Headmaster’s Newsletter 8 April

Dear Parents and Guardians

We have had a great week with Cultural activities at school and a number of our sports teams competing in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Summer Tournament week.    Best of luck to our Premier Volleyball team who are playing in the New Zealand final at 5.30pm this afternoon and several of our rowing teams who are competing in national finals in the next 24 hours.

Have a lovely weekend.

Regards
David Ferguson
Headmaster

Culture Week

2016 Westlake Proms Concert

There was a buzz in the auditorium as a large and lively audience, many dressed in British-themed costumes, took their seats for the 2016 Proms Concerts on Thursday evening.  Choralation Choir, the premier choir combined with Westlake Girls, opened the concert with a varied repertoire, including the World Premiere of ‘Joy’ by locally-based New Zealand composer, David Hamilton.  They were followed by the Westlake Symphony Orchestra, who gave an accomplished performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, 4^th Movement – a well-loved and technically challenging piece – and Anthony Ritchie’s ‘Procession’.

PTA – Meet the Students Evening Monday 11 April 7.30pm

Each leader will give us a brief overview of his role within the school.

We will hear from the Head Boy Antoine Ellis, the Academic Captain Rafi Baboe, the Sports Captain Greg Vukets and the Cultural Captain Jun Kim.

Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you.

Supporting Our Year 12 student, Jake Atkinson

Thank you to parents and students for donating to Mufti Day to support our Year 12 student, Jake Atkinson, who is quite unwell at present.  We raised in excess of $3800 in donations.

The Institute of Aikido, Auckland, have also set up a Givealittle page which can be accessed here:  https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/supportingjake/donations

Careers Department

Please click here for the April Careers Department newsletter.

2016 Year 13 School Ball

5 ‘Outside-The-Box’ Tips For Living An Awesome Life – Professor Grant Schofield

Tickets are on sale now for a Special Breakfast Treat for Mums and Sons!

When: Thursday 12^th May 2016, 6.45 am (Thursday after Mother’s Day)

Where: Westlake Boys’ High School Auditorium

Guest Speaker: Westlaker, Professor Grant Schofield

Guests: All students, mothers, grandmothers or female role models are invited to attend the 2016 Mother Son Breakfast.

Tickets: $25 per person from the Uniform Shop

Click here for your ticket order form. 

The Westlake Boys’ Mother Son Breakfast event is a special, once a year occasion that offers an opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your son/s, enjoying a delicious breakfast specially prepared by the very talented Westlake Boys’ Rowing Group parents.

Grant is a man of many talents and, apart from competitive duathlon and triathlon, in which he represented New Zealand at World Championships and Ironman, his foremost passion in life is investigating the Science of Human Potential i.e. finding out how we can ‘be the best we can be’. His research and teaching interests range from understanding and improving lifestyle behaviours such as sleep, nutrition, and physical activity, to well-being epidemiology and human performance. He’s not afraid to ‘think outside the box’ when tackling the big health problems of our times.

Known for ‘challenging current beliefs’ in his field, Grant’s current project base and large group of talented postgraduate thesis students show an exciting range of such challenges. We have no doubt that his ‘5 Tips To Living An Awesome Life’ will be just what the doctor ordered for an entertaining breakfast treat for mums and their sons. Read Grant’s 2014 ‘Featured Westlaker’ profile here.

We appreciate that, for your sons, it’s likely to be the temptation of an irresistible breakfast that will get them out of bed early! You’ll find details (and photos!) of the menu items here.

We look forward to seeing you and your sons, and perhaps their grandmothers and/or aunties, at the 2016 Westlake Mother Son Breakfast on Thursday 12^th May, a few days after Mother’s Day.

Major Diary Dates

The NEW 2016 | 2017 Entertainment™ Book as well as the new Entertainment Digital Memberships are on their way!

Purchase your Entertainment™ Membership from Westlake Boys High School again to support our fundraising efforts.

Enjoy hundreds of valuable up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers for the best local restaurants, cafés, attractions, hotel accommodation, travel, and much more. Plus, feel great for helping your favourite charity or community group with their fundraising!

If you love the Entertainment™ Book and Digital Membership – then you’ll love the $110 worth of additional offers you will receive, just by ordering your NEW Membership before 5 April 2016! And you can use them right away!

