effects, and game design lingers. With boundless opportunities awaiting those who dare to dream and create, we encourage students to explore these dynamic fields and unleash their creative potential. Who knows? The next great animator or game designer could be sitting right here among us, ready to make their mark on the world.

Artist and ex-Westlake student Sara Moana joined the team from Depot, Devonport’s Centre for Creative Futures, for an inspiring Career Bites session about careers in Visual Art. 

Sara Moana is a full-time illustrator. She has been commissioned to work on many projects for organisations ranging from Amnesty International to Converse. Sara graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, from Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland.

 “I didn’t plan my career; I hadn’t given much thought to what I would do after Year 13,” explains Sara, “but my art teacher made a fleeting comment that I was ‘Elam material,’ which encouraged me to apply for Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland.” 

Sara encouraged students to pursue their dreams and be proactive about networking to make a successful career out of fine art.

Depot staff members Dilohana Lekamge (Exhibition Curator & Gallery Manager), Amy Saunders (Director) and Catherine George (Wayfind Creative Programme Manager) discussed how their art careers have developed. They also introduced the programmes at Depot that artists can use to develop their careers. Dilohana is a writer, curator, and gallery manager at Depot; she reinforces the importance of networking when it comes to career opportunities.  “Some of the work offers I have received have come from places I didn’t expect – from the network of people I have met and stayed in touch with,” explains Dilohana. Catherine George and Amy Saunders described some of the skills (e.g., marketing, accounting and business skills) that artists may need to develop to make a career out of being an artist. 

Depot runs a programme for artists that teaches these skills, as well as a programme to help artists find work. “You never know who is going to help you next in your career, so make good relationships with everyone,” advises Catherine. “I got my break in the world of television production by being organised and doing a little bit extra; people notice that.”  Catherine and Amy highlighted the importance of creative thinking in a changing world, “if you are creative, that means you can think outside the square and solve problems, which is what the future workplace is going to demand.” 

The Year 12 and 13 Textile Technology and Fashion & Design students enjoyed a trip to the Auckland Art Gallery to view the creations of Guo Pei (Chinese fashion designer).

The exhibition, ‘Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy’, showcased more than 60 ensembles created by the Chinese couture superstar, including the well-known ‘Yellow Queen’ garment famously worn by Rihanna to the Met Gala in 2015. 

Students were thrilled to see the textile crafting skills and intricate, awe-inspiring garments close up.

In the latest of our Career Bites sessions where we introduce students to a wide variety of career options, we were fortunate to hear from Edge City Builders apprentice Courtney Willan and her boss, Sharon Boyd, the owner of Edge City Builders. 

Courtney left school and went to university, where she completed her degree. However, at the end of this time, she realised she wanted a hands-on job with challenges. She had never had anything to do with the building trade before, and as she said, “I went into it really green, never picking up a tool, not knowing the names of the tools.”

According to Sharon and Courtney, the skills needed for a building apprenticeship are interpersonal skills, a willingness to learn, and enthusiasm for the tasks at hand.

At Edge City Builders, finding solutions to problems is a collaborative effort. As Courtney shared, being part of a supportive team can make a significant difference. Not everyone needs to be an expert in every area, because together as a team, the job gets done.  The inclusive and encouraging atmosphere in the team is one of the aspects Courtney loves most about her job.

The trade industry is keen to have more females in this field. There are courses at Unitec that students can take before becoming apprentices. In this course, students build a house from start to finish. The more common method is to find an apprenticeship, and then after three months, most companies will pay for the apprentice to study and become qualified.

At Edge City, the apprenticeship takes four years, and from there, many builders go on to specialise in different areas. During the apprenticeship, young builders are exposed to all aspects of the build, from the foundations to the end.

On Wednesday, 10 April the Y11 ESTEAM class boarded an Auckland transport bus and headed to Auckland University Bioengineering Institute in Central Auckland.

We were shown into a meeting room and had bioengineering explained to us. We split into four groups. My group went to the station that investigated your foot pattern while walking. There were three activities to complete at this station. At the first one, there was a $250,000 treadmill that reviewed the weight distribution of your footprint as you walked. We were able to view the sensory data from the treadmill of the weight distribution on a TV screen as the volunteer walked.  At the second activity, the volunteer had small green screen balls attached to her shoes and the sensors connected to the TV screen. We were able to see the little dots moving as the biometric data of her walk was mapped. The next station had a mat that contained sensors and collected data about the different surfaces of the foot that touched the floor while walking. The image showed the different pressure points on your foot as it walked in different colours.

