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 1957 as a coeducational school, changing to girls only in 1962 when Westlake Boys High School opened. Westlake Girls has a roll of approximately 2146 students 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 | |
| , | |
| Coordinates | 36.7825°S 174.7508°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Public school |
| Motto | Virtute Experiamur (Let Courage Be Thy Test) |
| Established | 1957 (co-ed), 1962 (single-sex) |
| Sister school | Westlake Boys High School |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 38 |
| Principal | Jane Stanley |
| Years offered | 9–13 |
| Gender | Female |
| Number of students | 2146[1] (April 2023) |
| Houses | 5 |
| Colour(s) | Red & Green |
| Socio-economic decile | 9Q[2] |
| Website | www |
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 1957, 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] In the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gernhoefer was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[6] The Gernhoefer Administration building is named in her honour. She died on 12 April 2022.[7]
Mexted was principal from November 2011 to 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.[8] She is married to former Olympic rower Mike Stanley.[9]
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).
Principals
| Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sylvia Mollard | 1962–1969 | |
| 2 | Helen Ryburn | 1969–1981 | |
| 3 | Alison Gernhoefer | 1981–2011 | |
| 4 | Roz Mexted | 2011–2016 | |
| 5 | Jane Stanley | 2017–present |
Notable alumnae
- Rosie Cheng – tennis player
- Erin Naylor – association footballer[10]
- Jo Aleh – sailor
- Alethea Boon – athlete, gymnast, weightlifter
- Cathie Dunsford – novelist, poet, anthologist, lecturer and publishing consultant
- Joanne Gair – artist, bodypainter
- Nikki Jenkins – gymnast
- Jenny Kirk – politician
- Kayla McAlister – rugby sevens player
- Judy Millar – artist
- Carol Oyler – cricketer
- Anona Pak – badminton player
- Katie Perkins – cricketer[11]
- Karen Plummer – cricketer
- Allison Roe – athlete
- Rebecca Sowden – association footballer[12]
- Kate Sylvester – fashion designer[13]
- Rosita Vai – singer
- Lisa Wallbutton – basketball player
- Diana Wichtel – writer and critic[14]
- Chelsea Winter – celebrity chef
References
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- "Westlake Girls High School House System". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- Sparks, Zizi (17 February 2017). "Former Westlake High School students celebrate 60-year reunion". North Shore Times.
- "Westlake Girls' new head". Stuff.co.nz. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- "No. 53697". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 11 June 1994. p. 35.
- "Alison Gernhoefer obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Westlake Girls High School finds new principal". Stuff.co.nz. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- Russell, Alexia (18 April 2017). "New head for NZ's biggest girls' school". newsroom. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Westlake Girls High take out the champs". Stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- "Community spirit is key for Perkins". Auckland Cricket. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- "Soccer takes to the beach". Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- "Designer Kate Sylvester on celebrating her heroes with her designs". Stuff. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- Noted. "Diana Wichtel's long search for her Holocaust-survivor father". www.noted.co.nz. Retrieved 23 December 2019.