Westlake Girls High School

Westlake Girls High School is a state girls secondary school, located to the west of Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. The school was established in 1958 as a coeducational school, changing to girls only in 1962 when Westlake Boys High School opened. Westlake Girls has a roll of approximately 2297 girls from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18), making one of the largest single-sex schools in New Zealand.[1]

Westlake Girls High School
Location
Auckland
,
New Zealand
Coordinates36.7825°S 174.7508°E / -36.7825; 174.7508
Information
TypePublic school
MottoVirtute Experiamur
(Let Courage Be Thy Test)
Established1958 (1958) (co-ed), 1962 (single-sex)
Sister schoolWestlake Boys High School
Ministry of Education Institution no.38
PrincipalJane Stanley
Years offered9–13
GenderGirls
Number of students2297[1] (March 2020)
Houses5
Colour(s)Red & Green
Socio-economic decile9Q[2]
Websitewww.westlakegirls.school.nz

The school is divided into five house groups: Akoranga (black), Hauraki (yellow), Onewa (red), Pupuke (blue) and Wairau (green).[3]

History

The school has its origin in 1958, when it opened as a co-ed institution. In 1962 Westlake Girls' and Westlake Boys High School emerged as separate schools,[4] though they maintain relations.

After three decades of service, principal Alison Gernhoefer retired at the end of 2011, succeeded by Roz Mexted.[5] The Gernhoefer Administration building is dedicated in Gernhoefer's honour.

Mexted was principal from November 2011 – November 2016. Changes during her tenure were the introduction of a new Junior and Senior uniform, and the development of the undercover netball and tennis courts visible from the motorway. The house system was also updated in an effort to increase school unity and spirit.

Jane Stanley was appointed to succeed Mexted and took up the position of principal at the beginning of the second term in May 2017.[6] She is married to former Olympic rower Mike Stanley (rower).

Westlake Girls and Boys

Physically merely a few hundred metres apart, Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys engage in an annual theatrical production together, several joint musical ensembles (including a joint choir, two orchestras, a concert band and a jazz band), and some social dances, among other things. The two schools share a motto – Virtute Experiamur (Let Courage Be Thy Test).[7]

Principals
  • Sylvia Mavis Mollard 1962-1969
  • Helen May Ryburn 1969-1981
  • Alison Gernhoefer 1981-2011
  • Roz Mexted 2011-2016
  • Jane Stanley 2017-present

Notable alumni
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References
  1. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. "Westlake Girls High School House System". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  4. Sparks, Zizi (17 February 2017). "Former Westlake High School students celebrate 60-year reunion". North Shore Times.
  5. "Westlake Girls' new head". Stuff.co.nz. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  6. "Westlake Girls High School finds new principal". Stuff.co.nz. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  7. "Jo Aleh", Wikipedia, 2 October 2019, retrieved 23 December 2019
  8. "Westlake Girls High take out the champs". Stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  9. "Board of Directors". www.sparknz.co.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  10. "Judo kids bring home bronze". Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  11. Maddaford, Terry (18 March 2008). "College sport: Westlake's unbeaten run to waterpolo title". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. "Community spirit is key for Perkins". Auckland Cricket. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. "Soccer takes to the beach". Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  14. "Designer Kate Sylvester on celebrating her heroes with her designs". Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  15. Noted. "Diana Wichtel's long search for her Holocaust-survivor father". www.noted.co.nz. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
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