Brauer College Warrnambool

Infobox Secondary school
name = Brauer College

established = 1911 (As Warrnambool Technical School)
type = Government co-educational secondary
principal = Ms. Julie Myers
enrolment = 1450
grades = 7-12
colours = Green, White and Maroon
city = Warrnambool
state = VIC
country = Australia
website = [http://www.brauer.vic.edu.au]

Brauer College is a government secondary school, located in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.

Originally established as Warrnambool Technical School in 1911, the school was renamed Brauer College at the beginning of 1990 (after noted 20th century Warrnambool doctor, Dr. Alfred Brauer), to reflect its resulted change from an outstanding technical institution, into a more mainstream and highly regarded college. Brauer has since developed into one of the largest secondary schools in the state with an enrollment of approximately 1450 students ranging from years 7 to 12. The school is known for both outstanding curricular and extra curricular activities, including consistently high VCE results and unmatched levels of success in both the public speaking, performing arts and sporting areas.

The current principal is Ms. Julie Myers and school council president Mr. Andrew Anderson.

Campuses

Brauer's main campus is located on Carumut Road, towards the outskirts of Warrnambool's urban area. The school features a state of the art performing arts centre and gymnasium, as well as extensive classroom and other facilities including a driver education track and supergrass tennis courts. In 2007, the library and science wing are to be refurbished in addition to the construction of the Australian Technical College Warrnambool campus. Directly north of the school, a multimillion dollar sports facility known as Brauerander Park is also being built. The park will feature an athletics track as well as facilities for field events, soccer & AFL football fields and a 3-hole golf course. The Park, which was expected to be completed by 2007, has been plagued with delays mainly relating to the synthetic track surface which can only be laid under certain weather conditions. Laying of the track commenced in March 2007. The track was completed in Mid-May 2007 and was officially opened by the Victorian Governor, Professor David de Kretzer in September 2007.

Rutledge

Brauer also features a secondary campus known as Rutledge, which is a specialist education centre for students who have profound difficulties with work or other problems. Located close by, Rutledge students may receive tutoring or undergo courses teaching them ways of dealing with workloads, stress or other issues.

Dunkeld Annexe

The Dunkeld Annexe is a Brauer owned facility located in Dunkeld, in the southern Grampians, used for the purpose of school camps. Years 7, 8 and 9 camping trips take place here where the open bush is one of its many benefits.

Academic

Brauer's year 11 and 12 students undertake the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) program. Brauer offers a range of approximately 100 VCE subjects for students to study in addition to VET and VCAL trade programs.In 2006, the school achieved a 97% pass rate with an average study score of 31, placing the school within the top 6% of government schools and well within the state top 30% - a particular achievement given approximately 150 students undertake the program each year. Highest 2006 ENTER was 98.80, in 2005 98.60 and 99.15 in 2004.

Brauer's Middle School Program (MSP) offers nearly 200 subject choices for students to choose from - allowing a solid working base for most subjects they wish to study at VCE level.

Extra Curricular

Aside from the school's curricular achievements, Brauer is also well known within both the Warrnambool and wider community for its success in extra curricular activities.

Public Speaking

Brauer has a very strong and long tradition in the art of public speaking and debating. All students are taught the skills to participate in public speaking. The school has long associations with the Warrnambool Eisteddfod, public speaking and debating competitions run by the Rostrum Club, the Lions Club, the Legacy Group, the Apex Club, the VCAA Plain English Speaking Competition and the mooting competition run by Bond University. Brauer's success in these fields has been unmatched, with state and national finalists and champions in all aforementioned competitions. At Eisteddfod level, in 2006 Brauer had over 150 students compete with a high rate of success. In the debating section, Brauer won the overall aggregate for the 16th consecutive year, cementing the school's level of commitment and success. Brauer also participates in the Ballarat region of the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV), where up to 30 students travel each round to participate, several debaters have previously won Swannie Awards for best debater and progressed to the state final debating rounds. Each year a team of senior public speaking students are chosen to take part in the Bond university mooting competition - an exclusive competition in which Brauer is the only Victorian school to have won the national title, amongst names as Sydney Kings and Melbourne Grammar School (all highly regarded independent schools).

