Geelong High School

Geelong High School

Latin: Vitae Nos Parat
[It] Prepares Us for Life
Location
East Geelong, Victoria
Australia
Coordinates 38°09′10″S 144°22′26″E / 38.1528°S 144.3738°E / -38.1528; 144.3738Coordinates: 38°09′10″S 144°22′26″E / 38.1528°S 144.3738°E / -38.1528; 144.3738
Information
Type Public, Co-educational, High school
Established 1910
Principal Glenn Davey
Staff 89 (68 teaching, 21 non-teaching)
Grades 7-12
Enrolment 893
Campus Suburban
Colour(s) Navy blue, maroon and gold
              
Nickname GHS
Website www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au

Geelong High School is a co-educational, public, secondary school located in East Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The school opened in 1910, making it one of Victoria's oldest state secondary schools, and moved to its current site in 1915.[1] The current principal is Glenn Davey.

It is situated on the corner of Garden and Ryrie Streets and backs on to Eastern Gardens, home of the Geelong Botanical Gardens. Both Eastern Beach and the centre of Geelong are within easy walking distance. Geelong High School accommodates students in Years 7–12 and has an enrolment of about 900.

History

On February 8, 1910, 79 students, together with eight teachers and an acting headmaster, began classes in a couple of disused rooms at the Gordon Institute of TAFE. John William Gray was appointed headmaster in April 1910. Twelve months later, enrollment had increased to 150, and 12 rooms were being used at the Gordon. The school was renamed the Geelong High School and as such became Geelong's first state secondary school. The current site was selected and the new school, to accommodate 450 students, was completed in August 1915.

The school has recently undergone some major reconstruction, providing new woodwork and metalwork studios, science labs, computer pods and a new gymnasium and library, in addition to a learning centre with a computer pod, classrooms and a theatrette. The work was done to accommodate and assist Year 7 students in their learning.

Geelong High School has been identified as one of the 50 "most needy schools" in Victoria, in an audit conducted by the Victorian state government. This has led to students sending letters to MHR for Corio Richard Marles, as well as other politicians, writing of "teachers and students working in classrooms with cracked walls, substandard heating and no cooling", pleading for funding to fix and upgrade the school.[2][3]

Curriculum

Geelong High School operates a Year 7 program which is independent of the main curriculum structure. Year 7 students are situated in groups, each with two teachers who cover science and maths, and English and humanities. The program is designed to help students better manage their transition from primary into secondary education.[4]

In 2003 the school introduced the ILP programme,[5] in which students in Years 8–10 can choose their own subjects.

In 2008 the school commenced teaching the Japanese language to Year 7 students, later extended to all years.[6] The language was introduced as a replacement for Korean as a LOTE subject, which had been taught since the mid-1990s but was removed from the school curriculum at the end of 2006. The school also offers German as a LOTE subject.

Geelong High school offers a number of senior study pathways for Year 10, 11 and 12 students, including Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Vocational Education and Training

VET, as part of the VCE program, combines a student's general studies with vocational ones in Year 10, 11 or 12. The aim is to give participating students an advantage when applying for full-time apprenticeships in trade areas. Geelong High School teaches in VET Information Technology as well as VET Dance.[7]

School-based apprenticeships

Students in Years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to undertake part-time traineeships which include paid work placements and the opportunity to complete VET studies in each student's chosen area.[8]

Extra-curricular

Performing arts

Drama

During 1994, the school purchased some former church buildings on the corner of Ryrie and Garden Streets, and converted them into what is now the Shenton Performing Arts Centre.[9] This complex hosts a fully equipped theatre, in addition to music classrooms, dance studios and performance spaces.

Music

Geelong High School offers Classroom Music and an Instrumental Music program to its students. Classroom Music is offered through the ILP program.

Dance

The VET course Certificate II in Dance is offered to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to establish a career in dancing. As part of their assessment, all first and second year VET students annually perform their own group compositional ensemble piece in the Splash Dance festival showcase at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre. The school offers this course to all other students in Geelong.[10]

Artist in residence

In 2002 the school was involved in the Artists in Schools program, under which an artist in residence helped students make their own books while also learning more about their city.[11]

Sport

The sports the school offers include cricket, baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball, golf, football, hockey, soccer, basketball, netball, table tennis and badminton.

Student exchange

Geelong High School offers language studies in both German and Japanese, with an established exchange program in both of those languages, giving students the opportunity to visit and live with families in these respective countries for a period of time.

Notable alumni

Controversies

In 2006, the school became the subject of national focus after the banning of 'touching' and 'hugging' amongst students. The move was the subject of some criticism and was featured on shows such as Today Tonight, A Current Affair and Sunrise.^

In 2009, the discovery of broken asbestos-cement sheeting in the school hall was publicised in the local media. The problem has since been resolved.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Peter Begg (1990). Geelong - The First 150 Years. Globe Press. ISBN 978-0-9592863-5-9
  2. ↑ http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansardr%2F4ebaa8b7-b909-4262-932a-960ef76e20ad%2F0222;page=0;query=geelong%20high%20school;rec=0;resCount=Default
  3. ↑ http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/03/16/313801_news_pf.html
  4. ↑ Geelong High curriculum - official website Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  5. ↑ Individual Learning Pathways (ILP) Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  6. ↑ "Geelong students send peace symbols to Japan". Geelong Advertiser. www.geelongadvertiser.com.au. June 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  7. ↑ Geelong High School Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  8. ↑ Geelong High School Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  9. ↑ Geelong High School - History Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  10. ↑ Geelong High School Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  11. ↑ Minchin, Liz (June 19, 2002). "Program taps into schools' artbeat". The Age (Melbourne: www.theage.com.au). Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  12. ↑ J.W. Cherry biography Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  13. ↑ J. Grant Trinity College exhibition Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  14. ↑ G. Howard biography Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  15. ↑ "Mr Geoff Howard". Members Information. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  16. ↑ R.G. Lyon obituary Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  17. ↑ R. MacKenzie biography Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  18. ↑ "Mackenzie, Roderick Alexander". Re-Member. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  19. ↑ W.R. McNicoll biography Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite
  20. ↑ Geelong High fined $10,000 after students, teachers and tuckshop mums were exposed to asbestos - Geelong Advertiser Archived 11 January 2011 at WebCite

External links

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