Then we moved on to the next station, which was about gravity forces when you jumped. We each took turns to try and jump as high as possible and we lifted a weight to see how fast we could lift it.

The third station was focused on bones. We learnt about how they were developing a tool for surgeons to make hip transplants more accurate and increase the success rate. Next, we got to listen to our muscles as they moved. A sensor pad was attached to our arm, and we could hear our muscles expand and contract as they moved.  The last station was about lungs and the effects of vaping. Using a holographic image, they were able to demonstrate the effect of vaping a set of lungs.

We listened to a panel of PhD students and qualified Bioengineers discuss their work and where they started on the path to becoming bioengineers. After a detailed presentation about vaping, we all headed back to school with a diverse range of inspiring knowledge.

By Felicity Wright (11OBN) 

Keep an eye out on social media and the Careers website for some exciting sessions coming up in Career Bites!

These sessions are held at lunchtime in C5.

Wednesday, 15 May – Renovations/Project Management

Wednesday, 22 May – Engineering

On April 4th, our Year 12 and Year 13 students embarked on an educational journey to the Royal New Zealand Airforce Base at Whenuapai. It was an eye-opening experience as we delved into the diverse trades and opportunities available within the Airforce.

The day began with a warm welcome and a delicious lunch at the ‘mess,’ which left us feeling both satisfied and eager to explore further. Our first stop was the base gym, where we discovered the extensive fitness testing, programs, and physiotherapy services available to Air Force employees. It was fascinating to learn that fitness itself is a trade you can specialise in within the Air Force, and even more exciting to discover that you can get paid to play your favourite sport as part of your duties.

Next, we delved into the world of logistics officers, gaining insights into their vital role in coordinating travel and missions. Visiting the base airport, where planes land and take off, provided a firsthand look at the logistical operations behind Air Force activities. We were thrilled to see the itinerary for the upcoming weeks, which included trips for Air Force sports teams competing internationally—a testament to the diverse opportunities available within the organisation.

One of the day’s highlights was our introduction to the ‘observer’ trade, presented by Waike Wong, a member of the Seasprite Helicopter  team. Waike gave us a glimpse into the thrilling role of an observer, who communicates with the flight team, monitors radio signals across multiple bandwidths, and, as he humorously described it, “shoots the bomb.” It was fascinating to learn about the responsibilities and simulations involved in this critical role.

For those seeking an exciting career where you can earn while you learn, the Air Force offers a wide range of options. With opportunities to travel extensively and engage in diverse roles, it’s a career path worth considering. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of joining the defense forces, we encourage you to reach out to our Careers Department for more information.

Year 10 camp was held at Totara Springs Christian Camp. After a 3hr drive down to Matamata, we arrived at Totara Springs. Once we were all set up we were quick to go straight into activities not to waste time.

The mornings kicked off energetically as Miss Johnson made her rounds to each cabin at 7 am, accompanied by loud music that set fun energy for the day ahead. In the evening students were divided into four groups to participate in evening activities like spotlight, campfires, and Burma trails. Our form classes were split into groups for our cabins. The cabin options ranged from 12-person bunk rooms to 4-person cabins. These cabins ensured that each group had a comfortable space to relax and unwind after a busy day.

As the days went on we were fed well by the Totora Springs staff. The meals we were provided at camp were really good and there always was plenty to go around. The highlight of meals was always the desserts, which were surprisingly good for camp food.

Throughout the three days, we participated in a total of seven exciting activities. Some of our favourites included river and water activities like tubing, kayaking, hydro slides, a Canadian slide that launched you into the river and a swimming hole, or abseiling where you can either go down a 14m rock face into a stream or a 7m wood wall. The Totora Springs staff that were hosting camp were kind, encouraging and passionate about what they were doing. The staff and the huge range of activities lead to a memorable camping experience for all students!

A huge thank you to all the staff and parents who gave their time to ensure we had a fabulous time on camp.

By Charlize Barron 10PVD, Aashna Budhia 10PVD, Aimee Chelton 10PVD