Planning is under way for a 60th Reunion of the original Westlake High School – the forerunner to the separate Westlake Girls and Westlake Boys High School’s. The organisers are keen to get as many past pupils as possible from the combined Westlake High School to come along for the one-day reunion scheduled for March next year..
“Prior to the establishment of the Girls and Boys entities, Westlake High School was situated on the site of the current girls school and in the first year 1957 consisted of the hall and administration block and one classroom block,” explained Peter Burn, a foundation pupil at the combined school who later served on the combined Westlake Board for 18 years and was chair for several of those formative years.
When the combined school was formed the pupils were all third formers (113) who mainly came from the immediate neighbourhood, including Takapuna and Milford primary schools.
“It was always planned that the school would be split into single sex schools and at the beginning of 1962 the new schools replaced the ‘co-ed’ school," added Peter Burn. "I was a foundation Pupil and served on the combined schools board for 18 years including six years as chairman. The image that accompanies this article is the editorial from our Westlake High School magazine of 1961 which talks of the beginnings and what proved to be true in the later years of the school.”
Peter Burn is organising the reunion along with Jan Franklin and Geoff Bonham.
“We are planning to have a reunion day for pupils/staff (1957 to 1961) on Friday March 10th. The day will consist of a morning tour at the girls school. The old hall is being demolished in 2017 to make way for a new auditorium. At the end of the day there will be a mix and mingle at the wonderful new gymnasium at the boys school. We are keen to get as many along as possible for what should be a very enjoyable day."
For further information contact:- Jan Franklin, email: jan.franklin@xtra.co.nz or phone 021 413 862; Geoff Bonham, email: geoff@geoffbonham.co.nz or phone 021 923 839; Peter Burn, email: pburn@southparkproperty.co.nz or phone 021 265 9697.
