Fintona Girls' School

Infobox Aust school private
name = Fintona Girls' School


motto = _la. Age Quod Agis
("Do what you do well")
established = 1896
type = Independent, Single-sex, Day school
denomination = Non-denominational
slogan = "Where Girls Excel"
key_people = Mrs. Suzy Chandler (Principal)
Mrs. Merran Schoeffel (Chairman)
fees = AU$9,950–17,350 p.acite web |url=http://www.melbourneschild.com.au/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=95&Itemid=38 |title=Fintona Girls School|accessdate=2008-03-16|year=2008 |work=Directory |publisher=Melbourne's Child]
city = Balwyn
state = Victoria
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|37|48|51|S|145|4|48|E|display=inline,title
enrolment = ~600 (K–12)
num_employ = ~60 [http://www.fintona.vic.edu.au/about_us/principals_message?MySourceSession=fa3b3280cef6ce1a58e628432b395247 Fintona Girls' School: From the Principal] (accessed:15-08-2007)]
revenue =
colours = Navy Blue and Gold color box|#000080color box|#FFD700
homepage = [http://www.fintona.vic.edu.au www.fintona.vic.edu.au]

Fintona Girls' School is a small, independent, non-denominational, day school for girls, located in Balwyn, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Established in 1896, Fintona is a non-selective school and currently caters for approximately 600 students from the Early Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 12. The school accepts both local and international students.

Fintona is a member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV), [http://www.gsv.vic.edu.au/profile/member.html Girls Sport Victoria: Member Schools] (accessed:10-08-2007)] the Alliance of Girls Schools Australia (AGSA), [http://www.agsa.org.au/members.php?PageID=11&Alpha=F The Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia: Member Schools] (accessed:10-08-2007)] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), [http://www.jshaa.asn.au/victoria/directory/index.asp JSHAA Victoria: Directory of Members] (accessed:10-08-2007)] and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). [http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2235 Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia] (accessed:10-08-2007)]

History

Fintona was established as a Presbyterian, day and boarding school for girls, in 1896. The school was originally located in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell.

The school occupies 'Balwyn', the historic home and vineyard built by early settler Andrew Murray, from which the suburb of Balwyn takes its name. [http://www.travelmate.com.au/Places/Places.asp?TownName=Balwyn_%5C_VIC Travelmate: Balwyn Victoria] (accessed:10-08-2007)]

Curriculum

Fintona Girls' School is divided into 4 teaching sections:
#The Early Learning Centre (ELC)
#Junior School, catering for Prep to Year 4
#Middle School, catering for Years 5 to Year 8
#Upper School, catering for Years 9 to 12 [http://www.fintona.vic.edu.au/curriculum Fintona Girls' School: Curriculum] (accessed:10-08-2007)]

The school's ELC curriculum is based on the Reggio Emilia approach to education. From Prep to Year 6, students are involved in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program which covers the subject ares of language, social studies, mathematics, science and technology, arts, and personal, social and physical education. Upper School students are prepared for the Victorian Certificate of Education, in which the school typically performs well. In 2006, Fintona was ranked in the top five schools in the state of Victoria, based on its VCE results, with 33% of study scores over 40. [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20923874-2862,00.html The Herald Sun, 14/12/06:"Girls take VCE honours"] (accessed:10-08-2007)] In 2007, this dropped to only 24% of scores over 40.

Fintona has three languages included in its curriculum, Indonesian, French and Japanese.

Houses

The three junior school (P-6) houses of Fintona are Bedggood, Menzies and Reid. The six middle and senior school (years 5-12) houses of Fintona are Boyne (after school benefactors), Clarke (after first Fintona boarder and matriculant), Hughston (after first headmistress), Murdoch (after Reverend Murdoch of Trinity church, Camberwell, where many boarders attended), Maxwell (after father of one of Fintona's first prefects), Ower (after member of staff 1900 - 1930).

Notable alumnae

Ex-student's of Fintona Girls' School are known as 'Old Fintonians' and may elect to join the 'Old Fintonians Association'. [http://www.fintona.vic.edu.au/fintona_community/old_fintonians Fintona Girls' School: Old Fintonians] (accessed:10-08-2007)] Some notable 'Old Fintonians' include:

;Academic
* Edith Gladys Pendred - Influential educator (Dux 1915) [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150682b.htm?hilite=camberwell%3Bgirls Australian Dictionary of Biography- Pendred, Edith Gladys (1897 - 1964)] (accessed:27-07-2007)]

;Business
*Diana Eirene Angliss Gibson AO - Company Director and Graziercite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Business Live!| title = GIBSON Diana Eirene Angliss| accessdate = 2007-09-29| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]

;Media, entertainment and the arts
* Hannah Greenwood - Australian actress Fact|date=August 2007
* Lorna Mary Belton Stirling - Musicologist [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160381b.htm?hilite=fintona Stirling, Lorna Mary Belton (1893 - 1956)] (accessed:27-07-2007)]
* Eleanore Watson - One of Australia's first female journalist's [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199359830.html?from=storyrhsfrom=moreStories Sydney Morning Herald, 19/3/07: "Matriarch taught about living and dying"] (accessed:23-03-2007)]

;Medicine and science
* Dora May Lush - Pioneering Bacteriologist [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150169b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography: Lush, Dora Mary (1910 - 1943)] (accessed:23-03-2007)]

;Politics and the law
* Dame Beryl Beaurepaire AC, DBE (nee Bedggood) - Australian feminist, former chairman of the Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia, wife of Ian Beaurepaire (of Beaurepaire tyre's fame) [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bigidea/stories/s1328173.htm ABR Radio National-Bid Ideas, 24/4/05: "Wisdom Interviews: Dame Beryl Beaurepaire"] (accessed:23-03-2007)]
*Dr Helen Caldicott - Environmentalist and anti-nuclear campaigner cite news| first = Jonathan| last = Green | title = Famous alumni on Latham's hit list| url = http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20060614-Famous-alumni-on-Lathams-hit-list.html| work = Politics| publisher = Crikey| date = 2005-03-30| accessdate = 2007-08-06]
* Andrea Coote - Australian politician [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/re-member/bioregfull.cfm?mid=77 Parliament of Victoria: Coote, Andrea] (accessed:26-08-2007)]
* Pattie Maie Menzies (nee Leckie) - Wife of former Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. Appointed appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (Civil), for public duty in hospitalwork [http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0004b.htm Australian Women Biographical Entry: Menzies, Pattie Mae] (accessed:23-03-2007)]

References