By Abbie Clements
Future Problem Solver

In the final week of Term 3, 26 Westlake Girls students competed in the 2021 NZ Future Problem Solving national qualifiers.

This year’s topic was Human Environmental Impact, a relevant and interesting topic for the students to research. The FPS exams involve students analysing a future scene surrounding a futuristic topic, using knowledge from all across the school curriculum. Participants identify challenges and come up with 8-16 solutions, document the selection of the best one through created criteria, and finally present a ‘Plan of Action’. 

Students competed in National Qualifiers online as Auckland was still in the stricter lockdown restrictions. This was particularly challenging for the four teams who would normally be running around a table at school brainstorming ideas. They managed to problem solve a way to make it work and three senior teams qualified for the national finals in November. Westlake had two middle and two senior individual competitors who were also successful in qualifying for nationals, plus a talented scenario writer.

Congratulations to all the students who qualified for FPS nationals: 

WGHS Delta: Senior

Winnie Zhang
Jemy Jejy
Amaya Lichauco
Maggie Zhou    

WGHS Steam boats:  Senior

Yan Qi Lok
Ivy Doak
Hannah Richardson
Debbie Lee              

WGHS Foxtrot: Senior

Serena Chen
Megan Meng
Jumana Maash
Raeanne Leow                     

Abbie Clements –  Senior Individual                    

Sophie Dykgraaf –  Senior Individual   

Shivani Arivuchelvan –  Middle Individual   

Kate Borton –  Middle Individual        

Julia Wilkins 9ANI – Middle Scenario Writer

Good luck to these students for the FPSNZ National Finals in November!!