Headmaster’s Newsletter 12 August

Dear Parents and families

Congratulations to all our music staff and students on an exceptional Gala Concert that was held here at school last night. It really was a night to remember for the audience and performers. The very best of luck to all of our musicians as they head into their big competitions in the coming weeks, namely the KBB festival and the New Zealand Big Sing Finale.

Well done to our premier squash team who became New Zealand champions on Sunday, for the second year in a row after a dominant series of performances.

It is only 10 days until our senior internal examinations begin. All of our years 11, 12 and 13 students should be prioritising study over the next couple of weeks. Please support us in ensuring that this is happening at home in a daily basis.

Have a lovely weekend

Regards
David Ferguson
Headmaster

Careers Department

Here is the latest Careers Newsletter from the Careers Department which contains some important information and key dates for students. Term 3 is an important time in particular for our Year 13 boys as they narrow down tertiary, training and employment options for 2017.

Attending open days, information evenings and other career-related events can prove invaluable in helping all seniors explore possible future pathways.

Gala Concert

The Gala Concert was held on Thursday 11 August and featured the combined talents of both Westlake Schools.  The two concert sessions were attended by over 700 people and audience members commented on the high standard of the performers and how “engaged” in music making they were.  A range of music was performed including works by Bernstein, Puccini, Louis Armstrong, John Williams and Dvorak.  Many of the groups are either preparing for their major competitions (KBB & The Big Sing Finale) or have recently competed in competitions.

The Heads of Department from both schools (Warwick Robinson & Fiona Wilson) would like to thank our MC, Mr Nick Brown, all of the conductors, performers, parents, audience members, stage managers and the technical/lighting team.

Major Diary Dates:

Westlake Sport  

National Secondary School Squash Champions

The Premier Squash team remain as New Zealand champions as they successfully defended their title from last year at the Secondary Schools Squash nationals held at Palmerston North from 5-7 August. Defeating St. Paul’s Collegiate in the finals with a comfortable 4-1 win, Westlake proved that they were indeed a cut above the rest. The event is easily one of the biggest in the squash calendar with more than 600 matches played over the weekend amongst 33 boys teams and 21 girls teams.

The team would like to extend their appreciation to Teacher in Charge Mr Calver and Coach/Manager Mr Manu Yam for all their help with the team.

Premier Team:

• 1st Round defeated New Plymouth Boys HS: 5-0
• Quarterfinals defeated Westlake Boys Premier 2 : 5-0
• Semifinals defeated Palmerston North Boys HS: 5-0
• Finals defeated St. Pauls Collegiate: 4-1

Premier 2 Team:

• 1st Round defeated Orewa College: 5-0
• 2nd Round defeated Whangarei Boys HS: 3-2
• Quarterfinals lost to Westlake Boys Premier 1: 0-5
• Playoffs for 7-8th place defeated Takapuna Grammar School: 3-2
• Playoffs for 5th place defeated Tauranga Boys College: 3-2

Football Report

MATCH REPORT: 1^st XI vs Sacred Heart College Saturday 6 August: Westlake push champions all the way

Sacred Heart 1 WBHS 0

Westlake played defending Premier league Champions, Sacred Heart College in a floodlit game at Bill McKinley Park and very nearly spoilt the party with a courageous, battling display.

Sacred Heart needed three points to retain their title but had to fight all the way against a determined and disciplined Westlake side.

In a game of very few chances Westlake perhaps had the best opportunity of the first half when a right sided free kick caused confusion in the opposition penalty area but the ball couldn’t be forced home by a Westlake player.

The first half continued to be keenly contested with Westlake defusing many Sacred Heart attacks and threatening occasionally on the counter attack.

The second half followed much the same pattern with Sacred Heart dominating possession without create much in the way of goal scoring opportunities.

The critical moment of the match was also a controversial one. The Sacred Heart striker received the ball in Westlake penalty area with his back to goal and appeared to fall back into Westlake’s centre back, Trent Baker. Surprisingly the referee awarded a penalty which was duly converted.

Westlake fought on bravely but couldn’t find the equalizing goal and the closeness of the contest was exemplified when the opposition began dribbling the ball in to the corners of the pitch to run down the last few minutes of the game.

