St Helena Secondary College

__FORCETOC__Infobox School2
name = St Helena Secondary College


motto = Dare to be excellent
established = 1984
type = Public
grades = 7 - 12
head_name = Principal
head = Trudy Thomson
head_name2 = Teachers
head2 = 116 (2007)
students = 1,606 (2007)
city = Melbourne
state = Victoria
country = Australia
school_colors = Maroon, Grey & Black
average_name = Average VCE Study Score
average = 30.3
website = http://www.sthelena.vic.edu.au

St Helena Secondary College is a state secondary school in Eltham North, Victoria, Australia.

About

St Helena is a large, co-educational government secondary college committed to striving for excellence in all its endeavours. It features architect designed facilities which include a library, theatre, gymnasium complex, specialist technology rooms, a VCE centre, Junior School area and a large canteen.

In 2005 the school completed the construction of a $2.7 million Science & Technology Centre as well as soccer field, which is shared by the Eltham Junior Soccer Club.

Form teachers are the primary contact for students and continuityof contact is considered important in the transition fromprimary to secondary education.

The curriculum offers a balancedmix of academic and skills-based subjects. A wide range ofsubjects at VCE level provides students with optimum choices,enabling them to be well equipped for further study or theworkforce. All courses provide open ended extension activitiesto challenge high achievers and students having difficultyare also supported. The school offers an Accelerated Curriculum andEnrichment (ACE) program for students at years 7 - 10 andmainstream students in years 7-9 can also enjoy enrichmentactivities in a wide range of subjects through the ‘Access’program.

Structure

The school is divided into three units; Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, each with a particular learning focus.

Each mini-school has a principaland year level manager as well as managers who areresponsible for welfare, discipline andlearning support, as well as developingand fostering student leadership.

Each mini-school team has a specific location in theschool so that students find them easily. St. Helena's principals are:Principal - Trudy Thomson, Junior School Principal -George Willox, Middle School Principal - Rosemarie Neville, Senior School Principal - Karen Terry.

Each form is assigned form teacher who looks after its studentsand helps other teachers with discipline and welfare matters.The form teacher is the person to be contacted by parentsand students if any problems arise.

A careers adviser also works closely with the SeniorSchool to assist with course information and future careerpathways.

Respect

Respect is a core value at St Helena, with three key foci:

1. Respect for the college and the community. Clearly articulated expectations of students’ conductand behaviour guide the life of the college community.

2. Respect for peers: A key aspect of respect for peers is not allowing anyform of bullying. The Anti-Bullying program at StHelena (controversially) addresses the issue of buildingpositive student relationships, developing respect forothers and giving students responsibility for thewell being of others.

3. Respect for self: Self-respect is fostered by encouraging all students torecognise and develop their individual strengths andinterests. However, the college complicates issues throughthe lack of individuality and personal development pathwaysthrough various policies implimented throught the school.

Commitment

Commitment to extra curricular program

The college is committed to a traditional core value of respect and they particularlyrespect teachers who enhance their extremely extensive extra curricular program. Allnine learning areas are equally valued and there is an Accelerated CurriculumEnhancement Program (ACE Program).http://www.sthelena.vic.edu.au/thecollege/positions/St%20Helena%20Commitment.pdf]

Commitment to HOTS and IT

Because of the high level of expertise in the use of information technology that alreadyexists on the staff, all reports are computer generated, curriculum materials areexpected to be stored on the college computer network and staff members enter theirown data relating to most school operations.The college will be redeveloping its entire curriculum over the next three years with anemphasis on Higher Order Thinking and the use of information technology. This isknown as the "HOTSPOT" project. All teachers are being trained in these skills, and,with the school's "Leading Schools" funding, at any time around twenty teachers will be releasedfrom a class each for a semester to work in groups with each group revising a sectionof the curriculum.It is the college's expectation that teachers commit to the introduction of the Higher OrderThinking Skills and IT in their curriculum and so agree to trial new curriculum as it isdeveloped.

Commitment to Performance & Development Culture

St Helena is proud of its tradition of mutual staff support. The college is alsoappreciative that it was selected in the first cohort of schools to gain accreditation forits "Performance and Development" culture. There is an expectation that all teacherswill perform at a high level and participate in a program of performance management.Sharing amongst staff is a paramount value.Hence, it is an expectation of all new staff appointed to St Helena that:
*They are committed to assisting in the development and redesign of curriculum, andare willing to share with other staff.
*They agree to visit other teachers' classrooms and open their own classrooms totheir fellow teachers.

Curriculum

Each week is divided into 30 lessonsof 48 minutes each. Thetechnology program is organised so thatover three years all students study allTechnology areas. This policy ofproviding a core program to all studentsfrom years 7-9, rather than electives,broadens students’ experiences andskills.

