Westbridge Residential School

19/05/2026

Westbridge is hosting their legendary Pink Ribbon breakfast today.. 💕
Anything donated to our page after 10am will be matched by Xero up to $200, please use the QR code 💕

10/05/2026

Our Akonga took part in our "My Cook Book" program. The aim of this program was for each student to begin creating their own personalised cookbook, focusing on foods they are interested in and excited about.

For the first part of our program, students were paired with a staff member to explore different recipes of interest - they had to research a meal and a dessert. During their research they were able to see how recipes are structured and discussed the importance of clear instructions (method of recipe), attention to detail (recipe measurements) and presentation of the dish.

To bring this learning to life, we challenged our boys to put their bakers hat on. Using a provided recipe, our akonga practised following step-by-step instructions while paying close attention to detail - especially when measuring ingredients and combining them correctly. This exercise highlighted how small differences in measurement or method can significantly affect the final result, reinforcing the importance of precision and care.

We are hoping to try out some of the recipes that the students have researched through out the term. Our goal is that by the end of the term , each of our boys will have created a full cookbook to take home and share with their families.

Our team were very impressed with the enthusiasm and focus our akonga showed through out this program and look forward to seeing their personlised cookbooks continue to develop.

10/05/2026

Following on from Tie Dye this week, the boys explored the world of hand embroidery with enthusiasm and creativity.

They embraced the challenge with great energy and produced unique pieces that they should be incredibly proud of.
This new skill builds on our current unit, which focuses on teaching the boys how to customise and personalise clothing.

Next week we will be moving on to custom block printing!

Fashion world watch out!

04/05/2026

This week, we began our journey into visual arts, exploring Kiwiana themes. 🥝

Today’s focus was on combining our Kiwiana spirit with the skill of breaking images down into simple shapes, then gradually adding detail.

For example, an L&P bottle can start as a basic rectangle, which is then refined with curves, edges, and finer features to create the finished piece.

Our artists worked incredibly hard, we may have to hold on to their original designs because judging by the quality, they’re bound to be worth a fortune when these talented creators become rich and famous!⭐️

23/04/2026

Welcome back for term 2!
It’s been a wet week but Ken, our school chicken has loved having all our students back ❤️

01/04/2026

We want to wish all our ākonga and their whānau a very happy Easter and a great school holiday. 🐣

Please enjoy our newsletter.

See you next term!

In this issue:

24/03/2026

We have introduced a week‑long puzzle challenge designed to help our ākonga strengthen key collaboration skills.
Working on a puzzle highlights several important focus areas, including communication, teamwork, staying focused, problem‑solving, and supporting others.
Our ākonga have a week to complete the puzzle.
This challenge encourages moments of focus and mindfulness during shift.

19/03/2026

Our Thursday afternoon program took a slightly different approach this week, focusing on a simple but powerful life skill..✨taking time to enjoy life✨✨✨

Our ākonga kicked things off with a swim, a recap on our swimming lessons and sharpening their skills ahead of next week’s swimming sports. 🤿
Our ākonga were full of energy and confidence, making it very clear they’re aiming to beat the staff! 🏅
Our evening finished with a game of bat down both staff and ākonga chose this game, embracing the little things that bring us together, laughs, friendly competition, sunny weather, and music. 💕
Moments like these promote wellbeing, connection, and happiness.

No photos were taken tonight. Sometimes it’s important to put the camera down, be present, and simply enjoy life while creating meaningful memories that leave a lasting and positive impact on our ākonga.
Stay blessed everyone.

17/03/2026

Our social skill focus for the next two weeks are vital ones to know..
➡️ Cooperating with others
➡️ How to Interrupt.

Social skills are woven throughout our programmes on site regularly revisited to embed them into daily life

03/03/2026

On Tuesday afternoon, our ākonga participated in a Zones of Regulation programme focused on “Triggers and Feelings.” This programme supports students to build awareness of their emotions and develop self-regulation skills.

During the program, our ākonga explored the idea of “triggers” — situations, events, or experiences that can move them into different “zones” (for example, feeling calm, excited, frustrated, or worried).
They discussed how triggers are different for everyone and how understanding them helps us manage our reactions more effectively.

Our ākonga also practised naming and describing the “feelings” they had in each zone.
Learning to clearly say how they feel ,helps them understand themselves and ask for support when needed.

As part of our learning, students took part in four activities reflecting different zones:
📍Reading a Book
📍Human Knot
📍Sn**ch
📍Water Balloon Catch

For each activity, we asked our ākonga to:
➖Identify which zone they might be in during the activity
➖Discuss possible triggers that could place them in that zone
➖Describe the feelings they experienced while participating

For example, reading a book may place someone in the Blue Zone if they feel bored, while a fast-paced game like Sn**ch might trigger Yellow Zone if they are feeling excited or silly, or Red Zone if they feel frustrated trying to untangle a Human Knot, depending on the experience.
The focus was on recognising that the same activity can feel different for different people.
We were very proud of all our students for fully engaging in this program.
💙💛💚❤️