Warrandyte High School

Infobox Aust school

name = Warrandyte High School

| motto = "Excellence, Initiative, Dilligence"
established = 1978
type = Public
principal = Ms Glennis Pitches
vice principal = Dr Mary Cannon & Dr Steve Parken
campus = Warrandyte
enrollment = 750
enrollment = 750
city = Warrandyte
state = VIC
country = Australia
colours = Navy blue & red
homepage = [http://www.warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au http://www.warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au]

Warrandyte High School (sometimes written as WHS) is a high school in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia. Established as only a few portable classrooms in 1978, today it comprises two main buildings and many semi-permenent portables set amongst many types of eucalyptus, native wildlife & other native vegetation, on a hillside on the sourthern slopes of the Yarra River, west of the main township of Warrandyte. The majority of it's 750 students live in Warrandyte and the surrounding region. The school is known primarily for it's art & music curriculum, natural setting and has a long history of annual musical theatre productions.

History

Warrandyte High School was opened in 1978 with 42 students, initially the hillside was quite bare as new vegetation was planted, this initial planting has since matured and created the dense vegetation that surrounds the school today. The first permanent buildings were built in 1987. When the Triennial Review in 1994 was completed, the school enrollment was 490, in 2000 it was 691 and by 2003 it was around 750 where it remains as of 2008.

2004 Development

From 2002-2004 a number of construction works were undertaken. A Library extension/VCE study area (a project with a budget of $260,000) was undertaken and completed during 2004. In excess of $100,000 of locally raised funds was committed to the project together with a grant of $85,000 through the Department of Education and Training, as well as $77,000 from the ICT Modernization Project.

There were also a number of modifications to the school's grounds. The outdoor sports complex (now the Michael J. Blake Sports Complex) was completed and opened by Judy Green. The school's canteen was extended and renovated. The Federation Garden Project was completed with the planting of a 'Bush Tucker Garden'. The top driveway and bus bay was sealed, the gardens surrounding it landscaped and a new school sign erected on the corner of Alexander and Warrandyte Road. New indigenous garden areas at the front of the school and between the portable classrooms were planted. Large shade sails were also erected over the outdoor amphiteatre.

"Holly's Heroes"

In 2004 WHS became a temporary set for 13 episodes of the Nine Network Australia's television series "Holly's Heroes". The show has a basketball backdrop and follows the life of 14-year-old Holly McKenzie. It explored themes of friendship and the rewards that came from participation and the love of sport. It takes place in Woolich (sicsic) High, a high school on Phillip Island. Most filming at WHS took place in the basketball stadium with special lighting mounted on the changing room roof and camera rails along the floor. Filming also took place on the external basketball courts. Involvement with the film industry brought a sense of excitement and curiosity along the way offering students opportunities to participate as paid or unpaid extras. The whole experience provided the students with an insight into the film and television industry.

Other Information

As is the case with most primary schools in Victoria, there is no year level camp, rather; a year 7 camp, annual music camps and a Year 11 trip to the Northern Territory. It has a sister school 'Hazu High School' in Japan. The school hosts several orchestras and ensaumbles and has a long history involving music and theatre (see Extracurricular Activities).

School sport competitions are divided into 4 houses:
* Newman (Yellow) - traditionally successful in swimming competitions
* Stiggant (Blue)
* Anderson (Green) - traditionally successful in athletics competitions
* Michel (Red)

Facilities

The school has 2 outdoor basketball courts, 4 tennis courts and a football/cricket oval with cricket nets. School buildings are organised alphabetically in the order that they were built:
* A Block - administration, theatre, music rooms.
* B Block - indoor sports stadium and facilities.
* C Block - library, VCE centre, science rooms, textiles, home economics.
* D Block - semi-permenent portables, language rooms.
* E Block - semi-permenent portables, general classrooms.

Location

"See: Warrandyte"

Warrandyte is situated in the outer north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, 27km east-north-east of the Melbourne Central Business District. Warrandyte was founded as a Victorian town during the Victorian gold rush, and is now generally considered part of greater Melbourne. The nearest major suburbs are Ringwood to the east and Eltham to the north. The catchment area for Warrandyte High School is extremely wide, with students coming from as far as Christmas Hills and Hurstbridge. The National Bus Company, Panorama Coaches and Invicta Bus Service all provide public transport to and from the school.

Curriculum

Theatre studies

Yrear 11 theatre studies productions:
* "Man the Balloon" (2005)
* "The Fire Raisers" (2007)
* "UBUREX" (2007)

Year 12 theatre studies productions:
* "Imaginary Invalid" (2005)
* "Caucasian Chalk Circle" (2006)
* "The Crucible" (2008)

Extracurricular Activities

Theatre

The school is widely known for it's yearly musical productions featuring students and occasionally staff members, which have run since 1983. The productions are notable for the high level of professionalism by the students, many of which attend the school for it's music & theatre curriculum. In 1987 a dedicated theatre was built, the second largest school theatre in the region. Chris White directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004. Most productions have involved multiple performances held over the course of 2 weekends.

* 1983 - "HMS Pinafore" (performed at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute)
* 1984 - "Pirates of Penzance"
* 1985 - "The Gondoliers"
* 1986 - New theatre under construction
* 1987 - "Oklahoma!"
* 1988 - "Sallow Wattle" (written by WHS parent Cliff Green)
* 1989 - "Annie"
* 1990 - "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum"
* 1991 - "My Fair Lady"
* 1992 - "Anything Goes"
* 1993 - "Pirates of Penzance" (only production to be performed twice)
* 1994 - "Grease"
* 1995 - "Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat"
* 1996 - "Into The Woods"
* 1997 - "Les Miserables"
* 1998 - "West Side Story"
* 1999 - "Sweeney Todd" (reprised with students & external cast in 2003)
* 2000 - "The Wiz"
* 2001 - "Chicago"
* 2002 - "Little Shop Of Horrors"
* 2003 - "Pippin"
* 2004 - "Oliver"
* 2005 - "It's Showtime" (Musical Compilation)
* 2006 - "Footloose"
* 2007 - "Billy"
* 2008 - "Highlights" (WHS 30th Anniversary)

Notable Personel:
* Chris White - former staff member, directed 20 productions between 1983 and 2004.
* Greg Stewart - staff member, performed in all but a few productions.
* Michael Blake - former principal, conducted lighting/audio for many productions.
* Kirk Skinner - musical director on multiple occasions.
* Lynette White - coreographer on multiple occasions.

External links

* [http://www.warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au Official page]