Baulkham Hills High School

Infobox Aust school
name = Baulkham Hills High School


motto = "Persevere"
established = 1971
type = Selective, public, Co-educational, Day school
principal = Dr Jeanne Bathgate
city = Baulkham Hills
state = New South Wales
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|33|45|5|S|150|59|26|E|display=inline,title
campus = Urban
enrolment = ~1,133 (7-12)cite web |url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8464 |title=Baulkham Hills High School |accessdate=2008-02-22 |work=School Locator |publisher=NSW Public Schools]
colours = Green & Gold color box|#008000color box|#FFD700
homepage = [http://www.baulkhamhillshighschool.com.au/ baulkhamhillshighschool.com.au]

Baulkham Hills High School is an academically selective, Public, co-educational, high school, located in Baulkham Hills, a suburb in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1971 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, the school currently caters for approximately 1,133 students from Years 7 to 12. It is one of Sydney's highest achieving schools, ranking 2nd in the number of students in honours list of the 2006 New South Wales Higher School Certificate.Fact|date=February 2008

History

Baulkham Hills High School (also known as "Baulko") was established in 1971 as a non-selective public school. The school's first selective cohort was in 1990, with all grades being selective by 1995. Over time, the school's academic ranking has improved and in 2005 was ranked 2nd by the Sydney Morning Herald for total number of Distinguished Achievers (DA) for examinations resulting in over 90%.

The school was built on the site of a former orange orchard, with the region having once been a major orange producing area of Sydney. This history is acknowledged by the use of an orange on the school crest. The use of the word 'persevere' as the school motto encourages students to persevere in all their studies. Acknowledgement of the agricultural history of the area is also reflected in the naming of the four intramural sports houses of the school, which are named after four prominent early European settlers in the area: MacDougall (red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow) and Hughes (green).

HSC Merit List Mentions}

Admissions and enrolment

Total enrolment in junior years (7-10) is approximately 180 students, and around 200 in senior years (11-12). Total number of enrolments is 1130 students.

As a selective school, entry into the school in Year 7 is based upon results in a State-wide examination known as the Selective High Schools Test. Entry into vacant places in later stages is based on a reserve list and other criteria, mainly reports from previous years. The school also has a Special Education Unit through which students with intellectual disabilities receive extra support and lessons designed to equip them for active participation in the wider community upon graduation. These students are also encouraged to take part in all aspects of school life and are an integral part of the school community.

Extracurricular activities

A range of sporting and other extracurricular activities occur at the school, including:
*Cadets
*Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
*Chess Club
*Checkers Club
*Cluedo Guild
*Drama Troupe
*Scrabble Club
*Tournament of the Minds
*Run Fit
*School Bands (Beginner, Junior, Senior, Concert, Stage, Flute Ensemble, String Ensemble)
*Soul Purpose
*Variety Night
*Shakespeare Festival
*Mock Trial
*Debating (English, History)
*Mahjong Club
*School Choir
*Ballroom dancing
*Chinese dancing
*Baulko Green Group
* [http://www.baulkobulletin.com Baulko Bulletin] ('BB' -new student magazine)
*Theatre Sports Group

There are also committees formed to make suggestions as to the running of the school, such as the Uniform Committee and school formal committees for years 10 through to 12.Fact|date=December 2007

References

See also

* List of Government schools in New South Wales
* List of selective high schools in New South Wales

External links

* [http://www.baulkhamhillshighschool.com.au/ Baulkham Hills High School website]
* [http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/summaryschool.php?selectOption=8464 NSW Department of Education and Training: Baulkham Hills High School]
* [http://www.baulkobulletin.com/ Baulko Bulletin Webpage - The Student's Voice]