Girraween High School
Encyclopedia
Girraween High School is an academically selective
, Public, co-educational high school
, located in Girraween
, in the Greater Western Suburbs
of Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia
.
Established in 1976 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
, the school currently caters for approximately 756 students from Years 7 to 12.
Shortly after the school's opening an agricultural plot was established, staffed by a part-time farm hand. That same year, with the assistance of Science Teacher John Flannigan, a camera club was formed. Given that the medium was not at that time part of the art curriculum
, the darkrooms were installed within the Science Department. In 1980, the Camera Club's collaboration with students interested in journalism led to the publishing of the school's first yearbook.
In 1978, the school applied for a grant to build a number of buildings to represent a pioneer Australian town. Despite not receiving the funding, under the guidance of Industrial Arts teacher John Lawson, the school erected a colonial cottage that was relocated from Blacktown
. The building was the first of several, including a railway station, and constituted what was to become "Daveney Village". The structures were burnt down a decade later with the school maintaining the remains in what is now part of the expanded agriculture plot.
Through the years of 1977 to 1983, Gus the Goat served as the school's official mascot. On his passing in 1983, the school newspaper was dedicated to him.
In 1989, Girraween High became a Selective school
. Under principal Robert Cruikshank, specialist computer rooms and music studios were constructed, and a Sister school
relationship with Hisai High school in Mie
, Japan
was forged.
At Presentation Day on 15 December 2008, former Premier Nathan Rees promised that a school hall would be added to the state's Capital Works program. In September 2009 a $400,000 grant was announced to extend the school gym and construct a stage.
and the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
, Inter-school Christian Fellowship
, Students' Representative Council
, semi-formal committee, jersey committee various debating competitions, the Streamwatch water monitoring initiative, state drama and an advanced driving course. The school has also hosted an annual concert, MAD (Music, Art, Drama/Dance) at the Riverside Theatre
in Parramatta
until 2006. In 2009 MAD started up again at the Q Theatre, Penrith.
In 2005 the Ensembles Program was established by Mr Dane Ropa. This program included a concert band for more experienced players, run by Ms. Lyndall Hord, a training band for people who would like to learn to play an instrument, run by Daniel Capizzi and Morgan Biddle, an Intermediate band for those student's in the middle, run by Belinda Smith, a stage/jazz band, a percussion ensemble and a number of rock bands.
MAD (Music, Arts and Drama) was an annual production of Girraween High School's Music Department, created by teacher Dane Ropa. The concert followed the school's annual production which was originally known as the "Riverside Musicale" and was founded by Clive Lane (retired Deputy Principal of the Conservatorium High School
) in 1995 as a showcase of musical talent at the school, and a performance opportunity for HSC performance students. MAD was a completely new take on this idea and included performances by all of the ensembles, auditioned soloists with the highlight being a number of combined concert band and massed choir items that involved more than 300 students. An art exhibition was also incorporated to showcase Yr 12 Body of Works.
In 2007 Mr Ropa was promoted to Head Teacher at Cumberland High School. The Ensembles Program continues under the guidance of Ms Lesley Walker.
Selective school (New South Wales)
Selective schools in New South Wales, Australia are government high schools operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, that have accepted their students based upon their academic merit...
, Public, co-educational high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, located in Girraween
Girraween, New South Wales
Girraween is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Girraween is located 30 km west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Holroyd and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
, in the Greater Western Suburbs
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
of Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Established in 1976 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsibile for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Further Education colleges...
, the school currently caters for approximately 756 students from Years 7 to 12.
History
Girraween High School was opened in 1976, with an enrolment of 300 students and 20 staff. Its first Principal was Colin Bowser with Deputy Principal Harry Earp.Shortly after the school's opening an agricultural plot was established, staffed by a part-time farm hand. That same year, with the assistance of Science Teacher John Flannigan, a camera club was formed. Given that the medium was not at that time part of the art curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, the darkrooms were installed within the Science Department. In 1980, the Camera Club's collaboration with students interested in journalism led to the publishing of the school's first yearbook.
In 1978, the school applied for a grant to build a number of buildings to represent a pioneer Australian town. Despite not receiving the funding, under the guidance of Industrial Arts teacher John Lawson, the school erected a colonial cottage that was relocated from Blacktown
Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
. The building was the first of several, including a railway station, and constituted what was to become "Daveney Village". The structures were burnt down a decade later with the school maintaining the remains in what is now part of the expanded agriculture plot.
Through the years of 1977 to 1983, Gus the Goat served as the school's official mascot. On his passing in 1983, the school newspaper was dedicated to him.