Westlake Sport  

North Island Secondary Schools Track & Field Championships

Particular congratulations to:

• Anthony Nobilo who placed 1^st in Senior Hammer Throw
• Anthony Barmes who placed 1^st in Intermediate Hammer Throw
• Joseph Clark who placed 1^st in Open 2000m Steeplechase (PB by 13 seconds)
• Jude Darby who placed 2^nd in Junior 800m (PB and new school record by 2 seconds) and 2^nd in 1500m (PB)
• Stuart Hofmeyr who placed 3^rd in Intermediate 3000m (PB)

Dan Hoy wins New Zealand U19 Triathlon Title

2016 Westie Pie Invitation Secondary School 10’s Tournament

Westlake Boys High School 10s rugby team had a successful day at the 2016 Westie Pie Invitation Secondary School 10s Tournament on Saturday 2 April. The competition, hosted by the Blues and North Harbour Rugby at North Harbour Stadium, attracted 27 schools, a significant increase from the inaugural competition last year.

Despite a disappointing finish in the final against a well organised and classy Mt Albert Grammar team, the day saw our young men achieve more than was anticipated. Winning fixtures against Orewa College 36-0, Mt Roskill Grammar 19-0, Tangaroa College 26-7 and De La Salle College (2) 55-0 was a tremendous achievement. A hard fought semi-final win against De La Salle (1) 17-5 saw the team reach levels the school has not been in many years.

Stand out players throughout the day were Leon Thambiran, Jack Heighton, Fine Inisi, Casey Smith and Jake Katipa, but were well supported by Tupou Afungia,  Baylee Katipa and Finlay Brewis. The team played a very good brand of 10’s rugby with Coaches Aaron Katipa and Hamish McKerrow leading the way.

Unfortunately the boys could not maintain the high standards they had set during the lead up games and wilted in the final. Nevertheless they should be proud of their achievement and have now set a benchmark for next year’s tournament.

2016 House Tennis Results

Westlake students participated in the 2016 House Tennis Competition, a doubles competition played after school throughout the term 1. The senior competition proved to be more of an “Open” competition, as many of Westlake’s stronger tennis players were in fact, Year 9 and 10 students.

4th Smale, 5th Murchison and 6th Stanley

Senior Results

4th Murchison, 5th Stanley and 6th Ururoto

Rugby 2016

The season commences for North Harbour Schools on the weekend we return from holidays, being Saturday 7 May.  If there are any parents who may wish to volunteer for coaching or as manager please do not hesitate to contact Mr Hugh McGahan on hmcgahan@westlake.school.nz ; it will be much appreciated.

A reminder to parents that rugby fees do need to be paid prior to the start of the season, or at least a payment plan being in place. Unfortunately boys cannot play if they do not pay.

If you wish to view some rugby on this weekend our 5A, 2^nd/3^rd XV and 1^st XV teams are playing Kelston Boys High School at 10.30am, 12.00pm and 2.00pm respectively here at Westlake. Come along and support the school.

Summer Tournament Week Update

(full tournament results and highlights next week)

Rowing – New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships (Maadi Cup)

• 15 BU17 8 + A Final
• 30 BU18 4 + (L) B Final
• 15 BU16 4 + A Final
• 15 BU15 8 + A Final
• 30 BU18 4 + B Final
• 35 BU18 4 + A Final

• 50 BU17 4 + A Final
• 25 BU15 4 + B Final
• 30 BU18 8 + A Final

Sailing

The Westlake Boys Sailing team finished third in New Zealand at the Harken Schools Regatta held at Algies Bay early April; a wonderful achievement by our sailors. The team also finished runners-up in Auckland and with the proud, long list of talented Westlaker yachties, the latest results highlight the depth of the Westlake sailing team and a promising sign for Westlake Boys Sailing’s future.

Ultimate Frisbee

After winning the Auckland Championships earlier this month, the Westlake Boys Ultimate Frisbee team finished third in New Zealand at Nationals in Taupo. This caps off a successful season for the team and congratulations to all involved.

