Westlake Girls’ High School

And they call it puppy love

One of the ways Westlake gives back to our community each year, is for our five Houses to choose a charity they fundraise for and support.

Bake sales and various other activities are enthusiastically planned and executed over the year to raise as much money as possible for each charity. This year the chosen charities are:

Akoranga House – Foster Hope New Zealand

Hauraki House – Blind Low Vision Guide Dogs NZ

Onewa House – Women’s Refuge (Auckland)

Pupuke House – KidsCan

Wairau House – Changing Minds

Recently Judy O’Ryan (Puppy Raiser) and Maeghan Loehr (Community and Events Fundraiser) introduced 10-month-old golden retriever trainee Mayling to Hauraki’s assembly. They are pictured with Hauraki’s Service Prefect Hannah Jones.

“When I found out my theme for my service charity was animals, I immediately knew I wanted to fundraise for the Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs,” says Hannah. “I really wanted to choose a charity that would have a palpable difference on people’s lives, and Guide Dogs are such important members of our community. The thing that stood out to me most from Judy’s speech yesterday morning was how important and necessary these dogs are for people who are blind or have low vision. They make life so much more accessible and easier for so many people. It costs about $50,000+ to train each dog, so I would really encourage students to support our fundraisers this year so that more people have access to Guide Dogs.”

Judy O'Ryan, Maeghan Loehr and Hannah Jones.

Footballers chosen for prestigious RTC

Four Westlake students have been selected for a New Zealand Women’s Regional Training Centre (RTC) for Football U17. The three-day camp environment is for players who are showing potential to become future Ferns.

The students are (pictured from left) Ella Dorward (Year 12), Alexis Cook (Year 11), Danielle Canham (Year 11) and Scarlett Halliday (Year 10). All four play for the Northern Rovers, are part of our school football programme and have been involved in the school CYGNET sports programme.

Congratulations to all of these outstanding athletes.

Young athletes break school records

Congratulations to our amazing athletes who broke school records at our recent Athletics Day.

Kate Borton, Year 10: 200m (26.43) and 400m (1.01.15) Karmen Maritz, Year 9: Shot Put (11.18) and Discus (36.91) Chloe Dowson, Year 9: 1500m (5.25) Emma-Kaye Schroeder, Year 9: High Jump (1.55) and Long Jump (4.35)

Seaweek. Pi winners from left: Alanah Barwick (2nd), Joni Dickinson (1st) and Flora Yip (3rd)

Diversity Picnic. Have a Go Day.

π takes the cake

Following Auckland’s lockdown in March, Westlake Girls High School was in full swing catching up with postponed events and activities.

The school was buzzing with student and staff-led initiatives, including a visit from marine biologists as part of Sea Week Celebrations, our annual Diversity Picnic, and the Music Department’s “Have a Go Day”.

Our WGHS Math Club also held a Pi (π) Event, where students had to write down as many digits of Pi as possible. The winners were impressive: Joni Dickinson (198 digits), Alanah Barwick (172 digits) and Flora Yip (160 digits correct).

Have a Go Day.

Also impressive is the fact the mould for the pi shortbread featured in the photo above was made using the school’s 3D printer.