Taroona High School

infobox school
name=Taroona High School


imagesize=100px
established=1958
motto="Community, Diversity and Excellence"
type=Public High School
years=7-10
principal=David Hamlett
location=Taroona, Tasmania, Australia
colours=color box|blue Blue, color box|white White, color box|red Red
website=http://www.taroonahigh.tased.edu.au/

Taroona High School is a co-educational state high school located in Taroona, a southern riverside suburb of greater Hobart, the capital of the island state Tasmania. The school has approximately 965 students in grades 7 to 10. In 2003, Taroona High School underwent a major redevelopment. The school's current principal is David Hamlett, after the departure of Brendan Kelly at the end of 2006. The school caters for students in the southern suburbs of Hobart such as Taroona, Dynnyrne and Sandy Bay but students also come from a wide range of other areas such as Blackmans Bay. The school's most notable former student is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark.

Facilities

Taroona High School features four building areas each with two or more levels:
* A Block contains general classrooms and computer labs on the first floor, Science labs used for both theory and practical lessons on the ground floor, and a Learning Centre, used for teaching children with special needs in the lower ground floor. The lower floor also houses the Library.
* B Block is composed of mainly Grade Seven classrooms on the first floor, general purpose classrooms on the ground floor, with MDT workshop facilities and a fully equipped Canteen on the lower ground floor.
* C Block is mainly devoted to both Music and Drama classes, with all music rooms on the top floor, and Drama facilities below. C Block also has a number of spare rooms used for Physical Education theory classes.
* Gym is, as the name suggests. The gym is used for whole school assemblies, but mainly for the use of indoor Physical Education classes.

Curriculum

Taroona High School, as with all government schools in Tasmania, subscribes to the Essential Learnings program. Mandatory subjects within the school vary depending on grade.
* Core subjects: Maths, English, Science, Society & History, and Wellness.
* Grade Sevens must participate in all core subjects, as well as half-year courses in Art, MDT, Drama, Music, French and Home Economics.
* Grade Eights must participate in all core subjects, however they can select three out of the six electives above to complete in a full year course.
* Grade Nine & Tens must participate in maths and english, and select several subjects on a semester or full year basis. Due to the complexity in the selection of these subjects, a Course Selection Guide is given to each Grade Eight and Nine student every year, usually on the return to third term.
*Music students can study Rock/Music Industry studies or participate in the Senior Concert Band.
*There is also a special course in Grade 10 for students who can not keep up with the requirements of their normal class studies.
*In past years there have also been quarter-year courses called 'Short Courses' although these are not offered within the current time-table.

Taroona Primary School

Taroona High School participates a great deal with Taroona Primary School, Taroona High School's neighbouring school. The two education facilities make up the Taroona Learning Centre. As a result, a large amount of the Taroona High population came from Taroona Primary School. The Taroona Learning Centre provides schooling from K - 10 (as a result of both schools). . [http://www.taroonaprimary.tased.edu.au/Handbook%20for%20TPS%20for%202007.doc]

Notable alumni

*David Bartlett, Premier of Tasmania. [cite web | url=http://www.davidbartlett.com.au/profile | title=David Bartlett - profile | accessdate=2008-01-10]
*Mary Donaldson, Crown Princess of Denmark. [cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20560795-2,00.html | title=Princess Mary dodges pregnancy rumours| date=2006-11-10| accessdate=2008-01-10| publisher=News.com.au]

References

See also

* List of schools in Tasmania
* Education in Tasmania

External links

* [http://www.taroonahigh.tased.edu.au/ Taroona High School website]