Headmaster’s Newsletter 7 August

Dear Parents and Guardians

In two weeks’ time our Year 11, 12 and 13 students will begin their final internal school examinations.  These examinations are critical in terms of preparation for their external examinations.  Our expectation is that all of these students should be spending time from this weekend onwards (if they haven’t started already) studying in preparation for these assessments.

Well done to all of our musicians for putting on such a memorable Gala Concert last night.  As ever, the standard of performance was extraordinary and we wish all of our musical groups the best of luck as they approach the national finals over the next few weeks at the various festivals they will be attending.

Finally from me, a reminder to all of our Westlakers that we have our annual reunion next Friday here at school.  This is always a great event and a chance to catch up with your old school friends and former teachers.  The reunion will start at 6.30pm next Friday, 14^th August.

Have a nice weekend.

David Ferguson
Headmaster

Westlake Gala Concert

Photos by Yu Chen (Year 12)

One of our biggest events in the Music calendar took place last night – the annual Westlake Gala Concert was another great success with music groups from both Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys taking part. This evening plays a crucial role in the music groups preparing for the Big Sing Finale and KBB Music Festival competitions in the coming two weeks.

The first part of the evening started at 5pm with the foundation level groups such as the boys choir Momentum; the all-comers girls’ choir En Masse from WGHS, the WBHS Stage Band, Taharoto Orchestra and the 70-member WBHS Symphonic Band. There was a small but appreciative audience and the concert went without a hitch.

As always, the Music Departments of both schools wish to thank the students for all their hard work and dedication to the music, and the parents for their ongoing support. Good luck to Voicemale and Cantare from WGHS who head down to the Big Sing National Finale in Wellington on Tuesday evening.

In the week commencing 17^th August, all instrumentalists will be involved in the KBB Music festival at various times – Parents, please make sure permission slips and bus/entry fees are returned to Student Services next week.

Enrolment Information

Enrolment Forms are available online.  Please ensure you bring your son, and the correct documentation.

• In Zone Interviews: 11^th& 12^th August 2015 (11^th 12noon – 4pm, 12^th 12noon – 8pm) No appointment needed
• Out of Zone Interviews: 18^th& 19^th August 2015 (18^th 9am – 4pm, 19^th 9am – 8pm) No appointment needed

Westlake Boys Junior Symphonic Band Perform at Forrest Hill Primary

On Wednesday 5^th August the Westlake Boys Junior Symphonic Band all braved the wet weather and walked up the hill to Forrest Hill Primary School to perform for their morning assembly. The Symphonic Band performed all of their upcoming KBB Festival repertoire and also gave demonstrations of their instruments to the students.

The group were really enthusiastically received by the Forrest Hill pupils – who were a great audience.

The Westlake Boys Symphonic Band are conducted my Miss Barker and Mr Robinson. This is the first time the Junior Symphonic Band have ever gone on their own trip outside school. They really rose to the occasion and performed all of their pieces to a very high standard.

Otago Mathematics Competition

This year 67 Westlake students from Year 9 through to Year 11, sat the annual Otago Mathematics Competition.  Congratulations to the following students who have been placed in the top 30 for their year group in New Zealand.

• Year 9:  David Yao SM01, William Price UR03
• Year 10: Jonathon Lee MU07, Daeyoung Han HD09
• Year 11: Winston Yao ST10

Based on their work in the competition, the following boys have also been invited to take part in the selection process for this year’s National Olympiad training camp:

Naifan Chen, Allen Guan, Dae Young Han, Eric Huang, Hao Jia, Jordan Kim, Sean Kim, Jonathon Lee, Hyunsang Lim, William Price, Bill Song, Alex Tai, Francis Thorpe, Jonathan Wang, Shane Wei, Sean Yang, David Yao, Winston Yao, William Zhang and Kevin Zhu

This is the first year Westlake Boys’ High School has had this many invited.

Academy of Sport Holiday Coaching Programme 28 & 29 September

Westlake Academy of Sport is pleased to announce our first ever Holiday Coaching Programme for Year 7 and 8 Intermediate School students , who are keen to take part in exciting, enjoyable sessions in a learning focussed environment for their chosen sport.

All sessions will be coached by our Academy of Sport staff and external, elite level coaches.  Coaching is offered in the following Academy of Sport codes:  Cricket, Basketball, Football and Rugby.

Click here for full details..  Please note – places are limited.

Enquiries to Mrs Deb Hodge, email dhodge@westlake.school.nz

Te Aranga – Māori Student Study Club – Term 3

Are you looking for extra time to catch up on work?  Do you need some support with your assessments?

Then come to TE ARANGA – which is the new name for the Māori student study club.  It happens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunchtime in P1.  If you would like to know more please see Mr Te Wano in P1.

Kapa Haka – Term 3

Kapa Haka will take place every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes in P1 and is suitable for all year groups and abilities. Kapa Haka practices also continue on Mondays and Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm at Westlake Girls High School.  For further queries, please see Mr Te Wano in P1.

