Every student at Westlake Girls High School belongs to one of five houses named after significant local areas. The house colours – black, gold, red, blue and green – reflect the Olympic rings to encourage the pursuit of excellence and relate to the meaning of each of the house names. The house system offers leadership opportunities for senior students and allows all students to feel connected to a smaller community within the school. Throughout the year the houses compete in a variety of events and select a house charity to support.
Each House has a House Captain, Academic Prefect, Arts Prefect, Cultural Prefect, Environmental Prefect, Service Prefect, Sports Prefect, Tuakana Co-ordinator – and a group of Tuakana students overseeing the Junior School. We also have several International Prefects. In addition, our Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect are highly visible leaders and role models for their fellow students at assemblies and school events. They also fulfil responsibilities in the wider school community.
Meet our 2024 Head Prefects
Candese Mamaia-Hellesoe – Head Prefect
How did you feel when you learned you would be in this role?
I was at my brother’s wedding when I received the phone call, so the moment was completely unexpected and was the last thing I could think about then! I remember missing a couple of calls from an unsaved number, so I went away to a quiet spot and called the number back. It went to voicemail. But not just any voicemail – it was Mrs Stanley’s voicemail! When I heard it, my stomach dropped. I wasn’t sure what to feel, but I felt the need to keep calling her back, so I did. Eventually, she rang me back, and I answered. When she broke the news to me, I gasped and remembered pacing back and forth in an empty corridor absolutely speechless, but eventually broke out repetitively saying, “Oh my days! Oh my days!” in pure disbelief, and I remember Mrs Stanley on the other end of the line giggling and reassuring me that it was in fact real. I will never forget the build-up of different emotions I felt that evening, especially for receiving something I did not expect one bit.
Why do you think you were chosen (what special leadership qualities do you believe you have?)
I’ve never been the best at talking about myself in that way and am often hesitant, but it presents a quality in me that I’m incredibly blessed for having, which is humility. That has been instilled in me growing up and is what I heavily embody, as I never intend to think of myself highly but rather as someone who is down to earth and easy to talk to. Another quality I feel I represent well is being socially intelligent or sociable.
Communication is something I highly value and is what I feel has really helped me in forming the many connections I’ve made and have maintained with different people today. These qualities have helped me become a very humane individual and a suitable candidate for this honourable role. I intend to be personable enough for others to relate to or truly get along with, yet influential enough to lead others in a positive and respectful manner.
How do you intend to use your position ‘for good’ this year?
I intend to be a bridge between students and teachers and become an outlet for students who want their viewpoints, thoughts, opinions, and concerns to be heard. I want to use my role to give ‘big sister’ type support, especially to our new Year 9s and anyone who feels they need some guidance or extra help. This is because I know what it feels like to feel a little lost among the crowd sometimes, even now, and I would do anything to let others know that they’re not alone and can always reach out for help when needed. On top of that, I would like to be a role model to younger people and prove that self-acceptance and being able to truly be yourself are the greatest forms of self-confidence in finding out who you are before becoming a role model for other people. As a young Pasifika female, it’s common to feel lost or unsure about what’s ahead and what you want. You feel the waves of expectations set before you. I would like my position in this role to be seen as an inspiration to other Polynesian sisters or brothers who aspire to become future leaders. I hope that seeing someone like me with the same ethnic background up here preaching my story could motivate them to progress that extra mile.
Georgia Brackebush – Deputy Head Prefect
How did you feel when you learned you would be in this role?
When I got the call, I was in shock but also full of excitement. I remember hearing about all the other talented, smart girls who got an interview and was honoured to be among them.
Ultimately, I was so grateful to be given the opportunity and to have people at school who believed in me and my abilities. It can be challenging in a big school to feel like people are seeing your full potential. I thought I wouldn’t have the best chance at getting the role as I didn’t have the longest list of extracurriculars, and my blazer wasn’t filled with badges like others. How would I ever get to show them who I was and what I stood for in such a short amount of time?
Therefore, I was so proud of myself when I got the call. It showed me that you don’t need all the fancy titles or the long resumes; you just need to be yourself – kind, enthusiastic, or whatever strong qualities you may have. I knew this role would open many new opportunities for me and my future, and I am ready to take every one of them.
Why do you think you were chosen (what special leadership qualities do you believe you have?)
I believe I was chosen for this role due to my enthusiasm, drive for excellence, kindness, and personable character. I have always immersed myself in being the best person I can be and setting high standards for myself. (Not in a toxic way. I tend to do it without even realising). I have grown up in a family that challenges my ideas, lets me share my opinions, and has allowed me to grow into someone who loves to chat with anyone I come across. Due to this, I have always been able to come up with new challenges for myself, have the confidence to put myself out there and be comfortable in my own skin. Of course, this isn’t always the case for me, as everyone goes through times when they can be uncomfortable or shy. However, I strongly believe that everything will unfold the way it is meant to. In other words, everything will be fine if you put yourself out there.
It can be hard to share what you believe is good about yourself, especially as young girls – we can sometimes tend to be too humble. However, I have learned that it is okay to believe in yourself and share your good qualities – doing this has helped me gain my role.
I believe that I am confident and a good leader, but not so over-confident that I become overpowering. I believe that I am approachable and personable, which are qualities you would want to have in a leadership role so you can connect with your peers. I want the best for myself but also for everyone around me. I love seeing people succeed or reach their personal best.
How do you intend to use your position ‘for good’ this year?