Volleyball

The Westlake Boys Volleyball team had a successful start to their 2016 New Zealand Secondary Schools Volleyball Tournament, winning all but one game to make the top 16. Held in Palmerston North throughout the week, the team and coaches Hamish McKerrow and John Howard have navigated their way through some high quality opponents with aplomb. Yesterday the team defeated a highly fancied Otumoetai College team 3-0 in the semi-finals and today they will come up against Manurewa High School in the final at 5.30pm. Expectations are high for a wonderful atmosphere in the packed out stadium with around 1500 people watching the final live. The live stream will be up and running: http://livestream.com/NZSportTV 

Waka Ama

Waterpolo

Westlake Boys Premier Water Polo team finished 6^th in the Premier Division at the North Island Championships. The Senior B team narrowly lost by goal to Auckland Grammar School in their final to finish runners-up at their North Island Tournament. The New Zealand Secondary Schools Water Polo Championships take place in Wellington later this month.

Congratulations

• Blake Sunde PK02 has been selected for the New Zealand Under 19 Men’s Road Cycling Team for the Mersey Valley Tour in Tasmania 29 April – 1 May. The event comprises three events – an individual time trial and two road races. Only four boys were selected – two from Auckland, one from Waikato and one rider from the South Island. Prior to this selection, Blake had also been selected for the New Zealand Cycling Development Squad.

Good Luck to:

• Our Premier Tennis team who play Macleans College at 8.15am on 9 April at Macleans College
• Our Senior Boys A2 Tennis team who play Botany Downs College at 8.15am on 9 April at WBHS
• Our Rowers as they compete on their final day at the New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup) in Twizel
• Our Volleyball players who compete in their final games at the National Volleyball Championships
• Our Basketballers who compete in the Tip-Off Basketball tournament in Rotorua
• Our 3×3 competitors who compete in the National Secondary Schools tournament at Trust Stadium
• Our French exchange tour who travel on 8 April
• Our Duke of Edinburgh students who participate in their Bronze final expedition in the Waitakere Ranges from 10 – 11 April
• Our competitors who will take part in the Hillary Outdoor Adventure Race at Shakespeare Park on 14 April
• Our performers who participate in the Tai Tokerau Festival at Otamatea High School on 14 April

WBHS Distance Running Quiz Night 7.30pm, Tonight!

Please join us for 2017 African Distance Running Tour Fundraiser tonight in the Westlake Boys’ High School Auditorium.  Doors open 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.  Tickets available at the door $25.00 per person.

Enquiries to Ruth Brash: ruth@brashrobertson.com

Westlakers 

Westlake Football Stalwarts in USA

Last weekend two former Westlake 1st XI Football captains were locked in battle on USA soil when their university teams played against each other in a pre-season game. Former All White and Loyola University coach, Westlaker Neil Jones’ team narrowly defeated Sam Brotherton’s Wisconsin University team.

Neil was at Westlake from 1995 to 1999 and, in 1998, was bestowed the rare honour of being made captain as a sixth former. After studying at Otago University, Neil headed to the University of California in Santa Barbara to further his football career.

Sam Brotherton, who is Westlake’s most recently capped All White, was Westlake Boys Sports Captain and 1st XI Football Captain in 2014 and is now in Wisconsin on a university scholarship. It is wonderful to see these proud Westlaker football stalwarts enjoying successful times in the USA.

Westlaker Captures Olympian Wedding

Westlakers Amongst Auckland Cricket Award Winners

Former 1^st XI Cricket captains and current Auckland Aces, Westlakers Brad Cachopa (below left) and Robbie O’Donnell were named amongst the award recipients at Wednesday’s Auckland Cricket Awards Dinner. Brad set a New Zealand record for 45 dismissals in a first class season and Robbie took out the Auckland Young Cricketer of the Year Award, previously won by Brad’s younger Westlaker sibling, Sussex County player, Craig Cachopa.

It took Brad until the very last day of the season to claim his 45th dismissal against the Central Stags and, in doing so, set a new (national) Plunket Shield record. He also proved that a champion side needs a champion wicket-keeper, and his consistency behind the stumps was undoubtedly a huge part of the Mondiale Aces Plunket Shield success.

Robbie has ticked off a catalogue of milestones this season including his maiden first class century, maiden list A fifty, and maiden T20 fifty. He was an integral part of the Mondiale Aces line-up all season and amassed over 1000 runs across the three formats including two centuries in the Plunket Shield.  Auckland Cricket coach Mark O’Donnell, father of Robbie and 2015 WBHS 1^st XI Cricket Captain William O’Donnell won the Auckland Coach of the Year Award and the Awards function held at Eden Park.

Congratulations to the O’Donnell and Cachopa families!