Frankston High School

Infobox high school
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name= Frankston High School
Address= Towerhill Road, Frankston 3199
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motto = " _la. Optima Semper" - The Best Always
established = 12 February, 1924
type = High school
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Faculty and Staff:
Head teacher = john angus
schoolmaster =
principal = Mr John Albiston
enrollment = 1640
students = Years 7-12
city = Frankston
state = Victoria
country = Australia
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free =
colors = Blue and Yellow
mascot = Dolphin
affiliations =
information =
website = http://www.fhs.vic.edu.au/
footnotes =

Frankston High School, in Victoria, Australia, is a secondary college offering education for students in Years 7 to 12.

School profile

Frankston High School is a large multi-campus co-educational school situated in South Frankston. The Year 7 to 10 and VCE Campuses occupy nearby sites. Most students complete six years of education in preparation for tertiary studies, employment and citizenship.

The school has formed a partnership, the "Frankston Federation of Schools", with the main neighbourhood primary schools Derinya, Overport, Frankston and Frankston Heights. Through this Federation, staff and resources are shared. The Federation is also involved as a cluster to develop a seamless curriculum to improve student engagement and learning in the middle years.

A well established transition program helps students to adjust from primary to secondary school and the Year 7 tutorial program engenders a sense of security and belonging to the school. As students progress through each sub-school they are introduced to increased choice, flexibility and responsibility, culminating in a more adult learning environment on the VCE campus. In each sub-school the curriculum aims to promote appropriate support, extension and enhancement of learning for all students.

Students achieve outstanding results in the VCE and in tertiary selection and the school is placing increasing importance on offering VCE programs which maximise tertiary opportunities for all students. There are a large number of accelerated courses, including university enhancement programs. "Vocational Education and Training" (VET) programs are now well established at the VCE level. In 2008, students in Year 11 will undertake the "Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning" (VCAL) program for the first time.

The school promotes excellence in a wide range of subjects. The innovative curriculum program is enhanced by an extensive extracurricular program including music, sport, lunchtime activities and musical production. These programs, together with a strong "Student Leadership Council" (SLC), provide many opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. All students are actively encouraged to involve themselves in the school and in some of its many activities and programs.

The school has invested greatly in learning technologies. Notebook computer classes at Years 7 to 10 have proved an outstanding success and staff have undergone extensive relevant professional development. In 2006 a Tablet PC program was introduced. A wireless network, school intranet, school portal, student e-mail addresses and a school website facilitate communication with the world. Online curriculum has been developed, particularly in the Science, Geography and English subject areas. Video conferencing facilities are also utilised.

Both Japanese and French languages are established in the curriculum from Year 7 to Year 12. Sister city and sister school programs have been established in Japan, France and Soweto, South Africa. A feature of the school is a comprehensive overseas exchange program, with many Frankston High School students on exchange programs in other countries and a number of overseas students studying at Frankston.

There are seven bands operating and approximately 200 students involved in the instrumental music program. Students perform regularly at assemblies and special events and rehearse in a well appointed music centre. The establishment of the "Harry McGurk Music Scholarship" has helped students to continue with these opportunities.

Frankston High School has been awarded Exemplary Physical and Sport Education status by the Department of Education and Training and continues to carry out statewide leadership responsibilities in this area. Our excellent facilities have been further enhanced with the addition of an indoor swimming pool.

For several years, the school has been involved in the "Victorian Youth Development Program" (VYPD) now known as Advance which involves surf life saving and is run with the assistance of Surf Life Saving Victoria. Frankston High School has been the State Athletics Champions for over a decade, recently winning its 11th title in a row. In addition, the school has gained a reputation for outstanding sporting success with teams in swimming, cross-country, aerobics, cricket, squash, tennis, netball and rowing winning State titles in recent years. We have a proud tradition of sporting success at the highest level making it one of the most prestigious sporting schools in the State.

A strong School Council provides the decision making structures and processes to ensure broad school community consultation. Parent involvement in all aspects of the school is strongly encouraged and parents are regarded as partners with the school in their child's education. There is a strong sense of community. A "Former Staff and Students Association" is actively involved in the school and is developing stronger links with former students.

