Welcome to Our Board 

Our outgoing Board are due our sincere thanks. They have helped ensure you have a highly successful school to join. Quoted from our most recent Education Review Office report in 2017 ...
"The board demonstrates a professional approach to its stewardship role and consists of experienced and new trustees. Trustees and senior leaders have made very good use of the findings of ERO’s 2014 evaluation and have sustained and continued to make very good progress in relation to the school’s strategic goals.”
"The board is focused on children’s learning and trustees are well informed about achievement trends. They make good use of achievement information to make decisions about resourcing learning programmes. The board regularly reviews its own progress and uses information gained from ongoing staff and parent consultation feedback to inform change.”

I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working with people of the exceptional calibre of Nic Yelash and Sarah Layton. I am excited at the opportunity to work with three very talented and enthusiastic new Board members in Michelle, Tom and Talia.

Michelle Pauling
​Finance

My name is Michelle Pauling.  I am delighted and honoured to be elected as a parent representative for the first time.  My connection with Western Heights started when I attended my first year of school and I am looking forward to representing the parent community.
I am married, we have three boys, Aston (10), Zach (6) who both attend the school and Fletch (4) who is currently at Sturges Road Kindy.  

​I work part time for Toyota Financial Services as the Continuous Improvement Analyst.  This role includes running our Continuous Improvement Program (Kaizen) and Environmental Management System.  Throughout my professional career of 25 years I have gained experience in the corporate environment, including Management, Accounting & Finance, Business Analyst, Strategic Planning Support and Policy Review.  
I hold family, kindness, honesty and integrity in high regard.   Sport is a big part of our lives; the boys play Football and I play both club and social Netball.  
I look forward to meeting more of our school community and feel very privileged to have the opportunity to be working with the board of trustees. 

Lole Tipi
Pasifika Community Liaison

I was born and raised in West Auckland. I work in the IT Security Sector and currently am the Technical Key Accounts Manager for Aotea Security, to run the Ministry of Justice sites nationwide. I have been in security for over 20 years, working my way up from an installer to a senior technician to top Management.

My mother is a passionate Pasefika community leader, and I support her in running a full-immersion Samoan preschool as well as a Wellness and Education Hub in West Auckland. I would love to see more Pasefika succeed and reach their goals.

My two children attend Western Heights School; Alesana is currently a year 6, and Katalina is in year 3. My wife has taught at WHS and has been part of our WHS community since 2010. We love the ethos of Western Heights and the focus on educating the whole child, supporting them to develop their social-emotional skills as well as succeeding academically.

I would bring a colourful approach to assist in problem-solving and contribute an alternative set of life skills and experiences.

亲爱的华人家长, 随着越来越多华人选择居住在西区, 本校华人学生越来越多。据不完全统计，某些班级有快接近一半的学生是华人了。但你看看咱学校董事会，现在连一个华人影子都没有，我们华人家长和孩子的声音被严重低估，这样对孩子的成长是不利的。常言道，孩子的教育无小事。所以希望大家能投我一票，我定会全力以赴，把各位的声音带到董事会，让学校出台更多对孩子们更有利的政策和措施，为他们的健康成长助力。谢谢！

Nic Yelash
Board Chair

Kia ora, my name is Nicola Yelash. I currently hold the position of Board Chair, and I am proud of, and encouraged by, the dedication and concern with which our Board fulfils its governance role.  I welcome this opportunity to work with the Board into the future, strengthening the ties our Board has with the school community.
I am married with 3 children.  Prior to starting a family, my tertiary education included degrees in both commerce and arts, followed by a corporate career in London.
My relationship with Western Heights School extends back to 2010, when my eldest son, Luka, started school at Western Heights.  Since then, my two younger sons have also begun their education at Western Heights, with Niko having progressed to Intermediate, and Timo currently in Year 4.

​Although I have recently moved on from my much-loved role as a Learning Assistant at WHS, I continue to take a particular interest in the curriculum and special educational needs. My 5 years of professional experience within the school and my continued commitment to optimising every child's school experience, combined with my academic and parenting background, add valuable knowledge and capability to the Board.
Having moved into an HR role, my new work environment allows me to bring a corporate perspective to Board accountabilities, further strengthening the governance of our school.
I continue to be impressed by the strength of the WHS community, and by the many options, educational and otherwise, offered by WHS, and I would like to ensure that WHS continues to be a school of choice for families in the area.