International Touch referees

Westlake Boys sixth form students Josh Marshall and Tyler Lindsay have been selected to referee in the Australian Touch National Youth Competition (NYC), held from 16-19 September at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Caloundra in Queensland. The NYC is an annual tournament contested by Australia’s best young Touch Footballers. Teams travel from all across Australia to compete in the two divisions on offer, Under 18’s Boys and Girls.

It is Josh’s his second year refereeing at the tournament and with only six New Zealand referees selected ( three from the North Harbour region), having two Westlake Boys High School representatives in action at the tournament is a pretty special feat. Josh and Tyler have displayed excellent professionalism both on and off the field and we are looking forward to seeing them performing on the world stage in the near future.

Important Dates:

Westlake Sport

Rugby Results

WBHS 1st XV vs Massey High School 1st XV

By Jake Wise

Westlake Boys High School and Massey High School played out a thrilling regular season finale last Saturday in the Canon 1A 1st XV competition. The two equally matched teams created an end to end match that ended 27 – 20 in Westlake’s favour. Westlake began the game strongest. The visitors pinned an innocuous Massey within their own half and looked as though they might run away with the game. Massey however, needing a win to automatically get through to the major semi-finals, determinedly fought the Swans, leading the points tally for most of the game. Tenacity and a physical advantage from Westlake proved too much though, Massey succumbing to two late tries, forcing the home team to settle for third place and a minor semi-final first seed.

Other Rugby Results

• 1^st XV vs Massey High School won 27-20
• 2^nd XV vs WBHS 3^rd XV won 15-0
• 4^th XV vs Rosmini College 3^rd XV lost 7-17
• 5^th XV vs Birkenhead College lost 5-26
• 4A vs Kristin School won 10-0
• 5A vs Massey High School lost 12-5
• 6A vs Mahurangi College won 22-7
• 7A vs Rosmini College won 27-7

Rugby League Selection

Congratulations to Fine Inisi who was named in the College Rugby League Team of the Year and also to Zae Wallace, who was also named in the Team of the Year and secured a Vodafone Warriors Scholarship.

A great achievement for these two young men to cap off a fine season for of our First XIII League Team.

Football Results

Westlake Well Beaten

Westlake first XI fell to a heavy 0-5 defeat away to reigning Premier league champions Sacred Heart over the weekend. The match started promisingly for Westlake and the away team should have taken the lead when striker Sean Skeens out-paced the home defence and rounded the keeper, only to send his shot wide of the open goal.

Westlake kept up the pressure and Jaidyn Hendriks had his near post shot saved by the Sacred Heart keeper. Sacred Heart then took control of the match, punishing hesitant Westlake defending with three quick goals. Westlake had a chance to pull a goal back before half time when the lively Skeens was fouled in the penalty area. Unfortunately Captain Oscar Ramsay’s penalty was saved by the home keeper.

The second half was a closer affair with Westlake determined to get back in the game. Unfortunately they couldn’t find a way through the well organised Sacred Heart defence and were inevitably caught on the break as the home team added two more goals.

WBHS 2nd XI vs Sacred Heart College 2nd XI

Westlake’s 2nd XI had a hard fought game away from home against the top of the table, Sacred Heart. They were able to pull off a well-deserved 2-1 win thanks to a goal from Bradley Cain and a late winner from Alistair Wright.

Other Football Results:

• 1^st XI lost 5-0 vs Sacred Heart College
• 2^nd XI won 2-1 vs Sacred Heart College
• 15A1 lost 1-0 vs Mt Albert Grammar School
• 14A1 lost 5-1 vs Mt Albert Grammar School
• 14A2 lost 3-1 vs Kelston Boys’ High School
• 13A1 drew 3-3 with Rutherford College
• 13A2 won 5-0 vs Liston College

Hockey Results

WBHS 1^st XI vs Auckland Grammar School 1^st XI

Reigning North Harbour Champions, Westlake Boys High School 1^st XI Hockey secured a place in the top four in the Auckland Supercity competition with a 3-0 win over Auckland Champions, Auckland Grammar School.

The game started evenly but as the half went on Westlake began to dominate and Auckland had to make some last ditch saves.  Unfortunately for Auckland Grammar the ball hit an outfield player’s body twice on the line stopping a certain goal.  The result was two penalty strokes which JP Rossouw and Benji Edwards calmly slotted in resulting in Westlake going up 2-0 at half time.

The second half was very similar to the first. Westlake managed to secure the win after Peter Felstead showed some great skills and Wesley Sleep finished with around five minutes left on the clock.

Next up is the match against Rosmini College on Wednesday 12^th August, 6.15pm at Westlake Girls High School. There’s a lot at stake as a win will mean the team goes to the top of the table on goal difference securing a home semi with high hopes to reach a spot in the this year’s Auckland final.

For details of our 2^nd XI game versus Auckland Grammar School 2^nd XI, please click here.

