- Smith's Hill High School
Infobox Aust school
name = Smith's Hill High School
motto = "Truth. Honour. Service"
established = 1916
type = Selective, Public,Co-educational ,Day school
principal = Rae Mitchell
city = Wollongong
state =New South Wales
country =Australia
coordinates =
campus = Suburban
enrolment = ~770 (7-12)cite web |url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8542 |title=Smiths Hill High School |accessdate=2008-02-21 |work=School Locator |publisher=NSW Public Schools]
colours = Navy Blue & White color box|#000080 color box|#FFFFFF
homepage = [http://www.smithshill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ smithshill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au]Smith's Hill High School is the only selective school in
Wollongong ,New South Wales ,Australia . It is located in the heart of Wollongong city.History
Established in 1916 under the name Wollongong High School, it offered the only senior education in the district. In 1958, Wollongong High School relocated to its current location. The existing school became Smith's Hill Girls High School, and the boys of the area attended
Keira High School . In the 1970s Smith's Hill started to become co-educational. After a decline in human student numbers, the Department of Education chose to set aside places to be filled through exam selections. Now, all students at the school are required to sit entrance exams.Enrolment
Currently there are approximately 720 students in the school. 120 of the students who perform well in the selective schools examination are accepted every year, and if students drop out or change schools then students high on the original reserve list are offered places. Since a small number of students do not go on to complete years 11 and 12, these students' places are taken by new students so the number of students at the school is constant. An additional 10 students are allowed to enrol at the school for years 11 and 12.
Higher School Certificate
Students of Smith's Hill High School have consistently performed well in the
Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, with a majority of students each year registering high (above 90) University Admissions Indices. Fact|date=July 2008 As a result of strong HSC performances, a high percentage of students from Smith's Hill High gain University entrance each year. This tradition of success has been in the school for many years. Fact|date=July 2008In terms of HSC subjects offered for senior students, a range of subjects are offered over all key learning areas. For those subjects which are unable to be offered (for example, an extension course which only one or two students wish to study), students are assisted to complete these subjects through
distance education , in association with an appropriate distance education school.Extracurricular Activities
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
Each year, Smith's Hill High School participates in the
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge . The school has been in the Grand Final every year since2004 , and was a regular Grand Final contender in years previous. Due to the preparation time required, and the high level of physical activity involved (for dancers and stage-hands alike), the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge item is worked on while students not involved participate in weekly sport activities.Through this endeavor some of the students of Smith's Hill High School who participated in the 2006 Rock Eisteddfod "Tibet: Roof of the World" were granted an audience with theDalai Lama . Fact|date=July 2008Tournament of Minds
Smith's Hill regularly submits a team to participate in the
Tournament of Minds competition. The 1998 team were state finalists, before the 2002 and 2003 teams were successful in getting to the National Finals, and the 2005 team won at the national level.School Production
In 2001, Smith's Hill High School produced its first
Musical Theatre production in several years: Little Shop of Horrors. Since then, school productions have been staged each year, with the students continuing to be the driving force behind the shows. The 2008 production was "How to Host a Murder."Ensembles
Smith’s hill also has a variety of music groups, ensembles, that practice and perform at special events, the latest being the 50th birthday celebrations. These ensembles include: The Junior Jazz, the String, the Vocal, Senior Jazz and of course numerous smaller amateur bands with student members.
References
See also
*
List of Government schools in New South Wales
*List of selective high schools in New South Wales External links
* [http://www.smithshill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ Smith's Hill High School website]
* [http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/summaryschool.php?selectOption=8542 NSW Department of Education and Training: Smith's Hill High School]
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