When it comes to walking the walk for social change, Year 12 student Tayla Woolley has a long stride.
The passionate advocate for human rights and youth issues has been selected as the North Shore Youth MP for National’s Hon Maggie Barry in 2019 – and she’s excited about making a difference. “I decided to apply because I have a desire to make changes in my community,” she says. “I want to strengthen my understanding of politics and I knew this role would definitely help me to achieve that. I love being involved in our school and the surrounding community.”
An 800-word essay outlining her passions and thoughts on issues facing North Shore youth resulted in a panel interview in early October. “I delivered a five-minute speech about the issues I mentioned in my essay and how I believed I could help solve these, while connecting with the youth of my community,” she says. “I found out I’d been selected during the school holidays. Maggie said my application was of an excellent standard, and she could clearly see I was a passionate and aspiring politician. The selection panel also said I was confident and 'owned' the content and did myself and Westlake very proud.”
Tayla will take up the prestigious position in March 2019, concluding in late August. “Throughout this time I will be involved in community and political events, such as fundraisers, and will be able to work alongside Maggie. I will also get to experience first-hand, what it’s really like being in Parliament as I get to take Maggie's seat in Youth Parliament 2019, which takes place over two days in the July school holidays. Here, I will meet all 119 Youth MPs from across New Zealand and debate in the House of Parliament. I will also attend Select Committee meetings. There will be a lot of hours and effort involved, but I believe my passion and interest in politics and the community will make the experience enjoyable.
“I am looking forward to this experience for my personal growth and achievement, as well as creating a positive image of Maggie Barry and her office on the North Shore.”
One of Tayla’s goals for next year is to encourage youth involvement and voting in elections. “I want to encourage and empower youth in my community to better understand politics so they can have a voice which impacts our country,” she says.
During her time at Westlake, Tayla has been a member of Amnesty International, the WGHS Sports and Wellbeing Committee, Philosophy Club, Ethics Roadshow and is currently working towards her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh. She travelled to Vietnam this year on a Social Science trip and volunteered her time for the school’s Open Night and Enrolment Evenings.
“I enjoy being able to connect with students of all year levels and develop a positive relationship with them. I love the activities and groups I am involved in as they have made my experience at Westlake the best it could be.
“I believe my future lies in politics and social change and I am going to work hard to ensure the future of New Zealand will be positively impacted by our generation.”
Leadership celebrated with afternoon presentation
The extraordinary contribution of our 76 Prefects in 2018 was celebrated with an afternoon tea and alumni leadership panel recently.
Janet Van (NanoGirl Labs), Jo Aleh (Olympic Sailor) and Ebony Duff (General Manager of a radio network of 21 stations - pictured above from left) shared their stories of life at Westlake, and their career progression since they left high school. Pauline Harrison, who ran a leadership course for our Prefects this year, led the discussion.
The afternoon included a presentation by Head Prefect Izzy Sheild, Deputy Head Prefect Janice Lim, and five House Captains - Izzy Ray-Chaudhuri, Iliarne Watson, Bridget Layburn, Cynthia Liu and Janelle Beamish. The students shared their vision for Westlake Girls High School over the next 10 years, and the values they believe should define Westlake students - Passionate, Ambitious, Collaborative, Kind, Down to Earth (PACKD)!
All 76 future leaders were presented with a certificate and memento from their time as a Prefect at Westlake.
Westlake students dominate award nominations
Westlake Girls High School students make up four of the eight finalists in the Junior Sportswoman Category of the Massey University Harbour Sport Excellence Awards. The awards, being held on 16 November, honour sporting excellence in our region. The students are:
Tamara Otene – Volleyball
Stella Ebert – Rhythmic Gymnastics
Sophie Egnot-Johnson – Rowing
Bridget Layburn – Water Polo
Tamara represented New Zealand at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games in beach volleyball and has previously represented New Zealand in badminton. She also represented New Zealand as part of the junior indoor volleyball team which played in Vietnam in June.
Stella competed in this year’s Commonwealth Games as the youngest member of the New Zealand squad. She most recently returned from two World Cups (in Belarus and Russia) and also competed in the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Bulgaria.
Sophie was selected to represent New Zealand in the World Rowing Championships in Racice in the Czech Republic in August. Sophie and her squad finished ninth overall.
Bridget recently represented New Zealand as part of the Youth Women Water Polo Squad which participated in the FINA World Women’s Youth Championship in Belgrade, Serbia.
In other sporting news, two of our teams did exceptionally well at the recent New Zealand Secondary School Championships. Our Premier Netball team won silver at the Netball Championship and our Premier Basketball team placed third in the Basketball Championship.
