Lambton High School

Infobox Aust school
name = Lambton High School


motto = "Light The Way"
established = 1974
type = State run high school
principal = Mr Martin Rosser
city = Newcastle
state = New South Wales
country = Australiaflagicon|Australia
campus = Urban
enrolment = 1,107 [cite web|url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRecord&code=8482|title=School Locator: Lambton High School|publisher=New South Wales Department of Education and Training|accessdate=2008-01-06]
colours = Juniors-Navy Blue, Seniors-Fleece White
homepage = [http://www.lambton-h.schools.nsw.edu.au Lambton High School]

Lambton High School is a state run high school in the suburb of Lambton in Newcastle, New South Wales operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. It was founded in 1974 and its current Principal is Mr Martin Rosser. The current School Captains are Sam Austin and Caitlyn Reed.Fact|date=October 2008

Some of the teaching staff have received national recognition for their work. One example is Head Teacher Science, Mrs Carolyn Hayden. The school prides itself on traditions like Green Day, which is held annually.

Green Day

The school celebrates "Green Day" - a tradition which encourages students and staff to dress in green to show support for environmental awareness. The celebration includes a concert which usually involves performances by the staff and students, competitions and a "best dressed" contest which awards prizes to the students who are wearing the most green. Other schools within the area have begun to embrace the Green Day tradition, making Lambton High School well known throughout Newcastle. The local ABC radio station broadcasts information about the event annually.

In 2007, the Green Day slogan was "Keep on Rockin' For a Green World" and the focus was on climate change and global warming. [cite web|url=http://www.lambton-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/Information_about/environment/home.htm|title=Keep on Rockin' for a Green World|publisher=Lambton High School|accessdate=2008-01-06]

In 2008, the Green Day slogan was "Be Cool to Our World" focusing on issues of Waste and Recycling. Students developed their own pseudo-catchphrase for the event; "Tree on".

Gifted and Talented Education

Lambton High School is well known throughout the community for its Gifted and talented students (GATS) program.Fact|date=January 2008 It offers this course to several years with Year 7 students completing a 'Master-Minds' course, Year 8 students completing an Authentic Learning Assessment, select Year 9 students being part of a semester GATS Class completing projects of their choice, and Year 10 students paticipating in an "Authentic Job Interview" at school. Talented students are asked whether they would like to participate in the accelerated Higher School Certificate and university courses in a wide variety of fields.

Acid attacks

Lambton High School was the subject of two acid attacks during 2007. The first was featured in the news after vandalism that occurred in the early hours of 15 March 2007. Two Convert|15|l|impgal|1|lk=on|abbr=on drums of hydrochloric acid were spread around the school's quadrangle on outside equipment and in the entrances to school buildings. The school was shut down for a day while authorities worked on the removal of the acid. As of 16 March 2007 Police were investigating the incident, however no suspects had been found. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1873266.htm|title=Police investigate school acid attack|publisher=ABC News|date=2007-03-16|accessdate=2008-01-06]

A second attack occurred on 8 August 2007. Like the first attack, hydrochloric acid was the agent believed to have been used. The majority of the hydrochloric acid was poured around the administration building, which is at the front of the school. As was the case with the first attack, police investigated the incident but no suspects were found. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/08/1999433.htm|title=Second acid attack on Newcastle school|publisher=ABC News|date=2007-08-08|accessdate=2008-01-06]

2007 Hunter Region and Central Coast storms

From 8-10 June 2007, storms and flooding in the Hunter Region of New South Wales affected Lambton High School. The school suffered extensive damage and was closed from 11-12 June 2007. The school was re-opened on 13 June 2007 to seniors only and was opened to all years on 18 June 2007.

Teaching awards

Mrs Carolyn Hayden, who has been teaching at Lambton High School for 25 years, has been so successful in keeping young people interested in science she has been judged Australia's top teacher in the 2008 national excellence awards.

Two of her former students, now at university, nominated Mrs Hayden for the prize announced in June 2008 by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard.

The national award "validated all the time I have put into students over the last 31 years", she said. [Cite web|url=http://www.qualityteaching.deewr.gov.au/naqs/2008_winners/teachers.htm|title=Excellence by a Teacher - National Achievement Award|publisher=Australian Government|accessdate=2008-06-17] [Cite web|url=http://www.teachingaustralia.edu.au/ta/webdav/site/tasite/shared/awards/Citations%203June2008.pdf|title=Australian Government National Awards For Quality Schooling 2008 Winners|format=PDF|publisher=Teaching Australia|date=2008-06-03|accessdate=2008-06-17]

Community Cabinet Visit

On 29 September 2008, the Federal Cabinet (including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd) attended Lambton High School as part of the Australian Government Community Cabinet Program. [Cite web|url=http://www.pmc.gov.au/community_cabinet/index.cfm|title=Community Cabinet|publisher=Government of Australia|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-20
Cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24417311-12377,00.html|title=Rudd's community cabinet meets|publisher=The Australian|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2009-09-29
Cite web|url=http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/protests-to-greet-rudd-in-hunter/1284677.aspx|title=Protests to greet Rudd in Hunter|publisher=The Newcastle Herald|date=2008-09-28|accessdate=2009-09-29]

References