Sarah Layton
Board Professional Dvp

Kia ora, I’m Sarah Layton. 
I have had the honour of being a parent representative on the Western Heights Primary School Board of Trustees since March 2015.
I’m married and have 3 children. My relationship with Western Heights began in 2011, with my eldest daughter, Eloise starting school. I currently have Xavier in Year 6 and Matilde in Year 2.
During my professional life, I studied towards a Bachelor Education and Diploma of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Auckland and Auckland College of Education. 
I have also worked as a Consultant and Personal Assistant. 
During my service on the Western Heights Board of Trustees, I have completed a high number of both online and face to face NZSTA Professional Development Workshops. These workshops provide Board of Trustees with the most up to date governance support and information.

​As parents, we are our children’s first teachers, and so it is important for us to continue to be part of the learning process, and to try to understand the challenges and opportunities it faces.
For me it is vital that a school offers an all-inclusive, multicultural environment in which children are valued for their talents, skills and individuality, and one in which they will be supported to grow and succeed.
Western Heights is an outstanding school, and our school continues to grow to be a school of first choice in the area. Western Heights has strong leadership, and a modern approach to learning, and I am continually impressed with the standard of learning and achievement in our school. Our school also has a super strong focus on community, with our children, their families and our staff all being welcomed, loved, and valued. 

Aaron McGreal
Staff Representative

I have been staff rep since the last election. It is an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding role being part of the governance of our school and working in the best interests of our children.
I have a passion for all things Maori, and following a year of study leave to deepen my knowledge in all things Maori, I now take Te Reo Maori classes across our school, one day each week.
I am also the within school guidance teacher in the realm of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy - within the broader Waitakere Community of Learning - Kahui Ako.
I have taught all year levels at Western Heights School - where I began my career as a teacher - and now teach year 3 and 4 in room 15.

Talia Scott
Student Welfare

TALIA SCOTT
Hi, my name is Talia.
I grew up in West Auckland and even attended Western Heights Primary School myself, so it's a bit of nostalgia to be back here with my own children and to see them flourish like I did those many years ago. I have two children at Western Heights and I have to say the school is a lot the same, yet so very different to when I was here.
I believe that school is a big part of our children's lives and plays a crucial role in the people they will become. Schools need to have passionate teachers and staff to help teach and guide our children and to assist us as parents in order to allow them to reach their full potential. The teachers at Western Heights have shown me over the years that they definitely have our children's best interests at heart and that they are working hard to inspire our children to reach their goals and to instil a passion towards learning that will help them as they progress through their school lives.

​I enjoy being a part of this school community.
Over the years that my children have been attending Western Heights, I have enjoyed helping out whenever and wherever I can. It has allowed me to spend time with my children and to see what they are learning but also how they are learning. For me, the board of trustees is another step towards feeling like I am helping to be an active part of their learning and the wider school community.
A little bit about me is that I have a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Auckland and have worked in a variety of jobs specialising in different areas such as biosecurity and account management in the building industry. I have lots of experience working with people and due to my science background, I am always researching and wanting to learn more about things that interest me or intrigue me, so I hope that I would be able to contribute towards school discussions and be a part of the schools continuing success.

Ash Maindonald
Principal

Ash Maindonald - Principal
My wife Jacqualene is the proud Principal of Mangere Central school, and is in her eighth year as a principal overall. She has outstanding skills and talents in administration, curriculum design and integration of ICT into the teaching and learning programme.
My son Tiaki is very keen on technology, music and a very talented footballer and softballer. Tiaki was the youngest footballer to make it into the National Talent Centre, and was MVP at the South Island Softball Champs. He also represented Auckland football at the Weir Rosebowl tournament. Tiaki is in year 12 at Auckland Grammar.
I also have two adult children and two grandchildren - all in Australia.

Western Heights school is a wonderful school, staffed with exceptional teachers and support staff; led by an outstanding Board; and supported by an enthusiastic and committed parent community.
We have an outstanding ERO report and are well placed to continue to take our school through to greater Heights - pardon the pun!

Debbie King
Minute Secretary

Board Minutes 2019

Week 4 Term 1 2019               Week 8 Term 1 2019                  Week 5 Term 2 2019              Week 9 Term 2 2019          
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Week 5 Term 3 2019               Week 9 Term 3 2019                 Week 5 Term 4 2019               Week 9 Term 4 2019