- Christchurch Girls' High School
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Christchurch Girls' High School Location Matai Street, Riccarton, Christchurch Coordinates 43°31′30″S 172°36′39″E / 43.5249°S 172.6109°ECoordinates: 43°31′30″S 172°36′39″E / 43.5249°S 172.6109°E Information Type State Single sex girls secondary (Year 9–13) with boarding facilities Motto Latin: Sapientia et Veritas
"Wisdom and Truth"Established 1877 Ministry of Education Institution no. 328 Principal Prue Taylor School roll 1080 Socio-economic decile 9[1] Website chgirls.school.nz Christchurch Girls' High School in Christchurch, New Zealand, was established in 1877 and is the second oldest girls' secondary school in the country (Otago Girls' High School is older).[2] Christchurch Girls' High School was established before Christchurch Boys' High School (1881). The first headmistress was Mrs. Georgiana Ingle.
Christchurch Girls' High School is known to many as Girls' High and provides boarding facilities for 95 students from years 9 to 13 at Acland House, located 20–30 minutes walk away from school.
The school stands by the Avon River, on a site it has occupied since 1986. Previously, the area was occupied by a mill that was first build in 1861 by William Derisley Wood, which became known as the Riccarton Mill. The buildings burned down in 1974 and were subsequently demolished.[3]
The school's old location, which was renamed to Cranmer Centre, features prominently in the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. Two students (Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, then known as Pauline Rieper) had a very close friendship in the years 1952–1954. Because their parents wanted to separate them because of suspected homosexuality, they both murdered Pauline's mother. The crime and subsequent trial was world news.
References
- ^ Decile change 2007 to 2008 for state & state integrated schools
- ^ Lovell-Smith, Melanie (8-Dec-2001). "Cranmer Centre (Former Christchurch Girls High)". New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga. http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=1849&m=advanced. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ^ "The Riccarton Mill before the business was transferred to Addington". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Photos/Disc17/IMG0080.asp. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
External links
- School website
- Heavenly Creatures Website at Geocities.com
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1877
- Boarding schools in New Zealand
- Girls' schools in New Zealand
- Secondary schools in Christchurch
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