Westlake Girls High School

Story

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 its brother school, Westlake Boys High School, opened. Westlake Girls has a roll of approximately girls from Years 9 to 13 (ages 12 to 18), making one of the largest single-sex schools in New Zealand. Westlake Girls High School is the country's largest state girls' school with more than 2200 students. The school is divided into five house groups: Akoranga (Black), Hauraki (Gold), Onewa (Red), Pupuke (Blue) and Wairau (Green).HistoryThe 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, though they maintain relations.After almost three decades of service, respected Westlake Girls High School principal Alison Gernhoefer retired at the end of 2011. The Gernhoefer Administration building is now dedicated in her honour.Ros Mexted succeed her and was principal from November 2011 - November 2016. Under her guidance the school saw many improvements and changes. Of these most noticeable was the introduction of a new Junior and Senior uniform. Also developed were 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.Westlake Girls and BoysPhysically merely a few hundred metres apart, Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys engage in an annual theatrical production together, several joint musical ensembles, and some social dances, among other things. The joint choir, "Choralation", has won the top award in the nationwide secondary schools choir competition The Big Sing for three years in a row, something never done before in the history of the competition. The two schools share a motto - Virtute Experiamur .