I want to use my role to inspire others to be the best they can be as well. I want to show that, yes, becoming involved with lots of extracurriculars, being book smart, and having lots of badges can be important and rewarding. However, these are not the things that will make you the best person you can be. You also must be kind and strong-minded and recognise that the way you make yourself and others feel is what’s most important.
It can be easy, especially as teenage girls, to focus on superficial things, especially trying to get into leadership roles. However, I want to show my peers that it is so much more than that. I will openly say that when I was going for this role, I was comparing myself to others, wondering if I would be good enough. I was worried that I didn’t have enough badges and that my resume wasn’t long enough. You get the gist. However, I forgot to remind myself that it doesn’t all come down to that.
Therefore, this year, my goal in my role is to remind others that the person you are inside is what matters. I want to show them this by being the best person that I can be from the inside, too. Hopefully, by continuing to share this message, Westlake Girls will believe in themselves a little more, be kind, strong, compassionate, embody Mana Wahine, and recognise that it is ok to share what strong qualities they have. The person you are and the qualities you bring forth will shine through any superficial things, so make that version of yourself the best you can!
2024 International Prefects
Marietta Aschenbrenner, Julie Ye, Reika Matsuo
| House Captain |
Emily French |
| Academic Prefect | Sophia Ryan |
| Arts Prefect | Katie Brown |
| Cultural Prefect | Sofia Soriano |
| Environmental Prefect | Ayesha Aymen |
| Service Prefect | Shivani Arivuchelvan |
| Sports & Wellbeing Prefect | Ashlee Matapo |
| Tuakana Co-ordinator | Grace Bateman |
| Tuakana | Karah Ancog |
| Tuakana |
Ella Aubrey |
| Tuakana |
Amelie Caird |
| Tuakana |
Jacqueline Choi |
| Tuakana |
Portia Drummond |
| Tuakana |
Abby Middleton |
| Tuakana |
Jihyun Min |
| Tuakana | Sally Park |
| Tuakana |
Arissa Raufie |
| House Captain | Maia Hunter |
| Academic Prefect | Harmony Huston |
| Arts Prefect | Emily Sullivan |
| Cultural Prefect | Brennah Latoalevi-Nosa |
| Environmental Prefect |
Hannah Anderson |
| Service Prefect | Danika Zaidi |
| Sports & Wellbeing Prefect | Amy Pateman |
| Tuakana Co-ordinator | Jenna Zaher |
| Tuakana | Maia Brown |
| Tuakana |
Cindy Yao |
| Tuakana |
Paige Beaumont |
| Tuakana |
Libby Pawley |
| Tuakana |
Mulan Riseborough |
| Tuakana |
Hannah Anandraj |
| Tuakana |
Hanneke Hectors |
| Tuakana |
Tashianna Murray |
| Tuakana |
Bonnie Lin |
| House Captain | Anna Greenhalgh |
| Academic Prefect | Emily Chen |
| Arts Prefect | Emily Chong |
| Cultural Prefect | Ajrin Ahmed |
| Environmental Prefect | Elsie Zeng |
| Service Prefect | Nicole Mak |
| Sports & Wellbeing Prefect | Jasmyne Howker |
| Tuakana Co-ordinator | Abby Wang |
| Tuakana |
Nicky Zaayman |
| Tuakana |
Emma Natan |
| Tuakana |
Bella Cockcroft |
| Tuakana |
Caelin Thompson |
| Tuakana |
Georgia Martin |
| Tuakana |
Grayce Brothers |
| Tuakana |
Jiwon Choi |
| Tuakana |
Emma Orsler |
| Tuakana |
Athena Matthews |
| Tuakana |
Julia Kim |
| Tuakana |
Daniella Hall |
| Tuakana | Alexis Edwards |
| House Captain | Tara Yoo |
| Academic Prefect | Jappan Kaur |
| Arts Prefect | Annah Mathew |
| Environmental Prefect | Emily Troughton |
| Cultural Prefect | Katie Kim |
| Service Prefect | Zoe Quifors |
| Sports & Wellbeing Prefect | Phoebe Dobson |
| Tuakana Co-ordinator | Lucy Macdonald |
| Tuakana |
Emily Li |
| Tuakana |
Lily Witheridge |
| Tuakana |
Cerys George |
| Tuakana |
Cooper Godbold |
| Tuakana |
Estelle Fernandez |
| Tuakana |
Nguyen Bui |
| Tuakana |
Moira Araullo |
| Tuakana |
Mina Tesimale |
| Tuakana |
Chloe Broderick |
| Tuakana |
Amanda Ting |
| Tuakana |
Ari Findlay |
| Tuakana |
Stella Luggen |
| House Captain | Angela Kim |
| Academic Prefect | Amira Shafiq |
| Arts Prefect | Fiona Yang |
| Cultural Prefect | Tina Kim |
| Environmental Prefect | Amelie Preece |
| Service Prefect | Amy Oh |
| Sports & Wellbeing Prefect | Ella Harvey |
| Tuakana Co-ordinator | Emma Cordes |
| Tuakana |
Alanya Chen |
| Tuakana |
Phoebe Fitzsimmons |
| Tuakana |
Nadia Franklin |
| Tuakana |
Rebecca Gunawan |
| Tuakana |
Parmida Jafarian |
| Tuakana |
Grace Kennedy |
| Tuakana |
Henna Kshatriya |
| Tuakana |
Megan O’Connor |
| Tuakana |
Olivia Owen |
| Tuakana |
Shreeji Patel |
| Tuakana |
Elin Vincent |
| Tuakana |
Olivia Wen |