In 1989, Girraween High became a Selective school
Selective school
A selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
. Under principal Robert Cruikshank, specialist computer rooms and music studios were constructed, and a Sister school
Sister school
The term sister school has several meanings:*a definite financial commerce between two colleges or universities*two schools that have a strong historical connection...
relationship with Hisai High school in Mie
Mie, Oita
was a town located in Ōno District, Ōita, Japan.On March 31, 2005 Mie was merged with the towns of Asaji, Inukai, Ogata and Ōno, and the villages of Chitose and Kiyokawa, all from Ōno District, to form the new city of Bungo-Ōno....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
was forged.
At Presentation Day on 15 December 2008, former Premier Nathan Rees promised that a school hall would be added to the state's Capital Works program. In September 2009 a $400,000 grant was announced to extend the school gym and construct a stage.
Curriculum
Students take the School CertificateSchool Certificate
The School Certificate was a qualification issued by the Board of Studies, New South Wales, typically at the end of Year 10. The successful completion of the School Certificate is a requirement for completion of the Higher School Certificate...
and the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Co-curriculum
Students participate in a variety of extracurricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, agriculture club, school newspaper, music and drama, chess, mock trial, Tournament of MindsTournament of Minds
The Tournament of Minds is a school competition program available throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Teams of students work to solve problems in a number of disciplines, including: applied technology, language and literature, mathematics and engineering, and social sciences...
, Inter-school Christian Fellowship
ISCF
Inter-School Christian Fellowship or Inter-Scholastic Christian Fellowship is a Christian youth group that works with high school students. Often it can be associated with groups such as a local church or a scripture organisation...
, Students' Representative Council
Students' Representative Council
A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions such as societies, entertainments and sports Universities...
, semi-formal committee, jersey committee various debating competitions, the Streamwatch water monitoring initiative, state drama and an advanced driving course. The school has also hosted an annual concert, MAD (Music, Art, Drama/Dance) at the Riverside Theatre
Riverside Theatre Parramatta
Riverside Theatres is a multi venue performing arts centre located in the CBD of Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Regular companies and productions that perform there include:*The Premier State Ballet...
in Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
until 2006. In 2009 MAD started up again at the Q Theatre, Penrith.
Performing and creative arts
In 1981, Girraween High produced its first musical, The Boyfriend, followed in 1983 with Annie Get Your Gun. The play was described by "Arena" Magazine as "a triumph of co-operation", the reviewer noting that "the only mistake (he) could find in the whole performance was one muffed line". The school would later perform Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors and Bye Bye Birdie in 2007, as well as a variety of smaller-scale performances by various drama classes throughout the years.In 2005 the Ensembles Program was established by Mr Dane Ropa. This program included a concert band for more experienced players, run by Ms. Lyndall Hord, a training band for people who would like to learn to play an instrument, run by Daniel Capizzi and Morgan Biddle, an Intermediate band for those student's in the middle, run by Belinda Smith, a stage/jazz band, a percussion ensemble and a number of rock bands.
MAD (Music, Arts and Drama) was an annual production of Girraween High School's Music Department, created by teacher Dane Ropa. The concert followed the school's annual production which was originally known as the "Riverside Musicale" and was founded by Clive Lane (retired Deputy Principal of the Conservatorium High School
Conservatorium High School
The Conservatorium High School , is a publicly funded, co-educational, creative and performing arts secondary day school specialising in music. It is owned and run by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training , and prepares students for the Higher School Certificate in their final...
) in 1995 as a showcase of musical talent at the school, and a performance opportunity for HSC performance students. MAD was a completely new take on this idea and included performances by all of the ensembles, auditioned soloists with the highlight being a number of combined concert band and massed choir items that involved more than 300 students. An art exhibition was also incorporated to showcase Yr 12 Body of Works.
In 2007 Mr Ropa was promoted to Head Teacher at Cumberland High School. The Ensembles Program continues under the guidance of Ms Lesley Walker.
Notable alumni
- Professor David R. BrownDavid R. Brown (neuroscientist)Professor David Ronald Brown is an Australian-born research scientist notable for his work on prion diseases, which include bovine spongiform encephalopathy and vCJD...
- research neuroscientist - Nicole da SilvaNicole da SilvaNicole da Silva is an Australian actress, who is best known for her television roles on Rush , Carla Cametti PD, East West 101, All Saints and Dangerous In 2008, Nicole was nominated for the Graham Kennedy Logie Award for ‘Most Outstanding New Talent’ for her role in Dangerous...
- television actress