Results for all Hockey teams:

• WBHS 1^st XI vs Auckland Grammar School 1^st XI won 3-0
• WBHS 2^nd XI vs Auckland Grammar School 2^nd XI lost 4-2
• WBHS 3^rd XI vs Takapuna Grammar School 1^st XI drew 3-3
• WBHS 4^th XI vs Birkenhead College 1^st XI drew 0-0
• WBHS Senior Green vs Kristin School 2^nd XI lost 3-1
• WBHS Senior Red vs Rosmini College 3^rd XI won 3-2
• WBHS Junior 1 vs Mahurangi College 1^st XI lost 3-2
• WBHS Junior 2 vs Northcote College 1^st XI lost 2-0
• WBHS Junior 3 vs Wentworth College 1^st XI lost 3-1

Squash Results 31 July

WBHS Premier Squash vs Auckland Grammar School

Westlake Boys Premier Squash team remained unbeaten throughout the season when it defeated Auckland Grammar School in the final round of the Premier Team’s weekly competition. The team composed of Matthew Lucente, Gabe Yam, Stuart Martin and Zonal Ali were all impressive, winning their matches in straight games. The win in the final round means that the Premier Team’s title safely remains with Westlake Boys High School.

This serves the team in good stead as compete in Palmerston North this weekend in the Secondary Schools Squash Nationals. The team members’ strong showing all season has been rewarded by being awarded the top seed for this competition. They will have to overcome the challenge from Tauranga Boys High College, who have been the reigning champions for the last three years.

Basketball Results 24-31 July

WBHS Premiers v Liston, Friday 31st July

Last Friday night Westlake Premiers took on Liston at NSEC. Their game in the first round had been a close affair, so this one looked to be another great match. Westlake was still low on able bodies and the team knew they had to play smart to get the win. They started out firing, led by point guard Isaac Letoa, who was hitting outside shots and getting inside to finish strong. He managed to score 18 of the 28 points in this quarter alone. By the end of the first quarter Westlake had built a strong 30-19 lead. Westlake continued to put the pressure in the second quarter but Liston hit some big shots and kept that quarter close, giving Westlake the lead at the half, 50-37.

In the second half Westlake pulled away behind some great rebounding on the offensive and defensive ends, led by Joel Coffey. Westlake got a very solid win, behind some great team play 97-66. Isaac Letoa top scored with 28 points, shooting a very good percentage from behind and inside the arc. Joel Coffey pulled down 14 boards to go with 19 points. Logan Hunt and James Moors had great all round games.

Click here for other results.

Congratulations to New Zealand Sailing Representative, Robbie McCutcheon

Robbie achieved the best result for a kiwi at NAM’s in many years with a top 20 finish (his goal), including a 4th to finish the regatta. He has worked hard on his nutrition and hydration leading up to the regatta, and to finish in such a fashion after 5 days of racing was very encouraging.

http://www.sail-world.com/NZ-Optimist-North-Americans-Team—Three-Kiwis-in-top-half-of-Gold/136894

Good Luck to:

• Our 1^st XI who play Auckland Grammar School at 12.00pm on 8 August at AGS 1
• Our 2^nd XI who play Auckland Grammar School 2^nd XI at 10.00am on 8 August at AGS 2
• Our 2^nd XV who play Rosmini College 2nd XV at 12.00pm on 8 August at WBHS 1
• Our 3^rd XV who play Mahurangi College 1st XV at 9.30am on 8 August at Mahurangi College 1
• Our 4^th XV who play Hato Petera College 1st XV at 9.30am on 8 August at WBHS 1
• Our 5^th XV who play Long Bay College 2nd XV at 9.30am on 8 August at WBHS 2
• Our 1^st XI Hockey who play Rosmini College at 6.15pm on 12 August at WGHS
• Our 2^nd XI Hockey who play St Kentigern School at 5.05pm on 12 August at LEP1
• Our 13A1 who play Auckland Grammar School at 9.00am on 8 August at WBHS Grass
• Our 15A1 who play St Kentigern School at 10.00am on 8 August at St Kentigern 2
• Our Premier Basketball team who play Rosmini College at 7.30pm on 7 August at Rosmini College
• Our Lacrosse team who play Orewa College at 4.00pm on 7 August at WBHS
• Our Premier Squash team who are competing in the National Championships in Palmerston North over the weekend
• Our musicians who are taking part in The Big Sing in Wellington

Westlakers News

2015 Westlakers Annual Reunion – NEXT Friday!

Friday 14th August, Westlake Boys’ Staffroom, 6.30pm

If you know of any former students, staff or families of Westlake Boys please forward this newsletter to them and ask them to RSVP now for the 2015 Westlakers Annual Reunion.

Spread the word, round up your mates and head back to school for some full-on Westlaker style bevying and bantering at the 2015 Westlakers Annual Reunion. $20 per head at the door (includes one drink and some finger food). Cash bar available.

For further information on the 2015 Westlakers Annual Reunion please contact Christine O’Dowd.