Westlake’s next match is a home Premier League fixture against AGS this Saturday 12 noon kick off.

1^st XI Knock Out Cup versus Auckland Grammar School Wednesday 10 August: Westlake exit cup in dramatic quarterfinal

Westlake’s first XI football team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they were beaten 4-5 in extra time of their quarter final match against AGS.

The home team started slowly and were a goal down after 5 minutes. However a well taken near post header from Jack Pirie evened the score and Westlake then took the lead when Matt Conroy latched on to a header from View Rungpao to lob the AGS keeper.

Daniel Lough made it 3-1 to Westlake when he volleyed a loose ball home after an accurate corner from Bhagaloo had not been cleared.

AGS snatched a goal back just before half time to reduce Westlake’s lead to a single goal.

Westlake started the second half strongly and when Kelly was fouled in the AGS penalty area the referee awarded a penalty. Captain Greg Nimmo stepped up to convert with confidence and extend his teams lead to 4-2.

The home team continued to dominate and with 5 minutes to go looked to have secured a semi-final place. However, some passive defending allowed AGS to pull a goal back and with the referee about to blow for full time a rash challenge saw AGS awarded a penalty, which they duly scored to tie the match 4-4.

Extra time saw a deflated Westlake concede a scrappy goal from a free kick and that was enough for the visitors to edge a dramatic match by the odd goal in 9.

Westlake’s next match is a home Premier League fixture against AGS this Saturday 12 noon kick off.

Football Results 6 August

• 2^nd XI beat Sacred Heart College 3 – 0
• 3^rd XI beat Albany 5 – 1
• 15A1 beat Rangitoto 1 – 0
• 15A2 drew 0 – 0 with Kristin
• 15B Green beat Rutherford 2 – 1
• 15B White beat Rosmini 7 – 0
• 15B Red lost 3 – 1 to Rangitoto
• 14A1 lost to Sacred Heart College 2 – 1
• 14A2 beat Long Bay 2 – 1
• 14B Red beat Pinehurst 2 – 1
• 14B White game deferred
• 14B Green lost 11 – 1 to KingsWay
• 13A1 beat Rangitoto 7 – 0
• 13A2 beat Auckland Grammar School 2 – 1
• 13B White lost 9 – 0 to Orewa
• 13B Red beat Westlake Green 8 – 0

Hockey Report

MATCH REPORT: 1^st XI vs KingsWay School Wednesday 10 August

The ‘Ranfurly Shield’ of school boy hockey, the Bartholomew Cup is now back with Westlake after a solid performance from Westlake.  Westlake went 2-0 up early in the first half through goals by Stefan Wiig and Keegan Russell.  KingsWay replied with a well-practiced penalty corner before half time.  Westlake then struggled to put the ball in the goal despite pressure and circle penetration until the last 30 seconds of the game when Charl Ulrich managed to lift the ball over the goal keeper.  They really do know how to give the coach more and more grey hairs!

Scoreboard: Westlake 3 vs KingsWay School 1

Goal scorers: Stefan Wiig, Keegan Russell and Charl Ulrich

Hockey Results 10 August

• 2^nd XI beat Macleans 1^st XI 3 – 1
• 3^rd XI beat Pinehurst 1^st XI 8 – 1
• 4^th XI beat WBHS Senior Red 6 – 3
• Senior Red lost to WBHS 4^th XI 3 – 6
• Junior 1 lost to Takapuna Grammar 1^st XI 1 – 2
• Junior 2 lost to Rangitoto 2^nd XI 0 – 2
• Junior 3 beat Whangaparaoa Senior Boys 3 – 0

Rugby Report

MATCH REPORT: 1^st XV vs Takapuna Grammar Saturday 6 August

A win against Takapuna would secure top place finish and probably an easier draw in the semi-final. Takapuna kicked a penalty to take the lead in the second minute of the match. After a period of continued pressure went over to score the first try. The referee had already ruled out a try scored earlier and then awarded a penalty when the players made a case for the try being scored. Eventually the referee would award 14 penalties against us and not a single penalty in our favour, not seen before that a team does not concede a penalty. The players under this pressure from the referee acquitted themselves well. Tries continued to flow and only good kicking deep into our corners relieved pressure on the meant we took a healthy lead into halftime.