The school has continued to give high priority to ongoing and systematic processes of staff professional development. There has been a continued focus on helping students to take increased responsibility for their own learning as they progress through the school. Students' health and welfare needs are addressed by the Student Welfare Co-ordinator and the School Chaplain.

Priority has been given to providing for the pastoral care and health needs of all students and to maximising opportunities for students at all levels to evelop leadership skills. Programs such as "Hands On Learning", "Pathways" and "Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning" (VCAL) cater for students with different learning styles. There has also been a strong focus on improving literacy and numeracy from Years 7 to 10, including the continued provision of literacy and numeracy support programs.

The Frankston High School community is proud of our reputation as an outstanding school and its members continue to work together to further develop and consolidate the many exemplary educational programs offered at Frankston High School.

The school badge and "Optima Semper"

Extract from the 1928 edition of the Frankston High School magazine "Kananook":

The new badge was decided upon after it was felt that the school was worthy of something suggestive of the sea and embodying an inner meaning ... the badge is both artistic and emblematic, the fish symbolising aestheticism, chivalry and leadership ... Latin students were called upon to make a translation for the school motto.

A school magazine entitled "Kananook" is made and released every year [created by Rosey Wilson] . The magazine looks back over the year and recognises what the school has accomplished.

From the comparatively uneuphonious " _la. Noster Optimum Semper" - "Our Best Always" was evolved " _la. Optima Semper" - "The Best Always" - wider in meaning, higher in aim and as euphonious a motto as we have yet heard.

House competition

The interhouse sports competition plays an important role in the sporting traditions and excellence established within the school.

The four Houses are:

*Bass (formerly "Kananook") [Blue]
*Collins (formerly "Eumemmering") [Green]
*Flinders (formerly "Narangallang") [Gold]
*Murray [Red]

The names for each of the houses come from early explorers of Victoria and the Port Phillip region - George Bass, William Collins, Matthew Flinders and John Murray.

The houses compete in three major competitions: Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country.

Sister schools

Frankston is the sister city of Susono, Shizuoka in Japan and Frankston High School maintains a strong sister school relationship with Kawaguchi-Kita High School in the Greater Tokyo Area which began in 1988. Regular cultural visits and student exchanges are organised with members of our school community, with home hosting being a feature of each. Students of Frankston High School host thirty Kawaguchi-Kita students every two years, with thirty of our students travelling to Japan for two weeks in alternate years. Several students have the opportunity for an extended stay in Japan.

A sister school relationship with Lycée Jean Zay, in Orléans, near Paris is well established. Students regularly visit and exchange between our two schools, with three month twin exchanges a feature during the summer holidays. Students of French have the chance to visit France every second year, with a group extending their visit to include Italian Art galleries.

Frankston High School has a unique sister school relationship with Letsibogo Girls' High School in Soweto, South Africa. In conjunction with Mentone Girls' Secondary College and Mac.Robertson Girls' High School we sponsor three girls, enabling them to spend a year studying in Australia, hosted by school families. We support Letsibogo Girls' High School not only by sponsoring this exchange, but also by exchanging teaching ideas and strategies and providing more resources for the school.

Principals of Frankston High School

*Mr Robert Chapman (1924) Acting
*Mr William James Bishop (1925-1936)
*Mr Percival C.W. Langford (1937-1948)
*Mr Leslie N. Matheson (1948) Acting
*Mr Francis (Frank) Maugher Smith (1949-1959)
*Mr Lloyd E. Jones (1960-1964)
*Mr Harry Carter (1965-1974)
*Mr William Raff (1975-1979)
*Mr Alan Slatter (1980) Relieving
*Mr Max Smale (1980-1981) Relieving
*Mr Lionel Stanes (1982-1987)
*Mr Kenneth J Rowe (1988-2001)
*Mrs Marion Heale (2002-2005)
*Mr John Albiston (2006-present)

See also

* List of schools in Victoria
* List of schools in Victoria, Australia according to 2005 VCE results

External links

* [http://www.fhs.vic.edu.au School website]