The school day begins at 8.30am and finishes at 2.50pm.Each day is structured around the following curriculum:

Years 7-9

In years 7 - 9 all students study the same subjects.

Year 10

Students undertake core studies in English, Mathematics,Humanities and Physical Education/Health. Students choosethree electives each semester. They must choose at leastone Science, one Information Technology, one Arts and oneTechnology elective over the year. A range of VCE subjectsare offered as part of the elective system.

Years 11-12

St Helena offers a broad range of subjects in years 11and 12.The senior school contains 400 students and has excellentfacilities in all curriculum areas. St Helena offers an extensiveVCE program which successfully prepares students for allareas of tertiary study and employment.The college currently has courses in a wide range ofsubjects including English, Humanities, the Arts (both Visualand Performing), Business Studies, Mathematics, Science,Information Technology, Technology, Health and HumanDevelopment Studies and offers four VET (VocationalEducation and Training) Courses.

Nanotechnology

As of the start of 2007, St Helena started offering Nanotechnology as a subject in years 10, 11 and 12, and as part of the science curriculum in years 7, 8 and 9. St Helena is the first high school in Victoria, Australia to offer Nanotechnology as a part of the standard curriculum for years 7 through 9, and as an elective in Year 10.

VCE Statistics

In 2006, the number of students enrolled in at least one VCE program increased to 299, with 225 enrolled in a VET certificate. 99% of students successfully obtained their VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), with 95% of VET units of competencecompleted. The median study score dropped from 30.3 in 2005 to 29 in 2006, and 5% of students achieved Study Scores of above 40 (putting them in the top 8% of the state)

Performance

St Helena is well known for itsperformance tradition. Highlights of theyear are the musical production, RockEisteddfod, drama production and musicconcerts.

Musical production

These are always outstanding successes and involve large numbers of students from years 7–12 both in casts and backstage. In recent years students have sung, danced and acted their way through such diverse productions as "The Pajama Game", "Footloose" and the "The Wizard of Oz", staged to packed audiences over 12 performances. Under the guidance of director, Glenda Evans, the musical productions take on a highly professional feel with each and every cast member striving for perfection. The productionsencourage student involvement and have inspired many participants to continue to perform after leaving St Helena. The college recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary Musical Production, "Kismet".

A list of the schools musicals are as follows:
*1987 - Destiny's Heroes
*1988 - Man of Steel
*1989 - Finian's Rainbow
*1990 - Little Shop of Horrors
*1991 - Cabaret
*1992 - Leader of the Pack
*1993 - Chicago
*1994 - Annie
*1995 - Grease
*1996 - The King and I
*1997 - The Sentimental Bloke
*1998 - Fiddler on the Roof
*1999 - Little Shop of Horrors
*2000 - Return to the Forbidden Planet
*2001 - My Fair Lady
*2002 - The Pajama Game
*2003 - The Wizard of Oz
*2004 - Footloose
*2005 - Oliver
*2006 - Kismet
*2007 - Cabaret
*2008 - Urinetown
*2009 - Into The Woods

Rock Eisteddfod

The college is actively involved in the Rock Eisteddfod annualcompetition. The performances, although limited to eightminutes, enable over 100 students each year to work togetherto create and perform a dance routine which focuses on positivelifestyles.

Drama

In 2004 the first College Production was staged. The play“I’m on TV” allowed students, with the aid of director Emma Oliver,to build on and act out a story. The project was considered a success and therefore, has been added to the colleges list of annual events. This will provide another option to students interested in drama and performance.A list of the college plays are as follows:

*2004 - I'm on TV!

*2005 - Stilettos and Sneakers

*2006 - Dags

*2007 - Skate

*2008 – Cosi

Instrumental Music

Music performance is an important part of the curriculumat St Helena. In addition to normal classroom music, studentsare encouraged to learn a musical instrument so they canparticipate in one of the five school bands and numerous smallergroups. Many of these groups perform at local schools and instate, national and international competitions.

There are currently four concert bands, with brass, woodwind and percussion instruments, three jazz bands, as well as many smaller ensembles.Each year, the Senior Concert band and the Senior Jazz band travel interstate to compete in band competitions.

*2003: ACT, Touring Canberra
*2004: New Zealand, Touring Auckland and Wellington
*2005: Queensland, touring The Gold Coast and Brisbane
*2006: New South Wales, Sydney
*2007: Tasmania, Touring Hobart and Launceston
*2008: Queensland, Touring The Gold Coast and Brisbane

References

External links

* [http://www.sthelena.vic.edu.au/ School Website]
* [http://www.sthelena.vic.edu.au/Newsletter.htm Weekly Newletter Archive]