Some teachers might view remaining primarily in the classroom over the course of an entire career as something akin to a life-sentence. Maybe I’m an outlier, but I relish the prospect and see it as a privilege. My name is Dave Smale, and I’m an English teacher at Westlake Boys’ High School. I’m 46 years … Continue reading Reflections of an Across School Leader
transition
Inside the Career: Episode Ten – Communications (Katie Hunter)
“Just get stuck in, do anything and everything that you have time for, and do it with a smile.” Katie Hunter worked as the Communications Manager at Westlake Boys’ High School for 18 months before recently moving on to a new role with the New Zealand Automobile Association in August this year. Katie emigrated from … Continue reading Inside the Career: Episode Ten – Communications (Katie Hunter)
Inside the Career – Episode Nine: Environmental Science and Water Quality Management (Jess Brooks)
“I feel like I make a positive difference. You know there might be a water quality issue there and myself and my team work to resolve that issue; so, we actually do impact everyone who uses the beach." Jess Brooks is a Healthy Water Specialist in the Storm Water Department at Auckland Council, working to … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode Nine: Environmental Science and Water Quality Management (Jess Brooks)
Inside the Career – Episode Eight: Banking (Laura Davie)
I absolutely love the variety, that I can have random things thrown at me [on] any given day and I [can] change the course of what I’m doing depending on the priority. And I love being able to problem solve with other people. So, here’s an idea and [then] going to talk to different … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode Eight: Banking (Laura Davie)
Inside the Career – Episode Seven: Acting (Max Crean)
“I love being able to see words written on a piece of paper and being able to be like, cool, we need to make this alive, we need to bring flavour to this, we need to add action to it. And just the process of that, seconds before they are going to start filming it, … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode Seven: Acting (Max Crean)
Inside the Career – Episode Three: Medical Technology (William Lin)
“Invest in yourself and understand who you are as a person, and spend time and investigate what the different career pathways might hold for you in the future…don’t be locked into any one pathway…essentially, just believe in yourself and go for it.” This sage, encouraging advice is given by William Lin towards the end of … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode Three: Medical Technology (William Lin)
Inside the Career – Episode Two: Law (Bhavin Parshottam)
“My interest in law formed really during high school because my favourite subjects were English, History and Economics - and the basis of those subjects is a lot of writing and a lot of reasoning…but in terms of the job itself, it’s great to be in a position where you can really make a … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode Two: Law (Bhavin Parshottam)
Inside the Career – Episode One: Medicine (Andrew Han and Josh Chang)
“From my point of view, it’s a great mix between science, or academic based thinking, and at the same time having that human interaction; and actually the people you work with, they make your day!” (Josh Chang) Andrew Han and Josh Chang join me in our first episode of Inside the Career, a new Pupuke … Continue reading Inside the Career – Episode One: Medicine (Andrew Han and Josh Chang)
Westlake Boys Within School Teacher Inquiries 2020
Pupuke Kāhui Ako Alumni Afternoon Tea
On Thursday 22 August, in the WBHS Staffroom, the inaugural Pupuke Alumni Afternoon Tea was held, attracting around 100 senior students from WBHS and WGHS. The event was an opportunity for these students to hear from a wide range of past and recent WBHS and WGHS graduates who, since leaving school, have gone on to … Continue reading Pupuke Kāhui Ako Alumni Afternoon Tea
Westlake Boys Languages Council
41 Westlake Boys High School students in Languages Council visited Milford Primary, Takapuna Primary and Takapuna Normal Intermediate schools on Thursday 22nd August, to help the younger learners celebrate diverse languages and cultures represented in our community of learning. Throughout the day, the council visited 56 classrooms, teaching a range of activities such as chopsticks … Continue reading Westlake Boys Languages Council
Inside the Teacher’s Classroom, episode 7
“One of the things that interested me about Ida, that I will always remember, is that she talked to us about the benefits of reading…and she said, you can read while you are ironing…and that stuck in my mind that you could have a family and a career, which for her was a very successful … Continue reading Inside the Teacher’s Classroom, episode 7
Within School Leaders Inquiries
A Snapshot to Westlake Boys High School Within School Leader Inquiries - Group 1 A Snapshot to Westlake Boys High School Within School Leader Inquires - Group 2
Language day at Milford Primary
Westlake Boys languages council visited Milford Primary School in the afternoon of 23rd August to help celebrate International Languages Week. It was the third visit which has been running for three consecutive years since 2016. 30 boys in Years 11 – 13 worked together to prepare 10 different cultural activities and language lessons for Year … Continue reading Language day at Milford Primary
Science Experience Day with TNIS and WBHS
On Thursday 6th September, the Westlake Science department opened it labs, equipment and expertise to an excited bunch of 40 students and staff from Takapuna Normal Intermediate. The program, the brain-child of two of Pupuke Kāhui Ako’s Within-School Leaders, Jon Webster and Jihan El-Labany, was devised and planned over several months by an action group … Continue reading Science Experience Day with TNIS and WBHS
Basketball Coaching Clinic
On September 15th, Westlake Boys are hosting a Pupuke Kāhui Ako Basketball Coaching Clinic. Boys and girls from all schools in the community are invited to attend. Staff and student organisers aim to adapt and differentiate the experience to the specific ages who sign up to attend. The session will run from 10am until 2pm … Continue reading Basketball Coaching Clinic
Pupuke Kāhui Ako 