We made regular mistakes in the second half and there was tendency from individuals to want to score themselves. A further 4 tries: Fines Inisi rounding of his hatrick, Jacob Katipa grabbing an intercept and running 55 meters, Leon Thambiran barging through a number of tacklers and running 30 meters and Arikitoia Hood-Kaitapu using his pace on the wing to run 40 meters. Disappointing to let in two Takapuna tries towards the end but at this stage the job was done.

We look forward to hosting Whangarei Boys in the semi-final next week.

Scoreboard: Westlake 54 vs Takapuna Grammar 15 (Half time 28 – 3)

Tries: Fine Inisi (3); Jacob Katipa; Spencer McDowall; Arikitoia Hood-Kaitapu; Leon Thambiran

Conversions: Keepa Wiki (4); Cooper Green (2); Casey Smith (1)

 Rugby Results 6 August

• 2^nd XV beat Northcote College 24 – 0
• 3^rd XV – Bye
• 4^th XV lost to Rosmini College 3 – 19
• 4A beat King’s College 11 – 6
• 5A beat Orewa College 34 – 0
• 5B lost to Birkenhead College 7 – 22
• 6A beat Rangitoto College 32 – 5
• 6B lost to Massey High School 0 – 26
• 7 Green lost to WBHS 7 Red 10 – 12
• 7 Red beat WBHS 7 Green 12 – 10

North Shore Secondary Schools Chess Tournament

On Tuesday 2 August, five Westlake Boys’ High School Chess teams competed in the North Shore Secondary Schools Chess Tournament at the Northcote Chess Club.

Congratulations to the following teams:

• Our Senior 1 team – 1^st place
• Our Senior 2 team – 2^nd place
• Our Junior A team – 3^rd place

Congratulations to:

• Michael Oentardi, Year 12 ST02, has been selected for the New Zealand Under 19 Kung Fu Wushu Team to compete in the World Championships in Australia later this month.

Good Luck to:

• Our 1^st XV who play Whangarei Boys High School 1^st XV at 12.00pm on 13 August at WBHS 1
• Our 2^nd XV who play Rosmini College 2^nd XV at 12.00pm on 13 August at Rosmini College 2
• Our 3^rd XV who play Orewa College 2^nd XV at 9.30am on 13 August at Orewa College 1
• Our 4^th XV who play Mahurangi College 2^nd XV at 9.30am on 13 August at Warkworth 3
• Our 1^st XI Football team who play Auckland Grammar School 1^st XI at 12.00pm on 13 August at WBHS Turf
• Our 2^nd XI Football team who play Auckland Grammar School 2^nd XI at 9.45am on 13 August at WBHS Turf
• Our 3^rd XI Football team who play Takapuna Res B at 10.00am on 13 August at WGHS 2
• Our Lacrosse Team who play Orewa College at 4.00pm on 12 August at WBHS
• Our Premier Squash team 1 who play Liston College at 4.15pm on 12 August at Henderson Sq 1-2
• Our Premier Squash team 2 who play Auckland Grammar School 1 at 4.15pm on 12 August at AGS 1-2

2017 European Hockey Tour Movie Fundraiser:

Sunday 23 October at Berkley Cinemas, Takapuna starting at 3.30pm.  There are two movies to choose from – Jack Reacher 2 or Keeping up with the Joneses.  Tickets are $20 which includes free popcorn and a drink and there will be spot prizes, goodie bags and raffle tickets on the night.

Click Here for further details. Ticket Order Form

Westlakers News

2016 Westlakers Annual Reunion – Tonight!

Friday 12 August, 5.30pm-9.00pm – Westlake Boys Gymnasium

Join us after work in the recently opened $5 million Westlake Boys High School Gymnasium.

• Catchup with your mates and former teachers
• School tours (5.30pm-6.00pm), including the new fitness centre, artificial turf, honours boards and our world class Auditorium
• Storytelling of “tall tales and true”

Entry is just $20 per person and includes finger food and your first beer or glass of wine.