The Green Striped Blazer, 3rd July 2026

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The Green Striped Blazer - Friday,
3rd July 2026

Good Afternoon,

It has been a long and very busy term for staff and students alike. Thanks must go to
everyone for their time, effort, and commitment throughout the term. This gratitude also
extends to our families and wider community for their ongoing support.

There have been many highlights across the school. While some groups remain unbeaten
or are enjoying particularly successful seasons, their campaigns are not yet complete, and
there is still important work to be done.

After a long term, students have been reminded of the importance of taking time over the
holidays to relax and enjoy the activities they value. At the same time, some reflection and
maintaining good routines can be equally beneficial in preparing for the term ahead. When
we return for Term 3 on Tuesday 21 July, it will not be a matter of starting again but rather
continuing the good work already underway.

We held our mid-year examinations in Week 8 and today reports outlining examination
results and your son's progress so far this year will be distributed. We encourage you to
take the time to review the report with your son and discuss his progress and goals for the
remainder of the year. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
the relevant subject teacher or your son's Dean.

Several of our groups will be competing in events and competitions over the holidays, and
we wish them every success. Tomorrow, our 1st XV takes on Rosmini in a top-of-the-table
clash at Rosmini College. The match will be televised live on SKY Sport at 12.00pm.

Last week, we celebrated Indian culture with a very successful event at Westlake Girls High
School, and on Thursday evening our jazz ensembles entertained a full staffroom with an
outstanding performance. Tonight, we host Chinese Night in our Auditorium, and we wish
all those involved a wonderful and successful evening.

I wish everyone a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. We look forward to the opportunities,
challenges, and successes that Term 3 will bring.

Regards,

Shane Young

Senior Deputy Principal

IN THIS ISSUE:

Important Dates
Thank you for your time at Westlake
Staff Only Day – Monday 20 July
Swans of the Week: Mr Blake Scanlen and Benny Nankervis
Students signing out
Jazz Soiree ends term on a high note
Westlakers speak about hard work and resilience
Parent Education Series
Meet our Staff: Ms Judit McPherson
Top results at German Trivia Night
Spanish Breakfast brings language to life
Club shares skills with Willow Park students
1st XV faces old rival down the road
Students on the podium at Duathlon event
Champions on the charge with new sponsors
Sam Dakin – Turning setbacks into success
Van competes in LA
Squash team takes out Auckland B title
Beats by Bingo 1st XI Cricket fundraiser evening
School Holiday Programme with Ethos
Coach Development: Developing individuals in a team setting
Careers News
Swan Song
Follow WBHS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Contact us
Our Sponsors and Supporters

Important dates

Sports results

Important Dates

Our Major Diary Dates are shown above. Please note, these are subject to change if
necessary, throughout the year.

Thank you for your time at Westlake

As we reach the end of Term 2, we say farewell to nine staff who have contributed to
Westlake Boys High School.

A special acknowledgement goes to Mrs Sarah Belcher, who leaves Westlake after 15 years.
During her time at Westlake, she has been a passionate advocate for Outdoor Education
and Adventure Racing, giving students countless opportunities to challenge themselves and
grow beyond the classroom.

We also acknowledge Mr Blake Scanlen, who has played a significant role in the school's
music programme. As director of Momentum, our development choir, he has encouraged
and nurtured our young singers. He will be heading to the UK to pursue a Masters in Solo
Voice Ensemble Singing (SVES) at the University of York.

We also farewell:

Dr Romina Villamonte – Mathematics, Squash
Mr Archie Triplow – Learner Support, Rugby
Mr R Barros Perillier Dale – Learner Support
Mr Daniel Kim – International
Mr Graham Upton – Science
Miss Isabella Sinnema – Social Sciences, Rugby and numerous co-curricular activities
Dr Anna Eddy – Librarian

We thank all departing staff for their contribution to Westlake Boys High School and wish
them every success for the future.

Pictured below: Mrs Belcher, Miss Sinnema, Mr Scanlen, Dr Villamonte and Mr
Triplow

Mrs Belcher with her Year 13 Outdoor Education class

Staff Only Day – Monday 20 July

Our teachers will be using this day to work through the new curriculum documentation and
consider the changes it may bring to our programmes and teaching practice.

Students return for Term 3 on Tuesday 21 July, which will be Day 5 of the timetable.

Swans of the Week: Mr Blake Scanlen and
Benny Nankervis

Benny Nankervis and Mr Blake Scanlen are our Swans of the Week.

As part of the recent food drive, Benny has consistently brought in cans every few days,
helping his Virtute group contribute to the collection. When asked why, Benny said he saw
it as an opportunity to help those less fortunate than himself. By last week, Benny had
donated around 60 cans, demonstrating generosity and a genuine desire to support others.

Well done, Benny.

Mr Blake Scanlen.

As he finishes his time at Westlake Boys, students have been quick to acknowledge the
impact he has had on their lives through music. As director of Momentum choir, Mr Scanlen
has encouraged, supported and mentored our young students, helping them grow in
confidence and develop their talents.

One student described him as someone who always made people feel welcome, taking the
time to answer questions, check in on students, and give support when it was needed
most.

Students signing out

A reminder to parents and caregivers that if your son needs to leave school early for any
reason, please use the Parent Portal to notify the school.

Recently, Reception has experienced a significant increase in requests from parents and
caregivers to collect students during the school day. Our attendance system is designed to
manage these requests efficiently, and using the Parent Portal helps ensure that students
can be released promptly while minimising disruption to learning and school operations.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Jazz Soiree ends term on a high note

On Thursday evening, the staffroom was transformed into a vibrant jazz club as students
from Westlake Boys High School and Westlake Girls High School presented our annual Jazz
Soirée. A large and appreciative audience enjoyed an evening of outstanding live music
from The Green Jackets, The Red Stripes, Crimson Collective, The Swans Quintet, the
Westlake Girls Jazz Band, the Westlake Boys Stage Band, and the Westlake Big Band.

The relaxed cabaret-style setting provided the perfect opportunity for each ensemble to
showcase the repertoire they have been developing throughout the year. For many of the
groups, the performance also served as valuable preparation for upcoming competitions
and major concerts next term, including the Auckland Jazz Competition and the KBB Music
Festival.

It was wonderful to see so many parents, whānau, staff, and friends in attendance,
creating a warm and supportive atmosphere for our young musicians. Congratulations to all
of the students on their excellent performances, and thank you to everyone who attended
and helped make the evening such a success.

We wish our jazz ensembles all the best as they continue their development towards their
concerts and competitions next term.

Westlakers speak about hard work and resilience

This week, Year 13 students in our Future Sport programme heard from Westlakers Ollie
Schmid and Barnaby Hope-Simcock (both 2018).

The pair spoke about their journey after leaving school into Mixed Martial Arts and the
setting up Unity MMA gym in Albany. They also stressed