Geelong High School

Infobox Aust school
name = Geelong High School


motto = Vitae Nos Parat"
(Latin: "Prepared Students for Life")
established = 1910
type = Public, Co-educational, High school
principal = Mr. David Whelan
city = East Geelong
state = Victoria
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates =
campus = Suburban
enrolment = 900 (7–12) [http://www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au/pub/about/principal/default.htm Geelong High School- Principals Welcome] (Accessed: 20-05-2007)]
colours = Navy Blue and Maroon
homepage = [http://www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au]

Geelong High School is a co-educational, public, secondary school located in East Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It is situated on the corner of Garden and Ryrie streets and backs on to Eastern Gardens (home of the Geelong Botanical Gardens). Both Eastern Beach and the centre of Geelong are within easy walking distance. Geelong High School accommodates approximately 950 students from Years 7–12. The school opened on the current site in 1915. [Peter Begg (1990). "Geelong - The First 150 Years". Globe Press. ISBN 0-9592863-5-7]

The school has recently undergone some major reconstruction, providing new woodwork and metalwork studios, science labs, computer pods, gymnasium and library, in addition to a learning centre complete with computer pod, classrooms and a theatrette.

Curriculum

In 2003, the school introduced the ILP programme, [ [http://www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au/pub/curriculum/ilp_overview/default.htm Independant ("sic") Learning Pathways (ILP)] (Accessed: 20-06-2007)] a programme in which students in Years 8–10 can choose their subjects based on their interests, learning abilities and career paths.

The school also offers intensive career-planning sessions throughout the year levels in order to ensure students have a clear direction when they have completed their secondary education.

In 2008 the school commenced teaching the Japanese language to Year 7 students, and plans to introduce the language to all year levels in the future. [cite web
url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/06/25/15412_news.html
title=Geelong students send peace symbols to Japan
work=Geelong Advertiser
date=June 25, 2008
publisher=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-06]

Performing Arts

The school has a well-established reputation within the local arts community and during the 1990s purchased and converted a number of buildings into what is now the Shenton Performing Arts Centre. This complex hosts a fully equipped theatre in addition to music classrooms, dance studios and performance spaces. In 2002 the school was involved in the Artists in Schools program, where an artist in residence helped students own books while also learning more about the city where they live. [cite web
url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/19/1023864451543.html
title=Program taps into schools' artbeat
work=The Age
date=June 19, 2002
publisher=www.theage.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-06]

port

Geelong High School also engages in numerous sports and stage annual athletics and swimming carnivals.There are four houses within the school:
* Moorabool (Yellow)
* Barwon (Blue)
* Corio (Green)
* Leigh (Red)

The school also participates in the Head of the Schoolgirls rowing regatta.

Talent Quest

Every year Geelong High School hosts a Talent Quest, where all students at the school are given the opportunity to go on stage and perform (the performances can range from musical acts to comedy routines). Auditions are held and about ten acts are put through to the final show, which is held at lunchtime on a day usually concordant with Home Group class. The most recent Talent Quest took place on August 7 2008.

Controversy

In 2006 Geelong High School was involved in widespread media coverage due to ordered pupils to reconsider physical contact between each other. [cite web
url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20581053-2862,00.html
title=School ban on hugging
work=Herald Sun
date=October 15, 2006
publisher=www.news.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-06] The supposed ban involved restrictions on hugging, shaking hands, high fives or any sort of intended bodily contact. The reason for the ban was that this touching was allegedly making students late for class, however no formal report or evidence had been established at the time the ban was implemented. Coverage involved small articles in local newspapers, but drew significant media attraction among current affairs programs, and was the main item on an episode of one such Australian program, Today Tonight. In the program, principal David Whelan defended the ban, much to the dismay of the mother of an affected schoolgirl, who were both also present on the program.

Alumini

Geelong High School has provided education for many students who have gone on to be very successful. In particular, Australian marathon runner Lee Troop, who attended the school between 1980 and 1985. State swimmer Jessica Blanch also attended the school for two years, between 1990 and 1991. More recently, international shotput and high-jump champion Ben Campbell attended the school between the years of 2000 and 2005, and Australian under-25 women lawn bowls player and 2007 school captain Samantha Shannahan. [cite web
url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/18/7946_geelong_sports.html
title=Lara teenager to lead Australia's junior bowlers
date=October 18, 2007
work=Geelong Advertiser
publisher=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-06]

References

External links

* [http://www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au/ Geelong High School website]