| 8 July 2016
Dear Parents, Guardians and Homestay Families While Term 2 has been a busy time with the Korean Night, the Chinese Night, the trip to a Marae, the focus of Term 2 has no doubt been the Mid Year Exams. For some of our students, this was their first experience of sitting formal exams in New Zealand. I wish to congratulate these students in particular, on their diligent and mature approach to these exams. I hope everyone has gained something valuable from the exam process. To our students: Remember, the most important thing about exams is not the marks they generate, but your own reflections afterwards. It is important that you go over all your exam papers, identify gaps in your learning, and develop strategies to close those gaps. This may mean that you need to revise certain sections of the content, clarify your understanding with your teachers and attempt those exam questions again. A reminder that the following tutorials are held afterschool to support your learning:
I also wish to congratulate the following senior students who came first in subjects: Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Finally, a reminder to all students that in Term 3 we will be looking at your option selections for 2017. You will need to reflect on your Mid Year exam results and think about your interests and future career aspirations. We will make sure that your 2017 subjects reflect your personal strengths and keep your options open for the future. Ms Tina Kwok, |
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International Student School Leaders |
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| This year we have two international students who are school prefects. This is in recognition of the effort and contribution made to Westlake life by our boys. In the following article, the newly appointed prefect Blair Duan talks about how he feels after being appointed a prefect. | |||
Being a School PrefectI am Blair Duan, an international student who has been at Westlake for three and a half years. It was very honorable for me to be chosen as one of the prefects for Westlake in 2016. Before I become a prefect, I was really looking forward to being one, for the reason that prefects have a different style of uniform compared to other students. I thought it would be kind of cool wearing it, walking around the school in a blazer which would make me look distinctive and special. After being appointed as a prefect, I realized that the cost of wearing cool uniform is way more than what it looks like. I knew that prefects would have a lot of things to do so I was prepared to be busy after becoming a prefect. It is really busy to be honest. I’ve got duty every day. This means that I take some students to pick up rubbish. Apart from this, prefects help the school organize different school events such as Parents’ Evening, Korean night, Chinese night, quiz night and more. After one month of adapting to the new situation, I’m now getting used to all the busy stuff that a prefect needs to face. I know that I represent Westlake like everyone else. I feel good helping and serving the school. I feel a sense of responsibility when putting on the blazer. More importantly, as one of the International Student prefects, I should take care of all international students and this is also my responsibility. I will try my best, no matter how tired I am, in order to make Westlake better. |
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Visitors from Thailand |
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| Over the past two terms we have welcomed some young Thai international students for four week visits. In addition we have also enjoyed hosting some Thai educationalists in our school.Mr. Thammanoon Rattanamung, Head of Foreign Language Division, Head of Public & Exchange Program and Head of Foreign Language Curriculum Development & Promotion, from Kasetsart University Laboratory School Multilingual Program undertook class observations for three weeks.
He also took this opportunity to visit his students who are enrolled in a one year program at Westlake. |
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| We also welcomed Dr. Salit Butnain, President of Saimit Group and Mr. Goragot Butnain Director of Foreign office. |  |
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Two of the Saimit Group teachers, Mrs. Premsuda Maneerin and Mrs Sareeya Ngamijaruchoktawee, participated in a Teacher Development Program where they observed classes for four weeks. They were hosted locally and loved their opportunity to experience time in Auckland and at a NZ school |
Korean Night 2016 |
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Westlake Korean Night 2016 was a night of record highs, new performances, and multicultural participation. The line of people waiting outside before the even got underway was huge, seeming to stretch almost all the way down to Westlake Girls!
The auditorium was full, with around 2000 people present on the night; a record number of attendees for this amazing evening. With such a huge turnout, there was a record amount of money raised for donation to charity as well as for the development of the Westlake Korean Community. |
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The night was packed with exceptional performances, with the students celebrating Korean culture through dance, music, performance and song.
One of the highlights was the Boys and Girls Combined Mask Dance Group, a new performance that brought freshness to the event.
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Traditional dance infused with modern music made the performance very unique and will be certain to become a regular item for future Korean Nights.
Year by year, we are pleased to see a growing number of other ethnicities taking part in the Korean Night. The support of the Korean community and the love for Korean culture shown by all has us already looking forward to next year’s Korean Night. |
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Celebrating Maori Culture |
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| Last month fourteen senior students had the opportunity to learn more about Maori culture on a trip to Ngatai Whakarongorua marae. This is an ancestral marae of Te Uri O Hau whose tribal lands are the northern Kaipara Harbour. The students learnt about Maori tikanga (cultural practices and beliefs) around kai (food).
Students were welcomed onto the marae with a traditional powhiri. Once everyone was settled they went to a local beach to gather pipi which were enjoyed for lunch the following day. Students then spent time gathering scientific data for NIWA about the health of the estuary. This included habitat mapping and measuring the changing contour of the land. Late afternoon was spent learning about the cultural heritage and ancestry of Te Uri O Hau. Students stayed on the marae overnight and prepared food for everyone to share. |
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In the morning students explored the ngahere (forest) and learnt about how Maori use plants as medicine and a food source.
Everyone returned to Westlake with a deeper understanding of Maori culture and full stomachs from all the delicious kai. |
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Food Technology Opportunities for International Students |
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Our boys really enjoy their Food Technology Class as they learn:
Last month, the boys invited the International Department staff to their Food Technology classes to sample their cooking and give feedback about the quality and presentation of the food. I was very honored to visit the Year 11 class where twenty two boys stood proudly with their work on the table. The food was set out on separate dishes, with much attention given to making the food look inviting and healthy. We sampled items such as Chinese fried rice, chocolate pancake, pizza, stir fried vegetables and meat, and lamb and mint burgers. All were just delicious! We gave feedback about each dish to help the boys reflect on their learning. We were very proud of the boys’ efforts and hope that they will share their skills with their homestays and families at home. We certainly have some great chefs in the making! Well done boys. Ka pai! – Jasmine Tang, Chinese Advisor |
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Spotlight on Sports and Academic Achievement |
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Tupou AfungiaIt was great to see Tupou back on the rugby field after suffering a serious hand injury in a preseason game back in April. His enthusiasm was terrific and he was rewarded with his first try for Westlake’s 1stXV team. Tupou is our first international student from Tonga relishing the chance to complete his secondary education in New Zealand and develop his rugby talent. He has settled in well, living with a host family who understands the importance of his academic opportunity. The Brewis family, whose eldest son Finlay is in Year 12, are providing wonderful care to Tupou. Their farming environment is close to Tupou’s up-bringing, so his daily family living combined with schooling in the urban surroundings, gives balance to a young man on a new path. |
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Taylor UgavaAnother first for the International Department is Taylor Ugava, a student from Papua New Guinea. This is Taylor’s second year at Westlake. He arrived as a young Year 9 student and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop into a fine young man, gaining confidence and working hard in the classroom with his studies as well as enjoying his great passion for football. He is a member of a school team which competes in the weekly competition and he also plays club football on the weekends. Taylor would like to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a pilot when he leaves school. |
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Thank You to our Host Families |
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| We are very grateful to our host families who do so much for our students. We have over 120 boys in homestays and know that they are supported in so many ways to help them achieve and live in NZ. We really appreciate all the assistance that our special families give to the boys.We would like to thank each and every one of our host families for the care and commitment that you show our boys. | |||
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Thanks to the Rachmadi host family, who shared these photos with us, showing Sicheng and Yifei on their recent family holiday to Rotorua. |