Music/Performing Arts

Brauer's music and performing arts program is, like public speaking, a large part of the school's cohort. Annually, the Brauer musical comprises approximately 150 students as cast, band and backstage members. In 2006 the production was "Copacabana", with "We Will Rock You" in 2007. The musical has been an annual part of Brauer since 1984.Additionally, the Brauer Amateur Dramatics Club (or BAD) produce a non-musical, dramatic performance.

Brauer also supports a number of bands, ensembles and musical solo performers with tutition enabling students to participate in the Warrnambool Eisteddfod and other prestigious music competitions. Around 300 students are involved with the music program.

Sport

Brauer is a major player in the sporting community. The college sports academy consists of 14 sports with students from years 7-12 participating. Academy teams compete against other schools and in larger competitions.House sports are also a major part of the school's sporting program. There are four houses:
*Geefa (green)
*Vesta (red)
*Aurora (yellow)
*Orion (blue) Members of each house participate annually for house championships in swimming, athletics, cross country and overall. In 2006, Geefa was house champion, with the 2007 championships still underway.

Australian Technical College Warrnambool

In 2006, Brauer in partnership with Baimbridge College Hamiltion won the tender for the Australian Technical College in Warrnambool. Commencing its programs at the beginning of 2007, the ATCW offers courses in mechanics, engineering, metal fabrication and building (building course in Hamilton). By 2008, the school will also operate commercial cookery classes and electro technology by 2009. Currently, the ATCW is operating out of Brauer's trade wing, with a purpose built facility soon to be built. Former Brauer assistant principal Mr. Tony Austin is Executive Manager.

Controversy

In mid 2006, several students took a complaint regarding the school's uniform and hair/makeup policy to local newspaper, "the Warrnambool Standard", arguing it was too strict. A subsequent article was featured in the Sunday Herald Sun that same week, both articles drawing attention to rules that seem inflexible and quite draconian.

The Two-Brick RuleOn March 13, 2007 an article appeared on the front page of the Warrnambool Standard slamming a policy set by the school stating that "students of the opposite sex must stay two-bricks apart". An article on the same issue appeared on page 3 of the Melbourne Age on Thursday the 15th, with discussion on 774 ABC radio's drive program and a feature story on national television public affairs program, A Current Affair.

Other informataion

*Past principals include Mr. Duncan Stalker OAM who was principal from 1974-2001 as well as being president of the Australian Schools Principals Association throughout the late nineties. Mr. Stalker is now head of the Brauerander Trust, responsible for the development and construction of Brauerander Park.
*The school's first principal was Mr. John King. One of Brauer's most prestigious awards, the John King Citizenship Award, is named in his honour and is awarded to only a handful of students each year who demonstrate exceptional citizenship, leadership and academic/sporting endeavours.
*Years 7, 8 and 9 camps take place at the school's Dunkeld camp, while at year 10 students have the option of going on a skiing trip to the Victorian Alps, and one of two major central Australia/east coast trips in year 11.
*The school's LOTE program is Japanese, with several trips to Mirua (Warrnambool's sister city) and Fukouka taking place each year.
*Additionally, the school also offers a (until 2007, exclusively girls) trip to China, and a trip to India where a boys cricket team take on Daly College in an annual exchange program.
*Brauer is host to approximately 20 exchange students from Japan, China, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland and Sudan.
*Students participate annually in the Australian Geography, English, Writing, Mathematics, Science and Information Technology competitions as well as other competitions such as Tournament of Minds and Class Clowns.

External links

* [http://www.brauer.vic.edu.au Brauer College website]
* [http://www.atcw.edu.au Australian Technical College Warrnambool website]

References

* [http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2007/03/13/1173722420817.html The Standard article relating to the "two brick rule]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/another-brick-in-the-wall-to-school-love/2007/03/14/1173722523988.html Sydney Morning Herald article, as appeared in the Age]