Frankston High School

This article is about a high school in Australia. For a high school in the United States, see Frankston High School (Texas).

Frankston High School
File:FHS Logo.jpg
Location
Frankston , Victoria Australia
Information
Type	High School
Motto	'Optima Semper' - The Best Always
Established	12 February, 1924
Principal	Mr John Albiston
Enrollment	1640
Color(s)	Blue and Yellow
Mascot	Dolphin
Website	http://www.fhs.vic.edu.au/

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

History of Frankston High School from the Frankston High School website: "Frankston High School commenced on the 12 February, 1924, in the old Masonic Hall, with 64 pupils, Mr R Chapman as Headmaster, Miss Broughton and Miss Lynch as teachers, and not one piece of equipment - not even an inkwell. It was not until September 1926 that the foundation stone of New "1926 Model High" School was laid by the Hon. A Downard, MLA, Minister for Lands, and not until July 1927, that the pupils were able to leave their temporary quarters and move into the two storey building in Quality Street.

Enthusiastic parents quickly developed the grounds. In 1942, the introduction of free bus travel gave such impetus to children's desire for secondary schooling, that by 1947 the school, built to accommodate 350 pupils, was housing 600 students from every area of the Mornington Peninsula. Instead of enlarging the School it was decided to shift the High School to Towerhill Road, and turn the existing buildings into a much needed Technical School. Frankston College of Technical and Further Education now occupies this former site of Frankston High School.

From 1958, when the new School was completed in Towerhill Road, there was a continual increase in enrolment at the high school and additions to classrooms, science rooms and the canteen were continually carried out. The most expensive additions were commenced in 1969, when the Education Department decided to build a Commonwealth Library, and the Science, General Purpose and Student Centre sections of the 69-1-900 type building on the area next to Overport Primary School.

Frankston High School is thus a co-educational, dual campus school. The Junior Campus consists of students in Years 7 - 10 and the Senior Campus consists of students in Years 11 and 12 and was the first VCE campus in the State. The total enrolment of both campuses is approximately 1640.

The formation of a Middle School (Years 9 and 10) and a Junior School (Years 7 and 8) as sub-schools provides our students with a greater sense of identity and offers more opportunities for student leadership and responsibility. It has also created a wide variety of subjects for student choice and the curriculum is gradually including the technological subjects so necessary for today. Our School continues to enjoy success in a wide range of endeavours and our VCE pass rate and the high percentage of our students finding tertiary selection place us amongst the most successful secondary schools in the State."

School Profile

Frankston High School is a large multi-campus co-educational school situated in South Frankston. We have a strong sense of tradition with excellent parent involvement and strong links with the local community. 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 intorduced 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.

The school promotes excellence in a wide range of subjects. The innovative curriculum program is enhanced by an extensive extra-curricular 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 the past decade, recently winning its 10th 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 sturctures 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 and Pathways 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 dolphin symbolising aestheticism, chivalry and leadership ... Latin students were called upon to make a translation for the school motto.

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

Frankston High School Song

Nineteen twenty-four this school was founded
Our tradition glows with pride
Onward changing with the winds of time
Quest for knowledge far and wide
Optima semper, Optima semper
The Best Always is at Frankston High

Strive with honour as we meet life's problems
Show our kindness, be humane
Take life's challenges and show our strength
Be sure what we do is not in vain
Optima semper, Optima semper
The Best Always is at Frankston High

We all proudly wear the gold and blue
The school that loves the sun and sea
Sports, Arts, Scholarship, take your choice
Here at Frankston High we decree
Optima semper, Optima semper
The Best Always is at Frankston High

Lyrics and music: Sally Bredin
Orchestration: Luke Hunter

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)

Past Students

• Peter Bakos - Jockey
  
• John Barclay - Australian Defence Industries
  
• Dr Ruth Bishop AO - Led the team that discovered rotavirus in 1970's
  
• Dr Paul Bottomley - Pioneered MRI technology
  
• Gordon Bryant - Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
  
• Adrian Butler - Chief Executive Officer of the City of Frankston
  
• Bishop Michael Challen AM - Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence 1991-1999
  
• Don E.C. Charlwood AM - Noted author
  
• Diane Dunleavy (aka Dee Dee) - GOLD104 Breakfast Show
  
• Raymond B. Ewers AM - Sculptor and War Artist
  
• Debbie Flintoff-King OA - Olympic Gold Medallist Seoul 1988
  
• Sir John Clifton Vaughan Holland AC - Founder of the John Holland Construction Group
  
• Raymond Eden Holmes - Former Surveyor-General of Victoria and President of the Institution of Surveyors Australia
  
• Darren Hulme - AFL footballer
  
• Ralph Lane - AFL footballer and official
  
• Nathan Lonie - AFL footballer
  
• Ryan Lonie - AFL footballer
  
• Robert Mace - AFL footballer (now a teacher, known for hitting students)
  
• Margaret Masters - Australia's first female professional golfer
  
• Adrienne McComb - Australian Hockey representative
  
• Dr Graeme Miller - Pioneered microsurgery techniques; Senior plastic surgeon at the Alfred Hospital
  
• Professor Derek John Mulvaney OA - Eminent Prehistorian
  
• Travis Payze - AFL footballer
  
• George C. Pentland - Frankston Town Clerk and Secretary for Local Government
  
• Eugene oldperson and Chris Eets - Members of The Most Perfectly Destroyed Spiderweb, pioneers of punk rock shiza fusion Bands Myspace
  
• Dr Bryce Phillips - Federal President of the Australian Medical Association 1988-1990
  
• John William Robert Pratt AM - Businessman and work with disabled persons
  
• Bill Pratt - Owner of the Safeway chain of stores in Victoria
  
• Dr Richard Ranger - Former Victorian Chairman of the Australia Society of Anaesthetists
  
• Rowan Sawyers - VFL/AFL Umpire and Umpire's Coach
  
• Albert Simpson - Former Director of the Fitness Council of South Australia
  
• Marianne Van Dorslar - Tattslotto Hostess, Presenter and Model
  
• Chris Unthank - Olympic steeplechaser
  
• Daniel Camm - Died from over drinking (later revived)
  
• Monty Bowie - Mother well known for smoking viscounts and being the Clayton's and the Cooibah girl
  
• Ross Tadday - Slept with Ash 'Dollar Fifty Girl' Connelly, Now has a deadly strain of hepries
  
• Robbie Kay - Inventor of the word "Hepries"
  
• Brad Williams - Australian Test and One Day cricketer

See also

• Schools in Victoria
• Victorian Certificate of Education
• List of Schools in Victoria, Australia according to 2005 VCE results

External Links

• School Website ([[1]])